“And when we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed, but when we are silent, we are still afraid, so it is better to speak remembering we were never meant to survive.” – Audre Lorde Like Audre Lorde, I would rat…
Category: Medical school
I married an MD
Recognizing accomplishments and a ticket to residency: That was Match Day. But now, at the doorstep of the next challenge, you’d better take a hard look at your most important personal relationship. That is, if you want to keep your good thing together…
The health care system will cause its own physician shortage
A quarter of a million dollars — that’s the amount of debt the average medical student in the United States owes after completing medical school. After all the late nights studying, the endless exams and selfless sacrifice, it’s human natur…
The MMI: 3 strategies to help you prepare
You’re feeling pretty confident as you walk into your medical school interview– but then you meet your interviewer. “Why did it take you so long to get here?! I’ve been sitting here, waiting and waiting, and I’m in so much pain….
For medical students: 20 pearls to honor every clinical rotation
With medical school graduation on the horizon, I wanted to share my pearls for success for any clinical rotation. 1. Integrate yourself into your team and be engaged in all patient care. 2. Ask questions and be motivated to learn. 3. Follow up on patie…
Infertility treatment’s hidden costs [PODCAST]
“Looking to the future, since I only froze one embryo and my ovary reserve is diminishing, we are hoping to go through another infertility treatment cycle. Although, once again, the medications are once again being denied. Infertility is just lik…
Residency interviews and the inner muse [PODCAST]
“Have you ever wondered how many times death has not come, but could have? On the corner of Church Street and Dubuque how close was I, pausing to assess an ice-sheeted puddle just before a woman turns, her head turned too, searching for what? A s…
A state of service — and how flow can get you there
In 6th grade, my humanities teacher wrote a prompt for our class final: What is the purpose of life? I immediately grabbed my pencil and thundered away without a second thought. Five minutes in, I was still the only one writing. Rachmaninoff, the famou…
Why did it feel like I failed my patient?
“Have you ever had feelings of depression?” I regretted asking that question the moment it slipped out of my mouth. In the span of what felt like 5 minutes but was probably 30 seconds, both the patient and I immediately became awkward. The patien…
Medicine won’t keep you warm at night
Life continues in medical school and residency. Engagements, marriages, and divorces. Becoming a parent to a child. Having a dog or cat. Love and loss. Life and death. Then there is the uniqueness and privilege of being in medical training combined wit…
