I have been putting off my summary post of M1 year for some time now! There are many reasons, but predominantly I feel like we have barely started on this journey of becoming doctors and summarizing the first baby steps seems silly to me now. We have laid the groundwork, no doubt, with volumes of background knowledge and the basics of communicating with patients and other doctors/health care workers. However, aside from a few exciting clinical experiences and 'a-ha moments' where some bit of classroom physiology became clinically relevant, I feel more or less the same about caring for patients as I did on the first day of medical school. My presence on a medical team is more of a burden at this point than a benefit to my patients.

I closed the year volunteering with the Una Vida Sana clinic, a free screening event for Latinos in the Richmond community. I worked closely with advanced nursing students and a volunteer doctor at the consult table where we pooled information collected at other stations on each person's BMI, blood pressure and blood glucose levels to determine relative risk for disease. We then advised the patients on seeking further care or making lifestyle modifications to reduce their risk. This was one of the most practical and fun learning experiences I've had to date, and I am so grateful to the doctors who help us staff and run these clinics. I am excited to be involved with these events in the years to come!

I also look forward to the upcoming year, as we will delve into the nuts and bolts of disease and treatments in the classroom and make real progress in physical exam skills and diagnosis. In just one year's time, we will be embarking on the first step of the Board exams and starting our clinical rotations. Scary, but exciting!!