I was just sitting in the anatomy lab, doing some anatomy. When one of the anatomists came in carrying a really big model of an ear. All I could think of was that scene in Black Books, where Fran, in desperate need of gossip, tells Bernard "I am a giant ear."
And I burst out laughing...
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Facial vains
There's a very good reason I walk around with a constant level of stubble on my face. No, it's not laziness. No, it's not that it makes me look devilishly handsome (which it may do?) and it's certainly not that I, or others enjoy the feel of it.
No, it's because I'm not very good at shaving. I just seem to give myself a lot of ingrown hairs and cut myself. It's not a great look! So this Movember season is shaping up to be an interesting month!
I have found it very unusual to look in the mirror at the clean shaven (ish) guy looking back at me. It's weird. I find myself disturbingly young looking, and not at all like my mental image of myself. It's kind of like waking up from a coma with a face transplant.
On the plus side, the mo' is coming in happily. I'll update with some pictures if and when I get time. But exam season is upon me, so between growing a mo, shaving around the mo, and doing some revision, I'm not sure how much time I'll have! Har.
Finally, thank you. You know who you are.
No, it's because I'm not very good at shaving. I just seem to give myself a lot of ingrown hairs and cut myself. It's not a great look! So this Movember season is shaping up to be an interesting month!
I have found it very unusual to look in the mirror at the clean shaven (ish) guy looking back at me. It's weird. I find myself disturbingly young looking, and not at all like my mental image of myself. It's kind of like waking up from a coma with a face transplant.
On the plus side, the mo' is coming in happily. I'll update with some pictures if and when I get time. But exam season is upon me, so between growing a mo, shaving around the mo, and doing some revision, I'm not sure how much time I'll have! Har.
Finally, thank you. You know who you are.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Saturated Phat
Hey!
I realise this is a saturated market! But if you want to sponsor my Movemeber mustache, I'd be super keen for the support!
As a former/current? cancer researcher myself, I know how much the goons in the lab could do with the dosh. Heaven knows the brown ribbon sales haven't been a great success! But at least they weren't scratch and sniff.
Also, I'm a man. And I have heard I have a mind of my own. So I guess I have a vested interest in men's mental health.
So give some dosh!
http://mobro.co/Lumpage
Heck, if you give a lot. I might even offer to give you pash-rash in exchange.
Cheers!
I realise this is a saturated market! But if you want to sponsor my Movemeber mustache, I'd be super keen for the support!
As a former/current? cancer researcher myself, I know how much the goons in the lab could do with the dosh. Heaven knows the brown ribbon sales haven't been a great success! But at least they weren't scratch and sniff.
Also, I'm a man. And I have heard I have a mind of my own. So I guess I have a vested interest in men's mental health.
So give some dosh!
http://mobro.co/Lumpage
Heck, if you give a lot. I might even offer to give you pash-rash in exchange.
Cheers!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Jump up, jump up
I had a really good day at med school last week. There aren't heaps of days at med school where you come home and go "I really learned something today." The knowledge just seems to accumulate most of the time, so it's hard to feel you're learning anything. The best part though, was that it wasn't necessarily about medicine, but about life.
We are on to our genetics block at the minute. This is after what can only be described as a very quick blast through cardiac, resp and renal. It is proving to be an interesting stage in my education. I did a semester of genetics as a young man. So a lot of it is familiar. But our case for the week was Trisomy 21, Down syndrome.
I think, for a lot of people, the thought of having a kid with a birth defect is akin to a nightmare. I personally, don't know how I would cope. It's a scary prospect. I guess every parent hopes their kid will be 'normal.' Every parent has certain preconceptions about what their child will be like. Every parents has ambitions, hope and dreams for their children. And to have those shattered in moments is gut wrenching.
Because of this, and the availability of tests, a lot of kids with Down syndrome are aborted before they get to term. The majority in fact. I have my ethical qualms about abortion, but I certainly had a wrestle with the issue about what I would do. But for many people, a Down syndrome child comes to term.
A lot of people in my year were scared by the prospect having to raise a DS kid. So the School of Medicine organised a BBQ with some families and kids from the Downs syndrome society. And you know what? It was amazing. Absolutely amazing.
It was great to meet the families and the kids over a BBQ. It was amazing to see how the families had gone about raising their children. About how they had coped, come to terms with what it means for them, and how they still had dreams for their child. Albeit new ones. The highlight was the panel discussion. Hearing the parents candidly discuss their views on abortion, and whether, if they had known they would have terminated their baby. It was really heavy stuff. But really encouraging. It was just so obvious how much the parents loved their kids.
The point that reinforced this for me, was hearing about how the blokes coped. One bloke held it together while his wife had a break down. The other guy went home and shifted 8 tonnes of gravel. But the guy, who wept while recalling his story to us was the most interesting. He was talking about he finally got a daughter, after having three sons. And he had all the dreams of walking his daughter down the aisle, and watching her grow up. And how when the doctor walked in and told them their brand new baby girl had Downs, it just gutted him, and it took six months for him to come to terms with it. Now though, she is his pride and joy. It was really moving.
I have so much more to say about the arvo. But I came home buzzed. I was left with the impression, that although it's tough. It's not the end of the world. And for lots of these parents, they still have a brand new baby. And that's pretty grand regardless of their chromosomal makeup!
I wish I could be a big man about it. But I'm still torn as to what I would do when I found out though. Perhaps every father to be should get a pile of gravel just in case.
We are on to our genetics block at the minute. This is after what can only be described as a very quick blast through cardiac, resp and renal. It is proving to be an interesting stage in my education. I did a semester of genetics as a young man. So a lot of it is familiar. But our case for the week was Trisomy 21, Down syndrome.
I think, for a lot of people, the thought of having a kid with a birth defect is akin to a nightmare. I personally, don't know how I would cope. It's a scary prospect. I guess every parent hopes their kid will be 'normal.' Every parent has certain preconceptions about what their child will be like. Every parents has ambitions, hope and dreams for their children. And to have those shattered in moments is gut wrenching.
Because of this, and the availability of tests, a lot of kids with Down syndrome are aborted before they get to term. The majority in fact. I have my ethical qualms about abortion, but I certainly had a wrestle with the issue about what I would do. But for many people, a Down syndrome child comes to term.
A lot of people in my year were scared by the prospect having to raise a DS kid. So the School of Medicine organised a BBQ with some families and kids from the Downs syndrome society. And you know what? It was amazing. Absolutely amazing.
It was great to meet the families and the kids over a BBQ. It was amazing to see how the families had gone about raising their children. About how they had coped, come to terms with what it means for them, and how they still had dreams for their child. Albeit new ones. The highlight was the panel discussion. Hearing the parents candidly discuss their views on abortion, and whether, if they had known they would have terminated their baby. It was really heavy stuff. But really encouraging. It was just so obvious how much the parents loved their kids.
The point that reinforced this for me, was hearing about how the blokes coped. One bloke held it together while his wife had a break down. The other guy went home and shifted 8 tonnes of gravel. But the guy, who wept while recalling his story to us was the most interesting. He was talking about he finally got a daughter, after having three sons. And he had all the dreams of walking his daughter down the aisle, and watching her grow up. And how when the doctor walked in and told them their brand new baby girl had Downs, it just gutted him, and it took six months for him to come to terms with it. Now though, she is his pride and joy. It was really moving.
I have so much more to say about the arvo. But I came home buzzed. I was left with the impression, that although it's tough. It's not the end of the world. And for lots of these parents, they still have a brand new baby. And that's pretty grand regardless of their chromosomal makeup!
I wish I could be a big man about it. But I'm still torn as to what I would do when I found out though. Perhaps every father to be should get a pile of gravel just in case.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Ach
I'm tired. Now probably isnt the best time to be developing a social life, exams are only 4 weeks away and I know nothing.
Cool.
Cool.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
What's medical school like?
Scarily, I'm heading rapidly toward the end of my first year in medical school. Suffice to say, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.
One question I get asked a lot, once people find out I'm a medical student is "how are you finding it?" I find it an unusual question - as if there is an ideal answer that we're meant to conform to. So far I've managed to stick with "It's fascinating, really interesting. But a lot of work!" Which if we're honest, is a pretty fair assessment!*
But what's it really like? Well, I can only speak for my own experience: It's fun!
The whole med student experience has so far been good to me. The people are nice, and being a post-grad course, there is never a shortage of interesting life experiences of tangible relevance to the current PBL case.
A PBL case I hear you ask? Well, if you've not heard of PBL before, I'll give you the gist. Basically, each week we get a new 'patient.' We follow the trials and tribulations of that patient. But because we know nothing, we have to ask and answer the fundamental questions, before we can decide how to treat. The case then plays out in front of you over three sessions, and every session you go away with 'issues' and spend the first half of the next session answering the issues.
Running concurrently (at least in theory) are lectures and practicals that support the material you cover in PBL. There is also a clinical skills element that teaches you the relevant physical exam techniques for the culprit organ system. All in all, a crash course in medicine ensues.
Other subjects get thrown in as well, and these draw the most ire of medical students. The touchy feely subjects are painful, and probably reflects the lack of objective assessment (I guess that's why I did science and not arts!) There are also maths subjects, law and ethics. Things that are meant to make you a well rounded doctor, but on the whole feel like they are getting in the way of you learning the finer points of counter-current multiplication.
The reality is - it's a lot of work. Jamming all of this stuff in takes effort. There are also a lot of people who have families, relationships, recreational activities, jobs or other studies happening simultaneously. So it's tough. Especially if you want to throw being social and partying a lot on top of it!
It's a fun system - and it works well when it works well. A functional PBL group is highly beneficial. But get stuck with a crap group and it can feel as though you are on your own. Luck of the draw I guess! My present group is a barrel of laughs. We have a good time and still learn a heck of a lot. Having two intensive care nurses, five scientists and a pharmacist, we're a well balanced group! But the composition does vary wildly between groups, and much like life it does encourage some group work. A lot of the arts students and mature agers have been out of the maths game for a long time. So having to relearn the concept of 'e' has been a real shock for many! Thankfully, there will always be the occasional PhD or chemical engineer floating around, ready to explain things. The theory is - it all balances out.
As for me? It's probably still a bit early for me to be giving tips out on how to get through medical school. Do the work, is probably the best advice I can give. In PBL, there is the danger of being quashed by vocal members, so never be afraid to ask a question, or write something up on the board. Even though I'm working pretty consistently, I'm still missing stuff, with the intention of going back to it but never getting there. I just hope the end of year exams are kind to me!
So if ever an aspiring doctor reads this post. Chin up! This aspiring doctor fell asleep during one of our histology pracs! Top bloke!
* I speak only of the educational activities in this blog. If you're up for student politics, societies, dating your class mates and more! There are heaps of these things happening too!
One question I get asked a lot, once people find out I'm a medical student is "how are you finding it?" I find it an unusual question - as if there is an ideal answer that we're meant to conform to. So far I've managed to stick with "It's fascinating, really interesting. But a lot of work!" Which if we're honest, is a pretty fair assessment!*
But what's it really like? Well, I can only speak for my own experience: It's fun!
The whole med student experience has so far been good to me. The people are nice, and being a post-grad course, there is never a shortage of interesting life experiences of tangible relevance to the current PBL case.
A PBL case I hear you ask? Well, if you've not heard of PBL before, I'll give you the gist. Basically, each week we get a new 'patient.' We follow the trials and tribulations of that patient. But because we know nothing, we have to ask and answer the fundamental questions, before we can decide how to treat. The case then plays out in front of you over three sessions, and every session you go away with 'issues' and spend the first half of the next session answering the issues.
Running concurrently (at least in theory) are lectures and practicals that support the material you cover in PBL. There is also a clinical skills element that teaches you the relevant physical exam techniques for the culprit organ system. All in all, a crash course in medicine ensues.
Other subjects get thrown in as well, and these draw the most ire of medical students. The touchy feely subjects are painful, and probably reflects the lack of objective assessment (I guess that's why I did science and not arts!) There are also maths subjects, law and ethics. Things that are meant to make you a well rounded doctor, but on the whole feel like they are getting in the way of you learning the finer points of counter-current multiplication.
The reality is - it's a lot of work. Jamming all of this stuff in takes effort. There are also a lot of people who have families, relationships, recreational activities, jobs or other studies happening simultaneously. So it's tough. Especially if you want to throw being social and partying a lot on top of it!
It's a fun system - and it works well when it works well. A functional PBL group is highly beneficial. But get stuck with a crap group and it can feel as though you are on your own. Luck of the draw I guess! My present group is a barrel of laughs. We have a good time and still learn a heck of a lot. Having two intensive care nurses, five scientists and a pharmacist, we're a well balanced group! But the composition does vary wildly between groups, and much like life it does encourage some group work. A lot of the arts students and mature agers have been out of the maths game for a long time. So having to relearn the concept of 'e' has been a real shock for many! Thankfully, there will always be the occasional PhD or chemical engineer floating around, ready to explain things. The theory is - it all balances out.
As for me? It's probably still a bit early for me to be giving tips out on how to get through medical school. Do the work, is probably the best advice I can give. In PBL, there is the danger of being quashed by vocal members, so never be afraid to ask a question, or write something up on the board. Even though I'm working pretty consistently, I'm still missing stuff, with the intention of going back to it but never getting there. I just hope the end of year exams are kind to me!
So if ever an aspiring doctor reads this post. Chin up! This aspiring doctor fell asleep during one of our histology pracs! Top bloke!
* I speak only of the educational activities in this blog. If you're up for student politics, societies, dating your class mates and more! There are heaps of these things happening too!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Arf arf
Had a bit of a fun weekend. Went off on 'Man camp' with some of the blokes from church. It was really good fun. There was fire, meat, beer, fishing, football. A tree was chopped down with an axe. I came home smelling like smoke and my car was filled up with sand. All in all a pleasant weekend.
The best part was the driving. Finally got to take the jeep off road and in to the sand, which was just good clean fun.
Got home and squirted the car off with the hose. It left a pleasingly large pile of sand and mud on the driveway.
On the downside, I did hardly any study this weekend. I went to PBL this morning and positively stunk up the place with my lack on knowledge about the kidney. Apparently 'magic' isn't an answer for how it works.
My favourite organ this year has definitely been the heart. The lungs were boring, and the kidney, though logical in its function... is just a bit dull so far. Sigh!
It is however infinitely better than my current medicine and culture assignment. I'm meant to critically review an article about various aspects of intercultural communication in medicine. Which is fine in theory, but all the aspects they want me to review are not really open for criticism. If anything, they are looking for personal opinion again, and by personal opinion, I mean sheepish following. I can't believe I'm being forced to pay ridiculous amounts of money for this ridiculous, yet mandatory non-medical subject. It could be taught so much better!
And that's my rant about poor teaching. Oh actually, one last thing. They originally decided it would be a good idea to release the assignment on Saturday morning, for it to be e-submitted by Monday night. Thus wasting a whole long weekend. A stupid idea from "academics" that don't live in the real world if ever I have hard one. But that would have been okay had they told us in advance, and not sprung it on us without warning. The school must have copped a lot of flack because they extended the deadline to Wednesday. Grmph.
Oh the humanities!
The best part was the driving. Finally got to take the jeep off road and in to the sand, which was just good clean fun.
Got home and squirted the car off with the hose. It left a pleasingly large pile of sand and mud on the driveway.
On the downside, I did hardly any study this weekend. I went to PBL this morning and positively stunk up the place with my lack on knowledge about the kidney. Apparently 'magic' isn't an answer for how it works.
My favourite organ this year has definitely been the heart. The lungs were boring, and the kidney, though logical in its function... is just a bit dull so far. Sigh!
It is however infinitely better than my current medicine and culture assignment. I'm meant to critically review an article about various aspects of intercultural communication in medicine. Which is fine in theory, but all the aspects they want me to review are not really open for criticism. If anything, they are looking for personal opinion again, and by personal opinion, I mean sheepish following. I can't believe I'm being forced to pay ridiculous amounts of money for this ridiculous, yet mandatory non-medical subject. It could be taught so much better!
And that's my rant about poor teaching. Oh actually, one last thing. They originally decided it would be a good idea to release the assignment on Saturday morning, for it to be e-submitted by Monday night. Thus wasting a whole long weekend. A stupid idea from "academics" that don't live in the real world if ever I have hard one. But that would have been okay had they told us in advance, and not sprung it on us without warning. The school must have copped a lot of flack because they extended the deadline to Wednesday. Grmph.
Oh the humanities!
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