YOLO: Is it worth it?

 

This past week has been ROUGH! I kicked it up a gear and turned the dial all the way up to “Beast Mode.” I nearly turned green as I hulked my way through countless pages of pathology and pathophysiology. Up every morning at 5:30. Books open and MacBook ready by 7:15. As Friday rolled around, I found myself in state stronger than the word exhaustion could even express. How could I make I make through another week like this? Are the all the weeks of the next two years going to be like this? More importantly, is all this even worth it?

YOLO! You only live once, right? So why am I living the most agile years of my life this way? As I look at some of my friends who have already made it into the workforce, it is clear that life is more than Acid-Base physiology and GI infections. It is more than late nights and early mornings trying to keep pace with the mountain load of material given. It is more than pointless labs and boring teachers. I mean, isn’t it?

After over half of a semester of reflection, a thought on the matter came to me while talking to friend expressing similar concerns. She too had felt that this “med school life” did not fit into our interpretation of YOLO. I had expressed my frustrations until a thought – perhaps a resolution – regarding our problem naturally came to me. “It is not fair to judge the worth of this experience now,” I simply stated. “It is just too early to call it”. Often times, I develop tunnel vision while in the midst of a problem. I can’t see past it, over it, or around it. This only exacerbates my fundamental lack of foresight. I have absolutely no ability to see my future especially through the confusion of school, so my present problem transforms into what I believe will be my future reality.

One of my favorite writers, Paul, explained in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” My present troubles cannot outshine my future glory. In other words, though life currently is saturated with seemingly meaningless cycles of lectures and exams, it does not mean that my future experiences cannot make up for it. Better yet, my future experience may even have the ability to make my dreadful past experiences meaningful.

I concluded my conversation with my friend with this statement, “We can only assess if this journey is worth it, not at the low points, but at the most positive peaks of this experience, both present and future.” Then, and only then, can we truly judge if this journey was worth it. And if God has called us to this ministry of healing, I’m betting 10 out of 10 that it will be. We just have to hold on and wait and see.

~KeAndrea “Kiki” Titer

When Plans Don’t Pan Out

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I am very fortunate as to how my whole medical school journey panned out, although there was a time when I didn’t consider it as such .  Offshore medical school wasn’t what I originally planned while a Biology major at Oakwood. In fact, when I first heard of such medical schools, I told myself I would never allow myself to go there.  My plan was to go to Oakwood, get my B.S in Biology (which I did), then go to Loma Linda, get my M.D (which I didn’t), then get a residency at Florida Hospital in Orlando (which is still in the air).

Long story short, after my graduation from Oakwood, I went to Miami to pursue my Masters in Biomedical Science for two years.  Then, I went to South Korea to teach English for 26 months.  And then, I ended up at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten.  WOW! This allowed me to literally complete medical school in 4 different continents: 2 years in St. Maarten, 1 year in England, five weeks in Africa, and my final year in the States.  I don’t regret a second of it.  God knows me so well, that He knew my passion for traveling, learning, and new cultures can only be fulfilled by the route I have taken.  I started medical school 5 years after my original plan, and yet, I know I am a better medical student for it.  I’m not afraid to push the limit and delve into unknown territory.   My adventures during my travels (close to 30 countries in 6 years) has given me so much courage, that I became a much more confident student in every way, allowing me to be in the top 12% of my class, and having the honor to address the new medical students during my Honor Society Induction ceremony.

This is not a boast, in the least.  It is a testament that God’s purpose in our lives will be fulfilled for our own good.  I say this is not a boast, because the years that I wasn’t in medical school, I screamed in anguish as to how my Lord can take away the dream that he placed in my heart!  I was angry, sad, and bitter.  That is until I stepped into my own “newfoundland.”  For once, I allowed myself to not think of medicine and just enjoy life. I am in my 20s, and this is the time to enjoy my life and cultivate my other interests and talents.  In that, I was able to discover other talents that I’d never known I had.  I was able to see myself as completely well-rounded.  I was able to live a life of no regrets.  I am still flabbergasted as to all the jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching moments I’ve experienced in the different corners of this world.  And that, no one can take away from me.  In fact, taking time off before pursuing one’s career is customary in Australia and England.  This is called Gap Year.  In many of my travels, I met many Aussies who’d been traveling for months! I was very envious of them.  They take the time out to enjoy life, discover their talents, take a break in the best decade of their lives, while their responsibilities are low to nil.  Once you start working and starting a family, taking a year off is near impossible.

So, fortunately for me, I started medical school in January 2010.  This meant that I would have lots of time off before my fourth year, and I will have lots of time off before residency.  I took advantage of that and did a 5 week elective in Tanzania, East Africa.  My dream of being in Africa finally came true.  I spent Christmas, New Years and my birthday in this foreign land.

I will say this.  In those five weeks, for the first time in all my travels, I wanted to go home during my second week.  In fact, my plane ticket was bought.  But why? Something major must have happened!  Thankfully, I didn’t go home early, and the weeks that followed more than made up for the reason I wanted to get out of Africa.

In my next post, I shall discuss my adventure as a medical student in Africa!

But do remember,  when plans don’t pan out as you would hope, it is not the end of the world.  Don’t lose sight of your original goals.  Keep pushing, but use the time “off” to cultivate your other talents.  We are all more than just medical students or future doctors.  What else do you love to do?  It helps to take time out to do something completely non-medical.  When you do come back to medicine, you will be refreshed.  You may even be a better medical student!  My fear that I have been out of school for too long when I started medical school catapulted me to study THAT much harder and more effectively, and it definitely paid off!

Good Luck!

~Natacha

The “Dreaded” Gap Year

First let me start by saying, the gap year or years ( the time off between completing your undergraduate studies and starting your professional education) isn’t as dreadful and horrible as most people think.  I know you had your life planned and dreams to enter professional school the fall after your senior year, and you think the gap year is the worst possible thing ever.  Know that it isn’t.  In the grand scheme of life, finishing your professional studies one or two years after you anticipated really isn’t that bad.  What difference does it really make if you finish your training in 2017 vs 2018?  And know, again, that you are not alone, approximately 50% of applicants to professional school are not successful on his / her first attempt and have to reapply.  So take heart,  and know that your dreams are still attainable.

Now to get down to business!  No matter how you view the bridge/ gap year, the bottom line is that you now have a period of time where you can make yourself a more competitive candidate.  This requires a plan!  There are several options for what to do during your bridge year.

1.  Work:

Not everyone has the financial luxury to take this year off to focus solely on preparing a better application.  If you must work, I would suggest looking for a position in the field you are planning to go into.  You could be a scribe ( which I think is a position I think  more of our students should explore) at a hospital, a CNA, a unit secretary at a hospital, a receptionist at a doctor / dental / optometry etc office.  You can go that route, or you could take this time to explore an interest you’ve long neglected.  Admission committee members love applicants with diverse interests.  If you love dance, yoga or zumba considering getting a part time job at a dance, or yoga studio. Whatever you choose to do for employment, make sure that during this time off you are getting adequate, valuable, experience in your field of interest so you can incorporate that into your application; be that in the extracurricular activities section or as a framework for your personal statement.

****One good option for employment is as a supplemental services provider.  What’s that you ask?  Its a fancy name for a tutor.  There are tons and tons of opportunities to provide one on one tutoring to students from schools that are deemed “at risk” due to low state testing scores.  During my gap year in between my 2nd and third year of medical school I worked as a SES, made decent money, and felt like I was making a difference in someone else’s life as I taught a 6 year old sight words and algebra to a 7th grader.  Definitely consider it!  You can find opportunities on craigslist.  Just look for your desired area, under jobs >> education.  ****

2.  Volunteer / Mission work: 

The bridge year is a great time to volunteer or do mission work – things you felt too pressed studying physics or organic chemistry to take the time to do while you were in college.  Now is the time to give back to the world and take some time to reflect on others and take some of the focus off yourself

3.  Boost your academics

You can take some advanced level science classes to improve your science GPA, or this can be the chance to devote adequate time to preparing for those grueling but EXTREMELY important entrance tests like the MCAT / DAT / PCAT or OAT.   An option for those seeking an academic boost is a post bacclaureate or Master’s Program.  The deadline for application submissions for many of these programs are fast approaching ( like tomorrow) or have passed unfortunately, but there may still be one or two that are still accepting applicants.  Or, who says you have to apply to your post bacc this cycle.  Like I said, the bridge years or years, isn’t a set period of time.  It’s however long you need to improve your application.

4.  Research

You could use this time do some research.  Universities are always conducting research and always need assistants.  Do some searching and you may be able to find a position available.

***Be sure to take a look at the prehealth advising website for John’s Hopkins, near the bottom of the page there are actual student summaries of their experiences during their gap year.  It will give you some insight into what lies ahead and remind you that you’re not alone, and some of the options other’s have explored. ***

Rejected, now what? Part two

Last week, we talked about what to do when you’re rejected from professional school and earlier this year we posted the 6 most common reasons why applicants are unsuccessful. Today, we’ll review how to remedy the most common reasons why applicants are unsuccessful.

Flaw #1 :  Poor academic record

First, you have to know how you stack up against the competition, because what you may consider to be a “decent” record, may not meet the expectations of admissions committee members.  Data regarding the average MCAT , DAT, PCAT score are readily available online through the appropriate testing administration sites ( AAMC, etc).  Don’t make the mistake for looking for the average numbers for applicants, you are more interested in the average GPA and test scores for matriculants. If your test score falls below the average of students accepted, then retaking the test (only after optimal preparation has been made) should be on your longterm to-do list.

If your science GPA was less than the average, then you may want to consider a post bacclaureate program.  There are many many programs specifically tailored to students who want to improve his / her academic record, and these programs usually offer test prep assistance as well.

Flaw 2:  Narrow range of schools applied to

This is a common problem.  A qualified applicant with marginal numbers, applies to too few schools and all the schools are within “the top tier”.  Professional schools are created equal in that they are all required to disseminate the same basic information about a particular are of study, however, they differ in their degree of selectiveness.  Applicant’s have to be cognizant of this when applying.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you have above average numbers you don’t need to apply broadly.  There are many a story of a seemingly qualified applicant who did not get accepted because they didn’t apply to enough or a varied group of schools. Some schools tend to favor in state applicants, so be sure to through the school in your home state on the list.   If your numbers fall slightly below or close to the average of matriculants, it would be in your best interest to apply to more schools, to give yourself a greater chance of getting an interview the second time around.  And remember, the numbers aren’t all admissions committees are looking at.  It’s essential that the other aspects of your application are top notch as well.  Before you apply the second time around seek out a trusted faculty advisor, physician family member or friend, church member, and get some advice on your proposed list of schools.  Be sure to familiarize yourself with the applicant and matriculant data for each institution that you are considering with regards to their selection criteria. Its always wise to have a 3-4 reach schools, 6-8 schools where your stats are competitive, and then 2-3 schools where your stats exceed their requirements and you are fairly competitive.

Flaw 3: Lacking adequate experience in the field of interest

Admissions committee  members want to make sure that you are aware of what you’re getting into. Have you been exposed to the rigors of your anticipated field?  Do you truly know what it entails?  Have you demonstrated that you have the skills that are necessary to navigate the field?  Have you demonstrated that you have an appropriate level of interest? The last thing they want is someone who starts and doesn’t finish, so its important to ad coms that they know that you know that you want to be there.   You demonstrate that by participating in related activities.   Not only does this give you something to add to your list of extracurriculars, but it also demonstrates a commitment to your future field and provides meaningful experiences to write about in your personal statement.  (The importance is a quality experience, not just 15 experiences that you didn’t gather much from)

Ways to gain more experience

- volunteer at a free clinic or health center

- find someone to shadow ( churchmember, relative, your own doctor/ dentist / vet/ optometrist, call the local hospital and see how to go about shadowing a physician there.  If you’re like me, there are no family members in healthcare, and you didn’t know of any at your church, well, then you have to think outside the box, and chase your dreams by any means necessary. As a junior, I had the opportunity to shadow an ED doctor at Huntsville hospital, simply because I called and asked if that was possible.)

- medical/ dental mission trips

Flaw 4:  Poorly composed written documents

Your personal statement is as important as your stats.  This is your opportunity to stand out from the other thousands of applicants, so it can’t be lackluster and ordinary.  You want a cohesive application that demonstrates  effectively your interest in your field of choice and sparks their interest in you as a potential student.

-  Definitely plan to redo your personal statement when you reapply.

- Definitely have it reviewed by multiple people before submitting and choose wisely.  You want to choose people with a good  handle on grammar, and who will evaluate it critically / objectively rather than just telling you what you want to hear.  Better they tear it apart than the admission’s committee members

- Consider the services of personal statement writing company

Flaw 5: Late application

APPLY EARLY, APPLY EARLY, APPLY EARLY.  That’ s my number one advice.  How do you do that?

- Way in advance familiarize yourself with important deadlines  (When does the application portal open up?  Your goal should be to have your application ready to submit that day!

- Be organized and have a timeline for what needs to be done when, for example

Dec/Jan of the year you plan to apply: Start prepping outline for personal statement

Jan:  Find out the date the application portal opens

Feb:  First draft of personal statement

March:  Have first draft reviewed / request letters of recommendation and transcripts

April: Finalize personal statement / Start entering data into application portal

June:  Hit send!!!!!

Flaw 6:  Poor interview skills

So, you got an interview, but did not get an acceptance letter.  Take heart, that means your numbers were good enough to make the initial cut, and you merely need to work on your interviewing skills.  Like all the other flaws, this can also be remedied

- Set up mock interviews.  ( You could visit the career services center at a local college and university and there may be someone willing to conduct such an interview even if you aren’t a student there. )

- Familiarize yourself with the interview style of the schools you will apply to next year ( group, MMI, traditional) and the typical questions that are asked on interviews.  Think of your answers, write them out, re-read and hone them.  The goal is not to rehearse and memorize them before your interview but  you want to be very familiar with them, and the thoughts and concepts that you want to convey so they are more articulately delivered when you go to interview again.  Sure, you know why you want to be a physician / dentist / optometrist etc, in your head, but you need to be able to articulate that with fluidity.

Like we said in Rejected, Now what Part one, these major flaws can be remedied, but the key is to know which of these flaws apply to you and then taking the steps to fix them.

Final Advice:  Don’t be in a rush to “fix” these problems and run the risk of re-applying too early.  If you were unsuccessful for the 2013 – 2014 school year, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking the entire 2014 year and trying to remedy these issues and then applying for the 2015 entering class.  It all depends on which flaw applies to your application.  Some of these issues ( narrow number of schools applied to, poor interview skills, poor written documents) could be remedied in the next few months and allow the chance to reapply by June/ July for a spot in the 2014 entering class. However, improving one’s academic record, adequate test prep , gaining more clinical experience may be a challenge to accomplish adequately if you are trying to enter the 2014 class.  The last thing you want to do is re-apply too early without adequately addressing these issues and risk being rejected a second time around. 

Alumni Profile – Quantrilla Ard, Ph.D candidate

Quantrilla is a proud Oakwood alum.  She currently resides in Maryland with her husband and two young sons.  Her desire is to integrate science and practice through evidence-based, behavioral interventions designed to influence positive social change.

HealthOU:  Hi Quantrilla, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed.  Can you tell us a little bit about your educational / professional pursuits after graduating from Oakwood?

QA: I graduated from Oakwood in 2002, and wasn’t 100% sure what my next steps were honestly.  I took some involuntary time off after graduation, but started on my Master’s Degree in public health in the fall of 2004.  I knew I had found the right direction, and was eager to begin my career.  I began doing data collection in the field, and eventually found myself as a one of two project managers of a multi-million dollar grant to test a support program for recovering substance abusers.  My favorite position by far was my time as a Senior Analyst on the clinical operations team for Cardinal Health – Medmined Services

HealthOU: What were your academic goals and aspirations upon starting college?

QA: As far-fetched as it may sound, my aspirations were to find a cure to sarcoidosis. My mother passed of complications due to this disease, and I was determined to be the individual that found the cure.  My academic goals were simple…get in, do well, get out.  I probably should have taken a more proactive approach, but I was very naive about my responsibilities in pursuing my education at Oakwood, and that is one of my biggest regrets.

HealthOU: Did those goals change at all?  How so?  What were some of the factors that led to those changes?

QA: The academic goal changed in my junior year.  I was beginning to get frustrated (I had to take organic chem a few times) and I felt a little lost in the weeds.  I think that I felt stranded in my major because I knew I didn’t want to be a doctor, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to be either. 

HealthOU: Were there any mentors or advisors or resources/websites that were helpful as you explored different career options?

QA: The most valuable resource I had was my advisor (and mentor at the time) Dr. Schmidt.  It was a quirky relationship, but it changed my outlook on my academic prowess. I was renewed by her faith in my ability to not only do well, but also excel in my course of study.  Needless to say, my last semester was my best.  Dr. Schmidt didn’t suggest and different career options, but encouraged me to search and find what would fit with my personality.  Obviously, sitting in a lab all day was not the right track for me.  The CDC website was extremely helpful in helping me find health-related career options.

HealthOU: You are currently completing your dissertation for your PhD in Health Psychology.  Can you tell us a little bit more about it and what sparked your interest in this particular field?

QA: Sure.  Health psychology is the study of how behavior influences or promotes/detracts from health and the factors that are either directly or indirectly related to their intersection.  I became interested in health psychology after speaking to a fellow Oakwood alum about my desire to integrate the study of health behavior on health status and outcomes.  She suggested I look into this field, and I was hooked immediately.  It sounded like what I had been trying to define for people for years.  I knew immediately that this was for me.  I had always known I would eventually go back for a doctoral degree, and this discussion (along with some other personal decisions) made my choice easy to make.

HealthOU:  Did you work in the field of Health Promotion prior to starting your doctoral degree?  If so, what did you job entail?

QA: I worked on a substance abuse (prescription medication in particular) grant and was excited to see what I had learned in the classroom translate into the workforce.  Also as the Senior Analyst, we specifically rallied for the prevention of hospital-acquired infections through healthcare technology an education. Its rewards were immediately felt and seen with the clients.

HealthOU: A large part of the reason students pursue healthcare is because they have a desire to help people.  How do you feel that your current position allows you the opportunity to fulfill this desire or have a positive impact on the lives of others?

QA:That is definitely my goal.  To help people and allow them to realize their potential in the maintenance and prevention of illness is life-changing.

HealthOU: After completing your PhD. what’s next for you?

QA: I actually have several desires.  I would like to teach and conduct qualitative research to fill in the gaps of literature that doesn’t allow people to currently have a voice.

Rejected; now what?

Despite your hard efforts, the interview invitations and acceptance letters for professional school aren’t rolling in.  First of all, you’re not alone.  Less than 50% of applicants to medical school are accepted each year, and numbers are likely similar for other professional healthcare disciplines. So despite how you may feel, know that you are not alone.  Second, this does not mean you don’t have what it takes and do not have a future has a healthcare provider.  Delays and setbacks are just that, and do not necessarily dictate the outcome of your life.

So what now?  You need a game plan!

1.  IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM

Try and assess why you were unsuccessful in the first place.  The way to keep from making the same mistake twice is to identify what that mistake was in the first place.  Take some time to review this article on the top 6 reasons students are not successful in gaining acceptance to professional school.  Also, schedule a meeting with your academic advisor, premed advisor, mentor, or consider the services of a commercial admissions consulting service.

- Were your DAT, MCAT, PCAT scores below average?  How to know?  Research the average MCAT / DAT / PCAT and GPAs for ACCEPTED students, not applicants.

- Did you apply to a narrow range of schools?

- Did you demonstrate adequate interest in your desired field?

2.  SEARCH FOR THE SOLUTION

Realize that the majority of the reasons students are unsuccessful are things that can be remedied  ( we will post on how next week)  Here’s a sneak peak

a.  Didn’t apply to a wide range of schools?  - Seek out an advisor and apply to a wider range next year

b.  Poor academics –  Consider repeating certain classes, test prep course, post bacclaureate program

c. Got an interview, but didn’t get an acceptance letter – Work on your communication and interviewing skills.

3  STAY ENCOURAGED 

You’re not the first or last person to be rejected for something you want with all your heart, and a rejection now does not negate your ability to be successful in the future.  In 2012, more than 25,000 applicants did not gain acceptance to medical school.  Don’t give up on your dream. However, it’s important that you take some time to reflect on your level of interest and commitment to the career you are seeking to embark upon.  A career in healthcare is a difficult and arduous task and shouldn’t be entered into without the commitment and drive that will be necessary to complete it.

4.  REFLECT AND SEEK GOD’S DIRECTION

Its imperative that you take time to reassess your purpose and the direction that God has for your life.  If He has already confirmed to you that the career you are pursuing is the avenue in which he believes you will be best used, then move forward in faith, knowing that being rejected now is just a setback and another lesson he wants to teach you; new faith for you to acquire.  If you are unsure of His plan, take some time to seek Him and His will.  What seemingly may be “meant for evil”  (Gen. 50: 20) God in His wisdom may mean for good and this is His way of pointing you in another direction more suitable for your talents and interests.

Being A Patient!

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, and he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5: 6-7

Today, the roles of my everyday life was reversed for the first time.  On this day, I became a patient.

To make matters more interesting, I was a patient in the exact same hospital in which I’m a medical student.
I was scheduled to have both upper and lower molar wisdom teeth extracted under general anesthesia, due to recurrent infections (occupational hazard of a healthcare professional). I waited three months for this moment, and the time has finally arrived.
What i didn’t know, however, was that I would be admitted into the day surgery unit, and be dressed in hospital gown. I thought I would be in and out as an outpatient.
As I sat in my hospital bed, being consulted by the dentist,doctor, nurse and anesthetist, I couldn’t help feeling vulnerable and thinking, “this is what it’s like to be a patient.”
Ironically enough, just the day before, whilst in my usual role as medical student, I visited the same ward I was in, to check up on gynecological patients,who’ve recently had surgery. The irony goes even further than that, as the day lolls along.
Most of the staff who looked after me somehow knew that I was a medical student…some of them referring to me as doctor. Everything they explained was followed by:  “but you know that already.”  They were very kind and extremely thorough. I was amazed, as this was my first time ever as an inpatient in a hospital.
One caveat of being a patient who is also a medical professional, is that you know too much. As I’ve never before been under general  anesthesia in my life, I was rightfully very nervous. I have control issues, and for the life of me, it disturbed me to think that I would  medically be induced to sleep, where whatever happened during that time, I would never know.  Such a violation, I kept thinking. But more worrisome for me were the rare complications of general anesthesia that I remembered studying in Pharmacology. These complications include Malignant Hyperthermia, Locked-in Syndrome, Mendelson Syndrome, allergies to the anesthetic drugs,  just to name a few.
Sure, I knew that without known family history of the Autosomal Dominant gene that predisposes to Malignant Hyperthermia ( pyrexia, convulsions, myoglobinuria, arrhythmias, tachycardia, etc),there is a very slim chance I would be affected. Also, all the other complications were rare as well. Still, I asked for an anti- anxiety medication to calm my nerves.
When I was finally rolled into the operating theater, the second coincidence was that my anesthetist for the day was also the anesthetist who I worked with just the day before, for a patient due to have a Dilation & Suction for retained products of conception.  That patient hardly spoke English, so all the information had to be relaid in elementary, laymen words and very slowly.

However, for me, they hardly explained much at all.  I am a medical student after all, and I just observed the exact same procedure the day before, I’m sure they thought.  We used the time right before I was induced to sleep to joke around.
The irony of it all was not lost on me.

They were very gentle, and once the mask came over me, I was gone within a few seconds.
My dream was so sweet, but for the first time in my life, I couldn’t remember it. It was a very deep sleep that I most certainly needed due to my lack of sleep the night before.
All of a sudden, I felt a nurse shaking me awake, ” Your surgery is done. You can wake up now.”
I was so confused. What’s going on, I thought. Where am I?
Why am I in a hospital bed?
Then, the pain in my mouth hit me at the same time as the sensation that I couldn’t feel the left side of my lips. A huge gauze was imbedded in my mouth, and I reoriented myself. I’ll never forget those first few moments.
I can’t believe that I didn’t feel or recall a thing in that OR. I never even met the dentist who did the surgery (being a replacement for my original).
I continued spitting blood, which was hard to do due to my numb mouth.
I had to stay in hospital to monitor my blood pressure and heart, due to the proneness of hypotension after general anesthesia.
All the staff continued to be very kind and during recovery, I got on with the other patients in my bay, actually giving them medical advice and opinion about their various day surgeries.
It was a very pleasant experience, overall…one I shall never forget.
To boot, the pain in my mouth was very minimal and I was out and about in no time.
I truly believe having a pleasant experience in hospital encourages faster recovery due to the endorphins doing its work.
It should be mandatory for all up and coming medical professionals to be a patient for a day, in order that they may empathize more with the patients they will one day care for.
I know I will.