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Shirlywhirl, M.D.
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2021-07-11

I just finished my first (half) week of fellowship! This picture was taken on my very last day of residency. I walked out feeling a sense of relief…and the looming reminder that not only did I still have at least 3 years of training left, but that I’d also chosen to pursue one of the most high intensity fellowships because 🤡 I loved it or something 🤡

All jokes aside, I’ve been so happy to finally start working on my dream of becoming a Cardiologist. There’s so much I don’t know, but all of it is so interesting right now! Cardiology is especially interesting because, as a resident, you only interface with a small part of it, so it’s easy to think that it’s only diuresis and statins. I feel like a medical student again! (Especially because I’m starting on Imaging, which is probably more like radiology than it is IM.)

Anyway, I’ve been thinking of how my comics and this page will likely be changing now that I’m in fellowship- more in the Insta story!

👚: @dopescrubs

#fellowship #cardiologyfellowship #wic #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

Jul 11, 2021 2021-07-11T00:00:00-05:00

2021-07-04

Good morning, please enjoy your healthy helping of cynicism today 😊. Not much to say, aside from this: I came back from vacation feeling generally happy about my personal life, my upcoming fellowship, and my relationships, and feeling really down about the world I want to bring children into. I imagine I’m not alone.

#seattle #portland #resident #singlepayer #universalhealthcare #medicare4all #gulfofmexico #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

Jul 4, 2021 2021-07-04T00:00:00-05:00

2021-06-25

The Patrons have already seen this one, but I wanted to share it with y’all- especially the incoming interns. I drew this comic on my third day of intern year. My imposter syndrome was in full force. I felt guilty for not studying, even though every resident I talked to told me not to (and were completely, absolutely right omg.) I felt like everyone else was not only ready, but gearing to start do this doctor thing.

The truth is, none of us are truly ready. I frequently describe residency as a forge- you get thrown in, tortured in the fire, and (usually, if you’re malleable), come out competent.

Good luck with your first week of intern year! I’ll be dropping a simple comic with advice for interns during this vacation (bc I plan on drawing my heart out 😍😤).

#resident #internyear #prelimyear #transitionalyear #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

Jun 25, 2021 2021-06-25T00:00:00-05:00

2021-06-19

On this Juneteenth, I want to honor my second family.

I’ve gone to predominantly white institutions my whole life. Within them, I’ve always found and made my small crew of lifelong, ride or dies, most of whom I’m still close with, and who have given me a safe space in a setting that was frequently unsafe. But having a critical mass of my people - specifically Black people - in my residency turned what could’ve been a mostly harrowing three years into one where I frequently felt at home. If I encountered bias, I knew there was always someone in the hospital I could go and sit with who would understand. Who I could be angry with. Who I could tell off the collar jokes with, and not have to explain myself. Who could empathise with my specific experience as a Black resident in a hospital that treats predominantly Black patients. I felt more comfortable being fully authentic in part because I had a family behind me who saw my value and intellect and was ready to have my back if I ever needed them.

So this Juneteenth, I want to thank y’all. Ross, Ari, Nolan, Jacobi, Spencer, Rasidat, Alanna, and my sis Edna- I love you, wish the best for you, and am so excited to see what you do for the world. Congratulations on being finally out this bish, and ⬆️⭐️.

#juneteenth #resident #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

Jun 19, 2021 2021-06-19T00:00:00-05:00

2021-06-15

Guess who got her wedding photos back today? Me!!! Thank you so much to @valentinoweddings for the incredible job capturing our day (well, our first day, since we have a big shindig next year). It was such a hassle finding a photographer who could make both of our families look amazing , and they crushed it (a lot of ppl woulda had us lookin like🌝🌚). I’m so grateful and lucky to be loved so deeply by so many, and especially by my now husband(!!), who makes me laugh every day but especially during this shoot. #wedding #marriage #lovingday #chicago #courthousewedding #interracialcouple

Jun 15, 2021 2021-06-15T00:00:00-05:00

2021-06-14

I was stressed tf out but a weekend with friends @allisonnwonderland @shrutipatel , ☀️ sunshine☀️ , and good news 📰 has brought back my mojo. #austin #atx #vacation #girlstrip

Jun 14, 2021 2021-06-14T00:00:00-05:00

2021-06-12

With the rise of social media (and since Anti-Kickback statutes were passed, which prevent pharmaceutical/ device companies to pay physicians for recommending their products), there’s been a proliferation of physicians who have been using their MD to promote non evidence based therapies. Many of them have gained large followings of people who have some mistrust in / lack of access to allopathic medicine. These physicians do direct harm by abandoning evidence for monetarial gain and in some cases, power (many of these followings are honestly cult-like, and I know of several doctors who use their platforms to promote health literacy and share evidence based work only to be sent death threats and insults by these peoples’ followers.)

It’s wrong, and I genuinely think people like this should have their licenses rescinded. Too many of us have encountered patients in advanced stages of disease because they were promised recovery by docs trying to make a buck.

#resident #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

Jun 12, 2021 2021-06-12T00:00:00-05:00

2021-06-05

Is this a post without a drawing ? Yes. Is it also one of the best pics I’ve had taken of myself since the Pandemic? Also yes. So y’all gon see it 😂

My residency class took a boat cruise to celebrate the end of residency in which we endured 1) absurd hours in UChicago’s legendary MICU 2) not 1 but 2 nursing strikes 3) the first pandemic in a century. But we’re vaccinated and despite this still very hot, so we went out in 🛥style! See my stories for all the folks I’m going to miss 🥲

📸:@obiwanjacobi11

#resident #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

Jun 5, 2021 2021-06-05T00:00:00-05:00

2021-06-04

I’ve always joked that I “trick” people into thinking I’m an extrovert. I’m pretty outgoing and I love talking to people. But it drains me. Which has meant that I’ve been operating through Covid at half tank. Because patients’ families haven’t been at bedside, I’ve had to usually update each patient multiple times, and rounding takes longer (obligatory I think patients and families deserve face time with doctors but when I was resinterning on Gens with 15 patients it was simply not feasible to do that and coordinate care in a timely manner.) My husband (!) on the other hand, is reserved but very extroverted and has been working from home. He jokes that I talk to more people in a day than he does in a month, and is excited to get back to the office. He is very attuned to our neighborhood drama now, given how diligently he keeps watch.

How has your communication style changed due to the pandemic?

#workfromhome #wfh #introvert #extrovert #covid #patientdoctorcommunication #resident #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

Jun 4, 2021 2021-06-04T00:00:00-05:00

2021-05-30

Two weeks ago, I finished my clinical obligations for residency. Since then, I’ve 1) done 2 podcasts and 1 hour long presentation 2) met with multiple people in the film industry about my book and am now represented by one of the top film agents in the industry??? What is my life 3) did a couple commissions even though i said I wouldn’t lol 4) planned a small ceremony / luncheon and then got MARRIED I HAVE A HUSBAND NOW GUYS. Needless to say…even though all of this is incredible, I haven’t really been “vacationing.” (I also need to study for boards, finish my Hopkin’s modules, write a grant application…. a girl is spent.)

Anyway, this is a PSA that ya girl will be operating at 50% capacity for the next two weeks. Limited social outings, bc the introvert battery been dead, so if you know me don’t ask me to hang out pls 😂😂. I won’t be doing any more talks / podcasts / zoom connecting until the fall/winter, when I’m a bit more accustomed to fellowship. Planning to spend the next three days vegging out watching LOTR with hubby before I go gallivant around Seattle with my sweeties @linnliu and @sashimiii07 . What are my fellow grads planning to do with their sweet sweet time off? Jumpsuit courtesy of @fabletics.

#fableticspartner #fabletics #moveinfabletics #myfabletics #resident #residency #intern #inpatient #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #md #medstudent #nurse #physician #webcomic #comic

May 30, 2021 2021-05-30T00:00:00-05:00