#upcm

This is a late post! These are two photos with the people that made my IM rotation bearable :)

Let’s start counting from one to eight.

This might be the longest and most tiring way of counting those 8 numbers, but I guess also the most fulfilling one. Years ago, I have never thought about being an MD-PhD student. All I wanted back then was to become a doctor. I did dream of getting into UPCM and being part of Class 2023, but being surrounded by other stellar students, I can’t stop thinking that I’m not good enough to qualify. But here I am now, meeting these people of different backgrounds with whom I share a common goal - to improve and strengthen the Philippine health care system through research and medical practice for our Filipino people. 

I studied in the same school all my life, so it’s my first time to enroll somewhere else. A few weeks before my scheduled date of enrollment, I started gathering the necessary requirements (ID pictures, High School transcript, chest x-ray, etc.). I read the Guide for Enrollment meticulously and followed all the steps indicated. The whole process went like this: 

A few days before my enrollment, I went to UP Manila to get my medical certificate from the PGH Health Service. I just needed to submit my x-ray results and my dental certificate and fill up a medical form. Afterwards, a doctor examined me and deemed me “fit to enroll”.

 On my scheduled enrollment day, I went to the OUR (Office of the University Registrar) and submitted all my requirements for enrollment. After these documents were processed, one of the employees gave me a paper containing my list of courses.

A freshman block coordinator, who acts as a guide for incoming freshmen, led me inside a computer room. There another student set up my account for SAIS (Student Academic Information System), which is basically where UP students can access their classes and their grades. 

I went to the Cashier to pay for my tuition fee. Afterwards, I received my Form 5, which contains my courses and my schedule. 

I went back to the OUR to have my ID picture taken. It was printed on the spot, so I claimed it right away and picked a lanyard. 

My favorite rotation, so far.

I’m so thankful for my past self for choosing this elective. I was kind of apprehensive about this at first because choosing Pulmonary Diagnostics would mean I would be rotating on my own. It was a first, since I’m used to rotating with 19 other people. In the end, I’m glad it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made this year.

First of all, the Pulmo fellows and consultants were very accommodating. They really encouraged me to watch them as they perform bronchoscopy, spirometry, thoracentesis, and fluoroscope-guided biopsy on their patients. They even let me perform thoracentesis on my own!!! They also let me shadow them while they made their rounds in the wards and even let me perform simple phyiscal examinaton on some of the patients. On some days, we would go to the Out Patient Department to see patients. They even let me check up on patients on my own (waaaah!!! another first???). It just felt so surreal but of course I still needed to report my findings and suggested management to them. It was really a good learning opportunity, because they would often ask me theoretical parts and pathophysiology of the disease and they would patiently explain them if I can’t answer well. On other days, they would let me accompany them to the Intensive Care Unit and they would explain to me how a mechanical ventilator works. They would also review me on the basic physiology of respiration so that I can appreciate it fully. Lastly, they invited me to their annual mechanical workshop convention. It was a bit overwhelming to be the only medical student in a fancy hotel (upper photo was taken in the hotel’s restroom haha) with doctors and health professionals from all over the country. I got to listen to lectures of renowned pulmonologists in the country and even participate in the breakout sessions focusing on learning how to use the mechanical ventilator machines.