From the Archives

I found this nugget of history in a useless folder, buried deep in the electronic bowels of the Chief folder. It dates back to when Erik Rufa was chief (now Hospitalist Attending) and when Nate Madsen was a resident. (now Cardiology Fellow). Thousands of years from now, I wonder how historians will analyze this? I suppose it depends on if ties were still in fashion...or if the Star Trek unitards will be dominating 5th Ave....Youngstown OH (In the future, NYC will have reached its prime, and the city that never sleeps will be Youngstown)

Maybe alien life forms are scouring for other life and will intercept this video. How will they interpret this film? Will there fake gesture of friendliness be tyring to have a "tie race"? Only time will tell...or we'll forget about it and feel bad that we didn't delete it....

Yes It Happened

As with much of the world, UVM/FAHC celebrated the inauguration of our 44th President and Vice-President: Barack H. Obama and Joe R. Biden. The mood at the hospital and our residency was excitement. Political affiliations, Red Sox, Yankees...all were put aside...


The hospital televised the inauguration in Davis (The "big" Auditorium near the med school). Not only did staff clamor to Davis, our residents went to enormous efforts to transport patients to experience the celebratory vibe as well. Needless to say, all televisions were on at 1205. The theme of the inauguration was, "A New Birth of Freedom," commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Placing his hand on the Bible once used by Lincoln, Barack Obama took the Oath of Office at 12:05 p.m. on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

As most readers know, 75% of eligible Vermonters showed up to vote with 66% of them voting for Obama/Biden. Needless to say the enthusiasm for our new president is high, especially with our very own Gastroenterologist Peter L. Moses MD, Professor of Medicine UVM COM and Associate Vice President for Network Development FAHC. Ever since the election, Dr. Moses literally has been hanging out with now President Obama (see below).
"Barack, has always got my back...." states Dr. Moses, "mostly because I put him in the corner next to my chair". We briefly discussed politics with Dr. Moses:

IMVermont: What political party do you affiliate yourself with?

MosesMD: I respect all people, no matter what side of the ligament of Treitz they stand on...

IMVermont: Ok....what did you think of....


MosesMD: (click here for background music)

Oh, say can you see by the scope’s zenon light?
What so proudly I sail at my amazing cancer screening;
Whose broad polyps and AVMs, through the perilous scope,
O’er the monitors we watched were so briskly bleeding?
And the mucosa’s red glare, polyps excised with no care,
Gives proof to the scope light, that intact colon wall was still there:
O….Say does that pedunculated polyp yet wave (not)
O’er the land of the cancer free and the home of the saved?

God bless Barack Obama and God bless the
United States of America.

IMVermont: Dr. Moses…that was amazing…Barack is still smiling....

Please note that Dr. Moses probably did not use the words above to express his happiness and patriotism...But trust that he was one of many that celebrated in the peaceful transition of power and a new birth of freedom....

Remember the Holidays?

As the holiday season is over, we all are "fa la, laing " back into our middle management jobs, interviews, research, fuller pants, emptier pockets, vitamin D deficiency and [oh yeah] patient care. How does one cope with the post holiday blues? I tried to consult Psych for answers, but had to wait 14 months for an appointment.


Some options that I came up with are: 1) an SSRI 2) full spectrum light bulbs 3) extreme caffienation 4) Skiing till you get rhabdo 4) Daydreaming and live in wonderful memories of the past.


(click here for Jethro Tull's background music for this blog).


I will briefly be concentrating on #4. Tuning out is not an uncommon phenomena in hard working residents. It's like sleeping with your eyes open. A resident can tune out at any moment: during morning report, rounds, noon conference, patient interivews, and even while reading this.... They may tune out to streaming colors, mock wrestling matches between celebrities and comic book characters, or talking animals doing human jobs with surgically enhanced puppets as their assitants.


What memories of the past would residents have to reside in to break away from the dredges of hospital life? Memories of the holidays are be a viable option. If you have the post holidays blues, the high must of been holiday related. A few examples of the memories this program has 1) the holiday party 2) being somewhere else and not working 3) new additions to our family


1) Our holiday party: thrown at Three Tomatoes, on Church street was an evening with appetizers, drinks, and music. Of note, more interns came out versus the previous holiday parties (the one applicant reading this will find this fact comforting). The night progressed late into the night at 1/2 lounge. When asked about this the next day, intern Mary Ellen Antkowiak described the party as, "memorable" in between bites of intern report provided greasy pasta,mountain dew. and cookies (cookies alone could be something to daydream about...)


2)Places we've been: This entry is specifically for Natalie Sinclair. Remember when you were in Australia? I'm not sure if Natalie will be daydreaming of what's below as she Night ICU's it up. Note that Natalie does not sponsor Coke Zero....




3) New additions: Our residents are greatful for adding to the family. Over the holidays, there were new births:

R1 Scott Loomis and wife Artegmis welcomed baby Anitgone Loomis (above)

R1 Will Cobell and family welcomed baby Boston "the Boss" Jay Cobell (above)

R2 Zech Gardner and Jaina Clough (former resident, now fabulous primary care physician) welcomed Cal Gardner (above)

So...plenty of reasons to break us out of the post holiday doldrums. Warm thoughts of social occations, family, travel all wrapped up while we work. These are just some examples of what we weave into our minds as we help others cope with their own blues....

Silly Husky...doesnt he know he cant suture? And why do Burt & Ernie keep falling down? They look more top heavy than I remember....Sorry tuned out. Go ski.