During my rotation with Dr. Rakesh Shah at his clinic at HCA Clearlake Hospital, I felt a great sense of fulfillment. I started out in the clinic, alongside Dr. Uricio and Jay Shah. One of the earliest cases, which provided important teaching moments, was a patient with a normal calcium score but an aberrant lipid profile. Through hands-on practice with echocardiographic procedures with Biju, a clinic staff member, I also learned how to recognize the "Mickey Mouse" sign, DVT, and LVF with preserved and reduced ejection fraction (EF). I like the clinic's supportive environment and educational possibilities, and the staff was really helpful.
Academically, I contributed by creating a presentation for the lecture by Dr. Rakesh Shah at HCA, "Introduction to Cardiology and What's Next?" In addition, I worked with HealthyU, an Indian firm, to evaluate patients and collect data for a new portable ECG monitoring gadget.
Over my two-week rotation at HCA Clearlake, I learned patient care, inpatient case management, and did case presentations to attending doctors, as well as patient follow-up until discharge. This exposure provided me with a thorough understanding of patient care and medical management.
I was also able to witness complex procedures such as right heart catheterization, carotid artery stenting, and Walkman installation. Although I didn't carry out the treatments, seeing them in person helped me to fully comprehend their intricacies. I also had a chance to see how the whole teamwork is important for providing complete care to the patient and how each person's contribution makes a difference in care. This rotation has significantly improved my clinical abilities, and Dr. Rakesh Shah's guidance has been invaluable in my development as a physician. I also extend my sincere gratitude to Dr.Hemant sir and the Shivani Bhatt Charitable Foundation for providing us students with this invaluable opportunity.