II.III.VII JOURNAL ENTRIES Journal entries from my rotation in geriatric medicine: “I think Sister Valak’s coming down with the flu,” the nurse tells us. Our faces simultaneously grimace, knowing this means we have to go and speak to her. Sister Valak is a ninety-year-old nun. She’s as cute as a button and kinda reminds me of Sophia from The Golden […]
Healing
II.III.VI BELONGING Despite my initial reluctance and the many trials and tribulations I had to deal with during those three months, I have to admit that geriatric medicine was, by far, my favourite rotation. I don’t think there will ever be another time in my career where I’ll experience the same firm dynamic I had with Dr Pops, Rosaline, and […]
Graduation
II.III.V GRADUATION By early 2022, most COVID-19 restrictions had lifted and, for most people, the pandemic was old news. In hospital, it was anything but. That said, our class was finally given the go-ahead to have a proper, traditional graduation. Over a year before this, we’d had a pretty unofficial and unceremonious graduation – if one could even call it […]
Ageism
II.III.III AGEISM Much can be said about why things were the way they were over at the geriatric hospital. As controversial as this might sound, I think it all boiled down to one thing – ageism. That old people’s lives seem to matter less. I gotta admit that before starting this rotation, I too was guilty of this kind of […]
Toxic
II.III.II TOXIC I have to admit, it all appeared too good to be true. And in a way, it kinda was. As fate would have it, Dr Sleazy would be joining our firm. Dr Sleazy was a resident specialist renowned for his medical ineptitude, inappropriate behaviour, and all-round hatefulness. Not a single person had one good thing to say about […]
Geriatric Medicine – First Day?
II.III.I FIRST DAY? My next rotation would be in a specialty I never quite liked. One I was kinda forced to choose in order to get neurosurgery and general surgery. One I’d be stuck with for three months. Geriatric medicine. Blech. Imagine going from this wannabe hardcore neurosurgical trainee to working in a hospital for the elde… zzzzz. Sorry, I […]