Hello Chicago!
- Dr. Aakash
- Jun 6, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 25, 2024
After my rotations in Houston, I headed to my next rotations in Chicago in the month of May. As usual, I got lost in the airport for an hour before I found a taxi and finally reached my apartment.
The rotations began the next day at Silver Cross Hospital, where my preceptor and I would go see various patients who were admitted to the hospital and required endocrinology consultation. Getting first-hand experience of conducting effective consultation has been incredibly helpful. While rotating at Silver Cross Hospital, I learned the interplay of various specialties in the care of a patient and clear communication between them. Post our rounds at Silver Cross, we used to head to the clinic to see more outpatients. I had a lovely time interacting with such a diverse population of patients and unique cultural differences among each group. One thing that I've clearly understood is that when you're culturally aware, you're able to deliver better care.
While I visited the local target store often, I started to have a closer look at the ingredients chart of some items more closely. My patients would talk about rice crispies and half and half milk, and I was only able to understand whether a diabetic patient consuming this was good or bad when I was visiting these grocery stores and checking these items myself. It's not just about patient interaction anymore; it's also about knowing the culture around them and the things a regular American consumes on a daily basis. Understanding this specific aspect has also helped me better my care.
I did use my weekends to go visit the bean, had a solo trip at Navy Pier, had an ice cream while it was pouring down, and went on a solo date at the Signature room at 95th. Chicago downtown felt so exciting, it's a beautiful place with such a buzzing energy that it'll lift your mood almost instantly.
