University of Oklahoma -- everyone welcome -- Part 4

[Non-TradTulsa]

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And private practice is gravy. All shadowing though where I was, except when there was something to see. But I really liked peds for some reason. Not everyone's cup of tea by any means, but then, neither is psych! 🙂

Ah, now there's a difference with Tulsa. Here, you're in the OU Peds Clinic, ya got your own nurse (who loves working with students), your own exam room, and a 1:1 or 1:2 attending who is only working with students that morning. It's pretty cool. Although I still don't like kids <chuckle>.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

We're doing our meeting on Thursday, so I guess we'll get our numbers then. Supposedly we actually do our schedule then, but yeah, how does that fit with aways?

When i applied for aways, the forms had you make a rank list of when you wanted to go. When it got confirmed, I just told SuAnn when I was going to be gone. Except for ambulatory and rural, you can do aways anytime. Luckily, I didn't have either until the spring.

 

[Antigunner]

So we had the random number thing for msiv today, and I am no more informed about the process than I was this am. So, we drew one number for rural and amb, I assume since it goes ascending first we pick rural first, then go backwards and we can pick our time to go the clinic? Or whatever time is not taken by the rural month anyway. Then after those are set we fill in the gaps with electives based on the other number?

You nailed it - you basically rank your choices for rural by month and location, then you rank your choices for ambulatory month. Numbers go ascending for rural, descending for ambulatory. The scheduling numbers go ascending in the fall for picking electives, descending in the spring.

 

[Bravofriendly]

So is a grading change for sure happening with the 2010 changes? We Tulsa people aren't kept in the loop for that stuff, which is kinda lame imo since we all came from basic sciences in OKC.

I believe that has officially been decided.
Honors = top 5%
Pass = all else 70+
Fail <70

 

[Amxcvbcv]

I believe that has officially been decided.
Honors = top 5%
Pass = all else 70+
Fail <70

I like it.

Is that for all four years or just the clinicals? It would have saved me a boatload of stress.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Ah, now there's a difference with Tulsa. Here, you're in the OU Peds Clinic, ya got your own nurse (who loves working with students), your own exam room, and a 1:1 or 1:2 attending who is only working with students that morning. It's pretty cool. Although I still don't like kids <chuckle>.

What sucks is that it's not like that anymore because of the switch to the patient center medical home thing (I don't know why that changes it, but whatever). Anyway, we're assigned to work with an attending or senior resident, and we see some of their patients or see patients with them or just shadow them depending on what's going on that day and what they feel like. I certainly haven't had the feeling of having a lot of ownership of my patients, which is what I was expecting based the description of the previous setup. We certainly don't have our own nurse (Judy doesn't really work with us much at all) or our own room. It sounds like the change has really been a loss for students.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

I certainly haven't had the feeling of having a lot of ownership of my patients, which is what I was expecting based the description of the previous setup. We certainly don't have our own nurse (Judy doesn't really work with us much at all) or our own room. It sounds like the change has really been a loss for students.

That really blows. Judy/my own exam room/attending to myself was definitely the highlight of my peds rotation. It's a shame they've taken that away.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

I like it.

Is that for all four years or just the clinicals? It would have saved me a boatload of stress.

When the dean was talking with us after MSII it was made to sound like it was just the PRE-clinicals...

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Not to gloat around poor Freeze, but I have a super wonderfully great rural selection number! So where to go? And more important, what to avoid?

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Not to gloat around poor Freeze, but I have a super wonderfully great rural selection number! So where to go? And more important, what to avoid?

I knew that was coming when I saw your name so diametrically opposed to mine...I dunno, getting a polar number like we did is better I guess; for us anyway we flip it for ambulatory, so I can't get screwed twice, like might happen if you had 75 for instance. Maybe I'm just trying not to bring myself down though. I suck. But you guys prolly do something wacky with your numbers, being Tulsa and all.

Alas, I'm sure there is nothing wrong with where I will end up. :cue the bug-eyed banjo kid:

 

[Bravofriendly]

When the dean was talking with us after MSII it was made to sound like it was just the PRE-clinicals...

Interesting. That part wasn't mentioned, though I guess the big changes coming pretain to preclinical years so it kind of makes some kind of sense.

As a lowly MSI, I don't know that I understand the dynamic of clinical grading and its implications. That said, it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense (to me) to bother changing preclinical grading if clinical grading continues on with A, B, C... Do you upperclassmen have any insight?

Also, I'd like to add that Duncan's drug lectures are fabulous. I'm not sure that I learned more than a couple test-worthy tidbits today, but the lectures were pretty much like watching an episode of primetime or frontline. I might also mention that I worked in an ob/gyn clinic for 4 years and have seen what some might consider foul or disturbing things just before going off to enjoy lunch, but Duncan's describing what he considers a dirty needle made my iron stomach turn. I'm still gagging. So I guess purulence, retained tampon stink, puke and shat are all okay but dip spit and talking about dirty needles can gross me out.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

So I prolly shouldn't tell my story about drinking someone else's dip spit on accident? (as if there would be reason to drink it on purpose...)

They'll prolly keep clinical grading as it is because it doesn't make any sense no matter how you scale it.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

So I prolly shouldn't tell my story about drinking someone else's dip spit on accident? (as if there would be reason to drink it on purpose...)

They'll prolly keep clinical grading as it is because it doesn't make any sense no matter how you scale it.

That's gross. Eww. I bet they'll keep clinical grading, too - it's very deeply ingrained at Oklahoma. Problem with that is, if they make the pre-clinical years honors/pass/fail then, knowing our system the way that I do, it's going to put even more pressure on you guys to get good clinical grades. This is a bummer, because - as you have heard - your evaluations are always the biggest part of your grade, and they are quite subjective. If somebody just doesn't like you, you're scr*wed. The weighting of hours is ridiculous, too - 800 contact hours for MS-I and for MS-II and 1800-1900 hours MS-III? Please. I'm working my tail off, but if you count out-of-class study time, we were all racking up well over 2000 hours all three years. Way more, in fact, since 2080 is an 8-hour day. Only difference is that I wear jeans for far less of those 2000+ hours and I'm being watched a whole lot more.

If you're like me - most people seem to like me, but I always seem to blow the shelf - including the one coming up Friday.

Now, in the real world, board scores will count much more like they always have because not everybody has grades, pre-clinical or clinical. Nothing will change there.

I got a middling selection number. This may put me in deep do - my mom's Alzheimer's is much worse and she cried when I told her about rural. I really need to be within commuting distance. If I have to go away, I'm taking my dog - that's all there is to it.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

NTT, there are many many more rural options close to tulsa than there are to OKC. Cuz of rehab/PT (I do it on my own but need a lot of equipment I can't just truck along with me everywhere), I was in a situation of having to commute as well. Blackwell (80 mi away from my parents' house in north edmond) was the best they could do. I did it. It sucked. Get home after 2 hrs driving plus the monotony of rural rotation, and then bust your ass in the gym for an hour and a half? Not very fun. That said, the front office staff were as helpful as they could be in the situation.

So many people move their schedules around you can usually find someone to switch with you. given circumstances, I think you should be able to manage to find a good commutable spot.

Plus, from what I hear the admin at Tulsa are actually nice people (this new generation at OKC is worlds of improvement). Honestly, between pride and a lack of respect/faith in our former Deans I never even approached them about practical solutions to the rural issue.

I'm very sorry to hear about your mom btw, can't even imagine the stress you're going through.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

I'm very sorry to hear about your mom btw, can't even imagine the stress you're going through.

Thanks, that's very kind of you. I'm very fortunate, actually - she is still able to get by in a sheltered environment (a senior apartment complex with meals, laundry, housekeeping, etc) and my father provided well enough for her to be able to afford the senior apartment and nowadays a personal assistant once a week to do many of the things I can't do while I'm in school. I know how very, very fortunate that is for her and for me. Remind me of it next time I start carping about how my brother and sisters never help me (same old story - this duty always falls to the single kid).

I think they're going to work with me on the rural rotation. I hate to say my problems are important - because many common situations, like needing to care for one's kids (but having a spouse at home) don't qualify. My situation may qualify for a place-in-line exception and will allow me to commute.

Yeah, the admin here is much more workable over what I remember from OKC - although I bet Dr. Tucker is actually fun at times. I absolutely hate the term "family feeling" - but there's no other word for it up here - my attending took her 3 residents and me to dinner tonight to close out the month. With a team of 10 or 15 in OKC, I'm sure that doesn't happen like it does up here.

My head was completely spinning after the fourth-year scheduling meeting today - and, with the medicine shelf tomorrow, I really didn't care. But I'll sure need help down the road. I feel like I did when I first heard words like "MCAT" and "AMCAS" - I knew there were many tips/tricks that I didn't vaguely understand. I have no idea when to schedule things!

 

[Jwax]

I'm trying to figure out financial stuff for the remainder of this year and thought now would be a great time to ask if there is anything I need to buy before starting third year? My current intended purchases include two pairs of Merrell shoes and a smart phone. Anything else I should plan to have to purchase before rotations begin? Thanks.

Also, with my intention to buy a smart phone, I'm planning on getting a blackberry. I have been informed that all blackberry's can incorporate Epocrates, but can they have the other programs I've heard you guys mention here or there? What programs should I plan on getting for my phone besides epocrates? Thanks again.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Can't help ya with ladies shoes - sorry. But most of the people that I know with Blackberries are counting the days until they can get an iPhone. Not everyone agrees, of course. But I can no longer live without my iPhone - I have a number of textbooks purchased through Skyscape - including the Washington Manual, which is extremely handy if I'm not carrying my paper copy. There are tons of medical apps for iPhone, including Epocrates. And, BTW, only the iPhone version of Epocrates has the "pill photo" tabs - you'd think this was a gimmick - but when a patient can't remember their dose of a medication, I just pull up the pictures, show them screen, and ask them which pill they take and how many. Presto - I know the dosage they're taking. Also, the iPhone has a large enough screen, if I log on to the library at school to use MD Consult or another app like that, I can actually read the screen when I turn it sideways.

Some people will tell you the drawback to the iPhone is not having a mechanical keyboard. I was not at all happy with the iPhone touch screen at first - but after about 6 weeks I had learned how to hold my fingers correctly and I'm sure I can now type faster than I could with a Blackberry.

Not that I care about any of this anymore. I am so profoundly depressed over the Medicine shelf, I'll be very relaxed in Surgery on Monday - go ahead and make my day - it doesn't matter to me anymore.

 

[Jwax]

But most of the people that I know with Blackberries are counting the days until they can get an iPhone. Not everyone agrees, of course. But I can no longer live without my iPhone - I have a number of textbooks purchased through Skyscape - including the Washington Manual, which is extremely handy if I'm not carrying my paper copy. There are tons of medical apps for iPhone, including Epocrates. And, BTW, only the iPhone version of Epocrates has the "pill photo" tabs - you'd think this was a gimmick - but when a patient can't remember their dose of a medication, I just pull up the pictures, show them screen, and ask them which pill they take and how many. Presto - I know the dosage they're taking. Also, the iPhone has a large enough screen, if I log on to the library at school to use MD Consult or another app like that, I can actually read the screen when I turn it sideways.

I had originally intended to get an iPhone, but my phone company does not carry it. I would have to purchase one elsewhere for however ridiculous much it costs and put in my phone chip or whatever you. I don't really get how cell phones function, all I know (or at least am under the impression that this is true) is that I could buy an iPhone separately and make it work with my network. I can't switch to another network b/c my husband and I have different contract dates for our different so we'd have to shell out several hundred in contract breaking fees to switch. So you can't get washington manual or things like that on blackberry?

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Oh, I'm sure you can get the WashMan and whatever else for Blackberry - just check at www.skyscape.com. I like the iPhone, but the competitors are certainly catching-up. If you can't get it through AT&T, I don't think I'd shell out unsubsidized cash for the phone, either. When you can switch, though, I've been surprisingly happy with AT&T (or, as Berke Breathed used to call it in Bloom County in the days before divestiture, "The Death Star.").

On a serious note, whatever phone you choose, make sure it has adequate WiFi built-in. Hospitals are massive hulks of concrete that are wired for free broadband - but there are huge areas of the hospital where you won't get enough of a signal to use cellphone based Edge or 3D internet service.

I understand that they don't provide pagers to students in OKC. What a pain. Text pages are the primary means of up-to-date communication here in Tulsa and, since the hospitals have page repeaters, it's highly reliable service.

 

[Jwax]

Oh, I'm sure you can get the WashMan and whatever else for Blackberry - just check at www.skyscape.com. I like the iPhone, but the competitors are certainly catching-up. If you can't get it through AT&T, I don't think I'd shell out unsubsidized cash for the phone, either. When you can switch, though, I've been surprisingly happy with AT&T (or, as Berke Breathed used to call it in Bloom County in the days before divestiture, "The Death Star.").

So, I am understanding skyscape correctly in that you have to purchase limited subscriptions? So I would have to shell out $50/year to have some of these things? I figured you'd get it and it would be there on your phone forever. Not sure if having to spend $50/year per app is realistic for me, thought I am also pretty darn sure I don't want to have to carry 25lbs in books in my pockets for the next 5 years. My coat is too heavy with just a stethoscope and cell phone in it. 🙁 Why must this be so complicated? Thanks for your help NTT.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Maybe not the best answer to all my commo needs, but I have been real happy with my iPod touch. All the apps, all the wifi, none of the subscription fee. Granted, I don't get 'net access at high-speed places like the VA, but I haven't REALLY missed it. You can still run apps that are on the device itself. Epocrates is great, and we get it free through the school. I like skyscape too, but it is more outlines that YOU have to sort through rather than menus you can click through like epocrates. It has lightened what I carry; my coat is still pretty heavy though. After 10 years of my previous job, I like having useful **** in my pockets. But having something you can look up the ddx, w/u, and rx while you walk back to the resident room is pretty key. This doesn't HAVE to be a smartphone, but they are lighter!

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

My coat is pretty heavy, too. I have a WashMan subscription on my iPhone, but - I guess I'm just old - when I'm seriously looking for something, I need a book with pages that I can flip through. Jwax, it used to be that all the books were subscriptions - not that way anymore - some are subscriptions, many you're purchasing the book outright and have the right to retain it on your iPhone forever (it used to be you had to have net access to use any of your Skyscape books, but now most of them download to your phone). I wouldn't use it for everything - but, for instance, the Harriet Lane manual is the bible for pediatrics but it's a little big to carry. Got it on the iPhone and got through peds. Actually, that was a permanent subscription but since I don't do kids, I never need it anymore.

I'm just beginning to realize what it's going to mean to be rounding each day at the hospital at 5:00am. Good-bye life for the next 2 months.

 

[Jwax]

Maybe not the best answer to all my commo needs, but I have been real happy with my iPod touch. All the apps, all the wifi, none of the subscription fee. Granted, I don't get 'net access at high-speed places like the VA, but I haven't REALLY missed it. You can still run apps that are on the device itself. Epocrates is great, and we get it free through the school. I like skyscape too, but it is more outlines that YOU have to sort through rather than menus you can click through like epocrates. It has lightened what I carry; my coat is still pretty heavy though. After 10 years of my previous job, I like having useful **** in my pockets. But having something you can look up the ddx, w/u, and rx while you walk back to the resident room is pretty key. This doesn't HAVE to be a smartphone, but they are lighter!

When you say none of the subscription fee, does that mean you don't have to pay a monthly fee for wifi service or anything? I presume you have to pay a monthly fee w/an iphone.

I hadn't thought of an iPod touch (didn't know anything about them), but if all I have to do is pay $2-300 once plus a little bit for some of the apps, that sounds better than a phone that will cost me an excessive amount each month. What GB is your iPod touch? I was thinking the 16 GB sounds appropriate and a tolerable one time cost. Thanks for the thought, Freeze. I like it. I'm pretty much sold if you tell me there is no monthly fee for wifi.

 

[shortitalian]

When you say none of the subscription fee, does that mean you don't have to pay a monthly fee for wifi service or anything? I presume you have to pay a monthly fee w/an iphone.

I hadn't thought of an iPod touch (didn't know anything about them), but if all I have to do is pay $2-300 once plus a little bit for some of the apps, that sounds better than a phone that will cost me an excessive amount each month. What GB is your iPod touch? I was thinking the 16 GB sounds appropriate and a tolerable one time cost. Thanks for the thought, Freeze. I like it. I'm pretty much sold if you tell me there is no monthly fee for wifi.

Definitely no monthly fee for wifi on the touch. Since I don't like to use my Blackberry for listening to music, etc. (SO much easier to do all of that on the i[insertname]) the ipod touch works well for that purpose. Plus, I plan to put epocrates essentials on it until they come out with one for Blackberry, if they ever do.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

I haven't paid for any apps, legally. The school gives us epocrates essentials, skyscape is free. Medcalc is free, but doesn't have anything not found on epoc or ss.

My fam got together and bought me a 32gb touch for my bday a little bit ago. There is no more fee than it takes to run wifi for your home, but any place that has free wifi you can use it free. The only place on campus I've found that is lacking is the VA, which actually has wifi but it is secure. Or as secure as a govt system can be.

 

[Jwax]

I haven't paid for any apps, legally. The school gives us epocrates essentials, skyscape is free. Medcalc is free, but doesn't have anything not found on epoc or ss.

My fam got together and bought me a 32gb touch for my bday a little bit ago. There is no more fee than it takes to run wifi for your home, but any place that has free wifi you can use it free. The only place on campus I've found that is lacking is the VA, which actually has wifi but it is secure. Or as secure as a govt system can be.

Awesome, thanks freeze & shortitalian. Now I know what I will be requesting for my birthday in April 😀. That is soooo infinitely much easier than having to get a whole new phone / new service / etc... I love it. I'll just be the doofus walking around with multiple items attached to her pants / skirt.

 

[shortitalian]

I'll just be the doofus walking around with multiple items attached to her pants / skirt.

You and me both. Well, except for the her and the skirt part. 😛

 

[masterofmonkeys]

First, blackberry cannot run the full epocrates. it runs a barebones version that is just not that good. My roommate had a palm and had full epocrates, went to a blackberry and was told that it couldn't be supported since epocrates requires a touch screen interface, and went back to palm for that reason.

Call me a snob or a luddite, but I don't have a smartphone or epocrates. And I'm glad I don't. Learning all the meds and dosages and pertinent side effects and crap by heart saves A LOT of time. And it makes you look impressive in front of attendings. I do plan on getting a smartphone with epocrates for those times when it's not in my head, or when I need to calculate CrCL or whatever, but I've noticed a lot of people use them as crutches, just because they're there.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Snob. Luddite. 😉

 

[Jwax]

Call me a snob or a luddite, but I don't have a smartphone or epocrates. And I'm glad I don't. Learning all the meds and dosages and pertinent side effects and crap by heart saves A LOT of time. And it makes you look impressive in front of attendings. I do plan on getting a smartphone with epocrates for those times when it's not in my head, or when I need to calculate CrCL or whatever, but I've noticed a lot of people use them as crutches, just because they're there.

I intend to use mine as a crutch until I do know all the pertinent meds mostly by heart, which I believe is something that comes with time. The fact that I have memorized all of our drugs for test blocks the night before the exam makes it highly unlikely that I will know many of these by heart for a while. There's just too many for me to keep straight in my little head. Maybe it'll be a bit better after finals / boards, but not likely by much.

 

[shortitalian]

First, blackberry cannot run the full epocrates. it runs a barebones version that is just not that good. My roommate had a palm and had full epocrates, went to a blackberry and was told that it couldn't be supported since epocrates requires a touch screen interface, and went back to palm for that reason.

Are you referring to the fact that Blackberry cannot run Epocrates Essentials? If so, then you're correct. If, however, you're referring to the free Epocrates Rx (barebones?), the Blackberry runs it just fine. Rx used to not be very easy to navigate on a non-touchscreen, but it is easily equal in usability now.

If someone was told that Epocrates requires a touch-screen interface, they just got BSed into buying/keeping the palm. They just don't support a version of Essentials for the Blackberry yet.

/defending the BB

To me, pretending that I would actually know ALL of the drugs/dosages/etc. would be like wishing I had just gone ahead and memorized all of the medical texts before I came to medical school so I wouldn't have to study. Not a perfect analogy, but that's how it makes me feel.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

This should be tempered by the fact masterofmonkeys is going into a field in which medical management decisions consist of A. SSRI's and B. All the above. 😉😀

I kid, I kid...

 

[Jwax]

So... basically, every time we have any minor injury requiring any amount of clotting, we have an embolus...? I guess they must just be tiny b/c otherwise we'd all have issues. I guess the emboli get broken down by plasmin elsewhere?

Coagulation processes was really difficult for me last year, but I think it is starting to stick. 😉 I liked the anemias, so maybe I'll actually like this whole heme section.

 

[soonereng]

I liked the anemias, so maybe I'll actually like this whole heme section.

I think it's all just a bloody mess...

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

This should be tempered by the fact masterofmonkeys is going into a field in which medical management decisions consist of A. SSRI's and B. All the above. 😉😀

I kid, I kid...

Sorry, master, I gotta go with Freeze on this one. He already wrote my response. Your point is well-taken, but we do have to color it with the knowledge that you're going into a field that uses <50 drugs on a daily basis. Now, you'll know those drugs very well and I, for one, am somewhat opposed to PCPs prescribing most of those drugs (trying to throw you a bone here).

Yeah, Jwax, the theory is that the lungs are an excellent filter for microemboli. A microscopic embolus caught in an aveolar capillary might kill a square millimeter of lung tissue, but given that the aveolar surface, if laid completely flat, would cover a tennis court - it's not a big deal. But - the idea that we all throw lots and lots of tiny clots actually IS, to the best of my knowledge, the current thinking.

Can anyone talk me out of hanging myself in the surgery medical students' call room? I'm really trying not to be a drag, but I just don't LIKE surgery. The hours are just killer - I am so stressed out (I literally almost shake when I walk into an OR to scrub), and totally exhausted. Many people I've talked to are people who took surgery with classmates who had no interest in surgery, so they stuck it out together. ALL of my rotation-mates are interested in surgery. Their cheerful enthusiasm just makes me want to cut my wrists - and they're all friends of mine.

 

[Jwax]

Can anyone talk me out of hanging myself in the surgery medical students' call room?

Don't do it. 😉

I hate being around enthusiastic people when I don't feel that way at all. I understand entirely the desire to either slap them or slit your wrists. Fortunately, I can't think of too many rotations next year that will make me feel that way. Maybe medicine 😱. Or I'll be like bagel and want to slit my wrists during peds.

We had our lotto today... #101. 🙁 Hope no one picks my schedule.

 

[soonereng]

We had our lotto today... #101. 🙁 Hope no one picks my schedule.

Look at it this way...you get a good shot at getting your primary selectives (i.e. EM).

I got 33...pretty pleased with it. One guy in my mod got 4th...lucky dog.

 

[shortitalian]

Look at it this way...you get a good shot at getting your primary selectives (i.e. EM).

I got 33...pretty pleased with it. One guy in my mod got 4th...lucky dog.

96 here. 👎

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Yeah, I am not looking forward to doing surgery. 5 am is way too early. 6 am isn't too hot either, which is what I'll have to do for the next 3 weeks. But I've got a weekend this week, so I'm happy.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

I will prolly fluff this up during academic afternoon, but my initial thought is that I would not want to be the sole medical person in a group of surgeons. Only go to the OR enough to not make it obvious. But you do have to go or your eval will suffer. Maybe this will backfire bigger than ****, but find a trusted lower level resident and confide that while you aren't personally interested, you want to learn management of the surgical pt, as we 🙂 are prolly going to be a consult service in nonacademia. Meaning let someone other than the intern know that most of what you want is to follow the intern around.

I wish I could give you advice on the hours. Alas, I didn't rise after 0400 most days in July, and it was prolly the happiest I've been all year! I'm on geri now; I thought older people didn't need as much sleep? 😀

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Can anyone talk me out of hanging myself in the surgery medical students' call room? I'm really trying not to be a drag, but I just don't LIKE surgery. The hours are just killer - I am so stressed out (I literally almost shake when I walk into an OR to scrub), and totally exhausted. Many people I've talked to are people who took surgery with classmates who had no interest in surgery, so they stuck it out together. ALL of my rotation-mates are interested in surgery. Their cheerful enthusiasm just makes me want to cut my wrists - and they're all friends of mine.

I'm pretty sure you already know what I'm going to say. 😉

Not liking surgery is fine, but if the residents there are anything like the OKC residents, make sure they understand that you appreciate the role surgery/surgeons play. As a future internist you'll be consulting surgery plenty for various reasons, and they know that. Do your best to make sure they know you're picking up the indications for surgical intervention.

As for OR time, being in a group with future surgeons can work to your advantage. Let them take all the bowel resections, CEAs, and vascular type procedures that last >1 hour. You can pick up all the easy stuff that doesn't take much time like port placements or hernia repairs.

Good luck!

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I don't know how it is in OKC, but the story here in Tulsa is that it's pretty much impossible to make lower than a B in surgery but fairly hard to make an A. So yeah, if you hate it, think about that. 🙂 My surgery plan is already to hang out in the call room almost the whole time.

So not looking forward to peds wards. Apparently my team has a rude intern who doesn't bother to know our names but scuts us non-stop. Lame. You'd think only the nice people would go into peds. And the old school peds clinic style where you get to act like a resident is gone forever. Apparently the budget won't allow it anymore. Speaking of which, budget topics come up every day in the peds clinic.

 

[DMBFan61]

I don't know how it is in OKC, but the story here in Tulsa is that it's pretty much impossible to make lower than a B in surgery but fairly hard to make an A. So yeah, if you hate it, think about that. 🙂 My surgery plan is already to hang out in the call room almost the whole time.

So not looking forward to peds wards. Apparently my team has a rude intern who doesn't bother to know our names but scuts us non-stop. Lame. You'd think only the nice people would go into peds. And the old school peds clinic style where you get to act like a resident is gone forever. Apparently the budget won't allow it anymore. Speaking of which, budget topics come up every day in the peds clinic.

I feel your pain...peds wards in Tulsa was the worst 3 weeks of school IMHO 👎

 

[Jwax]

Look at it this way...you get a good shot at getting your primary selectives (i.e. EM).

I got 33...pretty pleased with it. One guy in my mod got 4th...lucky dog.

Yeah, I probably will get my desired EM selective, the only problem is if I can't get a schedule that has the selectives after med & surg b/c you have to have done those first. Also I was very much hoping to be able to have two selectives back to back after med/surg so I could do the EM rotation in Tulsa. I'd much rather spend a month up there this year than 4thyear when I'll be doing two other months away from my husband. Add this burning desire to the need to preferably start with peds or psych so I can make it to one of my best friend's bachelorette party in Vegas on July 9, or at the least I need psych, peds, family or something else that doesn't have any weekend work so I can make it to the wedding on July 11. There are 6 templates that match exactly what I need. I'm not hopeful.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Yeah, I probably will get my desired EM selective, the only problem is if I can't get a schedule that has the selectives after med & surg b/c you have to have done those first. Also I was very much hoping to be able to have two selectives back to back after med/surg so I could do the EM rotation in Tulsa. I'd much rather spend a month up there this year than 4thyear when I'll be doing two other months away from my husband. Add this burning desire to the need to preferably start with peds or psych so I can make it to one of my best friend's bachelorette party in Vegas on July 9, or at the least I need psych, peds, family or something else that doesn't have any weekend work so I can make it to the wedding on July 11. There are 6 templates that match exactly what I need. I'm not hopeful.

I would be careful about hanging your hat with regard to your home program on a rotation during third year. I don't know that you can do a subI as a third year. Now if you can impress people enough to vouch for you just based on your knowledge gained on clerkships, more power to you. But you will likely STILL need to do a subI up there anyway. You may research this a little more.

I had 99, and got what I think has been a great schedule.

 

[Jwax]

I would be careful about hanging your hat with regard to your home program on a rotation during third year. I don't know that you can do a subI as a third year. Now if you can impress people enough to vouch for you just based on your knowledge gained on clerkships, more power to you. But you will likely STILL need to do a subI up there anyway. You may research this a little more.

I had 99, and got what I think has been a great schedule.

I'll keep that in mind - thanks.

Do you have to come in on the weekends on neuro in OKC? I'm trying to figure out all my options for being able to make it to the wedding in Vegas if nothing else. I know med, surgery, and obgyn would make it impossible to even catch the red-eye on Friday night out to Vegas to stay until Sunday.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

Sorry, master, I gotta go with Freeze on this one. He already wrote my response. Your point is well-taken, but we do have to color it with the knowledge that you're going into a field that uses <50 drugs on a daily basis. Now, you'll know those drugs very well and I, for one, am somewhat opposed to PCPs prescribing most of those drugs (trying to throw you a bone here).

Yeah I may be going into psych but I take ALL of medicine seriously and try to stay on top of it. I know most diabetes, HTN, and cholesterol drugs by heart, and have a decent knowledge of abx, pain meds, etc. In short most of what any IM doc is going to need to know on a daily basis. People who've rotated with me can vouch for the fact that I can pull med dosages out of my behind.

I'll cut you some slack since I don't think we know each other very well, but I believe very strongly that an MD should mean something. And psych or not, that means I need to know how to handle or at least begin the initial workup on almost anything that comes my way. I will be one of those psych residents that doesn't call medicine consults unless he absolutely needs to.

 

[DMBFan61]

I will be one of those psych residents that doesn't call medicine consults unless he absolutely needs to.

You sure are in the minority. The psych residents here almost take pride in how little medicine they know. 🙄

 

[Jwax]

You sure are in the minority. The psych residents here almost take pride in how little medicine they know. 🙄

I was talking with a girl today about initially wanting to go into psych when I first decided I wanted to go to med school, that I didn't really want to be a doctor, I wanted to be a psychiatrist. I said that since then I changed my mind and want to be a doctor and not a psychiatrist. She said isn't a psychiatrist a doctor? I said yeah... but a very different kind of doctor...

I'm sorry if we aren't all meeting up to your standards, monkey master. I like to think that I will know drugs by heart after I finish my training (after residency is over) but until then I will flail along with whatever knowledge I can manage to retain.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I was talking with a girl today about initially wanting to go into psych when I first decided I wanted to go to med school, that I didn't really want to be a doctor, I wanted to be a psychiatrist. I said that since then I changed my mind and want to be a doctor and not a psychiatrist. She said isn't a psychiatrist a doctor? I said yeah... but a very different kind of doctor...

I'm sorry if we aren't all meeting up to your standards, monkey master. I like to think that I will know drugs by heart after I finish my training (after residency is over) but until then I will flail along with whatever knowledge I can manage to retain.

Hey, as a future psych person I'm taking a little offense here. Psych people really do need to know medicine. Yeah, there aren't a lot of procedures, but lots of other docs don't do procedures either. Psychiatrists deal with biological conditions and treat them with medication and ECT. That's medicine. They also deal with patients who have delirium from all sorts of metabolic/nutritional etc. issues.