PGY-2 Spotlight

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PGY2 Clinical Rotations

Inpatient Psychiatry at the VA (4 months)
Inpatient Geropsychiatry (1 month)
Alcohol and Drug Treatment (1 month)
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1 month)
Eating disorders (1 month)
Psychiatry Emergency Clinic (2 weeks + 2 weeks)
Night float (2 weeks + 2 weeks)
Consult/Liaison psychiatry (2 months)

Average weekly hours
PGY2 on-service: 45-55 hrs/week

Night and weekend call duty

4 total weeks of night float at the VA (82 hr/wk)"
~14 weekend shifts total in a year, 2-3 holidays worked

Get to know Lu:

Background & Education

I was born in China, and immigrated to the United States when I was seven. I grew up mostly in rural Pennsylvania, so I was very excited to escape to UCLA for undergrad. I've been in California ever since! I attended medical school at UCSD. Because I loved the city of San Diego so much, I decided to stay for residency.

My fun travel experiences include going to Asia and Europe for 6 weeks between undergrad and medical school, and then 8 weeks between medical school and residency! I know this is limited because of COVID, but I highly recommend extended away-from-home travel to anyone who has the resources and time.

Career goals/interests within psychiatry:

I'm particularly interested in Emergency Psychiatry and CL Psychiatry, both of which have a strong presence at UCSD.

Typical Week:

SUNDAY

Day
Wake up and cuddle my dog, then hit the climbing gym for a few hours. When the gym is closed because of COVID, I go to my in-laws' place in Carlsbad where there's a pool, or do a hike with friends.
Evening
Before COVID, we usually ended the day at some breweries -- our favorite being Green Flash. Post-COVID, I get take-out or cook dinner, and eat with home with my husband and doggie.

MONDAY

Morning
Wake up around 6:30AM.
Drive to work (VA or Hillcrest).
Pre-round / get sign out.
See patients and round.
Afternoon
Eat a quick lunch.
Finish up tasks and admissions.
If I'm at the VA and patient care is slow, I'll go for a run during my lunch hour.
Get home somewhere between 5 PM to 7:30PM (usually).
Do a short work out (run or a climbing-related work out).
Hang with my husband and dog before going to bed around 10:30PM.

TUESDAY

Day

Same as Monday!

WEDNESDAY

Day
Same as Monday!

THURSDAY

Morning
I love attending didactics in the morning. Now that they are on Zoom, it is even easier to listen in (if I get a good night's sleep on night float, I can still Zoom in from home!). I will sometimes multi-task during didactics by working out while listening in.

FRIDAY