Family Medicine Orientation

Today I took a crash course on how to be a doctor.

Starting Saturday, I will be seeing my own patients - meaning I will take their medical histories and do the physical examination - and presenting them to my doctor/mentor. I'm really scared, but also really excited.

So my housemates (who are cool) and I hiked to campus today (it took 25 minutes for less than a mile distance) to meet the group of individuals who are going to be participating in this family medicine program. We heard some lectures about being a physician, and then learned how to interview (which isn't too bad thanks to all the experience from Mobile Clinic) and do diagnostic physical exam procedures. I learned how to take a physical from head to toe, although I don't know what bad symptoms mean yet. I know what normal is, so therefore I can tell if something is abnormal.

I'll end with this quote from Dr. Robert B. Taylor:

"When you hear hoof beats, look for horses, not zebras."