People don't always remember this, but J is actually a real doctor. As in, he has an "MD" after his name and he's legitimately qualified to make fun of error-riddled medical TV shows. So even though he's well past medical school and actively cuts people open to fix their organs, sometimes with complete independence, he's also still in training and therefore still a student. And what better way to remind someone they're still a student than to give them a giant exam every year? Say hello to ABSITE, the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination, "a multiple-choice exam designed to measure the progress attained by residents in their knowledge of applied science and management of clinical problems related to surgery" (ABS In-Training Examination). Every year at the end of January, J and his fellow residents sit for this 5-hour long test to make sure they are both retaining past knowledge and developing new knowledge throughout the course of their program. The test covers more or less the same content each year, but residents are expected to be able to perform better each subsequent year they take it. It can be used both as an evaluative tool to measure resident preparedness and promotion and to assess a program's efficacy. ABSITE scores are also frequently referenced in Fellowship applications and, in some cases, can make or break an applicants prospects. It's also great at driving a resident's spouse bonkers!
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Sunday in our home is our "Get Stuff Done" day. Between J and me, our typical Sunday To Do list includes:
This do-it-all-on-Sunday schedule works just fine for me with my Monday-Friday job, but is less convenient for J whose schedule has no concept of seven-day-cycles and that perpetually enigmatic "weekend." Indeed, finding a way to balance the demands of our two conflicting schedules has been among the biggest hurdles in residency, because not only does getting things checked off my list bring me a sense of calm, but so does spending quality time with J. While tasks and errands and obligations multiply, quality time is hard to come by. It was a Friday, and I had managed to fall dreadfully behind on my Shabbat-prep timeline. Challah was in the oven, but I still had to make the rice, cook the vegetables, and prepare all the toppings for our poke bowl Shabbat dinner, for which a few guests were arriving that evening. And I needed to make dessert but of course I didn't have all the ingredients so I had to run to the grocery store but I also still had to clean up and---
"I'll do the grocery shopping, sweetie. I can see you're getting stressed, so I'll take care of that." *Swoon* J really does know me! And not only did he buy the groceries, but while he was there he also picked up the toilet paper and cat litter we needed. Then he spent an hour chopping vegetables with me, arranged them into beautiful platters, and we hosted a spectacular meal with friends, after which he single-handedly cleaned up. My hero! Unfortunately, my bliss was short-lived. |
AuthorNashira is a music teacher and proud Small-Town Jew who, after surthriving six years in Brooklyn for her husband's surgical residency, is finally back in Wisconsin where she belongs! At least until the end of the two-year surgical fellowship, that is. It's a wild ride, and she's ready to tell you all about it! Archives
September 2019
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