Banksy!

I know this is totally not the update that people are looking for.  Last night, Sarah, David and I went to Williamsburg for dinner at this awesome BBQ place.  Williamsburg is an upcoming area right outside of Manhattan (one subway stop under the East River) where property values will be quadrupling over the next ten years.  Its kind of a rugged, artsy area that has a very unique feel even for NYC.

Anyway, we were walking into a neat looking Tea Bar and I noticed a piece of graffiti.  I recognized it as the work (or an amazingly good imitation) of a world famous graffiti artist by the name of Banksy.  In this graffiti there is a man holding a remote control.  You look to his right and there is a giraffe with a receiver collar around its neck, implying that the man is driving the giraffe.  And in the giraffe's mouth is a paintbrush, which it is using to write "vandal" on a high spot on the wall.  Very cool!

A couple of photos from the car.

View from Sloan research tower

Chinese docs and patients

I did a month long surgery rotation in China in April.  When I came back, I told people (friends, family, docs) that American surgeons have it lucky:  if the patient does not do well, the worst that could happen is we get sued.  In China, you get sued and you get beat up by the patient's family.

 

I don't think people believed me when I told them this, or maybe thought I was exaggerating.  I'd tell them that if a patient had a bad outcome, the docs in some places would wear a helmet to work the next day.  And I'd get this look like "Nick, you're full of it."

 

Quote from a recent NYT article.  "In 2006, patients or their relatives attacked more than 5,500 medical workers, reflecting wide discontent with China's public health care system."

 

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/index.html

 

See?  I wasn't exaggerating.  American doctors have it great.  Our patients generally respect us.  They only sue us 5% of the times when they could.  And, they don't beat us up when things don't go well.

Memorial on York St, my apt

It is a humble abode.  Two ranges, a small fridge, sink, microwave, a table, twin bed.  Great location though!

New York

During the senior year of medical school, many students opt to do visiting rotations at other institutions.  There are many good reasons to do "aways", as we call them.  They can provide more experience and learning before the start of residency, so hopefully leaving a student more prepared for the disaster that is intern year (intern = first year resident).  Also, doing aways may give some students an opportunity to get their foot in the door at competitive programs.  Aways are also useful to see what life is like in other cities, or to see how other hospital system are run.

The motivations for my China away rotation were mostly cultural - that is, I wanted to experience life in China and see how the Chinese medical system was organized.  That I got to see some cool thoracic surgery cases was an additional benefit.  My current away rotation in NYC will be at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).  Unlike most of the places that students do aways, MSK does not actually have a residency program in surgery; they have fellowship programs.  Fellowship is where a doc is trained after residency, and it only lasts 1-2 years normally.  So I won't be applying for a spot at MSK next year; perhaps I will in 6-7 years.  As arguably the top cancer center in the world, there will be as many great learning opportunities at MSK as there would be anywhere.  A final reason for this rotation:  it is important that I figure out whether I would want to live in New York or some other crowded big city.

My apartment is located at approximately 74th and 1st avenue.  It is a couple blocks from MSK and from the NYC public library.  Central Park is about 1 km away; I went for a run through it last night and happened to go past the Guggenheim.  I have been craving Indian food lately, and I haven't had a chance to go get it in Indianapolis.  Well, the door to my apartment is flanked by an Indian restaurant and a Chinese restaurant, and there is another Indian restaurant across the street.  There are small markets everywhere, and street vendors with fresh produce as well.  I think I picked a good season to live here!

New York

I will be living in NYC for the next two months doing surgery rotations at the Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer center.  I have a new phone with a camera - so expect more pictures!

IMG00607-20100505-2138.jpg

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Shanghai

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Hello Shanghai World Expo!

We have been busy saying bye to our friends at Sun Yat-Sen and making travel arrangements for last few days, so the blog hasn't been getting the attention it deserves. Will try to upload some pictures!

Lee
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry