VA

I really like the Veterans Administration. Fort Miley is located at the northwest corner of San Francisco and has an absolutely beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. It's really a pleasure to drive there each day (though with the time change, mornings have been pitch black), and I'm often tempted to take the scenic route along the beach home. The patients, most of whom are older Caucasian or African American men, are incredibly friendly to students. For the most part, they really enjoy having us as part of their care and encourage us to involve ourselves as much as we can. I think this has a little to do with their military experience; they understand what it's like to be a trainee and work in a hierarchical system. Listening to them is really inspiring; they have amazing stories of their time in the service. Unfortunately, most of the patients I see have heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and prostate cancer. It's a unique and wonderful population but also a narrow one.