Wheeled backpacks? Wheeled carry-on luggage? Has this new sedentary lifestyle caused your muscles to atrophy that much? Seriously.
During medical school (at least the first two years) you are going to use some rather large textbooks. For example, first year you have Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy and Moore and Dalley's Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Second year revolves around the hefty Robbins and Contran's Pathologic Basis of Disease. They are relatively heavy books, weighing in around 6 to 8 pounds. However, do they necessitate the use of a wheeled backpack or carry-on luggage?
Wheeled backpacks and carry-on luggage seem to be taking over the rows and aisles in the lecture hall this year. I spotted a couple last year, but they have made a strong showing this year. Some may argue that they use more than one book and combined with the weight from a laptop, it is too much to carry around on your back all day. Well, how about using the locker that is provided to you? I mean, do you really even use your books while you are at school? My sense is that most people study at home, so why not just leave your books there? All you need during lecture is your laptop -- maybe a BRS or High-Yield review book. If you need to quickly look something up, use the Internet. Why carry around extra weight for no reason?
And let's not forget the aesthetics of the matter (oh so important). I'm sorry, but these bags are not aesthetically pleasing. Why not use a cute tote or sleek messenger bag or traditional backpack? If you are so concerned about developing an abnormal curvature of your spine, switch shoulders every now and then to balance things out.
I just don't get it. Maybe you can help me understand this new wheelie-bag phenomenon.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Dr. A
Amazing. Dr. A's teaching style is exemplary. She is everything a medical school professor should be. She speaks in a loud clear voice. Her PowerPoint presentations are high yield. She integrates material as she is lecturing. She engages us, the students, by asking questions that lead us through a concept in a logical manner. As Tina Turner would say, Dr. A is simply The Best.
I am at my best when I am challenged by professors such as Dr. A. It motivates me to be as great as she. I don't think I could ever lecture like she can (I do not like to speak before large audiences), however I do think that I can get to the point where I can think about this material the way she does. This year is proving to be a lot more interesting to me, making it easier to retain the information. And, because I feel like I need to know this information so that I do not cause a patient harm when I begin my clinical years, I tend to stay more focused and "active" as I am reading my texts.
I hope that we will continue to have great professors like Dr. A throughout this school year. It makes this journey seem painless and even -- dare I say it -- fun.
I am at my best when I am challenged by professors such as Dr. A. It motivates me to be as great as she. I don't think I could ever lecture like she can (I do not like to speak before large audiences), however I do think that I can get to the point where I can think about this material the way she does. This year is proving to be a lot more interesting to me, making it easier to retain the information. And, because I feel like I need to know this information so that I do not cause a patient harm when I begin my clinical years, I tend to stay more focused and "active" as I am reading my texts.
I hope that we will continue to have great professors like Dr. A throughout this school year. It makes this journey seem painless and even -- dare I say it -- fun.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Orientation MSII
Welcome to the most important year of your medical school career. Be prepared to work even harder than first year, and make sure you are reviewing for the USMLE Step 1, arguably the most important examination of your entire medical careers.
That was the message conveyed to my class at the Medical School Year II Orientation last week. A lot of emphasis was placed on lecture attendance and participation in scheduled small group discussion sessions. My sense was that attendance during previous years was very much considered optional by those classes. Perhaps that is why the second year lecture hall is significantly smaller than the first year lecture hall. Or is that why attendance was so low, because students did not have seats when they did show up for lecture?
I feel ready and look forward to tackling this critical year of medical school. I am taking every step necessary to ensure my success. I have my textbooks and review books. I am pre-reading for lectures. I am reviewing the heck out of lectures. I know that it is up to me to learn this material.
One week down, roughly 36 more to go. I hope I can maintain the fast pace of this marathon.
That was the message conveyed to my class at the Medical School Year II Orientation last week. A lot of emphasis was placed on lecture attendance and participation in scheduled small group discussion sessions. My sense was that attendance during previous years was very much considered optional by those classes. Perhaps that is why the second year lecture hall is significantly smaller than the first year lecture hall. Or is that why attendance was so low, because students did not have seats when they did show up for lecture?
I feel ready and look forward to tackling this critical year of medical school. I am taking every step necessary to ensure my success. I have my textbooks and review books. I am pre-reading for lectures. I am reviewing the heck out of lectures. I know that it is up to me to learn this material.
One week down, roughly 36 more to go. I hope I can maintain the fast pace of this marathon.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Mentee
As I mentioned in the Teamwork post, one of the distinguishing characteristics of the medical school I attend is the family-like atmosphere. One of the programs that establishes and maintains that atmosphere is the 2nd Year --> 1st Year Mentor Program. Now that I am an older and wiser 2nd year medical student, the time has come for me to take a 1st year medical student under my wing.
I was recently contacted by my mentee, who wrote a short email introducing himself. I responding by giving him my contact information (i.e. mobile number) and letting him know that I would gladly supply him with many of the 1st year textbooks. My mentor had done this for me and I remember what a huge savings it was, allowing me to stretch those loan dollars a bit farther.
Soon after I had replied with my email, my mentee called to thank me and then proceeded to ask a battery of questions. He seemed extremely anxious about the upcoming workload and I began to wonder if I had been so anxious when I was in his position. I answered his questions as best I could, but mostly I assured him that there was nothing to worry about and that he should just take things one day at a time so that he didn't get overwhelmed. He had come this far and as long as he put in the time and effort, he was going to pass. Remember, Pass = M.D.
I left him with the two best pieces of advice I ever received regarding success in medical school: (1) treat it like a job (2) practice the Three R's.
Treat it like a job. Set a schedule where you work a certain number of hours every day. For example, my schedule was to work at least 10 hours a day. Approximately 4-5 of those hours were in-class lecture time, and the remaining hours were spent studying (either on my own or with my small group). Set regular breaks to eat, exercise, rest, but get through as much material as you can each day because it will pay off on test day.
The Three R's: review, recite, repeat. It's all about repetition. My best exam scores were on examinations where I was able to get through the material at least 5 times. Of course, you have to begin with some reading -- even if it's just headings and figures. Then you have to review the lectures and your notes. Next, try to explain the concepts to someone else (small groups good for this), or teach yourself out loud (I use a white board at home -- I know, I'm crazy). Finally, repeat the process. It's difficult to do with the volume of material during medical school, but if you are efficient with your time, the rewards are well worth it.
I was recently contacted by my mentee, who wrote a short email introducing himself. I responding by giving him my contact information (i.e. mobile number) and letting him know that I would gladly supply him with many of the 1st year textbooks. My mentor had done this for me and I remember what a huge savings it was, allowing me to stretch those loan dollars a bit farther.
Soon after I had replied with my email, my mentee called to thank me and then proceeded to ask a battery of questions. He seemed extremely anxious about the upcoming workload and I began to wonder if I had been so anxious when I was in his position. I answered his questions as best I could, but mostly I assured him that there was nothing to worry about and that he should just take things one day at a time so that he didn't get overwhelmed. He had come this far and as long as he put in the time and effort, he was going to pass. Remember, Pass = M.D.
I left him with the two best pieces of advice I ever received regarding success in medical school: (1) treat it like a job (2) practice the Three R's.
Treat it like a job. Set a schedule where you work a certain number of hours every day. For example, my schedule was to work at least 10 hours a day. Approximately 4-5 of those hours were in-class lecture time, and the remaining hours were spent studying (either on my own or with my small group). Set regular breaks to eat, exercise, rest, but get through as much material as you can each day because it will pay off on test day.
The Three R's: review, recite, repeat. It's all about repetition. My best exam scores were on examinations where I was able to get through the material at least 5 times. Of course, you have to begin with some reading -- even if it's just headings and figures. Then you have to review the lectures and your notes. Next, try to explain the concepts to someone else (small groups good for this), or teach yourself out loud (I use a white board at home -- I know, I'm crazy). Finally, repeat the process. It's difficult to do with the volume of material during medical school, but if you are efficient with your time, the rewards are well worth it.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Sleep
"What are you doing??"
Those were the words that brought me out of my zombie-like state one morning before a neuranatomy examination. I had not slept the night before. Instead, I had made one final desperate attempt to try to understand each of the different neural pathways and make sense of the countless CNS cross-sections that were presented over the previous two weeks. For some reason I found this section incredibly difficult and spent many late nights wrestling with the material.
Staying up all night did not help me understand the material any better (surprise, surprise), however, it almost got me killed. That morning, I walked to school in a zombie-like state. It was as if I was on auto-pilot. My leg muscles did not need any input from my brain, having memorized this course on the daily walks to school throughout the year. It wasn't until I heard someone shout, "What are you doing??" that I snapped out of it. I was in the middle of a high-traffic street with cars heading toward me in both directions. Thankfully, I was able to dodge a van and make it to the other side of the street unharmed.
Getting regular sleep is vital to success in medical school. It helps you maintain a strong immune system; it helps with memorization; it helps you maintain a good mood. Although I will not be able to sleep 8 hours every night as I did while I was on vacation (the workload in medical school is just too great), I am going to make sure that I get a decent amount of sleep every night -- especially the night before an exam.
Those were the words that brought me out of my zombie-like state one morning before a neuranatomy examination. I had not slept the night before. Instead, I had made one final desperate attempt to try to understand each of the different neural pathways and make sense of the countless CNS cross-sections that were presented over the previous two weeks. For some reason I found this section incredibly difficult and spent many late nights wrestling with the material.
Staying up all night did not help me understand the material any better (surprise, surprise), however, it almost got me killed. That morning, I walked to school in a zombie-like state. It was as if I was on auto-pilot. My leg muscles did not need any input from my brain, having memorized this course on the daily walks to school throughout the year. It wasn't until I heard someone shout, "What are you doing??" that I snapped out of it. I was in the middle of a high-traffic street with cars heading toward me in both directions. Thankfully, I was able to dodge a van and make it to the other side of the street unharmed.
Getting regular sleep is vital to success in medical school. It helps you maintain a strong immune system; it helps with memorization; it helps you maintain a good mood. Although I will not be able to sleep 8 hours every night as I did while I was on vacation (the workload in medical school is just too great), I am going to make sure that I get a decent amount of sleep every night -- especially the night before an exam.
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