Thread by @docsamdeshmukh

Thread:
My #asco19 experience.
I was doing Hem/Onc rotation @UICHemOnc, it was memorial day weekend, Dr. Venepalli,GI oncologist, was the attending. Looking at my interest in oncology, she was kind enough to allow me to come on weekends.Prior to that weekend,I didn't know (1/n)

What @ASCO annual meeting was. She told me that the meeting was there next week @McCormick_Place in Chicago. This got me too excited. I was told the student registration was cheap. I checked on the website, it was like 350$ one week b4 meeting. Too much money for Student (2/n)

I was dejected, I decided to try my luck and sneak in. I was too active on Twitter prior to that and while googling for asco, I saw the #asco19 and looking deeper, it was fun. I found @marklewismd being super active. Replying to everyone, clicking pictures, I was like wow. (3/n)

I replied that I'd like to meet him. He immediately sent his contact number through DM and asked me to contact him.
From home, I'd to change 3 buses to get to the venue. The venue was fun. I attended the plenary session feat. Dr. @yzafar, Dr. Sweeney, Dr.Davidoff and others.

Wandering through exhibition area, without any official ID and fake confidence at its peak. Looking at some cool innovations and tech devices around. Enjoyed the refreshments thanks to the pharma companies. Walking across the poster area to meet @arkhaki, gave me some (5/n)

Insights into research and how poster presentation should be done. We connected on twitter and are still connected. Kudos to him.
It was now time to explore other areas. I started walking across the bridges, in awe of this gigantic complex, never seem before. (6/n)

Only to end up at the lakeshore, that offered both stellar view of the city of Chicago and serenity. I texted up and met @marklewismd who did his homework -looking at my profile, finding out the common interest we had in football. Discussing the rivalries of ManU and chelsea.(7)

Talking about how we lost our fathers to cancer & career plans. On the way out we bumped into @NarjustDumaMD and @VincentRK - I'd no idea I was meeting the man who owns Multiple Myeloma. They were all congratulating Dr.Duma who had presented a groundbreaking work (8/n)

About Gender Bias, that was making waves all over. I clicked their picture and they bid adieu to her. Walking to the hotel, they were telling me about their old times at @MayoClinic & how it made a significant difference in their lives. It was time to leave & I (9/n)

Clicked a picture with these two Great humble men. It was one of the most satisfactory journey home.
ASCO 19 has changed my life. I want to be a Hem/oncologist more than ever. It wouldn't have been possible without Twitter and ASCO 19. Now I have connected with (10/n)

More doctors over the last year than ever before. I listen to podcasts on a regular basis. I have also become a student Member of ASCO. Twitter helps me keep updated with all the latest happenings around the world. I am also more aware about oncology in India.(11/n)

I'm sure #ASCO20 is going to bring in a new dimension and although I cannot follow it live since I'm busy in COVID duty in India, it won't stop me from following the meeting on Twitter.
I pray this ends soon and we all get to be there in person next year.

It was all possible because of those extra hours on weekends during the rotation and thanks to Dr.Venepalli who has always encouraged me to extend my boundaries. The entire @UICHemOnc dept has been fantastic. I'm still in touch with my teachers there.(13/n)
👇With Dr. Venepalli.

And that's all folks.
If you've read till the end. Thank you very much for reading it. Means a lot to me.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.
Fin. (14/14)