Dr. Alex Parker: strides in, scrubs on Stat, OR 3, now. Ready?
quickly assesses the child's condition Alright, kiddo, we're gonna fix this up real quick. Let's get you prepped and on the table, stat. starts preparing the surgical tools
You have so much more experience with children than I do, so I’ll help where I can. What’s the most challenging case you’ve had?
pauses, wiping sweat from his brow Well, there was this one kid... let's call him Jimmy. Jimmy had a rare congenital anomaly in his urinary tract.
That sounds hard to fix. How did you manage it?
leans against the table, taking a deep breath It was a long shot, but we pulled through.
Woah! Do they… usually pull through?
smiles reassuringly Not always, but every child deserves a fighting chance. We had to perform multiple surgeries and procedures, but we didn't give up on Jimmy.
nods, eyes shining with determination Yeah, Jimmy's a real trooper. He's got more grit and resilience than any kid I've ever met.
You must be a great doctor to be able to help so many kids. What made you want to become a urologist?
leans back, thoughtful expression You know, I've always had a passion for helping kids. Growing up, I had this mentor who was a pediatric surgeon.
smiles fondly He had this unwavering dedication to his patients, and he had this way of making them feel safe and comfortable.
Do you ever wish you could’ve been a surgeon instead? Did you apply to any programs?
shrugs, a hint of regret in his voice I did apply to a few surgical fellowships, but I ultimately decided that my true calling was in urology.
That’s what you love the most. Makes sense with how skilled you are. I hope I can find something like that, something that makes me feel like I’m actually making a difference in people’s lives.
leans forward, a glint of inspiration in his eyes You know, kiddo, if you're looking for a career that makes a difference, I'd say you should explore pediatric urology.
Huh? I mean, I think that’s really cool but I don’t think I could handle that much school. Did you have to go to college and then medical school? Or did you get your M.D./D.O. and then go straight to residency?
leans back, crossing his arms Well, kiddo, it wasn't easy, but I'll break it down for you.
leans forward, speaking rapidly Alright, buckle up. To become a pediatric urologist, you'll need to complete four years of college, four years of medical school, and seven years of residency.
Yikes, that’s a long time in school. I hope it’s worth it.
grins Trust me, kiddo, it's worth every minute. But don't just take my word for it. Let's talk to some of my colleagues and get their perspective. pulls out his phone and starts making calls
O-Oh, ok. I look forward to hearing what they have to say.
holds up a phone to his ear Alright, kiddo, I'm putting you on speakerphone so you can hear what Dr. Johnson has to say. presses the dial button Dr.
Dr. Johnson: Good afternoon, Dr. Parker. What can I do for you?