Login

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

March 29, 2024, 05:27:29 am

Author Topic: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal  (Read 4145 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

sarangiya

  • Victorian
  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 457
  • 好きこそものの上手なれ ☆ What one likes, one will do well
  • Respect: +383
Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« on: January 14, 2019, 12:38:21 am »
+23
Last year I kept a written journal for the first time in my life.
This year, I've decided to do the same. And with that in mind, I'll start this thread off in a very similar way.

In the form of commonly asked questions, I'll write my self-introduction.
I put them in spoiler tags so you don't have to bother with things you don't find interesting ;)

Who are you and what school do you go to?
Very easy to discover (unfortunately).
I will be going to the University of New South Wales to study their Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine course!
What/when/why/how did you start uni? etc. etc. (longgg lmao)
You can read about my motivations to study medicine in much more detail in my Year 12 Journey Journal.

In a nutshell(?), I began to seriously consider medicine in about Year 10. I had entertained the idea in the back of my mind since I was in primary school, when my best friends and I dreamt of studying medicine and living together in Melbourne. I was the first to “grow up” from this fantasy, when I decided in Year 7 that I wanted to do Japanese interpretation/translation. As I actually grew up, I realised that Japanese wouldn't be my whole life, and I became interested in speech pathology in Year 9. By Year 10, I had applied for a week of work experience at the Royal Women's Hospital, specifically asking for a speech pathology orientation of sorts (which didn't ever happen). I loved that week, but by chance stumbled across the Royal Melbourne Hospital's work experience program happening the following week and applied on a whim. I describe this week as a “flame lit” or a “seed planted”.

The concept of medical practice and surgery began to plague my mind for the next few years. I was reading medical professionals’ blogs, researching the structure of a life in medicine, considering other careers, and burying myself in all the information I could for weeks and weeks on end. In Year 12, I decided to undertake a Certificate course in Allied Health Assistance to help my ascertain whether I had made the right decision. My maths teacher laughed at me, the VCAL students were confused, but I maintain the opinion that doing that course was one of the best things I have ever done.

It was a long, upsetting and difficult path to secure a place in a medical course. But, by Providence, I am now enrolled in a course I had thought was impossible for me to enter.
What are you doing this year?
Here's a low-down of the first year* of UNSW's BMed/MD course, which is delivered through lectures, 'scenario groups’, labs, pracs, clinical skills sessions and later, hospital placements:

Foundations
Our first subject (8 weeks) is very broad and seeks to establish a solid base in biomedical science and health science disciplines. This includes anatomy, histology, biochemistry, biology, pathology, physiology, cell biology, immunology, lab skills, microbiology, psychology, pharmacology, and embryology for the former, and Aboriginal health, public health, quality medical practice, medical ethics and clinical skills for the latter.

Beginnings, Growth and Development A
This 8-week subject aims to take us through all aspects of the beginnings of life. Sexuality, pregnancy, labour, gene inheritance, infertility, reproductive system A&P, maternal and perinatal morbidity, Aboriginal/rural reproductive health, embryology, hormones, STIs, screening and counselling, cell differentiation… you name it.
There is a focus on scenarios, like cases of teenage pregnancies, infertile couples, abortion etc.
We also begin having hospital rotations once fortnightly at a hospital clinical school (Prince of Wales, St. Vincent's, St. George, or South West Sydney/Liverpool).
Beginnings, Growth and Development B shifts the focus to paediatric and adolescent health.

Health Maintenance B
This subject tackles some of the issues commonly experienced by adults. The focus in this subject is on the renal and hepatobiliary system, organ transplantation, drugs and alcohol, metabolism, weight management and exercise, diabetes etc.
Our fortnightly hospital visits continue, with a special focus on patients with gastrointestinal illness.
Health Maintenance A focuses more on the cardiovascular system and drug use (therapeutic as well as illicit).

Agings and Endings A
Our final subject looks at health problems in later life. Some major topics are the skeletal system, arthritis, chronic pain, cancer (particularly bowel cancer), palliative care and pain management.
There is also special focus on death, dying and grieving.
Our hospital placements consist of examination of the skeletal system.
Aging and Endings B mainly teaches about the brain, a bit about neurodegeneration, plus a bit about menopause and breast cancer.

*If you didn't notice, the subjects are rotating! My year will be doing A, B, A whereas the year before us would have done B, A, B in Year 1. That way, the Year 1s and 2s actually join for the second part of the year to learn together.
What are your hobbies?
I really hope to keep up my Japanese somehow during university. I'm not too sure how. I don't really want to join a Japanese club/society, so I think I'll try some web-based learning that can be self-paced and non-committal.
Speaking of clubs and societies, I am thinking of joining a cooking club. I love food, but haven't really cooked much. Considering I'll have to be self sufficient, I figured it was a good way to learn (while making some friends!).
I want to join maybe another club/society of time permits. I'm thinking maybe something art-related. I figure I won't rush into it and just settle into something later on if I feel so inclined.
I also want to get strong! Need to find a gym bae.
Maybe some leadership stuff? Where am I going to find the time...
How are you going to survive?
This ice breaker has turned from “what are your plans after VCE?” to this lol. I think it's very fitting.
For those of you that don't know, I'll be moving from regional Victoria to NSW! I don't know a single soul in Sydney, and it will be my first time moving away from home!
I'm sharing a flat across the road from the university, with two other female students (whom I have never met).
My biggest struggle will be managing my weight and diet. I am good at budgeting, am quite social, and hit the books when I need to. But when it comes to looking after my own health, I have a lot of learning to do.
What are your goals for 2019?
I'm going to be a bit more modest this year! (Haha).
Or maybe not :/
I hope I can maintain a 75+ average. I have a couple of long term goals that require good academic standing, so I hope to give my future self less of a headache.

My other goals are less bookish! I hope to put on 10kg this year. I also want to maintain this journal! I did a fairly good job last year, so let's hope I can keep it up. I think reflection is a really important practice, and writing this journal in a public arena has helped me evaluate my thoughts and adapt a positive attitude towards the experiences in my week.

As always, feel free to contribute to the thread (or PM me if you're feeling shy!). I can use all the advice I can get, and feel (very naively) that through this year I might be able to offer some as well! :)
Welcome to 2019 everyone!
« Last Edit: February 08, 2019, 12:09:01 pm by sarangiya »
Sometimes you make choices, and sometimes choices make you.

♡ Subjects ♡
2015: Japanese SL [42]
2016: Psychology [43] Philosophy [36] Japanese SL [50] [Premier's Award]
2017: UMEP Further Advanced Japanese [4.5]
2018: Methods [24] English Language [41] Chemistry [31] Psychology [41] Cert III in Allied Health Assistance [4.3]
ATAR: 97.45
2019-2024: Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine @ UNSW

Sarangiya's 사랑하는 VCE Journal
Is Repeating a VCE Subject Worth It?

Yertle the Turtle

  • Forum Leader
  • ****
  • Posts: 987
  • This page is blank
  • Respect: +478
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2019, 12:40:17 am »
+8
To be updated 8)
YEEES!!!!! I've been waiting for this moment! Huge congrats for making it here, and good luck for this year! Please keep this updated, I look forward to reading about your time.
-Your fan :D
« Last Edit: January 14, 2019, 12:45:53 am by Yertle the Turtle »
2017-2018: VCE
Methods | Specialist | Physics | Chemistry | English | Texts and Traditions

2019: B. Eng (Hons) | Monash
2019-?: Certificate III  in Bricklaying and Blocklaying

Have counted to 80

Joseph41

  • Administrator
  • Great Wonder of ATAR Notes
  • *****
  • Posts: 10823
  • Respect: +7477
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2019, 03:57:27 pm »
+7
Good stuff! What are your initial thoughts/feelings?

Congrats again. :)

Oxford comma, Garamond, Avett Brothers, Orla Gartland enthusiast.

Twisty314

  • Trailblazer
  • *
  • Posts: 46
  • Class of 2020
  • Respect: +8
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2019, 06:39:06 pm »
+3
Congrats sarangiya! Looking forward to a new medical journey. I'm hoping to get into medicine so maybe this will give some great insight for me. Good luck!  :)
QCE 2020:
English [], Biology [], Chemistry [], Physics [], Mathematical Methods [], Specialist Maths []

sarangiya

  • Victorian
  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 457
  • 好きこそものの上手なれ ☆ What one likes, one will do well
  • Respect: +383
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2019, 12:37:04 pm »
+9
YEEES!!!!! I've been waiting for this moment! Huge congrats for making it here, and good luck for this year! Please keep this updated, I look forward to reading about your time.
-Your fan :D
Thank you so much!! Congratulations to you too! I'll be keenly reading your journal this year - I'm so glad you've decided to write one. I'm sure you'll love engineering and all the academic challenges it brings!
Again, massive congrats and best of luck for this year!!!

Good stuff! What are your initial thoughts/feelings?

Congrats again. :)
Thank you!!
I probably should have replied a bit quicker to answer that properly, but my initial reaction was one of shock! I didn't ever imagine I would be offered a place UNSW. I was estatic, my mum a bit apprehensive. But she's right on board now, so that's encouraging. It'll be hard to leave home, but I might be able to return more frequently than what I thought!

Throughout these holidays, I have had mixed feelings of excitement (I just can't wait to get there!!) but also a strange burden of responsibility. I'm a long-term planner, and so I have been considering what I can do now to work towards big goals. In doing that though, I felt that I got knee-deep in the bureaucracy of medicine. This article was also a massive eye-opener for me: The Ugly Side of Becoming a Surgeon
I read this before the subsequent media coverage and responses to it. It is hugely unsettling, but I believe that if anything, her experience has taught me some things I must keep close to heart throughout this long journey. Harrowing all the more since I am quite keen on plastics...

If anyone wants to discuss: what did you think of the article? What do you think can be done in response to this situation?

In any case, it's really hard for me to step into something without thinking about what is to come next. But what I believe is that I won't regret any of this. Medical students, doctors, surgeons... they work hard. But so do nurses, teachers, engineers, politicians, the unemployed and everyone in between. Everyone thinks they have it the hardest. I don't mind my version of the "hardest" if it means I'm doing what I love and what is greater than myself.

(Let's hope my anxieties settle).

Congrats sarangiya! Looking forward to a new medical journey. I'm hoping to get into medicine so maybe this will give some great insight for me. Good luck!  :)
Thank you so much Twisty314!!
That's awesome. Where are you aiming for?
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, or to PM me.
Best of luck!! And enjoy Year 12!
Sometimes you make choices, and sometimes choices make you.

♡ Subjects ♡
2015: Japanese SL [42]
2016: Psychology [43] Philosophy [36] Japanese SL [50] [Premier's Award]
2017: UMEP Further Advanced Japanese [4.5]
2018: Methods [24] English Language [41] Chemistry [31] Psychology [41] Cert III in Allied Health Assistance [4.3]
ATAR: 97.45
2019-2024: Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine @ UNSW

Sarangiya's 사랑하는 VCE Journal
Is Repeating a VCE Subject Worth It?

smamsmo22

  • Trendsetter
  • **
  • Posts: 141
  • Respect: +34
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2019, 12:37:44 am »
+6
Hey!! I'm super excited to read your med journal this year! Especially since I was so close to choosing med as a study option this year and definitely still have an interest in the field! Wishing you the best of luck :D

Just wondering, how is the UNSW course set out? How many years is it? Is it a provisional pathway or a completely med-focused undergrad degree? (I didn't look to much into this course when doing my med research :P )
How have you settled into your new living situation (or when are you moving in if you haven't already?) Anything in particular that's exciting you about living in Sydney?

As for the article/blog post you linked; I've read it (and similar stories from others) and it definitely is concerning :/ I do think that bringing light to these issues will help in eliminating them in the future and I hope (for your sake) there are some culture changes on the horizon, especially for women in the field. How did it affect you as a brand new med student?
Article aside, I'm excited to hear you dispel some of the myths/stereotypes of medicine and compare your expectations with the reality! Any interesting realisations you've made so far?

Can't wait to hear more! (Evidently... :D)

2018 - VCE - ATAR: 99.75 [English, Chemistry, Methods, French, PE, Bio]
2019 - Monash

sarangiya

  • Victorian
  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 457
  • 好きこそものの上手なれ ☆ What one likes, one will do well
  • Respect: +383
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2019, 03:32:46 pm »
+9
Hey!! I'm super excited to read your med journal this year! Especially since I was so close to choosing med as a study option this year and definitely still have an interest in the field! Wishing you the best of luck :D
Thank you so much for your reply!!
It's lovely to hear from you again. Thanks so much for your replies in my VCE journal. Did you go through with physio? I hope you enjoy it. I'm sure that you will! And even if you don't in the end, it'll be an awesome experience.
Best of luck to you too and please keep me posted!!
Quote
Just wondering, how is the UNSW course set out? How many years is it? Is it a provisional pathway or a completely med-focused undergrad degree? (I didn't look to much into this course when doing my med research :P )
Great question – I'll attach this to the introduction post too for others' reference!

Medicine at UNSW is an undergraduate degree (combined Bachelor's/Masters) which spans a minimum of 6 years.
It is structured into 'phases':

Phase 1
The first phase consists of the first two academic years of the degree. Learning is largely University-based, with hospital placements once every fortnight. There is large focus on the academic disciplines of medicine, like biomedical science, health science, public health etc.

Phase 2
The second phase aligns with the third and fourth years of the degree. One year is spent learning in a clinical setting. Students spend three of five days a week (or more) in a hospital. The other year is spent completing an Independent Learning Project, which aims to introduce students to academia, research and contribution to medical literature. Some students can also complete an Honours project instead, but as general education courses (subjects outside the medical faculty) are usually studied alongside the ILP, it can extend the duration of the degree to do so.

Phase 3
In the final two years of the course, students complete 8-week placements at hospitals to explore different departments (e.g. emergency, surgery, paediatrics etc). Students are expected to be able to perform professional tasks like making diagnoses, taking histories and helping to make decisions about treatment. Essentially, students are preparing for their internships.

Please note too that this is just my interpretation of the course!
Quote
How have you settled into your new living situation (or when are you moving in if you haven't already?) Anything in particular that's exciting you about living in Sydney?
I'll be heading to Sydney today, and moving in this week!
I'm really excited for O-Week. In general, I'm just so anxious to actually finally see what on earth UNSW looks like! I hope I like the atmosphere.
I'm also really keen to explore Sydney and NSW in general. It's such a beautiful place and it's always nice to feel a bit more worldly! Lol.
Quote
As for the article/blog post you linked; I've read it (and similar stories from others) and it definitely is concerning :/ I do think that bringing light to these issues will help in eliminating them in the future and I hope (for your sake) there are some culture changes on the horizon, especially for women in the field. How did it affect you as a brand new med student?
I think that it's very important for these stories to be present in the public eye too. Unfortunately it's just a matter of considering viable solutions, and then whether people will care enough for those changes to take place.
A senior doctor on another form suggested that temporary contracts for unaccredited registrars were contributing to the problem, along with unrelenting cultural expectations and lack of advocacy from the higher-ups.
As a med student, it makes me a bit upset, I guess. I knew that medicine was never going to be an easy path, but I can't imagine having what happened to Dr. Kadota happen to me and the people I'll come to care about. More than anything though, I guess it's quite sobering. A look at (a harsh) reality.
Quote
Article aside, I'm excited to hear you dispel some of the myths/stereotypes of medicine and compare your expectations with the reality! Any interesting realisations you've made so far?

Can't wait to hear more! (Evidently... :D)
Thank you! I'm quite excited to do that too. I hope it's beneficial for anyone considering medicine, or well, anyone that's interested, really!
I haven't really had any epiphanies so far. Hopefully they will follow as I begin the course.

Thanks again for your reply. It gave me a lot to think and write about!
I'll be giving my first update next weekend :)
Sometimes you make choices, and sometimes choices make you.

♡ Subjects ♡
2015: Japanese SL [42]
2016: Psychology [43] Philosophy [36] Japanese SL [50] [Premier's Award]
2017: UMEP Further Advanced Japanese [4.5]
2018: Methods [24] English Language [41] Chemistry [31] Psychology [41] Cert III in Allied Health Assistance [4.3]
ATAR: 97.45
2019-2024: Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine @ UNSW

Sarangiya's 사랑하는 VCE Journal
Is Repeating a VCE Subject Worth It?

Joseph41

  • Administrator
  • Great Wonder of ATAR Notes
  • *****
  • Posts: 10823
  • Respect: +7477
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2019, 03:37:44 pm »
+1
Wishing you all the best for the move! :)

Oxford comma, Garamond, Avett Brothers, Orla Gartland enthusiast.

Isla77

  • Adventurer
  • *
  • Posts: 23
  • Respect: +21
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2019, 11:06:08 pm »
+3
Hey sarangiya!
I hope your move to Sydney goes well, and that you enjoy your journey in med school. I'm sure you will handle and manage it all as you seem to be very capable.


I probably should have replied a bit quicker to answer that properly, but my initial reaction was one of shock! I didn't ever imagine I would be offered a place UNSW. I was estatic, my mum a bit apprehensive. But she's right on board now, so that's encouraging. It'll be hard to leave home, but I might be able to return more frequently than what I thought!

Congratulations on receiving your dream offer! Hope you won't miss your mum too much, but if you do, I will definitely relate to that lol. Great thing you will be able to return every now and then!

As for the media coverage concerning a resident in NSW, I was quite upset too. I can't believe someone will push that far, sacrificing their health in the process, but then again, I guess you do have to push yourself beyond limits if you want to succeed in certain medical specialties. But having said that, the problem lies certainly in the hospital that created this and the medical education that structures it. I suppose Dr Kadota did this because she have been faced with many challenges in her life and still overcame them, and so believed she can conquer this one too. No doubt the medical educators and the people responsible for it should be well aware that there are a lot of perfectionists in this field, perfectionists who tend to push themselves way too far. Medical educators will teach medical students about their work, so they should also shed light on looking after yourself and not to go too far when things might become toxic.

I heard about this on world BBC news on a flight from middle east to Asia two days ago too(it's become a worldwide news now :-\), and I really hope this extended media coverage will bring about some change in the system.

Lear

  • MOTM: JUL 18
  • Part of the furniture
  • *****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Respect: +328
Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2019, 11:11:40 pm »
+3
From what I’ve gathered from some seniors in the medical field, such a story gathers attention in the media every year or so. People care for a few months and then nothing happens.

Quite a scary thing that, if a builder injures himself at a construction site, work safe is there ASAP. Meanwhile this sort of stuff is allowed to go on in the medical world, and has been for ages. Can you believe we are still better off now than many years ago?
Then again, what is worksafe going to do? Shutdown hospitals?
« Last Edit: February 19, 2019, 11:13:26 pm by Lear »
2018: ATAR: 99.35
Subjects
English: 44
Methods: 43
Further Maths: 50
Chemistry: 46
Legal: 40
2019: Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine @ Monash

justwannawish

  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 264
  • Respect: +41
Re: Sarangiya's 너무 사랑하는 Medical Journey Journal
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2019, 11:29:24 pm »
0
Ah, it's so good to hear that you're continuing your journal. It was something that I looked forward to every week and I loved hearing your tale and persistance, with your achievement of getting in being something I'm so proud of. I'm so glad that you're in Sydney ;) and you're in the process of achieving your dreams! (It would be so cool to meet up with you one day (if you ever want to)).

As for the article, it's an unfortunate reality that the medical profession is quite draining and stressful. It's a hardship that university may not necessarily properly prepare you for, and the lack of warnings around mental health is a regretful part of our education system in my opinion. But, not meaning to dismiss the difficulties of medicine at all and I apologise if it comes out like that, I think it's also worth considering that all professions out there have their own difficulties and moments of exhaustion and underappreciation. It's important that you do speak out when you feel overloaded and hopefully the responses aren't like these HoDs'.

How did you enjoy your first week?