Physician- Heal Thyself
Posted by Dr. Cason on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
People ask me, “How Did You Know You Wanted to be a Doctor?” And the answer truthfully is- I didn’t.
I never WANTED to be a doctor. That would be too bold for a C-average kid to imagine. It might be fine for the valedictorian or the genius that aced the SAT’s years before they were actually necessary but for me? It wasn’t part of the picture.
BUT what I did do was follow my interests. I watched M*A*S*H religiously and then Doogie Houser and Then ER.
I camped out in the library during freshman and sophomore year in high school and read autobiographies and kids with diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
After high school I got a job with developmentally disabled adults instead of McDonalds.
When I choose college courses I gravitated to biology and thrived when they spoke about medicine and illness.
When I finally got out of my own way and used Mind Mapping to study, when I got my grades soaring and then a little while later got my confidence soaring, I stopped worrying that I wouldn’t get in. When my father said “You can do anything you want” and I finally thought it was true and not just a line a devoted father says to his little girl.
And one day I just asked If myself if I could see myself being a doctor and was I interested in it?
The bold fact was YES.
Once I decided on medicine. Nothing else entered my mind. Everything that I did brought me closer to that goal. Summer internships, volunteering at the Children’s hospital, traveling, writing essays, lecturing across campus on HIV/AIDS/birth control, heading the health clinic at the college heath center, working full time with a independent living program for DD adults.
A few years later I walked into one school interviewed with one guy and was accepted.
And here I am.
And now I know that putting on that white coat and draping the stethoscope around my neck isn’t enough. Studying biochem and surviving the OB rotation isn’t enough. Placing MD after my name isn’t enough.
Being a doctor is about healing. And most of all that means healing ourselves.
Filed in Everything Medicine |
Nikkion 30 Sep 2008 at 8:16 pm 1I enjoy our time difference. It means that you usually post at around 2am. In turn it gives me something new to read after I nurse Danger around 4 each night. It’s my little treat for waking up at such a God awful hour.
My dream was always to be a Doctor or a nurse. I could never afford to go to school and then by the time I could I chose to be a Mom instead. Who knows maybe when I’m done making babies I’ll pursue an education.
One Day
Nikkis last blog post..Saying Good Bye
myston 30 Sep 2008 at 8:40 pm 2I’m glad you did.
The world needs more Doctors like you!
And you’re truly multi talented as well.
Your photography is awesome, you sound like a fantastic Mum, and you write beautifully.
G
xx
mysts last blog post..A Pair Of Brothers
Kylaon 30 Sep 2008 at 9:12 pm 3I loved this. I found myself nodding along quite a bit.
Kylas last blog post..I’ll stop talking about this at some point.
Lanceon 30 Sep 2008 at 9:53 pm 4Sheila, I feel much compassion in your writing. And that’s what really stands out for me - how much of your heart you put into what you do. Some people are drawn to certain vocations for money, for greed, or other negative reasons. I really feel you drawn to something you love - and healing is such a great way to look at it. Thanks for continuing to share your journey…
Kathleenon 01 Oct 2008 at 12:25 am 5Lance - What you said is so true. I can hear that passion for loving and helping others in Sheila’s writing, as if she is speaking to me in person.
Nikki - Don’t ever give up your dream of an education. In 1970 when I graduated I went to college. Oh, did I ever have a wonderful time playing. Finally, my grandfather asked me if this was what I wanted, and I decided I was not ready for college and wanted to work for a while. After marrying, raising my two sons, etc., I returned to college. At the ripe old age of 51 and with severe rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, I graduated from The University of Memphis (with honors), BBA, Management of Information Systems in December, 2003. I remember walking out of my “last class and exam,” looking up towards Heaven and saying, “Well grandpa, I finally did it!” with a huge smile on my face. So go for that dream. It will be there waiting on you when your children are grown too.
Sheila - What a better world we live in because of doctors like you. I have known several like you, and it has been such a pleasure knowing them. BTW, I work with the HIV program (data manager) at the hospital. I noticed your mention of the HIV/AIDS program. I am proud to say the NIH group which I have worked with through our institution was responsible for stopping the transmission of HIV from mother to baby - through the use of AZT and other drugs now there is a strong possibility a baby will be born uninfected. When I see one of these babies who has been followed by our clinic, it is such a joy to change their infection status from “indeterminate” (as they carry the mother’s antibodies for a while) to “uninfected” in our database. This is what brings me the most joy in my job!
Kathleens last blog post..Nascar Racing and Riding Cowboy
Writer Dadon 01 Oct 2008 at 5:04 am 6Loved reading this. I was a C student too. It doesn’t matter who we were, it matters who we are.
Writer Dads last blog post..Stop.
Patriciaon 01 Oct 2008 at 10:20 am 7I thought your writing was so full of life and energy and that you found what you wanted to do with your life by trying on what you liked and enjoyed…a winning combination.
I someday hope I figure out what I am supposed to do….I do have a growing list of what I don’t wish to do anymore (such as cleaning jobs to get myself through school) I think I would have made different choices along the way if I had had choice. I made it through graduate school working 6 jobs a week - then realized all my close friends had packed up and left when Nixon canceled the draft - I didn’t much care for the type of student that was left in the profession and they thought I was from another planet!
I have a Phd. in compassion by now…and an F in making money to live on.
I really like myself and have few regrets, I believe I will figure it out.
Thank you for sharing your story…and in such a great read.
Patricias last blog post..Kindle From Amazon.com
Barbara Swaffordon 01 Oct 2008 at 2:16 pm 8Hi Dr. Cason - What a wonderful story. I love you you shared more of yourself with us. Like Lance said, the compassion you feel for medicine is in your words. Knowing you want to heal yourself, well, we all know you’re capable of that, too.
Trishon 01 Oct 2008 at 4:21 pm 9No, perhaps you never wanted to be a doctor… but I would say that you had a calling. In the truest sense of the words, medicine called you. And you were open enough to listen to the calling and make it a reality.
Wow.
Good on you for that! And then… good FOR the patients whose life is changed forever because you had the courage to answer the calling.
You’re amazing!
Trishs last blog post..Listening
CKon 04 Oct 2008 at 4:33 am 10After reading this post, I had to look up mind mapping on Wikopedia. It sounds really interesting. Did you do this in school, or on your own?
I think of myself as compassionate, but I’m nothing compared to you! You are amazing for all that you get done!
You go, girl.
CKs last blog post..Poly Sci 101
Rebeccaon 06 Oct 2008 at 1:16 pm 11Ok Doc, I have a legitimate medical question, so of course I thought of you.
When a teen comes down with mono do they generally run a higher temp? I’m starting to get a little concerned that Caitlin (my 16 yo girly) may have it although she has not run a temp at all. She has been sleeping a lot lately and feels generally blah. Not much appetite and is complaining of a constant headache and scratchy throat. Yesterday she slept until 1 pm then laid back down about 4pm and slept about 3 more hours. Today we went to church and then she came in and went straight to take a nap after her little bit of lunch. She voluntarily went to bed tonight at 9:30. She is usually a night owl. Should I be concerned?
Dr. Casonon 06 Oct 2008 at 1:53 pm 12I have been really busy and bad about replying back to everyone but know that I am reading every single thing and enjoying the comments!
Nikki- Study a little as you go along and discover what you like to do. As Danger gets a little older it’ll be easier to work out a schedule for you to get your degree.
Myst- Thank you so much. That’s so sweet.
Kyla- *nodding back and smiling*
Lance- Thank you for the encouragement. Most of the time I write what I need to write at that moment and I find myself always needing to remind myself how far I’ve come and why I do what I do.
Kathleen-You have the biggest heart. Thank you for always being so kind and supportive!
Writer Dad- I’m always shocked at the kids who get it all together at such a young age!
Patricia- You will figure it out. Just keep doing what you like. Have you read Seven Habits for Highly Successful people?
Barbara-
So many more stories to come!
Trish- You…are part of the reason I’m here! The thanks goes out to people like you who develop such love and compassion at such a young age.
CK- Mind Map by Tony Buzan changed the way I learn. It was amazing.
Rebecca- She’s sick. Could be viral like Mono but it might just be Strep. Take her to the doctor. Increased sleep is an indication that she’s probably fighting something else. Are her vitals still okay. Resp rate and Temp?