Welcome to my blog, everyone! I’m thrilled you’re here. For my first post, I wanted to share what drew me to medicine – a question I find fascinating when getting to know others in this wonderful, challenging field.
Early Beginnings
My fascination with medicine started early. As a child, I would spend hours in my closet poring over children’s anatomy books. Medical themes in popular media captivated me – from Lucy’s tonsillectomy in Peanuts to Curious George’s chest x-ray adventure, and even memorable scenes in E.T. where our alien friend and Elliott are treated by doctors in full hazmat suits! The human body, hospitals, and clinical settings have always held a special allure for me. When my mom would suggest non-medical career paths, they just never sparked the same excitement.
A Brief Detour
In high school, my interests split betweeb human and veterinary medicine, thanks for my love for animals. During the fall semester of grade 11, I managed to balance a full-time co-op placement at the Toronto Zoo (a dream opportunity for my potential vet school application!), while also taking biology in night school and working part-time job at a gymnastics club. Despite the heavy workload, I succeeded in all my courses that term.
However, life had other plans. In the winter semester, while tackling a full course load of chemistry, math, physics, and religious studies, I caught a virus that caused me to miss several days at the beginning of the term. Falling behind in these crucial sciences prerequisites shook my confidence, leading me to doubt my ability to pursue medicine. I pivoted to Psychology for my undergraduate studies.
Finding My Path
Sometimes life has a funny way of steering us right where we need to be. In my first semester of university, I discovered Speech-Language Pathology – as it turned out, I had unknowingly chosen the only Ontario school offering a full degree in speech and language sciences at the time! This serendipitous introduction led to a decade-long career that ultimately became my gateway to medicine.
The Perfect Preview
My experience as a medical Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in acute care has been invaluable. Unlike many who enter medicine without firsthand experience, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside physicians daily as part of an interdisciplinary team. I’ve witnessed both the challenges and rewards of medical practice, comparing them directly to my experiences as an SLP. What I love most about my current role – building therapeutic relationships, helping patients understand their conditions (especially dysphagia), and collaborating with healthcare teams – has only strengthened my desire to expand my medical knowledge and capabilities.
Looking Forward
I’m buzzing with excitement to share more about my interests and experiences throughout this medical journey! My phone’s notes app is bursting with blog post ideas, and I can’t wait to connect with all of you along the way. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!
Questions about my journey? Email me at slp.to.md@gmail.com
