Woohoo!! I passed my boards...
ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine) recently released pass/fail status to it's 2006 examinees through a secure website... Woohoo!! I passed my internal medicine boards!!
Phew... what a relief... I don't have to spend another USD 1000 to retake the exam next year. So 4 board exams down (USMLE 1,2,3 and ABIM), 2 more to go. Next up are the Medical Oncology and Hematology boards.
Unlike the the UK specialty exams, ABIM board certification is good for 10 years, after which one would need to recertify. The recertification process includes at-home CME-like modules and a final exam at 10 years. In fact, currently most of the major specialties require recertification here in the US. This process is separate from the CME (continuing medical education) requirements for medical licensure. I suppose it forces physicians to keep up to date on current practice, which can only be a good thing for patients.
Passing the boards doesn't change my life by much unless I leave my fellowship to work as a board-certified Internist. I don't get a promotion, nor a pay rise. I don't even get more alphabets behind my name :).
I'll just go out for a low key celebration... nothing fancy... movie with friends and maybe a meal tomorrow in the Twin Cities... then I have to start preparing for my Oncology boards... hahaha...
Oncology Fellowship
Fellowship has been a roller-coaster ride. There were some awfully busy months with 15 hour days and patients that drive me up the wall. But there are also many days that makes me realize how blessed I am to be able to pursue oncology as a vocation.
So, no regrets yet about going into oncology.
Anyways, currently on the Hematology Consult service. Interesting/educational consults have included:
HIT-T (Heparin induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis), post cardiac surgery presenting with pulmonary embolus and thrombocytopenia.
CNS relapse of Burkitt's-like lymphoma, presenting with cranial nerve neuropathies.
New diagnosis of Burkitt's-like lymphoma.
MAHA (microangiopathic hemolytic anemia) of unknown cause.
Factor XI deficiency presenting with post op bleeding without prior bleeding history.
A long hiatus...
It has been a long time since I last blogged... since I last blogged, I survived the Lymphoma service, went on to a month in the Coagulation service and just started on the Hematology Consults service.
Just an update about the lady with the Ifosphamide cerebritis, although she made a full recovery from her cerebritis, she passed away recently from complications of her lymphoma. She and her family were special wonderful people. The kind of 'ideal' patients that doctors all pray that we have. During the time she was comatose from Ifosphamide, instead of reacting with anger, blame, the family was full of understanding, grace. They were hopeful for her recovery, but yet were realistic about a possible negative outcome. Unfortunately, although she did recover from her cerebritis, her lymphoma continued to progress, eventually leading to multi-organ failure. During that time, I did pay them social visits in the hospital, and I was always greeted with a warm welcome. Although it was a difficult time for them, what struck me was the way the patient and her family conducted themselves, with dignity, courage and full of grace. Although our time together was brief, it was indeed meaningful.
