Lot to cover in the three I haven't managed to update this site. So the big thing is that last Friday was one of those incredible days that I won't soon forget.
First, I finished MSI with an effort I can be proud of. Second, Colton (like his older brother) tested for the TAG gifted program his first time (as a 1st Grader). Finally, Becky passed the California Bar! Wow, what a day.
Now for a few more details. The couple weeks were hard but I managed to again pick up my average. Not all the grades are in, but it looks like I got between a 94 and 95% for an overall of 93%. I'm pretty happy with that. Kinda stinks that OMM is dragging me down, but after blowing one test in my main courses (Neuro, Immuno and Phys) I think I recovered well. Immuno was probably the most frustrating test of finals week because we had so little time to study 400+ slides of information. I assumed that like test #3 they would ask nit-picky questions, but I did very well on that test and feel it was fair.
This weekend I slept a lot, swam in the pool (110 degree weather does wonders for the pool temp!). Now I need to get back into shape and lose a few pounds. I started my summer research Fellowship today and learned how to run an electrophoresis experiment. The silver stain didn't turn out well, so I get to try again tomorrow with a different stain and see if we can nail down a glycation protocol that consistently creates AGEs.
On the extracurricular side of life, we are still trying to plan summer vacations for the family. But I do have a trip to the AMA Medical Student Section convention. As the VP I will representing the school with Jill (Pres) and Jason (former VP). It should be fun. Friday, right after finals, I had a great meeting with some AZCOM bigwigs (Assist. Dean AZCOM, Dean Student Affairs, club sponsor Dr. Jones), the other club officers and an investor who is supporting the club. He's a Hem/Onc DO I plan to have as my preceptor next year. We had a great meeting covering what we've accomplished so far and what we hope to accomplish next year.
I realize I have said this before, but I will try to get some more pictures up soon. Last time, the software kept crashing my mouse everytime I tried to upload one. Hopefully I can overcome that for posterity's sake.
Oh, Star Wars III was good but kind of a disappointment. Great effects, but horrible acting and dialogue and only passable storyline. I'm slowly nailing down to-do's but surprised to feel more motivated to study (review last year's subjects) than to exercise. It could have something to do with the heat though. Running or biking is not enticing in 110 degrees weather. My riptide (bungee cord) swim workouts are passable, but not 'real' workouts.
That's enough for now. Feels great to be an MSII. It feels even better to be an MSII with a good direction (RadOnc) and a strategy to get there (clubs, research, decent grades, early studying for Boards). I'm jealous of the MSIIIs cramming their last week before COMLEX, but it's time to enjoy a little break.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Been a while...
Not a lot to report. Had a hard week and a half after blowing a Phys test. I knew respiratory phys, but only got a 84%, then got slammed like 99% of the class on a Immuno test later that week (81% with an avg. of 74%).
Did better last week on our ICM final with a 96%. And studying hard now for our written OMM final on Monday.
Other than that, zapped my first samples on Friday (proteins) so this week I'll get see do some new stuff in the lab studying them. The MS-IIs had their last class on Friday and I am really jealous.
Oh, the Oncology club is going well. We had a great meeting with our first speaker and then a fun time at our first community event, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. I'm hoping we get to meet with a contributor to the school next week who is an oncologist. He sounded open to being my Preceptor next year.
And I got elected to VP for the school's AMA Chapter so I get a couple free networking trips to the national meetings. I hope we can live up to our predecessors example. The last President managed to the President of the AMA to AZCOM this year, the first time an AMA President has ever spoken at an Osteopathic school.
I doubt I'm going to have much time to write until after finals but hopefully I can provide a better update then - and some more pictures.
Did better last week on our ICM final with a 96%. And studying hard now for our written OMM final on Monday.
Other than that, zapped my first samples on Friday (proteins) so this week I'll get see do some new stuff in the lab studying them. The MS-IIs had their last class on Friday and I am really jealous.
Oh, the Oncology club is going well. We had a great meeting with our first speaker and then a fun time at our first community event, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. I'm hoping we get to meet with a contributor to the school next week who is an oncologist. He sounded open to being my Preceptor next year.
And I got elected to VP for the school's AMA Chapter so I get a couple free networking trips to the national meetings. I hope we can live up to our predecessors example. The last President managed to the President of the AMA to AZCOM this year, the first time an AMA President has ever spoken at an Osteopathic school.
I doubt I'm going to have much time to write until after finals but hopefully I can provide a better update then - and some more pictures.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Weekly update
Last week went by with a few interesting events but routine for the most part. Monday's Physiology test went ok, I got 93.5% with one blank answer that I still have to check on. I'm betting this is the third time I forgot to transfer an answer from my test to the scantron. But hopefully the form reader just missed my 'correct' response.
We also had tests in ICM and Human Behavior. I studied way too much for these. As in about three times more than most of my classmates! I actually outlined every lecture for both classes trying to break in the new laptop. We still haven't received our grades yet on either of these, but I better have done decently or I will be fuming mad. However, ICM is such a poorly run class that I won't be surprised by anything. Their lectures, lecture notes, test questions and labs rank at the bottom of my experiences here at AZCOM.
On an intesting note, instead of doing something to improve ICM, the powers that be fired our OMM guru. He's been here since the beginning and hired the entire team of instructors including the Dean (who's the guru in reputation only). I guess the complaints about last quarter's final, the OMM department's response to it and their follow-up were turned on Dr. Ross. Someone mentioned our President Dr. G. has been out to fire Dr. Ross for a long time. It's too bad because Dr. Ross was a great instructor and well liked. Our class' complaints were probably overboard but regardless they were directed at the departments admin gal who comes across as incompetent. If it had to go up the ranks, the Dean should have taken the fall IMHO. The MSI and MSII classes signed a petition to support Dr. Ross, but it won't do any good. We can only hope Dr. Ross will be around for preceptorships, guest lectures and rotations.
Monday's test is in Neuroscience. I was feeling totally behind and quite stressed Friday since I spent SO much time on ICM and Human Behavior. But I got through almost all the lectures last night and today. I have two more lectures on Occulomotor pathways I hope to finish tonight. But at the moment I have my dad, stepmom, brother and his significant other over for dinner. I'm feeling a lot more confident about the test, but would really like to finish the last two lectures so I can start tomorrow having reviewed all the lectures at least once. I give it a 50/50 shot at this point since it's 9pm now.
Oh, I tried to upload more pictures, but Google's Picaso software kept locking up my mouse. I'll keep trying.
We also had tests in ICM and Human Behavior. I studied way too much for these. As in about three times more than most of my classmates! I actually outlined every lecture for both classes trying to break in the new laptop. We still haven't received our grades yet on either of these, but I better have done decently or I will be fuming mad. However, ICM is such a poorly run class that I won't be surprised by anything. Their lectures, lecture notes, test questions and labs rank at the bottom of my experiences here at AZCOM.
On an intesting note, instead of doing something to improve ICM, the powers that be fired our OMM guru. He's been here since the beginning and hired the entire team of instructors including the Dean (who's the guru in reputation only). I guess the complaints about last quarter's final, the OMM department's response to it and their follow-up were turned on Dr. Ross. Someone mentioned our President Dr. G. has been out to fire Dr. Ross for a long time. It's too bad because Dr. Ross was a great instructor and well liked. Our class' complaints were probably overboard but regardless they were directed at the departments admin gal who comes across as incompetent. If it had to go up the ranks, the Dean should have taken the fall IMHO. The MSI and MSII classes signed a petition to support Dr. Ross, but it won't do any good. We can only hope Dr. Ross will be around for preceptorships, guest lectures and rotations.
Monday's test is in Neuroscience. I was feeling totally behind and quite stressed Friday since I spent SO much time on ICM and Human Behavior. But I got through almost all the lectures last night and today. I have two more lectures on Occulomotor pathways I hope to finish tonight. But at the moment I have my dad, stepmom, brother and his significant other over for dinner. I'm feeling a lot more confident about the test, but would really like to finish the last two lectures so I can start tomorrow having reviewed all the lectures at least once. I give it a 50/50 shot at this point since it's 9pm now.
Oh, I tried to upload more pictures, but Google's Picaso software kept locking up my mouse. I'll keep trying.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Notebook up and running a good thing?
Well I finally got my new Dell 700m subnotebook up and running. But I probably spent too much time working on it over the last week, and I'm not sure that I'm not using it as efficiently as I should be at this point.
A big Phys test is on Monday and I'm not even through the notes the first time yet! Far from it in fact. Besides starting too late, studying the lecture notes and outlining them on the PC as I go seems slow. And I don't notice any huge improvements in retention.
So it's going to be a long night. Tomorrow will be even longer since I'll probably have to spend the morning finishing my first time through, then reviewing everything. Ugh.
Next week doesn't look any better. After Monday's test, I have a H.O.M.E. community deal where I'm doing physicals on kids (I think) at a women's shelter. Tuesday is my preceptor day. Then Thursday is an ICM test and Friday a Human Behavior test. What a great way to kick off the weekend before a big Neuroscience test the following Monday! The same weekend my Dad is coming in town :(.
What else is going on? A new series called Grey's Anatomy started this pretty good after two episodes. The puppy has been a great addition to the family (see pictures). The boys are loving soccer and we're are enjoying watching them play (I took a break this morning and watched Colton's game). My research should be getting kicked off this week now that I've submitted the Fellowship application and acquired a couple protocols to start with. I still need to get in touch with a local radiologist for that too.
The Oncology Club is going well so far. I sent out an e-mail on Friday to get volunteers for an anti-smoking education thing we are doing with the American Cancer Society at their Relay For Life event at the Peoria Sports Complex. I hope to get some interest from Pharm and PA students as well as DOs. There seemed to be a lot of interest at an Integrated Oncology lunch meeting yesterday, so my hopes are up. Dean Kosinski even ordered a couple cool manikins for demonstrations.
Oh, I am now officially through half of the quarter, my last one for year one! I can't wait for Summer!
This quarter has been strange in a few that are worth mentioning before I forget. The OMM department has been absentee a lot (Convocation and guest lecturers) plus admin screw-ups in their dept. have really reduced enthusiasm for the subject in the whole class. Find it and Fix it practicals are looming and I fell less prepared than the end of last quarter. I have now taken blood from a fellow student and gotten better at my H & Ps courtesy of practice for my TOPS elective. It seems like electives, clubs and community stuff have filled free afternoons we aren't spending in the anatomy lab - plus some.
Past time to get studying until Becky gets home. Then off to school for studying until midnight or so...
A big Phys test is on Monday and I'm not even through the notes the first time yet! Far from it in fact. Besides starting too late, studying the lecture notes and outlining them on the PC as I go seems slow. And I don't notice any huge improvements in retention.
So it's going to be a long night. Tomorrow will be even longer since I'll probably have to spend the morning finishing my first time through, then reviewing everything. Ugh.
Next week doesn't look any better. After Monday's test, I have a H.O.M.E. community deal where I'm doing physicals on kids (I think) at a women's shelter. Tuesday is my preceptor day. Then Thursday is an ICM test and Friday a Human Behavior test. What a great way to kick off the weekend before a big Neuroscience test the following Monday! The same weekend my Dad is coming in town :(.
What else is going on? A new series called Grey's Anatomy started this pretty good after two episodes. The puppy has been a great addition to the family (see pictures). The boys are loving soccer and we're are enjoying watching them play (I took a break this morning and watched Colton's game). My research should be getting kicked off this week now that I've submitted the Fellowship application and acquired a couple protocols to start with. I still need to get in touch with a local radiologist for that too.
The Oncology Club is going well so far. I sent out an e-mail on Friday to get volunteers for an anti-smoking education thing we are doing with the American Cancer Society at their Relay For Life event at the Peoria Sports Complex. I hope to get some interest from Pharm and PA students as well as DOs. There seemed to be a lot of interest at an Integrated Oncology lunch meeting yesterday, so my hopes are up. Dean Kosinski even ordered a couple cool manikins for demonstrations.
Oh, I am now officially through half of the quarter, my last one for year one! I can't wait for Summer!
This quarter has been strange in a few that are worth mentioning before I forget. The OMM department has been absentee a lot (Convocation and guest lecturers) plus admin screw-ups in their dept. have really reduced enthusiasm for the subject in the whole class. Find it and Fix it practicals are looming and I fell less prepared than the end of last quarter. I have now taken blood from a fellow student and gotten better at my H & Ps courtesy of practice for my TOPS elective. It seems like electives, clubs and community stuff have filled free afternoons we aren't spending in the anatomy lab - plus some.
Past time to get studying until Becky gets home. Then off to school for studying until midnight or so...
Monday, April 04, 2005
Another Monday test down
I had thought that Immuno would be easier after the first test. After about 20 hours this weekend to study seven lectures I've changed my mind. On the good side, I did get 96% on the test. I guess Tucker and I over studied a bit.
The funny part is that I meant to get up at 5:30am and have a good two hours to review at the student lounge before the 8am test. However, when I looked at the wall clock around what I thought was 7am I saw that it was actually 6am! My alarm clock has some FM connection with the atomic clock and thought I was on Daylight Savings so I it woke me up an hour early. My 5.5 hours sleep was reduced to less than 4.5 hours with Becky's coughing. Let's just say I did the best I could on the test and then skipped out on Phys for a two hour nap at home so I would be functional for Neuro. That ended up being the best choice I think as I actually got a lot out of Neuro on vision clinical correlates.
Other than that, I'm trying to get my new Dell subnotebook up and running since the OEM driver CDs came in the mail today (in case I didn't mention it last time, I managed to crash the OS last week with Windows Media Player). I also made a good contact at the American Cancer Society at today's on-campus charity event, Cuts For Kids. I'm hoping the Oncology can support a relay the ACS is sponsoring at the Peoria Sports Complex on April 30th. My idea, which I need to pass by administration, is to use our anti-smoking education kit and man a table or two at the relay to educate kids and families. It would be a great way to get the club off and running.
Not a lot more to mention for now. Artemis is growing like crazy. Becky is pretty much over the crud (first day at work for her in over a week). The Boys' Parent-Teacher Conferences tonight went spectacularly (they are both academic stars :-). More later I guess.
The funny part is that I meant to get up at 5:30am and have a good two hours to review at the student lounge before the 8am test. However, when I looked at the wall clock around what I thought was 7am I saw that it was actually 6am! My alarm clock has some FM connection with the atomic clock and thought I was on Daylight Savings so I it woke me up an hour early. My 5.5 hours sleep was reduced to less than 4.5 hours with Becky's coughing. Let's just say I did the best I could on the test and then skipped out on Phys for a two hour nap at home so I would be functional for Neuro. That ended up being the best choice I think as I actually got a lot out of Neuro on vision clinical correlates.
Other than that, I'm trying to get my new Dell subnotebook up and running since the OEM driver CDs came in the mail today (in case I didn't mention it last time, I managed to crash the OS last week with Windows Media Player). I also made a good contact at the American Cancer Society at today's on-campus charity event, Cuts For Kids. I'm hoping the Oncology can support a relay the ACS is sponsoring at the Peoria Sports Complex on April 30th. My idea, which I need to pass by administration, is to use our anti-smoking education kit and man a table or two at the relay to educate kids and families. It would be a great way to get the club off and running.
Not a lot more to mention for now. Artemis is growing like crazy. Becky is pretty much over the crud (first day at work for her in over a week). The Boys' Parent-Teacher Conferences tonight went spectacularly (they are both academic stars :-). More later I guess.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Nero exam #1
I am becoming too consistent. I had hoped to build some padding into my Neuro exam as the second year students suggested. Instead I hit my average of 94.5%. I somehow missed three on the written and forgot to transcribe one answer to my scantron, so I need to go to the review. But my score probably won't change.
Other than that, it's been a slow week. I received my new Dell subnotebook in the mail and wasted some time setting it up. Then this morning I found out it crashed while organizing my songs' tags. I may have to re-install the OS, but I'm hoping the repair process can fix the corrupted files.
Dr. Jones is finishing up my Fellowship application tomorrow. I hear there's a bit of a competition for the awards, but I'm hopeful that I'll "win". Anyway, I'm hosting a planning meeting for the Oncology Club tomorrow. I hope it goes well as I would really like a strong start and some plans on the schedule this Spring (guest speakers) and next year (Club week).
Last but not least, Becky got the kids' flu and has been under the weather so I've been watching the kids too. Bottom line is that I haven't gotten much studying done. Other that preparing for my Physiology presentation today, I haven't really done any studying. That sure needs to change.
Oh, had my Preceptorship afternoon (#2 of 4) yesterday and that was interesting. Interesting patients and a great Physician sure make it worthwhile, even if I'm getting much H&P or exam experience. Tomorrow evening I have a formal, simulated-patient, H&P exam for my clinical correlates class. In other words, this weekend is going to be full of studying.
Other than that, it's been a slow week. I received my new Dell subnotebook in the mail and wasted some time setting it up. Then this morning I found out it crashed while organizing my songs' tags. I may have to re-install the OS, but I'm hoping the repair process can fix the corrupted files.
Dr. Jones is finishing up my Fellowship application tomorrow. I hear there's a bit of a competition for the awards, but I'm hopeful that I'll "win". Anyway, I'm hosting a planning meeting for the Oncology Club tomorrow. I hope it goes well as I would really like a strong start and some plans on the schedule this Spring (guest speakers) and next year (Club week).
Last but not least, Becky got the kids' flu and has been under the weather so I've been watching the kids too. Bottom line is that I haven't gotten much studying done. Other that preparing for my Physiology presentation today, I haven't really done any studying. That sure needs to change.
Oh, had my Preceptorship afternoon (#2 of 4) yesterday and that was interesting. Interesting patients and a great Physician sure make it worthwhile, even if I'm getting much H&P or exam experience. Tomorrow evening I have a formal, simulated-patient, H&P exam for my clinical correlates class. In other words, this weekend is going to be full of studying.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Week 3 down
The weeks are going by faster now. I guess everything isn't so new. In fact this week was especially routine. On the bright side, I got back my first Immuno and Phys tests. While they weren't as high as I'd hoped, I'm not going to shed any tears over 94%+.
The rest of the week was studying, dealing with sick kids and studying for Monday's Neuro test. Well studying between freaking out over the ambiguous, unintuitive and and highly verbose nomenclature. Everything has three names; one after a dead guy, one the 'nerve' group it belongs to and an odd one just for kicks. Eight hours of doctorate level lectures a week on any topic is just crazy.
In fact, I should be studying now. I have three lectures more to review to get through all seventeen in this unit for the first time! That's 6-7 hours before I can start reviewing, which I really have no clue how to do. It's going to be a long weekend of going over the information time after time in hopes that it all starts to sink in. And somehow I have to fit in time for Connor's B-day and Easter.
Anyway, not a lot more to report. I'm making a little progress on my Fellowship proposal. But I still need to finish slides for a Phys case, line up CT & X-ray time with a local radiological group and get the Oncology club going. First meeting is scheduled for next week. I still have to send out an e-mail on that and try to ensure that turnout is good so we can make some progress this year.
That's about it. I'm riding my bike most days, but it's not enough to start taking some of the freshman weight off. The weather is great so I'm enjoying it. But it's going to take swimming in the pool when the water warms up and regular runs/rides after school is out. Of course I'm still reserving starvation as an option. I need to take this weight off before next year starts. It's going to be very hard to exercise and will be followed by Boards and then Rotations with no time to focus on exercise and shedding weight.
Ok, that's enough procrastinating. Time to head back to the student lounge and see I can get through two lectures this evening.
The rest of the week was studying, dealing with sick kids and studying for Monday's Neuro test. Well studying between freaking out over the ambiguous, unintuitive and and highly verbose nomenclature. Everything has three names; one after a dead guy, one the 'nerve' group it belongs to and an odd one just for kicks. Eight hours of doctorate level lectures a week on any topic is just crazy.
In fact, I should be studying now. I have three lectures more to review to get through all seventeen in this unit for the first time! That's 6-7 hours before I can start reviewing, which I really have no clue how to do. It's going to be a long weekend of going over the information time after time in hopes that it all starts to sink in. And somehow I have to fit in time for Connor's B-day and Easter.
Anyway, not a lot more to report. I'm making a little progress on my Fellowship proposal. But I still need to finish slides for a Phys case, line up CT & X-ray time with a local radiological group and get the Oncology club going. First meeting is scheduled for next week. I still have to send out an e-mail on that and try to ensure that turnout is good so we can make some progress this year.
That's about it. I'm riding my bike most days, but it's not enough to start taking some of the freshman weight off. The weather is great so I'm enjoying it. But it's going to take swimming in the pool when the water warms up and regular runs/rides after school is out. Of course I'm still reserving starvation as an option. I need to take this weight off before next year starts. It's going to be very hard to exercise and will be followed by Boards and then Rotations with no time to focus on exercise and shedding weight.
Ok, that's enough procrastinating. Time to head back to the student lounge and see I can get through two lectures this evening.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Saturday, March 19, 2005
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