Monday, August 06, 2007

The Real World

I'm back from vacation and will have to update on all of our doings, outings, and going-ons later, but thought I needed to do this post today instead.


real world
Noun
1.
real world - the practical world as opposed to the academic world; "a good consultant must have a lot of experience in the real world
"



Dr. Tolin, Dr. DeLee, Russell, Greg, Dr. Jacobs, & Dr. Casillas


A couple of weeks ago we were able to go to the Fellows dinner at the Argyle(a little too fancy for my liking) where they honored Greg and Russell, the other fellow. We had a good time as stories were shared of the two of them. They described them at the beginning of the year, told stories about their successes and mistakes and what the staff thought of them after spending the year with them, which by the way was all good.



Me & Greg


This extra year of training was a bit grueling in itself. Long hours during the day, call weekends, and moonlighting(so we could survive our bills) took up most of Greg's time. Lots of extra high school physicals and sporting events, with a few of our local colleges and universities thrown in the mix, filled evenings and weekends with only a couple of hours(if that) left each day to see him. The last few days of the fellowship were spent at Dallas Cowboy Camp. He loves this part of his job and it is so him. He took every opportunity to find extra sports events to help volunteer for. He covered several of the San Antonio Spurs games, Rampage hockey games, and the Stock Show and Rodeo. I think he was a bit disappointed about taking the last two days of the fellowship for vacation since this caused him to miss out on more interaction with the Cowboys.




Well, Greg has officially joined the Real World. After fourteen years of post high school education and training he headed off to private practice this morning. We often joke how it was like he started Kindergarten over and went all the way through High School graduation, before finishing his upper level education and training. After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry he then completed four years of Medical School. He completed his five year residency in Orthopedic Surgery and then did a one year fellowship that specialized him in sports injuries.


Dr. Greg off to work.


On to the Real World...

Greg joined a sports practice with two other doctors and had his first clinic with his very own patients this morning. Being the new guy, and the others not retiring or leaving, his patient level will most likely be low until he gets his foot, neck, and head in the door and people find out about him.


Office door



The office had already put advertisements in our local paper, sent them to general practicitoners offices, placed his name on the office building directory, and he will have an ad in the new phone directories come November. All of this is exciting, but a little unnerving too. He has been training the past six years for this but has always had someone looking over his shoulder, or just a phone call away if he had questions or wasn't sure someting was going the way it should. I asked him this morning if he was was nervous (which he rarely is) and he said no not really. He then said, my first surgery alone, now that's another story. Over the weekend we took his office chair to the office along with a slough of his books. We still need to have all of his diplomas and certificates framed alike to hang there, as well as a few other minor things. It was so surreal to actually walk into an office where his name is hanging on the wall and door. It is so exciting but is hard to imagine we are finally here.


Greg's office



I am so proud of Greg and the extremely long journey he undertook and successfully finished. He is great at what he does and I feel he has done everything possible and gone above and beyond to prepare for his career. He has been well liked by his peers and most of the staff. The patients he has cared for thus far have been very gracious for the understanding and care he has shown them. He has great bed side manner and will sit and talk to patients much longer than expected if he feels they need a little more of his time. He has often joked about having to have "Bishops' talks" while taking care of teenagers that aren't doing the things they should. He not only has concerns for his family, but for total strangers. I am amazed at this quality in him.


Congratulations honey for a job well done. I hope your first day was everything you expected and hoped it would be. I love you HUGE and I'm so proud of you!!!

29 comments:

smithfam said...

Congratulations! How exciting for your family.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Greg OOPS I mean Dr. Gordon

sista # 2 said...

This was so nice! This is a great journal entry for your doctor! Pix
are always a plus ;)ciao

jenny said...

Hurray the first day finally came and went. Greg's office looks so nice. We'll have to come and check it out. Unless we need an appt. Hmm I think my knee hurts :)

Congrats Dr. Gordo!! Lucky for us we are happy you decided to stay in SA!

Amanda said...

Angie--that is just awesome and such a great feeling to have after fourteen long years! Although JD/MBA school wasn't as long, I remember the exhilirating feeling of seeing my husbands name on the office plaque at his law firm and how proud I was of him at his first job. Congrats!!

angela | the painted house said...

Finally!!! How wonderful for you all! We pray God's blessings on this new real world adventure in your lives. Congratulations, Greg!

donna said...

Congratulation DR, Gordon!!!!!!

Jill said...

This is so exciting! Seeing his name on the door is so official and cool. Congratulations to both of you for making it through this huge process. What a great accomplishment for your whole family!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to both of you! This is huge for your family, and so exciting. And, you'll no doubt have more time to spend together, and that will make it even sweeter!

Anonymous said...

Well, Dr. Gordon! My first grandchild...No more "MD2B" after your name as you you used to write when in high school. Now it is just "MD." You've come a long way from the 2-year old that strutted around with your little Dr. Bag and plastic stethescope around your neck. We are all proud of you and what you have accomplished. And to Angie...you've made every step of this journey with him and well deserve all the benefits and joys that you will share with him. Congratulations to you both from "The Lake." YOU MADE IT!!!!

Carolee said...

I am so excited for Greg and the rest of your family. What an accomplishment for the whole family. Reading it gave me both butterflies, because I can only imagine how good it will feel for Jeff to be done, and also a pit in my stomach because I know how much we still have to go through.

Anna said...

Congratulations to the end of an era and to the start of a new one. How exciting!

andrea said...

I can't believe the journey you and your husband have been on. It must be so exciting to finally be in the real world. Here's to the great success of Dr. Gordon.

Lucy said...

Congratulations to both of you! I am ready for the real world but hope it's not TOO different. Just less guilt over my $100 haircuts, hopefully:)

Welcome to the Real World! Save a seat for us!

Rachel said...

AWESOME! Such a HUGE landmark for your family! Hopefully all the HARD work and sacrifice will start to pay off soon...literally! :)

michelle said...

Congratulations! How wonderful that after all of the time he has put in, he is now officially practicing! What a wonderful post about your husband!

Allison said...

Congratulations! What an exciting thing for your family. I can't wait for it to be our turn to be "Real".

Bridget said...

Way to go Greg! You deserve all of your happiness and success! Take care!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, to both of you! What a looong journey - but a good one, right? I'm glad you are still in SA, too. I was wondering how poor Jenny would survive if you left! :) Best wishes on this next part of the journey! We are in our final year of residency and I really can't believe we are to this point ... amazing how time flies. Crazy and exciting all at the same time!

Janice said...

I have been reading your blog for quite sometime and I HAD to comment on this one. Having a husband who is a dentist, a brother-in-law who is a urologist, three best friends who are either just graduated or in the final years of their residencies, I can whole-heartedly wish you a huge congratulations! It is quite the feat to get through the whole medical school process.

Holly said...

Congratulations to you and Greg - I need an orthopedist! Too bad you aren't in Cali!!!

What great friends you & Jenny are! Great bday post to her.

Thanks for commenting on my blog - so nice to meet new friends!!

Elizabeth said...

This is so exciting! Congratulations. How fun that you decided to stay in San Antonio.

michelle said...

Wow! What an incredible milestone for all of you! I was excited just seeing his name on the sign and the two of you in his new office.

And how wonderful for you and Jenny that you get to stay where you are! Hooray for entering the real world, where all your hard work pays off!

Barlow Fam said...

Hi Angie! Had fun seeing you, here's that web address...

http://www.blurb.com

Kelly said...

So now that you have been at it a couple of weeks, how is the real world?

Congratulations!

The Bright Family said...

We came up on your blog by accident--glad we did! It was good to get caught up on the lives of Angie & Greg. I think we got married before or shortly after ya'll--ya'll were the 'it' couple. Allison was in my grade in high school--she was a good friend since I had just moved there my senior year. And I remember when Art torched his face with the gas tank--can't think of what you call it--at his trailer! :) I know ya'll moved to San Antonio right before we left. We live in Corpus now--we loved San Antonio & we love Corpus too. We still are found in SA a lot due to Sea World & the Payne family. Congratulations on becoming a Dr. I know that must have been a lot of work, but I'm sure you will be very blessed because of it. :) Amber & Josh Bright

Pedaling said...

i came upon your blog by the new connecting interests. sounds like we have alot in common. i love your blog - congrats to your family and entering "the real world" you'll have to check out my blog - i've been doing a series of personal reviews (for fun)of broadway misicals i've seen. once again congratulations!

Anna said...

Angie...where are you? Hope you are ok. You haven't blogged for a while. Hope you are enjoying the sun!

Tip Junkie said...

Congratulations to the both of you!! What an incredible accomplishment.