step 2 cs

silliness.  i am sure i did just fine. 

what it entails:  12 standardized patient interviews – 15 minutes to see the patient, 10 minutes to write a note, including your assessment and plan. something like 98% of US medical grads pass it without a problem (it is pass/fail).

my only observation was the pattern of all the other students not requiring the full 15 minutes to do a complete history and focused physical exam on the patients.  the very idea of this blows my mind – as a medical student, you should have plenty of questions in your repertoire to take up 15 minutes… but these interviews didn’t just involve doing the aforementioned tasks – you also had to summarize and explain your plan… basically – it should take you 15 minutes unless it’s an unbelieveably easy case.

although i suppose it doesn’t matter.  we’ll all pass, and we’ll all be good doctors regardless of that test.   plus i am pretty sure they are not going to continue administering it next year.  stupid.  not surprised.

grace

it was not too long ago in my religious discussions with z that the topic of grace came up, and i recall inquiring into what grace really meant.  his answer was it’s when you come by something you didn’t necessarily earn, which for some time was sort of inconceiveable to me.  i was always of the mantra that everything you have you should earn…but there are somethings that we all have that we did nothing to attain. 

nothing taught me more about grace than my recent interview at allegheny.  the program director was commending me on all of my positive characteristics and traits, but specifically my intelligence.  it was a nice interview because it was a lot of compliments for me, but when he raved about my “brilliance”, it really struck me on how fortunate i have been. 

i know i have  a very blessed life, but for some reason my epiphany came right then.  how lucky to have two very intelligent parents, with the only factor limiting their going to college was 1. their lack of ambition (my father) 2. three children by age 23 (my mother).  my mother eventually went back, but i just wonder what she would have achieved if she hadn’t married so young.  how lucky for me that she did marry early, because i wouldn’t be here.  how lucky for me that i have such a supportive family that has encouraged me throughout these four years.

and that is a minor sampling of God’s grace in my life.  i pray i never forget to thank Him for all he has given me and all that continues to come my way.