October 2005

Sunday, October 30, 2005
Beautiful autumn!
10-24-05-->10-30-05

Hello everyone!

This week was decent—it started out on Monday with a quiz—they are holding the scores until everyone come back from the AOA convention in Florida—so I am still waiting to see how I did in it. Following the quiz, we had a spirituality panel and a spirituality lecture. Basically, we had a discussion regarding important topics and how each religion views them. Definitely important. The lecture emphasized end of life care and spirituality. I thought the speaker was phenomenal. It is so important for us to understand that no matter what our religion (or lack there of) is, we must respect our patients and their religions beliefs, and actually use the patients beliefs to their own benefit.

Right after this lecture I donated blood—this time, the blood just poured out of me like crazy! It was great… I was done after a very short amount of time.

On Tuesday we had a whole day of pharmacology; first Dr. Mizinga with sedatives and Hypnotics, and then Dr. McCandless with substance abuse. Pharm is definitely fun, but later on when we review the material, it takes forever to get through…

Wednesday morning I tutored my little sister Sarah and her friend Monica in OMT. It was just so much fun teaching the material!!! I think I might have to come back and teach at a medical school after I will become a clinician :o) I just enjoy it too much. After an hour of tutoring, I went to my physiology classes, and then studied all of the afternoon.

Thursday and Friday were filled with psychiatry. I don’t know about it… so far, we are still in the introductory part, and I just don’t know enough about it to decide if I like it or not. Also on Thursday, I tutored the girls, and it was fun.

OH!!! I forgot to tell you, at the beginning of the week (it must have been Monday), it was freezing cold, and ‘Kitty’ was crying outside the apartment complex doors. I finally had enough. I grabbed a carrier that someone had left there, grabbed the cat (he wanted me to hold him and pet him) and put him in the carrier. Then, I took him to Dr. Cole (she is AWESOME!!!) who called the vet and my friends and I drove him there. When I came back to campus I wrote a mass email to both classes and asked if someone had a home for “Carbon” (Dr. Cole (rightfully so) decided that Carbon was a better name than Kitty). LOL! In any case, a girl from the first year has decided to adopt him, so now that saga with “Kitty” is over, and I am so happy that he has found a home! :o)

Saturday and Sunday were devoted to studying. I tutored OMT on Saturday again. Overall, I didn’t get enough things done on the weekend, but I will definitely get them done during this last week of the section.

After my final next Friday, I will be flying home to Arizona!!!!! Yes!!! I am SO excited and cannot wait :o) My friend Katie will be watching over the little fur-balls, so I am set to go. Also kind of neat, my friends Matt and Erica will be flying to phoenix on the same exact flight as me! How fun!!! It would be so much more exciting to fly over and back with friends.

In any case, much love to all,

Reut
30 oct 05 @ 10:32 pm

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Sunday, October 23, 2005
It is really cold here... brrrr. I don't like cold weather... brrr!
10-17-05-->10-23-05

Hello friends and family!

So… we have started our “Mind, spirit and Behavior” section at the beginning of the week. In comparison to Neuro, this is much slower.

This week was really fun—On Monday we had an interesting domestic abuse lectures. It is very scary to see the control the abusers have on the victims, and it is so sad that this is very common in our country. Monday night my friends and I continued studying for OMT—since we started studying for it on Saturday, by Monday we all felt pretty confident with the material.

Tuesday came rolling around with Pharmacology, Physiology and Pathology lectures, and during the afternoon pathology lab and medical informatics (biostatistics! YEAH!) After that we studied some more OMT. But, we stopped at 5, because… that night was MY night!!! In the middle of ‘Neuro’ student affairs started advertising for a movie night. I decided back then that I was going to go, no matter what… and so I did just that. The movie was Batman (the new one), and it was actually really good—I truly enjoyed it.

Wednesday was all about pharmacology, preventive medicine and physiology. That afternoon we had Score One for Health. This time around, we went to the Woodland school (which is right across from my apartment). It was difficult to work there, because the light was awfully dim, and we didn’t appropriate chairs, but it was still very fun. I found a few interesting things—first one was ring-worms. In all reality, I wouldn’t have recognized it, because it didn’t look like typical ring worms, but the kid kept saying to me that it’s ring worms and that her friend told her that, so I decided to ask Dr. P. The kid was right, and I learned something new! Ring worms look much different on darker skin—how cool! Then I found a kid with slight rails, and on the same kid I listened really good and found a Grade II systolic murmur. I really enjoy listening to hearts—I tune everything out—and then I close my eyes and just listen really carefully. It is great. That was about it—the rest of the kids were normal. It was really cute when one of the girls said that she was “either going to be a doctor or a model” :o) I told her she was pretty enough to be a model, but being a doctor was just so much cooler! Of course I had to let her try some of the different tools… I mean, she is a doctor in the making, right? She thought that my ophthalmoscope was way cool. What a cutie.
After all of this, I returned to school (after playing with my ‘tzemed-chemed’ (my cats at home)), and finished a pharm lecture and then studied some more for OMT. Trust me, by the time we were done, I felt so confident and ready for the exam… I wish we always had so much time to study for it :o)

Thursday was the OMT examination. I really wanted to get a cranial station… I really knew that material well and wanted to show-off, but apparently showing-off isn’t acceptable by the gods or something, because as luck had it, I didn’t get that station. Oh well, I had a lower neuropathy station lecture, a cervical lecture and a cranial nerve examination. Then at the end everyone had to write SOAP notes (subjective, objective, assessment and Plan)—with all of the things that go with objective. Also at the end we had to read some x-rays and identify some pictures. It was great.
After I finished the exam, I went straight to Smith hall and studied until night time.

Friday was fun! We had a psychologist come and teach two presentations. It was very interesting. At the end we had interdepartmental conference and then Primary Care Day. Primary Care Day is a day where all of the clubs organize and each takes upon itself to teach a clinical skill to the 1st years. Docs 4 Tots showed how to perform BMI testing. It is a really easy skill, but necessary for our screenings. I too learned some new skills—I once again intubated a fake pt. And… I finally conquered surgical knots!!! Hans explained to me how to do it, and I got it! All I needed was the right person to show me :o)

That night I begun studying for our quiz, and also begun tutoring Sarah for OMT.

That’s about it from here. It has been a fun week, and as Hans says: “Good times… Good times…” He cracks me up!

Loads of kisses,

Reut
23 oct 05 @ 11:58 pm

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Monday, October 17, 2005
Goodbye "Neuro", hello "Mind"
10-10-05--> 10-16-05

Hello family and friends,

That’s it, we are done with Neuro—I am kind of sad and happy at the same time.

This week was filled with lots of hard workà On Monday we still had lectures: we had 3 hours of neurology and then an hour of pharmacology. I always feel like lectures on the last day are difficult to internalize, but… Dr. Hon did such a great job with the neurology lectures, that it was very doable. After an afternoon neurology review, I continued reviewing for our pathology practical and our neuro-case presentation.

On Tuesday morning, Tim, Julia and I presented our neuro-case. It was very interesting to do, yet kind of nerve wracking! Two or three weeks prior, we chose a neurology case, analyzed it, and then prepared a short presentation with: patient’s history, sign and symptoms, neuroanatomical analasis, and diagnosis. It was so nice to be done with the presentation… for we still had to finish getting ready for path. Path practical was decent.

Wednesday and Thursday were kind of a blur… Tala and I reviewed non-stop. By Friday morning, we were pretty ready. It was nice to be done with the final examination, and that Friday night I took off!!! I went and saw “Just Like Heaven” with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. Very very cute movie!!

Saturday and Sunday, we attempted to study for our OMT examination, but I bet we will do more studying this week… :o)

That’s about it. Vega and KC are just cute—at the moment (6am) they are running from one side of my apartment to the other playing!

Well everyone, have a great week!

Reut
17 oct 05 @ 6:09 am

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Monday, October 10, 2005
Five more days of neuro!!!
10-02-05-->10-09-05

Hi family and friends, Shana Tova! שנה טובה ומתוקה!!!

What a crazy week! We had a quiz on Monday, and even though I thought it was very very hard, I ended up performing very well—I really am hoping that the final (this week) would be just as successful.

In any case, after the quiz on Monday, we had 2 Pharm lectures—it was all about anesthesia and such. Fairly interesting. Later that afternoon we had clinical conferences, and independent study. As it was Erev-Rosh ha’shana, I went with a few of my friends (Erica, Matt, Elisha, Adam & his girlfriend Jen) to a local synagogue (Beth Shalom) for their services. It was fun, but mainly much more fun just being out with my friends. When we were there, we met Mike (also from our class) and his girlfriend. All and all: decent service, great company.

Tuesday was lovely—we had the last two lectures of neuroanatomy (HURRAH!!!!!) We had a path lecture and some physiology. That afternoon I was working hard to catch up from Monday.

Wednesday had to be the greatest. The morning was filled with OMT and treating TMJ dysfunctions, but the afternoon was even better. Once again we had score one for health—working at the local schools doing physicals on children. This time around, I actually got to perform physicals, which was so much better than dental screening. I actually found a bunch of stuff, but these were the main things—the first child I assessed had a grade II systolic murmur. I saw a child with a bifurcated uvula. The main thing I was proud of was catching an undiagnosed asthma… It definitely is exciting to help children.

Also on Wednesday… I caught another cat! (this one is the last one). I was coming to school, and talked to Dorothy between classroom B and Smithhall. All of the sudden, I saw this cat following Dorothy. I stopped and grabbed Kitty’s cat food (Kitty is the cat from outside that doesn’t want to get in), and gave a bit to her. I dared and touched the cat and it started purring right away. Naturally (to me, that is), I picked her up and took her to Dr. Cole’s office. Dr. Cole was just awesome and took her to the vet for me—the cat had to stay there until Friday.

Dr. Cole is the nicest lady—she has a cat carrier in her office and she always take in stray cats—as I had to be in Score one for health that afternoon, I couldn’t just leave

Thursday was filled with pathology, physiology and clinical conferences. I just wanted to go home and sleep, but to no avail.

Friday was fast—an hour of oncology and then two hours of pharm. My memory is getting to be so much better now. It is much easier to memorize stuff. I guess they are right: it is possible to train the brain :o)

As I was finishing reviewing the pharmacology lectures at Smith hall, Dorothy came knocking on my door letting me know that a certain little white and black cat was waiting downstairs with Dr. Cole.

Ooooo! This cat is SO cute! About 20 people were standing next to Dr. Cole petting the cat, and I was just in 7th heaven.

I brought her home, and had a very entertaining hour or so of hissing competition from Both KC and the new cat. After that, they started chasing one another and playing. They are so good together.

This weekend was dedicated for studying… we have our path practical on Tuesday, Presentation on Tuesday morning, and final on Friday morning.

As I am very tired, I have got to go to bed,

Much love to all of you,

Reut
10 oct 05 @ 12:07 am

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Sunday, October 2, 2005
neuro... aka how to reshape one's brain!
09-26-->10-02-05

Hello everyone,

Wow… it’s October once again—this section is flying by!

This week was very difficult, especially our neuroanatomy lectures. I am not going to vent about it here, but it took me a long time to really understand them and I was quite frustrated with it at times. …However… now that I get it, it is very rewarding.

Monday was maily neuroanatomy and physiology—I just love physiology… I wish I could study it more in depth. It is very fascinating. That afternoon we had Clinical conference and pathology lab. I went to the later path lab, and found it to be relaxing with the smaller group. I am going to keep going to the later lab.

Tuesday was a breeze—we had neurology, pathology and physiology. We had a directed study that I still didn’t get to yet (oops)—I’ll do it tomorrow afternoon.

Wednesday was the greatest day this whole week!!! We had a lab with Dr. Karty—“eye exam” lab. It was just great! But the best part of the day was actually during the afternoon. We had our Score one for Health—we went over to inner city schools and performed physicals, dental, BP examinations etc. I got to work in the dental station. All I have to say is… thank goodness I’m not in dental school!!! I had the basic knowledge to perform a dental screen, but in all reality... this is probably all I will ever know about it. I had a few cute kids—I’d ask them “How many times do you brush your teeth everyday?” and they would respond with “Seventeen!!” or… “59, no! wait! 72!!!” I thought they were adorable. I saw some very bad cavities and decay, but also some kids that were proud of keeping their teeth nice and clean. Next week I get to perform physicals!!! Hurrah!

Thursday was nice—we had ENT, and two pharmacology lectures with a guest speaker who was phenomenal. I like exciting people, and she was one of them. That afternoon, we had clinical conferences that lasted until 4pm.

Friday was cool—we had 3 neurologys, one of which was with Dr. Hon- Another very exciting person—definitely great to learn a lecture from her—All I need to do is listen, and it just sticks… I wish this was the same with Stephen’s lectures :o)

That’s about it—I studies all weekend long—reviewing and quizzing. Tala was sick on Friday and today, so we got through less quizzing, but that’s okay.

My little KC is sitting next to me purring like a tractor—I think I should have named him John Deer, or “CAT”… The cat outside “Kitty” has been eating all the food that I (and some of my friends) have been leaving it/them. Tonight however, I dared and touched his tale and belly. Oh… he was very upset with me… he gave me a warning meow and a mean look…Sheesh!!

Loads of love from here,

I have to get to bed tonight!

Reut
2 oct 05 @ 10:39 pm