Well, it has been quite a while. I really wasn't anticipating how busy I would be on outpatient pediatrics, but I figured it was time for a little update. The actual hours for outpatient aren't that bad. I have spent a lot of time over the past few weeks pouring over my fourth year schedule. Every three days we are allowed to schedule one additional class, and it is on a first come first serve basis. Having a firm idea of what area of medicine I want to go into would make this process much easier. Ophthalmology, probably the top on my list at the moment is an early match specialty, which means rotations, applications, and interviews must be completed earlier. However, should I rotate in ophthalmology in July and realize I don't want to do it, then I am forced to revamp my entire schedule and pick up a new elective. After ophthalmology are internal medicine and family practice. Today I recieved my family practice grade, which turned out to be a major disappointment. I knew my test grade was not exceptional, but I thought I had performed well on my rotation and on my presentation. I checked my written evaluations from Tyler and I had done fine. I guess everyone else over the past three months at the various sites had as well. Anyway, because the school will only award a certain percent A, B+, B, and C, a 90% may turn out to be a B. In other words, you must score higher than 80% of your classmates to get an A, regardless of what grades you earn.
After surving four weeks of inpatient pediatrics without getting sick I thought I might just make it to the end but I was mistaken. One week into outpatient, I started getting a sore throat, then fever/chills, congestion, and cough. Two weeks later, I am only now starting to shake it. I sincerely hope it it gone by the time I start surgery in one week.
