"matched!" written by Jenks on estrip.org

05/21/08 03:19 - 45ºF - ID#44409

matched!

So... the match is over.
I got my third choice- UConn.

I think I'm about 90% psyched, and about 10% bummed I didn't get number one or two.

But bottom line- I have something. No more worrying about interviews etc.... now I just have to make it til next june without getting myself fired!

;)

imk2 writes at 11:08:44 05/22/08 - Comment #35385: congratulations!

it'll be sad when you're gone. it's so weird to think that you're going to leave us. it's like a sad episode of grey's.

speaking of grey's....did you watch the season finale? i was very impressed with karev....i got this weird feeling that he was channeling his own mental issues when dealing with rebecca. the scene where he broke down, was spot on. didnt seem like acting at all.

ajay writes at 12:28:54 05/22/08 - Comment #35355: Dammit!

I was counting on you coming to this neighborhood so you could prescribe me some "medicinal" herbs....

jenks writes at 12:03:14 05/22/08 - Comment #35348: yep, hartford. And yes, it's pretty close to home. Just realized I haven't lived within driving distance of home since '97.
And no need to panic- I still have to finish next year here, so I'll be here til june '09.

tinypliny writes at 10:05:31 05/21/08 - Comment #35327: ooooohh... So is it going to be The Hand then?

You shall be The Connecticut Jenksy in The Thing's Court.

Yeah, my humour level is running especially dry today.

chico writes at 10:00:30 05/21/08 - Comment #35326: Congratulations, jenksy! I just know you will make the most of it and have a great experience at UConn. And it's pretty close to NYC -- bonus!

libertad writes at 06:58:53 05/21/08 - Comment #35317: Congrats and make sure to come back to visit and or move back. Think about the house you can get later on for the money in comparison to other places....or maybe that isn't true anymore. I think Buffalo's market might be better than a lot of others out there. You just never know when we can make a come back.

mrmike writes at 04:32:30 05/21/08 - Comment #35315: Exactly, think of where it could have gone. Isn't Hartford close to home? there has to be a few perks there.

leetee writes at 04:25:48 05/21/08 - Comment #35313: UConn? Connecticut?

Try to focus on the pysched part!! Least you didn't get choice number 20!!

Congrats!

Permalink: matched_.html
Words: 52
Location: Buffalo, NY

05/19/08 04:43 - 48ºF - ID#44393

Misc photo dump

some pix that have accumulated lately...

My niece/nephew- due Halloween.

This is right up there with the Acme Nipple Mfg Co. I love it.

A couple weeks ago I went to go see the Reverend Horton Heat at the Tralf. Before going, met up with a friend, who was talking about how last time he saw the Rev, he almost got in a fight with some bikers. I figured he was 'telling tall tales'.
Well, then I actually went to the show, and this sign was posted outside the door.
(then unfortunately I got called to work, and had to miss the entire show.)

The hospital in Portland. Not too shabby, for a hospital.

On one of my interview trips, I walked up to my gate, only to see this. it was like 2 in the afternoon. Not really a good time/place to be sleeping on the floor. It's not like there were no seats available. A few minutes later her ?daughter came up and put a blanket on her. Really? We are condoning sleeping on a nasty airport floor?

The beginning of my airline woes with American. This was one of like 8 monitors. Everything yellow is cancelled or delayed.
yeah.... way to go air travel!

This has been written on the board at work for the last couple weeks.
teehee... cocaine shortage... snort.

And in other news-
My "match day" is wed. At noon I find out where I will be spending 2009-2010. Wish me luck!!! I'm starting to get nervous.

Permalink: Misc_photo_dump.html
Words: 268
Location: Buffalo, NY

05/16/08 10:44 - 50ºF - ID#44373

caterpillar, revisited

Ok, paul says mp3 uploading is fixed.
Let's see....

Here's the caterpillar song I tried to post a while ago.
I <3 it.

::DOWNLOAD SOUND::

Permalink: caterpillar_revisited.html
Words: 25
Location: Buffalo, NY

05/12/08 08:30 - 56ºF - ID#44322

yowza...

Permalink: yowza_.html
Words: 2
Location: Buffalo, NY

05/11/08 09:27 - 52ºF - ID#44304

even better than birthday flowers...

... is birthday laptop.
Oooh I am such a spoiled brat.
But this thing is awesome. The multi-touch trackpad is way cool.

And i saw a 1TB drive at Best Buy yesterday for $219, marked down from $350. I think I should go back and get it.

Permalink: even_better_than_birthday_flowers_.html
Words: 46
Location: Buffalo, NY

05/05/08 05:34 - 65ºF - ID#44245

awww, for me?

My mom's the best:

And on a totally unrelated note-
This looks cool. Right up Paul's alley, perhaps-

Permalink: awww_for_me_.html
Words: 24
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

05/04/08 11:28 - 45ºF - ID#44229

Good show!!

So...
I saw The Police at HSBC last night. (as my dad said, better than seeing them at the station. ha-ha-ha). They were awesome.
It was a great birthday present in and of itself- but then on top of it, we were in a suite, and even a GIANT limo. And started with dinner at Papaya.
Unfortunately I was on call and had to work in the AM, so that put a damper on the drinking, but still.

The Police were my first "favorite band". I think I was in 4th grade when I heard Message In a Bottle, and I went out and bought Synchronicity (on tape). The went back and got a couple of their earlier albums. So I got in on it at the tail end (they disbanded in 84), but you can't really blame me, since I was 8.

So this tour is a pretty big deal. They went on tour in '07, as a 30th anniversary reunion thing. They hadn't played together in 24 years. They said last night the last time they played Buffalo was 1978. (though someone said that's wrong, they were here in 84. I dunno.)

But in any case, I think it's fair to say they're a pretty influential band in music history. I think I would equate seeing this concert with seeing maybe the Stones (except it's actually easier to see the Stones since they still play sometimes).

So I was just surprised when I mentioned at work, and no one seemed even vaguely interested. Who knows... maybe they're too old? But really... who doesn't still start singing "Roxanne" every time it comes on at a bar?!

But, who cares what they think. It was a great show. They only played a couple songs I didn't know. Sting still has a great voice, and Stewart Copeland, the drummer, is amazing.

So... happy birthday to me. It was great. :)

just to clarify- the limo was not on my behalf. The guy whose suite it is apparently gets limos often- whenever there's a big group and drinking is involved. I (and about 15 other people) just happened to luck out.

Unfortunately it was tough to get decent pix on my phone, but...

Our ridiculous limo

Elvis Costello

The Police

Permalink: Good_show_.html
Words: 377
Location: Buffalo, NY

04/29/08 05:03 - 44ºF - ID#44187

warm fuzzy / major bitchy

So... I'm at work. There hasn't been all that much for me to do today- but there's a case that's supposed to go at 5pm. Which has already been delayed til 6. I won't be surprised if it doesn't go til 9. But in any case, I've been sitting around all day killing time.
Went to a retirement lunch for one of my fave docs... had to fight back tears b/c I'm a huge sap... (but he's so great. I'll miss him).
[I do love all the people that come out of the woodwork for free food. All the housekeeping etc staff, that you can't find when you need them, is suddenly there for lunch today.... The food was almost gone before Dr. B even got there. ugh.]

Other than that, I've been killing time, doing a few little things, touching base with the interns, etc.

Really what I want to do is take a freaking nap for an hour before this case, but sadly there's no place to do that, and I don't really want to be zonked out in the middle of the lobby or something.

So I came to "my" office (an abandoned desk in the back of the secretaries' office) and have just been dicking around on the computer. Waiting for everyone to leave, and then maybe I can turn the lights off and put my head on the desk for a little snoozle.

But I got a page... ugh... annoying... so I answered it. I didn't think I was particularly nice, but I answered her questions etc. But, I didn't really know as much as I could about the patient, so I didn't know everything she wanted to know. So I was not especially impressed with my performance. Also, I hate talking on the phone back here, b/c I feel like it disturbs the other people working.

But after I hung up, this voice piped up "alex?" "yeah?" "have you picked your specialty?" and I said "yes, hand" and she said "oh, that's too bad."

And then went on to say "b/c I hear you talk to people, and I always think that YOU are exactly who I would like to take care of me."

Then she went on to try to convince herself that she has a trigger finger and needs a hand surgeon. ;)

But anyway... I know I'm obnoxiously bragging here, but that kind of stuff makes me feel good. A lot of docs are assholes... And I try not to be... Being the smartest or the fastest or whatever is impressive and nice and all that- but I think even better than that is to be the kind of doctor that people WANT to see.

So, yay.

Oh- and to totally pull a 180 and be a major bitch for a minute-
Who plans their wedding for 12/26?! One of the other residents has, and it's pissing me off. B/c now she conveniently "has" to be the only one to get the holidays off. Usually we fight it out, and end up flipping a coin or something. but this year she's like "nope, I get it. b/c of my wedding." [she misses NO opportunity to tell you: that she's engaged, about her wedding, about her fiance, about her [freaking hideous] ring.]

So aside from the fact that she's pretty much screwing everyone she works with by making us all have to work thanksgiving/christmas/new year's to accommodate her- it seems like she's also screwing her guests. I mean what are they supposed to do- cut christmas with their families short so that they can get on a plane and travel on christmas day to go to her wedding? (and yes, she does celebrate xmas so that's not it.)

Maybe I'm being too harsh, but it just strikes me as very selfish and attention-seeking.

jenks writes at 08:18:05 04/29/08 - Comment #34543: no worries about mooching a bagel.

and I'm totally with you.
There *is* a certain degree of natural ability- some people are more dextrous than other, and make things look easy, and do them faster/smoother. But yes, you can train just about anyone to operate. As some people at work love to say, you could train a monkey to cut and sew.
But it's figuring out what's wrong, and how to manage it, that's the tough part. Knowing when to operate, and when not to. Knowing which operation to do when.

And then beyond that, it's how you interact with people.
Some degree of ego/confidence is good. I mean who wants a doctor who's all timid and nervous and unsure.
But on the other hand, no one wants some cocky asshole who is "too important" to spend a minute answering your questions, or intimidates you with so much medical jargon that you have no idea what he's saying, but are too scared to ask for clarification.

And the lawsuit point is a good one. Bedside manner is probably THE most important factor in lawsuits.
Shit happens. I wish it didn't, but it does. You can do everything PERFECTLY, but there's always a chance that something bad can happen. And, of course, sometimes people simply fuck up.
What's important is how you handle it.
No lying, no covering things up. Go in and say "we did the best we could, but xyz still happened. I'm very sorry. This is what we can do to make it better." or "I'm very sorry, but I made a mistake."
It's hard to do, but you HAVE to.

It's pretty well established that even if you have a nasty complication, if you have 1- explained the potentials risks/complications BEFORE surgery, and 2- you are upfront and honest and nice- people are MUCH less likely to sue, than if you're some arrogant prick. People aren't going to sue the guy that held their hand while they cried. They're going to sue the guy that seemed like he didn't CARE.

My dad, who of course I think is the greatest guy ever, has had a few complications. but his patients love him. he has never been sued. Another guy he worked with, same age, similar training, good surgeon, etc- has been sued like 10 times b/c he's a jerk.

One distinction though- there may not be a difference in OUTCOME (as in success rate, cure rate, complication rate etc)- but there is a difference in SATISFACTION and patient perception.

And that means a lot.

imk2 writes at 07:49:45 04/29/08 - Comment #34542: i can't say anything about showing up for free food....remember when i had you sneak me into the surgical lounge to get some of the food they had for the surgical staff? yeah, i admit it, i'm one of those losers ;)

and if this world was grey's anatomy, it looks like you would be izzy, no?

and you know how i feel about docs. i know it sounds crazy, but in my opinion, it is sooooo much more important HOW you talk to and treat a patient than how well you do the surgery. i mean, seriously, how much difference is there between the surgeons' ability to cut? seriously, can you tell me that there really is THAT much difference between one surgeon and another when it comes to their ability to cut out a tumor or suture? doesn't everyone get the same or similar kind of training when it comes to performing these tasks? and if not, isn't there something wrong with the educational system?

i'm guessing most people differ very little when it comes to their ability to execute the tasks they've been trained to do. i mean, do doctors/surgeons really differ all that much in terms of their abilities? i think the biggest differences between medical professionals really ARE their ability (or lack thereof) to deal with people. i wonder if the rates of litigation against doctors that are good with people as high as those who are assholes. i bet people are less likely to sue a doctor that is nice and approachable and caring. i wonder if there is a way to find that kind of information. i don't think there really is a way to gauge whether a doctor is a people person or not. it's all rather anecdotal, no?

fine, you can say that experience will make one person better than the other when performing surgery. but if you have two surgeons, who are the same age, have gone to the same school and have done the same number of fellowships, they probably have the same ability to do whatever surgeries they've been trained to do. but i bet the person that is able to talk to the patient and to the family will have better outcomes, because they are able to extract more accurate information regarding a patient's history, they are able to relay better information to the patient in terms of what they should and should not be doing to better their health, they are able to gain the patients' trust and therefore convince them follow instructions that will ultimately affect their recovery, they can communicate better to the patient and to the family options for treatment and they will get better patient compliance and cooperation.

so yeah, the nice doctors are without a doubt the better doctors. not just because they seem nice, but because their niceness translates to better care and better outcomes.

janelle writes at 06:00:54 04/29/08 - Comment #34539: I concur that she made an incredibly selfish decision to have her wedding the day after Christmas, for co-workers, friends, family, people who will be in the wedding! People are stupid when it comes to weddings. All good sense and thoughtfulness goes out the door with some people's weddings....Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Permalink: warm_fuzzy_major_bitchy.html
Words: 643
Location: Buffalo, NY

04/27/08 07:40 - 46ºF - ID#44163

trying again

Ok, here (maybe?) is the caterpillar song.

::DOWNLOAD SOUND::

Permalink: trying_again.html
Words: 9
Location: Buffalo, NY

04/26/08 08:45 - 50ºF - ID#44160

caterpillar, caterpillar

Wow.... I have not updated my user song in a long time. It was on Sufjan Stevens xmas music.

But now I have! Listen to this song while you read. I lurve it.
Caterpillar Caterpillar, by Kira Wiley. The only decent song on some free sampler I got.

can anyone here the new song? I keep getting sufjan. Paul- are user songs broken?****

So....

What's new around here.

Well... I just got back from Charlottesville, VA. My last interview! I'm done! Woohoo!!

UVA is a really really gorgeous campus. Thomas Jefferson designed the whole thing. They have Edgar Allen Poe's room preserved and on display.

Charlottesville is pretty, too. Nice weather, lots of flowers out...
And more good looking preppy white kids than I have EVER seen in one place. (and no one else). Not sure if that's a good thing.

And I saw my preggo sister. Who has red hair, which was a bit of a shock. But I guess that's what happens when I don't see her for >6mo.

So, now just to decide where I want to go.

I think UVA and Portland are my top 2. But I change my mind every 5 minutes, so I don't know. I have a feeling I'm going to end up flipping coins. It would be nice to be near my sister, and stay on the east coast. And I like the program there. And it's warm. But... portland was really cool. But it's far away. I loved the program in Hartford... but don't really want to live in Hartford.
And then there's the option of staying here... And I'm torn... part of me is ready for a change... but I also hate moving and saying goodbye- it would sure be EASY to just stay. By the time I finish my residency, I will have lived here longer than I've lived anywhere besides RI. Crazy!! And Yale is in the mix too... Oy.

But at least I *have* choices, so I really shouldn't complain.

My rank list is due 5/7, and I then it's up to the computer... I find out on 5/21.

Oh, and everyone keeps asking me where I'm from, and telling me I have some crazy midwestern accent. Someone guess I was from North Dakota. WTF?! I don't like that at all.