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Conservative Unit: Where Dreams (and Wrists) Go to Die

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Little Things, Big Lessons: In Between the Rotations

There I was in the clinic, like any ordinary day. A patient walks in, and on examination, his cheekbone looks a little off — slightly depressed. The doctor glances at him and immediately knows what’s going on. He turns to me and asks, “Have you ever seen a zygomatic lift in action?” Of course, my answer is no. Without wasting time, the patient is prepped. Everything gets anesthetized. An incision is made near his ear. The doctor pulls out a Rowe’s zygomatic elevator — something I’ve only ever seen in slides during practical — and begins. What followed was equal parts fascinating and horrifying: The  incision  behind the ear (clean) The  instrument’s path  through tissue (squelchy) The patient’s  guttural shout  as bone snapped back into place (unforgettable) It’s one of those moments that completely sweeps the rug out from under you. One minute you’re standing there, alone with your thoughts, and the next you’re watching a full-blown procedure happen ri...
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From Clueless to Capable: How Nigeria's Housemanship Broke and Built Me

For four months, I sat at home doing nothing. I had passed the MDCN exam in November, but until the official induction happened, there was no next step. No license, no job, no real direction — just waiting. I tried to stay positive, but it was frustrating. I had just finished dental school, and instead of moving forward, I felt stuck. The four months of waiting should have prepared me. Four months of watching my 'MDCN Pass' notification collect digital dust in my inbox while my life stood still. Four months of watching my non-medical friends start jobs while I refreshed my email, hoping for news about my housemanship placement.  The induction finally came at the end of January, and it felt like a breath of fresh air. I could finally apply for my provisional license. I thought things would pick up from there, but instead, I found myself in another waiting game — this time, for where I’d actually be posted for housemanship. In Nigeria, you don’t get to choose just any hospital....
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