omar ps

As I recall this memory, the stench of necrotic tissue and bodily fluid are as putrid as they were a year and a half ago. While I cleaned a skin avulsion on the heel of my patients left foot with saline, the emergency room physicians gathered around and used an ultrasound device to detect if there was a dorsalis pedis pulse in his right foot. They found one after a few minutes of searching but this did not ease the tension in the air as the patient moaned in pain. The orthopedic surgeon came down to the emergency department in a furry. He scolded the other physicians for not alerting him sooner. To my surprise, this square jawed man whose lab coat was a tad bit whiter than his bleached teeth, turned to me and explained the situation. This patient who “claimed” to fall down a flight of stairs had tibia-fibula factures in his right leg and would need an immediate surgery if we were to stop compartment syndrome from claiming his leg. I would be in charge of cleaning the leg and applying a pre surgery soft cast. Standing over the patient to lift his leg, the smell of his maimed limb is engraved in my memory. After my EMT clinical shift, I went to the nearest computer lab and searched “compartment syndrome,” the thrill of learning on the fly was as fresh as the droplets of plaster on my shoes from the casting. While I can never un-smell what I smelled that day, it remains one of my most cherished memories.

At the age of 21, I came to the decision that I wanted to become a physician. My original notion was that I wanted to, “help people,” and that patient care fit into my giving nature and social skills. Through clinical experiences I discovered that patient care is much more than a desire to, “help people.” Patient care re...

... middle of paper ...

...l set that will aid in my patient care but more importantly it has shown me that, in order to achieve my goals, I must be willing to lend and receive help.

A computer is programmed to draw from a bank of knowledge. It can only respond to what it contains. The same could be said, on a much larger level, of course for the human mind. You can only draw the experiences that you have had. My reasons for wanting to become a physician will change as my experiences grow. The experiences I have shared in this essay bring to light high pressure emergency care, patient advocacy, and teamwork. These are memories that I value because they allowed me to grow as a person in a field that I am passionate about. I understand that the medical school is not something to venture into lightly, but I see myself moving forward and enjoying the experience no matter the smells involved.