Posted by Cadet Maximilian Woolley (Doctor) in Sickbay - Cadet Woolley Reporting for Duty
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“It would seem you have dreams for the future, Doctor. It is always wise to dream,” They offered a smile towards the man that st vertical from them, lasting into a brief silence to study his appearance for a moment, taking in any indiosyncracies their attentive gaze could pick out from the myriad of small actions and subconscious movements that people made, when sitting idly. They wondered how pleasant of a student he had been, but assumed he was one of the far more observant ones, judging by his speech patterns and responses.

“It is a pleasure to have you with us, Doctor. Just like your classrooms, you will face trials and tribulations upon this ship, both in the form of academics and in the actual work force. There are many similarities between the classroom and this ship, but the most defining of differences is the presence of actual patients. You will be asked to tend to people, just as any other doctor would and will have certain freedoms that pertain to your skill and position. As of right now, the best few days will be spent with introductory. Afterwards, you will move into other things.”

“In a ‘for instance’ situation, what do you foresee yourself doing in Starfleet? Do you have any specific assignments you wish to get to? Any goals you wish to accomplish? Anything that will be a medal on your chest, metaphorically?”

Lt. Torrirs

Max nodded thoughtfully,, his index finger coming up to scratch one temple gently as he contemplated briefly.

“I want to see new places, meet new people and learn whatever there is to learn along the way.” he said finally, placing his hand back upon his knee as he leaned back in the chair, still maintaining an appropriately upright posture.

“When I was working on becoming a biologist, one of my favorite things was physically going out and seeking an answer. Gathering samples, analyzing them, that sort of thing. In deciding I wanted to treat people, it was my desire to bring with me that sense of physically moving toward those who require my help. I could work at a hospital on Earth, no problem. But there, I feel that I am sitting stationary waiting for everyone to come to me, and only then, as the need arises. In Starfleet, I can go out. I will go out. Beyond that, I’m not especially concerned with rank or titles. In time, I imagine I’ll take on more responsibility and all of that might follow. But I’m focused on being the best physician I can be. And I’m here because I want to be a fleet physician. So I want to be the best fleet physician I can be. I want to deploy. I want to go as far from home as I possible can. I want to take what I know and do on an adventure and I want to return better, smarter and stronger for it.”

Max was pretty measured in how he spoke. But the notion of “going out” clearly made him a bit more animated. The idea that, even as he tended to patients on the ship, that the ship was constantly moving spoke to him on a philosophical, as well as a practical, level. And yet, Max was older, however slightly, than some of his fellow cadets. He was pragmatic enough to sense that his desire for adventure might not be sufficient to overcome the rigors of deep space travel. Nor could he tell if this initial wave of ambition would be sufficient to sustain him throughout a lifelong career or if, like his father, he would find himself ready to settle in to a fairly monotonous existence after a few years in Starfleet.

Cadet Max Woolley, Medical

His ambience caught their attention like the first ray of sunlight peaking from beyond clouded skies. They weren’t particularly used to such energy, if even mostly hidden, from any of the cadets she had met. Specifically, that was, in the medical field. However, it did not bother them to see such. In fact, it was a refreshing quality the man brought to the table, something they would undoubtedly be looking forwards to while working and training the doctor who was equally as young as they were. “You possess a certain energy about your words, Doctor, I admire that.” They began, feeling the obligation to put out what went through their mind in a meeting as transparent as they attempted to shape this one out to be. Yet, that was a work in progress, as were most things.

“Good. I don’t need someone who is here to beat everyone in the field. I don’t need someone who isn’t going to work or isn’t going to put in the effort t takes to continue forwards. You are bound to make mistakes here, and anywhere whether you are an officer or a cadet. Thus, I need someone who is going to be able to accept their mistakes and take graciously the guidance offered to them, as to correct said mistakes. You seem to possess this attitude, an amicable balance between confidence and humbleness. Rarely, without a doubt, but it will serve you good in this field. After all, being a doctor is not about being the best of the best, it is about treating your patient with the attention they deserve. And if you cannot offer it, then to have to graciousness to transfer them to someone who can.”

“Tell me, Doctor. In what light do you view the medical field?” They knew people had different views in this profession as it was a rather controversial topic.

Lt. Torrirs

“I view mistakes a bit differently, I think, then some other people. I know that there are people who are afraid to make any mistakes at all. I don’t think that is very healthy. And there are others who don’t worry about how many mistakes they make. I feel that is the opposite extreme as these individuals seem to not learn from their mistakes. There are big mistakes and there are minor mistakes. I think that it is important to learn from, and correct, as many of the lessons from those minor mistakes as possible to minimize the likelihood and severity of one of those bigger mistakes. But the only person I want to be better than is me from yesterday.”

“Wonderful. People spend so much of their time worrying about being better than the next man over. They stress and stress, competing like children in a game of hopscotch. There is no reason to feel the need to be better than anyone, and that is a trait that not many people possess. Your commentary on wishing only to be a better man than you were yesterday, is more than enough to note towards and open and free mind. As a doctor, we have to look at things from several perspectives: our own, the patient’s and the outside world’s. It is harder to find those perspectives if you are worried about being the mirror image or perhaps a better version of another. Therefore, it is pleasant to know you feel such a way.”

Max listened intently as they asked about his views of the medical field. It was, indeed, a controversial topic and one he realized was quite divisive when he had applied to medical schools.

“I’ve met doctors who feel that they are mainly technicians. Just like repairing a machine. You diagnose a problem and you implement a solution. There may be some room for creativity in that solution, but overall, your job is to provide tried and true solutions. Your job is formulaic. I’ve met others, and some of them are those who inspired me to abandon my doctoral program in biology in favor of medicine, who view doctors as applied biologists. For me, it’s something different entirely. Yes, we need to have a strong understanding of biology. And true, we need to have a strong technical background. But we are an ancient profession. Our job isn’t just to heal. It’s to help prevent the need for healing. Through the centuries, physicians didn’t just treat the sick. We also worked in public health policy. We’re epidemiologists. “

Max became somewhat animated, while still composed, as he spoke of their profession. Though as he reached the end he paused, arching his fingers as he looked off to the side, gathering words.

Looking back to them, he said confidently and with a firmer resolve, “We don’t just treat people. We treat systems. We aren’t engineers for people. Or applied biologists. The biologist’s business is in studying and understanding biology. Our business is in studying, understanding and implementing all things health.”

Max Woolley, Medical

“You’re absolutely correct. We are doctors. We tend to a machine like no other, as many might say, but it truly is not a machine at all. The humanoid body possessed a soul, if you would. Other machines can possess brains or even hearts, but only the humanoid body possesses an essence that reaps individuality. We can give a machine as many qualities as we desire through biomedical engineering and design, however, that does not make that machine truly human. Therefore, you’re correct; doctors are an entirely different species of people. And I think that people have begun to try and find analogies to make us make any sense to someone who isn’t a doctor, but that simply isn’t possible.”

“You speak rather highly of this field, when determining your perspective on this rather controversial topic. Is there a reason behind your animation, or aren’t you simply infatuated by the sciences and the emotion resting behind the nature of being a doctor?”

Dr. Torrirs

OOC: Sorry about the wait! I had to go on LOA for a few rl things.
- Trinity