I survived my second week of residency. There were some really low points, but some highs as well. Some of the tests I approve are looking a bit more familiar, I am mastering a new electronic medical record, and have started reading my own protein electrophoresis tests. Of course, I still feel lost a good percentage of the time and often need to say "I don't know but I will get back to you," when clinicians call. But I have also had some very nice interactions where I felt like I was being helpful in teaching someone about a test to order or calling out important results in a timely manner that will lead to better patient care. It is nice to feel useful and I can see that being a consultant can be very rewarding.

But unfortunately as the days have gone by I have come to see that continuing to blog is going to be difficult with the demands on my time. The learning curve is so huge in pathology I need to come and read, and I have Step 3 looming ahead. Plus, I am not in medical school anymore, so it is time to wrap this particular blog.

While I am happy that I made it to the end of medical school relatively unscathed, found a specialty, and matched at a great program, I am really sad to stop writing here. This blog has been my outlet through the incredible highs and lows of the past several years. It started as a place to vent, and a way for my friends and family to keep in touch with my life. I always tried to keep it real and to bring out the humor that I saw around me. And slowly my blog grew into something bigger as more people started reading, commenting, linking to and emailing me. I have been honored and thrilled that what I have written spoke to other people and was helpful for readers.

What is next for The Lone Coyote? For now, I need a break from medical blogging. I need some time to let the dust settle and see if it is even feasible to continue medical blogging in residency. There is a placeholder for a new Lone Coyote medical blog at http://lonecoyotemd.blogspot.com
that I may start on sometime in the future. I will post both here and at that site if I do decide to ever get it up and running. And I do hope to turn this blog into a book someday (if you are a publisher, agent, or know someone in the business who can hook me up, please let me know). I figure I will leave the blog up in the meantime to hopefully provide information for people out there looking to learn about what medical school is about.

In the meantime it would be impossible for The Lone Coyote to stop writing completely. So if you've enjoyed my non-medical musings hop on over to The City and Other Random Musings to continue the adventure.

It has been quite a ride. 772 posts. Medical school. And even a bit of residency too. Thank you to all of you readers for your support and for joining me in my travels through the world of medical training. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, be they medical or not.