On Residency
I have been working a lot these days. If anyone reading this is wondering whether pathology residency has great hours, the answer is sometimes. But at most programs a lot of time will be spent on rotations with much longer hours, like surgicals, hemepath, and even autopsy and blood bank at some programs. It is very hard to work a 14-hour day and come home and crack open the books you need to read to really get a handle on the material. Pathology is a much more reading-intense field than many others.
On Blogging
I wish I had time to write more. It is such nice stress relief. But it has been good to see that some of the bloggers whose stuff I enjoyed, ie Panda Bear, The Fake Doctor, are back in action. Bostonian has a nice post detailing some good reading if you want to catch up.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Pathology Humor
:::A piece of tumor falls off the grossing table and onto the floor:::
Resident 1: Dude, you dropped your tumor.
Resident 2: Oh, crap, I did.
:::leaning over:::
PA: Quick, 5 second rule!
Resident 2: It's not too late.
:::grabs tumor with forceps:::
PA: Anyone have a Triscuit?
Resident 1: Soft tissue appetizer, anyone?
PA: Yippee, mystery meat!
:::laughter:::
Yeah, we're a bunch of sick f-cks. But it does make the time go by quicker.
Resident 1: Dude, you dropped your tumor.
Resident 2: Oh, crap, I did.
:::leaning over:::
PA: Quick, 5 second rule!
Resident 2: It's not too late.
:::grabs tumor with forceps:::
PA: Anyone have a Triscuit?
Resident 1: Soft tissue appetizer, anyone?
PA: Yippee, mystery meat!
:::laughter:::
Yeah, we're a bunch of sick f-cks. But it does make the time go by quicker.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Conversation Killer
I finished autopsy. Well, at least this round of it. There will be a few more months coming up in the future. I'll let you in on a little secret: most people in pathology do not like autopsies. There seems to be this assumption, especially among other doctors, that we must love autopsies. Some people do. If they really do they might go into forensic pathology or take an academic position at a place where a lot of autopsies are done. But many do not, and in this day and age of declining autopsies one can generally find a job where doing them is rare.
Long ago I blogged about what happened when I told people that I was a medical student. Now I can tell you that announcing you are a pathology resident inspires even more weird awkwardness. "Oh, like on CSI, right?" "Pathology?" "Oh, that must be interesting." Or (usually from people with some knowledge of the health professions) "hmmm..." with a stare that implies that I must be social inept/lazy/a serial killer/all of the above. And occasionally, usually from really burned out residents/clinicians, "you are so lucky you made the right choice: no patients, good money, and nice hours."
But imagine the conversation either: 1. actually progress beyond that initial phases or 2. is with someone I know who knows a bit about what I am doing. Now someone asks what I am doing right now. "I'm doing autopsies." Can I just say CONVERSATION KILLER?
Remember what I said above about CSI/social ineptitude/serial killer associations? It all comes back right in that moment. The look of horror comes up. Awkward silence reigns.
Or, the other alternative usually occurs with people who have had some medical training. I am not talking about other MDs. Most MDs I have talked to go into the horror camp, though they don't react as strongly. These other folks react with this very genuine "that must be so interesting!" They then launch into a ramble about how cool it must be, and then suddenly will say something like, "I know it is morbid but I have always wanted to see an autopsy." If the person works at my hospital I usually tell them it could be arranged. I wonder if anyone will ever come and watch one, and would it really be that interesting?
Long ago I blogged about what happened when I told people that I was a medical student. Now I can tell you that announcing you are a pathology resident inspires even more weird awkwardness. "Oh, like on CSI, right?" "Pathology?" "Oh, that must be interesting." Or (usually from people with some knowledge of the health professions) "hmmm..." with a stare that implies that I must be social inept/lazy/a serial killer/all of the above. And occasionally, usually from really burned out residents/clinicians, "you are so lucky you made the right choice: no patients, good money, and nice hours."
But imagine the conversation either: 1. actually progress beyond that initial phases or 2. is with someone I know who knows a bit about what I am doing. Now someone asks what I am doing right now. "I'm doing autopsies." Can I just say CONVERSATION KILLER?
Remember what I said above about CSI/social ineptitude/serial killer associations? It all comes back right in that moment. The look of horror comes up. Awkward silence reigns.
Or, the other alternative usually occurs with people who have had some medical training. I am not talking about other MDs. Most MDs I have talked to go into the horror camp, though they don't react as strongly. These other folks react with this very genuine "that must be so interesting!" They then launch into a ramble about how cool it must be, and then suddenly will say something like, "I know it is morbid but I have always wanted to see an autopsy." If the person works at my hospital I usually tell them it could be arranged. I wonder if anyone will ever come and watch one, and would it really be that interesting?
Monday, July 27, 2009
1 Week to Go
3 weeks of autopsy down and 1 to go. We have been really, really busy this month, and are getting close to setting a record. Welcome to July. Argh. There have been some really interesting, rare cases. But overall it has just been exhausting. Next month will be even busier, so it's time to ramp up. I am hoping to wrap up my current cases this week. Unfortunately, autopsies take a long time to resolve since getting slides, records, and writing reports can take weeks. So any cases we pick up this week will follow us onto our next rotation and will have to somehow get done amidst everything else.
In other news, Daisy of Love wrapped up last night. I won't spoil it in case anyone reading this cares, but it was not a huge surprise. The next installment of VH1 reality love show trash starts this Sunday, I believe, with the kick-off of Megan Wants a Millionaure, featuring the ever manipulative, aspiring trophy life Megan Hauserman from Rock of Love. Yes, I am sinking to new lows in TV watching this year... I knew it was bad when one of the big queens at the gym was shocked when I mentioned Daisy of Loveand said, "girl, I had no idea you watched that!" But hey, talking about this crap with colleagues makes the autopsies go by quicker and it sure is a more fun way to spend my evenings than reading pathology texts when I am exhausted. Okay, time to go watch the Charm School season finale.
In other news, Daisy of Love wrapped up last night. I won't spoil it in case anyone reading this cares, but it was not a huge surprise. The next installment of VH1 reality love show trash starts this Sunday, I believe, with the kick-off of Megan Wants a Millionaure, featuring the ever manipulative, aspiring trophy life Megan Hauserman from Rock of Love. Yes, I am sinking to new lows in TV watching this year... I knew it was bad when one of the big queens at the gym was shocked when I mentioned Daisy of Loveand said, "girl, I had no idea you watched that!" But hey, talking about this crap with colleagues makes the autopsies go by quicker and it sure is a more fun way to spend my evenings than reading pathology texts when I am exhausted. Okay, time to go watch the Charm School season finale.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Bravo Wisdom
So I must admit that I have become addicted to Bravo reality shows. I used to just watch them sporadically. But since residency started last year, they have become a really nice way to zone out at the end of a long day. Besides, who wants to do something like read about fetal cardiac malformations when you could watch unsuspecting wealthy people from around the country be made into complete caricatures on national television?
Tonight was the first episode of "Miami Social," Bravo's latest installment in their showcase of urban high life vapidity that is immune to the poor economy. This show, with its constant parties, clubs, dating drama, and sex talk, really took the cake for shallowness. It made the various "Real Housewives" series, that addressed some "real" topics like drug addiction, cancer, and parenting amidst the superficial drama, look downright deep. I should probably stop now while I am disgusted and not get roped in. But somehow I have this awful feeling that next Tuesday night, when given the choice of reading a pathology book or TV, "Miami Social" will win. I'll leave you with a few choice words of wisdom from the crew:
Oh my god! I look so good in this reflection.
Never break your shoes over a man.
When people are in love, they get fat.
Tonight was the first episode of "Miami Social," Bravo's latest installment in their showcase of urban high life vapidity that is immune to the poor economy. This show, with its constant parties, clubs, dating drama, and sex talk, really took the cake for shallowness. It made the various "Real Housewives" series, that addressed some "real" topics like drug addiction, cancer, and parenting amidst the superficial drama, look downright deep. I should probably stop now while I am disgusted and not get roped in. But somehow I have this awful feeling that next Tuesday night, when given the choice of reading a pathology book or TV, "Miami Social" will win. I'll leave you with a few choice words of wisdom from the crew:
Oh my god! I look so good in this reflection.
Never break your shoes over a man.
When people are in love, they get fat.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
From the Morgue
Yes, I am doing autopsies. What a way to start the new year. We have been busy... could it be because it is July?
I was waiting for the elevator this morning and there were two patients standing near me. One pointed to the fading sign that has hung near the elevator for the last 2 weeks: "New Resident and Fellow Orientation (up arrow).>
"This is why you never go to a teaching hospital in July," he said to his companion.
"Huh, why not?"
"Because July is when all of the new doctors start and they don't know anything. They might kill you."
Could this be the reason why we've been dissecting for ~12 hours a day this week? Or is it just because July is a big month for teaching and autopsies are a good teaching experience? Or are all the newbies just gung-ho about consenting families for autopsies? Food for thought.
I was waiting for the elevator this morning and there were two patients standing near me. One pointed to the fading sign that has hung near the elevator for the last 2 weeks: "New Resident and Fellow Orientation (up arrow).>
"This is why you never go to a teaching hospital in July," he said to his companion.
"Huh, why not?"
"Because July is when all of the new doctors start and they don't know anything. They might kill you."
Could this be the reason why we've been dissecting for ~12 hours a day this week? Or is it just because July is a big month for teaching and autopsies are a good teaching experience? Or are all the newbies just gung-ho about consenting families for autopsies? Food for thought.
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