Sorry about the absence - guess I never really left, I was still sheepishly reading all your posts.. but had nothing much to say myself. All is well, I promise. Returned from Fiji 10 days ago, where I spent 3 weeks at the CWM Hospital on a purely optional "elective" rotation. Words cannot adequately portray my gratitude to the patients and doctors who so humbly accommodated me during my time there. It is always with mixed feelings that I undertake placements in communities where I take away much much more than what I give in return. I am yet to reconcile with this morally-questionable predicament and am resting slightly with the hope that one day I can return as a qualified hot-shot and offer my services voluntarily (or at a substantially lower wage than I would be earning here anyway).
That aside, a reflection or two regarding my experiences. In light of my sway towards anaesthetics as a speciality, I decided to hang out with the dopers for a fair portion of my time. Having more faith in my abilities than I do myself, my supervisors allowed me to do spinal and regional blocks on pretty much anyone who walked through the OT doors. I also got lots of pratice in cannulating, intubating and inserting LMAs. There was a lot of in-between teaching and general chit-chat as well, which I loved because I got a chance to ask about anaesthetics as a specialty and exchange details about our differing health-care systems. The experience was great for all the obvious reasons, but particularly so in helping me realise that I don't think I'm very well suited to a career in anaesthetics. The challenges are still challenging, don't get me wrong - I've haven't mastered the Art by any means, I guess some part of me is just looking for something else. That's the real value of these experiences - among other things - crossing potential specialties off the list, sort of. I have an official anaesthetics terms in 4th year (if I make it that far!!) which will span for 8 weeks, so hopefully that will shed more light either way... but for better or worse, I'm quite content to be going into my clinical years a little less set on the path I want to pursue. The rest of my time in Fiji was spent scrubbing in on surgeries (mainly gen surg, plastics and obs/gynae). Obs/gynae is starting to grow on me - interesting mixture of medicine and surgery, but still, I'm not setting it in stone like I did anaesthetics! Anyway, Fiji has given me a lot to think about and despite my ethical dilemma, I'm not ruling out another placement there next year.
Back on the home-front, I have two exams awaiting me in about 4 weeks' time (haven't been given the precise dates yet). I'm doing a bit of study here and there, but just waiting for the new year to really get into it. I feel like I'm in limbo land, it's pretty scary because with the exam date being so close to the start of semester date, I don't know if I'll even be offered a supplementary exam if, Heaven forbid, I should fail. Of course I'm having slight regrets now about not just getting them out of the way at the time.. but, sunny-side up, my brain might be slightly less rusty than everyone elses' going into third year. Maybe.. hopefully :-S
M.C. everyone - hope you have a beautiful day with your family+friends tomorrow!
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2 years ago
Re the ethical dilemma - the very fact that it is a dilemma for you proves that you aren't just taking. People who come back from any volunteer or developing world type experience generally say that they got out of it far more than they put in, even in places like Darfur. Sometimes what you did get out is not always immediately apparent, particularly straight away...
ReplyDeleteHope your Mum is doing well....MC to you all xox
And with the giving back aspect....teaching is a great thing to do as well, not just public health posters etc but even *gasp* medical students. :-)
And forgot to say: that those places also do benefit massively from the people who come back to help or send help. Its the whole circle of life (wheel of fortune) part of being a student. That giving back kicks in very soon, and already has in a way. Glad you had a good time.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear from you again, Sascha, and catch up on some of what's going on. I know many of us have been thinking about you. Glad you're doing well and all the best for the coming study period. If your univeristy is anything like mine they'll have repeated a whole lot of questions ;)
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks Dee - I feel a lot better about the situation because deep inside I know I will do some Aid work, when I am ready for it.
ReplyDeleteLol M&2S, I'm praying with all my might that they're going to repeat questions - my study has involved learning all the answers from past papers off by heart ;-P