for such a time as this

My roommate Jessica calls me a REBEL. She says I am not disrepsectful but I have issues with authority and I tend to see people (with some exceptions particularly as a young third year) as people rather they are in a place of power or the jaintor…. I think this is partly my personality…I hate beuaracracy for the sake of beuaracracy and I hate big egos and frankly my own life experience has taught me that people rarely turn out the way the world thinks they should.

Today I was minding my own business in the NICU workroom helping the new residents get used to the crazy NICU computers and mucho important facutly member walks in the room. He talks to the fellow and introduces himself as our incoming attending starting Thursday to the residents. Then he notices me with my feet hung over a chair, list in my hand, hair falling down, scrubs stained with strawberry juice from lunch.

“You’re our AI, wonderful, I read your paper I have been meaning to talk to you. So have you decided on peds?”

I sit there with my mouth hanging open confused. I had had one interaction with this man, he complimented me on my surgery essay (read here) which was published in the school’s journal. I remember only because our student body president took me aside and asked me if I knew who I had just spoken to…I shook my head. He mumbled a important title that was lost on me beyond that he was mucho important. That was 6 months ago.

YES! I have commited to Peds! I said. What paper are you referring to?? My surgery essay?

No, no it was an abstract. About physicians with limitations.

I nearly fell out of my chair. The abstract is not a secret but it sort of is.  The only faculty member who knew about my submission to the AAMC (American Assoc of Medical Colleges (a large group of mucho important people who are the gatekeepers to med school nation wide) Annual Conference) was the guy who teaches our professionalism class.

“Oh yeah…I wrote that.” I stuttered. “I don’t know whether it will be accepted or  not  till July.”   He responds, “It has come to my attention we have turned down at least one highly qualified candidate who is now going to Hopkins because of  their disability.  I am interviewing candidates for a new Dean of Admissions (the old one is retiring), the one we select will be announced next week. I am only interested in choosing someone who is absolutely committed to rewriting our Technical standards.” (Technical standards are the PHYSICAL (non-academic) requirements for medical school, they are one of the BIGGEST BARRIERS to disabled doctors.  My school’s TS are atrocious…so bad that I shouldn’t have been admitted under them however I had a faculty member write me a letter of recommendation and I was one of the top five in my pre-med class at the same institution…its hard to turn down one of your own)

audible gasp from Amy.

“I want you as a consultant for the project, along with J (alum who had a spinal cord injury his 3rd year at my school),  T (current upper level int med resident). You’re the experts.”

“I would love to…”

“Excellent, we will chat more, what are your thoughts about Dr. X  (mucho important person directly involved with med school stuff)’s feelings on this, I am not sure he is on board…?”

“Um…(dude he just asked me my opinion on the freaking Dr. X who in part  controls my future….but who I have secretly believed he is not a believer forever now)  Dr. X has always supproted me…beyond that I don’t know.”

“yeah I am not so sure about Dr. X either.”

(holy crap what have I gotten myself into)

“I am very excited to have you on the NICU team and for your future in peds and I am glad to have you on broad for this project, See you on Thurs.”

So I got home and looked the guy’s title up…he is only the Sr. Dean of the freaking school. (4thish from the top of the little medical center prymaid).

I am thrilled but also a little freaked out….this guy knew nearly secret information about me and had insight into my thoughts on a VERY controversial subject The rebel in me is a little annoyed, the activist in me is singing.

also have to become the best darn AI by Thursday in NICU history….no pressure….