September 26th, 2011

Hello, Everyone!

Hello, everyone, my name is Gopi Astik, and I am one of the internal medicine chief residents at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Our program has 4th-year chiefs, so I have completed my residency and am excited to be able to share the experience of my transition from resident to new faculty with all of you. Even as I write that, I cannot believe that I am now a staff physician.

I should start by telling you a little about myself. I am from Warrensburg, Missouri, which is about an hour east of Kansas City. I went to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the 6 year BA/MD program, and I graduated in 2008. I decided to stay close to home for my internal medicine residency and then decided to stay AGAIN for my chief residency. What can I say? I love Kansas City. Many of you probably haven’t been to this area, and I want to tell you that it’s a beautiful place with lots of things to do. It’s a big city with small town feel … but, then again, I’m extremely biased.

Kansas City Country Club Plaza at ChristmasThis photo is from the Country Club Plaza at Christmas time. The holiday lights are lit during a ceremony on Thanksgiving – it’s amazing! There’s more than this to Kansas City, but I’ll sprinkle the details around during my time as the resident blogger.

I plan on writing about how the articles in Journal Watch affect my clinical practice, along with giving my personal experiences of my chief residency. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions as well. If there’s anything in particular you would like to hear about, please share your questions and comments. I am eager to share my experiences with all of you!

23 Responses to “Hello, Everyone!”

  1. anna grodzinsky says:

    Dear Gopi!
    I can’t wait to read more about your life as Chief in fabulous Kansas City!!

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      Dear Anna — what you don’t get from our constant texts and phone conversations, you will get on my blog. You also can expect to show up in many stories and probably become famous with pictures I put up of you as well. Get ready for the paparazzi.

  2. abhishek says:

    hi , Myself Abhioshek , I am in a very similar situation having completed my residency in internal medicine and being posted as Clinical Tutor in the dept of internal medicine , Armed Forces Medical College ,Pune ,India. It wa s great reading your experiences.
    Abhishek

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      Hi Abhishek — im excited to share my experiences throughout the year with all of you!! As Shariq replied to your comment, we have taken people from your program to our residency in the past! Good luck with everything.

  3. shariq shamim says:

    Good to see your blog Gopi! @Abhishek I’m from O2 batch!

  4. Jack Shenouda says:

    Dear Gopi,
    I can not wait to hear about ur stories as Chief & clinic attending in the amazing KC !

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      Jack — i will likely be including many stories that you are involved in. I also would not be surprised if a picture of you pops up on here!! Also, your clinic attending is pretty fantastic huh?! 🙂

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      Jose — im excited to share my experiences from the heartland of the USA with people all around the world!!

  5. Ricardo says:

    Hi Gopi,

    I myself am one of the chief residents at St.Vincents in Toledo,Ohio. There are two of us since we are third year chiefs. I look forward to reading your blog throughout the year as to issues and dilemma you may be having and how you approach them. Good luck !

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      Hi Ricardo — I’m excited to share my experiences throughout the year with all of you too! Wow! Third year chiefs huh…you guys must be busy. Best of luck with everything and let me know if theres anything in particular you want to hear about!

  6. diana finkel says:

    Hi, thanks for the photo:) It really is a lovely town. Went to the DO school there and still miss KC. Best wishes

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      Diana — Kansas City is lovely isn’t it?! Did you go to KCUMB? We take a lot of our residents from there. Keep tuned in for more pictures to remind you of all Kansas City has to offer.

  7. golnaz says:

    dear Gopi,hi,I want to hear about your experience in internal medicine in kansas city and I like to see your hospital picture and it s facilities.

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      I will try to include more pictures about our facility along with our program during the year. As a Chief resident, I can’t help but advertise for our program a little bit.

  8. Greg Howell says:

    Looking forward to your insights!

  9. Zohre says:

    Thank you for sharing your experiences and introducing your hometown. I haven’t been in Kansas city, now I would live to visit your city or maybe start my internal medicine residency in your program.

    • Gopi Astik, MD says:

      Zohre — you’re welcome. I will be sharing even more about kansas city during the year so please…stay tuned!!

  10. Dr. Astik,

    I was a 1978 graduate of the UMKC School of Medicine & 1st woman chief resident in psychiatry at the University of CA-Davis. Many things have changed in medicine in the past 30 years yet some things stay the same. I look forward to stories of a chief resident in 2011-12. Best wishes.

  11. Chris Blanner says:

    Gopi,

    Congratulations on Chiefdom…. I was Co-chief last year out at Lakewood (Family Med), so I was definitely excited to see you and Heidi in my email box! Can’t wait to hear about your year. Enjoy it!

    Chris

  12. Alisa says:

    Dear chief,

    I just saw your blogs. I couldn’t imagine myself in Kansas City before I moved here, but now I really like Kansas city and I’m enjoying my residency life here. Thanks to you, i’m blessed. Can’t wait to read more of your stories.
    P.S. Please post some of our photos, too 🙂

    Alisa

  13. Scott Winters says:

    It’ll be refreshing to read an account of medical residency that isn’t a hospital drama! Medical training must be physically exhausting. How are you adjusting to the erratic and crazy hours? This could just be the Grey’s Anatomy talking, but do residents often go 48 hours without sleep? I’m interested to read about your experiences!

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