Family medicine

I have not been writing as much as I had hoped to recently, because I have A LOT on my plate right now in terms of things that need to be accomplished in the near future.
I have a personal statement to write, a CV to compile, a list of residency programs to narrow down where I will apply, and then fill out the application. So lets just say even though I am enjoying 4th year and relaxing some - I'm also still running around like a crazy person.
Starting my personal statement is what I have dreaded the most...and today is the day I am making myself start to write it.

I went back in my journal from when I had my family medicine rotation last July and thought I would share that entry with you now.

"So after 4 weeks in a family practice setting - could I see myself doing that for the rest of my life? I would say it is still a definite possibility. The reasons I enjoy it so much are the personal interactions, the extended relationship of knowing your patients for years, and the variety. When walking into a patient's room you truly never know what you are going to end up discussing. For example a young man came in the other day for an infected thumb wound, well before the visit was over we had a discussion about his pregnant wife and the fact that their baby failed the nuchal fold test (one of the possible tests for Down's) and the chorionic villi test came back normal. They are unsure if the nuchal test was a false positive or something else. Anyway - NOT what you would be expecting when walking into the room.

It's the trust & bond between the patient and the doc. The chance to make a difference throughout the patient's life. To be there during times of grief & there to share in their celebrations. To counsel, console, and educate your patients. Help them change behaviors for a more healthy lifestyle for the rest of their lives. I will learn from my patient's and their unique lives & backgrounds.

What do I worry about or the not so great aspects of family medicine? There is variety, but...will I get tired of hypertension, diabetes, COPD, etc? Will I be able to have a younger patient population in my practice? or do deliveries if I want to? Learning to and performing procedures is possible, but how hard is it to learn? Will I get bored? I hope & thing not, but it's possible.
Underserved, preventative, & women's health are where my interests currently lie. So much to learn & experience this next year. another exciting time is approaching - where & what will I be doing in 3 years? who knows? Anything is possible."


Well it seems it as all come full circle. Final decision is family medicine and right now I still would like to focus on women's health and preventative medicine. Lucky for me family medicine in the West is much more amenable to family docs delivering babies. :)