Happy birthday, Bill!

Today is my brother Bill's 33rd birthday! 

{a few years ago at Santa's Workshop in Colorado Springs}

Bill will finish his family medicine residency at about the same time that I start mine. He's a great doctor, and he is part of why I made my way back to family medicine after a "tour de possibilities" (geriatrics, general surgery, OB/gyn, gynecologic oncology...) 

When I graduated from medical school last May, I was fairly certain I would go on to become a gynecologic oncologist. At the start of my MPH coursework, I planned to do a women's and reproductive health concentration with a particular focus on cervical cancer among medically underserved populations. I spent time meeting with a gyn oncologist at Hopkins and shadowing her in the clinic and operating room...but my various classes reminded me that my interests are very broad--perhaps too broad to enter such a specific field of practice. I loved learning about such public health issues as environmental sustainability, gun policy, behavior change, and...well, basically everything (which still includes women's health and gynecologic cancers). 

I talked to Bill about this, and we discussed the effects of prestige on decisions and how it can warp a person's beliefs about what he or she wants to do. 

{a quote by Paul Graham, found at brainpickings.org}

While I think I would have enjoyed a career in gynecologic oncology, I'm happy that I matched into a family medicine residency. I don't necessarily think there is any one "right path" for a given person--but I do think family medicine will be a good "match" for me (and for Bill)!

On the topic of "choosing a path," here is a fun song I recently heard on both Fresh Air and CBS Sunday Morning. Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BILL, and thanks for being a great brother!

{Maizie trying to convince Bogey to play}