September 2005

Monday, September 26, 2005
Fun week!
09-19-->09-25-05

Hello everyone,

It is so nice when things “click” in school. This happened on Friday!!! We had one lecture that tied everything together, and walla, it made a whole lot of sense :o)

This week was busy and difficult, but it was still fun.

On Monday we had a quiz (difficult and annoying, but I did okay), then we had 2 hours of Dr. K (physiology) and a radiology hour. We didn’t have the paper copies of radiology slides, and it was difficult to take good notes. Personally I learn everything so much better with pictures (visual learner, yup, that’s me), and so when we don’t have them (especially in radiology), it is difficult. That afternoon we had our weekly clinical conference followed by pathology lab and micro lab. This was the first time ever that micro lab was absolutely great!!! I think it is mainly because it was after a quiz—I have already learned the material inside-out and so the lab was more of reinforcement.

Tuesday was very difficult—we had 4 hours of neurology with Dr. Stephens. That was difficult, but just like I said, it all came together on Friday.

Wednesday was the greatest!!! We had Score 1 for Health mock patient lab. Basically, with Score 1 for Health, we go out to inner city schools and perform physicals on the children. We benefit from the practice; they benefit from the examination. In anycase, on Wednesday we reviewed how to perform physicals on children—we had many young volunteers helping us out :o). It was really fun to be around kids… I took care of a little 7 year old boy. I felt like a fish in water—

Thursday was Ophthalmology, physiology, clinical conferences and end of life conference that included Stem cell research in it. Quite a fun day.

Friday… thank goodness for Friday. We had 3 or 4 hours of neurology with Stephens, and he reviewed brainstem lesions. Everything just fell into place, and started to make a whole lot of sense. It was awesome! During the afternoon I took KC to the vet for his second round of shots. He is getting to be a big guy! (2.6lb :o) LOL!) Just to let you know—he finally figured out how to climb on the window seal…

On Saturday morning I volunteered at the Kansas City Marathon. My friend Liz and I drove there at 6 in the morning and helped until about 10am or so. We basically directed cars away from the runners, and cheered everyone. We were at mile post 17, and had people getting to us about an hour and a half into the race. It was great fun, and we had a good time. Maybe, maybe, one day when I’ll be in shape again (yes, it can and will happen…) I will run a marathon also :o)

Sunday (today)—grocery shopping, and quizzing with Tala. It was very fun to see that we have learned a whole lot.

In anycase, it is getting to be late, and I have to go to bed.

Much love from Beautiful Kansas City,

Reut
26 sep 05 @ 12:29 am

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Monday, September 19, 2005
...so tired...
9-12-->9-18-05

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the late entry—I have a quiz on Monday, and have been studying this weekend.

So…6th week of neuro… hard work.

Monday started great with a fun Peds lecture. I truly think that this is what I’ll end up doing. Then we had two neuros with Stephens, and then pathology and pathology lab.

Tuesday was fun microbiology. It is getting a little better—I got some micro- “bug-cards” and it is helping me a whole lot. I am determined to understand this, not memorize. Then we had 3 hours of neuro, and an immunology. This was a long day, and the next day was no different…

Wednesday’s OMT lab was interesting, we had two OMM lectures and then in the afternoon “Score 1” Orientation. Score one for Health is a program that we as second year students participate in—we go to inner city schools and give the children physical examinations. It should be very fun! I cannot wait! :o)

Thursday we had 4 different neuro lectures and a pharm. Then we had a neuro review. Uggg. Long and tedious.

Friday was great fun! We had Hospital day :o) Remember me telling you about it last year? We met with many different programs and many different residency sites. It was more important this year because I had many questions to the different hospitals and it was nice to have them answered. That afternoon I went out for lunch with my friend Julia—It was so much fun to go out :o)

That afternoon I got all of my stuff and started ‘quizzing’ with my study-buddy Tala and just finished tonight (2 days later).

Okay, enough with school… I have to tell you what KC did last night. We had a huge storm roll through the city in the middle of the night. The lightening and the thunder woke me up, and all of the sudden I felt something move on my belly. I looked down, and saw my funny cat curled up on my belly, sleeping like a log, and not hearing the storm. It was quite an amusing thing.

Another exciting news I forgot to tell you. I got another scholarship! The Ida Foreman Fleisher Scholarship, from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. I am very honored to receive this scholarship.

Well, that’s about it; This is a ‘tired’ entry… I need to get some sleep.

Night!

Reut
19 sep 05 @ 12:13 am

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Sunday, September 11, 2005
Middle of Neuro
09-03-->09-11-05

Hello all,

Last week I left you right before I flew home to Arizona… I shall continue from that point :o)

Home was wonderful—I love being home. I need to live a maximum of 2 hours drive from home, I don’t see myself on the other side of the country, far away from mom, dad, Omer and Midi. We had a good time, and I was sad that I had to leave on Monday night.

… but I had a kitty to take care of, so it was a little bit easier…

I got home, and KC was bouncing off the walls for a good hour, finally we went to bed, and got up fairly late on Tuesday. Tuesday was filled with neuroanatomy—it was interesting, but a bit too much. Thank goodness for radiology at the end of the day!!! That afternoon I took KC to the vet, and I was finally ‘clued in’. KC is not a girl, KC is a boy! I was laughing with the vet and saying how I needed to go back to basic anatomy :o) (me and the other 5 medical students who the same as me).

Wednesday was great fun—we had OMT lab in the morning (following a lecture), and in the afternoon, I performed my first ‘well patient’ physicals. I loved it! It was awesome! :o) I wasn’t perfect, but who is on the first time?

Thursday was cool—we had physiology, pathology, neurology and… micro (ugg). I got some new cards for micro, so it should be a little tiny bit easier.

Friday was also fun—we had micro, and virology, and then, the rest of the day was homecoming! The alumni came and visited the school, and we had a nice lunch together. That night, I was invited to the president dinner. This invitation came due to my scholarship I received last year. In anycase, I had a good time. The first few minutes I was a little nervous, because I didn’t know anyone, but after a little bit I found some fellow students, started talking to some of the alumni, and had a really good time.

Yesterday (Saturday) I studied all day—I had to finish going over virology and micro. Today will be ‘quizzing’ day with my study-buddy Tala. Tonight I will go and volunteer at the fall Festival—I will take some blood pressure and some blood sugars. It should be fun!

KC is sitting right next to the little ventilation area of the computer—he likes the warm air :o) besides that, he enjoy walking on the keyboard when I am typing, follow the computer mouse on the screen. …he is too cute for words!...

Okay, much love from here, I have to get going to school,

Reut
11 sep 05 @ 8:36 am

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Friday, September 2, 2005
Good bye Anatomy :o(
08-28-05-->09-02-05

Hello everyone,

I have just completed the first section of ‘Neuro’. We had our Anatomy practical yesterday, and I am kind of sad to note that we will have no more anatomy lab. We have completed the human body. Actually… I think I might go in with 1st years and tutor them—good for them, and good for me :o)

Yes, so this has been quite a week… Monday morning started out normally, with me in lab at 6am. I was minding my own business, working on the brain, but then, a group of about 15 of my classmate walked into the lab calling my name. My reaction of course was… what in the world? Then my friend Hans stretched his hand out and I realized that he had a little tiny black kitten!!!!

…Introducing… K.C.
My new little black kitten!!!

No, it is not the kitten I’ve been feeding outside the apartment building, he is still very timid. This one was found by Rochelle and caught by Hans in between classroom B and the administration building. The little baby was running from bush to bush trying as hard as she could to stay away. But of course, Hans is faster and stronger than all kittens put together! What a great guy!!

In anycase, my routine Monday has changed dramatically! I grabbed the little kitten, took her home, dried her up. My friend Katie helped me with everything, which was very nice of her. Once we got her some food, we had to go back to class, so we left the little kitten there. During my lunch break I came back, only to find a very terrified little kitten.

In anycase, it has been 5 days today, and she is like a completely different being—she is happy and funny and running around in circles, and chasing imaginary enemies. She is just hysterical. And today was the first day she climbed onto my lab when I sat at the computer… so as I am writing this, K.C. is sleeping and purring on my lap :o)

So why K.C.? Kansas City, of course, but… I had a very difficult time naming her. I really wanted to call her ‘Neuro,’ but it just didn’t fit right. Then I tried Gubernaculum (look it up in the medical dictionary, it is a word)—and for short Goober, or Goobie, but that didn’t work, and only a few people will find this name amusing. I also tried ‘Toolie’ תולי, but that’s too common of a cat name in Israel, and we had like 2 Toolies already. Mom and Dad suggested Berry, but that didn’t fit either… so finally… she became K.C. in a moment of brilliance. I really should have named her Kit-Kat, but that will be her nick name :o)

It is just wonderful to have a pet in the house. It makes coming home after school so much nicer—I love talking to her and explaining pathology and anatomy to her. It was the best thing that could have ever happened to both of us.

In any case, with K.C. in the house, I had to find someone to watch over her this weekend (I am flying home to Arizona)-- My friend Michelle agreed to feed her and play with her during the time I am gone. I am sad to be leaving her, but oh-so-excited to go see everyone back home!!! K.C. will probably have to get used to me when I come back.

Beside wonderful K.C., I have also studied very hard all week long—Tala and I covered everything about 4 times. It was difficult, as we had both the Anatomy practical and the final, but it was doable, and I felt good coming out of both examinations.

Well gang, I better go pack a bit before I fly out.

Much love to you, I miss you all!

Reut
2 sep 05 @ 6:50 pm