Payel Banik, OMS3
Payel is in her third year at TCOM. She has narrowed her specialty decision down to two top choices...OMM and Family Practice. She told me about her love of laughter, her penchant for piano, and about how she can't wait to complete her family medicine shelf exam and climb some big rocks!
How did it feel to finally get out of Luibel Hall and begin your rotations?
It was very exciting to see patients, interact and bond with them, and actually see pathology and physiology applied in a setting that made all the book learning more tangible. It's very different to go from studying 10-14 hours a day for the boards to being on your feet 10-14 hours a day! My first rotation was obstetrics, so adjusting to the new and unpredictable schedule was definitely challenging...but incredibly rewarding.
Think back to your first time in the anatomy lab. What was that experience like for you?
I was excited about the anatomy lab and I loved dissecting. My anatomy group was awesome! For some reason, we were always hungry after getting out of lab. I certainly don't miss the smell, though...I could never wash it off!
Which rotations and experiences have you enjoyed the most so far?
I loved my PCP rotation with Dr. Teitelbaum who primarily focuses on Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments...especially cranial, acupuncture and Prolotherapy. It was amazing treating patients with Dr. Teitelbaum, palpating changes and releases simultaneously but from different parts of the body. The atmosphere of his practice is something I aspire to achieve when I have my own practice.
I also loved my obstetrics rotation at JPS (the red team rocks!) I delivered 16 babies with various residents, midwives, and attendings; scrubbed in on as many C-sections as possible, and learned to suture. It was awesome! One family wanted to take a picture with me after I'd delivered their baby, and it made me think..."Wow, I'm forever going to be in their memories and photo album!"
During my surgery rotation in Corpus Christi, a patient came in with a nail gun injury to his chest. I scrubbed in on his emergency sternotomy, followed him in the ICU, and then on the floor. On the day of his discharge, I treated his ribs using OMT, and he felt an immediate decrease of pain and grabbed for his incentive spirometry. He was able to exhale almost twice what he had before I treated his ribs, and he and I were both extremely excited!
Who is your all-time favorite instructor at TCOM?
Dr. Walter Witryol. He was and remains an incredible mentor to me. He's an M.D. by degree...but a true osteopath.
Have you narrowed your specialty decision to two top choices? If so, what are those?
What has year three been like for you? Can you believe it's almost over?
Year three has actually been quite a challenge for me. I had a pretty traumatic experience during my second rotation in Odessa, and I'm still trying to cope with those repercussions. Aside from that, it's like starting a new job every 4-8 weeks. It takes me a few weeks to adjust, and by the time I finally feel like I've gotten the hang of things, it's over and time to move on to the next job! I've really enjoyed getting to know most of the residents and attendings as well as working with various classmates on different rotations.
On the whole, third year has been a humbling experience, and each day I'm reminded of how much I don't know and still have to learn. Medicine is NOT a multiple choice test where they give you vignettes with all the findings and answer choices with diagnoses/treatments to chose from. But I'm learning and gaining exposure! It's kind of crazy that this year will be over soon!
What do you like to do in your spare time...in the event you have some spare time?
I love to play and watch tennis, practice yoga and meditation, rock climb, and do any kind of partner dancing...country, ballroom, salsa, and lindy-hop. I've recently picked up Argentine tango! I also love the intimacy of laughter and long conversations with people I'm close to.
Anything you would like to share with us...perhaps an unusual talent or skill that nobody knows about?
I am a shy pianist. I only like to play if no one else is around!
Now that spring is here, what is the one thing you will do that you couldn't do in the winter?
I'm going rock climbing outdoors at Red Rocks Canyon after I take my family medicine shelf exam this month!
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Thanks, Payel. It has been a pleasure getting to know you. I'm pretty sure in about five years I will find you in some beautiful, mountainous area (with plenty of rocks!) practicing OMM with a healthy dose of yoga, homeopathic healing and acupuncture mixed in for good measure.
-Eryn Loney, Director of Program Development
