by Shaza | Nov 6, 2011
^If I ever write a book about med school, that will be the title. The LRC is the Learning Resource Center, the med school’s 24/7 study space and computer lab. It’s actually normally not very smelly, it just sounds catchy.
Last night I was in the LRC when the title idea came to me. I spent the extra hour from daylight savings studying there and then taking the first quiz of our M2 Neuroscience sequence. Neuroscience is supposed to be our most difficult sequence- what I can tell you so far is that we have a LOT of lectures over the span of the next few weeks. It’s hard, but fortunately I can still see the light at the end of the tunnel: Thanksgiving with delicious food made by my mom. Can’t wait! I’d invite you all over, but that’d take away from my food, so maybe another time.
I’ve spent the day today sort of relaxing- today is a holiday (happy Eid everyone!), so a lot of my day was hanging out with family. The rest was spent catching up on emails. My inbox is down to 27 emails, so I’m quite pleased with myself.
I’d love to stay and talk, but my mom has made delicious food for the holiday. Nom nom. Take care everyone!
by Shaza | Oct 10, 2011
Hey everyone, hope you’ve been doing well.
Since I last spoke to you, the M2’s and I have gone through our pulmonary and renal sequences. Although we already learned about the physiology of all the organs last year, this year we’re learning how it all goes wrong. The information this year has been much more interesting and pertinent to what we need to know as physicians, but it also has been a more difficult year. It’s a little scary to hear a professor say, “Remember this when you become a doctor, it can kill patients,” and try to tell yourself that you’ll remember.
For the next two weeks, the M2’s get a ‘break’: clinical weeks! Interspersed throughout our first two years, we get these clinical weeks (actually called Clinical Foundations of Medicine) to learn how to perform exams, learn about alternative medicine, health care issues, and whatever else they deem important. For med students, it’s like spring break. We finally clean our apartments, put those pictures up that we told ourselves we would (I still haven’t done this, but the week is young), and hang out.
But of course there’s serious business too: each clinical week last year we learned a different portion of a physical exam. In our last clinical week at the end of M1 year we had to do a full physical on a standardized patient, where we struggled to fit everything in an hour with our little experience. This year, we have to give a full physical exam and patient history in one hour. This has probably been the first day students have even thought of the exam in months, but I guess it’s important for future doctors to know how to perform a physical exam more than once… Being an M2 is so serious.
Alright, gotta go make the most out of my free week! Take care everyone!
by Shaza | Sep 8, 2011
Hey everyone, sorry for the brief hiatus, starting M2 year with both schoolwork and organization activities creeped up on me.
So what have I been doing? Let’s see:
MSMD Health Fair – The Medical Students of Middle-Eastern Descent hosted a health fair for Iraqi refugees with the help of the Lutheran Social Services of Michigan a few days before school began. We measured the patients’ blood pressures, BMIs, and glucose and cholesterol levels, and then they were consulted by doctors or 3rd year med students on their health. It was a really great feeling knowing that I helped organize something that helped people in need. I also think it inspired a lot of the medical and pre-med students who volunteered with us to confirm their interest in the medical field. I know I felt that way myself.
Fast-a-thon – As part of Muslim Medical Students’ Assocation, I helped organize its biggest event of the year, Fast-a-thon, where we invite medical students and faculty to fast with their Muslim classmates for a day. It’s a great event which turns out more than 100 guests, including our med school deans. It was a really great time, and it always shows a lot about our medical school that we have so much encouragement for these events. (Andrea described her experience well as a participant of the Fast-a-thon in her blog post– thanks for coming Andrea!)
School – Yes, school. And we just finished cardiology. That’s all I have to say about that.
NAAMA Conference – Members of MSMD and I traveled together this past Labor Day weekend. We attended the National Arab American Medical Association’s annual convention, which just so happened to be in Las Vegas. It was nice to get a change of scenery. And of course, it was very fun and educational, as one would expect from Las Vegas. The buffets were delicious. Here’s a blurry photo:
Alright, that’s all for now. Take care everyone!
by Shaza | Jul 14, 2011
Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing well.
I haven’t been doing anything too exciting lately. I drove down to Ohio to visit family friends over the 4th of July weekend with my parents, so I’ve developed a new hatred for Ohio speed limits. Unfortunately, I don’t hate Ohio as much as other people from Michigan do, so that’s really all I hate about Ohio (if we exclude the 2008 primaries).
As for work, I’m having a great time doing my clinical research. It’s nice to be in charge of my own work. I’m working through the med school’s Student Biomedical Research Program, which is what most med students who are working this summer are doing. It’s a great way to encourage research, not only for students to seek out summer work, but since we get stipends from the school, it makes it easier for principal investigators to take on student researchers without worrying about pay.
So, overall, I’m having a pretty nice summer, despite my lack of real vacations. Hanging out with friends that I haven’t seen well this past year has been a real treat. Here’s a picture of my friends after a late-night turkey bacon experience:
The original draft for American Gothic
Alright, gotta run. Take care everyone!
Shaza
by Shaza | Jun 14, 2011
Hey everyone! Happy summer!
M1 year ended just a few weeks ago, but it feels like it’s already been so long. I had a great first year at Michigan Med, but especially towards the end I started looking forward to summer. It’s finally here, and it’s great. Days are slower, I can finally indulge in long naps, and the weather is beautiful. So many classmates have already left for amazing locations, from South America to Africa to Southeast Asia, but for most of the summer I will be staying in Ann Arbor. I’m happy to do so, though. I’m doing research with a great PI with whom I’ve worked in undergrad, and I have time to cook and read in my spare time. On top of everything, Ann Arbor is beautiful around spring-summer. Everything is so green!
The only thing that makes me nervous is the idea that this is my last summer. After M1 year, med school doesn’t offer any summer vacations. I feel like I should be taking advantage of every minute, so I’m trying to do what I can. Today, for example, I painted my fingernails for the first time in five years. Carpe diem, people.
Talk to you all soon,
Shaza
