The ups and downs of Baltimore

I am, really lucky. Sometimes I think about being in Denver (where I thought I would be for these 12 weeks) and just cringe. Like my mom says, I was supposed to be in Baltimore.

I arrived here late last Monday night to Silver Spring, Maryland where my Aunt Grace, Uncle Vin, and cousins Tara and Nick live. I commuted for the first three days, until I finally found myself a one bedroom apartment in NW Baltimore. I am, very happy to be about 20 minutes from the hospital and 10 minutes from downtown in a very safe area. This Sunday, I went to DC for the day to visit my cousin Casey, and her husband Andrew. Tara came too. We watched the world cup and ate grandma schiraldi's famous meatballs which Andrew has mastered. Then he gave me leftover sauce and meatballs. He is definitely a keeper! It is great to have cousins an hour away.

My first day in Harbor Hospital, I had orientation. An intern (1st year doctor/resident) came in and talked to us about when he did his IM rotation at Harbor. He urged us to sign up to be a student representative. I reluctantly put my name into the hate to be read, and I was picked! Bummer. But, its a good way to meet other students and the chief residents. I have to relay emails to everyone, plus set up schedules for August and September. My first week of rotations I was on Night Float. Night float is from 9pm to 9am. We admitted patients in the ER who were too ill to go home that night, but doing a proper history, physical exam, assessment and plan. My team consists of myself, an intern, and a resident. I was usually let off by about 1:30 or 2:30 every night, but had to return to the hospital for a 8am meeting each morning. Needless to say, my sleeping schedule was a little off. Today when I got up onto the floor to meet my new team, I met my resident who immediately assigned me two patients, told me to do progress notes on them for the last 24 hours, and disappeared. Progress notes include looking through the chart for overnight changes, as well as talking to the patient and doing a physical exam.

It is nice to be trusted and on the floor with real, live patients. Its fun to wear a white coat and have it packed with books, papers, and notes. I am usually humbled right back down to earth when I realize how much more I have to learn before I can have those fantastic two letters after my name. Which is, TONS!

I will write more soon, but it is unfortunately after my bed time. I hope everyone is having a wonderful beginning of July! All my love from Maryland.