The Key is Empathy

This week has been incredibly exciting and eye-opening for me as on Wednesday, January 15th, I presented my semester-long work at the annual ISM Research Showcase. It was both nerve wracking yet exhilarating to present all of my hard work in front of my mentor, family, friends, and teachers. However, the Research Showcase went better than I expected as I learned from the experience of presenting and over the course of the event, I became more confident, comfortable, and assured with myself and my work. Furthermore, it was incredible to see all the support from my family and peers. They were all thoroughly impressed with my work and it was wonderful to garner praise from my loved ones on all of my effort. Additionally, today, on Monday, January 20, 2020, I had my 4th mentor visit. It was really interesting as I viewed patients who had undergone hysterectomies, those planning on taking prenatal vitamins, and those planning their 4th child. Dr. Bellanger, my mentor, actually got called in for a delivery during my visit, but unfortunately, the patient did not consent to me observing on the delivery. Although it was a bit disappointing as I was genuinely so excited and intrigued by the prospect of my first delivery, it is completely understandable why the patient would not want me in the room. If I was a patient and I was going through one of the most stressful, painful, and traumatic experiences of my life and I really needed to concentrate, I wouldn't want to be bothered by the concern of another person who wasn't my doctor being in the room. Although this was my first rejection to shadowing, it is completely understandable, and I hope in the future I will be able to witness a delivery!