Sarah Giles
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
- 10/11/2011
No room for doctor books at the dinner table
What had I left on the kitchen table? What was it that my non-doctor sister found so offensive? - 10/2/2011
War and medicine: an intense experience
I gasped and my hand automatically clamped over my mouth. Only three steps into the Canadian War Museum’s exhibit on War and Medicine and I was having strong reactions. The piece that made me gasp was a photo of a man sitting in a hospital bed receiving a hug. The photo was taken from behind the patient. It took a second to register that a third of his head was missing. - 9/18/2011
How to get into medical school
At this time of year, I often find myself being asked for tips on how to get into medical school, so I thought I'd condense my thoughts into a tip sheet. To start, remember to study what you love. - 9/7/2011
Bigger isn’t better, it’s just different
I have spent August working in big population centres—the biggest I have ever worked in as a staff person. Working in a larger centre gives a family doc/hospitalist/ER doc backup but it takes away some of the fun. - 8/18/2011
Oh, to speak French
A few weeks ago, I was working in a Francophone community, chit-chatting with an elderly patient in the ER . . . - 8/10/2011
Call karma
I don’t believe in superstitions, ghosts or special powers, but I do believe in call karma—and mine sucks. - 7/27/2011
We are all replaceable
Three years ago, I left a practice I had joined. When I had signed on, I had every intention of being there indefinitely. I adored my co-workers but found the work incredibly stressful. I woke up each night worrying about my patients and the news that a new day would bring. Last week, I went back to that practice for a locum. To be honest, I was hurt that I wasn’t remembered. - 7/18/2011
Why I don't work for Doctors Without Borders
I’ve worked in some tough Canadian communities where poverty and suicide are rampant but I’ve never watched children die of diarrhea. I am not sure my heart can handle the ravages of NGO work. - 6/27/2011
What household wiring and obstetrics have in common
We can always suck it up, take a deep breath and hope for the best, or we can take courses that might be helpful in managing situations that are outside of our general scope of care. As a family doc practising 50% ER, it only makes sense that I renew my confidence in OB emergencies. - 6/21/2011
Sharing my fears on the conference circuit
At a recent conference, the first session I presented was called, “I didn’t know it would be this scary.” I wanted to normalize the fear we all feel when working in the ER, as well as the imposter syndrome. The medical students in attendance didn’t realize there would be times when they would feel afraid. Oops, sorry about that guys.
