Hello? Is anybody there??

hey guys! so i guess we're all totally busy b/c no one's really posting anything on here. guess that a good thing. anyways things are great out here in colorado. still loving my job. it's become a joke to see just how many times my doc will fire me in one day. i just have to say he's being like one of his partners and that'll pretty much do the trick. that and the fact that i've now got this tendency slip up and say what i'm really thinking. but it's all good.

so i'm totally stoked about tomorrow. going down to Moab for Raft for the Cure...like Race for the Cure, still associated with Susan G Komen, but I dont have to run a 5k. instead i get to sit in a raft all day and float down the river, let the guide to all the work. its supposed be minimal class I-II rapids, nothing too exciting. (got a taste of class III-IVs a couple weeks ago around Denver...talk about a great time!!!) i've rounded up a couple girls from the clinic and hopsital. should be a good day.

so yeah, i'm kinda isolated out here in colorado. i need updates. how is everyone doing? how are the jobs? Kris--when's the next one due? and is it a boy or girl? come on people....talk!!! anyways...cell #s the same...call me when you guys get a chance. i'd love to hear from you

Tammy

Happy Birthday, Phil!

Today is Phil's birthday, so Happy Birthday, Phake! And to all the fathers in our class, Happy Father's Day! Hope things are going well for you down in (near?) Auburn...

Hope everyone is doing well... POST SOMETHING :)

Love, Dick

Buon giorno...

Hey everybody, just got back from a fantastic trip to Italy! I know these pictures will make Kara really jealous, but we had an incredible time and I wanted to post a link to the pictures for your browsing pleasure :)

If you haven't been yet, Italy is truly an incredible country full of history, art, culture, and great food!

The photo album:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unwritten/sets/72157605074356504/

The slideshow:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unwritten/sets/72157605074356504/show/

Stay in touch, Dick

Amalee

Hey guys

I dont know if you've heard the news, but Amalee's mother passed away last night. Amalee's gone through A LOT since graduation. She also lost her father and grandmother, both around Easter. I havent been able to talk to her, phone tag and all, so I dont know how she's been dealing with the previous two losses. I know she was very close to her mother and I cant even begin to imagine what would be going through my head if I were to lose mine. And on top of that, a couple days before Mother's day. I've tried texting and calling, but havent been able to get ahold of her. She's been dealt with some major blows lately. I just ask that you guys keep her in your prayers.

Tammy

hey from MS

well, guys, hope this works. never blogged before. i finally got my local email hooked up so i havent been able to keep up with everyone. i went back and read the past posts to catch up.

i have been working in cv surgery since 7 jan with direct supervision from the 65 yo pa who is supposed to retire in july. i work for one surgeon at one hospital so i am on call 24/7 but hardly ever get called out. most of our cases i know at least a day ahead of time. i am lucky because i only work in surgery. the doc has an np that does all his clinic preop and postop. i have already forgotten all my h&p skills. amazing how quickly you lose stuff.

i am starting to get a little frustrated because the 65 yo pa is not relinquishing control. now he is talking about only partly retiring. i have no need and no niche. i love everyone i work with except the surgeon. he's weird. just started making eye contact ever so slightly with me a few weeks ago and just said my name for the first time today. unfortunately i will have to have a closed door meeting with him on monday about the whole situation with the old pa. they need to let me work, pa needs to step out, doc needs to start communicating with me or he needs to let me find some other area to work before i get too deep in this. the whole situation has made me a little disillusioned about my profession and choice to go back to school so late in life.

sorry to be bitchin but i guess i need to vent to people who might understand. everything will be alright i am sure. all else is great. ross is still flying with the air guard. spent to whole month of feb in guam and glad to have him back. bo just turned 3. going on 15. all of a sudden he has started getting sassy but he is still so much fun. we are remodeling our lake house one room at a time and should have everything complete in month. the rest of the house is in shambles but ross and i share the same bed every night which is much better than the last 2 1/2 years.

so glad everyone else is doing well. take care.

belated happy birthday wishes!

So it has been a while since I had a chance to post anything, but I wanted to say a belated (for some, a very belated) "Happy Birthday" to...

Amy (February 1st), Kathy (March 14th), Kristian (April Fool's Day, how appropriate), Amanda (April 22nd) and Lauren "Murdock" Aseron (April 24th)!

Kris (February 11th) and Jody (March 4th) had birthdays too, but I am not wishing them happy ones, they can suck it...

Anyway, happy birthday to all of y'all and I hope new careers and cities and relationships are going better than you could have imagined :)

Love, Dick

You Betcha

So... I would've posted much sooner, but surprise surprise, I couldn't figure out how to post something! Well, I moved into my new house last Thursday. I am now a homeowner in the 'Icebox of the country' a.k.a Minnesota. I am living in Rochester, MN, which is just south of Minneapolis. I start officially working next Monday at the Mayo Clinic in neurosurgery, and am pretty much nervous! I have a great schedule, working 3-4 days a week, and no call OR weekends...I hope it is as good as it sounds...In the meantime I am still putting stuff away and painting. I love my house so far, but I've already had to shovel my driveway twice. For those of you who have never done so, be glad!

I enjoy hearing what everyone is up to, I miss the south a lot, and miss all of you! I hope to see you all in the future, maybe at some conferences?? ha, well in the meantime, take care everyone!

Kari

Howdy!

Obviously the email thing is not working like we hoped, so I guess we will have to settle for just checking the blog every so often, which I just did for the first time in a couple of weeks...

Glad to hear everybody is doing so well, especially those of us who are so far away from the godd ol' South! The job at UAB in the Trauma ICU has been going pretty well, we have four PAs so we all only work about 13 shifts a month and get paid a full-time salary, which is very nice! I am not doing much surgery unless I sneak down to the OR or get called down (which hasn't happened much) but the PAs do several procedures on the ICU like central lines, etc. in addition to helping the residents manage the patients on a day-to-day basis. I am actually working on a couple of opportunities to for a second part-time job to possibly do some surgery or work in an ER (gotta make up for those years of school without a paycheck!). The attendings are great to work with and most of the residents have been pretty cool, too. All in all, not a bad first gig and who knows what the future holds, right?

I hope everyone else is doing well and hope to see some posting!

Much love,
Richard

breaker breaker 1-9; this is a radio check.

Have we all been so busy in our little rat race that we no longer have time to communicate? Lets get this blog rolling folks...
Lets see. I am almost compltely moved out of my apartment. I am now at the stage where the remaining pieces of apartment fodder are those that never really played an important role in day to day life. It makes their immediate removal from the barren living room space of lesser importance.
I have taken a break from x box. I am not sad nor do I feel proud of the mind numbing hours I spent chasing down the german army in Call of Duty. I may play for a few minutes tomorrow.
I have become completely obsessed with cooking, more specifically grilling. I have also learned that I make a mean mango salsa.
I drove to Mobile and back last week for dinner. It was definitely worth it. Although, I am not 100% that Whitney's choice of restaurant for the lot of us was "the best" in Mobile.
I am the proud owner of a part time job at Highland Park Golf course. I am far from ashamed at the minimum wage compensation. I am playing golf for free; andI got a free hat and shirt. Sweet.
Looking forward to hearing about everyone else; If tomorrow brings an exciting anectdote, I will gladly keep you up to date. Tomorrow I am going to tackle the driving range in an armored club cart. It doesnt get any better than this baby.
Cheers.

UAB Director...

Simple physics... objects at rest tend to stay at rest... Also, an appropriate description of my most recent happenings.
I am 15 hours deep in to Call of Duty on X box.
I have slept 8 hours each night.
I am in the process of moving my apartment one piece at a time. While this may seem like a painstakingly boring event, I can assure you that it has given me something to look forward to daily. Example, last night I went to bed and thought to myself... " I really can't wait to get my Bose Ipod player from my apartment tomorrow". This morning I went and retrieved the little white piece of accoustic magic. I am overjoyed with listening pleasure this morning. Tomorrow I am looking forward to getting my little nerf basketball hoop. The anticipation is almost unbearable.
I have read an entire row of magazines at Joe Muggs. Intentionally.
I tried to get lost in Mountain Brook. Garmin wouldnt let me.
I brought my desktop computer to the computer repair dude because i got the blue screen of death. He assured me that if there was anyone in the state of alabama that could recover my music, pictures and documents, it was him. He has had my computer for two weeks.

In other news, I was on the Advance PA website. They have released the latest salary data by specialty and state for those of you interested. More interestingly though, while on their job search page I stumbled upon a opening for the position of Director of UAB PA Program. Another reason to the thankful for being done I guess.
Hope all is well folks,
Kristian

Hey from the Bay!!

Hey guys.. Just thought i would send a quick hello. I hope that everyone is having a good time working or playing.. or both for that matter. I've been having a blast working 10 hour days and fixing lots of broken bones and torn up shoulders. There are a lot of people down here who like to fall off roofs and what not.. it must be something in the water. But I guess it pays the bills and keeps me entertained!!
Amanda and I took the boards this past saturday and both passed!! So yay for everyone who has crossed that bridge.. It makes me super happy that i don't have to do that for another 6 years!! Good luck to all you guys who are at the board review this week... you will all do fantastic.. even if you are scared shitless like i was :) Hope everyone keeps in touch.. i miss all the fun times in and out of the classroom.
Love, Hobie

PANCE updates???

Hey everyone, just wondering how the PANCE was going for everyone...

Those who have taken and passed it so far that I know of: Kathy, Tammy, Jody, Kris, Kristian, Kate, Kara, Richard, Phil, and Scott.

Anyone else have updates on anyone else taking or passing?

I am sure we will all do fine... If I passed, everyone else should be able to :)

Richard

Howdy all the way from Seattle!

Howdy everyone! Well, let me preface by saying I ALREADY HATE THIS PLACE! It has been a really bumpy ride so far here and I've only been here since Saturday. Yep, it's been not so great. I still don't have a car. Hopefully it will be here soon. I take the PANCE this Saturday, oh joy. I've been walking 8 blocks to the closest Starbucks everyday to study. It's been quite interesting there. The same hippies come in every single day at their usual time. One acts a bit Schiz-ish. He makes multiple trips into Starbucks throughout the day buying each time a tall Chai tea and then proceeds to drink it, smoke a cig, and talk to himself (or someone whom he THINKS he's talking to) outside. It's quite entertaining to watch him talk his own head off outside. He's always making quirky faces at me, too. I'm not impressed. Another dude totally creeps me out. Every single day he staggers in there looking dirty, exhausted, hungover, high, etc and he rolls all of his joints in the store. I want so much to laugh at these weird people, but I'm scared of them. :) That's another thing, the natives here are WEIRD. They are definitely a different breed than what I'm used to seeing. This will certainly be a cultural experience for me. I've been sheltered in the south for far too long I suppose.

Basically, I'm really lonely right now. I don't have a car, which makes it quite difficult to get around. I'm having to rely on my fellow PA colleagues to get me where I need to go. They tell me NOT to take the buses. My cooky neighbor is...well...A FREAK! She's a hippie lesbian with trashy hippie bumper stickers all over her car. I love it when Freddie poops in her yard. :)

Alrighty, well, I've bored y'all enough. I'm so sick of studying. I'll be glad when my test is over Saturday night. I don't even start my test until 2:30pm. Ugh. That was the only time available. The only good thing I have going for me so far is that my employer put me on the payroll starting this past Monday so they're paying me to study this week at my house or where ever. Can't complain.

Take care! Keep in touch. Miss y'all. :(

Amanda

Did you get an email, part deux?

Alright, I think I set-up a mailing list with Yahoo Groups that will send all of us an email when I post this.

This is a test of the Posting Broadcast System. This is only a test. In the event of an actual posting, there would be something worth reading rather than this meaningless drivel.

Love, Richard

Hey from Colorado

Hey guys

Just thought I'd send along a little update. I made it to Grand Junction on Sunday (Wichita Friday night, Denver Saturday night). The movers and all my stuff are hanging out in Denver or so I hear. There are chain restrictions along I-70 and they dont want to chance things, so they're postponing delivery till this weekend. Guess it'll be my lovely old sleeping bag and pillow on the floor the rest of the week:( On a brighter note, there is a Jim N Nicks in Denver. Just opened up within the week. I saw it and had to check it out. It is just the same as the ones in Birmingham!! Well, except for the fact that they had more biscuits. They had people walking around handing them out. Totally made my night!! Well my time's about out on the library computer (movers have mine). Hope everyone is doing well.

Tammy

Did you get an email?

Hey everyone,

I think I set-up our blog so that we will each get an email whenever it is updated with a new post. This means you should get an email when I post this.

This should be an easier way to keep up with the blog and what's happening with everyone in the class...

Poker

Well, I mostly want to post something to move Richard's 4 page long blog down the page. Haha, jk. Anyway, for those still in the Birmingham area (or if you wanna take a road trip), we are playing a little Texas Hold 'Em at my place on Thursday night. I think 6:00 pm will be the start time unless we have to wait on Bruno to get off work. Everybody is welcome, and even if you don't wanna play you can still come and hang out with Whitney.

If you need directions to my place just email me . I look forward to seeing everyone that can come. I guess if you are planning on coming if you will reply to this or call or email me so we can have a basic idea of how many are playing. BYOB and ttyl.

Jody

My Graduation Speech

Here is the text of the graduation speech. A few of you asked me to post it, so here are my notes... I may have improvised some from this original, but hope you enjoy it!

Graduation Speech

First of all, on behalf of my fellow graduates, I want to thank our friends and our family for all of their support and encouragement for the last 2 and ½ years. Our friends, our parents, our husbands, our wives, and, for a few of us, our children have all sacrificed a lot of time and money for us and invested a lot in us while we pursued our goal of becoming Physician Assistants, and we are very grateful for all of you. The least we can do tonight is to give you a round of applause for all you’ve done for us (start clapping).
Now, if you can continue that support for another month or so while we study for and take the national certification exam, we will be eternally grateful!

I also want to thank all of our professors, our preceptors, and the staff of the Surgical Physician Assistant Program for all of your instruction, your advice, your guidance, your hard work in our classes, in our clinical rotations, and behind the scenes for us over the last 27 months. If I could have all of the faculty, the preceptors that are here tonight, and the support staff please stand…
We know you do what you do because you love to do it and we are grateful for everything you’ve done for us!

No more pencils, no more books, no more Mr. Harrelson’s dirty looks… about getting our paperwork turned in and our Typhon entries done…
Speaking of Typhon, no more entire weekends spent logging what I like to call “composite” patient encounters into Typhon…
No more pencils, no more books, no more Dr. Huechtker’s “interesting”(?) jokes… The kind where you think, “Should I laugh… or be embarrassed?”
No more pencils, no more books, no more Mr. Drace’s 500 slide power point presentations with 1000 animated emoticons, and, sadly, no more Drace-isms, of which my personal favorite was, “I gave Toradol out like it was candy, y’all!”
No more pencils, no more books, no more of everyone’s favorite assignment: Professor Swatzell’s “pretend you have a disease for a day and write about it your experience in a journal…”
No more pencils, no more books, no more Professor Ridings wonderful demonstrations and his grim prognostications… “Yeah, there’s really nothing we can do for these people… They die.”
No more pencils, no more books, no more Dr. Jennings raving about Duke… No more Jennings in your face, on your case, calling you out in class, rolling on the floor like a baby (literally), and taking every single opportunity to push you further than you ever wanted to go - usually over the edge of sanity…
And finally, no more pencils, no more books, no more Dr. Rapp’s… well, no more Dr. Rapp. Actually, Dr. Rapp was planning to join us tonight via teleconference but we had “technical difficulties.” I heard that someone from UAB is at Dr. Rapp’s house right now, in the closet, working on the problem...


We have had a lot of fun together over the last 27 months. And we made it to the finish line, although after Dr. Rapp’s final exam with 180 questions in two hours and after our Gross Anatomy exams, I know some of us doubted we would. But we did, and we learned a lot along the way.
We learned a lot, of course, about surgery, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, and all the other –ologies so necessary to becoming a Physician Assistant, but we learned a lot outside the classroom, too.
I remember before I started PA school, I expected UAB to be a tightly integrated system of education where all the professors were alike and taught the same, tested the same, all following some brilliant master plan that worked like clockwork to spit out fully-formed PAs. Then we started classes and I realized, there is no clockwork… These professors are absolutely nothing alike! Each professor taught differently, tested differently (some from test to test), they acted differently, gave different answers to the same questions… I mean, we have a very diverse faculty from a wide range of backgrounds.
Then, as we got to know one another as students, I realized how different all of us were, too…
People from small towns in Mississippi and Alabama (not too many people have ever heard of Madrid or Centre), people from cites like Baltimore, Boston, St. Louis, Indianapolis, people from Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and even South Dakota. People in their very early twenties to people in the thirties (and beyond)…
All of us brought our different values, experiences, beliefs and perspectives together and we were forced to literally share our lives together for 2 and ½ years. We were together for hours a day every day going through this intense, difficult process together, and I think we learned, over time, to appreciate or at least respect the different perspectives each of us brought to the table.
Of course, all of us are pretty headstrong, and we had our share of conflict, our share of differences, especially when the stress was at all-time highs (Who’s bucking this bronco, right Allison?), but we learned over time to work together and learned to listen to one another, even if, at times, we didn’t like one another very much!
Looking back on it now, I think learning from dramatically different professors, doing clinical rotations with a wide range of preceptors, and learning alongside people with radically different perspectives taught us all something, something we may not even realize we have learned.
Recently, I was reading a speech given by Dr. Eugene Stead, the “father” of the PA profession, who started the first PA program at, yes, Dr. Jennings, at Duke in 1965. In that speech, Dr. Stead said that in that first class, what they were looking for in a student was someone who could listen to what others were saying, who could take criticism and still “stand their ground” about things that were important.
I think he said this because he realized that the role of a PA is to connect and interact with patients, and nurses and physicians. The PA has to be able to listen to and respect different perspectives from every angle and still “stand their ground” and do what’s best for the patient, regardless of what pressures may exist from the other perspectives in the interaction.
And I think what we learned, whether we realize it or not, in the 2 and ½ years we spent together, was to do exactly what Dr. Stead said he wanted in those first PAs, listen to and respect the different perspectives, make a decision about what’s best, and then stand our ground to see it through.
I hope that as we graduate and go on to practice medicine, we will remember the time we had together and what we learned from one another and make a real difference in the lives of the people we care for.
Thank you for the opportunity to share what I learned from all of you in the time we had together in PA school.

Boards...

I think that there have been several to attack the PANCE ( Scott, Chitty, Kris, Jody?) I tip my hat to your ambitious early offensive. Best of luck to those taking them in the coming weeks...

Welcome!

Hello everyone and welcome to the UAB PA Class of 2007 Blog! I don't really know anything about blogging, so my wonderful, internet-savvy wife set all this up for us. Anyway, how we use this blog will pretty much be up to all of us, so you can create postings of text, photos, etc. by becoming an "author" (follow the instructions in the email I sent) or you can just comment on other's postings without becoming an author.

I will eventually post the graduation video that Lauren and Kari put together, as well as Jenning's powerpoint, but in the meantime, enjoy the photos and if you have some photos to share, become an "author" and post them!

Stay in touch, everyone!

Dicky Dub

Graduation

{ Click here for more graduation photos. }