Andee Wilson's Blog

Medical School Friendship

Andee Wilson — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:30:11 +0000

I was talking with one of my friends early in the quarter about the friendships we’ve made here at KCOM. We both agreed that the friendships we’ve made in medical school are unlike any friendship we have ever had. There isn’t a whole lot of calling back and forth (although there are facebook comments galore). In fact, I can’t tell you if I’ve ever even hugged any of my KCOM friends other than when I’m setting up to perform an osteopathic manipulation. I can assure you, however, that our friendships aren’t cold or standoffish. I think that these relationships differ from other relationships we’ve built throughout our lives because they are built on the premise of mutual respect and admiration. Not to say that we don’t respect our friendships we’ve previously developed, just that there was probably a stepping stone that led to a friendship and developed into respect. Here, we all fought tooth and nail to get into medical school, and now we are all trying to prove ourselves worthy of such an opportunity. We all recognize that time is a valuable commodity, and as such, we can’t have movie nights or Dairy Queen nights every single night. We get by, and we ALWAYS have someone to lean on when we need it.

Yesterday I was having lunch with a few prospective students and I somehow got on the subject of “making it work.” I was explaining how you have to make time for yourself (see Post #1) and how there will always be a way to make your schedule work. I looked across the table at my friend, the new mom. She is a perfect example of the “making it work” speech and the “respect and admiration” topic. I mentioned in the last post (see Post #2) that she went into labor early and delivered her beautiful baby girl on a Saturday night. Since her baby was premature, there were associated health issues that kept the new family in the hospital for a week. As a result, my friend was excused from a Pharmacology test, an Infectious Diseases test, and an Infectious Diseases case presentation (all to be made up upon her return to classes.) The following week, my friend returned to classes just in time for a Neuroscience test on Monday and an OTM technique critique on Thursday. Just in case you weren’t keeping track: let me tell you what HER schedule looked like this past week:

Monday: Neuroscience Test

Tuesday: study study study

Wednesday: Pharmacology Test

Thursday: OTM Technique Critique

Friday: Infectious Diseases Case Presentation

Saturday: Infectious Diseases Test

Yes, you saw that right. A test on a Saturday (ew!) As you can see, she found a way to make it work. I’m not sure I could, but she did and that’s what matters. Remember what I was saying earlier about medical school friendship being based on respect and admiration? This takes that to a WHOLE new level! I guarantee that no matter where you go to medical school, you will meet people who will make you a better person. They may not come in the same form as any of your previous friendships, but as long as you are open to them it will make the medical school journey so much easier and (*gasp*) possible even enjoyable.

As an added bonus this week: The new mom gave permission for me to post a picture of her pride and joy.

Another busy week

Andee Wilson — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:15:15 +0000

After several cups of coffee, one trip to dairy queen, 3 trips to the hospital (as a visitor), 5 club emails sent, 2 tests taken, and 1 case presented…. I made it through the week! It’s Friday!!!!!

This week has been excruciating! It started last Saturday when I was beginning to put together my final preparations for the Pharmacology Test on Monday. This was our first test in the class, so we were all pretty nervous about how tough the test would be (it doesn’t help that we are all Type A and have to be in complete control of everything at all times! I got a call from a close friend/classmate around 5:30 saying she was on her way to the hospital to have her baby! She wasn’t due until late in October, so we were all pretty nervous for her! Things went well and she welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world that night!

Sunday: the studying for Pharmacology was a bust! I was just TOO excited about going to see my friend’s little girl! In addition, I was meeting with the other members of the executive board for Sigma Sigma Phi (the national osteopathic honor fraternity) to review applications for the new school year. Since it’s fall (my favorite season) it also means that I will spend HOURS flipping back and forth between the NASCAR race and the football games. I think I’m going to have to work on my priorities a little bit!

The general consensus on Monday was that the Pharmacology test was extremely fair. This class was a little different from the others because it relies heavily on team-learning. Most of the students I spoke with were in agreement that the team exercises really helped point out the most important concepts as well as hearing things explained from a different perspective from classmates.

Wednesday I was scheduled for my Infectious Diseases case presentation. For these assignments, we each receive a fictitious case to read about. This includes the history of the illness, the physical exam findings, and any lab data that has been received. The goal: to correctly identify the disease and agent causing the chief complaint. I find it amusing that we all get so worked up and wound up over how difficult they are going to be and how silly we are going to look in front of our classmates. It’s the same story every time :

Student A (usually me): “Hey guys, I’m going to apologize to you right now. I’m pretty sure I’m going to make a fool of myself in there.

Student B: “Oh me too, I don’t know this material at all. It’s going to be so embarrassing!”

One hour from that conversation we all inevitably emerge unscathed. This process will repeat three times per quarter, for 2 quarters. Then we pass the horror stories along to the class below us and the vicious cycle continues! Again, we all survive and there are generally no long-term psychological problems that result!

Today (Friday) was the Infectious Diseases exam. YIKES! It will never cease to amaze me how much information we are putting into our brains. Furthermore, it will never cease to amaze me how much information I lose between 7:45am in the hallway when I’m reviewing the material and 8:00am in the testing room when I’m trying to recall the information.

Now, it is officially date night. It has become a ritual that on Friday night my boyfriend (Joe) and I relax on the couch with a movie and popcorn. Sometimes I feel guilty for not studying. Most times I don’t. Classes and school get my full attention 6 days of the week and the least I can do is dedicate 1 night to strengthening my relationship outside of KCOM. Tomorrow I’ll worry about the Neuroscience test on Monday. Today? Today I’ll catch up on Grey’s Anatomy and catch my breath for the week ahead.

…and so it begins

Andee Wilson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:20:16 +0000

Welcome to my very first procrastination medical school musing! I’ve been going back and forth about what to write, when to write, and how to write since last week. I suppose I’ll just give it a go and talk about what is on my mind!

The first years have officially arrived. They have been fashionably attired in their starched white coats with looks of excitement and motivation plastered across their faces. I remember being in their shoes, however I don’t remember excitement. I remember fear. Nothing…but…fear. That fear stuck with me until well into the second quarter. This year the new class is way ahead of where I was. They have already had two tests (anatomy and biochemistry) and I’m seeing the number of studious bodies bent over books in the library dwindling day by day. I’m so proud!

Perhaps I should clarify. I’m not “proud” that they are already lowering their academic standards. I’m proud because they realized WAY ahead of the game that during these 4 years of medical school, there is life outside of the school/hospital walls. During my first year, I avoided the activities fair thinking that I was going to be too busy with academics to join clubs for fun. I didn’t even go in the TCC (the recreation facility) until the 4th quarter. Boy, do I regret it. Luckily, I’ve since had the opportunity to mend my ways and have become overinvolved. Lesson here: it’s all about balance.

Osteopathic students need to remember to practice what they preach: mind, body, and spirit. Neglect of one aspect will lead to a teetering effect and your world becomes out of balance and you struggle to hold things together. Trust me, I’ve been there. If I could change things, I would have picked up running and yoga earlier in the year, I would have had more date nights with my significant other, and I would spent more time on the phone with my nieces and nephews back home. Hindsight is always 20/20.

I guess what it all comes down to is that I’m really proud that the class of 2013 is digging in to the osteopathic approach with themselves first. I’m glad they are remembering the old adage, “I am my own first patient.” I can’t wait to see all the great things they will accomplish in their years at Kirksville. Good Luck Class of 2013!!