I think most people who know me well think of me as somewhat of a Luddite. I'm not sure if I would go so far as to say that, but I am extremely wary of the alarming speed at which technology is taking over our lives and fearful of the direction our society could be going in.
I bring this up because I was in my yoga class on Tuesday and we always end class with a quote. I love this moment. Everyone is lying flat on their mats, unwinding, finding their peace (ideally, or maybe thinking about what to eat after, realistically), and waiting for a quote to be read and the echoes of the sound of a gong to wash over us. But as the teacher began to read the quote, I realized I saw this exact quote as the caption to a photo that the yoga place posted on Instagram the day before (as you can see I have not quite removed myself from the platforms that are contributing to some of the advancements I am so against). And this really bothered me! The fact that I couldn't escape the influences of technology even in this room that should just be focused on the body and mind was troubling. But, even that is something that I have grown accustomed to in society. What really bothered me was that in this scenario, technology was dictating reality. I would have been fine (maybe somewhat irked) if the quote had been posted on Instagram after class. But, it happened before and stole the purity of the moment. When technology stops being an afterthought, we are in trouble.
Notes:
Maybe I should have just stayed off Instagram.
Maybe this post is too anti-everything/politically fueled? for this blog, but I didn't know where else to share it. SORRY!!!
Hopefully, you are all having lovely summers!
Until next time,
Linda
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Shadowing and Downstate
Hey, everyone!
It's a quiet Brooklyn night, and I spent much of today chilling at home. My mom and I cooked and went grocery shopping. I also finished up The Handmaid's Tale, which I highly recommend reading if you're into dystopian fiction and questions about gender equality.
I've spent 4 days in the last two weeks shadowing a physician in a clinic, and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing how she interacts with all of her patients. Before each visit, she asks if it's alright for me to sit in on the visit, and every one of the patients has said yes so far. I love how supportive they are of aspiring doctors.
Shadowing a physician in a clinic is entirely different than shadowing a medical team on the hospital floor, which is what I was doing the first two weeks of my internship. When shadowing a team, I'm observing multiple people: medical students, residents, social workers, and the attending physician. But in the clinic, I'm just shadowing one physician. In this way, I get to know one doctor's particular style well. Also, the patients on the hospital floors are usually initially unfamiliar with the people on the team. In clinic, virtually all of the patients have known the physician for several years because she is their primary care doctor. I also get to know the physician in clinic much more closely because I spend several hours with her, and we talk about each of the patients before and after the visit. I like shadowing the team on the hospital floors because I get to see how they deal with new patients and how they go about diagnosing different issues. I get to hear the discussion and see the proper thought process. I also like shadowing a single doctor in the clinic because I get to know her well, and I get to see how great long-term doctor-patient relationships can be built.
This past Wednesday, I took a trip to SUNY Downstate Medical Center to check out their open house. I was impressed with everything I saw. I like that it's a community-oriented medical school in the sense that all of the med students seem friendly towards each other and genuinely want to help each other succeed. The medical school is also passionate about helping the community of people who live near it.
The medical students took us on a tour of the different parts of the school, including the gross anatomy lab. It is here that I was in a room with cadavers for the first time. It wasn't as creepy as you would think because they were covered up, and we weren't touching them or anything.
One of my friends from Hunter was there, and he introduced me to one of his friends so now I have a new friend. Meeting new people is always awesome. I also saw one of my friends from Macaulay Brooklyn. I hadn't seen him in more than a year!
Half of summer break is over. Ahhh!
Let's make the best of the rest of our time.
S.
In honor of Frida's birthday on July 6th:
Quote of the Week
“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.”
It's a quiet Brooklyn night, and I spent much of today chilling at home. My mom and I cooked and went grocery shopping. I also finished up The Handmaid's Tale, which I highly recommend reading if you're into dystopian fiction and questions about gender equality.
I've spent 4 days in the last two weeks shadowing a physician in a clinic, and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing how she interacts with all of her patients. Before each visit, she asks if it's alright for me to sit in on the visit, and every one of the patients has said yes so far. I love how supportive they are of aspiring doctors.
Shadowing a physician in a clinic is entirely different than shadowing a medical team on the hospital floor, which is what I was doing the first two weeks of my internship. When shadowing a team, I'm observing multiple people: medical students, residents, social workers, and the attending physician. But in the clinic, I'm just shadowing one physician. In this way, I get to know one doctor's particular style well. Also, the patients on the hospital floors are usually initially unfamiliar with the people on the team. In clinic, virtually all of the patients have known the physician for several years because she is their primary care doctor. I also get to know the physician in clinic much more closely because I spend several hours with her, and we talk about each of the patients before and after the visit. I like shadowing the team on the hospital floors because I get to see how they deal with new patients and how they go about diagnosing different issues. I get to hear the discussion and see the proper thought process. I also like shadowing a single doctor in the clinic because I get to know her well, and I get to see how great long-term doctor-patient relationships can be built.
This past Wednesday, I took a trip to SUNY Downstate Medical Center to check out their open house. I was impressed with everything I saw. I like that it's a community-oriented medical school in the sense that all of the med students seem friendly towards each other and genuinely want to help each other succeed. The medical school is also passionate about helping the community of people who live near it.
The medical students took us on a tour of the different parts of the school, including the gross anatomy lab. It is here that I was in a room with cadavers for the first time. It wasn't as creepy as you would think because they were covered up, and we weren't touching them or anything.
One of my friends from Hunter was there, and he introduced me to one of his friends so now I have a new friend. Meeting new people is always awesome. I also saw one of my friends from Macaulay Brooklyn. I hadn't seen him in more than a year!
Half of summer break is over. Ahhh!
Let's make the best of the rest of our time.
S.
In honor of Frida's birthday on July 6th:
Quote of the Week
“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.”
~ Frida Kahlo
Friday, July 4, 2014
Physicians and Fireworks
Hey, everyone!
Happy 4th of July!
I saw some fireworks in Coney Island last week. They have them every Friday during the summer so I encourage you to head out to Brooklyn at least once this summer to see them. It's been a couple of years since I've seen them so my dad and I decided to head over there last Friday. So pretty. 15 minutes of magic, excited adults, and sometimes barking dogs. haha. It also gave me a good excuse to have some daddy and me time with my dad. He's full of great stories about all kinds of things: family, history, and just random observations. And I always love smelling the ocean air. There's nothing quite like it.
Then a few days later, I headed over to the High Line with a friend and also checked out Chelsea Market. Can you guys believe that it was my first time visiting these two places? Shame on me. I'm glad I finally got to see them. The High Line was fun to walk on, but we went on a particularly sunny day and there's hardly any shade up there. That part wasn't fun. But there are some cool benches to sit on, and there are some places to get food. Great place for a date. Chelsea Market was a great place to explore. OMG. So much good food.
I'm two weeks into my internship at a hospital, and I've already learned so much. Shadowing a doctor can be a really eye-opening experience. The first doctor I shadowed works with all kinds of patients as a primary care physician. Alcoholics, people with heart problems, people with psychiatric issues, people with all kinds of cancers. I got to see a bit of all of that and more during the week that I shadowed him and his team. I was so impressed him. I think that there is a perception that many doctors can be indifferent or cold, but he was completely the opposite. It caused him emotional pain every time he heard that one of his patients wasn't doing well. He had impeccable bedside manner as he spoke with a gentle but firm voice with each patient. He was filled with knowledge on all kinds of diseases and fascinating medical facts. The second doctor I shadowed worked specifically in the field of geriatrics. Another knowledgable and compassionate physician just full of information.
I've also learned how hard these doctors work. They all get up early in the morning, work very long hours, and have to be attentive and alert at all times. Same for the med students and residents I've encountered. All so dedicated, all so intelligent, all so passionate about what they're doing.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next 4 weeks.
S.
Quote of the Week
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
~ Henry James
Happy 4th of July!
I saw some fireworks in Coney Island last week. They have them every Friday during the summer so I encourage you to head out to Brooklyn at least once this summer to see them. It's been a couple of years since I've seen them so my dad and I decided to head over there last Friday. So pretty. 15 minutes of magic, excited adults, and sometimes barking dogs. haha. It also gave me a good excuse to have some daddy and me time with my dad. He's full of great stories about all kinds of things: family, history, and just random observations. And I always love smelling the ocean air. There's nothing quite like it.
Then a few days later, I headed over to the High Line with a friend and also checked out Chelsea Market. Can you guys believe that it was my first time visiting these two places? Shame on me. I'm glad I finally got to see them. The High Line was fun to walk on, but we went on a particularly sunny day and there's hardly any shade up there. That part wasn't fun. But there are some cool benches to sit on, and there are some places to get food. Great place for a date. Chelsea Market was a great place to explore. OMG. So much good food.
I'm two weeks into my internship at a hospital, and I've already learned so much. Shadowing a doctor can be a really eye-opening experience. The first doctor I shadowed works with all kinds of patients as a primary care physician. Alcoholics, people with heart problems, people with psychiatric issues, people with all kinds of cancers. I got to see a bit of all of that and more during the week that I shadowed him and his team. I was so impressed him. I think that there is a perception that many doctors can be indifferent or cold, but he was completely the opposite. It caused him emotional pain every time he heard that one of his patients wasn't doing well. He had impeccable bedside manner as he spoke with a gentle but firm voice with each patient. He was filled with knowledge on all kinds of diseases and fascinating medical facts. The second doctor I shadowed worked specifically in the field of geriatrics. Another knowledgable and compassionate physician just full of information.
I've also learned how hard these doctors work. They all get up early in the morning, work very long hours, and have to be attentive and alert at all times. Same for the med students and residents I've encountered. All so dedicated, all so intelligent, all so passionate about what they're doing.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next 4 weeks.
S.
Quote of the Week
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
~ Henry James
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