Hello lovelies! Today again finds me a very content and lucky girl. Stephanie and I started our day around 7 am. We headed out to the primary care center with a quick stop to the anchorage native american consortium to have our PPD tests read. Good news all..I don’t have tuberculosis! I know everyone was highly concerned ;) Anywho, Renee sat down with us and helped us narrow our focus for our research project and we also got the data we needed. Now it’s time to get to work and make a difference in the world (well at least those affected by oral candidiasis who visit the ANMC!). Outpatient pharmacy was great today. I got to work with Firdaus who is great and taught me so much! Did a lot of counseling today. This outpatient pharmacy is like retail on steroids! We have so much access to past medical histories, med lists, labs etc etc. We are filling prescriptions with all the information needed to ensure the patient is being treated with evidence based medicine! AHHH the beauty of it all when you give a pharmacist the tools she needs to make an informed decision!

Afterwards, we had a huge crash course session on the USPHS (United States Public Health Service) particuarly the Indian Health Service. I almost stood up in the middle of the session and screamed “Where’s the dotted line?! SIGN ME UP!” I love it! This system has EVERYTHING I am looking for. Autonomy, collaborative practice agreements, highly clinical work,evidence based medicine at every turn, tons of interactions with patients and some SWEET perks! I would be a government employee with tons of vacation, sweet benefits, tons of places to practice (ND, AK, SD, OK, NC and I only need ONE state license!) FANTASTIC insurance and TONS of opportunity for deployment (yes…deployment!) and travel. It’s nice to have some sort of focus now. I’ve been so all over the place lately in regards to what I want to do that I was really starting to get frustrated. While I’m keeping my options open, this might just be the answer to my prayers and wishes. Stay tuned….

After work, Stephanie and I came home and did a quick 20 minute run. She is doing great. Again, I am so thankful to have a running buddy and I believe she will do so well during her 5K in September! I think I will be running the race with her…..

Finally we caught a ride with our roomate Michele to grub it up at the Bear’s Tooth! People, this place was FANTASTIC! It’s a movie theater/pub/grill all balled into one! It’s a really unique and cool concept. The place shows movies that are only a few months old (tonight we saw Robin Hood…which was pretty good btw!). Tickets for the movie is only 3 dollars!!(and did I mention there is no tax up here?!). After getting your movie ticket you place your order, they hand you a small traffic cone and away you go! The movie theater has little tables and booths in front of them and the staff brings your food to you while you are watching the movie!!! FABULOUS! I ordered some delicious salmon tacos with a side of chips and salsa. In the back corner is a little bar where you can order drinks and some awesome microbrewery beers! CHEERS TO THAT! Needless to say, we are planning a trip back very soon.

Hope tomorrow is just as good. Could it get better dear friends?

Love everyone very much! Sleep well back in WV. My heart is there with you!