Break Time + Update

Now that I am finished with my second block of medical school, I have an entire month off which feels incredible and also…daunting. What should I do all day every day?? Blogging sounds like a good place to start!

The last few months I feel like I am really getting into the swing of this whole medical school thing. I am feeling comfortable with my school work, settling into my role as Student Faculty Liaison in student government, and a few new developments have surfaced as well!

I am working on a couple of research projects that I am really excited about! Recently I have been thinking that I want to go into GI or GI Surgery, so they are both focused around that topic to see more of the field. The first one is a study about Hepatitis C and the other one is about a certain test for inflammation in the gut. One is just basic chart-review, but one of them is much more involved. I’ll be helping write the IRB (basically a document laying out what we are going to do and if it’s ok that we do it), writing a Lit Review of background research, and helping to design the study. It’s in early stages, but I am having to play a lot of catch-up since I have never done clinical research before. I am glad to have some time over break to work on it!

I am also doing a pilot volunteer program and elective called the EMBRACE program. It is for 10 first-year medical students, and twice a month each of us get to go cuddle babies who are suffering from opiate withdrawal. There are quite a few hoops to jump through, but I have finished all my orientations and once I do a training shift I will be good to go. I can’t wait to go snuggle some babies who need all the love and comfort they can get right now.

I am also planning to shadow a GI Surgeon during the months of December and January to see what her workday looks like and how she balances everything. We have met up a couple times and she’s been a wonderful source of knowledge and encouragement. I am so lucky to be surrounded by so much support!

Health-wise, I could be a little bit better! I have pretty much neglected my back/leg pain  and I am definitely feeling it. Recently, though, I started getting acupuncture at my school which is helping a lot and I am planning to get back on track with physical therapy (I called some offices today to inquire about my student insurance) so I am going to make sure to make that a priority again. I cannot afford to put my health on the sidelines when I get busy, that maintenance is so important!

I have also been doing a ton of FUN activities, but more on that in another post! See you soon!

 

GM