And It Begins.

Last week I had my med school orientation and the traditional White Coat Ceremony. It's all a blur now because there was so much thrown at me in such a short amount of time - new faces, new surroundings, not to mention immunizations which I am deathly afraid of. It was exhausting but also exciting ... I'm really taking the first steps towards my dream of becoming a doctor (sorry, that was lame, but its true). I've also met some great new friends and I can't wait to get to know them better and meet more classmates. I was really pleased that my parents and Mike could make it to Chicago for White Coat; it was particularly nice for my dad to see me receive my white coat. Despite the fact he's tried to dissuade me from pursuing a career in medicine for years, I think he's sincerely proud and happy that I've decided to become a doctor. He has always been an inspiration for me - the first heart surgeon in Central Illinois to perform a heart transplant, and arguably one of the best heart surgeons in the state with an incredibly high survival rate for the majority of his patients. A few years ago when I watched him perform bypass surgery, the anesthesiologist told me that my dad is his favorite surgeon to work for because he's incredibly precise, fast, and professional. I guess that's what happens after practicing heart surgery for over twenty-five years!

The White Coat ceremony itself has often been criticized as too self-indulgent - a means of self congratulating and exploiting the egos of already over-confident soon to be M.D.'s. However in my opinion, the ceremony was inspiring and refreshing - a reminder of why I want to become a doctor. I particularly liked hearing from the Dean of the Medical College, Dr. Thomas Deutsch, who I learned at my interview last November is a Wash U. undergrad alum! Dr. Deutsh recited a quote in his speech that my dad often says to me: "To whom much has been given, much is expected." This really resonates with me - I feel incredibly blessed for all the opportunties I've been given and as a result, I really want to make a difference through a career that will touch the lives of others.

Unfortunately, in order to do that, I have to go through two years of pre-clinical science classes. And it begins tomorrow... with histology. Apparently the next six weeks are supposed to be hell. Can't wait.