While we were playing board games one night, Angelina suddenly said, “There is something I cannot get out of my mind.”
“What is it?” Angela asked.
“At the kindergarten today,” said Angelina, “N said it would be wonderful if we got married in the future.”
“But this is silly!” exclaimed Angela. “You haven’t even finished school.” She went on and explained why one needed to be mature enough before getting married.
The next Saturday, I was caught up with many emergency endoscopies and could not pick Angelina up from school. N’s mother offered her a ride. Sitting at the back, Angelina was delighted to find a mini-TV showing Disney programs. That afternoon, she muttered, “Maybe it is not a bad idea marrying him after all.” We were petrified.
Lai Yeh, I absolutely cannot take weekend duties anymore!
28 Jul 2011
21 Jul 2011
Jonathan
Sooner than I realize, Jonathan is three months old. There is much to learn.
After big sister’s example, I never thought a baby could drink milk that fast.
I wish you would not sleep from seven to eleven every night. When you wake up at eleven, you look as if you have never seen me before. But your comfort is my wish.
My mother-in-law keeps urging me not to pick you up whenever you stir in bed. I cannot agree. If she has learned about JW’s experiments, she would know how miserable the rats were after he separated
them from their parents.
You babble so much. What a sight it would be when you chat all day long with your sister!
After big sister’s example, I never thought a baby could drink milk that fast.
I wish you would not sleep from seven to eleven every night. When you wake up at eleven, you look as if you have never seen me before. But your comfort is my wish.
My mother-in-law keeps urging me not to pick you up whenever you stir in bed. I cannot agree. If she has learned about JW’s experiments, she would know how miserable the rats were after he separated
them from their parents.
You babble so much. What a sight it would be when you chat all day long with your sister!
14 Jul 2011
Quantum Mechanics
After the remedial attachment, our Chairman sent us feedback comments from year 1 and year 2 students. That was eye-opening.
"Can the lectures be more specific on what we actually need to know?"
"Too many drugs in Pharmacology."
"The test contents are highly unrelated to the lecture's."
"Do we need to know embryology?"
With increasing specialization, I agree that most doctors only need knowledge in a small area. Szeto loves to stun colleagues by asking them the names of wrist bones. But why would you need to know them unless you become a surgeon specialized in hand surgery?
On the other hand, there are lots of things I wish I spent more time on during my undergraduate studies. I regretted my wishy-washy knowledge on embryology when I worked on stem cells. When I began doing research, I also hoped I had learned more molecular biology.
Surely you are not convinced, but I have heard a better answer.
Years ago, medical students need to study physics in year 1. One lecture was on quantum mechanics.
Overwhelmed by the complicated formulas, a frustrated student yelled, "Why do we have to learn this?"
The professor of physics paused for a second and continued with the lecture. After a while, the student interrupted again. "Why do we have to learn this?"
"Because," replied the professor calmly, "we have to prevent idiots from studying medicine."
"Can the lectures be more specific on what we actually need to know?"
"Too many drugs in Pharmacology."
"The test contents are highly unrelated to the lecture's."
"Do we need to know embryology?"
With increasing specialization, I agree that most doctors only need knowledge in a small area. Szeto loves to stun colleagues by asking them the names of wrist bones. But why would you need to know them unless you become a surgeon specialized in hand surgery?
On the other hand, there are lots of things I wish I spent more time on during my undergraduate studies. I regretted my wishy-washy knowledge on embryology when I worked on stem cells. When I began doing research, I also hoped I had learned more molecular biology.
Surely you are not convinced, but I have heard a better answer.
Years ago, medical students need to study physics in year 1. One lecture was on quantum mechanics.
Overwhelmed by the complicated formulas, a frustrated student yelled, "Why do we have to learn this?"
The professor of physics paused for a second and continued with the lecture. After a while, the student interrupted again. "Why do we have to learn this?"
"Because," replied the professor calmly, "we have to prevent idiots from studying medicine."
7 Jul 2011
Report
In the second week, I frankly explained to the students that I did not feel comfortable training doctors who never talked to patients. They made an appropriately frightened look and rushed to the bedside immediately.
While I never intended to fail them, LS further consolidated my decision. The students had to hand in a written case report everyday. One of her students wrote a masterpiece.
"An 80-year old lady was admitted because of decreased general condition. She was not communicable." The end.
Learning this, I hesitated no more and wrote an e-mail to the Chairman recommending all students from my group to be promoted to the next year.
On the last day of week two, a girl from my group called me as I was leaving after ward round.
"May I ask a question?"
"Sure."
"Do we still have to come next week?"
How wonderful. And they disappeared.
While I never intended to fail them, LS further consolidated my decision. The students had to hand in a written case report everyday. One of her students wrote a masterpiece.
"An 80-year old lady was admitted because of decreased general condition. She was not communicable." The end.
Learning this, I hesitated no more and wrote an e-mail to the Chairman recommending all students from my group to be promoted to the next year.
On the last day of week two, a girl from my group called me as I was leaving after ward round.
"May I ask a question?"
"Sure."
"Do we still have to come next week?"
How wonderful. And they disappeared.
30 Jun 2011
Remedial
Shortly after the examination, I was asked to take care of several students who had failed. The remedial attachment provided an opportunity for them to learn more clinical medicine. Tutors had to decide whether the students need to repeat the year of study afterwards. I personally did not have any negative feelings against those young people, but Warren and a few colleagues kept urging me to fail them.
Following their feedback, I observed the students more closely. The time they spent in the ward was reasonable. But one thing was weird. The only place they stayed at was the nursing station. They opened the case records, flipped through the pages and jotted notes here and there. They looked more like the girl with the dragon tattoo than doctors.
That reminded me of a story that many from my generation knew.
Boss was a hard-working person. He conducted ward round every day at 08:30, sometimes earlier. When Y was his trainee, he went to work at 08:25 and had to finish seeing 10 to 15 patients before Boss arrived. To his credit, he managed to write one full page of medical notes for each patient.
But when the old ladies tried to describe their symptoms, Y always made his famous reply, “Don’t disturb. The doctor is conducting ward round.”
Following their feedback, I observed the students more closely. The time they spent in the ward was reasonable. But one thing was weird. The only place they stayed at was the nursing station. They opened the case records, flipped through the pages and jotted notes here and there. They looked more like the girl with the dragon tattoo than doctors.
That reminded me of a story that many from my generation knew.
Boss was a hard-working person. He conducted ward round every day at 08:30, sometimes earlier. When Y was his trainee, he went to work at 08:25 and had to finish seeing 10 to 15 patients before Boss arrived. To his credit, he managed to write one full page of medical notes for each patient.
But when the old ladies tried to describe their symptoms, Y always made his famous reply, “Don’t disturb. The doctor is conducting ward round.”
23 Jun 2011
Harrison
Shortly before the final professional examination, our Chairman asked us for questions to be used in the viva voce examination. (See http://ccszeto.blogspot.com/2011/05/viva.html for details.)
Being the most junior teaching staff, I was not in the original communication list. Soon, however, I received copies of e-mail answers from two of my friends.
“Please ask VW.”
“I recommend VW. He is our walking Harrison.”
Preparing the questions was a piece of cake. I got it done in fifteen minutes. I could also understand that the overstatement was just out of politeness. However, I still felt uneasy. Walking Harrison used to be the term to describe our Boss and Szeto. How could I share the title with the giants?
On second thought, it really depends on which edition of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine one is referring to. The giants represent the 8th and 10th editions, while the one I read was the 14th edition. Surely they are not comparable.
Having said that, I was happier when the young neurologist called me walking wikipedia a few years ago. It felt just right – appears to know a lot of things but not really accurate.
Being the most junior teaching staff, I was not in the original communication list. Soon, however, I received copies of e-mail answers from two of my friends.
“Please ask VW.”
“I recommend VW. He is our walking Harrison.”
Preparing the questions was a piece of cake. I got it done in fifteen minutes. I could also understand that the overstatement was just out of politeness. However, I still felt uneasy. Walking Harrison used to be the term to describe our Boss and Szeto. How could I share the title with the giants?
On second thought, it really depends on which edition of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine one is referring to. The giants represent the 8th and 10th editions, while the one I read was the 14th edition. Surely they are not comparable.
Having said that, I was happier when the young neurologist called me walking wikipedia a few years ago. It felt just right – appears to know a lot of things but not really accurate.
16 Jun 2011
Library
Last Saturday was our Faculty's 30th anniversary. I had the pleasure to accompany Professor AL at the celebration dinner. She told me a short story alongside with many other interesting matters.
Years ago, she went for training in England. On the first day, her mentor asked, "What project do you plan to do here?"
Being very green, she frankly admitted that she had not had a plan yet and would like to seek his guidance.
To her surprise, the Godfather sent her away. "The library is on the second floor. Come back when you know something."
When I shared the story with my teammates, they all felt the mentor was very cool and encouraged me to tell the medical students the same thing. After all, our medical library was also on the second floor.
I shook the attractive idea off immediately. "These will probably be my last words in the university."
It goes without saying that Professor AL went on to become an independent researcher and one of the greatest leaders in the field. Can we build leaders from refresher courses and examination notes?
Years ago, she went for training in England. On the first day, her mentor asked, "What project do you plan to do here?"
Being very green, she frankly admitted that she had not had a plan yet and would like to seek his guidance.
To her surprise, the Godfather sent her away. "The library is on the second floor. Come back when you know something."
When I shared the story with my teammates, they all felt the mentor was very cool and encouraged me to tell the medical students the same thing. After all, our medical library was also on the second floor.
I shook the attractive idea off immediately. "These will probably be my last words in the university."
It goes without saying that Professor AL went on to become an independent researcher and one of the greatest leaders in the field. Can we build leaders from refresher courses and examination notes?
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