I took forever to post this bc I wanted to draw the second page but was too lazy to REALLY draw the second page but you get it #medicine #internalmedicine #residency #resident #intern #interyear #pgy1 #medschool #medicalschool #doctor #medstudent #premed #premedmotivation #graphicmedicine
I wrote this comic a week ago, when I was just starting MICU. Everything was very overwhelming- vent settings, new presentation styles, and frequent run-ins with mortality. I was exhausted after multiple back to back 12+ hour days (let me tell you, just having that one Friday off was CLEANSING.) My patients dying was affecting me emotionally and I didn’t have the time or space to engage in my usual kinds of self care, and so feelings just bottled up. Later in the week I ran into a couple of my co-interns and realized that I hadn’t had a face-to-face conversation with a human that wasn’t my boyfriend about something that wasn’t medicine in days, and that that in itself was affecting me negatively. I felt like my seniors- who were used to this- couldn’t really empathize anymore.
The last few days I’ve been able to breathe more, but I’m still struck by how strange our profession is. In the ICU more than anywhere else, I can see how medicine straddles the line between marvel and torture. I also see how we’re both cursed and privileged to be privy to some of the worst days of a person’s/ family’s life. Most people don’t spend their days terminally extubating patients and nights watching Brooklyn 99 like they didn’t just witness some trauma nah mean? Anyway I’m hanging in there. Hope you are too. #resident #icu #MICU #inpatient #doctor #relatable #uchicago #pritzker #womeninmedicine #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #professionalism #residency #internyear #internalmedicine #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife
I just finished my first inpatient rotation of intern year (and thus, my first month!) You know everyone says the learning curve for interns is crazy steep? They’re not kidding. As a student, I carried a max of 3-4 patients, and my list was curated for me- I got fresh ED admits! I got the “interesting” cases! As an intern, I’m carrying up to 10, handling all aspects of their care, haven’t been shielded from either the mundane or the belligerent, and am 7 days into an 11 day stretch of work with no day off. A girl is tired!! I also had a medical student, the lovely @mariaesp94 , who follows this gram and so already knows what my internal monologue is like. I remember what being an MS3 was like (so bad I had to make a comic page to cope) and really wanted to make sure I didn’t do all the things residents did to me that I thought weren’t productive- plus I wanted to make the best use of her time! Anyway Maria, you did great, go crush the rest of your rotations like you did this one! ❤️ #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #relatable #medstudent #uchicago #pritzker #preclinicals #womeninmedicine #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #professionalism #residency #internyear #internalmedicine
I’m still outchea! Just finished my first day ever resinterning. The transition from consults to cards is rough, and I have an 11 day block ahead of me with no days off. If you’ve been in my stories, you know that I’ve been working on a proposal for a book about my intern year experiences! Well, now, that proposal is submitted and all I’ve got to do is keep drawing and intern-yearing. Wish me luck!
#medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #relatable #medstudent #uchicago #pritzker #preclinicals #womeninmedicine #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #professionalism #residency #internyear #internalmedicine
Irl I have no shame about just being the person on the right bc I don’t have a filter. My first day of intern year is tomorrow! I start on consults, so it’s not as intense as an inpatient service, but I’m terrified all the same. But I keep reminding myself that this is what I’ve been working toward, and that I’m going to improve at the speed of light! Also first try with #procreate to make comics was kind of a success. I’m still clumsy with it, and it lacks certain features, but it is way faster than what I was doing before so I’m into it! #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #relatable #medstudent #uchicago #pritzker #preclinicals #womeninmedicine #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #professionalism #residency #internyear #internalmedicine
I’ve always used art as a way to express myself, unwind, and concentrate (anyone who knows me knows the best way to keep me awake is to keep me doodling.) ShirlyWhirl has been such an integral part of my med school experience, and I want to make it a part of my residency one too! Thing is, each comic takes 3-4 hours to complete. On top of that, if you’ve been following my stories you’ll know that I’m planning on making a graphic novel about intern year! Basically, doing it the way I had been would’ve been unsustainable. So ya girl splurged on an iPad and a pencil and changed my own life! Now I can draw anywhere at anytime and like in half the time! Anyway just wanted to share the first thing I made on #procreate! Here’s to more doodling!!
Did you think you were safe just bc I graduated??? Nah fam I have four years worth of bones to pick (Hi new friends from Reddit!) Ft @dr.dimplesmcgee, who won the contest a while back and happens to look like a Disney princess. Congratulations on graduating! Sorry I made you look crazy! #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #relatable #medstudent #uchicago #pritzker #preclinicals #womeninmedicine #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #professionalism #residency #healthcare
sorry for the radio silence. I’m still here! #medschool #medicine #medicalschool #medlife #relatable #medstudent #uchicago #pritzker #preclinicals #womeninmedicine #graphicmedicine #premed #premedmotivation #professionalism
GUESS WHAT GUYS THE MD AT THE END OF SHIRLYWHIRL MD IS REAL NOW shoutout to my huge family / posse who showed up and showed out in a group of people who legit crossed oceans to be there with me. special shoutout to @neftieboni who came several days early and put up with me being a moody lil butt adjusting to all of the changes that are coming my way, and taking care of hosting/ life things when I couldn’t.
I mean it when I say these last 4 years were the best in my life. Studying deep into the night when I just wanted to relax was hard, step was hard, the wards even harder. But med school has truly transformed me- I’m more self assured than ever before, in tune with my own strengths and weaknesses, and have made some lifelong besties (@linnliu y u leave me) along the way. And, I can’t forget- I started Shirlywhirl md and began a community with all of you! Every time i see other ppl, health professionals and otherwise , engage w/ my work, it reminds me why this is all worth it.
Round 2 out of ??? of the people you meet in medical school! Congratulations to @gingerdoc_do , winner #1 of the contest (and also long time ShirlyWhirl follower, I remember you from the beginning girl!) Go check out her page for some inspo and some fitspo! Much love to the former nurses/ EMTs/ techs/ phlebotomists, I’m talking smack now but I want you on my team.
This comic also features my amazing cousin @neftieboni , who I met for the first time in London six years ago and didn’t like bc she was so effortlessly pretty and who didn’t like me bc I was apparently annoyingly smart, until we met again four years later and realized that we were destined to be bezzies. She ventured stateside for an internship (bc she’s a boss!) and became very much a part of our class, and today just found out she got her paper published! Congrats girl! I’m bragging on you! It also features @threethousandmiles , who I’ve been following for a long time and has a lot of wisdom to share on her blog. Go check her out!
As usual tag ya kids tag ya wife