In this issue: Changes to the newsletter, and I ask your thoughts on whether medicine is COOL. Not the people who practice it, they are overwhelmingly nerds, but the subject matter itself
Dr. Francis, I've grown very fond of your turn-of-phrase, and of your outlook on many things. Certainly someone ought to be excited by palmary demonstrations of expertise in their field—and even better, really, if such a demonstration were to save a dying child. Also, I'm grateful that you made the longform video about dying by choice and with dignity; it disappoints me that people often think I'm both suicidal and arrogant when I mention that, at some point, I'd be more interested in dying when and how I like, if I could be so lucky.
Also: I think maybe "cardiac tamponade" might be a vampire's favorite preparation for tea.
As a frequently-operated upon patient (several back surgeries, 2 hip replacements, hysterectomy, appendectomy, and rhinoplasty, just to hit the high spots), I still find medicine extremely cool, and I want to know all I can about what goes wrong and why. I appreciate a little compassion from the surgeon working on me personally, but in the abstract, bring it on; I want the details, humor included. Please keep up what you are doing; it’s valuable work! And thank you.
I hope it isn't strange to thank you specifically for articulating the love and thrill of studying and practicing medicine. This is an issue I have no idea who to raise with (partly because I am terrible at communicating, generally), but I find it really troubling.
I've just commenced my second year of a biomedical science degree (tragically, at the Other university in Melbourne) and I joke that, of all of the people on this planet, the people who seem to dislike biomedicine the most are the damn people studying it. I'm surrounded by people who you would swear were being held hostage. They despise it. It's incomprehensible to me; but then again, I'm not smart, only curious. I couldn't stop myself from blurting out "That's so cool?!" at least twice a week if I tried. I'm shocked having yet to hear someone else say the same.
I tend to defer to AI as the cause -- I know students who coasted through their first year without writing a single assignment themselves -- but it winds further back than just the past couple of years.
It baffles me that someone could survive years upon years of study and enter a discipline without having enjoyed any of it.
Anyway; hopefully you didn't read all of that, but if you did, I appreciate it/am truly sorry. In short, your sharing of the things that you find cool and weird and beautiful undoubtedly influenced my pathway, and I have loved every second of it.
I completely agree with the statement of being excited about a particular case you may face. My sister is currently taking her exams to progress with becoming an NHS clinical psychologist registrar and throughout her medical education, the cases she's seen or the case studies her teachers and colleagues have shared have often been a source of fascinating conversation. Particularly when she's compared notes with my dad whose a vet and how things differ from human to animal anatomy and practise. (Often these make my mum and brother in law very queasy, which adds to the entertainment) Throughout we acknowledge the patient and revel with the news of their recovery, particularly if it's been a tricky case. Often these are a testament to the advances of modern medical science, the amazing biomechanics and evolution of the human anatomy and the skill of those who are conducting these treatments.
A well considered, well expressed presentation which any thoughtful and empathetic person could not disagree with. But of course there will be others who will disagree, that is until they find themselves in the position of needing and wanting what they have disagreed with.
Appreciate any moment you find the time to educate us about whatever you find interesting. Anyone who has followed you for more than few months can easily tell that you are a caring, considerate and "funny" so I don't understand how can the same people be offended when you share any of these touching medical stories... After following you on youtube I chose lifetime subscription on Nebula and enjoy already good content there so am excited for new features. Take care and keep posting anything really
Thanks for this Rohin, I find medicine fascinating, and definitely enjoy chatting to my doctors more when they also find the procedures to be neat/cool/exciting. I've had a large surgery to try and treat my cancer, as well as a PICC line, some stents, and a epidural - all very fascinating.
I also appreciate your video on VAD, although I haven't managed to finish it yet - some day soon I shall.
Dr. Francis, I've grown very fond of your turn-of-phrase, and of your outlook on many things. Certainly someone ought to be excited by palmary demonstrations of expertise in their field—and even better, really, if such a demonstration were to save a dying child. Also, I'm grateful that you made the longform video about dying by choice and with dignity; it disappoints me that people often think I'm both suicidal and arrogant when I mention that, at some point, I'd be more interested in dying when and how I like, if I could be so lucky.
Also: I think maybe "cardiac tamponade" might be a vampire's favorite preparation for tea.
I think witnessing a baby's life being saved is pretty cool, actually.
Glad you're back, Rohin.
As a frequently-operated upon patient (several back surgeries, 2 hip replacements, hysterectomy, appendectomy, and rhinoplasty, just to hit the high spots), I still find medicine extremely cool, and I want to know all I can about what goes wrong and why. I appreciate a little compassion from the surgeon working on me personally, but in the abstract, bring it on; I want the details, humor included. Please keep up what you are doing; it’s valuable work! And thank you.
I hope it isn't strange to thank you specifically for articulating the love and thrill of studying and practicing medicine. This is an issue I have no idea who to raise with (partly because I am terrible at communicating, generally), but I find it really troubling.
I've just commenced my second year of a biomedical science degree (tragically, at the Other university in Melbourne) and I joke that, of all of the people on this planet, the people who seem to dislike biomedicine the most are the damn people studying it. I'm surrounded by people who you would swear were being held hostage. They despise it. It's incomprehensible to me; but then again, I'm not smart, only curious. I couldn't stop myself from blurting out "That's so cool?!" at least twice a week if I tried. I'm shocked having yet to hear someone else say the same.
I tend to defer to AI as the cause -- I know students who coasted through their first year without writing a single assignment themselves -- but it winds further back than just the past couple of years.
It baffles me that someone could survive years upon years of study and enter a discipline without having enjoyed any of it.
Anyway; hopefully you didn't read all of that, but if you did, I appreciate it/am truly sorry. In short, your sharing of the things that you find cool and weird and beautiful undoubtedly influenced my pathway, and I have loved every second of it.
Thank you for what you do.
I completely agree with the statement of being excited about a particular case you may face. My sister is currently taking her exams to progress with becoming an NHS clinical psychologist registrar and throughout her medical education, the cases she's seen or the case studies her teachers and colleagues have shared have often been a source of fascinating conversation. Particularly when she's compared notes with my dad whose a vet and how things differ from human to animal anatomy and practise. (Often these make my mum and brother in law very queasy, which adds to the entertainment) Throughout we acknowledge the patient and revel with the news of their recovery, particularly if it's been a tricky case. Often these are a testament to the advances of modern medical science, the amazing biomechanics and evolution of the human anatomy and the skill of those who are conducting these treatments.
A well considered, well expressed presentation which any thoughtful and empathetic person could not disagree with. But of course there will be others who will disagree, that is until they find themselves in the position of needing and wanting what they have disagreed with.
Appreciate any moment you find the time to educate us about whatever you find interesting. Anyone who has followed you for more than few months can easily tell that you are a caring, considerate and "funny" so I don't understand how can the same people be offended when you share any of these touching medical stories... After following you on youtube I chose lifetime subscription on Nebula and enjoy already good content there so am excited for new features. Take care and keep posting anything really
Thanks for this Rohin, I find medicine fascinating, and definitely enjoy chatting to my doctors more when they also find the procedures to be neat/cool/exciting. I've had a large surgery to try and treat my cancer, as well as a PICC line, some stents, and a epidural - all very fascinating.
I also appreciate your video on VAD, although I haven't managed to finish it yet - some day soon I shall.