Clerkship Journals - That Chinese Virus

After a long break, Jason (AKA Dr. Zhou) and Dr. Hsu return to Whats Up Docs to talk about Jason's life as a newly minted family medicine resident. Music: I Dunno by Grapes http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626. Flying High by FREDJI https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic

In the second part of our conversation with Dr. Vincent Chan, we discuss hierarchy in medical training. Jason shares his thoughts about being at the bottom of the totem pole and the group try to understand why the medical system is set up the way it is, for better and for worse. Music: I Dunno by Grapes http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626. Flying High by FREDJI https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic

In the first of a two part conversation, Jason and Dr. Hsu sit down with Dr. Vincent Chan, cardiac surgeon from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Ottawa. They talk about Dr. Chan's career, from how he got interested in cardiac surgery to the present day, exploring the long hours and sleepless nights of a surgeon's life. Music: I Dunno by Grapes http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626. Flying High by FREDJI https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic

As clerkship resumes after a Covid induced hiatus,  Jason talks about leaning towards family medicine as he heads into his last year of medical school. Then Jason and Dr. Hsu ponder the future of family medicine. Music: I Dunno by Grapes http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626. Flying High by FREDJI https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic

In this month's episode, Jason and Dr. Hsu catch up on what they've been doing as the Coronavirus rolls on and Jason's clerkship enters its third month of hiatus. Jason talks about finding clarity of purpose during this period, developing some neat productivity hacks to improve his life, and reveals... drumroll please, what specialty he is leaning towards applying for! Then, they share some stories about dealing with the backlash being directed towards Chinese Canadians as a result of the COVID pandemic. Music: I Dunno by Grapes http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626. Flying High by FREDJI https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic

In this month's episode, Jason and Dr. Hsu discuss the new reality they face now that the Coronavirus has flipped everything upside down. Jason delves into identity loss as clerkship has been suspended for at least the next three months and what he plans to do in the meantime. Further, he explores the feeling of watching the world of medicine from the sidelines as everyone else goes off to battle.  Then Dr. Hsu tells about being a family doctor whose office has transitioned to telephone and virtual medicine during this crisis, and working at home with 2 young children running around. More broadly, they open the conversation to discuss how medical professionals might deal with fear. How does society judge those who are hesitant or afraid to "step up"? Finally, they discuss the balance between a physician's responsibility towards their profession versus their obligations to their family and loved ones - what happens when these roles conflict?  Episode Transition Music Credit: Flying High by FREDJI

In this month's episode*, Jason and Dr. Hsu start by reviewing Jason's recent pediatrics rotation. Jason talks about what its like to interact with children, change his first diaper, and talk to some parents who are the same age as him.  In the second part of the episode, they break down a recent document from the College of Family Physicians of Canada that attempts to promote family medicine to medical students, entitled Twelve Points to Consider When Talking to a Medical Student About a Career in Family Medicine. As Jason ponders what residency to apply to, Dr. Hsu shares his thoughts on family medicine as a career, whether family medicine is really a specialty or not, and what differentiates it from other, more focused specialties. *The current episode was recorded in late February, weeks before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO. We hope the listeners can keep that context in mind while listening. Lastly,  please take precautions to take care of yourself, your loved ones, and neighbors. Stay inside, wash your hands, and stay positive.  Episode Transition Music Credit: Flying High by FREDJI

On this month's episode, Dr. Hsu and Jason meet to discuss Jason's time on the Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation and his first time seeing a delivery! Dr Hsu takes us back to his obstetrics rotation 14 years ago, where once again, he is placed in a small town. Then they explore the concept of well-rounded versus expert in the modern physician. With growing numbers of physicians spending less time in direct patient care and more time in research, education, business ventures, self-care, or family life, what is the trade off? Is the skilled consummate physician becoming extinct? 

In his second month of clinical clerkship, Jason wraps up his Psychiatry block and recounts an emotional goodbye to patients on the last day. As Jason moves on to a suburban Family Medicine clinic, Dr. Hsu adds insightful perspectives on being a Family Doctor for the past decade. Dr. Hsu also recounts his isolating clerkship rotation in Family Medicine and how he struggled at taking blood pressures; all of which shaped his views on teaching students today. 

Dr. Hsu and Jason discuss the opening weeks of Jason's clerkship, his psychiatry rotation.