We had our official orientation today. I eventually stumbled across the room after completely exploring the bowels of the hospital. Originally built in the 1930s it has some kinda bowels, let me tell you! I grabbed some coffee and and managed to spill some on my white shirt and newly acquired package of important information as I sat down, class act.
We were welcomed, informed of the profound privileged of being here at St. Paul's Hospital, with its long teaching history and legacy of being on the forefront of HIV/AIDS medicine. To be honest, I was nearly inspired! Occupational health, spiritual care, and the 'wash-your-hands-you-moron-doctors' crew all had their sound-bytes for us.
"25% of the patient population have HIV or Hep C, so really be careful with pokey things and squirting body fluids." As some of my colleagues squirmed next to me at this news the angels sang and the clouds opened above me. Yup, this is exactly the population I want to be working with, I'm where I should be.
Second year residents toured us around the hospital, a bit of a rabbit warren if you ask me. How to page someone, which rotations suck the life out of you, which ones you can plan weekends away on and late afternoon drinks. Feelings of excitement and terror mix freely. Its strangely encouraging to be part of a new group of baby doctors all as unsure as I am. Hundreds of new doctors across the continent, all being thrown to the wolves on July 1st.
Dozens of thoughts were flowing through my head at the end of the day. The one that stuck with me was, "I sure hope people know not to get sick on July 1st."
