Getting Comfortable At UMass

Only nine days and seven shifts left at UMass. The two days off I'm going to drive out to the UConn and the Baystate/Tufts EM programs in Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA, respectively. I'll get to meet some residents at their didactic conferences, then spend a couple hours in the ER shadowing a senior resident.

I am definitely getting more comfortable here. The residents have all been pretty cool. And the Attendings have been very good as well. The "systems" side of things (EMR, charting, admitting, protocols) still have kinks to work out. They may be long-term issues, but I get the feeling these issues have gotten more obvious since the new ED opened a year ago.

No super exciting cases. I've sutured lots of lacerations, seen a few traumas and learned how to treat many kinds of patients. The didactics continue to be one of this programs strong points. And the morning shifts we usually get a good 30 minute lecture in the ED from an Attending. The volume is high, and while there's not too much penetrating trauma, there's a ton of acute cases that need monitoring, airways and eventually ICU beds.

I spent the weekend in Seattle with the family which was terrific. Friday I arrived early and spent most of the day playing with the boys. You could just tell they needed some daddy time. Even at 9 and 11, they enjoyed the tickling, wrestling, hugs, etc. Becky did too; wink, wink. Saturday we met Becky's brother Paul and his family. It was a cold, gray Seattle day but the enjoyed playing at my old stomping ground, Greenlake. We even had some Spud's Fish & Chips for old time sakes.

Saturday night we went Becky's older brother's, Dave's, house. It was a huge family gathering mostly to send Paul and his family off to Zurich for the Microsoft job he just accepted there. The food was good. Everyone seemed to be doing well. And the kids (lots of cousins and second cousins) played great together. Only once or twice was there a scream followed by everyone looking at me "Dr. Grady" for some reaction. My mother seems to be well too, and I enjoyed driving her Prius around.

Sunday Becky drove me into Seattle for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Scientific Assembly's Residency Fair (whew!). I spent in obvious reasons and made it to the 10am meeting. We had several good lectures until about 2pm on improving residency applications, being a good resident and interview tips. The rest of the afternoon was the "fair" part of the program where 100 EM residency programs hosted tables in a ballroom.

I was able to see most of the programs I've applied to and got a lot of positive feedback. Sure they hadn't seen my application, and they were selling there programs, but my confidence in getting more interviews was definitely increased. In case I didn't already mention it, St. Vincent's in Toledo, OH where I rotated at last year for Peds and Surgery has already invited me for an interview. Anyway, I met a lot of program directors and current residents while getting excited about seeing many of these programs I only know from a web site.

The day was worthwhile and I was happy to have attended, but I don't think it would be worth going if you don't family nearby or some other reason to make the trip. Becky, the kids and I had a nice dinner together and then I changed out of my suit and played a little flashlight tag with the boys. All too soon, Becky was back in the car driving me to the airport for my red eye flight back to Boston.

After the trip home, I'm ready for this rotation be over. However, there's still more to learn and more to prove. I don't know if I'll get a LOR from this rotation simply because I haven't gotten to know any one Attending very well. And I'm still trying to decide whether or not to ask the PD, Dr. Cukor, for an interview while I'm here.

Well one more rotation after this, Christiana in Delaware. The residents at the ACEP meeting were very nice. I'm excited about that program as well as several of the one's nearby; UMaryland, Hopkins, Georgetown and one in Phili I can't remember right now.

Off to an evenign shift now, then my only overnighter tomorrow. 237 days left in the short coat.