Just pausing between graduation parties to say…I graduated! Despite my recurring fear that I’d get a call from Student Affairs at some point telling me that there had been a horrible mistake, the UK College of Medicine has officially granted me an M.D.
The obvious jokes have been played to death, the #2 “What’s up, Doc?” Coming in only to the Chevy Chase (was it Fletch or Spies Like Us?) multiple handshakes: “Doctor.” “Doctor.” “Doctor.” <etc.>
Thanks to everyone around here who has encouraged me and taught me (especially my fellow board physicians, QtM in particular) and generally listened to me bitch for all these years. I’m sure that the bitching will stop as soon as I start my internship.
Congratulamundifications, Doc! Are ya coming to Greensboro? I’m a half hour away, and would be glad to welcome you! Anyhoo, well done on a hard course!
Just re-read The House of God at least once before July 1st. And remember:
THE PATIENT IS THE ONE WITH THE DISEASE
Congrats!
(course you’re really not a real real doctor until you get your state license in a year or two. and when you do, i’ll tell you you’re not a real real real doctor until you pass your boards. and when you do i’ll claim you’re not really a real real real real doctor until you’ve managed to survive in private practice. when you do that, i’ll claim that to really, really be real, you have to fail at private practice at least once, bouce back, do it again, succeed for a decade and a half, then move over to (bail out into) the public sector to escape the insurance hassles and shrinking re-imbursement rates… but i guess you get the idea. but rest assured once you’re dead, i will say "that dr. j, now he was a real doctor! unless i’ve been dead longer than you at that point.)
All the relatives came out of the woodwork for the graduation. They all, without fail, asked me if I’d write them a script for something. I think they were kidding.
Rysdad–you really should see a doctor about that. Oh, hell, I can’t use that one anymore, can I? It’s worked so well for the last few years…by the way, I’m doing internal medicine. (I like 'em old and sick.)
elelle–yep, I’m Greensboro bound, end of this month.
Uke Ike–If I’ve never told you my story about being personally stiffed by Dr. Ralph Stanley, I must at some point.
QtM–Yeah, back in your day, they didn’t have those fancy “stethoscopes”, right? You just put your ear right up to the chest, and you got the patient’s rash all over your face while you breathed in his tuberculosis, and you LIKED IT! You liked it just fine!
Now about this crusty scabbing butt-rash just I’ve got that’s weeping this foul smelling green pus that sort of glows in the dark and has bits moving in it… oh no, please feel free to finish your meal/do your shopping/watch the movie in peace, I’ll just wait here and scratch it a bit till you’re done…
