Been a bit lazy updating. Half way through the ride. Here’s week 3.
Clinics - MON, canceled. Went out to the townships anyway. There was another American (undergrad) who wants to be a DO. Such a hippie. Simon told me about the clinic’s sponsorship. Apparently, they get some R1.5 million from a pharma company. They’ll soon be sponsored by a beer company (had to meet w/ an ethics committee for that). Med school is about as competitive here as in the states. After they graduate they go into a two year rotation through different specialties before they have to decide. The 6 year course schedule also allows them rotations in full-fledged fields like anesthesiology and trauma care (whereas we only spend a week or so in such fields in the states). TUES, didn’t go. Worked too late. WED, John came along. We saw a 28 y.o male crybaby (complained of itching and coughing. Didn’t cough once in the clinic. Just wanted attention), PID and a cute baby w/ a bloody nose. He bled more as he cried.
Research - MON, didn’t do much. TUES, saw my first pericardial aspiration when I went to collect samples w/ Dr D. He showed me the lab and it turns out he’s pursuing a PhD and does all the research on his own. Hard for me to understand considering US MDs don’t need a PhD to do significant research nor do they do work on their own. They usually work as physicians and leave benchwork to their lab. Doc sat down w/ me and we agreed that I would prepare a presentation (the same for GH) on my experience in the lab and clinics here. WED, not as fun as Tues. THURS, Doc had an ethics meet to go to. I was supposed to meet w/ Dr M, but I was too tried and overslept. Gonna meet him Mon. FRI, finally got access to the files (heavy, I need to work out). Looked through about 40% of them. I’m somewhat appalled by the condition this hospital keeps their records. Everything is handwritten and so much info is scratched out and replaced. Who’s to say how reliable any of it is? The folder numbers and patient numbers of the trial were also inconsistent. Absurd.
Crashed most nights, but went to the Heart of Cape Town Museum (where the first heart transplant in the world was performed) and shark cage diving. Missed a crazy house party last night, but no regrets. Supposedly going to the beach today.
