M-81
Emerging Doctors
by
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... Obie questioned Walter Ferguson. "Do they call internists 'fleas' because they pick you for information, like fleas biting?" "I don't know," answered Ferguson. "I thought it was because of all the IVs and needle sticks for tests are like 'fleas' biting and sucking blood." "Code Blue, North 813 ... Code Blue, North 813," the hospital intercom announced loudly. Obie and Walter ran behind Dr. Felton as he bolted up the stairs to the eighth floor. They crowded into the room to watch or help but the distressed patient was already mobbed by assorted medical residents, interns, nurses, nursing students, and medical students. Obie counted 14 people attending to the patient in N 813. John Morgan weaved through the crowd, drawn like a magnet to fellow med students. "Why aren't you in there saving that patient?" asked Walter, "Like a true 'flea'?" "Well, that patient has breast cancer with bone metastases. I wouldn't have thought they would do CPR on her." Dr. Felton was now over the patient's bed, doing the chest compressions. "One-and-two-and-three-and-four-and-five," he counted so the one squeezing the ambu bag could time the inhalations. There were two sounds like popcorn popping during his compressoins as ribs broke from the pressure on her chest. "Is she on narcotics?" he asked. Several peolple murmured affirmative. "Okay, how about some Narcan?" A nurse responded with a syringe of Narcan, injecting it into the IV. Some ripples appeared on the heart monitor and the team proceeded with electrical shocks. The medical students squeezed out of the crowded room into the hall. The "Code" continued for several minutes more. "You know," John said, "I heard they're called 'fleas' because they won't leave a dying dog until after it's long dead."
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About the Book
Obie Hardy, a medical student at the Medical College of Virginia, struggles to translate textbook training into live patient care. In the 1980s, this small town boy is challenged by Richmond’s city life and the incessant competiveness of his classmates while seeking competency as a physician. One student succumbs to the stress as Obie finds strength in his girlfriend, Priscilla, and a few close classmates. His part time research project involving a controversial cancer drug questions his integrity and allienates Priscilla. As Obie’s life crumbles, he stumbles upon a pivotable lab discovery.
Testimonial
It has been a number of years since I read as exciting a book as this. The book is magnetizing and full of interesting history and a description of some of the events that took place at a historical Virginian teaching institution. The book is so thrilling that makes the reader, once he/she starts reading, unable to stop reading till the finish. The book is an impressive historical resume of MCV and a diary of some very important research as well as some other important events that took place in this edifice called MCV, “The Medical College of Virginia”. Making it A MUST READ BOOK.
Ali Hossaini, Sr, Ph.D., Assitant Professor of Clinical Pathology, MCV
About the Author
Dr. Willoughby Hundley III has maintained both family and emergency medicine practices for nearly thirty years. He now lives with his wife, Lucy, in his hometown of Boydton, Virginia. This is his first book.