This was a hard week on the surgical ward. We lost a patient last weekend, and although I was introduced to his case later in his course of therapy and had limited interactions with him, his passing has complicated the narrative I have always told myself about medicine and my career as a physician. In... Continue Reading →
Blog
Resiliency in Medicine, Part 1: Enduring medical school while a loved one is sick.
Medical school is hard, I think that's been fairly well-established. So when I started my first year of medical school, I was fully expecting late nights, jam-packed days, and based on the nearly universal analogy, I was expecting to be "drinking from a fire hydrant" for the next 4+ years. To some extent, those of... Continue Reading →
Control and Comparison: Thoughts from a Recovering A-type Medical Student
This summer passed quickly and quietly, and we came back to medical school far less enthusiastically than we did last year. Within days of starting, second year proved to be a bizarre coalescence of didactic monotony, quasi-clinical applications, anxiety-provoking spiels about board exam preparation, and discussions of rotations that are just close enough to excite... Continue Reading →
5 Easy Workouts Your Body Will Love
Looking for motivation? Or maybe just somewhere to start? These beginner workouts were made just for you. All of them are less than 45 minutes, and all you'll need is a set of dumbbells! Trust me, your body will thank you for these workouts. Total Body Burn 5 minute cardio warmup -- Walk, jog, jump... Continue Reading →
To the Pre-Med Students Who Feel Discouraged
I remember the phone call from my college advisor the summer before school started, asking me if I was sure I wanted to be Pre-Med. "You know, less than 10% of students stay pre-med, especially girls. It's just too hard. You'll waste a lot of time, and have to start over when you drop out.... Continue Reading →
9 Surprising Ways Recruitment Prepares You for Medical School Interviews
When I joined a sorority my freshman year of college, I was expecting to meet life-long friends, get involved on campus, and go to fun date events. Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional roller-coaster that was formal recruitment, but I survived and matched with a sorority that was a great fit for me.... Continue Reading →
To my anatomy lab donor.
I’m praying for you. I’m praying that you are feeling joy, peace, and contentedness. I’m praying that you are surrounded by people you love. I’m praying that you are not in pain, nor are suffering in any capacity. I praise Jesus for you. I praise Jesus for your heart of compassion. I praise Jesus for... Continue Reading →
An open letter to the friends I met abroad:
To the incredible, thoughtful, compassionate friends I met while living abroad: When we first met, I had no idea how important you would become in my life. I had no idea that you would become not only some of my closest friends, but my family while I was away from my own. I had no... Continue Reading →
Volunteering with Vive Peru (Clinical Medicine Program)
A lot of you have asked me to write about my experiences at Vive Peru, so here is a general overview of the program, my experience, and my thoughts! I spent a lot of time comparing volunteer programs -- I was looking for an organization that promoted sustainable action within under-served communities, and a location... Continue Reading →
Little luxuries.
Working in hospital here in Trujillo has given me a unique opportunity to meet many people on a personal level, quickly. As such, I've been able to see a lot of vulnerability and honesty not typically afforded to a person you meet on the streets. In honor of Thanksgiving being last week, here are... Continue Reading →
Well With Kristen Noelle 