SOL: Stanzas of Life

I just finished my Internal Medicine rotation, and it’s hard to put into words how transformative these past four weeks have been. This rotation was not just about learning to manage chronic conditions or interpret lab results, rather it was about rediscovering why I fell in love with medicine in the first place!

The structure itself was perfect: two weeks on the inpatient service, followed by two weeks in the outpatient clinic. It felt like seeing the full circle of care, from the urgency and rounding of hospital medicine to the slower, more personal pace of follow-up visits. I even recognized some familiar faces in clinic, patients I’d helped care for in the hospital who were now recovering, smiling, and sharing how far they have come. That sense of continuity, walking with someone from illness to healing, was incredibly grounding.

One encounter that will stay with me forever was with a young patient suffering from severe alcoholic cirrhosis. He was around my age, which made it even more difficult to watch the toll that addiction had taken on his body. I spent a long time sitting with his mother, listening as she wrestled with fear and hope. Together, we talked through ways she could support him in staying sober, and I realized how much medicine extends beyond prescriptions and lab values. Sometimes the most meaningful “treatment” we can offer is time, empathy, and genuine human connection.

In the outpatient setting, I saw many older adults for their Medicare wellness checkups. Those visits were filled with stories, decades of wisdom, resilience, and laughter. I loved those conversations, and it brought me such incredible joy to hear of their experiences. They reminded me that preventive care is more than screening labs and vital signs; it’s about preserving independence, dignity, and joy.

One of my favorite parts of this rotation was being able to perform Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) for patients struggling with chronic back and neck pain. A few of them had been considering steroid injections or surgery, but after gentle manipulation and stretching, their pain eased, and their faces lit up with relief. It was such a powerful reminder that healing can happen through the simplest acts of touch through the principles I first studied in textbooks, now coming alive at the bedside.

Every day during lunchtime we had thoughtful didactic sessions led by fellows and attendings in cardiology, nephrology, and other subspecialties. We reviewed ECGs, POCUS findings, and new ACP guidelines, but what stood out most was how much these mentors loved teaching. Their passion for patient care was contagious, and it made every lecture feel like a conversation rather than a class.

As I look back, this rotation didn’t just strengthen my clinical skills; it solidified my calling. Internal Medicine offers what I value most: intellectual curiosity, the privilege of long-term patient relationships, and the opportunity to blend science with compassion. I left each day tired but fulfilled, knowing I was part of something much larger than myself.

This experience also deepened my commitment to preventive and global medicine. Whether it’s empowering a patient to make healthier lifestyle choices or finding ways to bridge care gaps in underserved communities, I’m reminded that every encounter has the power to change the trajectory of someone’s life.

Internal Medicine gives me the foundation: to heal, to listen, and to serve with purpose both here and beyond borders.

#medicine #IM