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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alexandra_k on August 29, 2004, at 22:16:06
I am currently writing my Masters Thesis in Philosophy, and I am into Philosophy of Mind /Psychology / Psychiatry / Psychopathology. I finish up in Feb (eep) and am planning to apply to two PhD programs in the US in Jan. BUT: I need a backup plan so that I don't despair if my applications are unsuccessful. I have decided that I am going to apply to Med school here in NZ this October, and if I'm successful I'll get about a year of it in before moving to the US; and if the US turns me down I could be a psychiatrist in, oh, ten years or so :-)
I have been thinking about this for a while now, and I am not sure whether medicine is for me or not. I have decided that there is only one way to find out, though, and so have decided to go for it!
Wish me luck, A.
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 29, 2004, at 22:45:35
In reply to cant post to stud. board so Ill just pop this here, posted by alexandra_k on August 29, 2004, at 22:16:06
You are an awesome thinker so I would be completely supportive.
I think you would do well in USA.
I would love to welcome you.
Posted by gardenergirl on August 29, 2004, at 23:07:57
In reply to cant post to stud. board so Ill just pop this here, posted by alexandra_k on August 29, 2004, at 22:16:06
Posted by alexandra_k on August 30, 2004, at 23:50:00
In reply to cant post to stud. board so Ill just pop this here, posted by alexandra_k on August 29, 2004, at 22:16:06
Well, I thought it might be a good idea to mention this to my p-doc. He said that my psych history would indeed come up, and at that point that would be the end of that :-(
I appreciate his honesty, however I am still going to have a go. I do not plan to lie, and I think that they should give me a chance and see whether I can handle it or not. I mean it is not like they don't thoroughly observe your degree of competence over the years or anything like that. Maybe I won't want to do psychiatry anyway, maybe I'll be a brain surgeon, or a neurologist instead :-)
Am I being a bit paranoid, or is this all part of the grand plot to ensure that psychiatrists are the epitome of 'healthy adaptively functioning human beings'. By definition (and entry criteria). I don't want to practice at the end of the day anyway, I want to research, though I do understand that ya have to do clinical rounds for a while THEY OBSERVE YOUR DEGREE OF COMPETENCE SO IT IS JUST PLAIN DISCRIMINATION TO RULE YA OUT WITHOUT GIVING YA A CHANCE (in my humble opinion). I shall say words to this effect (in a nicer tone) should I make an interview. I don't have much hope really, but it is important enough to me for me to give this a go :-)
Posted by Atticus on August 31, 2004, at 10:57:00
In reply to p-doc's spanner in the works..., posted by alexandra_k on August 30, 2004, at 23:50:00
Hold the phone. You mean there actually ARE such things as "healthy adaptively functioning human beings"? Huh. I thought they were just legends, like Bigfoot and Nessie. One thing that was always stressed to us in group is that there is no such thing as a baseline perfectly mentally healthy person -- we're all arranged along a continuum. I happen to be on one end of the bell curve, having attempted suicide. But the bottom line is: just who are they comparing you to? Everyone (and I mean everyone) has some degree of what could be termed, for want of a better phrase, psychological "abnormality." In fact, the chair of the psych department at the university where I work even thinks that attempts to create a "universal" map of the brain are a crock because of all the infinite variations from person to person. I hope things work out for you. If you do apply to a school in the US, check out our federal Americans with Disabilities Act, a national mandate that bars discrimination due to any kind of disability, and explicitly includes mental illness. I'm not sure how it applies in your situation, but my understanding would be that if you're capable of completing the degree requirements, then rejecting you out-of-hand due to your medical history would be the same as rejecting someone because he or she is in a wheelchair. You might want to check this out. Good luck! :) Atticus
Posted by alexandra_k on August 31, 2004, at 20:20:48
In reply to Re: p-doc's spanner in the works... » alexandra_k, posted by Atticus on August 31, 2004, at 10:57:00
> Hold the phone. You mean there actually ARE such things as "healthy adaptively functioning human beings"? Huh. I thought they were just legends, like Bigfoot and Nessie.
Ha! Yes indeed. I did think about it a little, though, and I suppose that if ya can't trust your psychiatrist to be close to that, then who can ya trust?
>One thing that was always stressed to us in group is that there is no such thing as a baseline perfectly mentally healthy person -- we're all arranged along a continuum. I happen to be on one end of the bell curve, having attempted suicide.
Yes, I am at that end of the bell curve too (with 7 full files of psych history and multiple attempts). I think that maybe they are trying to get people from that other end of the bell curve, though...
>But the bottom line is: just who are they comparing you to? Everyone (and I mean everyone) has some degree of what could be termed, for want of a better phrase, psychological "abnormality." In fact, the chair of the psych department at the university where I work even thinks that attempts to create a "universal" map of the brain are a crock because of all the infinite variations from person to person. I hope things work out for you. If you do apply to a school in the US, check out our federal Americans with Disabilities Act, a national mandate that bars discrimination due to any kind of disability, and explicitly includes mental illness. I'm not sure how it applies in your situation, but my understanding would be that if you're capable of completing the degree requirements, then rejecting you out-of-hand due to your medical history would be the same as rejecting someone because he or she is in a wheelchair. You might want to check this out. Good luck! :) Atticus
Thankyou, I will indeed check this one out. I have been told that I need more structure in my life, and med school certaintly would provide that (whats the difference between an arts and sciences degree? - one full day, and two half-days, thats what!). Also, I am starting to think that what may help me the most is to put something into helping other people; that may well be what gets me out of my head, and my own issues, and ultimately, that may be the 'cure' for me.
I am going to have a go. I will be fully prepared (if I get as far as an interview) to have a bunch of distinguished old fullas peer at me from over their glasses and frown at me, with my 7 files splayed out in front of them. That will be my opportunity, though, to request that they give me a chance. I agree with you, it is discrimination to rule me out on mental health grounds without giving me a chance. Who knows how much I'll improve before ward rounds etc in four or so years anyway.
(Dr. B - are you laughing at me???)
Posted by Susan47 on September 1, 2004, at 23:00:28
In reply to Re: p-doc's spanner in the works..., posted by alexandra_k on August 31, 2004, at 20:20:48
Alexandra, you said this and I love your verbiage - I will be fully prepared (if I get as far as an interview) to have a bunch of distinguished old fullas peer at me from over their glasses and frown at me, with my 7 files splayed out in front of them.
You're going to be a great T if you decide that's the route you want to go. I feel like I'm too old to take that route now, but I still think about it. People are fascinating, aren't they?
This is the end of the thread.
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