Required Reading

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Three Things.


This pin reminds me to go "back to the bedside." Always.

Good morning.

I should be getting dressed for work right now but needed to get this out of my head and into this space. Three awesome things happened to me recently with regard to this blog. Thought I'd share.

Yesterday was the second day of our new interns' orientation. Imagine it --a room full of doe-eyed recent medical school grads all gearing up to be paged and referred to as "doctor." Surely they are all scared shitless.

I know I was.

Anyways.

Well. I was sitting in the back of someone's lecture yesterday and at the end this intern comes up to me. He introduces himself and then, in a rather soft spoken voice, explains to me that he was torn between Emory and another program. And that someone suggested he read my blog about Grady Hospital.

"That's how I made my decision--from reading your blog," he said matter-of-factly.

I thought my heart would explode.

I thanked him profusely. He then told me that the person who told him to read my blog was someone from the other excellent program that he was considering. The program director, even.  Yes. The profesora in Pittsburgh.

So I must say this:

Profesora? You are like an angel in my life. I cannot imagine not being your friend and trying to navigate being a professional without you in my corner. Thank you for constantly being on my side and reminding me of who I am. Thank you for being a role model and for inspiring me to always go "back to the bedside" with my learners and with myself. Our friendship makes me better -- both personally and professionally.

Next.

Another intern tells me that she was here for a visiting rotation and heard me give a lecture on "Professionalism and Humanism."  She said she never stopped thinking about it and found my blog immediately after. Then she simply thanked me for writing it.

Sigh.

Lastly--and wonderful though admittedly less important to me than the aforementioned--I was invited to be a panelist at "BlogHer '12."  I have since learned that this is kind of a big deal. Pretty stoked about it, actually.



Yeah, so I'll be in New York for that in August. Kind of exciting, right? Makes me feel so bona fide.

But not nearly as much as what those two interns said.

Sigh.

Okay. That's all for now. I have to go.

Thank you so much for being a part of this community with me. Really.

***
Happy Thursday.

18 comments:

  1. Who knew, right? That this space would influence so many decisions, would lead to so much?
    We are proud of you, you know. Your community here. We come here to get some of the shine of you and you give it to us freely.
    Thank-you.

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  2. Goodness begets goodness. It all comes back to you. Congratulations on being such an amazing influence through your work and here. It's spectacular.

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    1. What a kind thing to say. Thank you for being in this community with me.

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  3. proud of you K!!! you deserve it- admittedly jealous- of your bon-e-fide-ness- your hundreds of fans and followers and commenters- and invitations- but mostly so so proud of you! and wishing i could see you - just a little bit. what you touch seems to turn to gold.xoxox

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    1. I miss you terribly. I can't wait to see you in December. And your life overfloweth with goodness. I am often jealous of your courage to live it.

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  4. Wonderful! Now I wish that I were going.

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    1. Oh dang! You're my friend that goes to this. Now what I am I supposed to do in New York City!!

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  5. No, thank YOU. For us medical students (for me at least) this blog reminds me that after all the exams, after the drovel, after the research, after the fights to get published, after the fear of matching, THIS is what we have to look forward to. Your blogposts keep that sparkle in my eye, preserve those dreams made me want to be a doctor when I was 5.

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    1. Just. . .wow. Thanks Roy. Study hard and be encouraged!

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  6. Man , you are the epitome of awesome sauce.
    That is all I got for today.

    Maria, fellow Meharrian

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    1. Takes one to know one, rock star anesthesia lady!

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  7. I am so happy for you (you were always bona fide, and I'm glad you have more clear evidence to prove it to yourself :). I am also excited beyond words about you being in NYC, I'll have to find some words later.

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    1. Thanks, love! Your words are always perfect. No need to find them.

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  8. I can see how this blog would be awesome for medical students and residents. However, I must say that I am no where close to being a doctor or working in the medical field and this is one of my most favorite blogs that I read daily. In fact, I always make sure that I have adequate time to read the posts uninterrupted so that I can be sure to take it all in. You are a wonderful blogger and I am not surprised that you have been invited to speak at the conference. You are a wonderful inspiring writer !

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    1. Beautifully Complex, I deeply appreciate that. I mean it because when I first started this blog I made a clear decision that it wasn't just for people in the medical field. It isn't a medical blog per se, but more what Ms. Moon once told me -- a personal statement of sorts. You all have given me a place to lay down my stories, my ideas, and sometimes even my burdens. I appreciate you telling me that you carve out time to read what I've written because your time is precious whether you're in the medical field or a field of wild flowers.

      Thank you. And as always . . .'preciate you.

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  10. omg so exciting about blogher! That IS a big deal. congrats! I <3 this space and I'm so glad you share grady with us too.

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