Hella Bay Area

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.” #vietnam (at Datanla Waterfall)

A friend sent me this picture when I was struggling to make a proper algorithm. Needless to say, the algorithm is finalized and ready to go. 

I was on the red shuttle bus heading to the UCSF Mission Bay campus to listen to guest speakers talk about an array of research projects they have done for their masters. The little reminder of no smoking was very pleasing to see since I am fond of the slogans “Peace, Love, (insert any antics that appeals to the eye)”.

After reading and rereading through the HIPAA and signing my agreement and understanding the privacy and rights, I finally could undergo my creation of surveys, algorithms, patients’ information (age&language), and attend staff meetings. Things were finally falling into place, especially when I received my badge. It made my reality more real than I have had expected. No more funny looks from other employees because they finally know who I am and feel more comfortable with my presence in the forbidden areas*. I felt, for lack for a better term, ‘official’. I was in business attire equipped with a volunteer badge made only for me, people were finally taking me seriously and were more intrigued of my presence than ever before! I was happy!

[Side Note: If you click on the picture of the badge, it will direct you to the site and show you where I have been spending majority of my time when I am not busy being a tourist.]

*forbidden areas: meaning no patients or civilians are allowed in designated areas unless accompanied by an Family Community Medicine faculty—since this area requires a code to be enter for the door to even unlock.

Upon entering my adventure in the Bay Area, my main purpose here was to intern at the University of California San Francisco/ San Francisco General Hospital in the Family Community Medicine department. 

My internship worked with two physicians that were very enthusiastic about preconception and contraception care. I was known as the volunteered research assistant assisting the physicians on their One Key Question project. One Key Question is a project that was successfully done in Oregon, which encouraged the physicians to implement it in California. The purpose of this project is to make the sixth vital sign a question towards child-bearing age women (15-45 years of age) if they are planning on getting pregnant within the next year so that they can get the proper counseling for preconception and/or contraception. 

I conducted numerous literature research to understand what the project was about, which lead me to a variety of google scholar articles on preconception, contraception, and Title X articles. This was such an educational yet monumental experience for me since I was one of the few that will help this project evolve and hopefully in the future, have it published. 

June 1st: Let the adventures begin! My flight to San Francisco, CA from Flint, MI was such a dreadful trip. It all started with loading the car at 415am with my two oversize luggage, mini carry-on, and a large purse. Driving to Flint from Ann Arbor was a decent drive since my nerves were all over the place. We had to be at the airport around 5am to check my bags and get my boarding pass. I was on time since my flight was planned to depart at 6am from Flint to Cleveland.

As my bags were checked and boarding pass handed to me, I proceeded to security. Security was more intense than I last remembered. There was this machine you had to step into for about 30 seconds—your legs spread shoulder width apart, with your arms’ raised open palm, forming an ‘X’ with your body— while facing the security guard. I was relieved when I finally got to my terminal.

Little did I know there were technology issues that delayed my flight for a half hour. Sitting around my gate waiting to get out of Michigan was an overwhelming experience. People around me were either fidgeting in their seats, pacing back and forth by the doors, screaming at the airport clerks, or running to another gate to catch another flight so they do not miss their connecting flight. 

When I finally got to my destination, all of this chaotic events were minute. Nothing really mattered beside that very minute when I realized I was finally in San Francisco. I traded the Great Lakes for an Ocean, The Mitten for the Bay Area, and crazy weather for consistent sunshine. Life is good!