Confessions of a Med Student Part III

This is part three of the series Confessions. Reflections on my medical school infancy and childhood can be found here: Part I and here: Part II.
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Part III. The Third Term Breakdown.

One class. 5 subjects. 6 credits. 6 weeks.

aka. Psychiatry + Biostatistics + Epidemiology + Health care policy + Law and Medicine + Bioethics cont. = Behavioral Science and Medicine.

Maybe because I was a psych major in college, or maybe because I tend to like the non-science part of medicine- recall first term, my favorite class was the one most students couldn't stand (bioethics)- but for whatever reason I really liked third term. Because it was so many different subjects you couldn't really get bored or bogged down with any one thing. Perhaps I'd seen 80% of the material at some point in my prior education. I wonder if that is how the undergrad biochem majors felt during first term. Or how the students with master's degrees in neuroscience felt during 2nd term. In any case, I enjoyed what was for me by far, the easiest of terms. And I got to enjoy the island a bit too. I went sailing. I fully lived my weekends. I had friends over. I went out.  I baked. And I planned and anticipated fourth term.

Fourth term is known to be the hardest of all terms at SGU. You hear rumors. Like- the average of the 2nd exam is a failing grade, 1/4 of the class above you had to decel and 100 students are retaking the class. It is hyped up to be the big bad fourth term, the mountain you must scale and the raison de etre of medical school, it is pathology. All of pathology.  Taught in 4.5 months alongside microbiology and clinical skills because just one class at a time would be humane. Be scared. Be very scared. Or so the rumors go... (you'll have to wait for Part IV to find out my take.)

So in summary: third term is created to torture you before fourth term starts. Since four and half months away from home is not long enough third term ensures that you will be on the rock for a full six months and I think this is why it gets a bad rap. That and people have to do math. And read. Or so my theory goes. As for me, third term was finally a step in the right direction and a great start to what is the 2nd year of medical school.

Stay tuned for fourth term. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Or something like that.

That was fun....

So, third term is over- 6 weeks, 6 credits, done! Now just a weekend stands between me and the start of fourth term. There has been so much build up, I just want it to get here already. Bring on pathology (and microbiology and clinical skills and and nutrition and I might be leaving something out!)

On an unrelated note I just read another great piece by Dr. Gawande in the New Yorker regarding the cost of medical care. I'll save you my commentary, read it for yourself...

Time to figure out what to do with my no study weekend. Cheers!

Where the Oranges are Green

Reflecting upon my shopping trip to IGA, I always find it odd that the oranges on the island are super green. While they do change a little bit but never get to be Florida looking orange colored. Random thought for the day...

Have been having first term dejavu lately. I think it must be the time of year.... blizzards at "home" and sunny here, it is a strange juxtaposition. I forget what month or season it is, instead time is simply 3rd term, the deep breath before the marathon that is 4th term: pathology, microbiology, nutrition, clinical/physical diagnosis. It is strange to see the first and second termers studying for exams I've already taken. I remember the unease, the self doubt, the joy. It is different being an MS2 and definitely better!

I'm enjoying the quiet and the island. Since Term 3 is 50% review for a psych major, so I'm finding myself with time to bake, lounge, read and enjoy my surroundings. Today I became a foster parent to a baby corn plant and a toddler pumpkin. The goal is to nourish them (keep them alive- I don't really have a green thumb so wish me luck) for two weeks until the are big enough to be planted in a garden.

I went river tubing last weekend and got to float down the river and enjoy the rainforest canopy. The Superbowl was fun Grenada style.  Powder Puff football is a great excuse to run around the stadium lights with my fellow amazing colleagues and there have been a few B-day dinners. This weekend I am ushering for Vagina Monologues. I owe an entire post to my visit to Mt. Gay Mental Hospital... I am enjoying Grenada, my friends and school. I miss Dr. Boyfriend but even that is okay as I have decided  that I'm going home for a long Easter weekend.

The oranges may be green and my thumb not, but regardless- life is sweet!

Powder Puff, Migraines and NOS

No, these things are not related, or their relation is me. I joined the Med (vs Vet) girls flag football team because exercise is good and more fun than running on a treadmill. I think I've had my 5th migraine since arriving on the island today, I'm so sick of them. And my path group has a name. Midterms are Friday and then it is just three short weeks until the start of 4th term, I'm a bit nervous but am trying to live in the present. So go Cow Tippers, go away migraines and NOS, well I'm not ready for you yet!

What's that word?

As a medical student it keeps happening. Whatever subject we are studying, whatever new word or disease I decide to Wikipedia, it shows up in my every day life. Or something like that. I think there is a theory or word to describe this phenomenon but my search of the exact title of this definition seems lacking. Synchronicity? Maybe but it is not as magical or dispersed as that. Confirmation bias, selective recall? Perhaps, but I do not really refute or notice a bias AGAINST anything else, just a heightened awareness of the thing, theory, idea, subject, etc. And I guess that is all that it is, a coincidence though I don't attribute any meaning to it. But I would like to know what to properly call it. If you know, please do comment and enlighten me.

Okay, let me illustrate. Last week we were studying psychiatric disorders and health care systems including policies in different countries. What do I read in the New York Times but this piece: The Americanization of Mental Illness.

I remember last term during my super short two week parasit course I came across this lovely picture of vericose veins caused by Schistosomiasis. 


Another example. During the last two weeks of immunology I read a blog and stumbled across a newish cytokine: IL-33 and then found this in my inbox: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/444383_3. 


Of note, I have not come across any other immuno or parasitology links, info, etc. SINCE I finished those classes, but maybe I just unconsciously stopped looking for them? Anyhow, this week we are studying biostatistics so I guess my next project is to calculate the p value for all of these occurrences being random chance versus statistically significant. So, if I read the NYT everyday and scan an average of 28 articles and read 50 blog entries a week and I am studying 4 given medical subjects at any one time....  (Study design and results will be forthcoming.)

MS II (Medical Student Year Two)

I'm here. Medical School year two is in session, Term 3 is off with a bang. Almost a week in and four hours of class a day but at least we don't start until 8am and are in the lovely Charter Hall. The first termers are starting to appear on the island looking lost and excited and anxious and eager.

The Good- I am still in a great room on top the hill in married housing with my favorite view just steps from my doorway. The weather seems cooler this term, there is a breeze and I have yet to feel too hot. It has been great to catch up with friends and our path group is formed and ready to go, that is once we finish Term 3 (2.5 weeks until midterms and 5.5 weeks until finals.)

The Bad- It is strange to be here and removed from events happening in the world. Haiti. I wish I was done with my training and could go there and help. Here is what you can do. Donate to a well known and established group. Some suggestions:
Paul Farmer's Partner in Health Clinics that have been working in Haiti since 1985 and already have staff and supplies in the area.
The Red Cross which has already released $10 million in aid.
Heifer International which is another established group that will work with families and provide long term assistance to those affected.
My thoughts are with those in Haiti.

The Ugly- Our health care system and learning in detail how in trouble we are compared to many other developed nations. Health Policy is part of Term 3 and it is fascinating and scary to learn so much about Medicare, Medicaid and health care in the US compared to other systems around the world. I only wish we could take the class after Health Care Reform was passed so that we might better understand the legislation and what it will mean for us as future physicians.

However, so far, so good. Now it is time to bake some brownies, welcome my neighbors and go for a run. Cheers to MS II!