Learning Outside the Box

Tammy Hsu, MS3

In regards to the title, when I say “box,” I’m using it to describe the standard, well-packaged 4 years of conventional medical school: two years of classroom learning, one crazy clinical year,  and then a final year of a la carte choices consisting of ICU rotations and whatnot. When I chose to come to Duke for medical school, I knew that the curriculum was different: only one year of classroom learning, then jumping straight into the clinical year, then a whole year devoted to research, then the usual last year. I thought, “Great, I learn better from patients than from books, anyway,” and gave little thought to the research year beyond the fact that it was cool I would get to do research with a clinician’s point of view. It wasn’t until I was actually in my MS3 year — now — that I understand just how valuable and amazing our third year can be.

For me, right after my Medicine clerkship ended, I jumped straight into research on August 22nd. I’m currently working on a translational research project that involves the Duke Ophthalmology department as well as the Duke Biomedical Engineering department. As part of the project, I have actually learned to perform (and performed successfully!) vitrectomies and subretinal injections on pig eyes in a wet lab with a real operating microscope and real surgical tools. As part of another research project I’m working on, I had the opportunity to visit the Miracles in Sight eye bank in Winston-Salem, NC, to learn how cornea tissue is donated, retrieved, processed, and delivered to the recipients to restore vision. This field trip in the middle of the work week not only helped me understand the research project, but gave me a greater appreciation for the bigger picture that surrounds a doctor’s daily work and OR cases. Plus, on the drive back from Winston-Salem to Durham, I also got to appreciate the best donuts I’ve ever had as well as mouth-watering, authentic Jamaican curry chicken.

DukeMed’s third year is also uniquely situated in an interesting crossroads of our medical career. It’s right after the crazy, busy rush of our clinical year in which we work on a schedule that someone else dictates for us, with constant pressure to achieve subjective perfection (also known as “Honors” in the medical student lingo) in the eyes of the residents and attendings who are grading us every single day. In our second year, despite our own internal goals to become the best doctor we can be, we are also constantly striving to be the best doctor that other people think we should be. In our third year, there’s a 180 degree shift — now, we are all striving to be the best doctor and best person we want to be. For the most part, I am dictating my own daily schedule; I am deciding what to do with my time to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself this year, and deciding what is most important to me. During my second year, I would make a list of things I wish I had time for; this year, I’ve identified the top things from that list, and made sure to set aside time for trying out new restaurants (finally, Yelp Elite!), learning Krav Maga and Medical Chinese, volunteering with Fremont Clinic, and traveling and spending time with people who are important to me.  

This year has been such a blessing so far, and I am so grateful to have the chance to use it to help shape my own ideal of the doctor and person that I want to be throughout this lifelong journey in medicine. 

One Hell of a Year

Hey everyone! My name is Neha and I am halfway through my second year. It’s been one hell of a year—educational, exhausting and rewarding.

Neha Kayastha, MS2

 “Ahhh there’s my girl! I was waiting for you.” This is how I was greeted every afternoon when I would visit one of my very first patients, Ms. B. She would then ask me to “cut” the TV and would motion for me to pull up a chair or sit at the foot of her bed. One afternoon, I played her favorite 60s song on my phone as she sang along with a hoarseness in her voice that comes with 86 years of age. By the end, we were laughing so hard we both started tearing up. Thirty minutes later, I was holding her hand as she mourned the loss of her two sons. 

Every time I think of Ms. B., I remember Mr. V. He is a very sick man with nobody in this world to advocate for him. I never got quite the warm greeting from him that Ms. B used to give me. He usually remained under his blankets and often refused to talk to me. He once said, “I don’t want to die, I just want a break from all of this. And I want coffee.” That we could manage. Maybe we could even do something more. My intern (who had a mind-boggingly long list of things to do at the time) and I tracked down a wheelchair so we could take him outside. Mr. V bummed two cigarettes off someone outside and one of them somehow burned through his hospital gown (whoops, I think I was supposed to keep that detail to myself). We ended up staying out for over an hour watching the sky change colors as the sun set, Mr. V. finally enjoying something and me trying to avoid the way the wind was blowing smoke into my face.

Getting to spend this year out of the classroom and really connecting with patients has been a privilege. My patients have already taught me so much more about this profession than my textbooks ever could have. Like I said, it’s been one hell of a year. 

Doc of Ages

Jonah Orr, MS1

When springtime arrives at Duke Med, it brings with it many great and wonderful things: blooming flowers in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the untamable excitement of March Madness, and most thrilling of all, the Duke Med Student Faculty Show (SFS). What, you may ask yourself, is the Student Faculty Show? I, Jonah Orr, MS1 at Duke Med, will answer that question. In short, it is a multi-act, interdisciplinary, musically inclined, fundraising showcase spectacular directed, produced, and acted entirely by students (with a few faculty cameos sprinkled in). In very short, it is some of the most fun you can have as a student at Duke Med. 

       

     Preparation year’s show, “Doc of Ages” (based on the Broadway show and subsequent movie-film “Rock of Ages”) began two and a half years ago, so I am told, with the writing of the script. I did not become aware of it, however, until December, when I, along with some 30 other students from all different years at Duke Med, auditioned for the show. It was a no pressure, no experience required audition, so for someone like myself with little singing and even less acting experience, I was comfortable going out for this new adventure. Everyone who came out got a part, and the best part was, we could choose how involved we wanted to be. Do you have a very needy pet at home? Do you need to hit the gym for 3-4 hours a day, every day? You might think that this would keep you from getting involved, but I assure you, if you still yearn for the opportunity to tread the boards in Durham, there is a place for you in the SFS!

            From January (or as it is better known by Duke MS1s out there, “Brain and Behavior Month”) until March, I had the privilege to get to know my schoolmates, tell jokes with them, and take a break from the intensity that is medical school, all while singing songs like “Duke Doc Hero” (Juke Box Hero), “Sweet OB Gyn” (Sweet Child of Mine), and “Like a Surgeon” (Like a Virgin). All puns intended, all the time.

            Our months of work (but mostly fun) culminated in a one-night-only event during Medical Families Weekend, with all proceeds from ticket sales went to benefit the Durham Crisis Response Center. Helping our community? Rocking out? Showing off your acting and singing chops parents and friends? Can it get better than that?

            Yes. It can.

            “How?” you might ask.

            I’ll tell you.

Advisory deans in KISS make up.

From Right to Left: Dr. Goodman, Dr. Wigfall, Dr. Drucker, Dr. Haynes

When I chose Duke Med, I did so because of the tight community, because the students here are indisputably happy, and because the professors genuinely care about their students. All of this is reflected so strongly in the phenomenon that is the SFS.

It's for the kids!

Kelsey Corrigan, MS1

Hello! My name is Kelsey, a first year medical student here at Duke, and I am one of the students in charge of Duke Med Elementary. Duke Med Elementary (DME) is a student-run organization in the medical school that teaches Durham elementary school students about the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal system through science-based educational programs. The ultimate mission of DME is to reduce childhood obesity in Durham by connecting science to exercise and nutrition, and of course to have fun while doing it!

In the fall, third grade students come to the medical school to learn about the heart. The session begins with a free Subway lunch and a lecture from two first-year medical student volunteers. The lecture teaches the kids about the anatomical parts of the cardiovascular system as well as about how the heart pumps blood throughout the body. After learning about the heart, 20 medical student volunteers assist in taking the kids through their own dissection of a pig heart! As you may be able to guess, touching a real heart is the kids’ favorite part (as well as the grossest).

The hour-long sessions are always a blast for both the kids and the medical students. We have had kids tell us that the hearts are “epic” and that we “smell like medicine”. We also came across an ambitious student who said “I am still hungry, can I eat the heart for the rest of my lunch?” (we gave him the rest of his sandwich instead). We even had superman stop by once to teach the kids about the heart! Overall, it is absolutely heart-warming to observe nine year-olds and twenty year-olds interact and teach each other.

In the spring, third grade students will come to the medical school to learn about digestion. These sessions will include a lecture as well as an obstacle course through the GI tract. I can’t wait to see the look on the kids’ faces when they realize that at the end of the GI tract course, they become poop!

In the midst of all the hard work and commitment of medical school, Duke Med Elementary has fostered a time for medical students to relax, have fun, and become involved with the Durham community. DME expands beyond the classroom by teaching children the importance of science in everyday life and showing activities that kids can do to increase their health. At the end of the day, the kids always leave with a huge smile on their face, and frankly, so do the medical students.

Making the Most of the Last Year in Med School!

Pierre Elias, MS5

Hi all! My name is Pierre and I’m a MS5 at Duke. I took two third years, the majority of which I spent in San Francisco. So let me start with this picture:

This is a watch I wear a lot of the time. The first two lines are how much of my life is left. At least that is the average calculated by putting in all my personal data in an actuarial calculator. So why the morbid gloom and doom?

Life is surprisingly short. And it’s always ticking away. I’m just one of those people who needs that reminder more often than others.

I took a second third year because I wanted to explore meaningful problems to work on, as well as doing some personal exploration. The biggest lesson was that you regret the opportunities you don’t take much more than those you do. Even when time is short and stress is high, I try the odd thing. So here are some of the things I’ve done during my last year in medical school!

Read a book by a waterfall

North Carolina is stunningly gorgeous. There’s ocean and mountains three hours from one another. I’ve taken at least one trip West towards Asheville every year. This time we stopped by some waterfalls on our hike to lounge and read. There’s even one you can slide down!

Spend two weeks in Japan

The fourth year schedule is incredibly flexible, which mean I had a few weeks with no obligations in Durham. We spent it travelling the country and enjoying incredible sights, food, and people.

Have great relationships with my mentors

The mentoring I’ve received at Duke has been the highlight of my time here. Brilliant people who take time to teach, motivate, and guide you. I’ve worked with my mentors for the past year and a half. I offered up the idea of us going to San Francisco for a string of meetings with interesting collaborators. They were happy to oblige! It was great getting to talk about important research as well as spend quality time with them.

Just be with friends

Maybe the most wonderful thing is just being in the presence of wonderful people. It’s amazing how much you grow, learn, and change during medical school. Reflecting on that with the people who were there with you is memorable. I think the best moments I’ve had over these past few years all happened at a bar or someone’s house, just laughing at ourselves.

So that’s been my experience in the last year of med school. Wouldn’t change a thing.