Monday, December 1, 2014

Turning Points...We all have them!

There come a time in your life when you are at a turning point, a fork in the road and you must make a decision. Do I turn to the left or do I turn to the right? Well, I'm experiencing many turning points these days. I'm just at the beginning of my core clinical rotations, but I feel I need to make decisions now, about which path I desire to take in the near future. My core rotations consist of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiarty, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Surgery. In these rotations, I am learning the foundations of clinical practice and also determining my desired specialty. The way my schedule is set up, I don't have a lot of time to contemplate this momentous decision, if I would like to successfully match (obtain a residency) in 2016. Match 2016 opens Sept. 2015, and I will just be completing my surgery rotation. Therefore, I must have completed STEP 2 CS, Step 2 CK, re-written my personal statement, updated my CV and have on file at least 3 letters of recommendation for the desire specialty in place and ready to go. Sigh....My school has given me until Feb 2015 to have my personal statement ready and CV updated....So, I will get that done over Christmas break....The dilemna is what speciality do I pursue...So far, I've only completed two: Family Med and Internal Medicine (2 weeks left in rotation). And I have thoroughly loved both...I'm thinking I am the kind of person that really loves anything new and exciting....Am I going to love Peds, Psych, too? Well, my first mind is telling me to pursue Internal Medicine...this field is so vast and wide open. I could go in so many different directions. Internal Medicine started me out in the Emergency Room, which was a BLAST...then outpatient where I learned to dance...Now, I'm in the hospital on ICU floor...learning alot and seeing some really great cases...I think my hospital experience has increased my learning curve expotentially. I just love the doctors I'm rounding with...they are the best..so, knowledgeable and great teachers...Today, I had a heart to heart with my attending and she really helped me sort out some deciding factors...I think I'm set on Internal Medicine for now and perhap add on emergency medicine specialty at a later date. I must keep my options open and with IM background...I can virtually go any where and my longevity is not a factor... So, the scriptures says in Job 23:10 NKJV, "But, He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as pure gold." I am in my season of refinement and looking forward to me season of reaping.... Turning points...Trust your instinct...Trust your Maker...Trust your future is BRIGHT! Now, go live your dreams!