New Beginnings

AMELIA ELIZABETH" Amy's mom screamed over the phone. "Are you telling me that you rejected Harvard and moved back to GHO? When did this happen?"

"Mom, this is the best choice for my career. I want to be a hands-on surgeon in charge of her cases. With GHO, I will be able to work under the organization and am allowed to have access to their advanced information, thus giving me plenty of opportunities to further my career. I won't be able to do that sitting in an office marking answer sheets."

"Amelia," her mom said, calmer. "Is this really what you want? This is not because I have been pushing you with Noah, is it?"

"No, mom, I am more sound minded than that. I won't give up an opportunity just to throw a tantrum".

"Just making sure. Are you settled in?"

"Yes, mom, I did. I'm staying at my old place." Amy's switching his gears to park. "You should visit me if you're free. I got to go; I'm gonna be late. Love you, mom,".

"Take care, sweetheart" Amy's mom left the call.

Today will be Amy's first day as a chief pediatric neurosurgeon at the hospital. Unlike her previous role, she can now choose operations and case studies she wants to spearhead and not be bossed around by grumpy old men who think she's too fragile and too young to make difficult decisions. 'You reap what you sow' Amy remembered what Professor Jung had told her.

With a smile, Amy walked toward her office like the true queen that she is.

"Good morning, Dr. Amy," Jen greeted Amy. "Schedule in 5?"

"Yes, please," Amy smiled at the familiarity of their conversation.

"Shouldn't there be another secretary?"

"Ah yes, it's still 30 minutes before 8. She should be here pretty soon."

"Did you interview her yourself? I want to make sure she's of help rather than a liability," Amy, quite annoyed by the late newcomer.

"She is young and still has things to learn, but I find her reliable." Jen smiled.

Amy looked at her wristwatch and said, "let's start the schedule reading the moment she arrives." Amy then opened her office door and went inside. At her coffee table was a bouquet of gardenia and white stock. Amy's heart soared, 'Congratulations on your first day,' the card read.

Amy smelled the flowers, put the card in her purse, and made herself comfortable.

"Jen, is the new secretary here yet?" Amy pressed line 1 on her office phone.

"I called her just now, and she said she's almost here. Would you like me to start without her?

"Let's start with coffee," Amy sighed, her patience significantly decreasing.

Jen entered her office a little while later with a fresh cup of coffee. Behind her, a panicked young lady tried to compose herself. Amy looked at the watch; it was 45 minutes after 7.

"Let's start," Amy commanded, and Jen started telling her the schedule for the day.

"At 8, the head chief would want to introduce you at the auditorium. After that, you are to check current patient admission/ surgeries. At 1pm, you are to attend the meeting for an upcoming operation. They would want to hear your advice about the treatment plan. Here's the information I gathered for that specific case". Jen spoke confidently.

"Stop," Amy said. She looked at the new face that was standing next to Jen. "What's my schedule after that?"

"Ummmm," the young lady said nervously, "y-you will then review the cases of new a-admission, if there are any, and assess if the care plan given to patients is effective and cost-effective."

"I want to meet all doctors under the department, during rounds if possible- add that on schedule," Amy commanded.

"Noted," Jen replied. "By the way, this is your new secretary, So Min; she will be working hand in hand with me, so feel free to call either of us anytime." Jen looked at Amy, begging not to scare So Min off.

She already told So Min that Dr. Amy is always 30 minutes early to all her meetings and that she should too since Dr. Ary hates tardiness. So Min almost cried when she heard this as she didn't want to leave a wrong impression on her first day.

"Hello, Dr. Fitzgerald. My name is Jung So Min; pardon my tardiness. It won't happen again." So Min bowed.

Amy stood up and grabbed her lab coat. "If that's everything, I'm heading to the auditorium; call me only when necessary. And So Min, congratulations on your first day of work, don't be late next time".

When Amy was out of sight, So Min could breathe normally again. "I was scared to breathe. It felt like she's gonna eat me alive" So Min turned to Jen, who was typing something on her computer.

"She is very nice," Jen said monotonously, her focus still on her computer.

"That's nice to know," So Min said sarcastically.

"Give it time; Dr. Amy's work ethic is incomparable. At first, she was like that to me, so I worked harder and tried to match her work ethic. From then on, I realized that Dr. Amy was actually pushing me to be the best version of my ability." Jen stopped typing and looked at So Min.

"Now, if you're done self-pitying, please print basic information of all the doctors under her department and see what time they usually do their rounds so we can match it with Dr. Amy's schedule."

So Min aggressively typed on her computer, hoping for a better comeback.

Amy didn't return to her office till noon; she asked Jen to bring her lunch as she was going to eat while reading the case study that would be presented in the auditorium. When Amy finished her lunch, she walked toward the auditorium where weekly department meetings were held.

"Dr. Amy, you're here," Dr. Cha beamed at the sight of Amy. Amy sat next to the overly joyed Dr. Cha.

"Every Monday, special cases from each department are being presented in the auditorium for chief doctors like you and other upper head officials to look into. Doctors would state their cases and discuss effective treatment plans. Please do not hesitate to voice your thoughts and opinions, we are trying to collectively gather expert advises to come up with the best plan of care."

"After this, it would be the Internal Medicine department; you can stay and sit in during their presentation if you want. All chiefs are required to attend their department's case meeting, but it's optional for chiefs to attend other case meetings that are not under their department. Although I hope more chief would attend other departments meeting, the more brilliant brain, the better". Dr. Cha beamed, overzelous.

"Seeing that you're the boss, you must listen to case studies all day?" Amy teased Dr. Cha. "Must be the worst thing ever."

"You know it," Dr. Cha chuckled. They both laughed together

"Hello, I am Dr. Felix Lee from the pediatric neurology department." Said a very charming man. His hair indicates that he had not left the hospital for days; his eyes projecting fatigue; his hair disheveled and unwashed, his scrubs wrinkly and worn out. But despite that, Dr. Felix Lee looks incredibly handsome.

"I will now begin to tell you the case of 'patient A' who is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy ."Dr. Felix Lee continued and directed everyone to look at the big screen behind him.