Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

Positive Statement:

What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?


Today I went to the doctor's office to do my mentorship and interview. I asked a question about being an Internist and he went on a long speech about what he believes they do. I want to do that. That is, not only know the information, but use the information. I'll become a doctor. I will.


EQ Content: 

Pick a piece of research or your interview. How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?


Article Title: Physician burnout affects patients too
Info: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/07/health/la-he-the-md-20100607

Just like what the OBGYN at the UCI Medical Centre said, Primary Care professions such as Internal Medicine are decreasing. A huge cause for this is that other specialties such as orthopaedic surgery pay nearly twice as much. Another factor is burnout, which affects the entirety of the medical profession. I believe knowing the pros of something is fine, but knowing the downsides is even better. Senior project isn't just a school assignment. It's a tool that will help me prepare for the future. Might as well make the best out of it.

The fact that primary care physicians also encounter burnout is interesting. Many would think that surgeons, who hardly sleep, would mostly be the ones that get burnt out. My point is, Internal Medicine is only one out of the many specialties in the medical field. Knowing how burnout affects not only the doctors, but the patients too is important.


What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

I really do like the idea of researching. Frankly, my problem with it is where to find good articles. Many studies and dissertations are interesting, but are way too specific for me to effectively use for my project.

I have an idea on what I'll do for my activities though, that's a long ways away. I had the idea since the summer, but since I thought of my EQ (subject to change), I might have to rethink them.

I'm surprised I was able to waltz right into the doctor's office and so informally talk to the nurses today. So I think that's a step up for me.


What hasn't worked so far?

While I know I want to do Internal Medicine, it's pretty hard to find research on it. What's hard isn't finding information on how to become a doctor, definitions of medical jargon, or the pros and cons; it's the type of research that will be used for my senior project that I'm having difficult with. More specifically (and more accurately) what is hard is narrowing down my research to find what is really helpful for my project.

Also, finding another mentor for the other interview is going to take some work. I can get in touch with many doctors. (Honestly, many are general practitioners. I have connections!) So I'll have to decide on stretching out to find another internist, or interview a general practitioner to ask him about what he does in contrast to what an internist does.


Finding Value:

What is a potential question you would like to study this year? (working EQ) 

What is the most effective way to treat a patient with _____ as an internist?

Researching specifically on a single disease is incredibly wise. The issue (challenge is more accurate) is how that disease will be treated differently as an internist That's probably what research is for!

What do you plan to do for mentorship? If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it.

Well, my mum knows many doctors and the only thing stopping me from talking to them is.. me talking to them. I mean, I have a mentor who I can talk to, but his schedule isn't exactly reliable so I'll try to find someone who is.

The problem is that the doctors my mum knows are mostly general practitioners. I don't mind Yellow-paging to ask to speak to doctors, but I would rather have that sense of familiarity with my family than a new experience with a total stranger. Better step out of my boundaries.