Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Why I didn't go into OBGYN

I must say I had a happy 8 week stay in the OBGYN department at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown, OH.  Delivering babies.  A magnaminous experience.   I do believe I delivered 7.  A good actually great number for a medical student.  I dont remember a minute of it either.  I dont remember cutting the cord. I dont remember the birth. I dont even remember the babies.  Its funny how things just leave your mind.  Likely the anxiety involved? I am not sure.  I can not imagine that if I had that experience how any OBGYN physician can remember the details of child births that are normal in their practice.  Maybe they can.  I don't know.
An obstetrics floor has a unique feel that I have never felt in any other place in my life. Or maybe it was that particular OB floor.  It was as if blood was streaming into the world out of the walls of the medical center.  New life.  Amazing.   I was a friend of every resident and even "PS" who told me the only word I remember from the rotation that rang in my memory "dookie" when he had to excuse himself.  It was a sad choice of words I admit, but Pat, you are still a funny guy.  I bet you are happy and having great years of course.
I think that it was intersting that the GYN part of the rotatoin was so routine.  It just felt like there was a process and we went in one door and out the other.   I loved to see the strength of the residency program in its ability to deal with so many trusting women with their lives.  In all scopes.  The OBGYN department was truely unique. 
One particular resident was a slightly different sort.  He was funny but he was quirky.  He was friends with everyone but I suspect he was not too swift in the batting cage.   I remember him well. 
That said, I did not choose OBGYN.  Partly becasue I had felt I had made my interests in General Surgery known to God and man.  But that said OB offers procedures, operations, one less year of residency (didn't care to worry about pain and suffering of my own days back then) and it was a challenging field with much awards.
I must say that I am quite uncomfortable in caring for women as a physician. I am a male. I do think its a greater field for the ladies now.  I just being an unmarried male don't feel it fits well for me to be in that chair all day long.
Sorry.

No comments: