Lior Vardi (2016) presented an abstract and poster at the Society for Cancer Research symposium held in Haifa Israel.
On a daily basis we are surrounded by hundreds of clichés. Whether it’s a status update on Facebook, a picture on Instagram, a quiz on Buzzfeed, or a pep talk from our families and friends, we are bound to hear something along the lines of: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel” … “Don’t focus on the destination, enjoy the journey”… “You’re living your dream”… Or one of my favorites, “Take time to breathe and smell the flowers.” As medical students, we’ve all experienced moments where we’ve lost site of the light at the end of the tunnel, the journey seems paved with impossible multiple choice questions, dreams are a memory since we’ve broken up with proper sleep, and breathing seems like a waste of time. I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch to say that we usually feel this way around finals season and if (Gd forbid!) we get a mark below average. Sure enough, that’s how I felt around the time I flew to present my research at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 2014 Annual Meeting in San Diego. The conference took place one week after finals. But let’s pause and rewind for one second. I was introduced to my research mentor, Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan, through my life mentor, Dr. Phil Gold. I conducted my research with Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan and his team at Montreal’s Children’s Hospital throughout the previous summer. Our research focuses on Anaphylaxis Cases Presented to Primary Care Paramedics in Quebec. The summer was incredible. I loved working with Dr.Ben-Shoshan and his team, conducting research, putting together results, and ultimately seeing all our hard work come to fruition. I returned to my second year as a medical student ready to take on the year. However before I knew it, finals season had crept right back up again. I felt and still feel so lucky to have received our dean’s, Dr. Andrew Levy’s, blessing to attend the conference and present my research. Moreover, the night before my flight, I received numerous e-mails from the administration wishing me luck which meant the world to me! Ok, we can press play again. Upon my arrival to the conference, I was excited, nervous, and still slightly exhausted. However, within 5 minutes, I was filled with adrenaline. I presented my part of the research on the first day of the conference, and the adrenaline rush was greater than any kind of rollercoaster I had ever been on. Throughout the rest of the conference and the presentations of my colleagues, I met physicians, researchers, students, pharmacists, pharmaceutical representatives, and the list goes on. I learnt about new medications and could say to myself, “Oh my Gd! I get how that works!” With every interaction and passing moment I was reminded of why I always dreamt of practicing medicine: It is the one profession which includes so many others, is continuously evolving, and involves everything from the love of our fellow man to science to the arts. I realized one more thing during my time at the conference: I am attending a medical school which celebrates this! I did not take it for granted when I went to ask for a week off immediately following finals that I would be permitted to miss a week of school. To my surprise, the entire staff supported me and wished me success. Moreover, I was astounded to find out just how many people knew about our program! Professors were asking me to talk to students from their labs who are interested in our program, others were saying that they have a resident from the TeAMS program, and of course, one out of every two people asked me if I’ve met any of the Nobel Laureates and how amazing it must be to be studying at the Technion. I was also told on more than one occasion, by doctors who are currently training TeAMS’ physicians that they find we come with a little something extra in terms of our skill set. In that one week of the conference, the light at the end of the tunnel shone brighter, I was reminded that we are all on a journey, that this is the definition of living our dream, and that breathing can be synonymous with studying and doing what we love. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Annual Meeting is definitely the highlight of my 26 years as of now, but it happened in the TeAMS framework. I do not know how my life as a medical student would have looked like if TeAMS hadn’t chosen me and if I hadn’t chosen TeAMS, but I do know that it is thanks to the TeAMS’ administration and my mentors’, Dr. Phil Gold and Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan’s, unrelenting faith in me, that I finally do believe in clichés and know that there is no other place I would rather be and no other profession I would rather pursue. Nofar Kimchi (2016) As my medical school experience comes to an end today, I feel compelled to convey my thoughts and feelings about how marvelous this journey and experience has been. While I am filled with excitement and gratitude as I embark on a new chapter of my life – General Surgery Residency at the University of Colorado, and I look forward to moving home to Denver, where we will be close to family and the warm community I grew up with, I find myself with somewhat of a heavy heart, as the days draw closer to our departure from Israel, the place my husband and growing family have called home for the past four years. The beauty of the land of Israel and Her people, has changed me, and I am grateful for what our life here has imbued in me. Since I was young, I always knew I wanted to become a physician. With the unwavering support of my husband and parents, I embarked on what would be a most incredible experience- studying medicine at the Technion in Israel. As I stood at the foot of the steps leading up to the School of Medicine on my first day of medical school, I was filled with trepidation and excitement-not knowing what to expect. Last week, after completing the last day of my clinical studies at Rambam Hospital, I once again stood atop those very same steps. A different person, a changed woman than the one who arrived four years ago. The greatest lesson I take with me is that of respect, and “achdut,” - camaraderie. This was certainly true of the close-knit and warm atmosphere at the Technion School of Medicine. I loved that I felt as though I was among family. My professors and attendings were genuine, real, and candid. I will miss the quaint and unique dialogues with patients- often times, during an exam. I will miss engaging in delightful games of Jewish geography with Jewish “Bubbies” and “Zaidies” who would beam with joy showing me pictures of their children and grandchildren during follow-up visits. I will miss the myriad of gestures and kindness that others bestowed upon me which epitomize the Israeli mindset of “Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael”-- we may all be different, but we are all family….the time that I had a bit of a coughing spell in my car at a red light, the motorcycle rider that pulled up beside me handed me a water bottle and said “drink up and feel better”….During a routine clinic exam, one of my patients begged me to sit down and relax for a moment, as my pregnancy, she insisted, appeared to be getting closer to the delivery stage….the woman who said she thought I should bundle my kids up because she was cold. There are certainly a plethora of stories- but they all have a common theme. I have grown to see each individual with a greater amount of respect than I ever had. People here are uncannily honest, unassuming, and sincere, and I will miss them. This letter, and in fact no words, can truly express my heartfelt appreciation to all the people who helped me get to this point in my life. First and foremost, my husband Daniel, who continues to encourage and help me in any way he can – I couldn’t have gotten here without him. Also- my wonderful parents, sisters and my two precious sons - I will be forever grateful for their belief in me, and for being able to keep me grounded, never losing sight of my priorities. I wish to thank all my mentors and friends – from my hometown of Denver, as well as from New York and all the other places I this journey has taken me, whose encouragement and advice has helped me so much over the years. I wish to thank Dr. Levy, all my professors and attendings, as well as the numerous individuals I had the pleasure of working with these past four years at the Technion. You have *all* inspired me. Thank you for the incredible opportunity you have given me. "לבי במזרח ואני בסוף מעריב" “My heart is in the east and I am at the farthest west” - Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, Spanish Physician and Poet (1075-1141) With Sincere Admiration and Appreciation, Eliza Moskowitz-Kassai, M.D. (2014) From Mount Carmel to Mount Auburn, Technion Medical Student Accepted to Harvard
Read about Olivia Diamond (2014) on the ATS site: http://americantechnionsocietyblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/from-mount-carmel-to-mount-auburn-technion-medical-student-accepted-to-harvard/ |
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