Job

Something new: I have been working at Seton Medical Center for the past 2 months. It has definitely had it's ups and downs. The OR is huge and there are lots of different people, personalities and attitudes to deal with. For the most part I have enjoyed the hospital and I have some fun co-workers and doctors to work with. I am through with my orientation process and am currently working in the cardiovascular service, which as you all know is my preference. However, I have taken a new opportunity that came up out of the blue and I am really excited about it. I have joined a group of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons as a private scrub tech. I am one of 6 scrubs, 6 PA's and 17 doctors who work at 6 area hospitals around Austin. Here is a link to their website if you want more information about the group: http://www.ctvstexas.com/
This is an unbelievably big step in my career which brings a lot of new experience and responsibility. I will work exclusively with this group doing only their cases. I will be learning how to do heart transplants and pediatric heart surgery. I will get the chance to assist in these surgeries as well as pass instruments and down the road I will learn to take the saphenous vein out of the leg to be used for bypass grafts in CABGS (coronary artery bypass graft surgery). I know that this will be an awesome job but I also know that I have a big learning curve to face and the next few months will be stressful but in the end I am going to do well in this position. I will keep everyone posted (or try to anyway).

Whirlwind

Ok, so I have been in Austin for 2 months now and I can't remember a time in my life when I have been happier. It is so wonderful to be close to my friends. I didn't realize how lonely and sequestered I have felt for the past 3 years until now. And along with the friends that were already here I have met a big group of new friends to hang out with. This city is so beautiful and there is always something to do. The people here are real friendly. I live in a great neighborhood with lots of coffee shops and restaurants close by as well as Town Lake which is a great walking spot and also a good place to kayak which hopefully I will be partaking in someday. I've done a lot of work on my apartment which is super cute and unique. Here are some of my before and after pictures of the furniture I have redone and also of my tiny 450 sq. ft apt.