Classes

Our classes are set up to integrate learning across several disciplines. Currently, we are taking developmental anatomy (embryology), biochemistry, histology and cell biology (no lab yet), genetics, and core concepts. Core concepts includes things like learning to take a physical, how to interact with patients, and library usage & research.

The first block test is in two days. We will have developmental anatomy, histology, genetics, and core concepts. Then on Tuesday, we take the biochemistry test. I am grateful to have a couple of days off between the tests. I always thought biochem would be my weak spot since I am not a fan of chemistry, but it happens that I am having a harder time in developmental and genetics simply because of the shear amount of memorization that has to be done in these two classes.

Wish me luck on the test...

After the testing next week, we begin gross anatomy and histology lab. Two weeks after that, we add in physiology while the developmental, genetics and biochem lectures slow down a little bit. Our schedule doesn't have certain classes on specific days, rather we get a schedule for the entire school year telling us which classes are at which time. It is set up by the day/hour and ends up being a 37 page pdf file.

In March we start psychiatry, and in the last two weeks of May we have integrative medicine (I don't know what this is yet...) then we are out of school. Sounds easy doesn't it?

My school day begins at 8AM. I have a break between 10-11AM and again from 12-1PM. Class always ends by 5PM, but sometimes we are finished an hour or two earlier depending on whether it is a lab day. Sometimes our breaks are changed around depending on labs too.

UMC Class of 2010 Picture

Well, I am in my third week at school, and I haven't posted anything...

The first week was orientation. We had a general orientation for all new students at the school one morning. We learned about all the services the school had to offer to us. We also participated in a research study that matches medical school student's Brigg's Myers (I'm an INTJ) type with their grades, board scores, and later what residency we match into. I thought this was pretty interesting. The rest of the week was pretty much general stuff and introductions to faculty and other students.

We had our white coat ceremony which included a buffet dinner and a speaker, Dr. Warren Jones. Dr. Jones is a professor of health policy. I really enjoyed listening to him, and he really enjoyed seeing my class enter this profession. He sat at a front table with his wife. Both of them were smiling and cheering on each entering student as s/he put on the white coat. A few key points exerted from UMC NEWS:

Dr. Warren Jones, UMC distinguished professor of healthy policy, challenged the class to keep his five Cs in mind throughout their career. Jones’ five Cs are:
• Competition. “The only person who are in competition with is yourself,” Jones, a veteran family physician, told the students. “Give the very best.”
• Competency. Jones asked the students to dedicate themselves to “life-long learning.”
• Compassion. “The true healing art comes from human touch,” Jones said.
Jones, a retired Navy captain, told the students about a patient he saw many years ago that he could tell had something wrong other than a physical ailment. Before the man left Jones’ office, he embraced him, and the man wept. The man was experiencing a host of problems, including family issues.
“Don’t cease to care,” Jones said. “Caring has to be an integral part of everything you do.”
• Culturally proficient. Doctors must be able to communicate effectively with patients and be culturally sensitive, Jones said.
Jones used as an example how Rhode Island once had a problem with Vietnamese women and suicides. The problem wasn’t solved until a set of doctors asked why. It turned out the women were expecting their children to take care of them as they aged like in their home country but in many cases that was not happening, Jones said.
• Cash. Don’t worry about money, Jones told the future physicians.
“Focus on the value you bring to the people whose lives you touch,” he said.

Another highlight was a burner catching fire on the buffet table in the back of the room during the Dr. Warren's speech.

During our class picture on the staircase - Instead of saying "1.....2.....3....CHEESE!" "Someone behind my said "1......2......3......MALPRACTICE!" Which got a pretty good laugh from everyone behind me.

We also had a dinner sponsored by Bank Plus for our M2:M1 buddy event. It was mostly finger food, beer, and wine. We got to mingle with the partner we were paired with. My M2 buddy made me a shirt that said "I love my M2 buddy" with his picture on the front. I thought it was hilarious. About five M1's got shirts like this.