Time Crunch...

Sigh! It's been so long since I've written...
So much has happened...

Well, did I mention that with the beginning of my 4th year, I became the Chief Resident of my program?

During most of this year (academic year) I have agonized over:
1. Should I do a fellowship or look for a job?
2. Where is my place?

After soul-searching, I have abandoned my earlier plan to do an ID fellowship. Not to be arrogant, but with all the education I have, if nothing else, I should be able to learn outside of a structured curriculum. I love all of medicine, so I don't want to do a fellowship and narrow myself down to something. Perhaps what I will end up doing doesn't even come in a fellowship box.

Anyway, with that decision made, I began to look for jobs. I applied to mostly university programs and a couple of private clinics and hospitals with university affiliations. Although I have never dated, I get the feeling that these job hunting interviews were kind of like going out on first dates: everyone is formally dressed and showing off their best side and the whole event is somewhat orchestrated and pre-programmed.

I learned many things about the process and of course, myself in the process: promises are made that are not kept.

What I was looking for in my 'dream' job was the opportunity to:
1. Practice both medicine and pediatrics
2. Do so in an academic environment and,
3. Have the time, resources and opportunity to do research.
4. I was partial to places with existing infra-structure in international work since that is something I know that God has got for me in the future.

After travelling far and wide and having many fun experiences, I found my 'dream' job. It is right here at the Marshfield Clinic!

I am pleased to announce that come July 13 2009, I shall be the newest faculty member of the Marshfield Clinic Med-Peds department. Thank you, thank you.

I am setting up continued research collaboration with Sanjay Shukla's lab and my bacteriophage research. I shall look into getting an academic appointment from UW -- foundations for future research and teaching ventures.