Semester is over and...
Although I can't find out my cumulative GPA yet, it looks to be 90+%. My best yet.
That is all.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Hey Jenny... check this out!
Email to you! Every time I post! Now you don't have to check back... it will tell you when you should!
My wife...
I have said this many times and I will say it again...
Jenny, you are incredible. It impresses me that you work so hard at everything that you do. 110% or nothing. I love it.
I really appreciate the fact that I know that you are working as hard (or even harder depending on the status of the kids...) as I am during the day.
Dinner is almost always ready exactly the minute that I walk into the door.
I am also proud of you getting out and involved in things in the 'Ville. You are a special woman that can do a lot of good for a lot of people.
I'm lucky to be the principal (and eternal) benefactor of almost everything that you do.
Jenny, you are incredible. It impresses me that you work so hard at everything that you do. 110% or nothing. I love it.
I really appreciate the fact that I know that you are working as hard (or even harder depending on the status of the kids...) as I am during the day.
Dinner is almost always ready exactly the minute that I walk into the door.
I am also proud of you getting out and involved in things in the 'Ville. You are a special woman that can do a lot of good for a lot of people.
I'm lucky to be the principal (and eternal) benefactor of almost everything that you do.
Preceptorship
This summer the school is sending us out to the whole state on preceptorships. Basically, we get to work with local docs (probably just getting patient histories and performing some physical exams).
I am going to St Louis for 2 weeks to work in an E.R. I am excited. It will be fun to see practical medical applications of the didactics that we are learning at school as well as see things that I haven't seen before.
I am hoping to get in and see a few surgeries and maybe volunteer in a local hispanic clinic. We shall see.
I will try to post a couple of fun/more interesting cases that I see.
The only downer is the 2 weeks without Jenny and the Kids. The last time that we spent 2 weeks apart was tough for all of us.
After that, it is off to PA!
I am going to St Louis for 2 weeks to work in an E.R. I am excited. It will be fun to see practical medical applications of the didactics that we are learning at school as well as see things that I haven't seen before.
I am hoping to get in and see a few surgeries and maybe volunteer in a local hispanic clinic. We shall see.
I will try to post a couple of fun/more interesting cases that I see.
The only downer is the 2 weeks without Jenny and the Kids. The last time that we spent 2 weeks apart was tough for all of us.
After that, it is off to PA!
2 MORE TO GO!!!
WOW!!
Just finished the complete DOctor practical and the anatomy exam. Feels good. Only an Anatomy lab final and a physiology final to go!
Don't worry woman! You will have a full-time spouse (sometimes another kiddo) again soon!
Just finished the complete DOctor practical and the anatomy exam. Feels good. Only an Anatomy lab final and a physiology final to go!
Don't worry woman! You will have a full-time spouse (sometimes another kiddo) again soon!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
It has been a while...
Not that I have that much to say... but:
April 28- Anatomy Midterm Exam
April 30- Immunology Midterm Exam
May 2- Anatomy Lab ID Quiz
May 5- Physiology Exam
May 7- OTM Practical and Anatomy Lab ID Quiz
May 9- OTM Final
May 12- Med Micro Exam
May 13- Anatomy ID Quiz
May 14- Physiology Exam
May 16- Anatomy Exam
May 19- Med Micro Final
May 20- Immunology Final and Medical Spanish Final
May 21- Anatomy Written Final and Complete DOctor Final
May 22- Anatomy Lab Final Exam
May 23- Physiology Final
That adds up to 15 exams in 4 weeks. (Not counting quizzes and having class from 8-5 on most days on top of the tests.)
Grief. I am exhausted but see the light with only 3 days of testing left.
Monday, May 5, 2008
The latest and greatest...
Sometimes I am really glad that I live in the USA. Our sanitation is excellent, quality of life is good, and our little friends Opisthorchis sinensis and Enterobius vermicularis are kept at bay.
I think these clips (the latin names are hyperlinks to NEJM) are pretty sweet.
I think these clips (the latin names are hyperlinks to NEJM) are pretty sweet.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Three Cheers for Jenny
Seriously-
I don't know how she does it. Our youngest is up all night screaming and crying with ear infections in both ears. (Poor guy... oddly enough, and hopefully not related... I just got over ear infections in both ears. It was one of the most miserable things. It hurt to hear, it hurt to eat, it killed to swallow, it gave me a headache, and made me essentially non-functional for about a week. Well that and my pinkeye in both eyes and losing my voice...)
I see her trying her hardest to get things done at home despite the demands of the sick one and the relentless demands of a 3 year old. (No comment about my relentless demands which are even more... especially since I sometimes feel as though I am buried deeper than her and I worry that I make her feel that is true.) She still gets things done. Gets up at night. Takes care of the boys. Takes care of me.
She is pretty much what keeps things going in this disjointed world of ours.
Love you dear. You are awe inspiring.
I don't know how she does it. Our youngest is up all night screaming and crying with ear infections in both ears. (Poor guy... oddly enough, and hopefully not related... I just got over ear infections in both ears. It was one of the most miserable things. It hurt to hear, it hurt to eat, it killed to swallow, it gave me a headache, and made me essentially non-functional for about a week. Well that and my pinkeye in both eyes and losing my voice...)
I see her trying her hardest to get things done at home despite the demands of the sick one and the relentless demands of a 3 year old. (No comment about my relentless demands which are even more... especially since I sometimes feel as though I am buried deeper than her and I worry that I make her feel that is true.) She still gets things done. Gets up at night. Takes care of the boys. Takes care of me.
She is pretty much what keeps things going in this disjointed world of ours.
Love you dear. You are awe inspiring.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
New Photo
Since so many loved the previous pictures, I have another.
Post the guesses as to what you think the drawing represents.
No need to be embarrassed. Fire away! (This means you Jenny!)
The correct answer will be posted soon.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bugs, Bugs, and MORE BUGS!
After my phys exam today and my OTM practical I have until Thursday to memorize most of the common infectious bacteria.
Here are a few images of diseases caused by the bacteria that I am learning about.
Acute Hemorrhagic Meningitis
Gonococcal Cervicitis
Here are a few images of diseases caused by the bacteria that I am learning about.
Acute Hemorrhagic Meningitis
Gonococcal CervicitisFortunately for me, these pictures are pretty hard to forget and my studious predecessors took the time to make a "bug map" and a video charting out the diagnostic tests and characteristics of each bug.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Ideals in Health Care
This week we had a guest lecturer come during lunch and speak about many aspects of mental health care.
The particular spin of the message was providing "complete" and coordinated mental health care within the current healthcare system. Some salient points were:
1. Currently medicine places a heavy emphasis on mental/emotional crisis management with less effort on crisis prevention. Logically, switching this emphasis would prevent crises, averting the disastrous and costly consequences.
2. When possible, the physician should pay careful attention to the needs of a patient's family members since they too might be experiencing some degree of trauma (psychological or otherwise) with the patient. This is especially true of family members of patients that are experiencing psychological/psychiatric difficulties.
When there are dependents involved, parental behavior can induce future problems in children.
3. The primary care physician should be the person to ensure the complete integration of all aspects of health care. This includes integrating specialty care. This ensures that all of the patient's needs are being met AND that all aspects of patient care are not causing harm to the patient.
An example of this would be 2 different specialty physicians inadvertently causing harm to a patient by prescribing non-compatible drugs without knowing of what drugs a patient is taking. It would be beneficial to all for the primary-care physician to coordinate all of these aspects of healthcare.
The particular spin of the message was providing "complete" and coordinated mental health care within the current healthcare system. Some salient points were:
1. Currently medicine places a heavy emphasis on mental/emotional crisis management with less effort on crisis prevention. Logically, switching this emphasis would prevent crises, averting the disastrous and costly consequences.
2. When possible, the physician should pay careful attention to the needs of a patient's family members since they too might be experiencing some degree of trauma (psychological or otherwise) with the patient. This is especially true of family members of patients that are experiencing psychological/psychiatric difficulties.
When there are dependents involved, parental behavior can induce future problems in children.
3. The primary care physician should be the person to ensure the complete integration of all aspects of health care. This includes integrating specialty care. This ensures that all of the patient's needs are being met AND that all aspects of patient care are not causing harm to the patient.
An example of this would be 2 different specialty physicians inadvertently causing harm to a patient by prescribing non-compatible drugs without knowing of what drugs a patient is taking. It would be beneficial to all for the primary-care physician to coordinate all of these aspects of healthcare.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
"I have forgotten more than most people learn in a lifetime."
Another Saturday Night...
Studying Med Micro...
This is how I do it (The insane amounts of memorizing): I write everything out in order, sit myself in front of my 8x4 foot white board and read it over and over and over and make all of the connections that I can.
I have really come to appreciate what an analytical chem professor of mine in my undergrad meant when he said, "I have forgotten more than most people ever learn in a lifetime."
I have learned that at this point it is about understanding and recognition. I know what is going on and, when primed (AKA when someone is talking about something that I once learned inside and out...) I can pretty much drop back into autopilot and have a conversation with them about the topic. Recognition is key after understanding. (Except that there is little or no understanding in med micro...)
P.S. Each of the photos horizontally represents about 2-2.5 feet on my 8 foot board that is usually covered COMPLETELY at least once a week.
Good strategy if I might say so myself.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Balance
Balance is the goal in every life.
These last few months have been about learning how to balance again. Balancing family, school, health, sleep, church, extracurricular endeavors, and sanity. The last month and a half have been particularly challenging.
We completed a stretch of 18 assessments and exams in 5 weeks before finishing up last quarter. It was incredible.
Not only was it mentally challenging, but it was taxing otherwise. I think that every parent that is in medical school has the same thoughts about life and family. These thoughts consist of thinking about if you are actually there enough for your spouse and kids. Sometimes this gets intermingled with guilt as the kids are acting up or things are otherwise tough at home.
It makes me wonder if I am doing enough for them at home. If I am spending enough time with them. How will my boys remember me? Loving, caring, attentive?
Sometimes it goes beyond just time at home or with the family. It is sometimes a battle to keep my mind present when I am physically present. Oftentimes I get caught or catch myself not paying sufficient attention to conversation details and/or not giving sufficient credence to familial happenings. Sometimes my wife must feel as though she is talking to a space cadet. Hopefully she (or my boys) never feel as though I don't care.
At the same time, I am learning and stretching with more and more responsibility and the same amount of time each day. It feels good. It also feels good the see the successes and the good things and see them continuing.
Oh yeah, and I will make sure that I am there for the boys and my wife regardless of anything. Hopefully they will feel that way throughout and after this madness.
These last few months have been about learning how to balance again. Balancing family, school, health, sleep, church, extracurricular endeavors, and sanity. The last month and a half have been particularly challenging.
We completed a stretch of 18 assessments and exams in 5 weeks before finishing up last quarter. It was incredible.
Not only was it mentally challenging, but it was taxing otherwise. I think that every parent that is in medical school has the same thoughts about life and family. These thoughts consist of thinking about if you are actually there enough for your spouse and kids. Sometimes this gets intermingled with guilt as the kids are acting up or things are otherwise tough at home.
It makes me wonder if I am doing enough for them at home. If I am spending enough time with them. How will my boys remember me? Loving, caring, attentive?
Sometimes it goes beyond just time at home or with the family. It is sometimes a battle to keep my mind present when I am physically present. Oftentimes I get caught or catch myself not paying sufficient attention to conversation details and/or not giving sufficient credence to familial happenings. Sometimes my wife must feel as though she is talking to a space cadet. Hopefully she (or my boys) never feel as though I don't care.
At the same time, I am learning and stretching with more and more responsibility and the same amount of time each day. It feels good. It also feels good the see the successes and the good things and see them continuing.
Oh yeah, and I will make sure that I am there for the boys and my wife regardless of anything. Hopefully they will feel that way throughout and after this madness.
#1 Post
Now that I am starting this blog I guess that I can't make fun of my wife as much as I used to for doing her blog.
I was just thinking that this would give me some incentive to think more about the million (plus or minus a couple) things that are going on in my life, my family, and my head.
I also thought that it would give me some incentive to think on the bright side when I am up to my ears in garbage so that I can look back on myself as an optimist. (Even though that is not always the case...)
That said, I am a father of 2 boys, have been married for 4 years, and am currently a first year osteopathic med student.
My oldest is currently nearing 3 years old and my youngest is about 7 months.
As if that wasn't enough, I am the VP for the medical school peds club, am a Court Appointed Special Advocate, teach 4-5 year olds Sunday School, play intramural racquetball, and am training for a 1/2 marathon (If the body and the schedule permit... the last 8.5 mile run I did just about did me in...)
My goals are simple... Succeed at everything:
1. Have a great family life.
2. Become the best doctor I can be.
3. Give back everything that I can to the community and others.
4. Have some fun while I am at it.
That might sound a bit lame... but that's me... lame...
I was just thinking that this would give me some incentive to think more about the million (plus or minus a couple) things that are going on in my life, my family, and my head.
I also thought that it would give me some incentive to think on the bright side when I am up to my ears in garbage so that I can look back on myself as an optimist. (Even though that is not always the case...)
That said, I am a father of 2 boys, have been married for 4 years, and am currently a first year osteopathic med student.
My oldest is currently nearing 3 years old and my youngest is about 7 months.
As if that wasn't enough, I am the VP for the medical school peds club, am a Court Appointed Special Advocate, teach 4-5 year olds Sunday School, play intramural racquetball, and am training for a 1/2 marathon (If the body and the schedule permit... the last 8.5 mile run I did just about did me in...)
My goals are simple... Succeed at everything:
1. Have a great family life.
2. Become the best doctor I can be.
3. Give back everything that I can to the community and others.
4. Have some fun while I am at it.
That might sound a bit lame... but that's me... lame...
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