entry

Hello! It looks like I am finally getting this off the ground thought I cannot promise any sort of schedule of posts. All is well in Arizona and I am adjusting to medical school. This first year is broken down into blocks, each with a different focus in the sciences and for different lengths of time. The first block finished just before Labor Day weekend. In the first block, a basic science bootcamp, we covered immunology, microbiology and labs, introduction to radiographs, physiology, anatomy, pharmacology and more as it pertains to health and then more focused topics such as fever and sore throat. For instance we studied the various causes of sore throat , let’s say a bacteria – to learn about the characteristics of the bacteria, the types of lab tests used to confirm it, transmission, treatment or the outcomes if it is left untreated. The focus of the current block is Neuro/Muscular/Skeletal and includes dissection lab twice a week. In addition to the science classes, one day a week is dedicated to learning more about the osteopathic philosophy and manual manipulation as well as certain medical skills such as taking a history and performing physical exams. Does it sound busy? It is! But it is also exciting. I think the school did a good job of easing me and my classmates into the program. With the start of this new block it feels how I imagined medical school to feel – a mix of overwhelming (the amount of material with respect to the number of hours in a day) and exciting (from all the learning of course!). In addition to surviving the first ten or so weeks (and performing well on exams) I have survived multiple days of 110+ degree days, wild dust and wind storms called haboobs, thunderstorms and torrential downpour that results in flash floods in some places. I am slowly exploring the area, mostly locally, and am able to get out on my bike from time to time. I wish I had time to write more, I will . . . in the future. Jenn