Not much to report today. Arrived at work at 8:15AM and was surprised to see one of the forensic pathologists already busy at work. It was one who I hadn't worked with before so it was nice to see a different style of post-mortem. In the afternoon, I met another of the senior forensic pathologists at the center who had been on vacation last week. He is a specialist in forensic toxicology and asked if I wanted to go with him to Doncaster for a trial, but the trial ended up being cancelled so we didn't go. I did read up about the medicolegal aspects of drunk driving which I am finding very interesting. I could definitely see myself specializing in a laboratory aspect of forensics like toxicology and being at the Mayo clinic with its reference laboratory should be a great exposure, although I doubt they do much forensic testing. I think it is really the interface between science and the law that I am interested in. Actually when I think about it, I have always been interested in the impact and influence of science on a social, cultural or historical level. In college, it was really the history of science or relation of science to religion, especially with regard to eastern religions, that drew my interest. In medical school, I have always been interested in the relationship between science and medicine, which many now take for granted, but the two really have as many differences as similarities in my mind. And now, I find myself interested in the relationship between science and law. Hmmm, maybe that is the kind of continuity I have been looking for, which means I should focus on forensic pathology during residency. Anyhow, I still have a little time to decide, although I don't have much time anymore. When I checked my email I found that my residency director at the Mayo clinic had emailed me next year's schedule. This is all getting too real. It's no longer in th planning stages. I will start out with 2 months of surgical pathology followed by 2 months of autopsy, then a couple of CP rotations. All in all I will have a lot of exposure to CP in my first year with 2 months of microbiology, 1 month each of coagulation and cytogenetics and 1 month of cytology. I will also have 3 months of autopsy and 4 months of surgical pathology. Hopefully, I will also have time to do a couple of papers for the CAP meeting and maybe the AACR meeting as well. We'll see how things go I guess. I really shouldn't be worrying about this too much at this stage. I should be trying to enjoy myself since this may very well be my last vacation in a long time.