November 13, 2010
-
Thank you…
Today, my boss, my residency director had a retirement party. I was a little reluctant to go. I wasn’t very close to her, but I did feel that she was a bit of a mentor, someone I aspired to be. The party and her retirement really put a prospective in how important her decision to hire me, had change the course of my life.
It was 5 years ago. I had finished my 2nd year of residency… did not get the job I interviewed for… I was definitely bummed. But I decided that it was a sign that I had to move on and perhaps finally move to California. Interviewed at few places in California, but still no job. From my advice from my aunt, I decided to stay in Seattle, until I had a final decision on a job or place to go. So I worked full time at a retail pharmacy position floating around for about 6 months.
I kept in touch with my former boss and asking her to let me know if she hears for any opening in Seattle. I saw that there was an opening for a interesting position at Group Health. For whatever reason, there was a mix up on my interview location and it had to be rescheduled. In the midst of getting my interview rescheduled…I got an email from my former boss that there is an opening at a HIV clinic at the hospital and that I should interview. I was a little apprehensive, I told her… “You know I did not know ANYTHING about HIV”. I did a specialty residency in Internal Medicine, not Infectious Disease for heaven’s sake! She said that the clinic needed more internal medicine touch and I could build it up to whatever I wanted. I was really overwhelmed that she thought I could do that. I didn’t think I would start building a clinical services already… I didn’t think I was ready. ”you can do it” she said. I don’t know if she really thought that or not, but I took the chance…
When I think back now, I don’t know if this is where I should be, but I am amazed to be doing the work I enjoy and challenge me. I do feel proud of my accomplishments. Could I have done more? OH YES! Tonight it made me think about where I would be if I never got that email from her. Would I still in Seattle? Probably not. Would I be doing clinic pharmacy? Perhaps. It certainly made me see that I did get a great opportunity and she gave that to me… I am really thankful for that chance. The chance she took on me. I hope she never regrets it. Well, I hope never to make her regret it. I think this is giving me another burst of desire to better myself and improve my practice…
Thank You. Truly.
