Pediatric Infectious Update

I have been having so much fun in my pediatric infectious disease rotation.  I think New York City is probably one of the best places in the country to study infectious disease because there are so many travelers and immigrants.  In just the last couple weeks, there have been three cases of cholera in New York City.  Here is an article in the New York Times about it.  I have seen diseases that before I've only read about in books.  I am following a few patients that may have infections that are rare in the United States, such as malaria.  Even if these patients don't have the rare diseases, I am able to see the patient, see why the doctors suspect the rare diseases, and then read on the disease.  I think it is really helping me to remember the diseases and treatments better.  I am learning so much from this rotation that I wish it was longer than a month!

I really do love working with children.  I think I am making the right decision going into pediatrics.  The only rotation, so far, that I didn't really enjoy was my surgery rotation.  I don't mind surgery, but surgery is something you must love with every fiber of your being to go into it.  The hours are too long and the environment is too rough--it just wasn't for me.  Of my core rotations, I enjoyed my OB/GYN the most.  I think I would make a great OB/GYN, but I have always loved pediatrics.  I think I am going to try to do an elective in OB/GYN to make sure I don't have second thoughts later in life about not pursuing it.  Who knows, maybe I will apply to a couple OB/GYN residency programs as well as pediatric residency programs. But at this point, I think I belong in pediatrics with a special place in my heart for OB/GYN.