Changing Seasons

Since starting her family medicine residency in July 2021, FMR2 Dr. Brianna Hutchinson (MD), has taken us along on her journey as a resident in Prince Albert. As she wraps up her residency, Brianna reflects back some of the highlights and challenges over the past two years.

 

You may remember me from my articles and Instagram take over last year, but for those of you I haven’t met – my name is Brianna Hutchinson. I am a current FMR2 at the Prince Albert site in the Family Medicine program at the University of Saskatchewan.

It seems like just yesterday I was showing you guys around Prince Albert on my first day of residency. And now the end of my residency program is fast approaching! They really don’t lie when they say the two years go by fast. The last two years have had their ups and downs, but I am grateful for the experiences and support I have received throughout it all. In my last article I talked about the transition from first to second year of residency. I think medicine in general is full of transitions – from undergrad to medical school, then to residency, and then into practice. And now second year Family Medicine residents across the province prepare to enter the final transition to independent practice. While it’s a time full of unease, I can at least enter the transition knowing that my program has given me the skills I need to do this on my own.

While I am sad my time in Prince Albert is winding down, I look forward to moving to Winnipeg and starting my R3 year in Obstetrical Surgical Skills (OSS). This enhanced skills program, or more informally known as the “plus one program”, is something that I knew I wanted to do since my clerkship years in medical school. I spent a lot of time rurally, not only falling in love with maternity & Women’s Health but realizing the barriers and gaps in care in rural hospitals and the astronomical difference Family Physicians can have in maintaining those services. I therefore became exceedingly passionate about contributing to that force in the future. After completing this training, I plan to return to rural/regional Saskatchewan and support colleagues with operative deliveries, including both operative vaginal and Caesarean delivery. While I hope to put my generalist skills to use in Family Medicine clinic, I also expect (and hope) that the vast majority of my future practice will naturally encompass women and children, ranging from obstetrical and newborn care, office Women’s Health and colposcopy, reproductive and sexual health services.

But alas – all good things must come to an end. I would like to take the time to thank you guys for following along my journey to this point. And to all the other R2s across the province wrapping up residency – hang on, we got this!