I stopped writing during my second and third years of medical school, not due to a lack of amazing things happening, but due to an overwhelming lack of time. I successfully passed my USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam) Step 1 after studying for approximately 6 months. This exam score helps to determine your competitiveness in applying for residency programs. Certain residency programs such as Dermatology, Neurosurgery, and Radiology are more competitive and require top board scores. I did well enough to get into the residency I desire. I then transitioned to the third year of medical school. During USMLE Step 1 studying, my medical school boyfriend and I broke up due to the extreme pressure we were under amongst other things. We tried to rekindle our relationship after the exam was over, but the damage had already been done. Third year was also stressful as we both started surgery block.
Surgery rotations were fascinating to me and I enjoyed being in the Operating Room. However, I could not picture myself waking up at 5 am or earlier everyday to operate and function as a normal human being who still had a family and life outside of medicine. My chief resident and intern were both females when I began my surgery block. They were great mentors who said that you should choose whatever specialty you love, as you don't want to spend time at work doing something you hate, because no matter what, you'd be spending a lot of time at work. I saw a lot of cholecystectomies (removal of gallbladders), hernia repairs, and bowel resections. I also had the privilege of working under pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons at Riley Hospital where I saw congenital heart disease repairs. These physicians worked miracles, allowing a heart that would not allow the child to survive past one year of age, a chance at life. Observing these surgeries peaked my interest in congenital heart disease and possibly becoming a pediatric cardiologist in the future. I was able to first assist one heart surgery of a young boy with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The surgeon did not have any other residents or fellows available and thus I was asked to stand across the table from him and assist him with knot tying, cutting, and even cutting the superior vena cava. In those moments, my adrenaline was rushing and I felt amazing. Another cool surgical subspecialty I observed was transplant surgery. I was able to see an organ procurement. This is where after a person passes away, they take or "procure" their organs to give to another human being. On the transplant team, I was able to see a mother's best friend give her kidney to the mother's son.
After surgery, I rotated through anesthesia, OB/Gyn, Neurology, Medicine, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine. I thoroughly enjoyed Medicine and Pediatrics and thus decided to pursue a combined Medicine/Pediatrics residency.
