Featured Resident :: Ann Thyssen, D.O.

Ann (left) and TCOM classmate, Payal, circa 2005

In an effort to get to know our residents better and share them with you, we have implemented a new series called, Featured Resident. We will publish resident interviews four times a year asking questions such as, "What is a typical day like at your institution?" During March-May 2008, we are pleased to introduce you to Ann Thyssen. Ann is a TCOM 2007 graduate currently pursuing her pediatric residency at Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Ann told me about how she made the decision to pursue pediatrics, what a "typical" day as a resident is like, her turn as a special education substitute teacher, and about her current training for a local relay marathon.

At what point during medical school did you know for sure that you wanted to pursue pediatrics?

I realized it in Ob-Gyn when I always wanted to follow the baby out of the delivery room! Also, at the end of my other rotations I was happy to move on, but by the end of my pediatrics core at Driscoll I was ready to stick with peds!

What is a "typical" day like for you at Driscoll Children's Hospital? Give us the A-Z list.

  • At 6:50 a.m. I head to the cafeteria, grab *free* breakfast (and more coffee!) then whisk it upstairs to morning report. Patients who came in overnight are discussed and a resident presents a teaching case.
  • At 8 a.m. we head back to the floors and get to work! We see all the patients and write our notes. We also round with all the individual attendings and consulting physicians who see our patients during the day.
  • Before noon we have teaching rounds (usually an hour) and depending on the day...radiology rounds, etc.
  • At noon we grab lunch and take it to noon conference where we have a core teaching lecture from an attending at 12:15 p.m.
  • We then head back to the floor by 1:30 p.m. If everything is wrapped up, we might squeeze in some studying.
  • At 3:45 p.m., we printout our "brains" (list of floor patients) and check them out to the on call team.
  • Around 4:30 p.m. or so...we head home for the day!

What have you learned about yourself that you didn't know prior to beginning your pediatric residency?

I can run a pretty decent mock code! I had two in my first few months of residency and both of the dummies made it. Hopefully it translates to real life!

Now that you are well into your first year of residency, is there something specific you wish you did more (or less) of in medical school...such as read or sleep?

I did a lot of reading an not much sleeping...the only thing I wish I did do that I didn't was become an OMM teaching assistant or fellow. I do plan to take a cranial course before the end of my residency program.

What has been your most fascinating or eye-opening experience during residency?

On an awesome rotation called, "Community for Children", in Mexico where I was able to spend a night on-call in the Hospital Infantil de Tamaulipas with the residents. I learned that trying to write an H&P in a chart in Spanish is more difficult than conducting an H&P in Spanish!

Does working with children on a daily basis change the way you view them? For example, do you find yourself being more protective towards children you don't know?

Yes! I really pay attention now especially to how parents discipline their kids! That is one other thing I have had to learn about to teach to the parents of my patients.

How do you like to spend your spare time...in the event you have some time to spare?

I like to go to movies and out to eat with my husband; we go out of town to visit family. We just started training to run 4.4 miles in May for Corpus Christi's Beach to Bay Relay Marathon. The residents and attendings go every year. Other than that, sometimes I sneak in a good non-educational book for fun.

What would your family, friends and co-workers be surprised to learn about you?

I took my extra month and a half between my last medical school rotation and graduation to work as a substitute teacher in special education classroom in Denton. I've always thought teaching would be the next best thing to pediatrics.

Any advice for those medical students thinking about pursuing a career in pediatrics?

Do rotations at the residencies you are thinking about applying to. It really helps you decide...plus it looks good in the eyes of the interviewers when you apply there! You can squeeze in an extra one by doing pediatric emergency medicine for your emergency requirement at TCOM. The core rotation at Driscoll is great. :)

Doctors on television...Scrubs, ER or House?

Scrubs, no contest!

                                                                         -Eryn Loney, Director of Program Development