International Space Station

So, I was going to post before anyone else (i.e. Kyle) had a chance to post. We just got back from a spectacular game of Ultimate, at which Jana showed her mighty, yet hidden and underestimated Ultimate skills. This was capped off by someof Milwaukee's Best and the viewing of the International Space Station (trademark 2001) as it crossed beneath the Big Dipper. Somehow Ken knew that it was coming. Something to do with literacy and the leisure time to read the local newspaper. Anyway, it appeared as a dim speck, much like a satellite crossing the sky, as predicted, and became gradually brighter as it passed overhead, and then dimmed within a couple of minutes (allegedly 4 minutes total to be exact). So cool. I can't imagine how often one gets the opportunity to view a celestial body, with passengers aboard, with the naked eye. There are probably statistics on the web for that, but I'm not going to reference them. Anyway, it is supposed to happen tomorrow night as well, around 7:11 pm Arizona time. Ch-ch-ch-ch--check it out.

Neurology

I started Neurology today. A rotation I have been somewhat dreading for a variety of reasons. It started off a little slow, but I learned today that we can put electrodes in the brains of Parkinson's Disease patients which counter act the dyskinesias that are associated with L-dopa treatment.

In layman's terms, when people are treated with dopamine like substances, they are again able to move and assume something of a normal life (ever see the movie Awakenings with Robin Williams?). The side effects, however, include these horrible writhing movements of arms and legs which can be just as debilitating as the disease itself. I watched a tech turn up the voltage on one of these electrodes and the patient's leg movements simply stopped. So cool. This is apparently an every day sort of thing in this particular neurology practice.

Maybe it won't be too bad after all.

Am I writing just to please Kyle?

When did I lose my sense of idealism? Has medical school beaten it out of me like so many other things, or did I just get older and change priorities. A little of both, I imagine. Now I'm not saying I have lost all of my sense of what is right, and my part in it, but the small things have begun to wither.

For example, using paper towels in a public restroom when a hand dryer is available. I used to adamantly use the hand dryer, as using the towels killed trees. I never expected that my actions alone would change anything, but if I didn't pay attention to these small options, then who would? Or, how I truly wanted (and still want) one of the beautifully sewn pairs of seal skin mittens I found in Alaska. When did I become okay with killing animals for fur? Okay, no argument that there is a significant difference between the subsistence lifestyle and utilization of animals in the Arctic compared to the rest of the world, but it is still fur. There are dozens of simillar examples, none of them major, but I also don't think that they are truly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

I would like to vote for the apathy driven lifestyle that medical school brings, because it absolves me of any responsibility. Who knows? The things you think about during a 5 hours boat ride followed by a 76 hour car ride.

I have been in Lake Powell/Glen Canyon all week. One of the most spectacuar places I have ever been. Ken and Lisa are getting married tonight. Awesome.

Personal Statement

Here it is. It looks horrendously long, but only consists of about a page. Any feedback you can provide...grammarical, spelling, subject matter, pretensions, lack of pretensions, or otherwise, let me know.

Delivering health care in the village of Shishmaref, a glorified sand bar north of the Bering Sea, I fully understood the essence of Family Practice medicine. The roles of healer, teacher, coach, and politician combined with the mastery of a vast compendium of medical knowledge were essential for successful medical care. This is the challenge for which I entered medicine.
Knowing that I would one day return to practice medicine in my home state of Alaska, primary care has always been my primary goal. I feel that no specialty has a greater potential impact on its patients than Family Medicine. Tempted by clinical rotations in Surgery, OB/Gyn, Cardiology, and Pediatrics, I knew that the residency I was seeking would support full spectrum Family Medicine with a strong rural health component. My drives include a desire to promote general health and preventative medicine, the need to teach, the challenge of practicing primary care medicine in the absence of specialists, and hands on work with generations of patients.
Prior to entering medical school, I developed a solid and diverse foundation through a career as a Forensic Scientist and work ranging from Emergency Medical Services to Environmental and Biological Field Research. Encouraged my classmates, I elected to participate in class leadership opportunities. As class representative for three years, I have acted as a liaison between the students, faculty and staff of the medical school and its associated entities and coordinated various activities of the student body ranging from fundraisers to graduation programs. Working with the Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) program has provided an insight to medical care for the inner city and refuge populations here in Tucson. Representing the student body, as a member of the selection committee for a new Dean of the College of Medicine, I learned to interact with a group of strong individuals from various backgrounds in the hospital, medical school, and community. As an active member of the Bioethics Committee for the University Medical Center I have begun to understand the complexity and gray areas within medicine. One of my greatest achievements, however, was the coordination and creation of more than 180 apple and pumpkin pies for a Toys-for-Tots fundraiser at my house.
In preparation for a career in full spectrum family practice I tailored many of my clinical experiences toward this goal. Outpatient Pediatrics in the community hospital brought patients with concerns ranging from impetigo to a thumb amputation. Family practice in the Winslow Indian Health Care Center served the Navajo Nation and included home visits to remote sites on the reservation, working with a patient population far below the poverty line, and learning how to practice medicine with people who had lived in a far different world than I could ever imagine. Providing care in Nome and Shishmaref, Alaska to a predominantly Inupiat Eskimo population also taught me the intracicies of rural medical care, telemedicine, and the possibilities of a practice far removed from specialists and the modern conveniences of a university hospital. My association with the Indian Health Services was continued with the Native American Cardiology program based out of the University of Arizona. Traveling with a group of Cardiologists and Fellows to the Navajo and Hopi reservations and direct hospital care in Tucson has provided a wealth of experience through the diverse pathology and cultural interactions with our patients.
Although my intentions weighed heavily on Family Practice prior to entering medical school, I never realized how strongly those convictions would be confirmed. Looking to the future of my medical career I look forward to practicing a full spectrum of family care with a component that includes rural health. I am excited to enter this new stage of my training.

Stalling

So I am terrible at writing when there are other things going on in my life. Right now, the other this is still the personal statement. It must be done by tomorrow,as I have an interview with the dean to write my letter of recommendation...torture (not the interview, but the personal statement is killing me, I swear). How can I write so easily in this format, but hate everything put down to paper for my future employers. Perhaps I can just write a link to this page and that would be sufficient. What do you think?

On a much happier note, we had our first games of Ultimate Frisbee league tonight, and won both of them. More importantly, our team is awesome. Not in the "We rule and have great skills" sense, but they all seem to actually be nice people, and have fun playing. I will hurt bad in the morning. It is inevitable, but tonight I feel like a champion.

Back to the personal statement...maybe I should play a little solitaire first.

Are you really going to tune in to hear me not talk about Alaska?

My wife ran off with a Mexican...so the rumor goes. Jana (Juanita?) has returned from the bachelorette festivities in Rocky Point, while I accomplished not nearly as much as planned over my first three day weekend in 9 months. I am great at setting up a "To Do" list that far exceeds my capacity for work. I know this, and am coping with it. The big priority this weekend was the ole Personal Statement. Nothing like trying to sell yourself in one page or less. Anyway, I thought I would say hello here because this is more fun. Perhaps I will post my statement for critique in the next couple of days. It has been very painful to write. I am also playing with the name of this site. Let me know what you think. Peace, out.