Over valentines weekend I couldn't think of better way to spend the holiday then attending a congress on Cardiology (the heart). This international congress was meant as a continuing education for physicians and residents however the host of the congress was my current professor of Cardiology, Professor Camici, so I along with about 5 of my classmates were given the opportunity to attend. They were a long three days including my Saturday at University but it was well worth it. I learned a lot of interesting things about Atherosclerosis, Inflammation and Plaque Vulnerability as well as many others related topics.
click here for the link to some of the lectures if you are interested. I was given the great opportunity to hear Dr. Wood from the UK speak about prevention problems. This lecture was very interesting as it shed some light on the fact that we should be trying to prevent these problems then fixing them after there are complications.
Dr. Libby from Brigham and Women’s Hospital gave a great lecture on the role of inflammation and atherosclerosis. This lecture explained how decreasing systemic inflammation can be a major treatment and prevention tool for atherosclerosis which is one of the leading causes of heart attacks. It was so refreshing to hear lectures done with such passion. These professors are truly in love with their jobs. It gave me some hope that after all the work and pain there is light at the end of the tunnel.
This congress made it more evident that choosing the specialty for the correct reason is important. Choosing a specialty because it pays well or you are just good at it are for me not going to cut it. I need to find the specialty that I can't think of doing anything else. It reminds me a lot of when I decided to swim competitively. It started with me liking sports in general. I loved the high I got when competing. I starting swimming to rehab an ankle injury. However, in no time at all I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I ate, drank, and slept swimming. I put my whole mind, body and soul into it. It became my life. Now that the competitive part of my swimming career is over it has been quite a transition. Redefining how I saw myself came with a move abroad far outside of my safety net. This move forced me to clarify what I value and where I was going with my life. With out a doubt I find my self missing the passion that I once had for swimming. I still love the sport but from day to day it is not an active part of me anymore. So my goal for 2014 is to find passion again and hopefully once again in medicine. I know I will find it. It is just a matter of where.
This opportunity of attending Cardiology Milan 2014 was a great way to study for my exam, which came three weeks later (which I passed with flying colors). I learned about new advances in cardiology and that cardiology might be where I find my passion again. However if it is not it gave me hope that i will find it. Its just a matter of time.
Till We Meet Again,
~M~
