On average, physicians interrupt their patients after only 18 seconds. Source forthcoming

Class of 2015 Code of Conduct URSM&D

We, the URSM&D Class of 2015, gratefully embrace our diversity of backgrounds, personalities and ambitions. We gather united for the purpose of serving humanity, arriving at this moment not simply through our own work, but indebted to innumerable others.


Excellence in this endeavor requires our adherence to certain principles. As students and physicians, we recognize our role as ambassadors for our institution and the field of medicine. We accept responsibility to adhere to a moral and ethical code in our words and actions. We believe that this life of service must be rooted first in compassion and empathy: for our patients, for our peers, and for our community. In the framework of the biopsychosocial model, we acknowledge that our patients, and all people, are more than their ailments.


We share a belief that challenges are better faced together than alone. We trust that our curiosity, patience, and humor willhelp us in our journey. Maintaining balance and strength in our personal lives and relationships is crucial to the optimal care of our patients. As we are at our best, so we give our best.


The value of our beliefs lies in our commitment to live them out through our actions. Recalling the privileged contract we have made with society, we dedicate ourselves as physicians to be advocates for our patients and agents of social justice. We will maximize our potential through continued introspection, embracing our limitations as opportunities for growth. As we mature in our understanding of medicine, we will strive to be innovative leaders and teachers of the next generation.


In the spirit of Meliora, we will remember this pledge in the hope that we may find renewed energy and commitment to our beliefs and purpose.




We pledged the above in unison after we received our white coats yesterday. It was written by sending one representative from each small group to a threshing session where the details were worked out. While not every word was unanimously agreed on, this pledge captures the spirit of our class and what we hope to achieve.  

Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie

I am

homesick for the west

inspired to seek employment on a reservation

angered by our continued mistakes with the first nations

saddened in solidarity

daunted by the height of the obstacles facing American Indians

Baha'u'llah, an introduction

I read this book one page at a time as I was falling asleep each night. Though a more readable account of his life and work is probably available here, I found great comfort in the words and language contained in this book.

Many of the ideas in Baha'i faith remind me of Quakerism, but the very existence of Baha'u'llah and his supposed greater than average "messenger of God" abilities really strike me as antithetical to the whole idea of equality and equal access to God's wisdom. But I am no theologian, and I have much to learn. I will keep an open mind as I broaden my religious horizons.

Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks

Suddenly I'm interested in neurology. And absolutely amazed by how mysterious and unknown the brain remains.

This book was full of anecdotes, some extremely fascinating, and some incredibly boring. My favorites included:

Brainworms

Absolute Pitch

Musical Savants

Synesthesia and Music

Music and Amnesia

Aphasia and Music Therapy

Parkinson's Disease and Music Therapy

Phantom Fingers

Athletes of the Small Muscles (Dystonia)

Will probably revisit this book as I learn more about each of the disorders. Great to put a human face on each condition and learn how music is related. I really want to keep music in my life.

Is Sugar Toxic (New York Times Magazine) by Gary Taubes

This article is fascinating. Actually the research and hypotheses that Taubes investigate are fascinating. I really need to learn some more biochem before I feel absolutely comfortable agreeing with all the ideas put forth by Lustig at UCSF.

The most frightening part of this article was actually not how sugar becomes fat, but how policy comes from agricultural and industrial lobbyists. Frightening...

Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Unbelievable how much corn we grow in this country, and how the free market forces have attempted to shape the inelastic demand of human hunger into a profitable enterprise that can sustain continuous growth. Also fascinating how artificially low oil prices have supported this bubble of energy intensive agriculture. Not going to be pretty when it bursts.