"Internists are personal physicians who provide long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common and complex illnesses in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Internists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, infections, and diseases affecting the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, and digestive, respiratory and vascular systems. They are also trained in the essentials of primary care internal medicine which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health, and effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs. An internal medicine physician's primary responsibilities include heath maintenance and disease screening, the diagnosis and care of acute and chronic medical conditions, management of patients with multiple, complex medical problems, and serving as consultants to other disciplines such as surgery, obstetrics, and family medicine. An internist's work is characterized by extensive knowledge and skill in diagnosis and treatment." (AAMC, ABMS)

The first week of Internal Medicine has passed so I thought I would jot down some impressions I have so far. Truthfully, I've been the most excited about this rotation because I felt like it was the best fit for my personality. There are a lot of moving parts in the overall care of a patient and I felt like the internist is in the thick of it—coordinating with different specialties, knowing which labs to keep an eye on, keeping track of their medications, and so much more. It's easy to get swept up in the different problems and comorbidities the patient comes in with. I always have a long list of topics to look over at the end of the day and there's still more to learn afterwards. The demand to be knowledgeable about such a wide array of diseases is daunting, yet exciting at the same time. I've spoken with one of my attendings and she said it gets more manageable over time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and all that jazz. I'll take her word for it.

Similarly to my previous rotation, I'm reading Case Files: Internal Medicine. I'm also reading a 70+ page study guide a previous student made for the EORs and shelf exam review that a third year student wrote. I'm relying more on my lectures from didactic year to fill in the blanks and that has helped tremendously. If there's anything all this studying has taught me, it's the importance of a good study location. I've been able to study at my apartment and a coffee shop that's within walking distance from my place in the city. It's not a bad life, rotation year. (Will I be singing a different tune when my surgery rotation starts? It's next...)

Well, a week is still just a week. I will see how the rest of the rotation goes and try to check back in at the midway point (somewhere around the end of the month or beginning of August). Until then!