Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Ven Miya (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Cadet Javal DH meeting

Posted by Cadet Javal (Doctor) in Sickbay - Cadet Javal DH meeting

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Ven Miya (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Cadet Javal DH meeting
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

(OOC: Thanks for the tip! I just realized while I was writing this that Javal was kinda giving himself his own little psych exam! Perhaps he’s just too introspective for his own good?)

Javal gave a nod in agreement to Miya’s reply to his question about the journal article. In reality, he asked the question to accomplish two different purposes. One was simply to satisfy his rather untempered curiosity, a particular vice that he could recall being reprimanded for often by his instructors back on Vulcan. Unchecked curiosity breeds passionate emotion, leading the mind astray from the logical path, was but one of many such lectures he had experienced in his youth. Even to this day, Javal had struggled to live up to the Vulcan ideal in this regard.

The second purpose for the question was far less unconscionable to his Vulcan ethic: he simply wanted to engage in what humans called “small talk.” From what experience he had gained during his time at the Starfleet Medical Academy, many of his patients, especially the non-Vulcan ones, seemed to regard physician interactions more favorably when such attempts were made. Applying the principle generally to everyday interaction was therefore a very logical course indeed.

His mind briefly wandering off of himself and back onto the Lieutenant that was now seated across from him, he found that the questions would now begin to head his way.

“During my time on Vulcan, it was long assumed by both myself and my elders that I would pursue biomedical studies with the Vulcan Science Academy. I had displayed a particular aptitude in the areas of exoanatomy and biochemistry, and my name was placed into consideration by the Academy’s admissions council.”

If it wasn’t for the fact that Javal was speaking at this moment in a straight, informative tone, one might be tricked into thinking he was bragging about himself.

“As the most coveted research institution on Vulcan,” he continued, leaning a bit forward and crossing his right leg over as he explained, “the criteria for admission is very exacting. As it so happened, my elder brother, Javok, made certain…” he paused for a moment, trying to find the right word. “Impressions with the council members that I was not in a position to make.”

Noticing that his attempt at an explanation there was rather vague, he started again.

“Our cognitive capabilities were nearly identical, but I possessed certain unfavorable deficiencies in my conduct. The council eventually decided that they would grant admission to Javok.” It would have taken an experienced counselor to detect the ever so slightest hint of jealousy contained within the austere delivery of his words.

Miya, being neither a counsellor (yet) nor experienced, did not pick up on the slight undercurrent of jealousy in his tone, but she did feel a sudden surge of empathy for the Vulcan cadet. “Unfavourable deficiencies”, indeed! What a way to speak to someone when they’re still young. She kept her own expression smooth, however, hiding her true feelings.

“After hearing the council’s decision, I decided to seek alternative research positions outside of the Vulcan system. I reasoned that applying to different programs in other portions of Federation space might have afforded me the opportunity to offer my expertise to the greater scientific community where it was needed. On one of such postings, I was involved with research on regenerative therapies for orthopedic patients who had received extensive trauma during their service in the Dominion War. The assignment provided me ample opportunity to interact with many different Federation, and sometimes non-Federation, species. The chance to monitor these individuals through the course of their experimental therapies was…intriguing to me. It demonstrated the benefit of application to my research, and I inquired into applying at Starfleet Academy.”

After speaking in what effectively amounted to be his autobiography, he concluded his thoughts with thus: “Ultimately, I joined Starfleet so I could participate in the advancement of healthcare through its practical application both within the confines of the Federation and beyond.”

Miya was nodding as he finished. “I’m very glad you joined, Cadet. You took a challenging situation and turned it into something positive, both for yourself and for Starfleet. That says a lot about your personal priorities.” She gave him a quick smile before taking a sip of her water, marshalling her thoughts. This part of her role really was very like being a prylar, she had discovered. Asking the right questions, listening to the answers, then responding. Truly, the Prophets had known what they were doing when they sent her to join Starfleet!

As if in reaction to Dr. Miya’s positive comment, another thought began to invade Javal’s stream of consciousness. It was a thought that had pestered him for some time ever since he was turned away from the Vulcan Science Academy. But what was it? A regret for his past failure? A fear of displaying future imperfection? Almost as soon as the thought emerged, he fought to quench it. Those committed to the teachings of Surak find peace in that which is reasonable, definite. Entertaining thoughts such as these were destructive, and part of the reason why past events had transpired the way they did. Yet they lingered still, to Javal’s chagrin.

She set the glass down, the condensation on the base leaving a semi-circle on her desktop. “Your research sounds very interesting - I’d like to hear more about it, in time - but can you tell me about the “practical application” of advancing healthcare, as you put it? Obviously you’ll have been through various placements during your Academy training, but what parts of this practical application interest you most?” Being a doctor aboard a starship, she had found, was a combination of everyday routine and occasional boredom, set against moments of sheer terror. She deliberately tried not to think of the smell and the sounds in the cargo bay from that fateful day when they had saved the refugee colonists. Well - saved some of them. And also lost one of their own cadets.

(OOC: You can probably see that I snipped your first post as we discussed last time, just to stop the thread from becoming too long! Feel free to snip some more posts when you reply. :-) Javal’s introspection seems to suit his character - it’s good to have traits (both positive and negative!) which you can draw on as you develop him over time. I’m looking forward to seeing where you take him while he’s on the Challenger!)

[Lieutenant JG Ven Miya, CMO]

(OOC: Thanks again for the tips! Let me know if my formatting of this looks okay. I tried to fit in some of Javal’s thoughts in the middle of Miya’s reply :D)

“The pursuit of my studies at Starfleet Medical Academy were aligned with my previous research goals. After two years’ worth of lab research into orthopedic therapies for Dominion War veterans, I sought a similar specialty with Starfleet, and I believe that initial interest remained unchanged during my clinical clerkships. Active duty Starfleet officers are at a significantly higher risk of incurring traumatic injury, especially of the orthopedic nature, when compared to the general population. I reasoned that with Starfleet, my past experience in the field would deliver greater efficacy to these higher-risk individuals, while at the same time, I would be placed in a position to serve in the advancement of knowledge and peace as pursuant to Starfleet’s mission.”

Perhaps he was proud of where he found himself after all, even if he would never admit to it?

[Cadet Javal, Doctor]

(OOC: the formatting looks great! More Javal thoughts are always good … even though I can’t use them or react to them in my posts, because Miya isn’t telepathic (probably a good thing!), it all helps me - and other readers - to get a better idea of him as a character.)

Miya nodded, taking in Javal’s explanation, then leaned forwards slightly, her elbows on her desk. “So, following on from my last question, are there are any areas of medicine or surgery where you’re less experienced, but you’d like to learn more about them while you’re aboard Challenger? I can’t guarantee that we’ll get patients with these conditions, of course, but I can assign you to treat them if they do.” She gave the cadet a warm smile.

“Challenger may be the final stage in your journey as a cadet, but it’s only the beginning for your career as a doctor in Starfleet. I want to make sure you have as … as broad an experience here as I did.” Carefully, she censored herself - she’d been going to say “as good an experience as I did”, but the memories of the horror in the cargo bay were still strong.

[Lieutenant JG Ven Miya]

(OOC: Great! I think I’m starting to get a better understanding of this format now!)

Javal leaned back slightly as he listened to Miya’s follow up question. He took notice of the slight pause in her last sentence, and briefly wondered to himself whether she did so unconsciously or intentionally.

“Your question is a well considered one,” he replied in a sort of complimentary way. “As you had mentioned previously, I had indeed been exposed to a number of medical sub-disciplines during my research and at Starfleet Medical, but you would be correct in the assumption that my skillsets in each of these varying areas of concentration are not equally developed. As such, I am equally open to receiving further instruction in other sub-disciplines as best meets the needs of the crew.”

He took a moment to ponder the question further before he continued, his eyes darting briefly to the side before returning his gaze to the Lieutenant.

“That said, the area in which I would be most interested in improving is my capability to provide quality primary care. As you are aware, the establishment of a rapport between physician and patient is a crucial component of healthcare, and it is an element that I must carefully appreciate at all times.”

He made another pause, trying to string together an understandable explanation for someone not in his shoes.

“In my experience, I had encountered a sampling of patients who seemed to display a degree of unease, and in some cases even distress at the fact that Vulcans such as myself do not display an emotional response when it is sometimes expected of the provider. If, perhaps, you may have advice as to mitigate sociocultural…misunderstandings such as these, it would be greatly appreciated.”

Javal made a mental note to hold some of that thought for his meeting with the ship’s counselor. As the matter was as much psychosocial as it was healthcare-related, it would be unreasonable to not seek answers from other qualified individuals as well.

[Cadet Javal, soul-searching Vulcan doctor]