Andrea Hickman: January 2006

Hello everyone, new rotation, new blog update. I start my dreaded surgery rotation tomorrow, which after my wretched month of Internal Medicine, is actually looking up. At least I'll be doing something all day. IM passed with little to comment on, aside from feeling pretty much useless to pretty much everyone. I personally find it hard to show up somewhere everyday where people could really care less if you were there. Aside from my patients, that is. I feel that in some ways, patients at teaching hospitals do benefit from visiting with students because they do end up having an advocate during their stay. I may not have done a ton for their physical health, but I feel I probably did some good for their mental health. Overall, the hospital is not for me, and I can't wait to get back to a clinic setting.

I turned the big 2-5 at the beginning of the month. I had a lot of fun going out in the city for my birthday, starting out with a good dinner and conversation and finished the night out dancing. I wish I could post photos of that, but we all look so intoxicated, I think I would be doing some members of my family a disservice by releasing them to the general public.

This past weekend was beautiful here in PA, so the whole gang loaded up in the car and headed down South to go to Longwood Gardens, a large botanical garden in Southwest PA. We had a lot of fun getting away from the city and seeing some greenery and being able to be outside. We hit the Chad's Ford Winery on the way home and sampled some local wine. I wasn't that impressed, but the 'girlier' members of our group bought a couple of bottles of dessert wine.

Hopefully Feb. will allow for some more adventures, even though I anticipate being pretty tired from my surgery rotation. I'm planning on heading to Panama City, Fla. for a weekend to see Blair while he is down there for work, and maybe up to NYC for another weekend to see Nicole. There might even be a weekend in the Poconos in there (and I'll ski if it ever gets cold enough, not that I'm complaining).

Hope everyone everywhere is doing well!

Post-Bday fun...(Raj looks pretty!)

Blair and My "senior" picture

Emmy's "senior" picture

How Succulent...

Not just doctors...horticulturists as well.

Happy New Year!!!!

Hello everyone!!! Back here in Philly with my new Xmas Gift (a beautiful Sony digital camera), and thought I'd put some new pictures and an update on my geeky blog.

My week at home was wonderful!! It was very relaxing, and after I got a lot of sleep, I started to feel like my old self again. I was able to go foxhunting with my mom three times over the break (and I haven't been in over 7 years!), and enjoyed riding General and watching the hounds work. But boy, was I sore!!! A big thanks to Mom for getting me a massage for Xmas! I also was able to see my granparents and my Aunt Betty. We had a lovely, laid back and mellow Christmas Eve and Day. I was able to see friends from every segment of my life, from age 3 to 23 and enjoyed catching up with everyone and going out for a few beers during the week. Sometimes I think I forget how much I miss someone until I'm around them again. It was wonderful.

I hate to admit it, but I did miss Philly in a way. It has become home over the last 4 months, and it was weird to be away. I have to say that driving in Iowa was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life (no honking, tailgating, traffic lights, etc.), but I missed Emily and Raj, and all my other new friends out here. I also have more old friends out here for the spring, so many more good times ahead (Atlantic City, here we come!).

I started my Internal Medicine rotation on Tues., and working in a hospital is definitely different than the clinic. Today was really my second day on the floors, and I am feeling more comfortable with how things run, but I am bored a lot and miss the autonomy that I had at the clinic. I'm lucky that the intern and resident that I am working with are both very nice and not lazy, and have taken time to help me. Hopefully I'll start picking up more than 2 patients, and learn to start putting in orders and doing my own admits. All in due time, I suppose.

I hope everyone everywhere had a very happy holiday season, and is looking as forward to 2006 as I am.