i already started my clinic in manila last friday. i spent the whole 3 hours fixing it up. i share the clinic w/ 2 other surgeons so the room really needs a lot of work. i started by putting the image of the sto. niño and our lady at the corner and then fixing the other supplies like cotton balls, syringes, tongue depressors and their respective containers. lastly, i fixed my table drawer. but the room still stared at my blandly; it was not how i envisioned my clinic to look like. i want to have the clinic that shouts "welcome to my colorful, kid friendly world". i was told that i can freely put anything i want in there so i am looking around for decors & pictures that could brighten up the room.

i don't know if it is good that i am sharing the clinic w/ another older pediatrician. it is good because i get to learn how to interact w/ patients and their parents better (it is different when it is already your own patient you're dealing with rather than your consultant's while still in residency), the endless explanations and reassurances you have to do and of course bribing the little kids so that they would think of you as their friend, not the syringe wielding monster you really are (can't be helped, they do need their vaccines). on the other hand, it is also frustrating to see that the other doctor got to see several patients while you spent the whole time burning holes thru your seat. lots of doctors say that it would take several months or years before you can establish yourself and get patients left & right. i have already psyched myself for that but still i am wishing that one of these days a patient will come thru the clinic doors looking for the doctor in the 2nd cubicle.