Transition

Since my last entry, I've started my last rotation, internal medicine, aka medicine, wards, looong hours.  It has been a very humbling and trying 3 weeks.  "You don't need to be experienced to do a good job, you need to be bright enough and humble enough to surround yourself with people who know what they're doing." Dr. Marcus Conant

 I enjoy the learning, even though some (a LOT, actually) of stuff I can't even learn...like its that over my head.  Orange medicine team: Dr. C-attending physician UCSF grad, chief med resident has a 14 month old girl.  Dr. Huang-resident St. Louis grad currently pregnant.  Dr. "Suey"- transitional intern #1 UCSF grad, engaged with hugest rock I've ever seen. Dr. "Alex"-M.D., PhD. Stanford intern #2 Wash U grad, engaged, wedding in June. Michelle- pharm student (from where? What/Where is UOP?)  Three more weeks of rotations to go as a student  Hey, in july...IF my team introduces me, I'll be Michelle, pharmacy resident. upgraded.  My identity is not in where I go to school or what initials I have behind my name or the size of the rock or lack there of.

The real reason for blog: I'm looking for a roommate. Any girls or any girls you know who are looking for housing in Palo Alto/Menlo Park/Mountain View, the Pennisula starting this summer?  :)

Application Process #10

Application Process #9

If this were a television series, next Wednesday 9am Pacific Standard Time would be the season finale.  It has been a long journey.  The journey is better than the inn.  I would say that I'm at peace with the upcoming match results.  Am I overly confident?  I hope not.  But I think I'll be happy with what I match with. 

Is it time for me to pay my dues?

Is it time for me to get a life outside of pharamcy?

Some thoughts from John Wooden

"People usually know what they should do to get what they want. They just won't do it. They won't pay the price. Understand there is a price to be paid for achieving anything of significance. You must be willing to pay the price."

Nine Promises That Can Bring Happiness (selected promises)

Promise to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best in yourself and others.

Promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.

Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.

Residency matching and future plans are complicated.  But I must trust that God is sovereign.  Not by my strength or might or works or determination, but by God's grace alone. 

Stay tuned...

Application Process #4

Since my last entry, I have heard from a few sites.  This is my crazy interview schedule:

January 31st: Long Beach Memorial at 1:00pm

February 13th: UCSF at 10:00am

February 14th: City of Hope at 1:00pm

February 15th: Stanford at 7:30am

February 20th: Huntington Hospital at 12:00pm

That is THREE separate trips home so far.  I also had a mock interview today.  They asked me questions like, "What do you like to do on your free time?" Me: Read.  "What are you reading?"  Intense redness all over my face as my mind draws blanks of any decent book.  Me: The Excellent Wife.  They laugh.  Me:  It is a good book because it is something I aspire to be.  SIIIGH  More questions, "If you were a drug, what drug would you be?"  and the dreaded "tell me about a clinical intervention"  On a side note, I wore my brand new suit today.  And whilst hurrying to my rotation, I spill milk ALL over my skirt!  :(  Milk stains on a black suit is major NG.  I don't even know how to remove it.  Lastly, in preparation for interviews, I bought a new pair of shoes.  I'm encouraged to be conservative.  This is not supposed to be a fashion shoe.  But I couldn't resist these patent black leather, 3.5" heel rounded toe mary janes:  Hopefully, these will not be the reason why I don't match. 

Application Process #3

Between now and March 19st, 2008 are 10 weeks.  These 10 weeks are huge.  I feel like I am at this constantly pivotal stage of life.  Last year, at this time, if any of you remember that long, I was struggling with rotation site selection: San Jose, Long Beach?  I had my heart set on San Jose, and here I am!  This year, I do prefer certain sites over others, but just getting a residency would be awesome!  These will be exciting...or at least interesting times.  Just to give my readers an outline:

Early January-applications due

Mid January-notified regarding application status/possibility for interviews

Late January-Mid February-interviews

March 7th-Applicants submit rank order lists

March 19th-Results of the Match are released to programs and applicants

*March 19th 1200-THE SCRAMBLE for unmatched residencies

This week I started my HIV ambulatory care rotation.  With readily available internet access, I stalk my email between patient interviews, monitoring patients, ordering refills/new meds.  Yesterday, I got an email from Stanford saying they are missing an online recommendation form from one of my recommenders.  Stanford is complicated...a recommender needs to send a physical letter + form + online letter + form.  Intense.  And this whole week, I have been debating (still) should I call UCSF to verify they received everything?  Well this afternoon I got an email from UCSF; I have an interview!!!! hooray! even though they state, "85-90% of applicants will receive an interview," I'm still glad that I'm headed down the right track. 

Good night!