Introducing...

Dr. Albino Blackbear BSc. N., BM BS (Hons)

It actually happened!

Residency starts...er...in two days! 

I am a terrible blogger. Once the last box is unpacked and internet is hooked up, a proper post will follow. 

Finito Mosquito

It was a rush. It was not anticlimactic at all.

I had been warning myself not to build up in my mind the last moments of medical school and the thrill of being done. So many milestones have felt disappointingly bland once they were reached.

Well it turns out that finishing medical school is not one of those milestones.

After a week from absolute hell (which I will get into once my medical degree is firmly planted in my hand) I arrived on Thursday morning for the last set of OSCE's (clinical exams). It was 12 five minute stations of medical or surgical skills. My last station was giving discharge instructions to a patient and when the buzzer rang, the actor patient stood up and shook my hand to say, "Well done!! You're done!!" The examiner said "Congrats!" and I emerged from the cubicle to see my friend, JM standing there with a huge grin on his face.

JM was the very first person I met in our class. We met in Toronto while taking the elevator up to our interviews. He surmised that I was there for the same reason and asked me where I was from, what I did for a living etc. When I told him I was living in Whistler, working in the emergency department there he stopped me and said, "Wait, so you live in Whistler, you have a job you love, yet you're planning on giving it all up to move to a different country and become hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to be a doctor? Why?"

Well, when you put it that way. I had thought about his comment many, many times during the last 4 years. Why, indeed.

So when I saw his face as I stepped out of my last station I had to chuckle at the perfect end to medical school. We gave each other a rib-crushing hug and he said in my ear, "You know why this is a perfect finish don't you?"

I laughed and cried a little and said "YES! You were the first person I met on this journey!"

Then I randomly hugged a few other bewildered, exhausted, adrenaline frazzled classmates...I may have pounced on a few invigilator bystanders as well. It is all a bit of a blur.

We were then put in a 'holding tank' room in the hotel for over an hour as the other groups of students hadn't gone in for their exams yet. We weren't allowed to use our phones so as not to text anyone what cases were in the OSCE. I came prepared though. One little bottle of Champagne in my handbag which was quietly popped and then poured into the coffee cups they had provided for tea. A "CHEERS!" and few gulps to my pals that were also in the group. Shortly after the Prof of Medicine arrived and was asking us how it went. We were gathered in little groups chatting away, so when he approached we had just finished our Champagne. He said, "Are you having drinks soon?"

"Er.....well yes! In fact we've already had a little Champagne!"

You could see him mulling over this fact...hmmm are they allowed to have alcohol? This is an exam...hmmm...it's only 1030h...

Then he said, "Of COURSE you've already had Champagne! You're DONE! Good thinking on packing some in advance!!"

Phew.

We were set free.

I went and had an Indian head massage (best idea ever) at the spa, and spent the afternoon in the steam rooms and saunas with my dear friend, Emma.

The evening contained all the predictable events. Champagne. Great dinner out. Drinks at pub. Eventually going to Nancy's (the bar I LOVE to HATE). Having a drunk Irishman spill an entire pint of Guinness on me. Heading home with soaking wet jeans and a blister from my high heels.

And then it was over.

But I know it isn't the end. As a friend of mine on FB said, it isn't even the beginning of the end! 

Consultant Crushes and Medical Miracles

I'm not going to get too sentimental about all this. Just hear me out.

There are a lot of things we get wrong in medicine, a lot of things we can't treat, cure, or figure out. But today in clinic I had the opportunity to meet some children who are living (playing, giggling, bright eyed, rose-cheeked) proof that modern medicine can be amazing. Similar sort of feeling to a day I blogged about 2 years ago.

I met a child who had a catastrophic birth with many complications, but because of the swift and expert interventions provided (including total body cooling) has managed to develop with no deficits in any area (physically or cognitively). Today she is an adorable, intelligent, able bodied little bean who seriously rocks pink UGG boots.

Another child who was born with a fatal cardiac anomaly, had surgical treatment, and also is now a happy-go-lucky perfectly healthy little man. I couldn't help but send mental props to the cardiac surgeons like Lillehei* who trialed, and failed, and failed, and developed and perfected surgeries like the repair of Tetralogy of Fallot or the Norwood procedures. If those men hadn't risked their careers and their emotional fortitude 50 years ago, today these children would have died at birth or after short and difficult lives.

My awestruck gaze was only sharpened by the fact that I was working with a seriously butt-kicking-ridiculously-intelligent-biochemistry-genetics-pediatric-metabolic-disorder-expert-ball-of-awesomeness consultant who loves to teach! I hoped some of her brain power might waft over in my direction if I sat close enough to her in clinic (without being too creepy and really invading her personal space).

And so, I return to my reading and eventually the newest episode of "New Girl".  Oh and yes, I am working like mad on my CaRMS application and my new research project. I have a whole post on recent CaRMS trauma in the works...but for now...I'll just say that today was a good day. A perfectly timed reminder of why I am putting myself through all of this.

*Read "Walk on Water" by Ruhlman and "King of Hearts" by Cooley if you really want to know what I am talking about. Both fascinating and unreal stories of larger than life pediatric cardiac surgeons.

The Real Reason, On CBC Today

When I am asked the reason I chose medicine, I almost never tell the truth. I feel a little protective of the real reason and how it might be perceived by others, so I usually reveal some of my less sentimental and more cerebral motivations for becoming a doctor.

But, when given the opportunity to create a small radio piece about my grandad and how he continues to medically inspire me, I happily got to work.

I know it is Christmas Eve, but if you need a half hour break from the chaos, have a listen to a story that is very close to my heart.  Tune into CBC's national radio show, White Coat, Black Art today, or go to the website and stream it at your leisure.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to their holiday!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.  Stay safe, keep warm.

Another Charming Trend in Medicine

"IMG" means "International Medical Graduate". As in, anyone who studied medicine outside of Canada and wants to do post-graduate studies in Canada.

Did I mention there are 45 Canadians in my medical class alone?

Dare I delve into how many of those 6.5% matched to something other than internal or family medicine?

Hello, Ireland. Need a doctor?

Ants in My (Scrub) Pants

Today we had our "Year 3 Orientation" meeting wherein our clinical placements were discussed and more details with regard to our schedule and marking scheme were revealed.

One word: EEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Ok, one sound, I guess.

Now this whole medical school thing is starting to get exciting. Up to this point I've been trying to memorize very uninteresting things like what areas of the cell cycle certain chemotherapy agents act on. In a few short months I'll be a human retractor! Can't wait can't wait can't wait!!!

Hey ABB! Hold that. Now don't move for 6 hours.

In the Q and A portion afterward I asked the Dean if, on our surgical rotations, we are fixed with one team, or if we get to rotate in sub-specialties and with other specialists, like anesthetists. He said in my hospital there is an ortho team and I can spend some time with them, OB's, anesthetists, or even days in A & E if I want. [Cue me mentally jumping up and down]. He said as long as I am fulfilling my requirements for whichever rotation I am in (i.e. medicine or surgery) I can have some flexibility with how I structure my days.

Can I just say again, "EEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"

Also, can it please be August 2nd? Like, now?

Ryan looking like the creepiest future pediatrician that ever walked this earth.

 In an unrelated story, Tobie is growing out a beard. I am unsure of how I feel about this. I actually like beardos in general and have even shacked up with one or two in my time...but as the George Micheal grows into more of a Russel Brand I just can't help seeing Tobie's AJ from the Backstreet Boys look.

Which is downright creepy.