SubI life

This week marks my second week since returning from BOLC and as much time on my general surgery sub-internship. A sub-internship, or subI, is an advanced clerkship with additional responsibility and expectations beyond those expected of a medical student on a regular rotation. Typically, one does a subI in the specialty in which they are interested. I'm doing my subI on one of the notoriously busiest services in the hospital, a group that specialized in pancreatic cancer (hint: pancreatic cancer is not good. Don't get it. But if you have to have it, come here. We're the best at it).

Last week I GOT TO TAKE OUT A GALLBLADDER. It was incredible. And short of closing skin incisions and doing random bits and pieces of surgeries -- a snip here, a stable there -- it was my first real surgical experience. Taking out a gallbladder can be an entire surgery unto itself, but the one I took out was in the context of a much larger procedure for pancreatic cancer, called a Whipple procedure. Anyways, it was incredible. Everyone is super jealous because medical students typically don't get to do such things. To put into context, one of my interns (granted, he's only a month into his internship) did his first gallbladder two days before I did mine and the other intern has never done one. Count it.

Today, when I was helping with a couple of cases, the attending said he'd like me open (aka CUT OPEN SOMEONE'S SKIN and cut down to the abdominal cavity) in the Whipple he has tomorrow.

I may be working 75 hours a week and the days start at 3:45am, but I HAVE THE BEST LIFE. 

Brief reflection

Not sure if you can view this video if you're not on facebook, but a friend of mine (dentist battle buddy) from BOLC recently posted it with the following message:

"I definitely have a new level of respect and appreciation for the service men and women of America. As a future Army dentist I most certainly will not be an integral part in the survival of our troops like these medics, nurses, and surgeons are. But I just had the incredible privilege of spending the month of July training with fellow AMEDD Army Healthcare team members and couldn't be more impressed with the caliber of professionals that I met during my time there. After spending a month with these amazing people I am confident that our military sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, spouses, and siblings are in the best hands possible. In the words of 2LT Charlie Maxwell "This game is serious! Don't ever forget that we are here to save lives." Thank you for your hard work and service [lists some of our names] and many many more. To the memory of those who gave their lives so we could sleep in peace at night...."

I think this video really encapsulates why I joined Army Medicine and what BOLC was able to affirm for me. 2LT Maxwell was our student commander and a former Special Forces medic. I think becoming an Army doctor was, for him, extremely personal. He's a guy who had to watch his battle buddies die out there on the battlefield. Having him as our commander was an incredible and constant reminder of our mission. I had a phenomenal time at BOLC; I enjoyed the training I did and the people I met. I had a serious serious amount of fun. I had a blast. But I like to think that I always had in mind an understanding and appreciation of the incredible honor and responsibility that my future job entails. Can't wait to be out there.