A Visit to the Hospital, Ped's Clinic, Halloween, Miramar...

Hey everyone... I know it has been a while so this post is going to catch you all up on all the things that have been going on in my life. Its a long one so hold on tight!

The Road that Looks like a River 

So I took my second trip to the hospital in Roseau, it is rainy season here and of course has been raining quite a bit. On the drive down to Roseau we noticed that many of the roads had flooded and that there were some rock falls from the mountains. There was even a point where a bridge no longer looked like a bridge because the water was flush with the bottom of the bridge. At one point we had to pass through what seemed to be a river instead of a road. Thank goodness we were in a large, tall bus because as we were crossing the water was coming into the van by the stairs. They said it was because of the water from the mountains and all the rain from the night before. Lucky for us on the way home most of the water from the road was cleared and there was no more rain that day. Still a sight I've never seen before!
       At the hospital this time I was assigned Internal Medicine for the morning and was in the ward where my partner and I were in charge of interviewing, and giving a physical exam to our patient. Our patient was a sweet woman who tried to help us the best she could. In addition to just doing our task for the morning I saw something that I promised myself I would never become or do. I saw someone speak to this sweet older patient of ours as if she was less, as if she was a bother to them because she needed their help. Thats why we get into this profession isn't it, that is the medical profession, to HELP people and make a difference in the lives of those that cannot help themselves?! I was appalled and asked her if I could help but she turned me away from helping with the task she needed the nurse for and instead simply asked for cold water. At the hospital in Dominica you must bring your own food and water or juice etc. She said that she had water but that it was too hot (the hospital doesn't have AC and the weather here is in the high 80's every day). So I spoke with a very kind woman and she let me put the patients water in the freezer for short time while I was still in the ward, this way before I left for the morning my patient could have some cold water. It was the smallest thing I could have done and was the easiest thing I did all day but to me it was the best because it made her feel even for a minute the slightest bit better. In the afternoon I was assigned a different patient and again did an interview and physical. My partners and I presented our patients to the attending physicians and in the afternoon I got quite the lesson on language of a Dr.
        So a few of the lessons on language of a Dr. that I learned from my attending physician for the day.
1) never say that you are going to QUICKLY wash your hands
2) never say that you are going to JUST do anything
3) always make your patient feel as though you are not in a rush and that they are the most important thing you have going on...because THEY ARE
4) Body language is just as important as actual verbal language so watch what your face and body are saying to your patients, attending physician, and fellow physicians

Overall my second hospital visit was interesting and enlightening...I learned a lot about not just medicine and the steps of working with patients but about myself as well!

Maggi, Renita and I with some of the kids 

Last week we also had a Ped's clinic...one of my favorite things to do on the island. When we go and give free physical exams to the children of Dominica and for those that need it they get to see our MD's that donate their time to the organization. This clinic I was in charge of general survey, so doing a head to toe exam of kids asking some questions then taking them for more specific exams like cardio and respiratory. The day is always a blast and the children just melt your heart. There was this one little girl who was so scared of everyone, she came there without her mother brought only by an older cousin and didn't want anyone to touch her at all. I was station #2 and was warned of this but decided I'd take a stab at it. I love kids and usually can get them to warm up to me. This little girl I found out loved stickers and so for every physical exam she let me do she got a sticker. When it was time to pass her off to my peers for the other exams she wasn't going anywhere and I had a new friend who was attached at my hip. She was precious and healthy, just shy and scared of all the new people and being alone so I finished her physical and brought her to get bread and juice then let her go jump in the bounce house. Working with the children remind me why I spend 13+ hours in a barn studying because one day I will get to help people, maybe adults maybe children at this point I don't know but I will be doing something that changes lives.

My new little friend 

Me and Maggi as Flashlights!

Monday was Mini 2...it went fine of course you all know me and I wanted it to have gone better but we'll take it :-) but Monday was also HALLOWEEN and so Maggi and I set out to make our very creative costumes. We bought all the supplies and 12 rolls of duck-tape, 2 pie tins, 2 push lamps, and 1 black sharpie later + multiple hours of hard work = 2 Very cute FLASH LIGHTS... we went to Champs for their halloween costume in our duck-tape dresses and won 3rd place in the costume contest! Most people didn't know what we were but we got lots of complements on our creativity and ingenuity. Hey in a country that doesn't celebrate Halloween you have to work with what you've got around you! We were a hit and we definitely lit up the night :-)

Me as a Flashlight! 

Big news...I've decided that for 5th semester I am going to be going to Miramar, FL. I did my research and most of my friends will be in the area during my 5th semester. So FL here I come. I will move down in Jan. and be there till the end of April, but hey its America and I will get to road trip from CT to FL 24 hour drive lol should be interesting..hmm what states to stop at along the way?





Well i'm sure you are all exhausted from this read so till next time....

Update on Life....

Hey everyone...

       So since last post there was this giant thing called Mini 1...I know sounds small but its what they call our big exams at the end of each module. So Monday was Mini 1 that covered everything and I mean everything Neuro/Psychology/ and Endocrinology related! I of course had my nose in the books of the past 6 weeks of material...I ended up doing well on the mini which I was super excited for! So with that behind me I got to take my very much needed day off! I got a hot stone massage (I know rough life you say) and hung out with friends, had some nice long skype sessions and got to be a bum for a bit all in all pretty successful. But since mini on Monday it is back to the books with a new module...Gastrointestinal, and Renal and so far this week its been all about...well #2 (for all you faint at heart). The next mini is on Halloween so its not too far away which means back to those books! It also means I get to celebrate my day off on Halloween which should be fun.

Since my last blog I also participated in a REMA advanced intubation event. That I got to practice my intubation skill on Sim-man. I was able to intubate him on my first try and I got lungs not belly so that is a plus! This week I also had my very last simulation on Sim-man for school. It was an alcoholic case with esophageal varices who was bleeding out and who ended up going into hypovolemic shock...we ran a good case, and once again saved our robot!

Great news...I booked what will hopefully be my last flight from Dominica to CT for December 17th! Yay the finish line for the island has a date now! In other news I am def. missing Fall in CT, but have put my sister Brittany on a mission of taking pictures of leaves and foliage for me :-) even so the more the merrier so send some pretty fall pictures my way! I miss you all terribly!

Till next time....

1 pint = 3 lives saved....you have it in you!

hey everyone!

      So this post is a little different because it is about something I did here last week and also something I feel very strongly about. Blood Donation! So here is what happened...I was watching lecture one day when I got an urgently marked email from the school that said blood donors needed. So being a religious blood donor I read the email and come to find out there was a patient at the hospital in Roseau that needed surgery but was in dire need of platelets first. This patient had O type blood and with O blood being rare in Dominica the hospital and the 5th semester students working at PMH reached out to all the O blood types in the Ross Community...Lucky for me I'm O+ so me and Kyle hoped on the bus with a bunch of fellow donors and went to Roseau. We were screened and then donated a pint of blood, then we were told to sit and rest while they brought over crackers and a drink...so I donate blood often in the states and I'm used to my cranberry juice or OJ following a donation, a quick 5 minute sit eat some cookies and on my way I go. I've got it down to a science but this time was a little different...the drink they gave us was called VitaMalt a Vitamin B beverage..it was thick and cold and very dark brown, I took one sip thinking it was like a soda and it didn't go so well...it tasted very...Healthy like I was drinking my iron source for the week. Well I passed my VitaMalt over to Kyle b/c he drinks anything drank a big bottle of water and was told not to move for 30 minutes...30 minutes! What are you crazy me ha well I got yelled at a few times for getting up too soon because they were worried but the people at the blood bank were the kindest people who cared about our safety and comfort the entire day. I just wanted to thank every single fellow O+/O- that took the trip to Roseau to donate when asked on a whim...I know everyone is busy but thank you for taking the time to give to help save a life you are all very special people :-)

Many of you probably don't know I gave blood for the first time when I was 17 @ my high school. I was very excited to put that sticker on my shirt that said I gave blood and I wore my sticker with pride..I learned some things about giving blood and I am going to share them with you....

1) It's painless yes I said it...NO PAIN (not like anything else we tell ourselves where pain is gain... in this case NO PAIN = Save 3 lives :-) )
2) It's quick...in my case really quick but everyone is different but start to finish (including the question portion) prob. about 45 minutes (thats less time then one TV show people!)
3) Platelets that are needed for cancer patients only have a shelf life of 5 days so platelets are constantly in need
4) You can donate blood every 56 days
5) less than 38% of the US population is eligible to give blood
6) 5 million people in the US need blood transfusions every year (thats one person every 2 seconds) and the only way they get blood is from donors like YOU
7) 1 pint saves 3 lives (thats 3 for 1 for all you bargin hunters out there!)
8) If you start donating at 17 and give every 56 days till you are 76 then you potentially helped save more than 1,000 lives :-)

So enough of me on my soap box but I just wanted to share a few things about donating blood so if you never thought to give...give it a try...and if you donate already..I just want to say a big THANK YOU!! For all the past, present, and future lives that will be saved by a blood donor like YOU :-)

*most of the facts were taken from the American Red Cross Blood Donation website

K guys...Mini on Monday wish me luck I will certainly need it..

Till next time....

Trip to the Hospital....

Hey everyone...

       So yesterday I went to the hospital in the capital of Dominica, Roseau, for my very first hospital rotation. As many of you know once I finish on the island and write my boards. I will have to complete semesters 6-10 which are clinical rotations in the hospitals. These rotations will be in a variety of fields like surgery, ER, internal medicine, OB/GYN, Pediactrics, Ortho. Etc. and will be the learning/hands on experience that I use to determine which type of Dr. I want to be. Yesterday I got my very first taste of what a "rotation" will be like. I went to Princess Margret Hospital where we were each assigned a different rotation. I was assigned to Pathology, which meant that I would get to see an autopsy. Ahhh my very first autopsy. But I was relieved to know that one of my favorite professors here at Ross was doing the Autopsy, Dr. Nine! So I changed into my scrubs and off I went with my partner Zeeshan to the Pathology department where we had a presentation about pathology in general before going into the autopsy. Then into the autopsy room we went...I am not going to give details for those of you with weak stomach's and for a few other reasons but lets just say I put on my gloves, mask, face shield, gown, booties and we watched as Dr. Nine performed a forensic directed autopsy. Let me just tell you people...its NOT at all like TV or the movies! It is also completely different from being in the anatomy lab with the cadavers. The entire experience was one of a kind, the sights, the smells, the feeling was very very different. When it was over I was happy that I had been given the opportunity to experience it and see what goes on. I also realized that pathology is one field I can most likely cross of my list of things I want to do. I need that personal connection with people getting to know who they are, where they've been, what makes them smile and laugh, and cry.

After our very minute lunch break it was off to the ward in our white coats to go see a patient. We were split in groups to see a patient, take an interview, do a physical examination and then meet up with the patients Dr. to talk about the case. We had to tell the Dr. what we thought was wrong and what we thought should be done to treat the patient. It was an amazing learning experience because my patient had one set of symptoms and we thought he had one thing so we had our diagnosis and then the Dr. let us look at his EKG for a minute and we were shocked so we kind of changed our diagnosis. After presenting our case and talking to the Dr. he asked us why we changed our diagnosis and we explained it was because of the EKG and what the machine had said and he told us that you NEVER go only by what a machine says because they make mistakes too and it is important to trust your logic and your own investigative skills. So our original diagnosis before seeing the EKG was correct! Lesson be learned if it looks like a dog and barks like a dog but a Dr. tells you its a cat...guess what..Its a DOG! Trust yourself and what you found and use the machines to HELP you but not to give you all the answers.

So that was my day at the hospital....by the way the hospital is a very interesting place. far different than any hospital in the US. and the nurses still wear classic nurse outfits with the white skirts and the little white hats lol so funny!

Till next time....

2 Great Articles!

Hey Everyone! Look at this 2 posts in one day...I think I deserve a gold star (I wish med school gave gold star's lol) anyway I wanted to share two links to two wonderfully written articles. The first is an article that was written about my good friend Maggi here at Ross! She is from Vancouver and her local paper wrote this article over break! Take a look she is quite the girl :-). Maggi's Newspaper Story

The second Link is from the story that the very talented Mike Chaiken wrote about my time here at Ross. Mike and I got together for a chat while I was home over last Christmas break. Mike is an outstandingly talented photographer and is also an editor for the Bristol Observer so if you feel like taking a look at his piece here it is :-). Island Life Behind a Book

4th Semester! Sorry for Missing an entire semester of blogging!

Hey everyone!

       I know I know This blog post is about 4 months over-due! By the space between the time of my last post I'm sure you have an idea of the type of semester I had last semester. So this blog will be filled and hopefully informative :-). Last semester was my 3rd semester, in school I studied Bugs and Drugs all semester so Microbiology and Pharmacology. There were three blocks: Fundamentals, Muscle-skeletal and Heme and Lymph, and Cardio-Respiratory. Cardio-Respiratory was my favorite and by far my most successful of my blocks. All semester I had an amazing tutor group. My friends Luke and Corey (who are both brilliant by the way) began tutoring and so I was first to sign up for their weekly tutor sessions. The group was small but it was perfect we were spoiled with the best tutors at Ross and there were only three tutee's Me, Maggi, and Kyle! I owe my super tutors a huge thank you for all of their amazing teaching and great tips and tricks for success :-).

Thats all you get about school b/c it was a crazy semester and I studied my Butt off but now on to the fun stuff...the 1 day a month I took off and the extra actual medical stuff I learned over the semester! I learned how to put in a chest tube practicing on the cadavers, I also was able to practice my suture skills. I learned how to run/perform a CODE and guess what!? We saved the Sim-Man!! I also even more fun learned how to place an IV. We practiced on one another and my brave friend Luke let me use him as a pin cushion for my very first human stick ever! I was successful 2 out of 3 sticks and I think he only had a bruise for a while..oops lol. Practice makes perfect right?! Last semester I was also on the executive board for the Pediatric Student Association and was able to organize my own clinic where we gave free physicals to about 115 children. Being part of Ped's was a great experience and I loved getting to participate in all of the other clinics that we held as an organization to help the children of Dominica! I even was on the Dominica National News which was interesting because its not just a local news but the news for the whole country!

As you all know I take the day after an exam off and so 3rd semester I was able to do some pretty fun things. Jay came to visit and we went on a hidden 7 waterfall hike that was absolutely a once in a lifetime experience. We also rented a catamaran and went on a cruise w/ 50 friends on the cruise we saw dolphins and a sea turtle it was an amazing day off! Also last semester we went to the 4th semester banquet to have a fun night with our 4th semester friends. So a lot of my friends were 4ths, some of my closest in fact so saying good-bye to them was super sad and happy. I was so happy for them all to be going on to 5th semester in Miami and Michigan where I know they will all be successful, but its sad because I will miss them all dearly during my final semester here on the island...its not a goodbye its just a see you soon! So with that I say to you all I promise to try and write more this semester...its the last one then off to where? Miami or Michigan?? I need to start thinking about where I want to go for 5th, any suggestions?

OMG I needed to save the best for last! I got to take a weekend getaway during 3rd to be in Nicole Fuggetta and Tom Kaczerski's wedding. It was the most special time and I am blessed that they asked me be part of their special day! It was the most fun wedding I've ever been to it was PERFECT down to every detail!

Till Next Time.....

Sutures 

Booze Cruise

Me doing a Cardio Exam for the Special Olympics Athletes

Everyone At Banquet

Jay and I at Banquet

Greatest Tutor Group Ever at Banquet

Kyle Doing a Cardio Exam @ A Ped's Clinic

Me and the Beautiful Bride Nicole 

Last post until exams are over!

Hey everyone,

       So the time is flying by, since the last time I posted not much has gone on, I have just been studying like crazy, you know the usual! So in the next 23 days I have 3 practical exams, one block mini, and one final! Wow I have so much ahead of me but like everything else in medical school I have decided to take it one step at a time and one day at a time for that matter.

On a happy note, a few weeks ago with the Ped's Club I had the opportunity to work a pediatric clinic in Dublanc, which is about 15 minutes from Ross. I was in the hearing group, and so I did basic hearing checks on the kids along with ear exams. It was great experience to be able to see the ear drum and make sure there were no abnormalities. If I saw anything that looked unusual then I would refer the child to the doctor on scene at the clinic. One thing I saw A LOT of was....... ear wax!!! All colors, shapes, and sizes and so I continued to educate each child and whomever brought them to the clinic the importance of cleaning the ears daily! So words to the wise...CLEAN your EARS because when you see the doctor and they put their cool tool in to check out your eardrum you want them to be able to see the ear drum. The clinic was a huge success, we saw about 130 children; everyone got a free physical and basic work up and if there were any issues then they were able to see a doctor for free right away on scene. We also brought fresh fruit, banana bread, and fruit juice for all the kids to have a healthy snack.


So I am off to study for my many many exams and I will blog when I finish...hopefully with great news about the end of semester!

Me Doing an Ear Exam

Kids Ready for their Physicals! 

Till Next time.....