"The fire seven times tried..." - The Prince of Aragon in The Merchant of Venice

Remarkably, I am in the beginning of my seventh clinical rotation. I have completed one month each of Internal Medicine (I &II), Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Adult Primary Care, and Family Medicine. This month I am doing an “elective” meaning I get to pick the discipline. I chose anesthesia for a couple of reasons: first, the idea of pain and its control fascinates me, second, this rotation usually offers students plenty of study time for exams.

Oh yes, I forgot to tell you about these exams.

Called “shelf exams” in allopathic schools and “COMATs”  (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Tests - there’s a mouthful for you) in osteopathic schools, these exams are designed to test your knowledge of a particular subject at the conclusion of the rotation. To be honest, these tests are not nearly as hard as the COMLEX step 1. Consisting of only 125 questions, the COMATs deal more with diagnosis and disease management and less with nuanced detail that has very little to do with actual patient care (Kreb's Cycle anyone?).

Though these exams pose little challenge, I still find myself struggling with them. My professors and proctoring physicians tell me I know the material very well and they universally agree I will make an excellent and able physician (thanks to God!). However, when I sit down in front of that computer for the actual exam, my struggles with the COMLEX step 1 flood back. My heart rate doubles and I am reminded of the pain of repeated failures. Perhaps I am naive but I am surprised that this is happening. For whatever reason I thought I would be able to breeze through these simpler tests and prep for the COMLEX step 2 exam next year.

So the challenges of medical school continue though, to be completely honest, I welcome them. I knew this journey would not be easy nor am I looking for a smooth road. After everything that has happened and all my family and I have experienced, I remain solidly confident in God’s goodness and faithfulness to get us through. I love this journey.

Until next time, dear reader, God bless you. For me it’s back to the books.

Me at the start of my 7th clinical rotation. Whoo-hoo!