So I am now 8 days into class and I already feel like I'm getting the hang of this whole med-school thing. After the first few days, I was kind of overwhelmed, but I think I have already kind of figured out what works for me as far as studying goes and what types of things are great ways to relax. I have survived my first round of lab quizzes and my first Biochemistry quiz. I have built such an amazing family of friends here. I am feeling great about everything!
Besides my usual long day of classes and studying I have also joined two groups called "DSG"s. DSG stands for Directed Study Groups. We basically get small-group study time with professors or older students who have mastered the material. I signed up for a biochem DSG and the Anatomy DSG. I have only met once for each of these, so far, but they already seem incredibly helpful. We get a ton more work sheets, practice exam questions and time to communicate the material with people who actually know it well. Also, our Anatomy DSG means 3 extra hours in the cadaver lab with a much smaller group to go over everything from the week! I <3 all of the resources CHM give you. I now know why they have a 99% success rate...they make it hard for you not to find resources if you want them!
As far as my new found relaxation methods, 2 words: Hot Tub. My roommates and I have definitely utilized our hot tub quite a bit over the last few weeks. Whats super awesome about my hot tube is that the cement ground around the hot-tub is heated! So, even when its rediculously cold in the winter months, the hot tub will always be a steamy escape! Another thing I have found relaxing is, surprisingly, running. I never EVER was a runner and by no means would I classify myself as a runner now, but I ran a couple times last week and it really does feel great. When your mind is foggy and you are stressed, running and working out in general is a phenomenal way to clear your thoughts.
Lastly, as promised, here is edition #2 of my new blog section--->
Science Is Cool:
DPG & Hemoglobin: Basically the unloading of oxygen into your tissues is dependent on hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen. If hemoglobin has a high affinity, the oxygen will not unload; conversely, if the hemoglobin's affinity is low, it will unload the oxygen into tissues. So, when women are pregnant, the body has to come up with a way for the fetus to get oxygen. One of the body's solutions to this is a molecule called DPG, which binds to hemoglobin and lowers the affinity (meaning that it dumps the oxygen that is attached the the hemoglobin). DPG, however, is present much more in adults than in fetuses. So, the hemoglobin in adults favors the dumping of oxygen, while the fetal hemeglobin maintains a high oxygen affinity. As a result, the oxygen is taken from the adult hemoglobin and given to the fetus.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
First Week of Classes
This last week was my first week of medical school classes. I was expecting to learn a lot quickly, but boy did they hit us hard fast! I don't think I have ever learned so much in a week than I did this first week of medical school and I am sure it is only going to get more intense as we go on! Basically, the structure of every day is lecture in the morning, followed by labs and small groups in the afternoon. Even though I had all of nights free, I was definitely a busy bee studying right away. We have access to our main study building (The Radiology Building) 24/7, so I have stayed there past midnight almost every night. I understand how sleep deprivation is a problem for medical students, but I really don't have any complaints. I am so happy with what I am doing. I love all of my classes and have great professors! :)
My favorite thing so far has been the Anatomy Lab! I was pretty terrified that the cadaver lab would freak me out or would make me sick, but I didn't have a problem at all! When I was in 8th grade, I got really sick and left school early because of a squid-dissection lab, so I'm sure glad that didn't happen again! I have been to the cadaver lab 4 times already because I really think it is the best way to learn. Its difficult to understand all of the anatomy in a textbook or atlas, but when we have the opportunity to work with real human bodies and touch the structures, things definitely sink in a lot better. The human body is so fascinating!
Lastly, I am hoping to institute one new aspect of my blog, as much as I possibly can, called "Science is Cool!" I learn so many awesome things about the human body each day, so I thought I would pick a few things I think are cool to share! I hope those science nerds out there who read my blog appreciate this new addition. So, here we go....
Science is Cool:
1) Langer's Lines: Collagen and Elastin fibers in the dermis (second layer of skin) orient themselves in parallel lines based off of tension and mechanical stress. This creates natural lines of cleavage. So, if surgeons follow these lines, rather than cutting in places that orient themselves more perpendicularly, this will reduce scarring and will allow for quicker healing! -- I thought that was pretty awesome.
2) The Intervertebral Disc Joint is composed of two types of material: Annulus fibrosus (a dense, fibrous part) and Nucleus Pulosus (A jelly-like cartilage suspended in water). Since the Nuclus Pulosus is 70% water, compressive forces like gravity squeeze water out of the IVDs and reduce your overall body height at the end of the day. So, this is why commuters have to adjust their rear-view mirron in the morning and then again in the evening, because we have actually shrunk. We gain our normal height throughout the night while we sleep.
My favorite thing so far has been the Anatomy Lab! I was pretty terrified that the cadaver lab would freak me out or would make me sick, but I didn't have a problem at all! When I was in 8th grade, I got really sick and left school early because of a squid-dissection lab, so I'm sure glad that didn't happen again! I have been to the cadaver lab 4 times already because I really think it is the best way to learn. Its difficult to understand all of the anatomy in a textbook or atlas, but when we have the opportunity to work with real human bodies and touch the structures, things definitely sink in a lot better. The human body is so fascinating!
Lastly, I am hoping to institute one new aspect of my blog, as much as I possibly can, called "Science is Cool!" I learn so many awesome things about the human body each day, so I thought I would pick a few things I think are cool to share! I hope those science nerds out there who read my blog appreciate this new addition. So, here we go....
Science is Cool:
1) Langer's Lines: Collagen and Elastin fibers in the dermis (second layer of skin) orient themselves in parallel lines based off of tension and mechanical stress. This creates natural lines of cleavage. So, if surgeons follow these lines, rather than cutting in places that orient themselves more perpendicularly, this will reduce scarring and will allow for quicker healing! -- I thought that was pretty awesome.
2) The Intervertebral Disc Joint is composed of two types of material: Annulus fibrosus (a dense, fibrous part) and Nucleus Pulosus (A jelly-like cartilage suspended in water). Since the Nuclus Pulosus is 70% water, compressive forces like gravity squeeze water out of the IVDs and reduce your overall body height at the end of the day. So, this is why commuters have to adjust their rear-view mirron in the morning and then again in the evening, because we have actually shrunk. We gain our normal height throughout the night while we sleep.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
White Coat Ceremony!
My White Coat Ceremony was at 3:00 PM on Sunday, August 28th. I was expecting the ceremony to be nice, but it really was so great! The faculty's speeches really did make me feel like I have accomplished something big and it was such a great end to orientation week and a great beginning to the first week of classes. Our Dean, Masha Rappley, who I have already mentioned that I love, gave me another reason to love her. Her speech was amazing! She came up without wearing her white coat (she was the only one not wearing it) and in the middle she asked one of her other faculty members to coat her so that she could join us on this day. So, it wasn't that we were getting White-Coated by the faculty, but it really was like we were joining them. This is such a different concept from how undergrad was, because we were clearly not looked at equally to faculty, but in medical school you are considered a professional and on the same level as all of the physicians and faculty that work at the school. What a great realization that was!
Anyways, here are some pictures!
Anyways, here are some pictures!
Move-In and Orientation!
Wow! It seems like forever since I had time to blog! I am going to try to get better at updating this more often, but these last few weeks have been CRAZY! My last post was about my cross-country roadtrip, so I need to update a lot: move-in, orientation week, my white coat ceremony, and week 1! Obviously that would be WAY too long of a post, so I will split them up! :)
Move In:
I got to East Lansing on Wednesday, August 17 around 4:00 PM and got right to unpacking. In between making my bed and organizing my life, I met my roommates, Caela and Jessica. I could tell right away we were going to get along really well. :) As far as my apartment, I am in love. We have such a great little community in my complex and everything is so accessible! In my complex, I have a gym (which I have actually taken advantage of--wahoo!), a pool/hot tub (which I have also taken advantage of lots), free tanning, free computer lab/printing, and a free shuttle that will take you to campus and to the main street in EL --Grand River. Also, my complex is like 5 minutes walking to campus and about 2 minutes away from this shopping center called "Hannah Plaza" that has so many restaurants and a college store. So, everything really is perfect! :)
Orientation Week: This week was the longest, but most fun week I have had in a long time. I honestly can't remember the last time I have been this excited about something (probably my first week of undergrad!). I feel like getting all of the information about school and making really great friendships (really fast) has made my med school experience so great already and its only just the beginning. But, Im getting ahead of myself, here is the breakdown of my Orientation Week.
Pre-Orientation Days: The three days between move-in and orientation, I tried to get used to my new apartment and meet lots of my new classmates. I was nervous that with such a small class (only 100) that I couldn't find people I really got along with, but boy was I wrong! The friends I made here within only a few days will be my best friends for life. Its crazy how similar everyone is as far as motivation, drive, and being extraverted. In fact, on my first night of meeting everyone, we already had a team name "That A Team" and solidified each other as a really solid group. In fact, the longest I went without seeing members of the A Team after our meetings was probably 6 hours. I <3 our little group (of 25 haha). Anyways, basically my pre-orientation days consisted of lots of bar hopping, movie nights, BBQ, pool/hot tub parties, and (although I dont get the appeal) Jersey Shore Viewing Parties.
Although I wish pre-orientation could have lasted forever, Saturday finally came. Here is the breakdown of orientation:
Day 1 (Saturday): Lots of Icebreaker games in the morning and then...FLASH MOB practice! Yup, my whole incoming class got lessons from a choreographer and worked on a flash mob that we did at our Student Activities Fair on Friday (more details on Fridays info). Overall, it was a really fun, but exhasting day. That night, of course, my entire class went out. My roommates and I held the meeting place and then we bar hopped at some local East Lansing bars. It was really fun and made me fall in love with my class. Seriously, I could not have imagined a better group of people. Everyone one is so intelligent, but still social and amazing!
Day 2 (Sunday): Free day! Thank goodness, because I needed my sleep after such a long day/night! That day, I drove up to Flint to visit Sarath. For those of you who dont know, Flint, Michigan is the number one most dangerous city in the United States. So, I was kind of terrified to go, but to my suprise, the area he lived around was really nice! Aparently there is one nice street in the whole city, and his apartment complex is right there. So, that was nice. I pretty much just spent the whole time hanging out in his apartment and looking through all of his med school text books, which I am borrowing! Also, one of his good friends, that I have gotten to know over the last two years, made us (a rediculously healthy) dinner. She made squash pasta with a tomato sauce w/ mushrooms. It was absolutely delicious!
Day 3 (Monday): My first "real" day of orientation. The day consisted of mostly welcoming information, including an introduction to the faculty, the Block I academic orientation, photos for our ID cards, a drug test, and then a few student panels about "what to expect." A lot of this information was really helpful, but my highlight of the day was definitely the welcome form the dean. I LOVE my dean, Dr. Masha Rappley. Seriously, this woman is amazing. She is so well spoken and seems really amazing at what she does, but what I loved about her right away was her fearless honesty. In her welcome speech, she addressed the fact that we were all probably terrified about the incoming school year and told us about her own experience in medical school. Her very first test in medical school, a Biochemistry exam, she got a 28%. So, she failed badly, but she didn't give up and not only finished medical school, but is the DEAN of a medical school. So, that was a really great intro for us, because it made all of us feel better about the challenges ahead!
Day 4 (Tuesday): Again, we had a morning full of talks. The first was about security, which doesn't sound like that great of a lecture, but I found out something awesome -- as med students, we get late-night accesss to all of the buildings! Our main study space (the radiology building) closes at 6, but medical students get keys so we can be in their 24 hours/day! That afternoon, I took a practice USMLE board exam. I haven't gotten my scores back yet, but I am aiming for about a 20/200! That test was IMPOSSIBLE if you havent completed your first two years of medical school. CHM wasn't expecting us to do well (obviously), but I am kind of glad to get the exposure to that exam so early on!
Day 5 (Wednesday): Wednesday's morning discussions were all about career development and professionalism. My Career Development councelor, Mrs. Deana Willbanks, is my second favorite faculty member. To be honest, I really was not excited about career development stuff because I knew it would entail all of these silly surveys that will tell me what I do like v. what I dont, but I have been pleasantly supprised on what the Career Development program has to offer. Mrs. W is crazy hooked up with summer internships and is already making us files to prepare for residencies. She is super bubbly, very interested in what is going on in our lives, and has been rediculously helpful already! :) As far as professionalism, CHM is kind of crazy about professionalism. I mean, we had 3 hours of discussion about professional behavior. Don't get me wrong, I know how important looking and sounding professional is in the medical field and I am glad that there is a focus, but 3 hours was a little overkill. Oh well! Finally, that afternoon, we participated in the "Evening of Community Service." We were all split into groups and got to go out into the greater Lansing area to do service projects. I went to the "Haven House," which is the only homeless shelter in Lansing that allows whole families to stay, which is awesome. I basically did maintenance and housekeeping work, but it was a great way to integrate the EL community into my medical school orientation week!
Day 6 (Thursday): Information was given on the MSU library resources. Again, I did not think I would be too engrossed in this, but I found another awesome thing about being a medical student. Basically, we have access to every book in both paper and electronic form. If we go to search for a source and it is not available, the library will go out and get it and scan it in so that we can have electronic access. Isn't that awesome? They treat us so well! That afternoon, I got BLS certified. I was kind of annoyed I had to get this, considering I teach CPR classes, but it was quick and painless! That night, my class went out again. There was a very late day on Friday so we weren't afraid of being too tired!
Day 7: (Friday): Friday was our last real day of orientation! I thought it would never come, but once it arrived, I wanted to go back in time! Friday we got to sleep in, like I already mentioned, and didn't have anything scheduled at all until 2:30! However, we did have to go by to pick up our course packs (all of the notes for each class) and sign up for DSGs (Directed Study Groups -- basically tutoring). That afternoon, we had our big student activities fair. There was about 25 different student organizations that you could sign up for. Of course, I signed up for way to many. I signed up for AMSA, the LMUV (leadership in medicine for underserved and vulnerable populations), Pediatrics Interest Group, Neurology Interest Group, International Medicine Interest Group, Friendship Student Clinic, Student Interview Ambassador (people who do admissions interviews) and The Teddy Bear Clinic. So, I clearly will not be able to do all of these, but I loved how many options of extracurriculars there are! :) We also got a delicious dinner and desert bar. Finally, we performed our flash mob! The only people who knew about it were the first year class and faculty members involved with orientation, so all of the second year students and the rest of the people at the orientation fair were very surprised! It was awesome!
Day 8 (Saturday): Free day! My parents came and we went to Holland, MI. It was so cool! Since I studied abroad in the netherlands, I frequently have dutch withdraws. So, I loved that there is a mini-Netherlands only an hour away!
Day 9 (Sunday): FINALLY.....WHITE COAT CEREMONY! (See next blog post)
So, overall, move-in and orientation were amazing! I made such great friends and have had so much fun! This week beat out all of my expectations! :)
Move In:
I got to East Lansing on Wednesday, August 17 around 4:00 PM and got right to unpacking. In between making my bed and organizing my life, I met my roommates, Caela and Jessica. I could tell right away we were going to get along really well. :) As far as my apartment, I am in love. We have such a great little community in my complex and everything is so accessible! In my complex, I have a gym (which I have actually taken advantage of--wahoo!), a pool/hot tub (which I have also taken advantage of lots), free tanning, free computer lab/printing, and a free shuttle that will take you to campus and to the main street in EL --Grand River. Also, my complex is like 5 minutes walking to campus and about 2 minutes away from this shopping center called "Hannah Plaza" that has so many restaurants and a college store. So, everything really is perfect! :)
Orientation Week: This week was the longest, but most fun week I have had in a long time. I honestly can't remember the last time I have been this excited about something (probably my first week of undergrad!). I feel like getting all of the information about school and making really great friendships (really fast) has made my med school experience so great already and its only just the beginning. But, Im getting ahead of myself, here is the breakdown of my Orientation Week.
Pre-Orientation Days: The three days between move-in and orientation, I tried to get used to my new apartment and meet lots of my new classmates. I was nervous that with such a small class (only 100) that I couldn't find people I really got along with, but boy was I wrong! The friends I made here within only a few days will be my best friends for life. Its crazy how similar everyone is as far as motivation, drive, and being extraverted. In fact, on my first night of meeting everyone, we already had a team name "That A Team" and solidified each other as a really solid group. In fact, the longest I went without seeing members of the A Team after our meetings was probably 6 hours. I <3 our little group (of 25 haha). Anyways, basically my pre-orientation days consisted of lots of bar hopping, movie nights, BBQ, pool/hot tub parties, and (although I dont get the appeal) Jersey Shore Viewing Parties.
Although I wish pre-orientation could have lasted forever, Saturday finally came. Here is the breakdown of orientation:
Day 1 (Saturday): Lots of Icebreaker games in the morning and then...FLASH MOB practice! Yup, my whole incoming class got lessons from a choreographer and worked on a flash mob that we did at our Student Activities Fair on Friday (more details on Fridays info). Overall, it was a really fun, but exhasting day. That night, of course, my entire class went out. My roommates and I held the meeting place and then we bar hopped at some local East Lansing bars. It was really fun and made me fall in love with my class. Seriously, I could not have imagined a better group of people. Everyone one is so intelligent, but still social and amazing!
Day 2 (Sunday): Free day! Thank goodness, because I needed my sleep after such a long day/night! That day, I drove up to Flint to visit Sarath. For those of you who dont know, Flint, Michigan is the number one most dangerous city in the United States. So, I was kind of terrified to go, but to my suprise, the area he lived around was really nice! Aparently there is one nice street in the whole city, and his apartment complex is right there. So, that was nice. I pretty much just spent the whole time hanging out in his apartment and looking through all of his med school text books, which I am borrowing! Also, one of his good friends, that I have gotten to know over the last two years, made us (a rediculously healthy) dinner. She made squash pasta with a tomato sauce w/ mushrooms. It was absolutely delicious!
Day 3 (Monday): My first "real" day of orientation. The day consisted of mostly welcoming information, including an introduction to the faculty, the Block I academic orientation, photos for our ID cards, a drug test, and then a few student panels about "what to expect." A lot of this information was really helpful, but my highlight of the day was definitely the welcome form the dean. I LOVE my dean, Dr. Masha Rappley. Seriously, this woman is amazing. She is so well spoken and seems really amazing at what she does, but what I loved about her right away was her fearless honesty. In her welcome speech, she addressed the fact that we were all probably terrified about the incoming school year and told us about her own experience in medical school. Her very first test in medical school, a Biochemistry exam, she got a 28%. So, she failed badly, but she didn't give up and not only finished medical school, but is the DEAN of a medical school. So, that was a really great intro for us, because it made all of us feel better about the challenges ahead!
Day 4 (Tuesday): Again, we had a morning full of talks. The first was about security, which doesn't sound like that great of a lecture, but I found out something awesome -- as med students, we get late-night accesss to all of the buildings! Our main study space (the radiology building) closes at 6, but medical students get keys so we can be in their 24 hours/day! That afternoon, I took a practice USMLE board exam. I haven't gotten my scores back yet, but I am aiming for about a 20/200! That test was IMPOSSIBLE if you havent completed your first two years of medical school. CHM wasn't expecting us to do well (obviously), but I am kind of glad to get the exposure to that exam so early on!
Day 5 (Wednesday): Wednesday's morning discussions were all about career development and professionalism. My Career Development councelor, Mrs. Deana Willbanks, is my second favorite faculty member. To be honest, I really was not excited about career development stuff because I knew it would entail all of these silly surveys that will tell me what I do like v. what I dont, but I have been pleasantly supprised on what the Career Development program has to offer. Mrs. W is crazy hooked up with summer internships and is already making us files to prepare for residencies. She is super bubbly, very interested in what is going on in our lives, and has been rediculously helpful already! :) As far as professionalism, CHM is kind of crazy about professionalism. I mean, we had 3 hours of discussion about professional behavior. Don't get me wrong, I know how important looking and sounding professional is in the medical field and I am glad that there is a focus, but 3 hours was a little overkill. Oh well! Finally, that afternoon, we participated in the "Evening of Community Service." We were all split into groups and got to go out into the greater Lansing area to do service projects. I went to the "Haven House," which is the only homeless shelter in Lansing that allows whole families to stay, which is awesome. I basically did maintenance and housekeeping work, but it was a great way to integrate the EL community into my medical school orientation week!
Day 6 (Thursday): Information was given on the MSU library resources. Again, I did not think I would be too engrossed in this, but I found another awesome thing about being a medical student. Basically, we have access to every book in both paper and electronic form. If we go to search for a source and it is not available, the library will go out and get it and scan it in so that we can have electronic access. Isn't that awesome? They treat us so well! That afternoon, I got BLS certified. I was kind of annoyed I had to get this, considering I teach CPR classes, but it was quick and painless! That night, my class went out again. There was a very late day on Friday so we weren't afraid of being too tired!
Day 7: (Friday): Friday was our last real day of orientation! I thought it would never come, but once it arrived, I wanted to go back in time! Friday we got to sleep in, like I already mentioned, and didn't have anything scheduled at all until 2:30! However, we did have to go by to pick up our course packs (all of the notes for each class) and sign up for DSGs (Directed Study Groups -- basically tutoring). That afternoon, we had our big student activities fair. There was about 25 different student organizations that you could sign up for. Of course, I signed up for way to many. I signed up for AMSA, the LMUV (leadership in medicine for underserved and vulnerable populations), Pediatrics Interest Group, Neurology Interest Group, International Medicine Interest Group, Friendship Student Clinic, Student Interview Ambassador (people who do admissions interviews) and The Teddy Bear Clinic. So, I clearly will not be able to do all of these, but I loved how many options of extracurriculars there are! :) We also got a delicious dinner and desert bar. Finally, we performed our flash mob! The only people who knew about it were the first year class and faculty members involved with orientation, so all of the second year students and the rest of the people at the orientation fair were very surprised! It was awesome!
Day 8 (Saturday): Free day! My parents came and we went to Holland, MI. It was so cool! Since I studied abroad in the netherlands, I frequently have dutch withdraws. So, I loved that there is a mini-Netherlands only an hour away!
Day 9 (Sunday): FINALLY.....WHITE COAT CEREMONY! (See next blog post)
So, overall, move-in and orientation were amazing! I made such great friends and have had so much fun! This week beat out all of my expectations! :)
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