Monday, August 04, 2008

July 17th and 18th

Watching a tiny lung gradually develop and bring life into another by positive pressure filling every tiny sac in the lung is one of the most miraculous medical events I have ever witnessed. It was truly a reminder of why I am in this field. The discussion of German medical practice enlightened the group on what is really working, what has worked, and what is being changed. My conclusions were that absolutely no system can please society as a whole, but learning the differences between what works for who and adopting those successful ideals is the key to bringing nations as close as possible to developing an effective system. That day altogether was an experience I undoubtedly will not forget but will be able to apply to my own future in research, medicine, and politics as the lines between them continue to diminish.
The day at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne was also quite interesting, allowing us to see medicine from a different angle. Their focus seemed to be allowing for longer flight duration made possible someday by human centrifugation to develop microgravity and so forth, which was the coolest part of the day. If they can sustain human conditions from physical health to the human psyche as close to normal as possible, they will be one step closer to sending a group to Mars. It was outstanding how they had a multitude of different specialists right there in their facility, which reflected the efficiency and precision in every step of their research. Their innovative new techniques inspired me and I realized how many different things you can do in medicine. I have entered into a field of neverending possibilities and one in which you never stop learning. That excites me more than anything.

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