I know it's been way too long since I've posted, but there haven't been a ton of new things going on, and I'm not evne sure who reads this anymore. Regardless, I thought I'd touch on a few things that deserve updates:
1. There are exactly 18 days standing between me and graduation. 18 days! I can hardly believe it. On that note, there are 10 "working" days until the end of this block. I've had a good time at the clinic, but with the nice weather and graduation approaching I'm finding it hard to pay attention and truly care anymore. To top things off I've got all my projects done. I'd be so nice to be able to stay home for the next 2 weeks and study for the boards, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Oh well.
2. Tim and I have been dating for 4 months now and loving every minute of it! I've also been better about taking pictures which is much appreciated by family and friends. Check out my pictures on Picasa to see more!
3. It's official - I'm moving to Portland, OR this summer. I got a Residency Position with RegenceRx which is part of Blue Cross Blue Schield out there. I'll be there for a year and I'm both excited and nervous beyond all belief! Tim's moving out with me - which is amazing (did I mention that he's amazing?) and we're actually taking a mini-vacation out there to look at apartments right after graduation. Moving across the country is a lot more work (read money) than I thought it would be. Just FYI. Hopefully we'll get it all figured out in time. If anyone has any suggestions feel free to share - please!
Other than the above, things are chugging along as per usual. Now, back to rotation "work" - blah!
I think the thing I am most apprehensive about is just being “on my own” in a foreign country.I’ve never traveled abroad before; I’ve barely traveled within the U.S. without my parents, and never without a large group of friends.I know I’ll have Hailey and John and Mary Pat which is helping to calm my fears quite a bit.But there’s still a part of me that is nervous to be in another country so far away from the familiar.I suppose it could be excitement as well.This is one of the greatest opportunities that have ever been presented to me.Not only am I going to a beautiful country with amazing people; I also get to experience a completely different style of health care and learn and grow from those experiences.Hopefully I can bring the knowledge I gain at Hillside Clinic back to Wisconsin and share it with others to help us to realize the awesome advantages we have here and to acknowledge ways in which our practice could is different from other practices (both for the better and for the worse).I guess I’d have to say that that is really what my overall goal is for this rotation.I want to experience a different perspective on medicine and patient care and then find the best ways to apply that experience once I get home.Because what good is it to travel to an exotic location if you can’t learn something to share once you get back.
On the topic of goals I’m very interested in prescribing patterns in Belize (and any foreign country for that matter), especially in the context of differing disease burdens.I remember learning that many of the commonly seen disease states in the U.S. are beginning to be more prevalent in other countries (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia), but I know there will be a diverse new set of illnesses in Belize that I may or may not have encountered before.I feel like our schooling, while adequate for practice in the U.S., lacks a thorough base of tropical diseases and health in foreign countries in general.I’m not sure if I’m entirely prepared to work with “novel” illnesses, but I know I’m ready for the challenge they’re sure to present.This is another place where I feel extremely lucky to have John and Mary Pat as my preceptors.Their extensive work in Mexico and Belize is sure to come in handy and help Hailey and I to learn more and see more than we might have with other preceptors.
Speaking of John and Mary Pat I again feel fortunate that they are coming along to Belize.I’ve had the chance to meet John (and give him his influenza vaccine) and even in the short time he was back at the pharmacy I’ve learned a ton.To top off his amazing wealth of knowledge, he’s spectacularly funny and easy to talk to and get along with.And while I haven’t yet met Mary Pat I’m sure she’ll add another fascinating layer to the dynamic of the trip.
Of course, while my main goal focuses on health care and pharmacy, I also hope to learn more about the culture and the people of Belize.I’ve already heard interesting stories of weekend trips, adventures with translators, and multitudes of new friends.And it isn’t only the people of Belize who can provide me with another dimension to my education.My fellow colleagues at the clinic may also be from other countries. Not only will the health care in Belize itself be different, but the way in which each of them practices will most likely vary from both my own idea of health care and that of the people of Belize.The many dimensions to this trip will make for a gratifying experience if approached with the right frame of mind. I’m planning to head into the venture with a completely open-mind, practically a blank slate (tabula rasa), to ensure that I have the greatest ability to gather and apply new information.At the same time I hope that those around me will find some of my knowledge and practices useful as well, and will take them back to their homes to share.
Ultimately I believe that this experience is about sharing all forms of knowledge.It is an amazing opportunity that I hope will present itself many more times in my life as I continue to shape my career and my practice.
Life is full of decisions: Should I wear the black or the blue pants? What do I want to have for dinner? Which tv show am I going to watch tonight? What do I want to do with the rest of my life?
I guess that's why life has seemed so incredibly impossible at times. I'm horrible at making decisions; and just about the time I think I have my mind made up, something comes along that makes me second guess it all.
When I decided to go to college I picked my last choice school because I couldn't decide which of the other ones I wanted to go to. Granted I think this was one of the best decisions of my life and if I had to do it all over again I would still choose to be a Badger. When I decided to study pharmacy and went through the agonizing process of applying I secretly wished I would get denied so I would have to choose a different career, simply because I wasn't entirely sure pharmacy was what I wanted to do. And yet, I don't think I could be happier with my chosen career path. Except that I'm not sure what that career path is just yet. Until this Monday I had it all figured out: I was going to go out west and complete 1-2 years in a hospital residency then come back to WI and work at a hospital/outpatient clinic in the Madison area. It was a perfect plan... or so I thought. Then I started Block 2 and my precious plans were shattered. You'd think I'm about to tell you that I failed out, or that I'm in a hospital and have unfortunately discovered that I actually hate hospital pharmacy. Alas, that is not the case. In fact I love my rotation site. I couldn't be happier. The personnel are an amazingly laid-back group of some of the coolest pharmacists I have ever met. The building and work space are gorgeous. The technology available is up-to-date and easy to use. The other problem: it's not a hospital, it's not a clinic, it's not even a pharmacy at all. I'm at a Pharmacy Benefits Manager and I love it.
Watch as my plans fly right out the window. What do I do now?
