Have you ever thought about how mean it is for the airlines to board you in the front of the plane and make you walk to the back of the plane where the poor coach passengers sit? As I boarded my Emirates flight, I looked to my left and caught a glimpse of the good life through a slightly open curtain. The first class cabin was more like a private lounge with individual cocoons fitted with plush leather recliners that flatten out to a bed with individual large screen tv and other amenities. They probably have showers and a hot tub up there for all I know. Passengers already had a glass of champagne in hand. I sighed and turned to make my sorry walk to coach. I walked through business class which was also spacious and fancy and began dreading this 12 hr segment. Much to my surprise,coach wasn't half bad! On my seat waiting for me was a blanket, a pillow, a pair of socks, a toothbrush with tooth paste, headsets and even a pair of eye shades for sleeping. I'm beginning to sound like a poor grad student, but it's the simple pleasures really... I was halfway through a movie when I noticed the ceiling of the plane was speckled with light like a planetarium! And the food- oh man. It was actually good! I could choose from so many different styles of food- vegetarian, low fat, low cal, gluten free, asian, american, thai, you name it! Maybe my standards for airlines have been too low. Emirates is doing something right and maybe it would be wise for the American based airlines to take a look at Emirates business model... just sayin.
We land in Dubai and the only thing I can think is, did I land in a shopping mall or airport terminal? This is not your average duty-free shopping. We're talking laptops and camera shops, jewelry, make-up, designer clothing, and perfume/cologne. Ohhhhhhhh the cologne. I swear people bathe in it over here instead of showering.
I made it successfully to Bangkok about 26 hrs later, but I guess someone was trying to tell me that it was time for me to get a run in. My flight landed late so I literally went from a casual speed walk to a full out jog when I realized what time it was. The lady at the info desk told me I didn't have to go through customs, just continue toward my gate and they could check me in and use my bag tag to get my pack and transfer it. Ummm, this makes me nervous but I have a tight timeline to I don't argue and instead I rush down towards the gate and guess what??? Apparently I DID have to exit through customs, retreive my bag, run upstairs to the 4th floor with my big pack to recheck it. Now The woman at the counter was sure I wouldn't make it in time to get all the way back to baggage claim (at least 0.5-0.7 mi) and get through immigration and to the ticketing counter before it was too late. She told me she would put me on the first flight out tomorrow. NOOOOOOO! No can do lady! She did not realize I was capable of running with all my packs and would do so to make this flight. I don't think it's a common scene to have a traveller sprinting around the airport in BKK. Chicago O'Hare, yes. LaGuardia, absolutely normal. Bangkok, not so much. So at this point I legit RUN. Not power walking, not jogging. Breathless running. Thai people were parting for me like I was a tornado plowing through. I'm sure I was a sight to see. By the time I got to the ticket counter, I was dripping sweat down my forehead. Gross. But I check my pack and took off running again towards security and my gate. I didn't take anything off, didn't take anything out of my bag, just threw it on the belt. They were shaking their heads at me (stupid American) and then the lady asked me if I had scissors and could i take them out to show her? Lady, I don't have time for this! I pull out my pack and yep, sure enough, I packed my first aid kit in my carry on. No one seemed to notice this in the US. I though security was tighter in the US. Guess not. Once again I took off running to my gate like I was Usain Bolt(no idea how to spell that). I got to my gate while they were finishing boarding. It was the last flight of the day to Chiang Mai. I'm relieved to be at the gate and getting on the plane, but now I realize that I'm not just sweating, I'm dripping down my face. My pants are soaking. My back is soaking wet. I'm a red hot mess! As the only white woman on the plane, I'm sure I left a lasting impression on these folks.
32 hours after leaving Durham, I finally get to my hotel in Chiang Mai. It's a 12 hr time change but some how I don't think I'll have any problem adjusting. Trekking begins first thing tomorrow morning. Good night!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
All packed up and ready to go!
I'm all packed up and ready to go! Problem is, I'm not leaving for 4 more days. I cannot seem to focus on anything right now, including my upcoming end-of-rotation exam on Obstetrics and Gynecology. Tomorrow is my last day in Gyn clinic, an exam on Friday followed by a meeting with my clinical coordinator, then I'll reconsider everything I've packed and obviously decide that I am missing something and start over, and then at 4:30 am Saturday morning my amazing roommate is taking me to the airport! I'm just praying for good weather because every year, no matter where I live, there seems to be a snow storm on the first day of our winter break leaving me stranded. It's been 70 degrees so far this December so this better not change!!! On a completely different note, I wanted to clarify something before I leave. Many of you have emailed me a little worried that I am going to be trekking through these hill tribe villages on my own --getting lost in the mountains, not getting to do the touristy things in Chiang Mai, and one of you was even concerned about me getting kidnapped and sold into the sex slave industry. Well, I probably won't get to do a lot of the touristy things in Chiang Mai and I will certainly do my best not to get kidnapped, but I can reassure you that I am meeting a small group of total strangers at my hotel in Chiang Mai on Monday morning and we will be led through the mountains by a Thai native. But then I'll be on my own =)
I cannot wait to get hiking, biking, kayaking and rock climbing! I've been preparing all summer. See...
(I'm really just trying to figure out how to post pics within my post)
So next time you hear from me, I will be en route to Chiang Mai! Hope you all have a great end to the week and to all my classmates- good luck on your EOR exam!!! Now, back to the books...
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
It's really happening!
It's off to Asia I go!!! Why you ask? Well, let me start at the beginning...
One of the most attractive features of the Duke Physician Assistant Program is the opportunity to expand our medical education to include global health. As someone who is interested in international relief efforts and medical missions, this is an elective that I just couldn't pass up! There are many organizations to oversee medical doctors and nurses in international health programs and disaster relief efforts, however, there are few that utilize physician assistants. Fortunately this is changing and the presence and utilization of physician assistants abroad is increasing. I'm thankful for the many PA's who have promoted our profession and paved the way for future practitioners like myself. After I graduate next year (August 3rd to be exact... not that I'm counting down), I anticipate finding a position which will allow me to participate in international medical aid. Ideally I would like to become part of an organization like the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT). IMSuRT is a team of medical specialists who provide surgical and critical care during a disaster or public health emergency both domestically and internationally. I first found out about this specific branch of the Department of Health and Human Services while working at Children's Hospital Boston. Several of our pediatric trauma surgeons, plastic surgeons, pharmacists, nurses and OR techs went to Haiti to set up a make-shift operating room in a tent to help many sick and injured children in Port au prince. In addition to disaster response teams, I am also interested in medical mission trips. If my job affords me the opportunity to escape for a week or two every year, I would love the opportunity to provide medical care to those with limited resources and poor access to adequate care. Even basic medical care can be life changing to those who are living in underdeveloped nations.
I digress...Fortunately, my application was approved and I was accepted into the global health elective. Starting December 28th, I will begin a 4-week rotation in Sri Lanka--a perfect in-depth introduction to international healthcare! My time will be spent assisting in surgery, treating patients on the wards of Karapitiya Hospital, administering immunizations in community clinics, and perhaps even assisting in childbirth while shadowing Public Health Midwives making rounds in rural villages. These experiences will allow me to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Sri Lankan public health system, learn how culture and religion influence medical practice, and assess the penetration of the public health system into the smallest of rural villages.
Learning about health care systems outside the U.S. will not only help me anticipate the challenges I might face working globally, but will enrich my medical education. Patients will present with diseases that I may never see in the U.S. because of vaccinations. Furthermore, with limited access to preventative care, Sri Lankans often present much later in the course of their disease, giving me a better understanding of the physical manifestations of the untreated disease. And unlike the U.S., I won't be able to order an MRI or a CT with a simple click in e-Browser and I certainly won't have blood work done on a 'stat' basis. I will have to rely on my physical exam skills and critical thinking to problem solve and treat patients- and I couldn't be more excited. This will be an incredible test of my history taking (via a Sinhalese translator) and physical exam skills as I strive to come up with a differential and ultimately a diagnoses. I am looking forward to enhancing my diagnostic skill set and supplementing my medical education with the training and mentoring of Sri Lankan physicians on staff at the University of Rhuana. Striving to determine feasible treatments while preserving the cultural and religious customs of patients will invariably mold me into a versatile and effective global health provider.
I hope this blog can provide some insight into my educational adventures in medicine, as well as the fun I intend to have along the way. Did I mention that I will be spending some time exploring Thailand beforehand??? I will trek for several days through the teak forests and bamboo jungles in northern Thailand (outside of Chiang Mai), visiting remote hill-tribe villages and learning about the lifestyles of these hardy people. Then I will hop on a bike to explore the countryside and continue south to the Sri Lanna National Forest where I'll kayak before heading much farther south to paddle and rock climb in Phuket. Don't worry, I'll make sure to squeeze in a cooking class and some play time with the elephants!
Now that I've read both the Sri Lanka and Thailand travel books cover to cover, the dates are officially set and the plane ticket has been purchased, I am eager to get going... as soon as I figure out how to pack 7 weeks worth of stuff into my 65L pack!
I hope to blog as often as I can, but I hope to be busy having fun and learning! Stay tuned!
One of the most attractive features of the Duke Physician Assistant Program is the opportunity to expand our medical education to include global health. As someone who is interested in international relief efforts and medical missions, this is an elective that I just couldn't pass up! There are many organizations to oversee medical doctors and nurses in international health programs and disaster relief efforts, however, there are few that utilize physician assistants. Fortunately this is changing and the presence and utilization of physician assistants abroad is increasing. I'm thankful for the many PA's who have promoted our profession and paved the way for future practitioners like myself. After I graduate next year (August 3rd to be exact... not that I'm counting down), I anticipate finding a position which will allow me to participate in international medical aid. Ideally I would like to become part of an organization like the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT). IMSuRT is a team of medical specialists who provide surgical and critical care during a disaster or public health emergency both domestically and internationally. I first found out about this specific branch of the Department of Health and Human Services while working at Children's Hospital Boston. Several of our pediatric trauma surgeons, plastic surgeons, pharmacists, nurses and OR techs went to Haiti to set up a make-shift operating room in a tent to help many sick and injured children in Port au prince. In addition to disaster response teams, I am also interested in medical mission trips. If my job affords me the opportunity to escape for a week or two every year, I would love the opportunity to provide medical care to those with limited resources and poor access to adequate care. Even basic medical care can be life changing to those who are living in underdeveloped nations.
I digress...Fortunately, my application was approved and I was accepted into the global health elective. Starting December 28th, I will begin a 4-week rotation in Sri Lanka--a perfect in-depth introduction to international healthcare! My time will be spent assisting in surgery, treating patients on the wards of Karapitiya Hospital, administering immunizations in community clinics, and perhaps even assisting in childbirth while shadowing Public Health Midwives making rounds in rural villages. These experiences will allow me to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Sri Lankan public health system, learn how culture and religion influence medical practice, and assess the penetration of the public health system into the smallest of rural villages.
Learning about health care systems outside the U.S. will not only help me anticipate the challenges I might face working globally, but will enrich my medical education. Patients will present with diseases that I may never see in the U.S. because of vaccinations. Furthermore, with limited access to preventative care, Sri Lankans often present much later in the course of their disease, giving me a better understanding of the physical manifestations of the untreated disease. And unlike the U.S., I won't be able to order an MRI or a CT with a simple click in e-Browser and I certainly won't have blood work done on a 'stat' basis. I will have to rely on my physical exam skills and critical thinking to problem solve and treat patients- and I couldn't be more excited. This will be an incredible test of my history taking (via a Sinhalese translator) and physical exam skills as I strive to come up with a differential and ultimately a diagnoses. I am looking forward to enhancing my diagnostic skill set and supplementing my medical education with the training and mentoring of Sri Lankan physicians on staff at the University of Rhuana. Striving to determine feasible treatments while preserving the cultural and religious customs of patients will invariably mold me into a versatile and effective global health provider.
I hope this blog can provide some insight into my educational adventures in medicine, as well as the fun I intend to have along the way. Did I mention that I will be spending some time exploring Thailand beforehand??? I will trek for several days through the teak forests and bamboo jungles in northern Thailand (outside of Chiang Mai), visiting remote hill-tribe villages and learning about the lifestyles of these hardy people. Then I will hop on a bike to explore the countryside and continue south to the Sri Lanna National Forest where I'll kayak before heading much farther south to paddle and rock climb in Phuket. Don't worry, I'll make sure to squeeze in a cooking class and some play time with the elephants!
Now that I've read both the Sri Lanka and Thailand travel books cover to cover, the dates are officially set and the plane ticket has been purchased, I am eager to get going... as soon as I figure out how to pack 7 weeks worth of stuff into my 65L pack!
I hope to blog as often as I can, but I hope to be busy having fun and learning! Stay tuned!
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