First of all sorry it has taken me so long to post again. Unfortunatly when I finally got back home life became a little busy, which is not a bad thing, and I did need some down time to decompress from my 4800 mile driving tour of the Midwest.
The Rehilitation Institute of Chicago interview went well, and everyone I met with there was very kind and informative. The RIC shares the 17th floor with the NorthWestern University O&P program. Space is a bit limited for all the practitioners, but they are in the process of obtaining a bit more room. The Residency director told me they had somewhere around 40 applicants for there program this year, which is the most he has seen in a while. The RIC is located just of the downtown loop on East Superior street, and each floor of the building deals with a different medical condition. The bottom floor contains an awesome resource library which is free to use for all the patients so they too can become more informed on their conditions if the choose too. I believe my last correspondence with the Residency director said they would be making thier choices by April 1st and I should get some type of reply one way or the other.
Once I returned back home I recieved a couple of leads on 2 places here in Florida that are now looking for a Resident.....lol. That is just how it goes in life, you go out looking for your opportunity, and when you get back home there is one just around the corner. So I have a couple more interviews to go to here in the first part of April. I will try and post my results when I have received everyone's reply. As always I am hopeful to find the best fit for myself and whom I will be training further under. Some might think I am being a bit to picky, but at 46 I have learned that you cannot jump into the waters without first checking out all the conditions.
I am still trying to catch up on all the ativity here on the site with everyone else's postings, but it is good to see you are all keeping busy with life.
Well I have to say I was very impressed with the Veterans Administration / Oklahoma University Residency programs. It will not only give someone entering into the field a wide range of exposure to many different scenarios for the Orthotic and Prosthetic fields, but the level of caring was way above what I have seen elsewhere in the field. It is unfortunate that sometimes the business of O&P gets in the way of providing proper care for the patient's needing O&P services, but it does. The VA /OU program is probably able to sidestep this problem due to there funding sources, which is a real plus for our Veterans whom need care.
During my interview I was introduced to many of the staff members for both the VA and OU. Everyone was very kind and friendly. Just to show you how small our world actually is, one of the gentleman in charge of the Residency program was a Resident himself ten years ago for the first practitioner that I was introduced to when I started my new journey in life as an amputee.
Another interesting person I was able to shadow during my interview was Dr. William Ertl MD, whom as many of you may or may not know is the grandson of Janos Von Ertl Md from Hungary who developed the bone bridging technic for Trans Tibial amputees to give them a better foundation for Prosthetic use. I felt this was truly and honor to watch this gentleman in action, and to see how thourough and caring he was with each and every patient. Again I was totally blown away at the level of caring that was extended to each and every patient throughout my visit there. If only all pratitioners could have this gentleman's talents at their disposal, I think the outcome for many amputees would be significantly better.
I also did have a meeting with a private practice in the Tulsa area, and even thought it was only a short meeting, the practitioner was very open and honest about what he could offer for a Residency position. Moreover, he was kind enough to share some valuble insight on the business world of O&P, and the meeting left me with many things to ponder while I have been driving around the Midwest.
After Oklahoma I headed back to my home town area outside Decatur, Illinois to visit with family and freinds. It is always good to stop back in my hometown area, and I try and see as many of my family, friends, and aquaintenses as my time allows. I was able to stay with my best friends whom live outside the Peoria area, and I even got to help them again on the home the have been remodeling for the past 2 years. I think it always makes one feel a great sense of self worth to be able to help out a fellow human being, plus the confidence it brings to someone overcoming limb loss, is to say the least outstanding!!!!! As I have stated before, it is possible to do anything one sets one's mind to despite what others may say.
After a brief visit back in my hometown area I was off again, this time to Lansing, Michigan for yet another interview. I decided to head up the night before, and I did not get there till aftr 1 Am. Had a bad incident with a discount motel chain trying to get a room, but I just ask for a refund a sougth out accomadations elsewhere.The next morning the my cell phone rang and to my dissmay it was the gentleman I was suppose to interview with stating they had already made a choice and I did not need to come for the interview. As I did not answer the call, as I ddi not recognise the number, you can only imagen my dissappointment for this news. I decided to call him back of course and told him I had driven up the night before ( About a 6 hour drive from my parents residence), as I am always trying to stay ahead of the curve if I can, and even though he had someone else in mind, I would still like to meet with him and tour his facility. I was there from 1:30 till about 5, and well that should give you an idea of how our metting went. He again was very kind and honest about the opportunity he could offer me as a Resident, and said he was glad that I had came in for the interview, and I had apparently given him things to reconsider in his choice for a Resident. So you see never giving up does eventually pay off in the long run.
Today I have my interview with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and I am very interested in seeing what their program has to offer. Even though I know I may not be choosen for any of these positions, just as I was passed over for all the positions I applied for last year after graduating, I will not be discouraged, as I know eventually perseverance will pay off in the long run. One must just believe in them selfs, draw something positive from the negative, and just keep trying. So wish me luck and I will post more on my adventure later.
Well the trip from Florida to Tulsa, Ok was interesting as I had to drive thru some terrible rain storms that werre coming across the mid section of the country. At one time I swear it was like you were driving underwater, and it lasted most the way accross Arkansas. Then as I got into Oklahoma the temp. started to drop. Luckily it did not snow as much in Tulsa on Monday night as they predicted, as I just love trying to walk in deep snow.........lol. My interview went well today I think at the private practice in Tulsa, and the gentleman and his staff were very freindly. He had a very nice facility and has built himself a nice business in the greater Tulsa area. He gave me some nice insight and I am to call him back in a week, as he knows I have other interviews lined up.
The drive from Tulsa to Oklahoma City was quick and I had reserved a decent room in OK City last night via one of those room booking sites. So after I got settled in my room I went out on a recon misssion to find exactly where I will be needing to go tomorrow for my all day VA interview. I am glad I did as it is a large complex with many buildings and several signs which seem more confusing that helpful......lol. I actually went into the VA hospital and walk around and asked some poeple working there where the Prosthetics Dept was at in the building. I actually got to meet one of the residency directors and apparently the head of the department, and the current years resident. They were number one suprized that I had showed up early and two very helpful in giving directions to the place I actually needed to go to in the morning. It should be an interesting day tomorrow to say the least .
On an interesting note, as I drove into the VA hospital parking lot I noticed a list of rules on the unatteneded guard shack that told me I may be subjected to some security checks. But apparently most poeple where getting off for the day as it was around 4 PM when I got there. So I found a place to park and strolled into the hospital looking for the Info desk which was also unattended. I saw several security personel and employees, but not a single one stopped me to ask what I was doing there. I also noticed most people working there had on badges to identify themselves, and there were several veterans there in differnt seating areas. But again no one ask me for any ID, so I guess they must have thought I was a veteran there for treatement. Or I must have slipped in between shifts..........lol. So it amazes me how a six foot six inch tall person can just walk right into a government run facilty without anyone even asking why I was there. Go homeland security...........lol. I feel so much safer now about our current situation in my country.....lol. Sorry I just find this humourous after all we have been going thru during this trying time in our Nation. I will try and blog more later on my adventure to acquire a residency position.
Be Well, Be Alive, and Enjoy Life the Best You Can for Your Situation, as one can truly overcome anything once you set your mind too it. As your mind is the greatest tool you have to combat against those whom would tell you , you cannot succeed.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 11:55 PM EST [General]
Well I will be leaving from Florida for my Midwestern tour of facilities which I have interviews with for a possible residency position here soon. I have several lined up in advance, and I do have a directory of all accredited facilities in the US. Wish me luck as I have been on this quest since December of 2006, and hopefully I will be successful in obtaining a spot from one of these interviews. I am not getting my hopes up to much as everytime I do it just seems to depress me when I do not get picked. I would really like to get this next leg ( no pun intended) of my journey underway, as it would be a shame to have wasted all this time and money in acquiring the educational requirements, only to find out there is no room at the Inn for me.
I am still working on getting my story writtten up as to what has guided me on this new path in life to share with the rest of you, and hopefully get in the book. I am sure I will work on it while I am on my trip, as I have a lot of traveling to do and will have several nights of free time to occupy. I hope you are all doing well with what ever situation you have to deal with, and I am sure to post things of interest. Thanks to all whom have written to me, and as always,
I think this is a great way for people to discuss their issues with others that truely understand and can relate to what many of us have had to deal with through our new journeys of life after limb loss. I believe that just because you have recieved a replacement for your lost limb, you are only partially repaired. As we are not only physical beings, we have a mental self and a spiritual self, and all need to be addressed to have the most positive outcome.
I look forward to meeting others and sharing stories of our trials and accomplishments after experincing a life changing event or starting out different than others. I am sure we can all learn a thing or two from each others tales of life. Being able to connect with others in similar situations gives us all a place to express our concerns without being scoffed at. I look forward to hearing from you all.
