Happy Holidays
We had our departmental Christmas/Chanukkah/Kwanza what have you party yesterday. I may or may not have had one too many candy canes, they are addictive. Beyond that (and no, Dustin, there really was not anything even remotely alcoholic in that punch) I did have the chance to announce County's paired organ donor program. It's the only one in Chicago and is going to do great things in terms of improving patients' lives and publicity for County's surgical program. Always nice to make the board members happy during the holidays.
Our first kidney transplant within the paramenters of the program went off without a hitch yesterday as well. Dr. Rasgotra is a fantastic addition to the team and now, two people who were in dire need of a kidney and too far down on the UNOS list, have them and are happy and on their ways to meaningful recovery.
Speaking of Dr. Rasgotra, I suppose the proverbial feline is out of the bag where she's concerned. Apprently word has gotten out that she is my 'golden girl.' I don't deny that I actively recruited her to my service and even went to bat for the funding to add another member to my staff. It just so happens that I had her in mind when I did so and that she accepted the offer when presented to her. She has not garnered any special consideration since becoming a surgical intern, I've dressed her down just as I have anyone else on my staff when out of line and I've also praised her accordingly when she's earned it. End of story.
[Locked from County employees, save for Abby and Neela]
I'll deny it if ever asked, but I did also pull Neela aside to share with her my thoughts on her skills as a surgeon and as a student. Mentoring her has truly been the highlight of my year, careerwise. I gave her my first pair of surgical loupes for Christmas. I know she celebrates the holiday insomuch as I do, not because of a matter of faith but because it's what friends and family do...giving her a gift just seemed appropriate. That particular gift, very appropriate. I bought those loupes myself while still in med school. I knew even then that I wanted to be a surgeon.
She'll have to have the prescription on the lenses changed if she intends to use them, of course. I wasn't quite as near-sighted back then but I'm sure they gave her a headache as she looked through them. And she most certainly did look quite lovely, in that 'baby's growing up and taking her first steps' sort of way, when she tried them on for me. Beautiful is what I told her, and I meant it. Watching her go from and unsteady and timid ER resident to a confident and skilled surgeon has truly been a beautiful experience for me. I'm proud of her.
[Unlocked]
I can't very well discuss yesterday's events and not mention the amusing sight of Abigail and Kovac doing the annual Holiday Cheer spreading throughout the hospital. They lost the pool and had to don the costumes this year. I not so coincidentally happened to be down in the ER when they finished their wasailing. (One of the attendings in Pedes paged me that they were calling it quits...) My wife was the cutest, feistiest little dwarf I have ever seen. Though I must disagre with Dr. Barnett, that costume was not hot in any way, shape or form. Kovac was striking in his antlers, however. For those of you that missed, or simply don't have the please of working at County General, Sam was good enough to take and post a few pictures of Rudolph and his jolly little cookie throwing elf.
Our first kidney transplant within the paramenters of the program went off without a hitch yesterday as well. Dr. Rasgotra is a fantastic addition to the team and now, two people who were in dire need of a kidney and too far down on the UNOS list, have them and are happy and on their ways to meaningful recovery.
Speaking of Dr. Rasgotra, I suppose the proverbial feline is out of the bag where she's concerned. Apprently word has gotten out that she is my 'golden girl.' I don't deny that I actively recruited her to my service and even went to bat for the funding to add another member to my staff. It just so happens that I had her in mind when I did so and that she accepted the offer when presented to her. She has not garnered any special consideration since becoming a surgical intern, I've dressed her down just as I have anyone else on my staff when out of line and I've also praised her accordingly when she's earned it. End of story.
[Locked from County employees, save for Abby and Neela]
I'll deny it if ever asked, but I did also pull Neela aside to share with her my thoughts on her skills as a surgeon and as a student. Mentoring her has truly been the highlight of my year, careerwise. I gave her my first pair of surgical loupes for Christmas. I know she celebrates the holiday insomuch as I do, not because of a matter of faith but because it's what friends and family do...giving her a gift just seemed appropriate. That particular gift, very appropriate. I bought those loupes myself while still in med school. I knew even then that I wanted to be a surgeon.
She'll have to have the prescription on the lenses changed if she intends to use them, of course. I wasn't quite as near-sighted back then but I'm sure they gave her a headache as she looked through them. And she most certainly did look quite lovely, in that 'baby's growing up and taking her first steps' sort of way, when she tried them on for me. Beautiful is what I told her, and I meant it. Watching her go from and unsteady and timid ER resident to a confident and skilled surgeon has truly been a beautiful experience for me. I'm proud of her.
[Unlocked]
I can't very well discuss yesterday's events and not mention the amusing sight of Abigail and Kovac doing the annual Holiday Cheer spreading throughout the hospital. They lost the pool and had to don the costumes this year. I not so coincidentally happened to be down in the ER when they finished their wasailing. (One of the attendings in Pedes paged me that they were calling it quits...) My wife was the cutest, feistiest little dwarf I have ever seen. Though I must disagre with Dr. Barnett, that costume was not hot in any way, shape or form. Kovac was striking in his antlers, however. For those of you that missed, or simply don't have the please of working at County General, Sam was good enough to take and post a few pictures of Rudolph and his jolly little cookie throwing elf.