It's been a long time since I've written anything, though I have certainly been occupied. Interview season of my 4th year of med school is behind me and now I'm faced with the task of making a list of the top 10 places I want to spend the next three years of my life. It's hard for to believe that this blog started at the beginning, with all the confusion, excitement and worry of things to come. But I suppose that it's fitting that I end with a similar state of confusion/excitement as I stand on the cusp of residency.
The 4th year of medical school has been a welcome change from the 3rd, which for me was arguably the hardest of all the years. Suddenly loads of theoretical knowledge must be engaged at the bedside and tempered with the intricacies of the health care workplace. As a green participant, this is overwhelming and at times frightening. The realization that all those dosing specifics, contraindications, triads and tetrads learned actually have meaning is terrifying. Suddenly all the information you felt you had mastered falls apart and must be reassembled.
Needless to say, it's a lot to handle.
Thankfully, this feeling has passed and will be reserved again for the beginning of residency, when I'll be signing my name to medical decisions and becoming more responsible. For now, though, the 4th year presents it's own less daunting challenges. Interviews makes you feel like a traveling salesman. You learn to pitch your chosen specialty well and sell your strengths. Thank you note writing abilities increase exponentially. When interview season ends you find yourself finishing out a labyrinth of graduation requirements (two weeks of derm, one week of ophtho and a partridge in a pear tree). And just when it seems like you can't take another second of feigning interest in a total hip arthroplasty, graduation.
To date, I have four more rotations to go. In 6 days my rank list is due and then match day falls on March 17th, St. Patrick's day. I hope as the year, and this journey, comes to an end that I gain some clarity about my chosen profession and can leave with a bit more calm than when I entered four years ago.
