Luca and I went swimming with a local Master's team this morning. Afterwards I had the pleasure of conversing with some of my lane mates. One in particular was especially charming.
Her: Ugh! Now I have to take the train back to the city! What a pain.
Me: Oh you don't have a car? That sound like it must be a pain to get out here.
Her: It is. That's why I swim at [your institution's pool] during the week.
Me: Really? You swim at [my institution]? What time?
Her: At 6.
Me: Do you swim with fast CCU nurse?
Her: Yes. You should come swim with us.
Me: Thanks! But you're a bit too fast for me. Also, you swim at 6AM. I am enjoying my brief respite from having to wake up at 5. Maybe I will get over it, but it looks somewhat doubtful. What do you do at [my institution]?
Her: *I* am a *PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST* (said really slowly and with emphasis). That means I have BOTH an MD AND a PhD.
Me: How interesting! Are you in a lab now?
Her: Yes, I am in basic science person's lab for a POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP.
Me: I see. Did you do a residency also?
Her: Yes, I did BOTH a medicine and pediatrics residency. It's called MED-PEDS.
Me: Hm. So are you planning on practicing and running a lab?
Her: Yes. I am entering the job market now.
It occurred to me that I could make this easier on her by telling her that I too am a physician scientist, but I was really enjoying listening to her try to explain her job to me as though I were a lay person. Hee hee.
I suppose she could have asked me too, but that's probably expecting a lot from an MD-PhD. We're a special lot. :-)
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