School: University of Pittsburgh

Death was never an end, to me. Because of my spiritual foundation, I have always looked at death as a misunderstood gateway to another state, a new existence that no one quite fully understands. As I went through this program, I realized my one-sided and inexperienced perspective of death was deficient in much of the … Continue reading “Meaning in Life and Death Through Emotional Closure”

Death. It’s a scary word to most of us, with it comes fear, worry, and suspense. Once people become old enough to understand death’s extent, death’s impact, the fear seems to grow, presenting itself in various ways. When I began as a volunteer in the VA Hospice, I expected myself to be fearful, and I … Continue reading “Not Just a Crossword”

Volunteering at a hospice has taught me a great deal about death and dying. Before, death was always a rather taboo subject. I did not want to think about it. Even though death and dying is inevitable for everyone, I took the approach that if I did not think about it, it cannot be true. … Continue reading “No Regrets”

The eyes are but a reflection. It warps our perception of the world and is the lens through which we perceive life. Likewise, when we look at a person, we are never certain of the stories that lie behind those eyes. Even when listening to a story, the eyes that may seem to convey a … Continue reading “Eyes-A Deceitful Reflection”

The concept of death was always something that I refused to let myself think about. It has never been considered taboo in my household or within my religion but the idea of living in a world without someone close to me always scared me. When I was younger, death was never something that affected me … Continue reading “Overcoming the Relationship with Death”

As a pre medical student over the past four years at the University of Pittsburgh, I have gone through bouts of uncertainty as to if I should pursue a career in the medical field. I have always enjoyed science courses and discovering how things work, however, I was worried about whether the sacrifices would be … Continue reading “The Importance of Listening”

Unconditional love is a dwindling privilege. I was blessed with a formidable support system. My grandma considered me as her “weakness,” but I always strive to be her strength as she was to me. Last year was the last time I saw her. Disheveled, emaciated, forlorn. Trying to memorize her face was futile. My mind … Continue reading “Cultivating Compassion in Medicine”

I can summarize the entirety of my hospice experience by saying this: hospice is here to stay. Before the program, I read a book that estimated the number of Americans getting to that special age of 65 at about 7800 a day; the more recent estimates I’ve seen have that figure closer to 10,000. With … Continue reading “Health & Hospice Thoughts”

“Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage help but just Ourselves – And Immortality.” -Emily Dickinson This classic Dickinson poem resonates with me and my experiences in the Pre-Med Hospice Volunteering experience this past year. Before participating in this program and being educated about death and … Continue reading “Because I could not stop for Death”

My entire view of the healthcare field has done a complete 180 degree spin. I’ve always had a drastic fear of death for my loved ones especially in the hands of healthcare professionals. As much as I have always wanted to become a doctor, I have always been rather worried in regard to the quality … Continue reading “Rekindling Light”