We just took our first exam, a two-day test on six weeks of biochemistry, basic anatomy, and a few in-depth cases. On the first day of the exam, Thursday, we spent four hours writing essay answers to questions about metabolic disease, diabetes, cancers, and (weirdly) Tylenol poisoning. Friday’s part was half multiple choice and half short-answer identification of histology and anatomy slides. It was, in a word, hard. I probably failed, but whatever. Continue reading
Antagonist, Inverse Agonist, Same But Different
We have our first exam coming up this week, on six full weeks of material. The two-day test will cover biochemistry, anatomy, histology, pathology, and a bunch of other –ologies I don’t understand either.
Yes, I’m writing this to procrastinate, no, it’s not a good use of my time, and no, grandma, I don’t need a brownies care package. Your last one turned me prediabetic as it is. Thanks though. Continue reading
#Shredded
Yesterday, the dean of the medical school (and the second-in-command of the entire medical center) invited all the first years over to his house for a “picnic.” This is an annual tradition at my medical school and is a well-attended, casual affair. In the original invitation (which we received on Day One of orientation), the message states, “You Will Swim.” Continue reading
The First Patient! (Sort Of)
When my grandfather attended medical school back in the day, students had very little (if any) hands-on training with patients until the third year, when they rotated through the hospital wards. Medical schools now recognize the imperative to expose their future doctors to doctoring early and often and many advertise “PATIENT CONTACT ON DAY 1!!” as a selling point for their institution, right next to the pictures of smiling attractive young people in white coats fluidly wielding their stethoscopes. Continue reading
Uh Oh, Biochemistry
Week one of medical school (not counting our foundational unit) is in the books, and I have a problem.
I don’t learn biochemistry. Continue reading
Med School Begins! …Kind Of
The last time I posted, I was living in a different city, gainfully funemployed, and still technically a premedical student. Three weeks ago I moved in to another apartment (that’s five moves in three years, if you’re counting) and two Wednesdays ago started medical school.
So this blog will change a little bit, from highlighting the weirdnesses of being a postbac/applying to medical school to highlighting the trials of learning to be a doctor. Scary, but awesome. As I did with the premedical stuff, I’m going to try to be funny (current hit rate: around 20%) and I promise not to complain too much about how much work we have, because again we all know people that do that and they suck. Continue reading
A Lifetime Prescription
My dad spent last week, beginning the day before Father’s Day, sailing around the eastern shore of MD as a “crew” on a sailboat owned by his obsessive-compulsive friend. It’s called the Delmarva Rally.
When he told us that he was going to spend a week – a week! – on a forty-foot sailing boat with no running water, six middle-aged strangers, and one captain who orchestrated watch rotations with an Excel spreadsheet, I thought he was kidding. Continue reading
Roger Wilco Affirmative… Say Again?
You may notice that this is my second post in two days, which ties my personal record, after nearly two months of inactivity. This is because the weather has been garbage – IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS CRAPPY IN SPRING – and I have nothing to do but refresh Twitter and think about things to write that no one will read. Continue reading
Cleared for Takeoff? Oh Dear God
It’s been months and months, I know. I’ve been flying.
Literally. Since I quit my job in early April (bye!) I’ve thrown myself into training for a private pilot’s license. It’s challenging, fun, and exciting. In other words, it’s the best thing I can think of doing before matriculating to a medical school this summer. Continue reading
The Bullet Point Chronicles
March 15 has come and gone. After almost a full calendar year of applying to med school, the 2013 application cycle is finally over.
Finally.
To recap how much the past year has sucked, please see the list below of Things Applicants Had To Do This Year While You Were Out Having Fun. It begins in April of 2012. It’s long. Continue reading
crashing resident 