Is There a Doctor in the House?

The short answer is--not really. I think most of us untrained staffers are respectful of the time of our faculty and students and try not to corner them inappropriately. However, our faculty and students are very caring, concerned health care professionals and they are very willing to offer information and advice when appropriate.

Personally, I love this part of my job. I had only been here a few months when an AZCOM faculty member pulled me aside after a meeting to express concern that I might be anemic--based on my gum color. Sure enough, I had some blood work done and not only confirmed I was anemic but ended up with a transfusion. I regularly get to hear conversations about the latest treatments and vaccines. And working at Midwestern University when the Swine Flu first raised its ugly head was actually incredibly comforting. If the faculty and students at a health professions university aren't staying at home or walking through campus wearing masks that says something.

That's not to say it's always good. Since I've been pregnant it has been interesting. Not only do I get the usual assortment of opinions and advice from my co-workers but I also get some unsolicited comments from faculty and some interesting questions from our students. Apparently my pregnant stomach looks bigger then average leading to speculations of an earlier delivery date or multiple children. Not that of these comments are bad per se--I'm just starting to get a complex.

I do bring some of it on myself however. I did just agree to be a practice patient for our PA students in June. Not only did I agree because I always try to support our students' education as much as possible but who knows--I may find out something really interesting.