Neurvous Neurosurgery

The latest segment of my unemployment saga has taken an interesting turn. Received a call for an interview from Continuum Health Partners (an umbrella service for some of NYC's largest hospitals). The woman on the other end of the phone wasn't able to specify which position this was for, indicating it was for the "Physician Assistant position." Which one of the 200 I've currently applied for, I wondered? So off I went to interview for the PA position without any knowledge of which medical specialty.

After filling out my umpteenth 10 page paper application, I found myself sitting across from an effeminate one-eyed Filipino man who cut me off during each response to his questions. After a flurry of odd comments regarding PA positions, he picked up the phone and within 5 minutes I was hustled down the street to St. Lukes- Roosevelt hospital to meet with a Neurosurgery team who had posted a job announcement 10 minutes prior.

I felt like someone had conked me on the head, when I came to I was sitting across from a maniacal looking man dressed in scrubs whose eyes appeared to be closer to me than the glasses on his face. This particular man couldn't seem to complete any sentence he decided to start. I knew I was in an neurosurgery team's office, right? Well, it appeared this man had been one of the team's experimental patients who now was on the payroll so they could avoid a malpractice suit. This guy was WEIRD. Needless to say, he couldn't provide me with much confluent information. I later learned he was one of the team's 3 PA's.

Then a very rotund 60'ish looking fellow bumped the office door open with his protruding abdomen. He apparently was interested in only one thing about me. "So, you're from New York?" Umm, no, I am from Wisconsin (to me this sounds less remote than Oregon or Maine). He then asked me the same question again, about being from New York. His Russian accent was very thick, almost as thick as his dark beard, which appeared to cover his entire body. I don't think he new of any other part of the US than NY. He then followed his belly out the door. I learned he was another one of the 3 PA's.

Next through the door was the straightest shooter of the bunch who through down every salient detail I needed to know in all of 3 and a half minutes. Apparently, I sat in the office of New York's preeminent Intervential Radiology/Neurosugery team who specialize in AVM's and Brain Aneurysms and they were looking to fill a position for their 4th PA on the team. Skeptical of new grads based on their dearth of knowledge and likelihood of leaving after one year, yet enticed by their assumed 'clean slate' marketability -- they've asked me to come back to meet the Surgeons (3) on Monday morning. I must admit, I'm a little nervous about this one. I was hoping for a little remote primary care office nestled in a fishing village somewhere near the ocean. Somehow, I find myself a few blocks from Times Square potentially peering into people's cerebral cortex with the million dollar machines. What to do? What to say? Anyone? Anyone?

Job Blah Blog

A variety of responses from my intitial entry. Yes, perhaps working is overrated, underpaid and overappreciated. As much as I feel left out of the working world, I quite enjoy having time to stroll to the Park Slope Food Coop (foodcoop.com), an entity which deserves its very own future blog, to lugg back as much organic goodies as fits in my backpack to throw into a savory Moosewood recipe. I'll miss that for sure.

Truth be told, I've turned down a few positions for various reasons, mostly due to the "shady factor". An example would be the place where I was offered $60K (keep in mind this is NYC) without health benefits. After scrutinizing this offer - I was informed the facility had plenty of docs around who could take care of me if I were to become ill. ;-) Since then, I've been offered a job in a prison as a researcher (required two year commitment and no patient contact). A Urology position with a 90 minute commute (that's one way). This left too much time sitting on a train pondering how many latex gloves I went through in a day. Sprinkle a few more 'shady offers' in there and let's call it a potpurri of perplexing positions.

However, not all is lost. I'm currently awaiting word on two Internal Medicine positions at two very reputable institutions. Of course these have a catch, too. One is at Cornell ~ sounds good, right? Three 12 hr shifts a week. Not bad. And yes those happen to be on Friday/Saturday/Sunday night. I find myself strangely attracted to this position. Is there desperation in my voice? The other position would be working on a Stroke Team with Maimonides renowned Dr. Rudolph. 3/12's during the week. Downside....night shift and very low $$. My hope is to score an interview for a position at Cabrini Medical Center working as a Geriatric Psychiatry PA. Think about the blog entries spawning from that!

Apple, Table, Penny

What the hell happened to that guy?

Hi. I heard somewhere that sharing your thoughts and experiences makes life more meaningful. It could have been my graduate school class president who said that. But my short term memory isn't the best in town! In creating this blog, it's my attempt at opening a channel in which I can share my little world with you. So please, send me your thoughts and experiences and we'll call it a party.

I've been looking for an outlet, or a realm, in which to share these thoughts for awhile now. I wish I would have started this back in May - in an effort to chronicle the experience of post graduation and beyond. May thru November marks an amusing, reminiscent and humbling period of my life. As the amusement seems to continue, now appears to be as good a time as any to begin chronicling.

Living/moving to New York presented more of a challenge to me than passing the PANCE exam and without question, happens to be one of the more interesting places I've called home. Those include places known as Ft. Kent, ME / Naknek, AK / Linkoping - Sweden / Banikoara - Benin. More difficult than transitioning to New York has been finding employement in this intensely populated, crazy nest of people. Yes, despite having all the credentials and qualifications to fulfill what US News and World Report deems as one of the 10 best jobs in the country, I have yet to procure employment as a Physician Assistant in the largest city with the highest population of underserved people. For the record, that is 5 months and counting.

In the spirit of friendship and tellin' it like it is, I welcome your comments. If you've wondered 'what ever happened to that guy' - hopefully this will answer that question. Double Plum(b)er called me last weekend to find out how I was managing life in NY. So many thoughts came to mind, instead, I began explaining that I hadn't found gainful employment. As probably the last soul (besides Tina Lina Bobina Altstatt) in our class yet to land a job, I figured this would be a great way to do something productive - tell stories. Please inform me if you'ld rather be spared.

Tune in soon for the next episode of "What the hell happened to that guy"