Shadow Day

I never thought I was that interesting (at least not interesting enough to be shadowed). I wonder what physicians think when I contact them and express an interest in following them around. There is something valuable about learning about spending a "day in the life of X." And today, pre-medical students, got an opportunity to spend a day in the life of medical student.

Shadow Day was organized by the SNMA (Student National Medical Association), an day to outreach to students underrepresented in medicine. After a classmate and friend, asked me to help, there was no way to refuse such an opportunity to help students.

Three students accompanied me to small group, where they got to learn about Ischemic Colitis and Crohn's Disease and the typical presentation. As we discussed bloody diarrhea, fecal fat and maroon colored stool, I realized we are so unfazed by the material and we sometimes forget we are talking about poop. As our small group instructor, a Gastroenterologist, eloquently put it: "I am poop doctor."

After we were done with the case presentations, I escorted a group of students to the 7th floor for lunch. As we waited for the elevator, they remarked about how it sounds like we speak another language. Do we really sound that incomprehensible? I guess we forget what normal language sounds like after being fully engrossed in medicine for the last seven months. We have come a long way and it's odd it takes an outsider to tell us that we have changed.

During lunch, I somehow got recruited to be a panelist with other first year medical students before teaching anatomy of the circulatory system later on. During the panel, we got a spectrum of questions: everything from tips for writing a personal statement to how we got to UCSF to surprises in our first year. My fellow panelist made a good point: "One of the hardest things to do is to say 'no.'" He was referring to spreading yourself thin by taking on too many responsibilities. The key (again) is balance (the most important take-home point I could deliver to any group of students).

After the panel, I helped teach anatomy of the circulatory system (the heart and lungs). Teaching was a nice preview to being a MSP instructor next year, when I will be teaching first years about anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and all the other pearls during Prologue through Renal. I had my interview on Saturday was notified within 48 hours that I had been selected. I am so excited and look forward to the amazing opportunity.

Along with reviewing the heart and lung anatomy, we had some really incredible pathological gross specimens of aorta, heart, and lungs. The most striking specimens included the athersclerotic aorta with aneurysms (lots of fat deposits and black deposits that created this large outpockets in the wall). And then there were the lungs. Here is one more reason not to use crack- it destroys your lungs (turning them into black foam).

I am trying to get into review mode for the upcoming exam next week. Only problem is that the longer daylight hours are misleading (the day really is shorter even if it is still sunny at 7 PM). Oh well, at least I can say I have been productive enriching the lives of aspiring medical students. And for the first time ever, someone has actually shadowed me (I hope they got something out of it).