back from Alaska!

So I just got home from Alaska on Sunday. I had the time of my life and loved every second of my time there! I absolutely loved working at the Urgent Care and learning from my preceptors, who were both eager to teach and help you out in any way. The staff there was also one of a kind, and I was so surprised by how welcoming each and every one of them were. The camaraderie I experienced there was some of best and I will really miss working with such amazing individuals.

Juneau was also a huge eye opener for me in terms of health care access. Even though Juneau is the capital of Alaska, it is not big at all and there are limited health care services available there. There is 1 hospital, and this hospital is only a level 4 trauma center. The emergency department has only 1 doc for each shift, and 60-100 people are seen there each day. All major cases have to be flown out to Anchorage, Seattle, or somewhere else that offers the appropriate services. Additionally, specialists only come into the city every so often, so when they do come into town, there is a long wait time and they are always completely booked. To compensate for all this, there are the PCPs. They manage a TON of stuff. It just goes to show how much need there is for primary care services in order to reach all the residents and tourists alike.

The weather in Juneau was fantastic and some of the best they've had in awhile, so I got very lucky! It didn't get dark until almost 10:30-11 PM, so I was able to do A LOT of stuff while I was there! I was also lucky to have some really good friends to share in all the fun with :) They truly became like family to me and I will really miss spending time with them all. Lots of late nights, fun times, laughter, and good conversation. Can't ask for much more than that!

A lot of firsts took place in Juneau, and I wouldn't change any of those experiences! First time in Alaska, boating, seeing bears and eagles, suturing, draining abscesses, eating king crab, standing in the Pacific ocean, standing on top of a glacier, drinking fresh water straight from a stream, and so many others. Love that I got to experience so much!

Things I will miss the most about Juneau:

-mountains in every direction

-amazing sunsets

-the smell of the sea

-working in the clinic

-walking around downtown

-hiking

-my Puerto Rican family

-brunch

-Front Street Clinic

-seafood

-Sunshine Lattes from Heritage Coffee

-pretty much everything :)

The one thing that will not be missed: the prices!

Loved Alaska so much and hopefully I'll get to go back someday. But for now, my psych rotation in New Castle, PA awaits me. 2 rotations down, 7 to go! Bring on the new adventures!