My first few courses I'm taking are Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Foundations of Medical Practice (clinical skills learning). Anatomy has been my favorite class, by far, and I find myself incredibly fascinated with the human body, despite my feelings about how illogically built it is, in my opinion. We've completed the back, abdomen, thorax, and pelvis dissections, and are now we're moving onto the head and dissecting the various cranial nerves and understanding their function. (After doing the pelvic dissection on my female cadaver, I’ve only further dissuaded myself from going into OB/GYN …)
Biochemistry is ... biochemistry. It has never been my forte, and this class has been moving at an extremely fast pace ... but I’m hanging in there. Learning it for the third time around helps, haha. We have managed to learn all of human carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism and some 80+ associated diseases in five weeks. Now we're onto nucleic acids and various genetics-related topics for the rest of the semester.
In Foundations, we have been learning how to conduct patient interviews. We started out with obtaining the history of present illness, chief complaint, social and family history. All we have left is to do a review of systems. And, by the end of the semester, we'll be able to complete a full patient interview and physical exam. The fact that our grade in this class is based highly on personality and communicating skills makes me feel great, and I’m sure I’ll pass with flying colors.
Luckily, classes are going well enough. I just finished my first round of midterm examinations, and I'm happy to report that I have passed both my biochemistry and anatomy exams! I'm studying more than I ever thought I would, but it's all worth it. (I'm sticking this out, Sophie!)
I’m definitely putting my Cornell degree and experiences to good use! As a side note, there are about 14 Cornell alumni in my class, out of 124 students. But I am the only one with any relation to Entomology in the class … got to represent! =)
Aside from classes, I have gotten myself into many more activities than I probably should have. For instance, I have joined a minority association for future doctors, called the Student National Medical Association, which emphasizes care for underserved communities. Thus, I find myself involved with various events to help the impoverished and uneducated by going out to local health fairs and education events. I've also joined the Stony Brook student-run free clinic and serve as a translator and patient interviewer. I also find myself taking charge and sending people to their appropriate patient rooms and areas, so my managerial experience is definitely coming in handy. I'm already the clinic's favorite first year!
The community served by the clinic targets adults without medical insurance. The medical students in the clinic assess patient health, make a diagnosis, and eventually reporting to the attending physician. This is probably my favorite part of being in medical school, as it truly makes me feel like I am making a difference and that I am advancing toward fulfilling my dream of really being able to help people. The fact that the majority of patients coming into the clinic are Salvadoran, and only speak Spanish, helps push this point even more (conducting patient interviews in Spanish makes me feel doubly awesome!). The locals are already acknowledging me as the Salvadoran student who works at the clinic ... word spreads quickly! Maybe they’ll bring me food some day.The other greatest endeavor that I have embarked on is my joining of the American Medical Association (AMA). Through this organization, I have decided to write a resolution, which is a document to change current health policy that is in place in favor of a better one. My goal is to convince the AMA that blood donation regulations need to be relaxed. I will actually be on my way to Houston, TX a week from today to present my proposition to a national panel of physicians and medical students in hopes of convincing the AMA to nudge the FDA into changing some of its regulations. Wish me luck!
Skill-wise, I have also already learned how to administer intramuscular vaccinations, and have given out about two dozen vaccinations to fellow students, faculty, and patients without health insurance. So if you need your flu shot, I'm on it! If you're wondering, my patients have all told me it was painless.
Okay, so not THAT quick, but it is what it is. Sorry if I haven't been communicating with you all as much as you or I would like, but such is my new lifestyle. But the incentive to stay my buddy is high, no? You know you want a doctor on your side :D
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