I'll bring you all back a sari, or maybe a call-center worker . . .

[Uncle Yuan]

I just received news today that my application to do an elective rotation with a rural development NGO in India has been approved!  In addition to a multitude of other projects, Jamkhed maintains a series of clinics and a small hospital in rural Maharashtra state.  Next February I will spend the month working with them to provide medical services to people in the area.

I'm very excited!  I will be doing lots of medicine that I have never done before - tropical, rural, "medically underserved," not to mention the sheer challenge of practising in a setting that is about as far removed from the ultra-modern, world class, tertiary care acedemic hospital where I get the bulk of my training.  I'm also excited because I will be going this without Aunt Yuan (a native of this fascinating country).  It'll be my first trip to India with out her!

On a somewhat related note, I will be finishing my third year of medical school within the next couple of weeks.  Fourth year will be much more relaxed with only 12 weeks of nasty hard-core required rotations and a lot more time with my family, elective rotations and shorter non-core required rotations.

After that comes the first year of residency, which by all accounts is a grueling ordeal of abusive attendings, snippy nurses and 80+ hour work weeks.

So I'm really looking forward to this coming year!

[El Condor]

Congrats on the India rotation, Yuan!  I'm sure you'll never look at public health in quite the same way once you've been through it.  Having witnessed the tragic death of a family member in rural Colombia a couple of years ago, my family and I have first-hand experience with just how "medically underserved" many places in the world are, and how much they need good physicians.  It's so awesome that you're going there. 

As far as the residency thing goes: yeah, you've pretty much described what my brother went through when he did his.  He looked pretty scruffy and tired for a couple of years.  :wacko:  But he did come out fine on the other side.

BTW - just bring me back some authentic samosas (with a little tamarind sauce) and I'll be happy as a clam. :P

EC

[Glitch Girl]

WOW, that sounds exciting and a little scary but very cool.  And congrats on finishing year 3 (almost). 

So which should we call you: Dr. Yuan or Uncle Yuan MD?

[psychopanda]

Good luck Yuan, sounds like a very noble and exciting period in your life! :)

[Spam]

Dude!

Like, very big congrats to you, man! Hope you have a good experience while down there. ;)

And just almost one more year, eh? :)

Hope everything goes smooth for ya.

[Alaric]

Congratulations, and good luck!

[The Phantom Eyebrow]

Best of luck Yuan, this sounds very exciting indeed.

So which should we call you: Dr. Yuan or Uncle Yuan MD?

Druncle Yuan?

[The Hitman]

Wow, Yaunny! Congrats! And good luck!

[Toxic_J]

Congrats Uncle Yuan, that sounds very exciting. I wish you good luck in advance.