Well, first let me explain my absence. We had fall term finals right before Thanksgiving, and then as soon as that was over, BAM got hit in the face with the start of Clin Med for Winter. It's definitely a bit of an adjustment going from H&P to Clin Med. H&P is really hands on and you just barely scratch the surface when it comes to symptoms and conditions. Clin Med is everything we've been waiting for and dreading at the same time: Epidemiology, etiology, signs, symptoms, risk factors, treatment, complications, going from one body system to the next, bam bam bam. I'm generally one of the more "chill" students in the class, I don't tend to freak out too much, but even I'm starting to feel the pressure. It's OK though, I'm confident that after a nice relaxing winter break back home in California with my friends and family (who I'm missing dearly right now...only been home once since school started in June), I'll have recharged and find a way to get into the swing of Clin Med. It definitely feels like one of those things that's a little overwhelming at first, until you figure out how to best study for. Probably doesn't get "easier", but you just get better at handling it.
PCOM held a free holiday luncheon for us last Friday. One thing you will learn is that free food in grad school can easily become the highlight of your day/week/life. It was actually pretty neat; the faculty (including the President Dr. Schure) served us with a smile, the roast beef and turkey weren't dry, there was a nice little dessert array, and they had that chocolate fondue fountain that they seem to bust out for every special occasion here. How many other PA programs can boast a chocolate fondue fountain?!? Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of the fountain, but here's a few others:
In the upper left corner serving food and wearing the maroon shirt is Sean, one of the PA faculty. In the bottom right, sitting at the table from L-R are Sydney, Aly, and Christina. They are awesome.
