Heres to the crazy ones
This was on television in the late 1990s. Great ad.
Alright, well it has been over a month since I last wrote in. It was really good to have the 3 days off for Thanksgiving break. Although after the break, I was not ready to go back to school. Now I'm just looking forward to Christmas break.
But to get to Christmas Break, I have to get through another test week. Stress levels are up now. During our last set of exams, the class didn't do so well on the Physical Diagnosis (Cardiac) exam. We need a 68% to pass the class. Class average for the exam was 66%. Yeah, there weren't very many happy people after that week.
Fortunately, the professors decided that its more important for us the learn the material. They said that they will take all the questions from the first test and put about 5 in each of our tests from now until the end of the year. At years' end, we will be able to replace the score from our first test by adding up the points from the cardiac questions that were scattered throughout the year.
Since the last set of exams we have also started Auscultation Lab. Its pretty cool. We sit in this amphitheater and each student is given a pair of "stethophones." The top part is just like a stethoscope but there is not diaphram attached to it. Instead, there is a box that holds the battery, volume control, and IR receiver. The instructor then can play any heart sounds they want and we all hear the same thing. Next quarter we get to use the simulation lab with the dummy where we can listen to all the heart sounds, measure JVP, BP, and other vitals. Oh what fun $250,000 can buy you these days.
This past weekend we just had our Pine Springs Ranch Retreat. Every year, Loma Linda University School of Medicine invites all their students on a weekend retreat to Pine Springs Ranch. The Pine Springs Ranch tradition began in the 1970s and in the 1990s an endowment fund was created with the hopes of ensuring that future retreats would have the necessary funds. The event is free of charge to the students and a guest if they decide to bring one.
All of the first year guys were assigned to cabins. All married couples as well as the rest of the students got to stay in the lodge.
The retreat began on Friday and concluded on Sunday. However, most students left Saturday night after the ever-popular talent show featuring the medical students.
I think the weekend was a great experience. It was nice to get to know more of our classmates in a setting other than the classroom or anatomy lab. It was also a chance to meet the other classes and talk to them as well.
Last week was test week for the Freshman class here at Loma Linda University. On Monday we had Gross Anatomy; Tuesday we had Cell Structure & Function; Wednesday was Medical Biochemistry and Medical Physiology; Thursday was Neuroscience and Evidence Based Medicine. And Thursday afternoon we had our Anatomy Lab Practicum as well as our Histology Lab practicum.
All of the exams, except for the two lab practicums were scantron exams. It was nice because we got most of the results emailed to us within two days.
So how'd I do? Well let's just say that I learned a great deal about what not to do when preparing for exams. From the time we got to campus, people were congratulating us for making into medical school and then telling us not to stress out too much. The problem with me was tha I was not stressing out enough! They also told us that we could not study like we did in undergrad. I should've listened.
At this point, all I can do is learn from my mistakes and make sure to avoid them for the next round of exams that are coming up in about 4 weeks. I've re-organized my day so that it will hopefully aid in more efficient study. Hopefully that will be enough.
Cosmic Log : Are men smarter?
Alternate Link
Here's some commentary on the recently released study about male and female IQs. The study compared thousands of SAT scores and to come up with their conclusion. I'm not taking a position on this -- not because I don't want to offend anyone, but because I don't have the time right now to write up my position right now. Well and I haven't had a chance to read the pubslihed results.
In our Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) class our instructor was telling us how important it is to read and understand the methods section. And that I don't think I will do...
Anyways, it's an interesting read. Have fun.
The school year "began" on August 7. The first two weeks, however, were not spent in the lecture hall. Instead, we had two weeks of wards experience. Most people were assigned to a third or fourth year student and we followed them on their two-week rotation.
I was assigned to a fourth year student who happened to be doing a rotation through MICU/CCU. During the first week, our attending was a cardiologist and so the majority of our patients were on the CCU service; although there were times when we did venture out of the CCU.
On one of the mornings I came in and sat as the fourth year student I was assigned to wrote his notes. We were sitting at the nurses' station in the CCU. A nurse came and stood beside me. She looked like she was getting something at the printer. But then, another nurse called her for help and off she ran to a patient's room. Then the blue light above the doorway of that room began flashing and an alarm went off.
Chaos ensued. Nurses, medical students, and residents ran to do the room. I wasn't sure what to do. Should I follow? Should I stand at the nurses' station? Could I go watch? I ended standing near the doorway so as to peer in at what was unfolding.
The team grabbed the crash cart. Someone got the defibrilator ready. A loud voice yelled, "Clear!"
Nothing happened. They tried again. Still, nothing happened. They yelled for another machine. Someone rushed one over from down the hallway...
A couple other first-year students gathered with me outside the room. Someone yelled to page surgery because the patient was a surgery patient. Soon a surgical resident arrived and asked us (the first year students) who the resident was inside. He just looked inside and started working on his pager...
As we stood outside watching we saw a medical student (3rd or 4th year) get on the bed and begin chest compressions. He would trade off with another person every few minutes. I am not too sure what happened about using the defibrilator....
A nurse walks into the room and tells the team that the family has asked that they stop. The patient was coding for over 15 minutes. I heard the resident call the time of death...
I had always thought of the line between life and death as a solid line. One was either dead or alive, right (and please don't bring up Schrödinger's cat)? There is no in between. But for over a quarter of an hour, I watched as a patient lay on a bed with no change in condition. There was no breathing throughout that time, nor was there a heartbeat. But only when they declared the time of death was the patient "dead." If you ask me, that's a pretty fuzzy line...
Loma Linda University held a White Coat Ceremony for the incoming class of 2010 on Thursday evening (after our first day of orientation). Prior to this ceremony I had heard many opinions that the White Coat ceremony was just a big waste of time. After all, the faculty members just help the students to put on a short white coat. These same people conceded that the ceremony was more for the families, spouses, and significant others than for the medical student.
Is it worthless? Well the opposing viewpoint is that the White Coat ceremony symbolizes transition from layperson to physician. It marks the beginning of one’s journey into the profession of medicine.
In the morning, during orientation, the Dean of the School of Medicine (Dr. Hadley) spoke to us about the significance of the white coat. He spoke on the responsibilities of a doctor – responsibilities and obligations that continue to exist outside the walls of a hospital and in the absence of any white coats. That evening Dr. _____, famous for the first infant transplant surgery, spoke to us about being a doctor.
So maybe it was useless. Maybe it was worthless. The white coat ceremony was probably of little use to the students, as far as our medical education goes. But we were warmly “welcomed into the profession.” Maybe it was our first baby steps as we received our new white coats and stethoscopes, and recited the Physician’s Oath.
On Thursday and Friday (August 3-4) Loma Linda University had an orientation for the incoming freshman class. By 8:00 AM on Thursday morning, 175 eager, anxious, excited, and nervous students had found their way into the Wong Kerlee International Conference Center located on the basement level of Coleman Pavilion (home to the Loma Linda University School of Medicine).
Over the next two days we sat through hours of presentations which ranged in topics from “How to succeed in medical school” to expected behavior and dress of students. On the first day we were deluged with “welcomes” from deans, administrators, faculty, and other students. We were also captive audiences to the marketing from various on-campus groups that wanted us to sign-up with them.
Afternoons were left for us to do as we pleased. However, those students who had not yet finished all the registration requirements were advised to go and complete them. This involved asking the records office to sign one up for classes, obtaining financial clearance, requesting a parking permit from security, and taking pictures for a school ID as well as a medical center ID.
Alright, I finally got back from my trip on July 14. The trip, which I took with my aunt, uncle, cousin, and little sister, took us to Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand. That trip was really fun. We got to see many different things. I posted a few highlights from the trip at flickr.
On July 19 I had to go to the oral surgeon. Why? They said I needed to extract all four of my wisdom teeth. Yippeee. The appointment was at 8 AM and they had me take a valium pill an hour beforehand. Before the surgery began, I asked how long it would take and one lady said about 45 minutes. Regardless I think I was home before 10.
The rest of the day I just ate three cups of yogurt. One for lunch and almost two for dinner. By 9 PM my front lip was no longer numb. Its a weird feeling to touch your lip and not feel your finger on it...lol
Now I have a scheduled appointment with my doctor on July 21 for a physical and TB test which is required for Loma Linda University. I think only the TB test is required to complete my immunization history. I don't think the physical is necessary. I might even be loaded up on vicodin for the pain. My dad scheduled the appointment for me while I was out of the country. So I guess I'll just go.
Orientation for LLU is at 8 AM on August 3. They want us to "dress professionally" so that we can take ID pictures. Then on August 4 (Friday evening) we will be having the whitecoat ceremony.
Melbourne, Australia
Originally uploaded by semperjeffrei.
These past few days I have been in Melbourne, Australia. My sister and I are here with my Uncle, Aunt, and cousin. We are on a trip that begins here in Australia and will take us to Indonesia before concluding in Thailand. This is a photo from downtown (or as the Aussies call it: the Central Business District).
As far as medical school goes, not too much is going on. The beginning is just around the corner though. I just completed my background check last week and I still need to order my white coat for the ceremony that will be held on August 4.
The White Coat Ceremony is a program in which someone will put on a white coat in a symbolic gesture of one's entrance into the medical community. The feeling I get from reading some messages from current med students is that it is a useless ceremony that signifies nothing and only really means anything to parents, spouses, and significant others. So much for my excitement...
Another thing that I have to do is sort out my financial aid. I just got an email from Loma Linda University that said that I had an incomplete financial aid file. Last week I sent in what I thought was the last remaining document, the Master Promissory Note (which I am able to borrow against throughout the four years of medical school). Well this week, Loma Linda's website still says that I need to turn it in. This whole process is quite frustrating. Thus far, I would say that Loma Linda needs to update its web services website. Not user-friendly enough.
Today was commencement. I am now a college graduate. I am now an Alumnus of Walla Walla College. As I sat on my chair during the program, I told myself to look around and remember everything I could. After all, you only graduate college once.
The whole wekend culminated in the commencement that started at 8:30 AM on Centennial Green by the side of Peterson Memorial Library and in front of Sittner Hall.
The speaker for the ceremony was Jose Rojas. He has spent five years as an advisor to the President of the United States. He reminded us that although this marks the end of our college journey, the word "commencement" means a beginning. And this is a beginning. And since I am now a college graduate, I'm sure the Alumni Association will be calling me and asking for money soon.
A distraught patient phoned her doctor's office. "Is it true," the woman wanted to know, "that the medication the doctor had prescribed was for the rest of my life?" She was told that it was. There was a moment of silence before the woman continued, "I'm wondering then just how serious is my condition? This prescription is marked 'No Refills.'"
- Another true story brought to you by the medical community
A call laboratory from a distressed husband. "My wife is collecting a 24 hour urine sample. Well, she has waited 23 hours and she can't wait any longer."
- Another true story brought to you by the medical community
A very pregnant patient arrived in our busy ER. While being wheeled from the waiting area, the baby's head emerged, sending the woman into a panic. "I'm so embarrassed," she sobbed.
"Don't be embarrassed," the nurse told her, "we had a woman deliver a baby on the front lawn last year."
The woman again broke into tears, "That was me!"
- Another true story brought to you by the medical community
AIDS is now 25 years old! And over the past 25 years, it is estimated that 25 million people have lost their lives because of AIDS. I was gonna write some commentary about this but its late and I'm tired. An excerpt is included with the link to the whole article hosted on MSNBC.com's health section.
How AIDS changed sex in America. Or did it? - AIDS - MSNBC.com: "At first, AIDS appeared to be a disease of gay men. But by the time the virus responsible, HIV, had been identified a few years later, fear that sex, whether gay or straight, would kill millions of Americans shadowed every discussion of the topic. America's sex life seemed poised for a dramatic change."
*****
An example of how AIDS has changed us:
A ‘get well’ card is not appropriate to someone with AIDS... We proposed a new line of cards to say things like, 'I admire the way you have lived your life and I admire the way you are facing your death.
- Ginnie Job, Hallmark writer
I wrote about shadowing and volunteering a while ago and found some more material to add.
Recently there was a student who posted a question on the StudentDoctor.net forums. The student asked for advice on writing about his/her (gender is so hard to tell online) shadowing experience. Some answered that they did not write much on their application while others described how they elaborated about the details of their experience.
I am posting a reply that caught my eye. It was written by Panda Bear (online name) and is reprinted with his permission.
His blog can be found at www.pandabearmd.blogspot.com.
******
Hi.
Shadowing is very important. I had a lot of shadowing experience. Well, I called it shadowing but as the physicians I shadowed had no idea who I was or what I was doing I guess some might call it stalking. Nobody ever called security though so it was all right. If anybody asked me what I was doing I just got a sad look and said, “Breast cancer….mother…not doing well,“ and then slowly retreated under the cover of reverential silence.
I actually spent most of my time hanging out in waiting rooms or the hospital gift shop eating peanut M&Ms. Except when I was trying not to vomit because sick people give me the gags, especially the ones with digusting skin thingies. People with skin cancer are the worst and they are very inconsiderate. “Ooooh, look at me everybody! I’ve got skin cancer!”
I really tried to minimize my contact with patients and doctors. Still, I had to put something down for extracurricular activities so I figured this was the least difficult way to go about it. I just made up names for hospitals which sounded good but which don’t really exist. You know, like “Mercy Hospital North” or “Johns Hopkins.” I also searched through the obituaries for physicans who had recently passed away and listed them as my sponsors.
My medical school’s registrars office has an AMCAS verification department and I wanted to cover all of my bases. When they called me in after first semester to say that they had been unable to contact a physician who I shadowed I got an incredibly tragic look on my face and said, “I’m sorry to report that Dr. Wondalaski passed away several weeks after I shadowed him.”
“Fine, fine man. Did you know he won the Nobel Prize?”
That usually put them off the scent for a semester or two. Eventually they must have discovered that all six doctors I shadowed as well as my mentor from the the NIH and all of the authors of my letters of recommendation were deceased but I never heard anything about it. Just to cover myself whenever I went into the registrars office I always adopted a wistful, care-worn expression and muttered thngs like, “So much death….how can I bear it?”
Medical school admission is a difficult process. You have to be smart about it.
Glad I could help.
******
On a side note, the whole application process can be a stressful experience. Studying for the MCAT, paying exorbitant fees to apply, and running to meet the mailman each day hoping for that acceptance packet (yes I said packet, its not some thin letter like you see on TV) wears on you.
So if you really want to be a physician, relax, do your best, and be persistent.
This is just a random post. It's 3:14 AM on June 4. I cannot sleep. I have finals this week and I also present my Final Project on Wednesday. For the past month I have had trouble sleeping. I think its anxiety.
I figured I'm probably stressed out about my senior project because if I have that approved, I don't graduate.. which means I don't go to Loma Linda in August.
The whole sleep thing is frustrating because I cannot fall asleep at night, but I'm so tired in the afternoon so I take a nap. And then the cycle just keeps getting harder and harder to break.
Wonder how my sleep patter is going to be during medical school...
A mother called the pharmacy inquiring, "My son was given chewable tablets, but unfortunately, he swallowed them. Should he get a new prescription?"
- brought to you by the Medical Community
This is just a little advert for The Student Doctor Network website. Lots of info for students. The time I do spend on that website, I am visiting the forums.
There is a section for Premed, for Medical Students, for residents, etc. But you are free to browse all the sections and check out how things are going and even ask questions.
Lots of good info. Though like any website with user-submitted content, read it with a grain of salt...
Peter Pan and his shadow had a somewhat antagonistic relationship. It made me want to have a shadow like that. Looked fun. Just don't have an antagonistic relationship with the doctor you end up shadowing. I
never got a chance to do it, but "they" say you should. In theory its
a great thing to do. It will give you the chance to see firsthand
what it is like to work in a hospital as a doctor. So try to shadow
the specialty you're interested in.
Now on to volunteering at a hospital. For some reason ADCOMS
absolutely love this. I've heard that it shows your desire,
compassion, and other qualities they are looking for. It also gives
you exposure to hospital life. Most people end up volunteering at the
emergency room because that's where the action is. I guess that's fine.
As you volunteer think about what you see. You might think that
volunteering is the most useless way to spend your afternoon because
all you do is sit around waiting to change the bed sheets. But at
least think about the things you see and hear. When I had my
interview with Loma Linda, I was asked about my volunteering
experience. The interviewer wanted to know what lesson I took away
from my experience.
Again, shadowing and volunteering are good in that they give you some
exposure to hospital life. But take advantage of the proximity to
doctors. Talk to them about medicine. Ask them for advice. Ask them
how they chose their specialty. Most doctors are eager to talk to
young people who are hoping to one day become doctors as well.
So you're in college. Your whole future is ahead of you and now you're thinking about becoming a physician. You're probably really gung ho about it and want to run to the Records office and officially declare yourself "Pre-Med," right? Well that's fine. But there are things you should know.
The quest for the M.D. initials after your name begins with college. Every single class and grade will be up for review by the Admissions Committee (ADCOMS) of the medical school you apply to. Talk about pressure, right? So make sure that you do your best even when you think the class is a waste-of-time-general-study class. It does show up. But everyone should choose the major that they enjoy. DO NOT choose Biology if you're not interested in studying about plant and animals. If you're interested in business than pick that. If you're a thinker, be a philosophy major. If you're good in math, think about Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A BIOLOGY MAJOR TO GET ACCEPTED INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL. Actually, one book I did read (which is maybe ten years old) claims that the ratio of accepted to applied is highest for philosophy majors.
Getting into a medical school is not easy. You must stand apart from all the applicants -- and your undergraduate grades are probably the first criteria ADCOMS will look at (unless you're like the Dean of Medicine's son or daughter). For those non-geniuses out there, you might have to sacrifice nights where you wanted to hang out with friends to study for a test.
My point is that you need to be sure that Medicine is something you wish to pursue. Be persistent. As an engineering major, I saw lots of people declare themselves engineering majors during my Freshman year. Before the first quarter ended the mass exodus had already begun and by the end of the year almost 1/3 had switched to business. I see the
same thing with people who declare "pre-med."
Someone once said this about working hard to become a doctor: "You do it because underneath the surface of a young person who loves life and fun there is a compassion to reach others. Medicine is something you can envision yourself doing. You can picture yourself in that respected white coat and you hear the sacred calling of the profession."
Some view Medicine as just a career choice. Some view it as a calling. I think the way you view it will have huge impact on the success you have in getting into Medical School, in excelling in Medical School, in being a physician, and in the happiness and satisfaction you feel as a physician.
So as I wrote in the last post, there is a huge gap where I posted nothing. Basically I got caught up in school work -- at least that's the good answer to give.
But there wasn't much going on as far as medical school was involved. But in the next couple weeks I'll post about what did happen.
Well I notice that I have not written in here since December 15, 2005. Well ay back then, during fall quarter I got really lazy. So I only completed one application. It ended up being the one for Loma Linda University.
Anways, I received a letter dated December 17 that I had been accepted the Loma Linda University School of Medicine.
So, there you have it. I am officially accepted into medical school.
Oh the joy.
Second thoughts?
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