January 1 2020 After all the well wishes and reflections with family and friends upon the arrival of a new year full of hope, a Leap Year at that, I plant my pepper seeds, determined to get a headstart in my garden this year and settle in for travel planning. I’m off from work for […]
When Pneumonia Kills Healthy Adults
Christmas Eve this year brought news of ESPN reporter, Ed Aschoff, dying that day, also his 34th birthday, after being treated for pneumonia. I did not know of him, but soon I was reading his Twitter profile. Earlier in the month he had shared the following: It’s hauntingly sad to read that now. I can […]
Twitter for Infectious Disease Physicians
Infectious disease (ID) conferences tend to rejuvenate me despite the information overload. This year, IDWeek in Washington DC was no different except for the impact of social media particularly Twitter. The last time I attended IDWeek in New Orleans ( 2016), one of the themes was gloom. We were struggling to fill ID fellowship spots. […]
Why Infectious Diseases (#WHYID)
Recently on ID Twitter, there was a collective engagement to describe why any medical trainee these days should pursue Infectious Disease as a career (#WhyID). I have myself over the years mused over this thought always concluding that Infectious Disease is the coolest medical specialty. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who […]
Hooding a Medical School Graduate
Last week I attended graduation at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago where I had the honour of hooding my cousin during the Special Hooding Ceremony. Our grandfather, now departed, a champion of academic excellence, would have been so proud. Later at the Graduation Ceremony itself I was reminded of the high […]