Clinical Vignette Winner, 2014 ACP Abstract Competition: Maria Story, MD
Q: Can you tell me about your background in medicine?
A: I went to medical school at the University of Iowa, and I鈥檓 currently a third-year internal medicine resident, also at the University of Iowa. I鈥檓 planning to practice general internal medicine when I graduate residency, both a combination of inpatient and outpatient work.
Q: You studied microbiology as an undergrad?
A: Yes, I did鈥擨 was originally planning to do biomedical research like cancer-cell biology research when I was an undergrad, and then I had the opportunity to shadow a couple of different doctors during a summer research experience at the University of Nebraska, so most of our time was spent doing research in the lab. But I shadowed a couple doctors that summer, and I thought, 鈥淲ow, this being a doctor thing is actually really cool.鈥 After four to six months of thinking about it, I decided I wanted to be a physician instead of a basic science researcher, so then began pursuing medicine as a career instead of a PhD in science.
Q: And you liked the patient-care aspect?
A: Yes. The patient care and the interaction鈥擨 thought the lab was kind of isolating in the sense that you鈥檙e working with your colleagues, but you鈥檙e often working independently because you have your own project鈥攁s a physician, you鈥檙e really working as a team specifically for the patient to help them feel better. So that was really important to me.
Q: How鈥檇 you get involved with ACP?
A: I was rotating in my medicine clerkship in my third year of medical school, and our clerkship director sent out an email to the students saying that the ACP clinical vignette competition is coming up, and it was mostly for residents but they were really encouraging students to do a presentation also. We had a cool case on my internal medicine team that I was with, and so I presented that case at the University of Iowa ACP chapter competition. That was exciting, and then I found out from the residency program director that if you submitted a case to the national competition, the Iowa ACP chapter would pay for your way to go the national meetings. I thought that was pretty cool, and I鈥檓 always up for more learning and travel, so I submitted a different case for the national meeting during my fourth year and that actually got accepted. So then I went to the national meeting in my fourth year, which was in Orlando. I really enjoyed the meeting and it was fun to present my case.
Q: What was the subject of your case?
A: My case was about using ultrasound to connect with patients in the intensive care unit鈥攖he emphasis was that we spend a lot of time in front of the computer, but using bedside ultrasound can help us bring back to the bedside, focus more on physical exams and spend more time with our patients instead of our computers.
Q: When did you find out that you had won, and what was your reaction?
A: I found out that I had won at the conclusion of the meeting. I think on Saturday afternoon or early evening in Florida, they had a little reception where they announced the award-winners, and I was surprised and excited because I thought I had a good case but didn鈥檛 expect it to win. So I was actually at that reception with a bunch of other students and residents, and that was pretty exciting. And I was thankful for the opportunity that the Iowa ACP had sponsored my trip down there, too.
Q: Can you tell me the impact that it鈥檚 had on your medical career?
A: I try to keep my eye out for interesting cases, but instead of just finding interesting medical cases, trying to find a better story behind it and why it鈥檚 important as opposed to just interesting physiology or unusual presentation. Also, it鈥檚 given me confidence in writing up more cases or doing more scientific writing because I鈥檝e had the opportunity to practice several times. It鈥檚 good that my residency program and places that I鈥檓 applying to see that I鈥檓 involved, interested and engaged, and so that鈥檚 always a benefit also, although that鈥檚 not why I do the completion鈥擨 do it because I really like preparing the case.
Q: Would you enter the competition again in the future if you had the chance?
A: Yes, I have a case in mind that I鈥檓 planning to submit for this year.
Q: Are you able to reveal what the subject of the next one is?
A: I can, it鈥檚 actually another ICU case鈥攊t鈥檚 about sub-acute right heart failure.
Q: How long have you been an ACP member?
A: Since I started residency in 2014鈥攐ur program pays for our membership.
Q: Are you also a physician educator?
A: I educate medical students when they rotate with us, I don鈥檛 know if that鈥檚 officially part of my job description鈥攖hey鈥檙e not with us on every rotation, but on a lot of rotations they are.
Q: Do you think that in the future you could see yourself being a professor or educator?
A: Absolutely, I plan to definitely stay in academics.
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