October - colorful leaves, crispy fall runs, interview emails?!! and plugging along

Wow.  Time creeps and then it flies at the same time.  It is now fourth year...and I have applied for Pediatric residency programs and am waiting (praying) for something to work out.  I will not know until March if / where I match, but I am hoping for New York.  I had to retake my Step 2 CS exam, so that was a setback (and don't have my retake score until December!), but I am hoping at least a couple programs will still consider me.  I do have 3 interviews in New York lined up in November...fingers crossed.

I am doing a four week elective in Peds outpatient back at Kings County right now, and I just love the cultural diversity there - Caribbean, Indian, Mexican, etc. patients make it so much more interesting.  I also really enjoy getting to know the intricacies of patients' daily lives, and I could see myself happy in Peds primary care, no question.  In fact, I really wish I could just start tomorrow and get all this started! The accumulating debt and constant waiting games are tough.

Brooklyn continues to be a good fit lifestyle-wise.  Meeting more good people and running a lot in Prospect Park and with PPTC.  I don't know what I would do without running - it keeps me sane and connected to nature and reminds me how small I am.  I also have really met some wonderful people through running that 'get me' in a way that medical school friends for the most part have not.  I am really grateful for that.  I also really enjoy being close to my family and just a train ride away.

Counting down the days until I can officially be called Dr. Free!

I cannot believe

It is already March of my third year... Internal Medicine, Sugery done (with a lot of scrapes and bruises along the way), and today was my Pediatrics final oral exam. Shelf exam this Friday. I have to say, the transitions have been rough.  Grenada to Montreal to study for Step 1, then a brief respite in Vermont, Pennsylvania and Connecticut before finding out about my placement at Kings County in Brooklyn.  Finding an apartment and starting the extremely unfamiliar life of a med student doing clinicals all while trying to establish a routine, running life, comfortable home, and sense of well-being. Oh, and study and stay late or be on call whenever told.  Exciting?! Kind of.. Tiring? Totally.  Boring? Never. 

Pediatrics was my 'oh thank God I am where I am supposed to be' moment.  I loved the six weeks I spent at Kings and in the outpatient clinic, and I am really excited to do more electives next year.  I start Ob/Gyn on Monday at Brooklyn Hospital Center, and currently I am most excited about the fact that I can ride my bike there rather than the patient potential, but who knows?  

Overall, I can't complain, but I certainly am looking forward to a little more stability and confidence in medicine- coming soon I hope?!

Oh, and warmer weather would also be amazing!

Ps. Running with the PPTC has been great on Saturday long runs, and I just started the coached speed sessions last night. Prepping for the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May.