Wow, I can't believe that January is basically over now. One month since the new year is now about to pass just like that.
In January, I was able to do a good amount for my senior project. In 9th grade, Mrs. Cancino told me how I would learn how to priortize things and how in some cases I would have to sacrifice something. And indeed I did have to sacrifice something for my senior project. I didn't come to school on the 27th because I was doing my independent component the whole day from 8am to 5:30pm. I am glad because now I only have less than 2 hours to complete my independent component.
I learned a lot on that day as well. When I went to the Cardiac Rehab in the morning, my friend from last time, Hoang Pham, was still there. He told more advice again this time. It was about how to pass an interview. He told me that I need to basically do the opposite of everything in an interview. The interview people are trying to see what kind of person you are to see if you will graduate or not. They already know your qualifications through your resume, so that is why they want to see your personality. And another thing is that you aren't the only person that is nervous in an interview, the people interviewing you are possibly even more nervous than you. Hoang told me to watch an episode of Seinfield where the main character gets a job by doing the opposite in his interview.
I was also able to see many of the same patients that had come back in December in Cardiac Rehab. Some of them remembered me even after a month had passed by which was nice.
I was able to go to the ER (Emergency Room) because my friend, Mitch, who is a nurse took me. He showed me and two other nurses how he could modify a pacemaker through a machine in a wireless manner. It was very interesting as the machine "interrogated" the pacemaker of the patient and changed it according to her heart's needs. I forget what the machine is called though.
Funny enough, I didn't go to mentorship that day, but I saw Dr. Muthiah in the morning which was pretty cool. I also got to see two Left Heart Catherizations in the operating room which were both performed by Dr. Thumati.
I was also able to see, but not meet, Dr. Keyser who is an open-heart surgeon. I am considering interviewing him and I regret that I did not introduce myself to him because I was too shy.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection
Content:
1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?
I am most proud of my content in my presentation. The reason is because it was based on quality research and reliable sources. I was able to make my audience understand what a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery was, what a pacemaker and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator) does, and the benefits of Cardiac Rehab. People told me after the presentation that they liked my content as well.
2. a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?
AE P AP CR NC
b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.
I believe I deserve an AE/E because my hook activity, activity, and content was all cohesive and pertained to my topic fully. I was able to simplify my topic down so that the audience could understand it and indeed they were able to understand it. My content was based on quality research and reliable sources. And for most of presentation content, I had already previously observed and experienced it, so I had a deeper understanding of it and this allowed me to relate to my topic and help me explain it more effectively as well. I had two posters rather than one; one was for the essential question and the second was for my answer #1. I talked about pacemakers and ICDs and I was able to provide the audience the boxes of pacemakers and ICDs as my props which was pretty cool. I was able to relate my content with my mentorship and my answer #1 with my independent component. I spoke loud and clear with confidence. I was enthusiastic about my senior topic.
3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
My hook activity and content gave my audience a good understanding of the heart.
4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?
I would shorten my activity in half. I made my audience do stretches of 20 seconds each rather than 10 seconds. My audience wasn't too fond of overstretching. I would also try to talk more on quality research so that I would be at least 5 minutes over the minimum requirement in my actual final presentation. (Thank you again for the help in my presentation Mrs. Yelverton!)
5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?
Concierge Medicine: This is basically a concept in which the doctor give more time to the patient to improve patient care. On average, Cardiologists only give about 15 minutes per patient. But through concierge medicine, it would become possibly 45 minutes because it would include the counseling of the patient.
1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?
I am most proud of my content in my presentation. The reason is because it was based on quality research and reliable sources. I was able to make my audience understand what a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery was, what a pacemaker and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator) does, and the benefits of Cardiac Rehab. People told me after the presentation that they liked my content as well.
2. a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?
AE P AP CR NC
b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.
I believe I deserve an AE/E because my hook activity, activity, and content was all cohesive and pertained to my topic fully. I was able to simplify my topic down so that the audience could understand it and indeed they were able to understand it. My content was based on quality research and reliable sources. And for most of presentation content, I had already previously observed and experienced it, so I had a deeper understanding of it and this allowed me to relate to my topic and help me explain it more effectively as well. I had two posters rather than one; one was for the essential question and the second was for my answer #1. I talked about pacemakers and ICDs and I was able to provide the audience the boxes of pacemakers and ICDs as my props which was pretty cool. I was able to relate my content with my mentorship and my answer #1 with my independent component. I spoke loud and clear with confidence. I was enthusiastic about my senior topic.
3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
My hook activity and content gave my audience a good understanding of the heart.
4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?
I would shorten my activity in half. I made my audience do stretches of 20 seconds each rather than 10 seconds. My audience wasn't too fond of overstretching. I would also try to talk more on quality research so that I would be at least 5 minutes over the minimum requirement in my actual final presentation. (Thank you again for the help in my presentation Mrs. Yelverton!)
5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?
Concierge Medicine: This is basically a concept in which the doctor give more time to the patient to improve patient care. On average, Cardiologists only give about 15 minutes per patient. But through concierge medicine, it would become possibly 45 minutes because it would include the counseling of the patient.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Blog 12: Mentorship 10 hours check
1. Where are you doing your mentorship?
Chaparral Medical Group (Pomona) (Right across the street to the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center)
1866 N. Orange Grove Ave., Suite 202
Pomona, CA 91767
Phone: 909-623-8796
Fax: 909-623-3076
2. Who is your contact?
My mentor is:
Dr. Muthusamy Muthiah, M.D., F.A.C.C., M.H.A.
Interventional Cardiology
Fellow American College of Cardiology
His medical assistant who called for reporting my 10 hours is:
Michelle
3. How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)?
12 hours and 50 minutes so far
4. Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.
Clinical Observation: I always followed Dr. Muthiah. I was always in the same room as the patients and heard their problems, diagnosis, and treatment. I was doing basically the same thing a medical student in residency would do by shadowing a doctor; but I did not try or attempt to prescribe any medication though.
*You need 50 hours plus the original 10 in the summer by May. The original 10 from the summer do not count toward the 50. By the end of the year, you will have 60 hours counting that original 10.
Chaparral Medical Group (Pomona) (Right across the street to the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center)
1866 N. Orange Grove Ave., Suite 202
Pomona, CA 91767
Phone: 909-623-8796
Fax: 909-623-3076
2. Who is your contact?
My mentor is:
Dr. Muthusamy Muthiah, M.D., F.A.C.C., M.H.A.
Interventional Cardiology
Fellow American College of Cardiology
His medical assistant who called for reporting my 10 hours is:
Michelle
3. How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)?
12 hours and 50 minutes so far
4. Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.
Clinical Observation: I always followed Dr. Muthiah. I was always in the same room as the patients and heard their problems, diagnosis, and treatment. I was doing basically the same thing a medical student in residency would do by shadowing a doctor; but I did not try or attempt to prescribe any medication though.
*You need 50 hours plus the original 10 in the summer by May. The original 10 from the summer do not count toward the 50. By the end of the year, you will have 60 hours counting that original 10.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Blog 11: Holiday Project Update
1. It is important to consistently
work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.
What did you do over the break with your senior project?
Mentorship
I did more clinical observation.
Independent Component
Cath
Lab
Did
more volunteering like I did in the summer for my summer mentorship.
Cardio-Pulmonary
Physical Therapy Rehab
I
observed what goes on in the physical therapy room. I helped out by cleaning
the machines. I learned how to take blood pressure. I learned a little about
EKGs (Echocardiograms).
Cases
(surgeries)
I
was able to observe two different surgeries by two different doctors.
Miscellaneous
I looked up things for medical school.
2. What was the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why? What was the source of what you learned?
Mentorship
Throughout my mentorship, I continuously
noticed how much the patients loved my mentor, Dr. Muthiah. Every time I told
the patient that I was a student of Dr. Muthiah’s, they would tell me that I
was lucky to have gotten the best doctor around here. Even back at the Pomona
Hospital, even the nurses and staff tell me that he is the best cardiologist
around. The reason is because he is gentle with his patients and also really
knows his stuff. He has good bedside manners and good character as well. After
shadowing him, I can indeed see that all of this is true about Dr. Muthiah. One
patient told me that there were many doctors trying to figure out his problem,
but none succeeded. But when Dr. Muthiah checked him, he immediately knew what
the problem was and recommended a dual bypass surgery. After observing all
this, it occurred to me that having the qualities of good character and really
knowing your stuff leads to effective patient care. I have only seen about two
to four patients that actually needed a surgery after their checkup with Dr.
Muthiah. For majority of all patients, Dr. Muthiah just tells them to change
their lifestyle and diet and they will be good to go. He also tells them that
it is risky to get surgery and it is much better to just change your lifestyle.
Another thing I noticed about Dr. Muthiah is that he really cares about his
patients’ wellbeing. Dr. Muthiah usually asks his patients rhetorical questions
to make them think. Things Dr. Muthiah tends to say are, “So…you like smoking
more than your heart?”, “I cannot change you, your wife cannot change you, but
you can change yourself.”, “You have to lose the weight.” Dr. Muthiah makes
them think so that they can see the importance of their situation and the fact
that they have to change if they want good results. Dr. Muthiah is direct and
straight-forward with his patients’ when it comes to this.
 |
| Me and Dr. Muthusamy Muthiah |
Independent Component
Cath
Lab
I
helped do a little bit of paperwork and I discharged three patients. Once
again, I saw the importance of a volunteer because even though these are little
things, it really means a lot to the nurses because they can’t afford to give
up that time.
Cardio-Pulmonary
Physical Therapy Rehab Center
The
cardio-pulmonary physical therapy rehab room is designed for patients that
underwent heart surgery. It basically looks like a regular small gym though. I
was able to observe what the workers do as well. I learned that there is a
whole process for patient treatment even after surgery and that surgery is not
enough for complete treatment. While getting advice from Cecilia, the therapist
and Gloria, the nurse, they helped me narrow down my Senior Topic of
Cardiology. I will be focusing my EQ on open-heart surgery and post-surgery
treatments. I hope that this is specific enough though. While shadowing Dr. Muthiah, I noticed that majority of his
patients have undergone heart surgery, so this fits right along for my new EQ. After seeing what goes on in the physical
rehab room, I might incorporate many elements of it for my activity in the
Final Senior Presentation. I also noticed how family-oriented it was inside the
physical therapy room. The workers would occasionally talk with the patients
and vice-versa. The patients would talk with other patients easily as well. It
was a small group and everyone was happy and this in turn was leading to more
effective patient care as well. I also gained a new connection: the nurse
Kathy. She is a nurse for patients that are about to undergo open heart
surgery. I will be shadowing her for a few hours to see what it is like for
patients before open-heart surgery because it pertains to my new and narrowed
down Essential Question.
 |
| Me attaching electrodes on to the monitors |
 |
| A machine for exercise |
 |
| Me observing Hoang Pham, a college graduate volunteer, recording a patient's results |
 |
| (From left) Hoang, Cecilia, Gloria, Oliver, and Kathy |
Cases
(surgeries)
The
first and foremost lesson from this is, “Just ask”. For both surgeries, had I
not asked if I could watch them, I would not been able to because the doctors
and nurses would never know that I had a desire to watch them. This was the
most exciting part of my senior project so far. I learned tremendously from
observing both cases. The first case was changing the battery of a pacemaker
and Dr. Discepolo was directing it. Dr. Discepolo and his medical assistant,
Maryiza, both work in the clinic that Dr. Muthiah works in and Maryiza was
watching the case with me. I was able to see Dr. Discepolo cut open the patient’s
chest and take out the pacemaker. He used interesting technologies such as this
handheld object which was so hot at the tip of it that it could burn through
many things; he used this to burn the skin to stop bleeding. The whole case
took a little over an hour. From my observation, the thing that surprised me
the most was Dr. Dicsepolo himself. Throughout the whole surgery, the
atmosphere and vibe was really “un-serious”. It was such a chill and kickback
atmosphere that it kind of even felt like a mini-party. Dr. Dicsepolo was able
to explain to me what was going on half the time while also doing the surgery
in such a cheerful way. He had a really good relationship with all of the
workers inside the operating room. He had good humor as well and was making
jokes and puns throughout the surgery. He was talking with everyone and had a
really good personality. This surgery completely overturned my initial biases
of how in the surgery room, it is always serious and everyone is focused. But
Dr. Discepolo successfully did the surgery while also having fun. I really
liked that about Dr. Discepolo; not only did he make himself feel good, he made
his co-workers and me feel good and relaxed throughout the whole surgery. This
made me realize how much more fun a surgery can be and how this can lead to a
more successful and effective surgery because every worker is relaxed and will
do their job properly without making mistakes. And Dr. Dicsepolo also said I
could watch him anytime, so I am really glad and thankful for this opportunity.
The
second case I watched was an EP (Electro-Physiology) Study which was being
directed by Dr. Merla and his anesthesiologist was Dr. Weller who invited me to
watch the case after I asked him. In an EP Study, the doctor barely cuts open
the patient just to insert a catheter (a tube with a camera) into the patient.
The Dr. then moves around the catheter within the patient’s body to map out the
inside and also to locate what the problem is where the problem is; the Dr. is seeing
this all on a screen in front of him. Once Dr. Merla found out where the
problem is, he conducted tests (hence EP “Study”) to determine the exact
problem. And once he found out, he moved to phase two of the surgery: inserting
a pacemaker. Each pacemaker is different depending on the patient’s needs. What
I saw here was basically the same thing that Dr. Dicsepolo did. In this case, I had to wear a lead vest to protect myself from radiation. Atmosphere-wise,
this actually met my initial biases of what a surgery is supposed to be like: all
serious and focused. And thank God Dr. Merla also said I can watch him anytime
in the future as well.
 |
| Me posing after observing my first case |
 |
| The men's locker room |
 |
| Scubs |
 |
| A catheter (a tube that enters a patient's body) |
 |
| That line with the swirl is the catheter inside the patient's body. This picture is what a doctor would see on the TV screen in front of him |
 |
| Me in a lead vest after my second case |
Miscellaneous
During the winter break, I had also
researched how to properly shadow a doctor and how to take notes. So I have
been trying to apply that. But I still need to write a page of my experiences in
my journal after every mentorship. I also looked up the medical school personal
statement prompt in which I basically have to answer, “Why me, why medicine?” I
have been keeping this in mind while doing my senior project because I will
need to be as passionate and true as possible when I write this. The exact
prompt is: “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical
school.” And here are some of the links that I used for my additional research:
3. If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers for your EQ, who would you talk to and why?
Now that I have narrowed down my Essential
Question to open-heart surgery and post-surgery treatments, I would ask 1 of 6
people: Dr. Kaiser (an open-heart surgeon), Dr. Jane (an open-heart surgeon), a
patient that did or is about to undergo open-heart surgery, Kathy (a nurse), a
worker at the Cardio-Pulmonary Physical Therapy Rehab Center, or Dr. Muthiah.
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