Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Meeting with the CO

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Drake Marshall (Surgical Chief/ Emergency Medicine) in Meeting with the CO

Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Meeting with the CO
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snips)

“I think you’re doing a good job. And I’m glad you’re CO. But I do miss Captain Taylor too. If you went back in time and told me when I first got here, that Captain Taylor and I would trust each other and be friendly, I would’ve laughed in your face. But she is ultimately the reason I stepped up to the level I’m currently working at. She pushed me towards leadership and being… better. But we keep the Ogawa going and that’s something to her respect.”

-Drake Marshall

Myian smiled. “Agreed. And I want every member of this crew to feel like they are not only supported but able to grow in whatever direction feels right for them. So, if there’s anything I can do to help you at all, please, do tell me.” She gestured to the door. “My door is always open. Besides, I enjoy our chats and not everyone is going to willing hang out with the CO,” she said, breaking into a grin.

Captain Myqian, CO

“Do you mind if I ask…” he hesitated. “Do you ever regret leaving your practice behind?” His expression told the story his words didn’t. He’d been considering the command path, but wasn’t certain he wouldn’t miss his life in medicine.

-Drake Marshall

Dira gave herself a moment to honestly consider the question and then shook her head. “No. I would have had to leave the Calypso sooner rather than later, and since I was ready for more challenges, seeing my command training come to fruition was rewarding. I miss being a therapist at times, but I still have all the knowledge and skills. They didn’t just evaporate. It’s just took time to make sure I wasn’t here as the first officer and still operating as a therapist with people. That was a challenge for sure. Most of the time I just keep my observations to myself unless it becomes warranted.” Myqian shrugged. “I will admit that psychiatry is different than other medical practices though. For a surgeon to stop being a surgeon, you have to shift how you operate in your day to day life. Make sure you are challenging your mind. But Command is nothing if not constant problem solving.”

Captain Myqian, CO

“I’m never sure if that’s a path I want to follow.” Drake chuckled. “I think there may be further steps in my career, but what I do is how I defined myself. For so long. It’s difficult to let go of that and go for training in something else.”

-Drake

She gazed at him intently for a moment. “There’s nothing saying you have to stop one thing and train for something new. Maybe it’s just learning a new aspect or area of your current passion that you haven’t explored. Branch out into another subfield. You don’t have to stop doing what you’re doing, but sometimes the new learning can rekindle any waning excitement.” Dira smiled. “It’s also perfectly fine to be content and love what you already do. It’s when you feel truly compelled to do something more or different that you need to start exploring what that might look like.”

Captain Myqian, CO

“Over the last few years, I’ve sort of outgrown being defined wholly and centrally by my work.” He chuckled. “I think all your psychological training would agree that was a good thing. Captain Taylor was always pushing me to go that extra step. I was happy as a surgeon, but she made me head of surgery. She kept pushing me to look toward the top. Most of the time, I don’t think there’s a good command officer in me. Then I think about everything I have to be to do my current job and… maybe there is. I don’t know.”

-Drake Marshall