Very good. - Dr. Pontejos on our ORL grand rounds

Our Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) rotation ended today. Some know ORL more as ENT, or (Ear, Nose, and Throat).

I had pretty mixed feelings about this rotation. I came in wanting to learn but really knew ORL was low on my differentials for specialization. I got frustrated at how I had such difficulty in performing certain examinations.

But I saw how in their department, there was an atmosphere of learning. Consultants were very ‘light’, throwing jokes here and there but still each giving his expert opinion on a case. Errors are corrected constructively, driving in the point but not in a scolding manner.

With time, I was finally able to do the examinations properly (provided patients are cooperative and hypo to normo-gaggers). I no longer found it as hard to come up with a differential diagnosis and to ask directed questions. I was able to appreciate the specialty more.

But, no, I still have no plans of specializing in ORL. hehe.

On another note, this rotation gave me a chance to report in the grand rounds as part of a team of reporters. I discussed the disease entity and it’s special considerations given the pediatric patient. I also touched a bit on the histopathology and genetics of the disease.

Partly I had volunteered - I missed reporting and wanted to experience it again; and partly I felt indebted to my blockmate who did all the research for the topic. When the conference started, I ran through the presentation in my head. The first parts went well, and when my turn to report came, I came up to the podium and discussed what I understood.

Thankfully I got rave reviews on my presentation -  and so did the rest of the team. The consultants were impressed and had only a few questions for us.

I don’t know if it was because our classmate was the child of a consultant, because we had a relatively simple case, or because we didn’t use slide notes/read off the slides. But it felt so rewarding to hear a reference of “yung magaling mag-report” and get a congratulatory handshake from a consultant, especially that these are people we look up to.

It’s a feeling I don’t mind having once in a while. :)