School

We started out school with an intensive anatomy block. We did several hours of dissection on most days, in addition to getting lectures on anatomy, embryology, and histology. We also have an ongoing clinical skills curriculum. It's been fun and challenging and engaging. I loved learning about new things and I especially loved learning about things that were so clinically relevant. Things like the pattern of innervation in the arm and hand are super important to know!

Last week we had the final exam for anatomy (along with the Post-Gross Toast, an annual party the first year med students put on after the last test in the anatomy block; this was also the first time Michael and I have gone to a bar together, and a lot of diet Coke and cranberry juice were had by us). So this week has been the first week of the Cell block. A sampling of our first few lectures: Protein Biochemistry, Plasma Membrane, Myoglobin and Hemoglobin, and Enzyme Biochemistry. YAWWWWWWWWWN. So far, it's all just been a rehash of stuff I learned in O-chem, biochem, and nutritional biochem. That's bad enough. But I really have to say that going back to basic science after getting a little taste of clinical relevance is just torture. In undergrad, I loved basic science classes! They were interesting and I was good at them! But now, I just can't make myself give two hoots about it. I think after this Cell block, and the Host Defense block, we'll start doing a lot more interesting things again (neuro, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, etc). But I can make it through five months of boring classes! I guess. Thank goodness we have an ongoing clinical skills class; otherwise, this would be ten times worse!