COM Outlook - Winter 2016

College of Osteopathic Medicine 7 checkups on the patient, we held a long conversation regarding her continued improvement, her medical history, and the important next steps that needed to be taken after the plane landed,” he revealed. “Once we landed, paramed- ics boarded the flight, and I provided them with a detailed verbal report. I then gave the patient a squeeze on the shoulder, looked her in the eyes, reas- sured her that she was in good hands, and returned to my seat.” “Gildin exhibited the extraordinary competence and compassion for which every physician should strive,” said Hennekens, who was effusive in his praise of Gildin’s actions. “He was the epitome of grace under pressure and provided expert care and comfort to the patient during the harrowing inter- val between the onset of her symptoms and the landing of the plane.” Reflecting on the serene yet swift way he reacted to the mid-flight emergency, Gildin credited both his NSU-COM education and his prior experience as an EMT for his unruffled response. “There is no feeling like helping an individual in a time of need,” he explained. “It is the feeling I live for as an EMT, and it is the reason I decided to pursue a career in medicine. Some- times, in the fog of simulated-patient encounters and many arduous exams in the basic sciences, a medical student’s motivation can easily be diminished or entirely lost. Being in a situation where I had the opportunity to assist an individual in a medical emergency renewed my spirits. “From a professional standpoint, it reminded me of the importance of the career I have committed my life toward,” he added. “It was shocking to me that there were only 2 people on a flight with more than 100 passengers who were qualified to provide emer- gency medicine for an individual in need. Part of my motivation toward becoming a physician is to drastically change that statistic. I look forward to a career where I will be able to increase public awareness and involvement in emergency medical situations.” In tandem with his EMT experience, Gildin acknowledged the profound impact his ongoing NSU-COM training had in regard to how he dealt with the stricken passenger from both a medical and interpersonal stand- point. “NSU-COM emphasizes the importance of being both physically and emotionally present for a patient,” he stressed. “Keeping the atmosphere light with appropriate, well-timed jokes helped to keep my patient’s mind at ease. NSU-COM has instilled in me that treating a whole patient is more than just treating the sum of his or her ailments.” “ —Joshua Gildin There is no feeling like helping an individual in a time of need, he explained.“It is the feeling I live for as an EMT, and it is the reason I decided to pursue a career in medicine.”