Week 10

Week 10

• I really like living in Grenada and being a student here. 
• I strongly dislike the pelvic/perineal system. 
• We have moved on to learning the lower limb- I find the knee particularly interesting in regards to injury and structure. Upper limb was hard for me so I am going to try my hardest to understand lower limb. 
• I am in a new AEP (academic enhancement program) anatomy group (a review group that meets weekly to go over high yield concepts). The new group is amazing and the facilitators teach the information very well. We have had 2 weeks of information since the midterm however our first post exam AEP group was last night-I had been feeling good with the majority of content. This was confirmed in the group review when I was able to follow the information being discussed/taught. 
• I am still having issues however with the nervous innervation for some areas/structures and this along with lymph drainage is highly emphasized for pelvis and perineum so I need to focus on these areas tomorrow. My plan is to really get this down by the end of the weekend. 
• I have been attending all the lectures and even though there are a lot of mixed opinions about going to lecture vs watching it online-I have chosen to start physically going again since the midterm and so far, feel like this is a good decision. It forces me to pay close attention in real time and disables me from pausing a million times. I use the lecture as a "tour" to the information -however, the majority of my learning is done using Gray's Review questions and going to wet lab along with the professor's biweekly review sessions. 
• This week I met with a new friend to discuss the topics and quiz each other on the pelvis and perineum and this was very effective. I normally review with a group (of which is great!), however, one on one is more my style and I was able to learn where the gaps of my information are in regards to content or critical thinking strategy. We are meeting again this weekend to review the imaging slides so I am looking forward to that! I like my review group-but I like having a variety of people to study with and gain something with each person and method I study from. 
• I joined the surgery club and tonight we had a suture session. This was so awesome! I loved everything about it. We practiced on sponges initially then went across the lab and sutured up cadavers. I worked on a leg laceration and thought life couldn't get any better than standing there, suturing up the leg and listening to the music that was playing in the lab. I worked alongside a student from Grenada and we talked about other ways to get involved. These types of events remind me why I have chosen this career and really motivate me to study hard because I want to be the doctor suturing someone someday. I kept practicing the technique for the simple interrupted suture while some of the other students did other types of more complex sutures. I am looking forward to the next session in 3 weeks. 
• Then I got sick. I think it is food poisoning and am feeling better but have learned to never again eat meat from one of the student restaurants on campus. I knew better but got sloppy and decided to order from them again...Do you have any idea of the running differential diagnosis that went through my head upon onset of my symptoms? I thought of everything I knew before medical school plus everything I have learned since being here. 

Overall it has been a good week with lots of running and studying and about a hundred little stories that can be shared during a conversation... :) 

good link for suture types:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFwFMav_cpE

good link for an amazing sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLgDoFkdqo

Until next time...

-M.H.- 

Week 8-9

March 17, 2015

Week 8-9

Recap of last week...Week 8

Last Friday was my anatomy midterm. We were tested on the following topics: back (interesting enough), upper limb (dislike this very much), thorax (love this very much) and abdomen (really enjoyed it-no complaints).

First of all-it was totally because of the Lord that I did as well as I did on the exam. I went into that test feeling at peace and left feeling good about it-both the written and the practical portion.
I knew the information to answer the questions, with the exception of some (which was a little scary) but the best part about the exam was leaving and knowing exactly how to proceed with my studies. That in and of itself was a very refreshing realization because it confirmed that my study habits leading to the midterm were working and now I know what to continue doing and what to supplement in my studies.

It basically comes down to questions...constant quizzing and testing of the information-repetedly.

The questions are not first order questions-rather, they are given as a clinical vignette and you have to sort through the information for the pertinent details and be able to pick out the actual question in the stem of information and choose the appropriate answer.
My time scribing gave me an upper hand when facing these types of questions because I am used to writing out a patient's story from the beginning and seeing the findings unfold into a full story. With these questions however, it is easier because I am given all of the information and need to know how to sort through it. These questions, at least for this term, give me all the information-I just need to know my anatomy properly to answer them. And what is anatomy? I am becoming convinced it really boils down to  structure and function. If I know the structure and it's function, I should be able to deduce what happens if and when the structure becomes impaired and how it will subsequently function.

How to proceed with the term?
Questions, questions questions, more lab time, more quizzing with other people and more self testing. Very doable. Tough. But doable.
How to ensure I am on track?
Accountability -with myself, my classmates and my advisors. Tough-but doable as well.

Week 9

Today was almost like a Day 1 all over again-only this time, I actually know what I am doing and what to expect and am coming with a perspective that is entirely different than the one I had 2 months ago. We are starting in on pelvis then headed to lower limb (We did have an hour of a heart ultrasound session today which was really cool-but I cannot help but feel like I am looking at a static TV screen and having to pick out various vessels and chambers...)


In conclusion...The midterm exam helped bring clarity to a lot and reaffirmed a lot in regards to how I need to proceed with the remainder of the term.

On a side note: I have had some post exam fun! (Fish market in the city-got to see more of the island, met more locals, took a few long walks on the beach-at various times during the day and have seen some amazing sunsets, swam in the ocean-favorite place to be,  collected more shells, was serenaded by a rasta guitar man, tried new local food and tasted a few foods that reminded me of home, strengthened a few friendships, gone on some good runs, prayed a lot and talked with friends and mentors back home)

Talk to you in a week.

-M.H-

Week 7

March 7, 2014

Going into midterm week...that means I have been here going on 8 weeks. Two months. 60 days. A lot of hours.

Wow. 

Med school so far is like a roller coaster...first the magnitude of the ups and downs experienced on a daily basis is huge-and while the ups and downs continue everyday thereafter, their magnitude lessens  little by little. 

Yesterday was a good day. 

Started the day out early in the lab-found my visiting professor and stuck with him all morning.  

Initially spent the morning reviewing just the abdomen-repetition is the key to success here. Some people say it takes them 1000 times to finally get something-it seems to take me 1000 &1. 

Took a 15 minute break for coffee and corn-it was all I made time to ingest because I wanted to return to the lab quickly. Pathetic, I know. 

Returned to the lab and finished the abdomen. Feeling good about this topic (I am getting my questions right so I know this tactile learning is paying off.)  

Had a one on one session with the professor on autonomics of the abdomen-which REALLY helped. During our session, other students came to ask him to demonstrate things on the cadavers to them, but he declined because he was teaching me and I really appreciated this. He said that he wanted me to understand the autonomics and based on the fact that I had come in every day and spent hours with him over the past few weeks, he would not blow me off to go teach the others. 

Stayed in the lab an extra half hour after it was closed to finish reviewing the brachial plexus and forearm structures. I FINALLY began to see this area as a structured area as opposed to the bowl of spaghetti that it usually looks like. (Prime example of the "1" in 1001" )

Ended the lab session on a great note and after having been in the lab all morning, I said goodbye to the amazing visiting anatomy professor from Harvard and felt like most of my learning thus far is a direct reflection of his excellent teaching. 

Spent the remainder of the day reviewing and getting questions right-finally!!!!!!!!! 

Woke up today, did anatomy questions with a friend. I used to avoid these questions-but after getting through that initial painful phase of forcing myself to do something I didn’t want to do-I now know the benefit in doing them.

Went to the lab this afternoon-this was awesome! I was the ONLY one there and a mixture of enrique iglesias and maroon 5 music was playing....so that was cool! Some classmates met with me to review  over the bodies together. Just before going to the lab-I put on my scrubs and just about threw up because they stunk so awfully of formaldehyde. I was literally in my room gagging while getting dressed. (But hey-that is a sign I am putting in my lab time!-It is also a sign that they must be washed asap!) 

Spent a few minutes  enjoying the sunshine while sitting on the dock and reviewed the brachial plexus again. 

Trying to keep a positive state of mind going into midterm week and pushing myself to learn in a dense and efficient way in a timely manner. I am finally thinking things through in a manner that shows understanding of the stuff I have studied and am thankful for this-It is still hard-but progress is progress even if I feel like the turtle racing against a rabbit. 

Regardless of how I do on the test this week, I want to get through it. This experience is a lot like running-I started really slow, but my endurance has progressed over time and now I keep running… and it feels good. :) 

-M.H-

Week 6

March 1-2, 2015

Studying-going well and improving day by day.

All I can share is this: the things that cause me to struggle the most tend to be the things I end up enjoying-I hope this is the case with this term.

Study group last night...started late, finished late-but it was helpful and we ended the night in a really good way.

Woke up this morning, after turning my alarm off 3 times-literally rolled out of bed, put my scrubs on and went to the lab where I spent 2.5 hours learning about the lumbar plexus and the abdomen and associated nerves with my favorite visiting professor. Side note here-I really like the last name that I have-It is different and mostly memorable when compared to my first name. Most of my friends simply call me "honey" and I have grown up with this -so to me, it does not seem unusual-but others are tickled by it. Anyways...the visiting professor has been very helpful to me and recognizes me by my last name all the time-it is nice when someone sets you apart when they know you and makes an effort to acknowledge you.

Waited ALL weekend to buy some goods from the "Merry Bakers" on the top of the hill after having just tried them last Friday. They have great baked goods-it is like the Grenadian version of Nancy P's cafe in Bend-translation=excellent and fresh goods at good prices.

Went to an anatomy session this afternoon that was SO extremely helpful. The teacher pointed to and called on me at the start (this is open question/discussion style) and I am actually happy he did because my question led the majority of his hour long lecture that he spent answering what I had asked. So that was wonderful.

Went to study-chose one of the areas that I am struggling with and proceeded to struggle with it and only gain an ounce more of understanding after 2 hours. Frustrating....I am lost with how to proceed with understanding this particular area...autonomics of EVERYTHING.

Went to the anatomy lecture-good teacher who teaches as though he enjoys it (this a rare occurrence...) I have decided to start attending anatomy lectures after the midterm-I think-only because they are somewhat helpful ONLY if I come prepared having already studied before hand. It is nice to hear someone talk through something....well usually. I have only been going to the clinically related lectures or imaging focused ones to see the picture on the "big screen." Otherwise, they are not worth much in that the teacher reads off the slides shown...

Things are improving and I am thankful for that. It has taken a while to find a groove but I am finding it and am enjoying the ability to recall what I have studied.

God certainly has a way with timing and I am reminded that my timing is not necessarily what is best  for me-or more importantly, Him-but rather His.

It is one step at a time...

-M.H-