a life we've chosen

...and you BET I'm honored to be in it. Medicine definitely has it's dark and humbling side, as exposed by this article: To-being-doctors-to-be by Mrigank. However, as physicians, we have the incredible honor of seeing what our bodies can...and can't do...face to face. Mrigank's entry was too beautiful and so eloquently written, I had to repost.

Quote:

"We who began our adult lives spending alternate days with corpses... Who spend the prime of our youth in the grime of wards. Who have already witnessed a lifetime’s share of deaths. Who learn about depression but fail to recognise it in ourselves...We who are hunted and haunted by questions that have no answers. Who feel guilty when we know less than we should. Who fear that we will never be good enough...
We who cannot ever abandon logic. Who are rational but must allow for prejudices. Who have no choice but to listen...
We who will never tell you any of this.
We who really need to step back and appreciate ourselves."

realities of science

So much goes into how you phrase things, how data is cherry picked, how bias plays a role...it goes back to that quote: "Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity", or some similar variation. Or, you could even say it is analogous to "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Just replace beauty with evidence, haha.

Lesson? (I think my dad for encouraging this in me): NEVER take things at face value. ALWAYS be critical. PRIMARY sources are paramount.

Case in point:

As reviewed by the NYT. A hugely popular book, considered the vegan bible by many
Trusty ol' Wikipedia's article <--I say this very tongue-in-cheek-ly, but I do like the ease of wikipedia to at least put things in a general context :P

Some more links on the China Study:

A Google Books Preview
More detail from the author
Amazon link -- look at those rave reviews!

 Sounds awesome right? But then...

Critical Review from Science Based Medicine (from a group of physicians)

In summary, Dr. Hall's conclusions:

"It would be wonderful if we could prevent cancer and all those other diseases by avoiding animal protein. It would have the extra added benefit to the environment of increasing the productivity of agricultural land and reducing the greenhouse effects of gassy cows. I look forward to future well-designed studies investigating the effects of very low protein and animal-protein-free diets. Meanwhile, The China Study makes a good case, but the case isn’t quite good enough"

 Another criticism, THOUGH to be fair, from also a questionable, very biased source. Quote: (one of the commentators on the SBM link:

"Weston A Price is deemed a questionable dentist and the Weston A Price Foundation is deemed a questionable resource of health information by Quackwatch.

Their agenda is to propagate, among other things, the claim that a high-fat diet with plenty of full-fat, pastured-fed muscle and organ meats and lots and lots of raw, full-fat dairy will produce optimal health and cure many chronic diseases.

Keeping their agenda in mind, it’s no wonder that they have an article vociferously arguing against the China Study, which purports the same outcome as their advocated diet, but in a somewhat diametrical manner."

However, I stand by the SBM Critical Review, because it does seem to come from a less-biased source.Still, just look at all the contradictions within contradictions! Basically, again, PRIMARY SOURCES. I am at fault for not citing primary sources in my criticism articles, but then again they are meant to just prove a point that information can be skewed so many ways.

PS: From my limited 10 minutes spent reading this, the reports from SBM seem reasonable. However, I have not actually LOOKED for a criticism of this site so I'll just put this here to look back on later
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/

Review:

nerdiness cont. :)

Ok this is really true testament of my science dorkiness--I am seriously in love with the things people are doing at the NIH! So many crazy talented people, so much AWESOME science being conducted...absolutely amazing.

Had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Dunbar today and if I could clone myself, I would TOTALLY work with her (or maybe Dr. Childs). Both are incredible mentors; both are extremely brilliant; both do stuff that can use ALL my research experience and makes things come in full circle...how cool would that be!? I think in the future, once I get a computational background and learn programming and more vigorous statistics this year, I want to take another year and do research with them. Extremely, extremely awesome projects they both have going on, particularly this paper.

Tracking HPSC's with confocal microscopy!! :D

Sadly, I can only work with one person this year :( Or can I?

No, that would be suicide. Ok Sharon, lets focus here.

A good reminder to do a future post: the lure of academia vs the pull of the heart

the vitamin/antioxidant paradox

source

Wish this came out before I started interviewing with mentors...at least 3 of them work on this and I had no idea! Also, fascinating read about the rise and fall of Dr. Linus Pauling

From the Atlantic: The Vitamin Myth

In other news:
Mom: Wow, the people in your lab are international? You should get to know them so when you travel, you can live with them!

LOL. <3 you mom. Too bad I won't be working with them BUT God is so good...working with my dream mentor!!! super excited for this year :D!

and the search continues...

source

"Finding a mentor is a lot like dating...you wouldn't respond to a super long message from a stranger, right?"   -P

Haha...these past two weeks have proven that statement to be a very accurate analogy. Like my methods towards dating, in my search for a mentor:

1. I'm open. I'm willing to listen and give people chances
2. Chemistry is important. Sounds weird putting it in this context, but it really is. Also, the 'chemistry' in the lab also is important...get it? HAHA sorry too tempting to pass up ;)
3. Future prospects matter...a little bit. Though less in dating than here. Or is it vice versa ???
4. Connections are vital--they make or break who you might be able to meet, and can open so many doors!!
5. I'm still too nice. Need to be more effective at communication. Need to be FIRM when I do NOT want to work with someone. No but's...you can't have everything!
6. I like knowing everything about a person, so in a mentor search pubmed, the NIH website and the interwebs is basically the 'fb' of each investigator.  haha
7. First impressions are very important.
8. At the end of the day, you just need to take a leap of faith and COMMIT!!

Unfortunately though, unlike in dating, a 'date' or meeting that doesn't end up working out doesn't mean a new friend...that's a whole area of lost connections. Yikes.

 These past two weeks have been initially stressful, because I was in a rush to identify a mentor or at least get SOME leads...but while I would really like to identify a mentor soon (so I can start working!! and also stop wasting people's time) I actually sort of enjoy this process. It is a lot like attending mini-seminars at an umbrella of a 'conference' of my research interests...it is very awesome learning about each individual team's work, questions, and variations in methodology! I've learned so much in this past week...particularly because the people I talk with are so brilliant and accomplished, and have so much experience ;__; I wish I could work with everyone (maybe that's not impossible? hmm...particularly if I do microbiome stuff?? (reality check...no))

Need to remember proper etiquette in my correspondence during this time. Particularly:

-Just like in medicine, each person you talk with is an individual who demands your individual attention, and frankly doesn't know nor could care less about the many other people you are in correspondence with. So, RESPECT. Respond to emails in a time manner, because their time is just as important as yours. 

-Take the time to craft a well thought out, well executed email. These people, again, are at the top of their field, have years of experience, and are (amazingly) willing to give you their time! Though you are no where near their level, respect!!

-Calling someone by their first name still does NOT make them your peer. Need to get used to this. It took me a year and a half to finally get on terms with calling K by his first name, just because it was so hard for me to give him the respect I thought he deserved as my mentor otherwise. But EVERYONE does it in research. ^__^' OK FINE, first name basis it is, but KEEP THAT RESPECT

-At the same time, don't discount yourself. I feel almost inferior compared to the brilliance of the people here, but apparently I guess getting into the program counts for something huh? And apparently people are impressed my CV, which IS who I am, so I guess all this hard work does pay off?

I am really blessed to be accepted to a program that does recognize hard work paying off. Again, am so fortunate to have this amazing opportunity.

Also, while this is technically a 'year off' from med school, it is NOT a 'year off'. Made that mistake my first summer...not going to let something as incredible as this go to waste. Already my schedule is booked for the weekend and summers...hopefully things will calm down later this year ^__^'

is it worth it?

 

NYT: On Tests in Medical Practice

Notable:

 "[Research for quality control] takes a research culture that promotes a healthy skepticism toward standard medical practice. That requires physician researchers who know what standard practice is, have the imagination to question it and the skills to study it. These doctors need training that’s not yet part of any medical school curriculum; they need mentoring of senior researchers; and they need some assurance that investigating accepted treatments can be a viable option, instead of career suicide"

"...The administrative demands of clinical care, on one side, and the competition for research funding on the other, make it increasingly difficult for researchers to see patients. They become isolated from standard practice, and their ability to study it diminishes. Clinicians who are well positioned to study these issues are increasingly directed toward enhancing productivity...instead of questions about whether the practices are warranted in the first place."

[Unless we do something], we can continue to argue about who pays for what — without knowing what’s worth paying for." 

After all,

15 year old finds cheap test for pancreatic cancer

dude, this guy. no words. such an inspiration!!!




also according to this article "it will take at least another 10 years to get it into the clinic" <-- 10+15 = 25. TWENTY FIVE, with a patent for a cheap, effective way of detecting pancreatic/ovarian/lung cancer. what are we doing with our lives?! D

Cancer in China

source

Awesome article, confirming all my mom's comments about cancer care in China:

NYT: As Cancer Rates Rise in China, Trust Remains Low

Notable quote:

“Our Western physicians take difficult cases as challenges, whereas Chinese physicians first assess risk to themselves and hesitate in helping patients.” 

“Hospitals are reluctant to have patients die on their premises. Lack of hospices for dying patients” is a problem, the authors wrote.

Original article: Practicing Western Oncology in Shanghai, China: One Group’s Experience, from the Journal of Oncology Practice

Also relevant: China's Cancer Village Phenomenon

Hillsong - Scandal of Grace

Oh to be like you
Give all I have just to know you,
Jesus there's no one beside you, 
Forever the hope in my heart.

God, let this be my prayer for this next year. Missing my philly MCO family today. Now I know what M was talking about when she said we were spoiled in Philly. Tenth, TCN and MCO were such blessings, with such amazing people. God, you have always been so good to me, and JCF and MCO were perfect for sculpting me at the right times these past 3 years. Let those stay as a strong foundation for whatever may come this year. I'm ready :)

star struck *_*

Oh my goodness...so the science dork in me is DYING here!!! First of all, my tutor at the NIH discovered freaking fibronectin (and is a total beast at everything else. But we'll just leave it there for now haha). Second of all, Dr. Fraumeni of THE Li-Fraumeni syndrome (which as a refresher, is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder characterized by mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene that--for nonmedical people--strongly predisposes people to cancer at a young age) is not only STILL AT the NIH, but is also a tutor for one of the (SUPER LUCKY) students here. Ahh!!!!

It's going to take a while for me to get used to this. Thank you so much Lord for this amazing opportunity <3 My science dorkiness is in full swing hahaha.

In other news, this is currently on repeat:

 

Thanks to C for the share :))