Chapter 86

Chapter 3 of Episode 86: Troublemaker (1)

"I received a call from Professor Yang in the thoracic surgery department last night."

"......"

"He asked me to personally teach you an advanced ECG interpretation course."

Professor Kim Yong finished speaking and stared at me intently.

His gaze clearly said:

- Asking an intern to have personal ECG interpretation lessons? Is that even reasonable? At a time when interns are already struggling with their basic duties, what kind of unreasonable request is this...

Professor Kim Yong's eyes were far from friendly.

Indeed, if I were in Professor Kim Yong's position, I would have felt the same.

It was unprecedented for a professor to personally train an intern.

Without the support of a mentor, I would have been immediately rejected.

(In that sense, my mentor is truly an extraordinary person.)

"Professor Yang added that he finds it hard to believe your story. He said you are a genius?"

"Professor, it's embarrassing to say, but... I do seem to have exceptional talent."

"Talent... What an interesting story you tell."

A bitter smile appeared on the corner of Professor Kim Yong's mouth.

He still didn't believe me.

"If you have talent, prove it. If you want to learn advanced ECG interpretation, you need to have the basics down."

"......"

"I'll give you a few ECG results to interpret. If you pass, I'll teach you."

"Thank you."

I took the three ECG result sheets that Professor Kim Yong handed me.

Taking tests to prove my talent was something I was already familiar with.

I wasn't nervous or anxious.

I was only excited at the prospect of learning from the master of ECG interpretation, Professor Kim Yong.

I began to carefully examine the ECG result sheets.

As time passed, the wrinkles on my forehead deepened, and my brows furrowed.

'It seems he never intended to teach me from the start. Was I just a bother to him?'

Professor Kim Yong had said these were basic ECGs, but upon closer inspection, they were intermediate level.

They were difficult to interpret even for interns and residents.

They were at a level where I, a former associate professor of thoracic surgery, could barely interpret.

For reference, cardiologists generally interpret ECGs better than thoracic surgeons.

Thoracic surgeons often request interpretations from cardiologists when they receive ambiguous ECGs.

"Can I give you the interpretation results now?"

"Already? Do you even have anything to say?"

Professor Kim Yong's tone was sarcastic.

My guess that he found me annoying was correct.

But I couldn't back down.

From the moment I became an intern, I have grown in various ways, including the courage to be disliked.

What if Professor Kim Yong dislikes me a little?

If I can learn advanced ECG interpretation, it's worth it.

"I'll start with the first result sheet."

"Alright, go ahead."

"The first result is normal. However, the P-terminal force ≥0.04 observed in V1 suggests the possibility of left ventricular hypertrophy, which can be confirmed with additional echocardiography."

"......"

"The second ECG shows a wide QRS complex, indicating atrial premature contractions."

I continued to explain calmly.

I wasn't pretending to know what I didn't.

I was explaining what I knew with logical reasoning.

Professor Kim Yong's expression began to change.

His eyes widened.

His lips parted slightly.

He was clearly surprised and amazed.

No wonder...

He probably never dreamed that an intern like me could fluently interpret intermediate-level ECGs.

I became even more enthusiastic in my explanation.

"The last result is incorrect. The P wave in lead V2 appears flat, suggesting that the electrode was placed too high on the chest."

Silence followed my precise answer.

Professor Kim Yong looked at me with disbelief and then spoke.

"... All correct. I didn't think you'd get them all right..."

"......"

"Have you studied ECGs separately? Is that it?"

"Yes, I studied from specialized textbooks in addition to the medical licensing exam materials."

I lied smoothly, like roasting beans in a lightning storm.

If I revealed that I was a former associate professor of thoracic surgery who had traveled through time, I would be called crazy.

"Still, it's impressive. I was skeptical after hearing Professor Yang's story, but this is worthy of the term 'genius.'"

Professor Kim Yong nodded, acknowledging me.

"I heard you've already decided to apply for thoracic surgery. Why do you want to study ECGs as well?"

Professor Kim Yong's expression softened as he asked.

I felt relieved that he was opening up to me.

"I've heard that in thoracic surgery, emergency patients often come to the ER, and even the time for tests is precious."

"Of course, that's true."

"I think ECG is the fastest and easiest test to perform in such situations."

"......"

"Of course, if there are ambiguous results in thoracic surgery, we can request interpretations from cardiologists..."

"......"

"But we can't always rely on cardiologists. Especially at night, the on-duty residents (1-3 years) may not provide perfect interpretations."

As I explained in detail, I recalled a certain incident from my previous life.

An ECG interpretation I trusted from a cardiologist nearly cost a patient their life.

The ECG, which the cardiologist deemed normal, was later found to be a type of arrhythmia called premature ventricular contractions.

The patient collapsed in the ward with acute myocardial infarction and had to undergo emergency surgery.

To prevent such tragedies and to improve my skills in the long term, it was essential.

The areas where I needed help and the areas where I needed to grow.

I clearly distinguished between the two.

In the case of ECGs, it was clearly the latter.

"Choosing thoracic surgery is already surprising, but I didn't expect you to think this far ahead."

"......"

"Of course, Professor Yang wouldn't introduce just anyone to me. I'm sorry for doubting you for a moment."

"If I were the professor, I would have chased away a wet-behind-the-ears intern immediately."

"Hahaha, you too."

Professor Kim Yong laughed heartily at my joke.

"If you're a genius like you, it will be a pleasure to teach you. If you make a great start in thoracic surgery, our department will benefit a lot."

"Then, the training...?"

"Of course, you passed. But the training method will be a bit different from what you expect."

A glint appeared in Professor Kim Yong's eyes.

Kim Yong, the second-best ECG interpreter in Korea.

My second mentor.

How would he teach me?

I was already looking forward to it.

* * *

"Is it really true? Even though I see it with my own eyes and hear it with my own ears, I can't believe it."

"I understand. I will teach you with all my heart."

Kim Yong stared at his phone for a while after ending the call with Yang Sun-jae.

He had just heard an unbelievable story.

Eun Min had studied under Professor Yang Sun-jae for six years during his six years of medical school and had informally completed the esophageal surgery fellowship program.

For an intern, who was still wet behind the ears.

'Is it really impossible...?'

Kim Yong clicked his tongue.

He could still vividly recall Eun Min's precise interpretation of the ECGs he had selected.

At a time when it was difficult to even recite the ECGs memorized for the medical licensing exam, Eun Min had independently interpreted ECGs.

It was a situation that could only be interpreted as Eun Min being a genius.

If Eun Min was a genius.

If he had trained under Professor Yang for six years.

If he had received special training in a hospital operating room.

It wouldn't be strange for Eun Min to have already completed the esophageal surgery fellowship program.

Was there anyone around who had grown at such an unbelievable rate as Eun Min?

Kim Yong recalled the accomplished doctors he knew.

They were all geniuses, but none of them could match Eun Min.

If Eun Min continued to grow steadily and properly, he would undoubtedly become the best thoracic surgeon in Korea.

'What's more, he has a clear mind, which I appreciate.'

In fact, Kim Yong was more surprised when Eun Min explained why he wanted to learn ECGs.

More surprised than when Eun Min perfectly interpreted the ECGs.

The preparedness to anticipate and prepare for the worst.

The determination not to overly rely on doctors from other departments.

In terms of skill.

In terms of character.

Eun Min was not an ordinary intern. He exuded a seasoned and mature air, as if he had worked in the field for decades.

It would be great if a talent like Eun Min chose cardiology, but it would be difficult to change his mind.

Eun Min had the look of someone who doesn't look back, a term Kim Yong used to describe someone who sticks to their path without being swayed by their surroundings.

Kim Yong, who was in the lab, took a sip of the coffee he had just made.

The morning was relatively free.

He only had outpatient duties in the afternoon and no procedures to perform in the morning.

It was a rare day to enjoy some leisure, but unfortunately, he had a special assignment.

He had to prepare materials to train Eun Min.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

"Hello, Professor."

Choi Ho-sub, the fourth-year resident and department head, entered his lab.

"What's up?"

"I'm sorry, but I would like to discuss the paper we are preparing, Professor."

"Alright, sit down."

Kim Yong pointed to the sofa in front of his desk and sat opposite Choi Ho-sub.

"Is there anything difficult in the department these days?"

"Thanks to Professor, there's nothing difficult. The junior residents aren't causing any trouble, and there are no particularly unusual patients."

"That's good to hear."

After a pause, Kim Yong continued.

"What do you think of the new interns?"

"I haven't talked to them yet..."

The gap between interns and fourth-year residents was like the difference between heaven and earth.

It was common for interns to not even dare to speak to fourth-year residents.

"According to a second-year resident, Eun Min is doing a good job."

"......"

"I heard he performed ABGA without any mistakes during the morning rounds. Are you concerned about the intern?"

"It's not that big of a deal. I'm just curious. Anyway, can you try to interpret this?"

Kim Yong handed Choi Ho-sub the ECG result sheets he had used to test Eun Min.

Choi Ho-sub interpreted them thoroughly but got one out of four questions wrong.

In other words, Eun Min, an intern, had better ECG interpretation skills than a fourth-year resident in cardiology.

It was a situation that would make even a ghost weep.

"By the way, why ECGs all of a sudden...?"

"Don't worry about it. Let's talk about the paper now."

After a ten-minute conversation with Choi Ho-sub, Kim Yong returned to his desk.

He began to prepare training materials suitable for Eun Min's level.

Just how far can Eun Min keep up?