Chapter 92: Multidisciplinary (1)

"Really, really impressive."

Hank muttered with a face full of genuine admiration.

He was saying this while chewing his food in the cafeteria on the third floor of the hospital.

From his appearance, one might think he only ate meat, but what Hank was actually eating was a salad.

"No, I just explained the established protocol."

Suhyeok shook his head after watching the lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and other items disappear into Hank's mouth.

He was eating a thick, greasy homemade burger that didn't match his lean physique.

[This taste. Hmm. Hamburgers are American, aren't they?]

While Suhyeok's taste naturally leaned towards this side, it was mostly due to Baruda.

Despite the noise about protecting the health of Suhyeok, the only input-output person, he was enthusiastically demanding greasy foods.

"Knowing all the protocols is impressive. Hematology-oncology section... Among them, the protocols for solid tumors, which I handle, keep changing. Residents really can't keep up."

Hank pointed to Steve, who was munching on a sandwich in the corner like a honey-eating bear.

Actually, Steve wasn't that lacking.

Residents don't just rotate through hematology-oncology, after all.

Their goal wasn't to become a hematology-oncology specialist.

The goal was to create a general internist with comprehensive internal medicine knowledge and surgical skills.

"But... Dr. Lee is doing that. Are you planning to specialize in hematology-oncology?"

It was very difficult to expect residents to have very updated or highly advanced knowledge.

Especially for hematologists like Hank.

Cancer is a field with mountains of unsolved problems that modern medicine still needs to tackle.

It was a challenging area even for hematologists.

However, Suhyeok had consistently shown overwhelming knowledge in the outpatient clinic today.

It was only natural to think he was planning to specialize in hematology-oncology.

"No, not yet. I haven't decided on a specific subspecialty."

"Oh, right. Of course... Wait, you haven't decided?"

"Yes, I haven't decided yet."

"But... How do you know so much about chemotherapy?"

Hank's face showed disbelief.

After all, Suhyeok not only knew the stages and characteristics of various cancers but also the complications that could arise from treatments and how to manage them.

Even Hank, who had been a hematology-oncology specialist for over 10 years, was amazed by the accuracy.

And it wasn't even a field he was planning to specialize in.

Hank was so surprised that he didn't even notice the cheese slipping out of his mouth.

"Just... I consider it a matter of respect for the patients I see. So I studied hard. An internist can save patients based on how much they study."

"Hmm..."

It was an excellent answer.

An internist can save patients based on how much they study.

Hank chuckled and shook his head, then looked at Steve again.

It was unbelievable how Steve, who had been a decent resident just this morning, now seemed so inadequate.

[Wow, his acting skills are amazing.]

Suhyeok's answer impressed not only Hank but also Baruda, who was in his head.

[An internist can save patients based on how much they study. Wow... Where did you read that?]

'Just came to mind.'

[Like a motto?]

'No, I just thought about how to answer to get a good response, and it came to mind.'

[Oh...]

Baruda showed a genuinely impressed expression.

Though it was just a recreation of an expression Suhyeok had once made.

'N-no, don't do that.'

While Suhyeok was momentarily lost in the uncanny feeling of facing his own face, Baruda continued to marvel.

[Suhyeok is a genius.]

'Genius? I don't know if I'm a genius, but I'm smart.'

[Genius of acting...]

'Acting? Bastard. I do think about the patients. Don't you remember? I used to check on other patients all night.'

[Isn't that something any doctor should do?]

'W-well, never mind.'

Suhyeok shook his head, remembering that Baruda was a programmed AI.

When had this can of beans ever gone to medical school or met seniors and juniors?

If he had, he wouldn't have said such things with such a shameless face.

There were far more doctors who didn't act that way.

"A, this isn't right..."

While Suhyeok was arguing with Baruda over trivial matters, Hank had already finished his salad.

He then patted Suhyeok's shoulder.

The force was so strong that it felt like someone was hitting him with all their might.

"Ouch."

"What are you doing this afternoon, Dr. Lee?"

Of course, Hank had no intention of causing pain.

He just looked at Suhyeok with a very bright expression.

Even his smile was quite intimidating and scary.

"I... I don't know."

"Oh, right. You're a visiting scholar. Steve, you know, right? You're in charge."

So Suhyeok hurriedly shook his head, and Hank's gaze turned to Steve.

Steve, who had been eating silently like a forgotten dish, had long finished his meal.

"Huh..."

"Huh? You don't know? Seriously?"

Hank tilted his head at the inadequate answer.

If another professor had said that, it would have been scary.

Hank's appearance was uniquely intimidating even in America.

Naturally, Steve's attitude started to become more alert.

"No, the first week of the visiting scholar program has no afternoon clinic schedule."

"Why?"

"There are time zone adjustment issues... and the hospital layout needs to be introduced. Some visiting scholars get lost. In the afternoon... Well, Christian was supposed to give a tour."

"Dr. Lee, do you need a tour?"

To Hank, a hospital tour seemed like a useless task.

If it were another visiting scholar, he wouldn't have cared whether they got a tour or just stayed in one place.

But Suhyeok was such an outstanding person.

In the past 10 years, he had never met a resident, student, or visiting scholar as impressive as Suhyeok.

It was a bit sad that such a person was only staying for a month, and to waste that time?

That wouldn't do.

[The layout has already been data-mapped. There's no chance of getting lost.]

'Good. What kind of tour? Are you crazy? We came all the way to America.'

[Exactly.]

'Well... From what I've seen, seniors seem to just play around...'

And that was true for Suhyeok as well.

He had no intention of wasting his time in America.

Taehwa Medical Center was certainly a good hospital with potential for growth.

But this was America.

The country that truly leads global medicine.

He had to confirm whether coming here was worthwhile and whether he could succeed within this one month.

"No, it's fine. I got the general layout yesterday."

"Oh, you did?"

"Then... Then there's no scheduled afternoon activity."

"Really. You're just winging it."

Hank looked at Steve as if worried that his hospital might seem inadequate.

At that moment, Steve bowed his head deeply.

Fortunately, Hank didn't particularly reprimand him.

Visiting scholars were usually just left to kill time and then sent back.

Unless they were long-term scholars staying for over a year.

Short-term scholars often didn't seem to have much intention to learn.

'I guess I want to show this guy something...'

But Suhyeok didn't want to.

It would really hurt if he said, "Iowa State University Hospital is nothing special."

"Then attend the multidisciplinary conference this afternoon."

"Multidisciplinary?"

At this, Steve looked at Hank with wide eyes.

Hank met his gaze with a stern look.

"Why? Is there a problem?"

"Well, there is... In the outpatient clinic, we can get patient consent for visiting scholars to observe, but for multidisciplinary... That's not the case."

Suhyeok's face showed confusion.

[What are you talking about?]

Baruda was also confused.

If this were Korea, it would be a given for visiting scholars to attend multidisciplinary conferences.

'No... Does that mean they get individual consent first?'

[It seems so.]

Suhyeok recalled his student days.

Even as a clinical student, he observed outpatient clinics and even entered operating rooms.

But he never asked patients for permission to observe.

But America is a country where lawsuits are common.

There was a widespread belief that it was best not to create any grounds for lawsuits.

"Can't you get consent?"

"No... From the multidisciplinary patients?"

"Sure. I'll take care of it. Add Dr. Lee to the multidisciplinary attendance list."

"Um... Chief..."

"Steve, I'm the head of hematology-oncology. Can't I decide who attends the multidisciplinary conference I'm running?"

"N-no, I'll add him."

"Good."

Hank sent Steve to the conference room first and then looked at Suhyeok.

"I'll make a call and then head to the 5th floor internal medicine conference room. I heard they do multidisciplinary in Korea now. Is that true?"

A multidisciplinary conference involves doctors from related departments gathering to discuss the diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy of a single cancer patient.

While not all hospitals in Korea do this, it has been active in hospitals like Taehwa Medical Center for a long time.

"Yes."

"Well, Taehwa Medical Center is a good hospital. But there will be some differences."

Hank recalled that Korea was producing good papers and achieving excellent treatment outcomes in many hospitals.

But there were still differences.

The systems were entirely different.

[I hope there are.]

'So...'

Suhyeok also hoped so.

Honestly, from the outpatient clinic alone, it didn't seem like this place was better than Taehwa Medical Center.

While they spent more time on each patient, the absolute time professors spent with patients wasn't necessarily longer.

Moreover, the conclusions drawn by Jo Taejin and Hank were similar.

His expectations were somewhat diminished.

"Yes, Professor."

Anyway, Suhyeok headed to the conference room, hoping it would be different.

Baruda, as he had said, was familiar with the layout, so there was no difficulty in moving around.

'Wow.'

[It is... different, isn't it?]

Upon entering, Suhyeok took a deep breath at the list of names and allocated times on the screen.

'Eight people?'

[Each for 30 minutes... 4 hours.]

'Don't they see patients? No regular hours?'

[This... is their regular hours. Otherwise, so many department professors couldn't gather at this time.]

'Oh...'