Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
| Everyone has a job to do:
Last Monday after hearing the news of the bombing followed by the endless stream of ambulances coming to the ED for what seemed like hours on end, I, like so many others, felt helpless. I wanted to be there, helping in the ED, taking care of patients and helping people in anyway I could. This was the first time since choosing to become a pathologist that I was acutely aware of the fact that I would not be directly working with patients; sewing their wounds and providing comfort. I am a first year pathology resident, and throughout all of medical school I wanted to be in internal medicine. But, at the end of my 3rd year, I did a rotation in pathology and fell in love with the problem solving and diagnosing that happened in pathology. Nevertheless, I am saddened by the fact that I do not see patients on a daily basis. Last Monday, I felt the pain of knowing that if I went to the ED I would probably just be in the way. I realized then, that this is how everyone who was not working in the ED last Monday felt: helpless, and at the whim of a rapidly unfolding situation filled with fear and uncertainty. I packed up my bags, and went home to be with my soon-to-be-husband in our apartment. On Tuesday morning, they arrived in the pathology department. Of course I could have predicted it—things that are removed during surgeries always come to the pathology department. Of course the limbs of those injured Monday would be on our table on Tuesday, but still, to see them all together, seven amputations, I was overwhelmed by sadness, and felt tears welling up in my eyes with empathy for all those killed and injured. There were also countless containers filled with shrapnel, pellets and twisted metal. This was real. I realized that I did have a job to do. As a pathologist my role was not to comfort and stabilize the victims but rather to take care of the parts that were taken from them. No one ever thinks about what happens to something after it is removed. Where does it go, what happens to it? I wanted to write these notes to explain that the limbs and shrapnel from Monday’s terrible events, came to us, in the pathology department. We carefully washed each limb, took detailed pictures, and meticulously described the shrapnel in the containers. We noticed the carefully painted toenails, and grieved for the loss of your limbs. We cared with our whole hearts for each one of your limbs. We know what you lost. We may not have been able to be with you in the ED, but our thoughts and prayers will be with you for everyday to follow in the future. Cathryn Byrne-Dugan |
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NEW Course Offering Fall 2013! |
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| GMS PA810; Seminars in THE BUSINESS OF SCIENCE
Meets Mondays 3:00-4:50PM How does a product REALLY go from bench to bedside? This is an introduction to the business realities of modern biomedical science which is patent-driven and product-oriented. Lectures from invited speakers from the biomedical, legal, regulatory and business worlds will provide basic terminology and perspective to give an overview for how an idea in the laboratory is translated into a marketable commodity. Keystone speakers who have bridged the science and business experiences will share their stories of inspiration, travails and success. A 2 credit course of seminars, evaluation by exam and a final project similar to a product business plan. Pass/Fail |
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