Author's posts
Inspiring lessons from WWII veterans and the intensity of the medical field
On some of my night rotations during intern year, I found myself watching WWII documentaries and movies. The patients at the VA medical center had stuck with me with their stories and their attitudes. My experiences at the VA motivated me to learn more…
How one liver disease patient found hope and overcame adversity
The first day I came to the liver service, I met Mr. S, who was struggling with complications of liver disease. In the long term, he required a TIPS procedure that would better distribute his abdominal pressure and eventually a liver transplant. He was…
Awakening the dormant elements of humanity
When I was first paged about Mr. P, I braced myself for the worst. He had already had three “code greys” called—the hospital code for aggressive behavior. When we met him on his hospital bed, he was bound by restraints on his wrists and ank…
From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients
As a medical student with a limited knowledge base and limited exposure to taking care of a high volume of patients, my idea of being the physician I hoped to be involved in spending time at the bedside and really getting to know my patients as people …
Heartwarming stories of cancer patients teaching us about life and the human spirit
I felt uneasy starting my oncology and leukemia rotations. These patients were so sick, and many of them had incurable cancer, often just weeks or days away from death. I wondered how I could help them, what we could do if we couldn’t treat their…
Raw humanity on night float: inspiring patient encounters and overcoming challenges
Night float had always been this mythical monster to me, an intimidating prospect that conjured up some of my greatest fears about a residency rotation – jetlag, nocturnal clock, lack of continuity with patients or a day team, multiple pagers and multi…
