Rosemary "Roey" Hines Fuller is an MD, MBA student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Roey walks us through a typical day during her third year of medical school.
5:30 a.m.
With breakfast in hand, I’m off! I take the Red Line train downtown to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. The good thing about starting early is that the "L" is roomy and there’s a seat waiting for me. I usually listen to a podcast on the way to the hospital – Fresh Air or Homecoming are my go-tos.
6:00 a.m.
My workday begins on the pediatrics inpatient floor at Lurie. After taking a report from the night team, I spend time reviewing the electronic charts of my three patients, writing down key stats such as vital signs and new lab results. Participating in a kid’s care during their hospital stay is a tremendous privilege, and connecting with the individuality of each patient and family is what drew me to medicine. Most days I’m just trying to get by, but remembering these reasons can keep things in perspective.
7:30 a.m.
I attend a Grand Rounds lecture on pediatric sports injury. After this, it’s time for rounds to begin – this is the main event of the morning, when the entire team talks about each patient and the plan for the day at the bedside. Full disclosure: Every morning is a little nerve-racking, even after a few weeks on the rotation. Luckily, Feinberg preps us incredibly well for our third year. I had exposure to patients right away – as a participant of the Education Centered Medical Home (ECMH) program and in the classroom. Feinberg includes clinical skills and patient communication training in the two years leading up to clerkships.
12:00 p.m.
I grab lunch with an M1 who is interested in the MD/MBA program. My usual order is the spinach pesto bowl from Protein Bar with a kombucha. The welcoming and supportive feel of Feinberg’s community fosters connections at so many levels – from the upperclassmen who helped me along the way when I was an M1 or M2 to the lifelong friendships I’ve made.
1:00 p.m.
After lunch, there’s time to check things off the to-do list! I visit my patients and their families and work on my progress notes for the day. If I finish early, I complete UWORLD questions or read PreTest Pediatrics. Medical school is a constant balancing act and it’s all about finding what works. For me, I always keep a study resource on hand in case there is downtime.
5:00 p.m.
The night cover team is here to take over! After giving sign out, I head to "Yoga in the Library." I think wellness is something that really sets Feinberg apart from other medical schools. Overall, the support you feel from the deans and the faculty is tremendous. They do a great job of taking care of their students and making sure you feel that you can have a life outside of medical school, which I think is so important.
6:00 p.m.
After yoga, I head straight home to let Pip out! I complete a few more UWORLD questions on the train ride home. We walk to her favorite dog park, Wiggley Field. I pick up a green juice on my way home.
6:30 p.m.
This is my time to catch up on editing my research paper and sending emails. I’m working on a literature review evaluating different interventions to improve adherence to cardiovascular medications. It complements the paper I published M2 year about communication between patient and physician regarding medication adherence.
7:30 p.m.
I work on my UWORLD questions and study while my husband cooks us dinner. He’s the best! Once dinner is ready, we eat together and watch one of our shows. Usually it’s Game of Thrones or House of Cards.
10:30 p.m.
It's time for bed! As busy as today was, I feel fulfilled and look forward to tomorrow. Thanks to M3 year, I've mastered falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. Goodnight!