This month I am on a nephrology rotation. Needless to say, it has been an interesting time to be working in a hospital with all this COVID-19 stuff going on!
But, in an effort to keep things light around here, I thought I would share some outfit ideas for the hospital. I feel like dress attire is so much more confusing for women!
I have been wearing these pants nonstop! I have them in three colors! My uniform for clinic attire is basically these pants and a sweater or cute blouse. I am still working on finding a pair of shoes that are professional, stylish, and COMFORTABLE! I’ll keep y’all posted.
On Monday I start fourth year! Where the heck is the time going?! The next two months I will be on a nephrology rotation, so I will be spending my Sunday reviewing my kidney anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology.
Since it has been really cold here in Cleveland, going to antique shops has been my favorite weekend pastime. Why is antique furniture so much cooler than the new stuff?
For my birthday, I asked for a few pairs of Veja sneakers. I have pretty much been obsessed since Meghan Markle wore them about a year ago. I purchased this pair and this pair. I really like them both, but they are very different. I think I’ll write a full blog post detailing the differences and which one I like more.
I have been working on a research project at school for almost a year and we just found out that it is going to be published in an international medical journal!
Andrew and I just watched Love is Blind… this show is INSANE! I mean, it is so over-the-top crazy that we got hooked. People were professing their love for each other after three days, and get engaged without ever seeing each other! I don’t think any of these couples will last, but it sure was fun to watch all the drama.
I have been working on my charcuterie boards lately. What do ya think?
In January I completed my third year surgical rotation. This was, by far, my favorite rotation! We work with different surgeons every day and get to see so many different procedures, techniques, and approaches to podiatric practice.
My goals going into this rotation were simple: to get comfortable being in an operating room, and to not break sterile. Prior to this month I had never been in the OR and it was really intimidating at first. One of the most important aspects of being in the OR is the separation of sterile vs non sterile items, and one of the most common “rookie” mistakes is to touch that isn’t sterile when you are scrubbed. But, after this month I can say that I know my way around pretty much any OR, and I didn’t break sterile once! Woohoo!
I also got to see some pretty awesome procedures. My personal favorite ones to be a part of were an Achilles tendon repair and a subtalar joint fusion! The Achilles tendon repair was a speed bridge technique, you can watch a video of that here. You can watch a subtalar joint fusion here.
Oh my gosh. I feel like I start every blog post the same: “Time is flying by. I can’t believe it’s already fall! Where has the time gone?”
So we gotta catch up!!
My parents came to visit! We had so much fun showing them around Cleveland.
We went to Oktoberfest in Cuyahoga Falls the other week, it is such a cute town. Also ladies, if you don’t have a pair of red boots get some! I have never gotten more compliments on my shoes in my life.
Most importantly, I saw a lot of patients, learned a lot of radiology, and started a simulated patient rotation!
I am about six weeks into third year… and so far it has been really difficult. Balancing being in clinic AND taking classes AND studying for exams AND driving all over Northeast Ohio to different clinics has been overwhelming.
In between commuting and study though, some pretty exciting stuff has happened:
I found out I passed boards!!!
Celebrating passing the toughest test of our careers!
I saw my first patients! My first rotation was at the Cleveland VA, which has a pretty high patient volume. I learned so much about interacting with patients, and got to see some interesting cases.
I survived another round of exams! It’s pretty crazy to think we only have three exam cycles left!
Sorry I’ve been MIA, I’m gunna post a “Day in my Life” later this week. To give you guys a better idea of just how busy I have been 😅.
This week I started using an old school alarm clock! I had no idea how much of a difference it would make for getting out of bed in the morning. I tend to get caught up scrolling on social media in the morning, but now I don’t keep my cell phone in my room, so I gotta get up!
My favorite instagram of the week is The Pod! I love seeing podiatrists from around the world.
I listened to this podcast on my morning walk yesterday… horrible idea. It is so good, but terrifying!!! My walk turned into a sprint home 😂🏃🏼♀️. Despite my fears, I still highly recommend.
Whenever I take a practice exam, I right down any questions I have and then go back and answer them after the test. I have been using these notebooks, and I love them. Perfect size, and super cute!
I feel like summer has finally arrived in Ohio! So we had some fun this weekend.
Friday night we went to the Indians game, and we won. Woohoo!
On Saturday I went out to dinner for a girls’ night with my classmates.
Sunday we did a (much needed) deep clean of the the apartment. I have never been an organized person by nature, and neither is Andrew, so the house gets messy really fast. It feels so refreshing, so hopefully it lasts!
I’ve been having one of those weeks where I am SO tired! So this coffee has been getting me through.
We are going to an Indians game tonight, Might have to pick up this cutie for the game.
Fun Fact: Podiatry students get a pro discount with several shoe companies, including Brooks and Asics. So, I’ve been eyeballing these shoes for a while. Running and walking outside are keeping me sane during boards studying!
This article on productivity really put things into perspective.
If you’re interested in medicine, health, or just a positive attitude: this lady is killing it in all three categories. Her instagram is so motivating!
Whenever I talk about my life as a student with friends and family who aren’t in the medical field, I feel like no one really understands what our day to day life is really like. People either think that school is like Grey’s Anatomy or that it’s basically the same thing as undergrad.
While it is true that there are weeks when I study well over 80 hours, there are other times when I have two weeks off. It all balances out.
So, here’s what it has really been like for me:
You can have a social life!
You will miss out on things…
Your classmates will be amazing, and probably become your best friends.
You will be able to travel.
Prioritizing is KEY!
Before starting school, I even thought that all of my twenties would be devoted to studying, and there would be no time for fun. Thankfully, that is so not true! Over the past two years I have been able to travel all over the country, spend holidays with family, plan a wedding, make new friends, and explore Cleveland!
Celebrating my 25th birthday with classmates!Our school’s annual formal, AKA the “Foot Ball”At a friends wedding in Colorado, it was so special that we got to be there.I went to Utah with my besties last summer for a camping trip!We went to Austin for my Bachelorette weekend 😊
If you are thinking about going into medicine, especially podiatry school, don’t let the work load intimidate you! You will be able to squeeze some fun into your busy schedule.
School is important, but I would argue that relationships, especially with your family, are the MOST important.Prioritize the people in your life and the rest will fall into place. Whether you are thriving or struggling you need a support system!
On the Right Foot 