First Times in Medicine
Medical school is a series of firsts.
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Medical Student Contributing Writer
University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenvile
Alexis originally hails from Montreal, by way of New Haven, Los Angeles, West Palm Beach and Baltimore, each of which he at one point called home. Before medical school, he worked as a professional actor, produced Christmas movies for the Hallmark Channel, and conducted theater-for-therapy workshops in South Africa and Swaziland. He has since created an acting-based curriculum to improve the communication skills of healthcare professionals, which educational research he has presented at multiple national conferences that include the ACEP and SAEM Annual Meetings. He attended Yale for his undergraduate B.A. and is presently a fourth year medical student pursuing an emergency medicine residency.
The I Do’s … and Don’ts of Medicine
Our task in donning roles of professionalism as health care providers comes hand-in-hand with all the aspects of our identity and the tolls that come with it. This is especially significant as the younger generation, consisting of more and more intersectional identities, becomes more commonplace not only in society at large but also in the health care world. However, when this ideal of professionalism is compounded by someone like me — a minority woman colored by a recurrent, pervasive backdrop of objectification for pleasure by Caucasian cultures; a female person of color who feels the need to tread carefully to succeed in a field historically dominated by men — where does it leave us?
When Patients Discriminate
For medical providers to treat all their patients justly — without discrimination and judgement — is a mindset that medical students are frequently taught to embrace throughout their medical training. What is not often discussed nor taught in medical education is the reverse situation: patient discrimination towards their medical providers.
“What’s Your Name?”: The Question That Can Make All the Difference
In line with my training, I have been taught to identify myself by name and position when introducing myself to patients. And so I do: I say, “My name is Rasan Cherala and I am a fourth-year medical student who will be taking care of you today.” This introduction is supposed to set the stage for a productive relationship.
A Gap in the Physician-Patient Relationship (2019)
This painting represents a growing “discontinuity” between patients and doctors, depicted by caduceus dividing the doctor and patient. Medical providers are burdened with paperwork, long hours, less time for relaxation, family, and to recharge.
When the “Noncompliant” Patient Leaves the Room
We are taught about the social determinants of health in the first week of medical school. That things like finances, job stress, education, safety, and environment, often have as much an impact on health as does pathophysiology.
A Different Perspective on Gender in Medicine
I have never felt as though my gender has affected my ability to succeed in medicine. I have never received “the short end of the stick,” and I have never felt discriminated against in any way. My medical knowledge and clinical reasoning have never been questioned because I am a woman, and no preceptor has ever doubted my career aspirations, no matter how grandiose they might seem.
Medical Student Contributing Writer
Albany Medical College
I am currently a medical student at Albany Medical College. I love listening to music, playing video games, cooking, baking, and hanging out with my cat Cinnamon in my free time. My medical interests are primarily in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. I am originally from Connecticut, and have loved living in New England for most of my life. Hope you enjoy reading some of my pieces!