Day 1 (Sunday 06 OCT 2013) Joint Base San Antonio "America Needs PAs" 2013 - Kick Off Event, Stonewerks

2013 PA Week - America Needs PAs

       Held every year from Oct. 6-12, National PA Week is a celebration of the PA profession. PAs across the country use National PA Week to increase awareness of both the PA profession and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

       Military Physician Assistants will be celebrating as well. Join them in promoting a healthy lifestyle and show your support why “America Needs PAs."
 

2013 PA Week Music Slide Show- by CPT Joanna Sanford, Fort Hood, Texas
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS5jC6iAVPQ&feature=youtu.be

DAY 1, Kick Off Event, Stonewerks No Host Social

Mini reunion with old friends from previous duty stations and making new connections as we celebrate the best profession-- physician assistant. Happy PA week! Thank you to MAJ Felipe Galvan for organizing our Kick Off Event at Stonewerks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 3 of ILE

I am a bit behind on my weekly update due to the reading workload this week. I will begin this post where I left off from the last one.

On 17 Jan (Thu), I received my critique from the diagnostic writing assignment. The comments were helpful but I would recommend that the diagnostic writing assignment be on an argumentative essay written prior to the course so that the instructors can have better feedback on our writing. If there are students who are having trouble with it, then they can be identified early. Early reading on argumentative essay format should also be provided.

In the evening of the 17th, I saw the movie Lincoln. I enjoyed it especially seeing it in Virginia where some of the actual locations occurred in this area. Lincoln has been a favorite past president of mine. In fact, I recall buying his biography during a book sale when I was in junior high... such a nerd even back then. 

On 18 Jan (Fri), we had a guest speaker Dr. Douglas Macgregor (he owns this link so it may be biased; for additional information on him, here is another link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Macgregor). The topic he discussed was "Army Planning and the Pivot to the Western Pacific: The Tyranny of Distance."

I drove home that afternoon and spent the weekend with my family. The 19th of January was my birthday and my husband took me to a show by the Shey Yun Performing Arts and we had sushi afterwards.

Front row seats at the Shey Yun Perfoming Arts show in Raleigh, NC

  Sunday and Monday were low key days just hanging out with the kids. I went back to Fort Lee refreshed and ready for another week.

Sofia with her art work at the Fuquay Varina Junior Women's Club Art Festival

Antonio and I (with "Blizzard," his penguin) at Anna's Pizza in Fuquay Varina, NC

On  22 Jan (Tue), We covered International Security Environment. I completed my media interview in front of the class. I did my media interview plan on access to care for the Department of the Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at WAMC. I am so glad they allowed us to pick our own topic.

On 23 Jan (Wed), I attended a Writing Improvement Program (WIP) course. I was able to get some more guidance on our first argument paper. That day, we also finished up our critical thinking module and covered reading on culture. In the afternoon, I stopped by the Cardinal Golf Course in Fort Lee, VA. Once the weather improves, I plan on going back to play and may take some lessons. That evening, half of my classmates and I went to the Croaker's Spot Restaurant. I chose the restaurant based on rave reviews on Yelp. Then we headed to the Veteran's Administration Hospital where we spent time with the inpatients. They played bingo and we assisted the staff in feeding the patients and cleaning up thereafter. The visit is a requirement for community service during our course.

Motley Crue of Group D Class 13-001 at Croakers, Richmond, VA

On 24 Jan (Thu), we covered 17th Century Early Revolution history and leadership management. In the afternoon, some of us went to see Zero Dark Thirty. I thought of it as a social officer professional development. I also enjoyed this movie. It kept me awake the whole time and I was elated to learn that the catalyst for the mission was by a female CIA agent. I'm starting to reflect on myself and discovering that I may be a feminist, but I will have to read more about feminism to say for sure. That evening, I had to read several articles to prepare for the following day.

On 25 Jan (Fri), we had discussions on joint operations, we learned about soft and hard power, strategy, international relations. I learned about realism, liberalism and constructivism. The instructors also announced that due to the budget cuts, many of our off site visits such as to Norfolk, Langley, and DC are going to be cancelled. I also learned from another group that the Reading Improvement Program (RIP) course has been cancelled. It is highly disappointing since these are part of the curriculum that I was very much looking forward to experiencing.

In the evening, my Filipina friends and I went to a Korean restaurant in Colonial Heights, VA. We had heavy snow but glad we were able to make it to the restaurant. It was nice to get away from the hotel and spend time with new friends. One commented that we need to keep doing it as "Filipina Fridays".... great idea! I then spent a couple of hours with my classmates who were playing poker. I'm sure they will keep playing and maybe I will learn as well.

So, I am all caught up now since today is 26 Jan (Sat). I was watching the movie Fiesta from 1947 with Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams. They played twins in the movie (Mario and Maria). Mario is a bullfighter who wants to be a composer and Maria wants to be a bullfighter and became one to replace Mario. Pretty awesome.... again, with the feminist comment, I am really drawn to stories of women who take traditional professions that are supposed to be for men. I also learned about Conchita Cintron, a famous woman bullfighter. I still think it is a machismo world and I like reading about the women who defy such a world.

It is timely to also mention that the Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced opening up combat positions to women this week.

A few news worthy links on the topic:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/01/24/women-in-combat-briefing/1861887/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_military

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-cycle/50578082/#50578082

I will end this update with that. A few classmates and I are cooking this afternoon/evening, I will start with that for the next posting. I was able to post some pictures on this post. Have a great weekend.

Empty Cold Bed

I've used poetry as far as I can remember to express my feelings and I want to start doing it again. It has been said that distance makes the heart go fonder. The recent cold weather and living in a huge empty room also inspired me to write this poem dedicated to the one I love. You know who you are...

The bed is cold
Without you to hold
The sheets are neat
Tucked over my feet

The room is cozy
The scent is rosey
But it doesn't matter
Just want to rollover

My heart is empty
You're not with me
Don't know what to do
I truly miss you

Second Week of ILE

I've decided to make this blog a dynamic one that will be useful for future Fort Lee attendees based on my full experiences while I am here. I will be documenting significant events and ideas that I am going through as it happens. I've included links for easy access to certain topics.

Overall keys to success that I've learned so far:
1. Read the assignments, you cannot contribute to the discussions if you do not know the topic(s)
2. Make time to exercise (I've been doing the Insanity Workout and will continue to do it for the duration of this course)
3. Do not be a hotel rat, visit local historic sites
4. Network with the staff and students
5. Stay on top of written assignments

08 JAN, Tue - report date and we received our rooms at Stay Over, Hopewell, VA

09 JAN, Wed-Inprocessing and welcome briefs; I visited the U.S. Army Women's Museum; I visited the Colonial Heights Mall and saw Les Miserables

10 JAN, Thu- We took our APFT; we had our first block on History; I visited the Quartermaster Museum on post

A fellow classmate and I visited Petersburg for a recon, they have free military entrance to three museums that I plan on going back to. We also went to Richmond, VA where we had Vietnamese Food

11 JAN, Fri - We learned more about leadership and resiliency tools

I drove to Virginia Beach, VA and stayed at the Navy Lodge on Dam Neck. I was able to go to a Filipino restaurant (Susan's Kitchenette).

I contacted a friend I've known since junior high whom I haven't seen for 20 years. She is in the Navy and we are able to catch up.

12 JAN, Sat- My friend and her boyfriend gave me a tour of the USS Iwo Jima in Norfolk, VA. I learned a lot about the Navy and their way of life. We also visited the Navy Exchange. For course work, I completed the Myer Briggs and the Kold Learning Style Inventory.

13 JAN, Sun - I drove to Fort Eustis, VA and visited the Transportation Museum. They have an excellent exhibit so much that the section on Iraq made me feel like I was there. I then drove to Williamsburg where I hungout downtown and went to the outlet mall.

14 JAN, Mon - Back to class. We discussed our Korb LSI and Myer Briggs results (online version of the Myer Briggs). I'm still an ISTJ. We talked about the Individual Development Plan. There are several tools that we can use to assess ourselves to improve our self-awareness.

I submitted my poster abstract to AAPA  for the May conference.

15 JAN, Tue - Media day. We were able to listen to three journalists regarding their perspective regarding Military-Media Relationship.

16 JAN, Wed- We discussed Critical Thinking Articles.

17 JAN, Thu- We had several reading assignments for History that we talked about today. It pays to read them prior to the discussions.  I am supposed to have my first counseling today as well.

So, that is the second week. I will be going home this weekend. Saturday is my birthday and want to spend time with my family.

A few items I want to mention as far as short term goals:
Brainstorm articles to be published (topics: women's history)
Learn how to play golf (just do it)
Learn more Spanish (I was told to read Spanish newspapers and books, I've been watching Telenovelas for fun in the evenings)
Networking (continue to meet other ILE students)
Traveling (visit Pentagon, visit DC, go back to Petersburg, go back to Virginia Beach).

First Week of ILE

I am now here at ILE (Intermediate Level Education) course in Fort Lee, Virginia. We are in our first week of a 3-month course. I have several plans in the upcoming months in order to maximize my time in learning more on how I can become a better leader, network with fellow officers, enjoy activities near Fort Lee. Although this blog entry is part of an actual requirement for the course, my goal is to chronicle my experiences while I am here.

Worth mentioning is that I was able to visit the U.S. Army Women's Museum yesterday where I was able to learn several historical events that happened in the U.S. Army in terms of specific dates and places on how women's service was established. I was also finally able to see the painting of LTC Sherry Lynn Womack (previously a CPT on the painting), a senior PA leader. I plan on going back because I have a couple of research projects I want to get started.

Today we took our APFT and since physical fitness is part of becoming a better leader, I also plan on improving my performance not only for the APFT but for my overall goal of improving myself why I am here.

We just completed our first block on "Civil Military Relations: Theory and History" where we discussed theories in Military Professionalism and Civil Military Relations. We also completed the Nelson-Denny Test which assesses our vocabulary, reading rate and comprehension. I have never heard of this particular test and I am interested in learning more about its validity and reliability. Additionally, on what cohort of individuals it will be beneficial for.

Our first written assignment is due on Monday and I already have some idea on what I want to write about and may eventually publish. Right now we are getting read-aheads on upcoming due outs.

Overall, I'm very much looking forward to finishing this course and accomplishing several professional and personal goals along the way. This blog will be helpful in documenting my thoughts during this time period of my life.

I want to reinvent myself but how do I reinvent myself?

So, I've so far burnt enough time on Linkedin that I need to take a break. I've been viewing several profiles on there that I wonder how those people achieved what they have achieved? I looked at my profile and I want to do so much more but I really do not know where to start.

I'm on a crossroad of whether to continue on with my military career or retire (yes, I said retire) to venture off another career path after my commitment is done for doing the orthopaedic physician assistant residency program.

Decisions... Decisions.

As I look back in the last 20 years, I know I have accomplished a lot but I know there is so much more that I can do. There are now more variables to take into consideration but I definitely need to figure out what I want to do with my life...

I'm getting a headache. It took me 30 minutes to try to figure out how to get back on this blog since I haven't been here in so long. It's time to start doing great things again and one of them is to continue documenting my thoughts on this blog... allow myself... to reinvent myself... or do I need to?

Oh, say can you see?... my thoughts on citizenship

After what looks like a two year hiatus, I want to start blogging again. I was watching a documentary on ceremonies across the country of people getting their U.S. citizenship. There are over 1 million people who become U.S. citizens from over 150 countries annually. I've now served the U.S. Army longer (20 years in July 2012) than I lived as a civilian (17 years). I was able to become an officer because of my citizenship. I joined the Army and was naturalized at my first duty station in Puerto Rico. I remember having to study for the test. When I was being asked the questions I was supposed to know, we were being videotaped and since I answered all my questions quickly and correctly, the gentleman asked me three more. I think it was out of jest and I should have declined but I knew I was prepared so I just went ahead and answered the extra ones. They lady next to me in the next cubicle was not as fortunate, however, due to her lack of ability to speak English. The tester had to repeat himself several times in English and the lady could not answer the questions and was mainly speaking in Spanish. Although I had no main goal on why I was interested in getting my citizenship aside from the challenge at the time and seemed like the right thing to do. What is interesting to note is that as the youngest of four children I am the only one that was not a U.S. citizen. My brothers and sister were all born in the U.S. By becoming a citizen did I abandon my Philippine values and Philippine culture? I do not think so and in fact I am very proud of being Filipino. But what am I, really? What do other people see me as? I am not American enough and not Filipino enough in other people's eyes. To the eyes of the Americans I am a foreigner, to the eyes of Filipinos I am a foreigner. The Americans want to know where I am from because I have an accent and the Filipinos assume I am Chinese or any other nationality other than Filipino because I look too white (ano ba 'yan?). This is partly the reason why I wanted to continue know the Filipino dialects of Tagalog and Kapampangan so that I know I am still Filipino. I also have learned to realize that what is important is how I see myself more so than how others see me. What does your citizenship mean to you?

Major Amelia Duran-Stanton Wins 2010 New Horizon Research Award

as published on the SAPA website, page 3:
http://www.sapa.org/July2010SAPANewsletter.pdf

The New Horizon Research Award was established in 2007 by the SP Corps Research Committee to establish a perpetual award recognizing outstanding up and coming research SP Corps Officers for their contributions to research and/or clinical investigation as they start their careers as researchers. Selection for this award is given to an SP Corps Officer who has demonstrated accomplishments and contributions in the areas of research and clinical investigation for less than 5 years.

Major Amelia Duran-Stanton recently became the first PA selected for the SP Corps New Horizon Research Award during the Mary Lipscomb Hamrick Research Course in MAY 2010. She was selected based on several reasons. Three of her research projects were selected for poster presentation during the course and two of them were selected by the SP Corps Chief to be exhibited at the AMSUS conference. Major Duran-Stanton earned a PhD in Postsecondary and Adult Education through Capella University in 2008 and is currently an Army/Baylor DSc PA resident in orthopedics at the San Antonio Military Medical Center(SAMMC). She has also presented her research at the SAPA, AMSUS, SOMOS (Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons) and BAMC Omer Day conferences. She established AKO websites for the Fort Bragg Medical Simulation Training Center and the Orthopedic PA residency program.In addition, she is currently collaborating with Orthopedic staff surgeons and assisting fellow DSc PA residents with their respective research projects.

Her published endeavors are regarding combat lifesavers, the female athlete triad, Freiberg infraction, simulation training, stress fractures, tarsal tunnel syndrome and tobacco cessation. She has several ongoing research projects regarding health literacy, JTTR (Joint Theater Trauma Registry) documentation,nonoperative treatment, Orthopedic trauma, periprosthetic fracture and tumor. Upon graduation in December 2010, she plans to expand her research efforts during her utilization tour, continue to mentor other up and coming researchers on their projects and collaborate with senior researchers.

MAJ John F. Detro

I'm Still an ISTJ

Well, I retook the Myer-Briggs again today and I looked at my result from my blog back in 2006. I'm still an ISTJ: Introvert, Sensing, Thinking, Judging.

ISTJ - "Trustee". Decisiveness in practical affairs. Guardian of time- honored institutions. Dependable. 11.6% of total population.

Take Free Myers-Briggs Personality Test

I just finished the first week of a two-week research course and one of the speakers today mentioned learning styles which prompted me to look online again to check on learning and thinking styles. He mentioned the Gregorc Style Delineator.

Take the Gregorc style Delineator

I just finished taking it and I am a Concrete Sequential thinker. Even just reading the descriptions for each one before taking the survey, I already picked that ahead of time so it's fairly accurate of what type of thinker I am.

As far as another learning style survey, I'm more of a visual learner:

Take this Learning Style Survey

Another one I took earlier though (I can't remember the URL), it was a tie between visual and kinesthetic.

Now, what do I do with all these results? Too tired to think. I will read more articles tomorrow for my preparation for yet another article I'm thinking about publishing which is on periprosthetic fractures.

MAJ Duran-Stanton

My promotion to MAJ ("major") was today. Another PA and I had the ceremony at the AMEDD Museum at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Ralph was there to help me place my new rank along with COL Gross. Sofia and abuela were there, too. During my speech I talked about how everything goes in full circle. How the first time I was in Fort Sam was as a 17 year old private going through Patiend Admin school and if someone would have told me back then that I would be back to Fort Sam to be promoted as MAJ, I would not have believed it. I talked about how the Army values help not only as a Soldier but as a human being as well. I thanked all the mentors that have helped me achieve my accomplishments. I thanked my family for being there. I also thanked COL Gross who was indirectly a mentor to me and how the first time I talked to her was to find out why I was going to Germany for my duty station as a new PA... she said because I asked for it. I already thought I was going to a post in Georgia so it was a surprise to me to be going to Germany. She said she's been to Germany and told me that I would enjoy being stationed there. I said she was right, I did enjoyed Germany along with the other countries I was able to visit while stationed there... such as Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan (this got a laugh)... and Spain and Italy. I thanked my PA friend for inviting me to be promoted with him... Rafa was the first (and only so far) to salute me... then we dropped him off at the airport for his TDY to El Salvador...never a dull moment being dual military... I'm still practicing on saying my new rank... "major" instead of "captain."

April Update

I am about half way done with my orthopaedic PA training. It has been quite a ride. I am really enjoying my Sports Medicine rotation and going in the OR with the staff orthopaedic surgeons and residents. I am learning so much! I am also able to do research "on the side". So far three of my abstracts have been accepted for a research course for the Specialist Corps (Mary Lipscomb Hamrick) and my main project abstract was accepted for Omer's Day which is for Orthopaedic Surgeons and Residents which I was told was a big deal because I am a PA. So that will be for next month and I decided to purchase the new dress blue's/Class A's today because I know I will have to wear it for the presentations. In June, I will probably pin/velcro/sew on my new Major rank. We'll see. I'm sequence number 23 so that is right around the corner. On the downside/upside (the glass is half full) Ralph received orders to deploy next month and he also found a consulting job at the same time. He may also start working on his PhD since he will now have time without two kids pulling on him. The kids are doing well. Sofia is almost done with Pre-K and learning all of her letters and numbers. She is starting to become quite an artist and I've been keeping all her artwork so that when she is older, I can sell them when she's famous...haha... seriousl though, I'm saving them as keepsakes. Antonio is getting more handsome. He's still blondish so we'll see how much longer that will last. He loves to talk, smile, give kisses, and play with action toys with an occasional Barbie doll session because of Sofia. They both love snacks and playing outside. Abuela has been making improvements with the yard and have been spending time with them during the day and we spend time with them at night. All in all, we are doing great and I am taking this year one day at a time and we will see where we go next... to be continued.

Dear Self

I've missed you.
You've traveled
miles away...
far away from me
only to return
emptihanded.

Why have you
allowed yourself
to be misguided?
Did you not hear me
when I called out your name
in the darkness?

Did you not
see me when I
opened the door
to let you
come home sooner?

Don't leave me
without bringing with you
all the things
that can help you
find me all over again...
so glad you're back.

-written by Amelia at home in solitude, empowered and stronger, ready for the next challenge

What's black and white and gray all over? My first week in radiology

I started my radiology rotation this week. I'm glad that I'm doing this rotation this early in the program. I spent about a month doing clinic with two ortho PAs and we've been looking at X-rays, MRI's and CT scans often. I'm OK with reading X-rays but those MRI's and CT Scans, they're all just black and white to me with a little bit of gray in certain places. I'm starting to realize how important it is to know the human anatomy because when they're on radiographs, they're just black and white if you don't know what you're looking at.

As far as feeling stupid, it hit me yesterday the hardest so far in the program. This is good though. It means that I need to push myself a little bit more. There are a lot of smart people in the Army and it feels like they're all in the hospital I'm doing my training at right now.

As far as my hours, yes, I'm still waking up at O dark hundred... about 0300 hours, do 30 minutes of snoozercise (you know, when the alarm goes off and you snooze it and go back to bed and it goes off again after 9 minutes, then do that over and over again), then around 0330 hours I do PT, upper body focus on M/W/F and lower body on Tue/Thu. Then do personal hygiene, drive to work, and park near the hospital (I would have to park further and ride the bus if I don't get there by 0500 hours). I go to my cubicle, check e-mail, do a little bit of research for my protocols on antibiotic beads, female athlete triad, smoking and stress fractures. I also do a little bit of admin because the Army is not the Army without all the required/mandatory training we have to do. Worse is that Joint Commission is coming to town and we have to watch our "p's and q's". Then around 0600 hours, I go to the DFAC (dining facility) to get a cup of coffee. Usually I go back upstairs for the 0630 morning report but now that I'm in my radiology rotation, I usually hang out at the library then either go to a morning radiology lecture or go to the dark "Bone" room where the radiographs are read by the radiologists. Then around 1630 hours (4pm), I drive home to take a 30 minute nap, then go back out to pick up the kids. Sometimes I cook and pack meals for me and the kids and we go to the local park right after I get them so I can wear them out. Then around 1900 hours (7pm), I put them in the bath and get them ready for bed but they tend to want to stay up with their papa. I study aroung 8pm then try to go to bed between 9 and 10 pm and do it all over again. All this and I haven't even started night and evening call yet... or even pulling call... that fun begins in January.

I asked the physician/radiologist today on why he went into radiology rather than all the other specialties. I always wondered this because before coming to this rotation, I would always pass by those radiology rooms and they're always dark and wonder why the radiologist like hanging out doing their work in those dark rooms. He said it interested him back when he was a third year med student. He said he was always a techy and he had a short attention span and did not want to have to follow up the patients. "Once I read the screen for that patient, I'm done." He's a great teacher but I can tell that he's done this for a long time. He scrolls through using that mouse so fast, I can't keep up. I have to periodically stop him to ask my stupid questions... especially those questions where I think there's an abnormality when it's just a normal finding. The first day I was there, it was after lunch and I was getting sleepy. He got up to tell me he'll be right back. He came back saying he had to get something to drink so that he wouldn't fall asleep. Haha!

There are other residents and radiologists in there too and they're pretty smart. They BS in between reading the radiographs. They also have to use these dictaphones so there are like 4 or 5 people talking all at the same time and it takes getting used to in focusing on a topic they're talking about because they're all different based on who you're listening to.

Yesterday one of the residents was talking about "psychometricians". He said the Army is hiring them so that they can tell who's guessing or who knows the answers based on their performance on the test. He said there could be someone who could get the answers right most of the time adn still fail or only get some questions right and still pass depending on which questions they answered right. Interesting.

Well, I'm glad I'm finally updating my blog because I have so much to document. I read my last post and I felt like deleting it because I was so negative that other people really don't care about what I write. I decided not to delete it because that is what I was feeling at the time. Now, I fell like telling everyone what I've been up to because I'm having such a great time.

Next Challenge Please

We're driving to out next duty station today. I wanted to mark this moment because it is the next transition to my next challenge which is to attend the DSc (Doctor of Science) in Orthopedics for Physician Assistants. I also wanted to reflect back to my previous accomplishments and I am in awe of myself on what I have accomplished. "It's not bragging if you've really done it". However, people may wonder why I subject myself to these grueling endeavors. I also wonder at that myself. The closest I know of explaining this is that I love to be challenged and the greatest challenge is to challenge myself. I do not do it to impress other people. In fact, I've learned that it is better not to let people know what I'm doing because there are actually people out there who don't want other people to succeed. I've learned that it's better for me to let people know what I've done rather than what I'm doing. So, then, why am I writing this on a public blog you may ask. Well, I've learned that not many people really care what I'm up to, this blog is mostly for me to document and read my reflections, my struggles and my experiences. I have so many plans for the future and it's fun to read my previous blogs to reexperience those moments. So, now that we're enroute to the next challenge, I will be in the process of doing yet another "to-do" list and my usual short/mid/long-term plans... to be continued.

Done with my PhD... now what?

So, here I am with actually time to do something aside from school work. I finally finished my doctorate and I've decided to write something on my blog just for old times sake. I will be attending the Orthopedic Physician Assistant program in Fort Sam Houston, TX around June and I have all this time to get ready by studying anatomy and physiology. I need to buckle down again and actually start doing this. Right now, I've mostly been spending my time on Facebook and doing a family tree for my dad's side of the family. My mom's family already has one. I opened an account on ancestry.com and have been updating periodically. I cannot believe how many unknown relatives I have. Part of me is motivated by the fact that I hardly saw many of my cousins growing up and I hope my children will not experience the same thing. I feel kind of tired right now... like a start of a viral infection. I will stop here and drink fluids... I will think of something better to write next time.

Dedicated to "Julia in the Philippines"

I decided to get on this blog to write something. I googled my screen name "pinayarmypa" out of curiosity to find out how many times it would show up. One of them was from one of my entries on a blog called "Julia in the Philippines" that I wrote while I was in Afghanistan on deployment. As I was reading the comments, I saw a friend's sister's name and she wrote a comment as if "Julia" has passed away which got me wondering what happened. I was saddened to learn that "Julia" died in the Philippines. So, after not writing on this blog for so many months now, I wanted to enter this latest blog to say how much I've enjoyed reading her blog while I was deployed because it made me think of the Philippines. It was interesting to read through her eyes many of the things I experienced when I lived there. It made me remember many memories of my happy childhood and how simpler it was back then. May you rest if peace, "Julia".

Almost Due...

I haven't posted anything on this blog in a while so I decided to take the time to make some comments. I even had to reset my password because I haven't been here in so long I forgot the previous one.

Anyway, here I am 8 days away from my due date for my pregnancy and my doctorate comprehensive examinations. I've been pretty busy writing, writing, writing, rewriting. There are times that I am very confident that I will pass and there are some times that self-doubt creeps in. All in all, however, I am doing pretty well considering all the other circumstances that are going on in my life.

It's 24 minutes past midnight and I better get some sleep. Being pregnant doesn't mean I don't have to go to work in the morning... although it would be nice. I will write more when I'm fully awake but I just wanted to make a few comments on this that I can look back on.

Pinay Army PA

Redeployed back home

I'm right now in San Antonio, Texas and it's been awhile since I've posted on this blog and I think the first time that I can actually put my location without getting in trouble. It's been 3 months since my redeployment from Afghanistan and the time has flown by. I'm now working in the emergency room and family practice clinic at my new duty station. I'm still working on my doctorate. I just finished 3 classes and it was very stressful because I was getting reaccustomed to being home with my family and doing homework on top of that along with starting a new work environment. Needless to say, I'm glad those classes are over. I have a two week break until I start my last two classes before comps and dissertation.

I'm elated that I'm back from deployment but a bit sad because now my husband is getting ready to go down range as well. It's so much easier being on the other end deploying because there is a mission to be done, now I can definitely relate to his frustrations of the spouse being left behind. I hope to make the best of it by taking care of the house, finishing my doctorate.... oh, and another great news... I'm pregnant so I will be busy gaining weight with a 2-year old daughter to keep me busy along the way. It is going to be a new set of different challenges that I'm looking forward to so that I don't miss my husband too much while he's gone.

I'm here in San Antonio for two weeks learning about emergency medicine. I am so glad I made it here because I'm learning so much and getting a lot of refresher training. I will definitely use the knowledge I learned here for my patients when I get back to my duty station. After this course, I will be going to Chicago for a colloquium (residential conference) for my doctorate. That will be hectic as well. I will have to talk to the corps chief here about my plans for my dissertation topic since I want to do it on soldiers and possibly on smoking cessation or medic training. I'm still not sure and I still have a lot of research and brainstorming to do.

This posting turned out to be more of just information than feelings but there is so much to write about. This is my first redeployment posting so I don't want it to be overwhelming.

Pinay Army Physician Assistant

It's a GIRL!

Today started just like any ordinary Afghan day until we received a message on the radio saying that there was a local Afghan woman who was having "complications" from her pregnancy. She delivered a baby boy yesterday. When she came in our aid station, I was told by the interpreter that there was another baby in her abdomen. Men are not supposed to see what was going on so the males were on the other side of the divider while the woman, her mother and I were on the other side. I pulled out the placenta from her previous delivery and when I inserted a finger in there, the other baby's placenta was not open so I had to cut it with a scalpel. When I opened it, I saw a foot poking out and I was sure that the baby was dead. I started pulling on it while I told the interpreter to tell the woman to push. Her mom was helping me hold her other leg. I kept pulling on the baby and as soon as I saw the head, it started to cry and I almost cried too because she was alive! I asked the medic to give me a bulb syringe to clear the baby's nose and mouth. The baby was beautiful! I immediately put her on her mother's chest but I think the mom was too tired because she was expressionless. I also felt a bit sad because the baby was a girl and maybe the mom wasn't too excited because it wasn't a boy.

We had donated clothes in our aid station and I dressed the baby to keep her warm and we put her under a bulb light. I worked to control the mom's bleeding and I hope that she will be alright. The health care system is not too good in this area and with the mom having twins, I hope the girl survives. I know the boy will be taken care of real well, but it saddens me to have to wish that the girl will be treated the same but I know she won't be. But, for a day in her life, her first day, she was our princess in the aid station.

I was thinking of my experience with my own pregnancy on how my circumstances were so different than the mother who laid on our make shift bed today. I remember my husband being there the whole time. Although my experience was painful, it was comfortable and I had no worries if my baby girl was going to survive. It puts life into perspective when I get experiences such as today to let me know how fortunate I am in life. This fortune is something to be shared with others which we tried to do today for this local Afghan family who unexpectedly showed up in our doorsteps and asked for our help. I feel blessed and proud of what we were able to do.

Well, now I have to go so I can continue to help clean up. Child birth is messy! :-)

Listen... Listen Closely...

Compounded by my current deployment, the silence and darkness of my environment and watching the movie "The Hours", I was moved to write this poem.

Death is here
It's all around you
It keeps calling
Calling out your name

Try to avoid it
Avoid it as much as you can
Ignore the whispers
As it draws
Draws closer to you

Once you start
Start to finally listen
It creeps in you
Creeps In your soul

Like a virus
Virus out of control
Did you let it in? "Suicide"
Or did it force itself? "Homicide"

Listen
Listen closely
As close as you can
Death is all around you.

Boo. "Happy" Halloween.