Become a Doctor, They Said. It'll be Fun, They Said.
8 Minute Read-Intern Year: “I am well... in Jesus name,” came my mom’s soft voice through the phone. She sounded faint, as though she had just run a marathon and was finally laying down to rest. “What’s wrong, mom?” I asked, knowing that when she said things like this, it usually meant something was not …
Continue reading "No. 19: The time I rushed my mom to the hospital… in another continent"
7 minute read-Medical School: He wouldn’t smile at me. No matter how charismatic or funny I thought I was being, his facial expression didn’t change. He was the director of a dermatology program that I was very interested in, and though I was halfway through my 20-minute interview with him, I had not sensed a …
Continue reading "No. 18: I got caught dancing during residency interviews"
7 minute read-Intern Year: *BEEEEEEP!!!!!!!* My pager went off loudly and I was jolted awake. The metal springs inside my thin mattress and I groaned in concert as I turned over to look at the time. *2:00 AM* This page better be good. I called the number back and croaked “Hello?” when an alert voice …
Continue reading "No. 17: The time my patient grabbed me by the crotch"
7 minute read- Medical school: WHAT? An "unsatisfactory” in professionalism? How is that possible??!! I stared at my grade in disbelief. I was used to getting good grades my whole life. Valedictorian in high-school, summa cum laude in college, and then average to slightly above average grades during my first two years of medical school …
Continue reading "No. 16: My attending gave me a bad grade… because of my hair"
7 minute read-Intern Year: I liked her right away. She was in her early 30s, chocolate-skinned with a wide playful smile, and wasn’t afraid to wear her purple bonnet around the hospital without shame. She reminded me of home (ATL, that is!); thick southern accent, kind to everyone that worked with her, while simultaneously sporting …
5 Minute Read-Intern year: “Hey Doc, am I officially discharged?” my patient asked as I helped him sign paperwork before leaving the hospital. “Yessir!” I responded cheerily. “You can go in just a few minutes, just let your nurse come to remove your IV and give you your clothes.” “So…..” his voice took on a …
Continue reading "No. 13: The time my patient asked me on a date"
6 Minute Read-Sometime before medical school I heard the crying before I heard the doorbell ring. It was around 4 in the afternoon, and big yellow buses were trucking down the neighborhood streets, dropping kids home after school. I was living with family at the time to save money on rent, which came with particular …
Continue reading "No. 11: The time my niece cut her skin off"
7 Minute Read-Intern Year: “The problem is… you don’t have enough sex,” said my patient as I helped her back into bed. “ExCUSE me?!” I spurted incredulously, watching her as she chuckled. She was an 80-something-year-old, spunky, olive-toned woman with silvery white hair she wore in a long braid down her back. She demanded I …
Continue reading "No. 10: My patient was abandoned by her family"
7 Minute Read-Intern Year Day 105: “Wait, what room is he in?” “Seriously, I’ll just walk by the room and peek in, no harm done!” “He’s probably not even that cute.” A few of my co-interns were joking with me about a patient I was about to admit from the emergency department. We had heard …
Continue reading "No. 9: The time my patient used me to get high"
Not Another Doctor Blog 