Elizabeth H. Kuge, OMS-IV, B.S.

Had the most wonderful first rotation! Was pimped questions often to test my knowledge, made great friendships with the staff, learned a lot about cholesterol medicine and heart disease, and saw a vaginal delivery!

Found out that I won a $2000 Diversity scholarship for the 2nd year in a row due to my passion, achievements, and progress on Diversity that I helped spearhead and lead at Rocky Vista University through my position as Chapter President of the Student National Medical Association Club. Incredibly proud of this, and am honored to have been recognized twice for my efforts to spread Diversity Awareness both in the community and at RVU. 

What an AWESOME rotation! I absolutely loved working with Dr. Hostetler and her entire team. Grew comfortable performing Papsmears and bimanual exams, measuring uteri, and helping with GYN operations. At the end of my rotation, I was competent in discussing contraception options with patients, and was able to witness a twin vaginal delivery! 

I had the greatest 4 weeks of my first IM experience! I got the opportunity to work with four phenomenal physicians and three outstanding residents who all pushed me to grow, taught me a lot, and helped me become a better future physician. Sterling was also wonderful, and I would go back in a heartbeat!

From knee injections, to delivering babies, to performing circumcisions & pap smears, and seeing a stroke happen right in front of my eyes, this rotation more than exceeded my expectations. I was swept into the world of Family Medicine and loved every moment of it. I learned about full-scope practice, practiced my OMT skills almost daily, and was truly able to see the fruit of my labor (studying) come to life on this rotation. I also had an incredibly special experience while delivering a patient's baby... one that I will keep with me forever.

I got to be on a team with my classmate Emily, Dr. Smith, Dr. Ulmer, & Dr. Adams during inpatient IM, and had Dr. Goel as my attending for three days! I vividly remember a lecture he gave us on TEGs and blood products... :P On my last day, I was able to treat an ACS rule-out patient using OMT, and though he still had a stress-test the following day, had complete resolution of his chest pain after my rib treatment!

Rough start to my rotation but learned to advocate for myself and bounced back like a boss! Was challenged to dig deep into pathology and treatment with Dr. Le, and mastered the one-handed tie! Grew a love for the OR and the staff. 

Since my next rotation was OB-GYN, I thought it would be a great idea to volunteer to participate in a research project that involved actively managing a patient with post-partum hemorrhage! Sim-Mom was all dressed and ready to go, and I had a fantastic learning experience with Dr. Ross, Dr. Peacock, and Mary & Shannon, the students on this project! Afterwards, I felt much more prepared to enter my OB rotation - and I found out that of all the students who volunteered to participate, I was the only one who hadn't had their OB-GYN rotation yet!  

Had the most wonderful time visiting home, seeing my parents, reuniting with my half-brother, doing touristy things with Hannah, and eating the BEST food! Came back to Colorado for a two week Critical Reflections Course that helped me rediscover my values and mentally and emotionally prepare me for the second half of this year.

I was speechless. I competed against Student Doctors of the Year from all over the nation, and came in second?! Was this real?! Having the title as the runner-up is one of my greatest accomplishments, and has shown me that all the things I've been passionate about over the last 3 years were meaningful to RVU and to AACOM. My growth as a future physician, as well as my impact on others was immense, and it felt incredible to have that be recognized.

Is there a rotation that I don't love?! Pediatrics was so much fun. I worked on inpatient peds with Dr. Money & the residents during the first half of every morning, followed by outpatient peds with Dr. Chmura in the afternoons. I had the opportunity to participate in a splint & casting workshop held by orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Graves, and also learned a second circumcision technique, the Mogen! I even spent a day in the NICU, and helped to care for a pediatric burn patient in the hospital's burn unit. This was an awesome rotation, and one that built so many friendships. It was my first time really working with the Greeley residents, who were just the best.

I finished my last two weeks of my 3rd year on a GI rotation with Dr. Panah. I fell in love with watching colonoscopies and EGDs (really, it's true!), and was really pushed to learn as much as I could about GI pathology. I got to see a variety of diseases, from GERD, to Crohn's, to microscopic colitis, and learned all about pancreatic cysts, H. pylori, Celiac's disease, and more. I had an outstanding preceptor who absolutely loved her specialty, and that made all the difference.

Was able to see and participate in lots of open/laparoscopic surgeries with Dr. Vickerman. Learned many of his "Bob-isms". Spent a week with Dr. Lyons on Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery and got to place a chest tube in an open patient! Met Dr. Disher (middle in photo), who's just the coolest and nicest Family Med intern.

This year, I had the greatest honor of being nominated and selected as RVU's Student Doctor of the Year. I will be representing my institution in the national competition for the title of AACOM's Student Doctor of the Year. I'm just so grateful to everyone who has helped me accomplish my dreams and goals in medical school. I did not intentionally seek to make such an impact at my school, but instead followed my desire to learn and be a proactive member of my class. It just so happened that everything I did and got involved with turned out to be fruitful and beneficial not just for my class, but for all future classes at RVU. So blessed and honored to be apart of such a forward-thinking and innovative institution.

Dr. Patty is amazing. I learned so much from my Child & Adolescent psychiatry rotation, and am so sad it was only 2 weeks long! I made some great revelations during my two weeks here, and did some deep reflecting. Got better at interviewing patients, understanding the nuances of treating psychiatric patients, and had some unique experiences with Dr. Patty in the COVID ICU. 

Hands down, one of my favorite rotations all year! It felt amazing to be on an EM rotation at a prospective residency program! I got to work with residents on every shift, and was even asked to put in a central line on my first day! So wild. I had a decent amount of medicine and trauma cases, and was even able to utilize my osteopathic skills to treat MSK pain in the ED. Mixed with weekly sims and other ultrasound labs, fantastic attendings and great learning, I couldn't have asked for a better rotation to lock in my passion for Emergency Medicine.

My last rotation was Internal Medicine II. I started by working along-side Dr. Tyer, hospitalist, for one week. Dr. Tyer is one of the smartest people I've worked with all year. He consistently pushed me and helped me start the transition from a 3rd year medical student into an intern. He was passionate about teaching, and gave outstanding lectures on physiology and pathophysiology to help me better understand disease processes.