Are You Kidding Me???

I found a funny website today called News of the Weird and ironically, the Des Moines Register was quoted!

Compelling Explanations
"Jonathan Powell, 17, was convicted in April of sexually assaulting a college student in Iowa City, Iowa, after his DNA was found in several places on her body. Powell explained the DNA by claiming that he had merely bumped into the woman accidentally while jogging and had become so "entangled" with her that he was unable to free himself for about "45 minutes." [Des Moines Register, 5-1-07]"

People can be SO DUMB!

This Video Speaks to Good Morals!!!

Look What I Can Do!!!

My blog coach, Mike Sansone, would be proud of me! I figured out how to add a cool graphic to the side of my page!

GREAT NEWS!!!

Other than the quick posts I made about the Betty Ford Center, it has been quite some time since I actually updated this thing. 1) I was finishing up classes 2) I was studying for my board exam 3) I was in California for a week 4) I was in Tennessee for a week 5) I was trying to enjoy some of my summer.

I was also scared to update this. Why???

Because I was so dang scared to write ANYTHING about my board exam!!! What if I made a post that I was so excited about being done with all that board stuff....but then didn't pass and had to retake? What if I wrote posts about the rotations coming up....but then didn't pass and had to retake....and not be able to start rotations until I passed? And what if I posted about the board exam and had TONS of people (more than I already had) that were rooting for me and I had to let them down? You can see where I am coming from.

But........GREAT NEWS!!! Yesterday, June 15, 2007, at 3:32pm.....I found out.......THAT I PASSED!!!! I am so happy to be able to share this news with you all......and, honestly, SO RELIEVED!

Now I definitely get to start my rotation in 3 weeks!!!

Thank you to EVERYONE who sent prayers my way and were in my corner. I needed all that extra encouragement! I am scared thinking that my next board exam is a little over a year from now, but I am SO HAPPY to have gotten through the first one!

Hope you all have a GREAT week!!!! I know I will!

Betty Ford Center - Day 4

Sorry....I skipped Day 3! Too tired yesterday!!!

Today we had a really good lecture on drugs of abuse from a Physician Assistant here at the Betty Ford Center. We talked about symptoms.....how to counteract the effects with other drugs....withdrawal effects.....and overdose consequences. We discussed clues that might alert us to whether or not a patient is seeking drugs....and how to protect ourselves as physicians. The guy lecturing was very charismatic and funny! He quizzed our medical knowledge and it was a very interactive lecture. I learned a ton from him and hope he will be lecturing again tomorrow. Coincidentally, he was a recovering crack cocaine addict who had been sober for 16 years.

We also got to sit in on an AA meeting that was only meant for doctors. We had 5 physicians that had become addicted to either drugs or alcohol....and they shared their stories with us. That really opened my eyes to this horrible disease.

Tomorrow is my last day....and I am going to be sad to leave. I have completely changed my "stereotypical" view of a addict. Now I know there is NO typical view of an addict. Addiction affects all walks of life and knows no boundaries. The disease doesn't look like anything. It looks like everything.

Have a fabulous night!!! Until tomorrow....

Betty Ford Center - Day 2

Once again, I have just had an AWESOME day here at the Betty Ford Center.

This morning we got to sit in on a "Treatment Planning Update" (TPU). The purpose of the TPU is for all of the care-givers - including the doctor, nurse, therapist, case manager, counselor, personal trainer, nutritionist and spirituality counselor - to give updates on the management of the patient. For example, the spirituality counselor might get some information from the patient that might be useful for the counselor. It gives them all the chance to find out how the patient is doing in ALL aspects of their life.

This evening we had a lecture on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and then later got to attend an AA meeting. It was a wonderful experience. It is a chance for alcoholics to see that they aren't alone. Their stories aren't unique. Their stories won't surprise anyone. They have friends in the other members. And, by sharing their stories and trying to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety, they are inevitably helping themselves to maintain sobriety. Again, it was a wonderful experience.

I will keep you all updated again tomorrow!
Have a wonderful day!

Betty Ford Center - Day 1

Today was an amazing day!!!

I feel like I am not here as an observer....I am here as a participant. Although I am "Brooke the Medical Student," I am not here to give advice or judge people...I am here to get an inside-out view of addiction and use this experience to later help me in my career.

As I was writing my required journal entry this evening, I was posed with the question "What have you learned today?"

Today, I learned that alcohol and drug addiction is only a symptom of another underlying issue. Every story that was shared during small group was something I could see in myself. The emotions, the feelings, and the experiences were all ones that I had had myself. Although I don't turn to alcohol or drugs to cope, I am no different and no better than any of the patients in the Betty Ford Rehabilitation program.

Tomorrow we do it all over again. I expect that the patients will continue to open up a little more as they get to know and trust me. For as intense as today was, I expect that each of the next few days will be even more so. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this program and to be a part of the recovery of each of these women.

Have You Missed Me?

Well, well, well.....I'm BACK!!!

A lot has happened since my last blog. I finished my "book" portion of medical school (AKA the first two years) and I took my Step 1 COMLEX Board Exam. I got quite a few more rotations scheduled for next year and, best of all, I finally got a little break from studying!!!

In a previous blog, I wrote that I had been accepted to attend the Betty Ford Rehabilitation Center's Summer Institute for Medical Students in Palm Springs, California. Well, I'm here....and it is HOT! My friend, Abby (another DMU student who was accepted for the same week out here) and I couldn't believe that it was THAT hot! But even more than that, we couldn't believe how many people would actually CHOOSE to play golf in this weather!!!

We got in on Saturday, but since the program doesn't start until tomorrow, we decided to rent a car and drive to the coast. Even though MapQuest gave us 18 complex directions to follow, we found our way to Long Beach and had a wonderful time!!! Today we went to Laguna Beach....and after working our way into a gated community, we found both LC's and Kristen's houses. That was probably the highlight of my day. I hate to admit it, but watching 18 year old high school drama on MTV is really quite addicting!!!

Anyways, my program begins in the morning....so I will try to update my blog frequently while I am on this trip. Sorry for the leave of absence from this blog for a while....studying for my board exam actually became a priority!

You all have a wonderful evening!!! Until next time.....

Chi-Town

I just got back from Chicago for the weekend....and we had an AWESOME time!!! It was nice to get away for the weekend and not worry about school. (And I think having a weekend to look forward to actually helped motivate me for school....I did really well on my test last Friday!!!)

My boyfriend, Brandon, and I......plus Brandon's brother, Shane, and his girlfriend, Michelle, met up on Friday afternoon. B and S are HUGE Chicago Cubs fans....so being in Chicago was a real experience for them! Friday night we enjoyed dinner at the Grand Lux.......Saturday we went to the Sear's Tower and shopped on Michigan Avenue......Saturday night we went to a Stephen Kellogg concert (A really GREAT entertainer if he ever hits your town!!!).......and on Sunday we went to the Cubs game. It was an overall GREAT time!!!

In other news:

Check out my horoscope from today's Des Moines Register:

And I quote......"Your confidence goes far deeper than a smile - it's knowing you're the captain of your own ship. Whether your mind is on a pirate ship or a Harlequin romance novel, the distinguishing feature is pure excitement."

Maybe I should read my horoscope more often!!!

Good News!

I just got some good news that I wanted to share with my loyal fans...

At the beginning of March, I decided to apply for a Summer Institute for Medical Students at the Betty Ford Rehabilitation Center out in Palm Springs, California. It is a week long program that immerses medical students in the care and management of patients who have substance abuse problems.

We get to spend time with the patients, share in small group discussions with them, and learn how to deal with addiction. I have been really anxious waiting to hear back!

This morning, I received a call from California telling me I had been accepted into the program during the week of June 18!!!!! I am SO EXCITED about this opportunity!!! Not only do I get to spend time at the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, but they pay for my flight, hotel, and food! Plus, one of my good friends at school, Abby, was accepted for the same week!!!

Maybe I'll get to see Keith Urban! (I'm pretty sure he spent time there!)

Happy Easter Everyone!!!