The right place

I really cannot wrap my mind around the intensity of medical school and the students that attend them. I just...how? I keep wondering how they are able to do it and I have concluded that it really does takes a special type of student to not only get into medical school, but to stay and withstand all the rigor required of study. On my trip out to West Virginia to visit my brother, I got to catch a glimpse of the intense discipline and dedication med students channel into their studies and I really was left awestruck at how they can manage in such a stressful environment.

When Terry called me a few days before our visit, he told us that because we were coming, he had 20 less hours of study time. Umm..thanks, Terry. We're happy to come visit you too...But, that's the thing. As a med student, every hour is precious. Every minute wasted on not studying is observed as a weakness in character. Students were even studying at their own White Coat Ceremony. At the ceremony, where family and friends were gathered from all over to celebrate their achievements, students had their heads buried in flash cards and books. I was just...speechless when I saw that.

Knowing how much effort and seriousness medical students attach to their studies has made me even more proud that I have one of those students as a brother. To tell others, "My brother is in medical school," fills me up (and the rest of my family) with SO MUCH pride that it is sort of hard to say it without getting emotional. Because, my brother is going to be a freaking doctor. He is going to school so that some day, he can save others' lives. That is just so mind-bogglingly amazing to me that someone I share the same blood and the same upbringing with is going to do something so honorable with their life.

And while I was feeling a bit doubtful about his choices to attend school all the way in West Virginia, which in my inexperienced opinion was the middle of nowhere, seeing him so in his element and content with his decision to attend this particular school put all my doubts about this place to rest. I can't imagine what it feels like to know that you have arrived exactly where you want to be in life, but Terry is in that "zone" now and I can't be happier for him. Most of us work our whole lives to reach that point in our lives and some of us never even get there. He is doing what he wants with his life (really well, I may add) and in the environment that is the perfect fit for him.

Terry gave us a tour of his school, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and while it may not be located in the fanciest of places and from the exterior, is kind of plain-looking, it is top-notch. WVSOM is one of the top medical schools in the country, receiving what I was told, 14,000 applications for only 200 spots.

The facilities are amazing. Everything was new and up-to-date. Terry took us to these labs where there were robotic simulation patients that act as real patients, down to their breathing and pulse. They can even act out symptoms, throw up, bleed, yell in pain, etc. I was blown away by the sophistication of the technology.

A male patient
A female birthing patient, complete with her babies!
This, in particular, was amazing/hilarious:

I also really like the type of curriculum offered at these type of osteopathic schools. They practice medicine with a more holistic approach that focuses on the individualistic needs of the patients, which is really in line with the social work philosophy. That was neat, seeing the connection between the two professions. My thumb of approval immediately came up when I learned that was an emphasis at osteopathic schools.

Having him show us around his school and seeing how expertly he handled any questions we had just raised the bar of admiration I already had for him. I'm so glad that Terry is at the right place for himself, mentally and location-wise. I am not at that place myself, but I'm not really that broken over it because...my brother is going to be a doctor, one great one at that.