We need a cure, stat...

Medical research is a community. Its members are linked and driven by the singular shared idea of freeing patients from suffering through innovative medical advances. We all suffer the trials and tribulations of achieving the miracle “cure all” only to have hopes dashed when it is found incompetent. The pursuit of obtaining the key that unlocks all from the chains of disease is what keeps this community going, the thought that every long day, every overtime hour is perhaps one step closer to curing a child of cancer or diabetes, or making sure someone’s grandmother recovers fully after a quadruple bypass.

We share the interest and values of improving the health of people suffering from disease in many different ways, there are some that run marathons, some that endlessly comb through data, and others that investigate DNA sequence of fruit flies. The main point is that it doesn’t matter how we contribute, but the fact that we do in one way or another is what bonds us together. Our cumulative efforts are potentially moving the human race toward disease eradication.

There are tensions in this group as evidenced by researchers pursuing different paths towards the same goal. We also have those whose egos often cloud their judgment in the face of empirical data. However this debate is usually beneficial to the process itself as it is often the maverick that ultimately makes major breakthroughs. Thankfully as medical researchers drug trials and controlled experiments are the mediating force which drives the community towards the right direction.

I fit into this community by way of actually living it. I have contributed heavily by working for a major medical research company; I have published data, attended conferences and sat with my peers intently discussing these very issues. I have wanted to become part of this community because of my love of medicine and my keen interest in science. As a matter of fact I am attending this course as a stepping stone to eventually securing my Nursing degree and continue my contribution to the medical field.

My Purse is Me

I see it hanging on the back of a chair at a local watering hole. It's a large purse that some woman obviously left behind. It's constructed of durable, but soft leather and colored a beautiful brownish merlot. The owner has a good sense of style, not gaudy nor flashy but solid and classic with a little flare. In order to gain a little insight on the unfortunate owner, I open the purse and am first stuck by the absolute chaos observed inside. Tangles of gum wrappers, department store receipts, dental floss, lip gloss and a thousand other sundries are strewn about the various pockets of the purse. Scents of Donna Karan hand lotion, Lamb perfume and Altoid mints all battle for dominance. Ew... Cigarettes and a lighter; she’s obviously a smoker, but at least conscientious about not smelling like it.

Oh, a wallet! It’s pink with brown leather trim, cute. There’s a sticker for the infamous local Mighty-O donut shop plastered to one full side of the wallet. The big donut sticker alludes to her sense of humor, it probably brings a quiet smile to her lips when she sees it and it brings fond memories of tasty treats. I open the wallet, which is surprisingly a little more organized, and I am greeted by a shyly smiling woman, age 27 from the birth date on the driver's license and lives in Seattle. Urban Outfitter's card, Macy's card, Nordstrom card, a lack of cash in the bill fold, and grocery store coupon cards all seem to reflect that this girl likes to shop. Punch cards for various coffee stands, Starbucks gift cards and coupons for free coffees show a constant supply of caffeine indicating she has either trouble sleeping, coffee for meal replacement or an oral fixation. Judging from the gum wrappers, mints, cigarettes, and evidence of strong coffee habit, I'm betting on the oral fixation.

A business card matches the name on the ID; must be where she works. I've never heard of the company name, but it sounds interesting from the statement under the company name; "Pre-clinical services for drug development". She must work in research. More business cards from the same company only different names, these must be colleagues. I come across a medical alert card and immediately I think, “Oh-no, this is really important”. It states this person works with hazardous/biological material and alerts medical responders how to manage her care if she passes out or becomes seriously ill from “unknown” causes. Yes, she definitely works in research. She is an absentminded critical thinker who is probably highly focused at work but the moment she is out of its ridged confines her world becomes chaos.

The lack of photos is not that strange in this day and age, all photos are digital and would probably be on her phone or in her laptop. But it is hard to discern whether this woman is married, in a relationship, has children or even a dog. Well, time to get this purse back to its rightful owner. The address on her ID says it just down the street from the bar. This must be her local hangout.