Download The Pharos Winter 2008 Edition - Alpha Omega Alpha

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Path in the Afternoon Yesterday we had testicular tumors but this afternoon we have ovarian ones. The red laser-dot bounces up and down over the specimen projected onto the screen in the soporific lecture hall, back and forth over that pink and red-pied grapefruit that once had been an ovary, jerking like conjoined damselflies mating on the wing, cutting the currents and darting over turgid mountain streams. The professor presses another button to advance the slides of cancerous human tissue that comprise today’s lesson. Another grapefruit: Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The apple blossoms are bursting like popcorn on the supple boughs which nuzzle the windows of my old bedroom, where my mother has planted tomatoes in half-pint milk cartons on the sill. Peritoneal carcinomatosis, the professor reads aloud the daffodil-yellow letters which float above an eviscerated middle aged woman, her open abdominal cavity speckled with tumors like gravel among the red mud of a Colorado creek-bed. Last night the hardware store reeked of lawn fertilizer, citronella and loam. And in fifteen minutes the plaid-skirted school girls with ash-smudged foreheads will flit giggling across the parking lot. But this afternoon we have ovarian tumors and tomorrow, gastrointestinal ones. James S. Wilk, MD Dr. Wilk (AΩA, University of Colorado, 1992) is in private solo practice in Internal Medicine at Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. His poetry has appeared in The Panhandler Quarterly and Measure. His address is: 4545 E. 9th Avenue #330, Denver, Colorado 80220. E-mail: wjs30@qwest.net. The Pharos/Winter 2008 15
Dance of the Student Doctor And what brings you in today? I know, I’ve read the chart. But I ask anyway. It’s my job. But you already know That it’s not really my job. Don’t you? Didn’t you look at my badge That says medical student? Or my coat, shorter than all the rest, Emblazoned with my title? Well, that’s all right. I can dance. I’ve been taking lessons. I’m sorry that you’ve been feeling this way, Mrs. So-And-So. And what about this symptom and that? Have you had any of those? I know all the right questions to ask. I’ve been practicing. Even if you have bronchitis, I will make sure that your chest pain Is not brought on by exertion And does not radiate to the shoulder. The first rule of dancing Is to move with your partner, But I am supposed to lead. Mrs. So-And-So, I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. It must be really hard for you. Here’s a tissue. But now that I have opened up This Pandora’s box of emotions, Let me ask you some other questions So that I can complete the history And report it back to the real doctor Who will not listen. Another thing I learned about dancing Is to never step on your partner’s foot. This can be pretty difficult When you don’t even know Where the foot is. Now I’m just going to do A quick physical exam, Mrs. So-And-So. I’m just going to listen to your heart, And everything sounds normal. What’s that? You have a systolic murmur, Consistent with aortic stenosis? Now that you mention it, I can hear it after all, If I close my eyes and pretend. But now, a new partner! My turn for dancing is over. Hello, Mrs. So-And-So, I see you have met The medical student. It’s good to see you again. And within a minute The pertinent positives are elicited. It turns out there are crackles In the left lower lung. Didn’t you hear them? I am exposed. Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Student doctor. I thought you were very nice. Some day you will make a great doctor. But that day is not today. I need some more dancing lessons. Fortunately, my next partner Is next door. And I know some new steps. Jay Augsburger, MD Dr. Augsburger is a resident at the Oregon Health & Science University. This poem won honorable mention in the 2007 Pharos Poetry Competition. Dr. Augsburger’s address is: 2301 SE Caruthers #3, Portland, Oregon 97214. E-mail: jayaugsburger@gmail.com. The Pharos/Winter 2008 25
Page 1 and 2: OF ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA HONOR MEDICAL
Page 3 and 4: Editorial “There is nothing more
Page 5 and 6: The Pharos/Winter 2008 1 Issue O
Page 7 and 8: school, and continuous care from hi
Page 9: students, and medical school staff
Page 13 and 14: The smirk By and about Lori Soni Du
Page 15 and 16: Searching for God below the vocal c
Page 17 and 18: A July Matinee White cottonwood tra
Page 19 and 20: The physician at the movies become
Page 21 and 22: The physician at the movies Books,
Page 23 and 24: Reviews and reflections David A. Be
Page 25 and 26: Reviews and reflections during the
Page 27 and 28: 2007 AΩA Robert J. Glaser DIstingu
Page 29 and 30: Letters to the editor Re “Consume
Page 31 and 32: Letters S. Gilbert, the librettist
Page 33 and 34: Encourage Their Children Adam Moore
Page 35 and 36: National and chapter news to thirty
Page 37 and 38: A Moment We talk about mortgages no

Download The Pharos Winter 2008 Edition - Alpha Omega Alpha

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?