Thankful to have become an internist

November 1973 I had an epiphany.  My first week on my internal medicine clerkship, I realized that I had found my specialty – internal medicine. Prior to medical school I had worked with emotionally disturbed children in an inpatient hospital.  I really enjoyed the experience, and learned a great deal.  During my first two miserable years in medical school (I disliked how they taught the basic sciences and even more how they tested), I had considered pediatrics, psychiatry, and a great blend in adolescent medicine.  Parts of medicine fascinated me, but getting out of the classroom was freedom. I started my third year on surgery, and quickly realized that I was not a surgery.  I loved talking to the patients, examining and studying their test results, but I had no interest in the operating room.  One week during those 3 months I had an opthalmology rotation that temporarily attracted me (they had great equipment and interesting problems), but that was a short flirtation. They I started internal medicine and discovered who I was.  Why do I love being an internist? Internal medicine allows me to be a detective.  Often on the inpatient service we address diagnostic challenges.  Many internists (this writer included) love the diagnostic process.  We love talking with patients, listening carefully to the story, asking probing questions, reading the body language.  We get excited when a physical exam finding gives us a clue.  We pore over the labs and try to unders...
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs