This year has been sobering and jarring to say the least. Where I am, the weather has gotten a lot colder, and the leaves have all turned to reflect the colors of pumpkins, apples, butternut squashes, and hearty nuts. It's sad to see less of the sun, but it's a beautiful time of the year. … Continue reading Change in the Weather
What is your Identity?
I've been pushing our residency program to talk about racism again. I know this is not on our boards, or anything that attendings would pimp us on, but I truly believe it is an important topic to discuss as psychiatrists. Examining racism forces you to look at your own past. One thing I learned through … Continue reading What is your Identity?
In Solidarity
Last Thursday, we had a discussion about racism during our residency didactics session. It was informative, non-judgmental, and inspiring. I felt so blessed to be in the presence of genuine good-hearted people who just want to understand and do better. We have just two black residents in our group of 16 residents. One of them … Continue reading In Solidarity
Injustice. Talk About It.
The gut-wrenching pain that comes with the murder of George Floyed and many, many other black people and minorities in this country leaves me speechless. But I have to put aside my own discomfort and privilege, and talk about it. There should be no tolerance for inequality, racism, police brutality, and injustice. There should also … Continue reading Injustice. Talk About It.
The Perfect Balance
Today marked the first day of my new rotation in the inpatient child and adolescent unit. I’ve done child before, so I thought I knew what I had coming for me. But boy, was I wrong. Holds, seclusions, and restraints left and right. My attending and I took turns putting out the fires. It is … Continue reading The Perfect Balance
The Reality of the Situation
This week, I tried very hard to push for tele-psychiatry for non-emergency cases in the ER. We are hopelessly underprepared, even in light of the alarming rate of deaths in NY state which is just next-door to us. We do not have adequate PPE. We are not even mandating that all staff in the ER … Continue reading The Reality of the Situation
Anxiety and Panic during a Pandemic – Thoughts on COVID-19
Where to even start? It's been a whirlwind. The hospital has called for us to work more hours, and cancelled all our vacations indefinitely. We are not provided with enough personal protective equipment; we barely have enough hand sanitizers in the hospital. Patients are panicking, triggering their anxiety disorders. Patients with substance abuse history are … Continue reading Anxiety and Panic during a Pandemic – Thoughts on COVID-19
Work fast, but be thorough
Be efficient, but go the extra mile. Prioritize, but don't skip any steps. Get to the point, but don't miss anything. These are just a few of the expectations of a resident. A senior resident said to me once, "it's better to be fast than slow. Your skills can get better, but you can't fix … Continue reading Work fast, but be thorough
Burning Bridges, Among Other Things
Today was a kind of revelation. A patient was complaining about the way a social worker talked to her today. She said that the social worker made her feel "hopeless" because she had asked her shortly after admission about which homeless shelter she preferred, rather than offering potential drug and alcohol rehabilitation or a residential … Continue reading Burning Bridges, Among Other Things
Something Intuitive
A gut feeling. Sometimes this is all I can say when I meet a patient. Yet I know that my brain is processing millions of information from the patient's unspoken language. From the way the patient carries herself walking into the room, sitting down at the edge of her seat, shifting her position, and pulling … Continue reading Something Intuitive
