Posts under Reflection

Reflecting on CFMS Lobby Day 2014

  • Posted on: 20 February 2014
  • By: OMSA Admin

Earlier this month, medical students from across Canada gathered in the nation’s capital to participate in the Canadian Federation of Medical Students' Lobby Day.  As they do every year, many Ontario students travelled to Ottawa to spend the weekend discussing health care policy, learning from talented peer speakers as well as leading physician advocates. On Monday, they took to the Hill to engage Canada's leaders in a discussion of health human resources and accessible housing for all Canadians.

Expectations

  • Posted on: 6 January 2014
  • By: OMSA Admin

Thinking back on my observerships in first year, one that sticks out as different than I expected was when I went to follow a pediatrician over the winter holidays. We had met him in the hospital after the birth of our daughter and he was friendly older gentleman from Latin America. We had both attended our daughter's appointments and he knew I was studying medicine, thus when I asked about shadowing him he was happy to oblige. 

The Last Day

  • Posted on: 21 December 2013
  • By: OMSA Admin

Today I signed off on my last chart as an M4. I carefully placed my last sutures in my last patient as a medical student. I helped cardiovert a gentleman in SVT. I reduced a Colle's fracture. I spoke to a patient about their depression. I got the chance to ultrasound a woman to alleviate some stress regarding her pregnancy. I wrote and explained, created plans, followed up on my own patients, and laughed with my colleagues about how fast the past 16 months have gone.

Eve of the Eleventh Hour

  • Posted on: 17 December 2013
  • By: OMSA Admin

The first thing to know about Labour & Delivery is that there is no guarantee of when a child will be born.

When I step onto the ward for my first L&D observership, I am greeted by the sounds of howling mothers and mewling infants. Twenty minutes early and two births in process. Beginner’s luck, it would seem. I rush to switch from street clothes to scrubs.

Ten minutes later and it’s ten minutes too late.

The Essentials of Staying Awake

  • Posted on: 26 November 2013
  • By: OMSA Admin

After spending four weeks on general surgery, I have come to the conclusion that the secret to staying awake is not to ensure enough sleep the night before, but to be constantly doing something so your brain doesn't dare to fall asleep... and prophylactically drinking coffee before you start feeling tired.

Anonymous Clerk, Western University

Editor's Note: OMSA does not support dependence on any substance, delicious or otherwise. Except for chocolate.

What a Papaya Taught Me

  • Posted on: 21 November 2013
  • By: OMSA Admin

The CN Tower, mighty and tall, greeted me when I stepped off the ferry. The small town girl that I am was completely taken aback by the endless avenues, the towering skyscrapers, and the multilingual crowd. OMSW Toronto, the event that brought me to Ontario, already promised to be unique: hundreds of medical students from all across the province were to gather in downtown Toronto for a weekend.

Close Rank

  • Posted on: 18 November 2013
  • By: OMSA Admin

"They probably had good reasons…"
"Most likely they thought that…"
"Based on the statistics…"

I wanted to talk a bit about something I have experienced as a patient and encountered in conversations with peers; the tendency to become apologists for the medical system at the first sign of criticism. 

Arrival in Moose Factory

  • Posted on: 12 November 2013
  • By: OMSA Admin

On Mon Oct 21, I arrived at the Kingston Airport, all set to board on my 18 seater Air Creebec flight to Moosonee Airport. The pilot himself gave us the intro talk and safety chat. Of all the travelling I have done in my life, this would be the smallest flight I would have taken.  What does the interior of an 18-seater look like? The flight from Kingston to Moose Factory was ~2hrs. I enjoy daytime very much as I enjoy seeing the sunrise, clouds and the skies!  (For those who know me,

Book to Bedside 2013

  • Posted on: 10 November 2013
  • By: OMSA Admin

Over the past weekend I had the opportunity to visit the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University for their annual "Book to Bedside" Internal Medicine symposium. Organized by McMaster medical students in their final year, this event provided a great combination of information about choosing Internal Medicine as a career, information about McMaster’s Internal Medicine residency programs, and hands-on, interactive workshops geared towards students in their last two years of medical school. As a third year medical student at Schulich

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