Could I Be a Doctor ?
Ask yourself :
20 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
Health care professionals are in short supply in our area and nationwide . We can inspire and encourage young people to consider a career in health care . Would this article be helpful to share with someone you know ?
“ Could I be a doctor , nurse , physical therapist or other health care professional ?”
Probably so .
“ Will I become a professional health care provider ?” That should be entirely your choice . There are many people and programs to help you along the way if you should decide to take this path .
Try to visualize yourself as a doctor or other health care worker . - You will start by dreaming of listening to people — - really listening with your whole self ; - learning to feel their experience as if it were your own ;
by C . RUSSELL HOFFMAN , JR ., MD
- hearing their deepest concerns — not yet voiced ; you must listen with your heart .
Dream of learning to see the expression on their faces , the changes in their body , the color changes of their skin , to see how they move , walk , talk .
Dream of developing the skill of recognizing patterns in appearance or behavior to identify health or disease ; of smelling their breath , their skin , their wounds .
Dream of hearing the sound of their voice , their throat , their lungs .
Dream of percussing their heart , of absorbing its rhythm , clicks , bumps and thumps , high whispers , low hums and raspy rubs .
Dream of feeling the knocking of a pulse or the rumbling turbulence of obstructed blood flow .
You will learn how air sounds as it passes through healthy lungs , or the leathery , sticky crackles and whistles of damaged lungs .
You will hear and feel how air and fluid bubbles and gurgles in the abdomen , or the faint tap-tap-tap coming from new life in the womb .