#mbrady16

[mbrady16]

A Hopeful Outlook

I stumbled upon this image and had to share it due to the hopeful view it provides on primary care medicine! According to research done by the Hay group, there is a projected increase in annual earnings for primary care physicians within the next decade. This makes things  a bit more brighter, as an increase in salary will heighten the appeal for this branch of medicine, hopefully increasing the net influx of new primary care physicians!

[mbrady16]

Jamaica Kincaid Remix~ An Emphasis on Second Person and Pathos

Writing Remix: An Acrostic

Rhetorical Devices Used:

 1. Second Person

2. Pathos

P ay attention.

R ethink

I mmediately

M edical legislation

A nd

R eform

Y our thinking.

Care from primary physicians

Absolutely

Remains

Essential.

~To all of the legislators and medical reformers who believe primary care is not necessary…and to all of the individuals plagued by ignorance who believe women cant be doctors…

You need to listen to and be aware of the primary care shortage in America. You need to begin to view primary care physicians and women in a different light, as it is a necessary field and us women can get the job done. Primary Care is an integral component to healthcare and society, and the healthcare system in American simply cannot function without its foundation. The debt crisis for medical students, the lack of glory and attention placed on primary care, and the educational process must be revised if we are to keep our foundation from cracking.

     Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act are pieces of legislation that changed the face of medicine forever, there is an extreme need for primary care physicians in the coming years, as Obamacare has made it necessary for Americans to carry health insurance and seek a primary care physician. They will become even more necessary with this new legislation, however; legislation has yet to come out reforming the cost and return for medical students. You must take action and contribute to the educational funding for primary care physicians if you ever expect students to pursue this field. And who decided that anesthesiologists should rake in an annual income of $350,000 while primary care physicians total only $160,000. Did you? I mean, personally, when I think of the doctor I think of my primary care physician. When I have an immediate problem, I go to my primary care physician. When I need advice, I go to my primary care physician. See a trend? This needs to be amended. Now. And it is time for our legislators to listen up.

And while you are listening to my rant, why don’t the arrogant male physicians and ignorant patients listen up as well…

You need to understand that women are just as qualified as men to become successful and thriving physicians. You need to take it to heart that women are just as capable as men in carrying out proper medical decisions and diagnosis. They are just as capable in the sciences, and are able to appropriately apply their knowledge in such a way as to impact the world. It is high time that these stereotypes and prejudices around women physicians and scientists end.

As an undergraduate female in the sciences, I am well aware of the gender imbalance. I am a biochemistry and molecular biology major, and almost always feel like the outcast as a female in such a male dominated area of study. At times I feel inadequate or not as highly trusted as many of my male counterparts, and this feeling is a direct product of the stereotypes that society has created for itself.

Men are often viewed as smarter or more capable in the field of science and mathematics in particular. Society has created this stigma, as men are usually more relevant in these fields of study. If you have any role in the creation of this stigma, then you should really think about changing your ways. Yet, these stereotypes are in no way true, and you should really believe this. Just because women are the statistical minority in these instances, it does not translate to an incapability on our parts.

This gender stereotype is one that is becoming more prevalent in our society, and it is important that you begin to see the effects of it. We as a society need more physicians and scientists to balance the aging population and the increase in diseases such as cancer. If women are discouraged at  a young age, perhaps even as middle and high school students, then we as a society and you as individuals are not doing your part in contributing to the betterment of this issue.

The issue discussed previously regarding the need for better legislation is directly correlated with the issue of gender stereotypes and prejudice. If the legislation is not there to serve as a foundation for primary care physician growth then there will certainly not be a solution to the dilemma surrounding the primary care shortage. Yet, the shortage will only be enhanced with the current stigma around women and their capability to become successful and trustworthy physicians. Many individuals feel as though they are in better hands and are more likely to be cared for in the correct manner if they have a male physician. There is a certain image created with a male doctor, as they supposedly seem stronger, more intelligent, and more qualified to be a good physician.

Yet, I am here to say this is not true, and if you believe this is true, then you need a reality check.

Women are just as if not more capable of becoming primary care physicians. Primary care physicians are the initial point of contact for patients, who are often nervous or worried in the first place to be in contact with the medical world. This being said, it is almost an essential component to a primary care physician that they be caring and compassionate, with a warm personality. They often represent the face of medicine for Americans, and it is important that they be caring and understanding towards their patients. It is important to possess a holistic perspective when you are a primary care physician, as you must consider many components and areas of their lives, including their family and overall well -being and happiness. Women, with their natural maternal instincts innately present, would be an excellent face for the initial point of contact in many cases. It is characteristically in the nature of women, and it is about high time the medical and social world listen up to this very flawed system.

In summary, you must listen to the cries of the public and address this shortage with a methodical and well developed plan. In addition, as not to fuel this already existent shortage, you must listen up and begin to view women as equally capable individuals.

[mbrady16]

Opposite Side of the Debate

While there are certainly many people who believe there is indeed an urgency shortage of primary care physicians, there is also a great deal of individuals who do not believe this is the case. In fact, some people do not have annual visits to their primary care physician and simply do not believe in this preventative type of care. 

Yet, with the affordable care act, it will be necessary that individuals have a primary care doctor, but if they utilize this gift or not is the question. 

On the opposing side of the debate lies these individuals mentioned above, who do not believe there is an urgency to the issue, as specialists are the way to go an primary care is a field of medicine that has simply run out of time. We must not let these views take over the majority of the country, and we must work towards a solving the shortage now!

[mbrady16]

Presidents need Doctors too

When asked to relate a president to my issue of primary care, not going to lie, I was a little nervous as to how these two seemingly unrelated subjects would find a common ground. Then it donned on me, presidents have doctors too! In fact, there is  a personal doctor assigned to each of the presidents, and they accompany them wherever they may go. In the article from the New York Times cited above, the personal doctor to President Clinton, Dr. Mariano, is highlighted. She tells of the rigorous position she once held, along with all of the stresses and anxiety it caused. She needed to be available at any point should a medical emergency concerning the President or his family present itself.

Presidents, like the rest of America and the world, are people too in need of  a primary care physician. They are clearly important and necessary to the well being of many individuals, supporting my campaign even further!

[mbrady16]

Related Meme~

While this may be a satirical and funny representation of the shortage we must brace ourselves for, it is an ever present issue in America! One day we will truly be devoid of primary care physicians if we do not get our act together.

ps..sorry this is so corny I am working on my creativity~

[mbrady16]

Are Nurse Practitioners the Answer?

In an effort to gain a different perspective on my topic, I decided to investigate the opposing side to my argument for the necessity of primary care physicians. I personally believe that they are an integral component to the healthcare system in America, as they serve as the foundation of personal healthcare. Yet, it is the ideas of many that the shortage may be a blessing in disguise. There are many people who feel that these types of doctors are not necessary, and professionals such as Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners are just as qualified to assume the responsibilities and duties of these physicians. I personally do not believe this is the solution, but I understand the importance of a rounded view and taking into consideration the thoughts of others. 

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are qualified medical professionals with extensive training. I takes less time to become educated as one of these professionals, with a 6 year education plan in juxtaposition to that of an eight year plan with medical doctors. This shortened education results in a decrease in expense, and thus a lesser debt from those graduating from these professions. This automatically makes these fields more attractive in this day and age, and is one of the many enticing factors. 

Also, patient satisfaction is deemed to be roughly the same, and the outcomes between these two positions do not prove to be statistically significant based on findings in this and several other articles I have come across during this entire research process. Considering this and the changing face of health care the other side of the argument certainly does bring up a good point. 

Are Primary Care Physicians really needed?

[mbrady16]

Raising Awareness~ Primary Care

Link: http://www.umassmed.edu/som/admissions/baccmdmain.aspx

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend the Umass Baccalaureate MD Pathway Program at University of Massachusetts School of Medicine in Worcester, MA. The objective of this event was to raise awareness for the physician shortage, and attempt to address this issue by creating interest in the minds of young undergraduates just setting out on the journey. This program specifically admits UMass students who are from an undeserved population, or who reside in a county in Massachusetts that is deemed to be an area with a shortage of Primary Care by Federal guidelines. This program makes it easier for qualified and passionate students to begin the road to primary care, and I was honored to be able to attend. 

I am certainly more passionate about achieving my goals of becoming a Primary Care physician after attending this event, and I am sure it created this same sense of passion within other students minds. Events like this raise awareness to this increasingly serious issue, and I was honored and grateful to be in attendance.

[mbrady16]

A Renewed Perspective

Upon reading the post that was very critical, to say the last, of our English Writing 112 course and its established objectives and assignments, I was very taken aback. I was surprised that someone with no relation to the class or its ultimate objectives would give so much thought and care to our assignment. Furthermore, I was surprised at the level of offense present in his posts, and simply thought to myself that I could never, not even as an anonymous person behind a computer screen, post something with so little thought or consideration for the work of others.

I completely disagree with the statement of the individual that “Congratulations, this is a disservice to your students and a disgrace to the English department. Now anyone can see just how little you're teaching the freshmen” I have to admit at first, I was an arrogant freshman who believed that I did not need to be in this introductory writing class. I was bitter that I missed the SAT cut off by 10 points, and was adamant about the graders of the summer orientation essay rescoring my work. Yet, now as the semester comes to a close, I am SO grateful to have had the opportunity to take this course, especially with Greg as my instructor. My eyes have been opened to weaknesses in my writing, and I will use this class and the guidelines it has given me as a foundation for moving forward in my educational endeavors.

Also, I was one of the second graders who wrote an acrostic poem. It was followed up by 5 paragraphs of revised and thoughtful insight, but apparently the fact that there is an acrostic poem present in an effort to add some dimension and depth to the assignment as a whole was the move of a second grader. Furthermore, this anonymous individual believes I wrote an acrostic poem with my name, while I instead aimed to express my ideas regarding healthcare reform and the primary care physician shortage in America through a creative medium. It is my feeling that post after post and paragraph after paragraph referencing the primary care physician shortage can become very dry and boring, and the attention of the audience is at stake. The poem was something outside of my comfort zone, as is posting on social media, yet I applaud the objectives and thoughts of the instructors in prompting us students to pursue these varied paths.

This post has certainly changed my perspective, and only for the better. It has made me more aware of the strong work of the instructors of the course, and has made their objectives even clearer. It has made me more passionate about this class, as I completely disagree with everything posted by the anonymous user. I believe that social media can be used as a very positive medium, such as with this project. Greg as highlighted that he wanted us to communicate our ideas to the public and receive actual positive feedback. Greg’s project also has allowed me to see the ideas of my classmates and hear their viewpoints, which is an aspect that I have truly come to value. However, through this post, it has become clear that social media can be used in a negative way, and we must take on that personal responsibility to use social media in the most effective and thought-provoking manner possible.