Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged. I have been meaning to update, but I've been really busy. I guess I'll just update you on the last rotation: I loved it! I guess I have pretty much enjoyed all of my pediatric rotations and this was no exception. My attending was great and I learned a ton. The children were wonderful and the parents were great. I learned so much!! I don't think I'll go into pediatric pulmonary, but it is on the list of specialties that I would consider.
I had to do a big project for my rotation. I gave a presentation on Asthma in children. I learned an amazing amount. The average rate of asthma is around 7% in the USA, but there are homeless populations in New York City with rates as high as 40-50%!! Also, there are subgroups of the population who don't respond as well to treatment, namely the beta agonists (albuterol), such as the Puerto Ricans. No one knows why they don't respond, no one knows why they have higher rates of asthma and no one knows why it is more severe. I could go on and on. It is amazing to learn all of these things about asthma, especially while I'm living in New York and seeing patients that fit these criteria (I saw a little Puerto Rican girl who didn't respond to albuterol and I saw homeless children with horrific asthma). I don't think I would have had the opportunity to learn something in a book and then see patient's whose lives are affected by the disease in most cities. The diversity and size of New York City makes medical training in New York City great: if it happens anywhere, it can and will (at some point) happen here
Anyway, I was suppose to give my presentation to other students until an opening in the lecture schedule opened up. I gave a noon conference for the residents! I am lucky they are pediatricians (and therefore nice) because they could have asked me difficult questions just to show that they know more than I do (at least at this point in my education). Nonetheless, I was well prepared and I am proud of how I did (so was my attending.) Overall, it was a wonderful rotation!
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