Launching out !

Hi yall! I have been MIA, where do I begin, so much has happened? I took a solo five day road trip from NY to DC, afterwards Norfolk Virginia, and then Delaware. I saw the white house, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and above all else, I got the me time I needed.

The White House

MLKJ memorial

After that, I went to Jamaica, and I did an OBGYN Observership ( at a rural public hospital), in addition to that I attended the The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists conference (absolutely amazing-- learned so much and was inspired) bonded with family, ran three 5k's, one 2K and participated in a Boot-camp obstacle course. To say the least I have been busy. 

As you can see the drill sergeant wasn't letting up-- I needed help

I fell gracefully

oh was I happy to observe

ACOG certificate

right before my run

I just recently moved out of NY (now it’s just me in a new city all by myself). I was accepted and will be attending a well-known, program in which I will be taking medical graduate classes. However, they have a strict privacy and social media clause/rules. So I will share more, at the appropriate time.  Just know I am working on becoming a Physician.

This summer I will be running a MCAT Biology series overview. I will cover topics that I found particularly difficult when I studied and also review topic's friends of mine had difficulty with. Correspondingly, I will list study materials (books, videos, etc....) that I found above all useful and essential to me grasping the subjects.

Disclaimer: I am open to discussion, and In fact; I encourage it. I am in no way an expert, and so I am able to take criticism/feedback. I truly believe that the more we help each other; the more disadvantaged students, like me (those who possess the potential but for whatever reason are not able to show their academic abilities) will succeed. I believe that I became a better student when I learned how to self-diagnosis my own academic issues. I can relate, I talk the talk. 

So I hope many will join me and will find these post useful.

My Jamaican Observer-ship.

Disclaimer: For privacy and anonymity, the names and the location will remain unspecified. Please be mindful that I am a layperson, at the beginning of my journey. The terms, procedures and examinations are presented from my point of view. 

That's me to the far left!

The shift was 9:30am to 9:30am (24 hours— yes you read correctly). I was shadowing the senior OBGYN at a public hospital in rural Jamaica. The shift started on the Maternity ward and ended on the Maternity ward. However, I did not stay there. It was quite an unforgettable twenty-four hours, an adventure that led me to the Accident & Emergency (the emergency room), the genealogical ward and the operating theater (that also turns into a makeshift ICU when necessary). 

 The OBGYN I was shadowing started the shift by looking over the dockets (patient charts) on the maternity ward. Making note of those patients who were near delivery and/or were a high-risk pregnancy. Subsequently, the physician called those patients into an office to do an examination and write out a treatment plan. When the first patient came in, it became clear to me that the amenities, we Americans take for granted were not available to these patients. For instance, the patients in this rural public hospital were required to bring a towel (because there were no examination table paper rolls), their own hospital gown and a whole list of other things that a private hospital in Jamaica and/or the hospitals in the states would have readily provided. Nevertheless, despite scarce resources, the patients received applicable care. The physicians were extremely knowledgeable, caring and professional. 

During the ward rounds, the senior OBGYN explained the examination steps to me, why certain tests were needed and the recommended treatment plans. For instance, The physician examined the pregnant patient’s tummy to determining the baby’s position: applying slight pressure around the pelvic area to feel for the baby’s head, then each side in search of the baby’s back (a long hard mass); this was necessary for finding the fetal heartbeat. Next the physician attached two transducers one above the fetal heart and the other at the fundus (top of) the uterus to monitor the fetal heart rate and the activity of the uterine muscle. This information was recorded on a cardiotocograph (CTG). 

Later in the shift, I followed the physician into the delivery room. There I observed a woman experiencing contractions (screaming for relief—I am stunned at how miraculous the human body is and how resilient women have to be to give birth). The physician determined that the labor needed to be induced. So with a dilator stick/rod the physician broke the membrane; by rupturing the amniotic sac. This I was told will increase the intensity and frequency of contractions by the release of the hormone oxytocin. 

The charge nurse (which they call “Sister”) took over and was instructed by the physician to administer oxytocin and methergine, to further induce contraction and to minimize blood loss. I was so happy that I was allowed to stay in the room and observe the delivery. It didn’t take long before the nurse coached her to push. After a few pushes we saw the baby’s head (crowing point of delivery) and then there was this new life “bawling from here to mars” (crying very loudly). There was a part of me that wanted to cry for joy (I would never by the way—I know I must maintain professionalism all the way through) because of this little baby, so new to the world; It was nothing short of amazing. Following, another nurse cleaned the baby with virgin olive oil, weighed, measured and tested for sickle cell. 

Shortly after, the baby was given to another nurse, and the mother was instructed to push again so she could deliver the after-birth. Then the nurse made sure that both the placenta, and the membranes were complete. First by checking the umbilical cord (in search of 3 vessels at the cut end: two arteries and a vein). I was told by the nurses that if only one umbilical artery is present, the infant may have congenital abnormalities. Secondly, the umbilical cord is held up, so the membranes can hang down and be examined for completeness. This is to make sure that the entire placenta was expelled.  

After an hour or so passed, the senior OBGYN I was shadowing was called into the operating theater. The patient presented with right ruptured tubal pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy) and was hemorrhaging. This was an emergency. We quickly made our way to the operating changing quarters. I was told from the A&E physician intern that in a matter of hours, the patient’s hemoglobin went from 7.7 to 4 g/dL (hemoglobin levels below 11g/dL is determined anemic). 

Following we went to the scrub room were the circulating nurse assisted us with putting on the sterile protective equipment and then “scrubbed in." I was instructed that I could witness the surgery from a distance inside of the operating theater (oh boy was I excited). I watched as the senior OBGYN prepared the surgical site for the prevention of infection. Then before you know it the nurse was passing instruments, and the physician was making a midline abdominopelvic incision, and the surgery was underway. There was so much blood, I heard the anesthesiologist call for blood to replace the loss. The senior physician was calm and confident; just amazing. As the physician excised the ruptured fallopian tube, a large cyst was discovered. Another physician called the theater to check the blood loss; I heard the nurse anesthetist say the total loss was three liters. Before starting the shift I was hoping for excitement, and boy did I get it. 

Many hours after the cyst was ruptured, excised and sutured it was time to close up. I observed that the closure occurred in layers: first the peritoneum, then the deep fascia, followed by the muscle, then superficial fascia, then subcutaneous tissue ( after the physician used an instrument called a diathermy to produce localized heat which initiates coagulation) and lastly the Skin. 


To mince words I will conclude by saying the patient survived. Following the surgery, I was also able to witness another birth, and the A&E patient intake procedures. Overall it was an amazing experience that re-solidified my desire to be a doctor. 

I want to say , thank you to those who made this possible. You know who you are. God blessed me tremendously by introducing me to you.

News Update !

 

As my readers know I applied to medical school despite not having competitive stats, I decided to roll the dice and let the chips fall where they may. This was a gamble (a very expensive and time consuming gamble). Ideally, one should apply with their best foot forward. As late as it is, in the application cycle, I am still under review at three medical schools. Having been rejected by a great majority of the schools I applied to, I am not optimistic (but I do know - all I need is one yes) instead, I am realistic. If I don’t get in the front door (the traditional route) I'll get in the back door. 

I applied to several special master programs- as a way of casting my net wide and increasing my chances of medical school matriculation. Check out my post: Post bacc programs for underrepresented minorities for an exhaustive list. These graduate programs allow you to get a master's degree in a hard science and provide medical schools' admission committee with an insurance that you can stand the academic rigour. Furthermore, as a plan B some of these master programs allow you to take additional course-work to turn your science degree into a professional degree—one that will allow you to enter the work force competitively. 

Mean while back at the ranch (I have always wanted to use that statement-lol don't mind me) the national vice-chair of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) publication committee reached out to me, to write an article that would be published in the April 2015 MAPS (Minority association of premedical students) minutes. (who'd have thunk it— my story is being used to help others). 

I agreed to write the article entry because this opportunity will allow me to help pre-meds through a different outlet and  it will  hopefully increase my blog reader-ship. Below I attached an excerpt of the article, that can be checked out at: http://jsnma.org/category/premed/ when it becomes available 

 "… Success, for some, a small few is a straight line. For most, success is an ever-changing squiggly line, which plateaus at its finale. For me, success is the latter. I am twenty-five and some might say, “If you didn't accomplish your dreams by now, then you should change them give up.” That thought is probably shared by many people who believe that it is a harsh reality. A concept rooted in, the miss understanding of the difference between practicality and cynicism. 

Cynicism is catching and crippling. It clouds your ability to see things as they are. Cynics (a.k.a haters and naysayers—Jamaican’s call bad mind people) rely on past’s disappointments; to guide future endeavors instead of using past’s failures as feedback. 

This is a  fine line between pragmatism and cynicism; the difference between an unattainable dream and a realistic goal. That is the ability to thoroughly self-reflect and progress…”   

It's no use crying over spilled milk

I have been reluctant to post; I wanted to have a fascinating story to share before I did. Oh how I wish I had a medical school acceptance to discuss at this point. A post that would allow you (my reader) to see the fruits of my labor (in a sense of course— fully aware that medical school is its own beast).  Instead, however, this post is about how I have moved past my rejections. By what method I have turned my sadness into an opportunity to grow and learn (better yet how I can fix the errors in my medical school application).

When I reflect on why I started this blog, I am reminded and encouraged to post despite my apprehensions. Sharing my story means also sharing those things that may not put me in the best light, those things that show me in my most human form. Obstacles and disappointments can be understood and related by all. If I only discuss my achievements, then I would be doing a disservice to my reader. I would be "painting" a story instead of telling my story. Let’s face it a good or better yet a great story is one that is not predictable. 

So here it goes: I have been rejected by a considerable majority of the medical schools I have applied to. I have also received a rejection from a post bacc program, one that gave me the sense I was a shoe in. Considering I was in constant communication with them, this gave me a false sense of security. That rejection had felt the worst of them all—I was at my lowest. That rejection dampened myself-esteem. However, I keep calm and carry on. This non trad is doing what she does best; brushing her shoulders off and wiping away her tears.

As the saying goes "there is no need to cry over spilt milk," after all that does not solve the problem and having to one day be a physician (where my job will be problem solving daily) I need to learn how to roll with the punches and solve the problems that life presents. So with self-reflection I decided to fix what I could about my application that being, my MCAT score. So this time I am keeping what worked last time and changing what didn't this time. 

 I have started studying with someone (unlike last time— I studied solo) I met on student doctor network (a forum devoted to all things' medical school related) that was in my area that had taken the MCAT before (like me) and was looking for a study partner. So far, she has been a blessing in more ways than one. I cannot stress this enough, being around like-minded people is essential for success. I have also started exercising, which has worked wonders for my stamina and mood (those little endorphins I tell you, pack a mean punch), Last but not least I have started getting back into cooking — because fast food is my biggest enemy.

Overall things are looking up, and I am not giving up anytime soon. Neither should you.