I was watching the morning news while getting ready to go in for rounds early one day. I found myself listening to a segment on some of the highest earning careers in the US presently. I was somewhat surprised to see that the career of "Physician Assistant" was listed as one of the leading and highest earners currently in the US. "Nice! I just so happen to be in that career!" As I drove in to the hospital I was reminded of many of the thoughts I had leading up to PA school and all during the 27 months of pure hell. (And for those out there studying for PANCE/PANRE, a good memory device to remember Generalized Anxiety Disorder...PA School.) I was reminded of so many memories from that time that very few people understand and even fewer still actually get to experience. We were made infinitely comfortable with the special forces axiom that, "The last easy day was yesterday."
I remember the first day. My class was the first of it's kind at the University of St. Francis in so many ways and this was demonstrated clearly no sooner than 10 minutes into the first day of hell. Every student, all 26, showed up with a laptop computer. Every student showed up ready to delve into medicine utilizing technology that, while commonly used, had not been used at that level at that time at USF. The IT department didn't know what to do with us. They had wi-fi on campus, but it hadn't been made available on a consistent basis in the building within which we were going to spend the majority of our time. They didn't have power outlets for us to use at each of our seats. It was sight to see, people were bringing in surge protectors with 6 outlets and there were power cables everywhere. It was like an obstacle course trying to get in and out of the room and avoiding all the wires and computers. Eventually, the IT department was able to get us power outlets and consistent wifi. And, to show their appreciation of our understanding...they gave us all 1GB thumbdrives.
I remember being divided into our first study groups. We had no idea who each other were and we quickly found out if we could trust one another. We found out very quickly that our instructor's favorite answer to any question was, "why is that?" We learned how to get anatomy objectives done quickly and who was best "googling on yahoo". (If you get this, you were in my group.) We also knew they purposely put us in groups trying to create arguments or problems amongst us and we wouldn't bite. We all just got along.
We were one of the first classes to be able to utilize a cadaver in studying gross anatomy. Driving to IPFW for this class, we were allowed to meet an outstanding medical student who prosected our cadavers. You see, we actually had three cadavers. We were allowed to use an older cadaver upon which the ortho residents practiced procedures. We also had a cadaver that was a male, but a few weeks after opening, he began to grow something that resembled mold. It was felt best to bag this fellow up and not use him anymore. So we were sent another cadaver. It was supposed to be a female. It was a male. He had no head. Apparently, the head had been donated to a plastics program. Idk. Just a surreal feeling of looking at a human body with no head.
I remember our first test. I specifically remember one not doing as well as they thought they would do. This resulted in two classmates being accused of "meeting clandestinely to study behind their groups' back" and another person being condemned by threatening no absolution at her next confession. WTF? Who does that? (Again, if you were in my group, you get this.)
I remember being told that the squeaky wheel doesn't get greased. It gets kicked out.
I recall that the correct word for drainage from the body that has characteristics of infection and consisting of many white blood cells, sometimes yellow to green in color is purulent. Not pus**!
Having 1,000's of learning objectives on the first week of PBL.
Mad Anthony's after every test day for pitchers of Summer Daze.
One word...REMEDIATIONS.
So many fun memories and things that I will cherish forever. These type of things are born out of hardship and strife and bonds formed with those people who walked through it with you run deep and strong. That is what I miss the most. Those friendships formed created bonds that I still know and rely on. When I drive to work at the job I trained so hard for with these fine people, I still think of them and all we went through. I miss my PA school friends.
