Studying Hard in September

Studying was the name of the game at the beginning of this month, and it definitely paid off. On September 11 we took our third block exam involving Neoplasia, Hematology, and Cardiac Physiology. I really wanted to do well on this particular Principles of Pharmacology exam as it is worth approximately 31% of my total semester grade. While covering the topics of the EKG, I went straight to the physicians I work with at Ochsner Baptist for help. They provided me with an EKG book and made a point of teaching me about interesting EKG findings during all of my shifts. That, combined with helpful advice from some of my classmates, allowed me to successfully prepare for the exam. Now that most of my Principles grade is done for the semester, I can (moderately) relax and focus on studying for the Cardiovascular Medical Pharmacology block exam next week.

On September 14, I listened to a talk by Bill Nye at the Tulane uptown campus. His message was simple: Let's Change the World. While easier said than done, I felt he successfully motivated his audience to begin making small changes in their lifestyles and to take a stand against further climate change. At the end of the talk, he called Neil deGrasse Tyson during the Q&A session. Look forward to some updates when I get to see Neil deGrasse Tyson speak at the Sanger Theatre in November.

September 15 was my 23rd birthday. For the first birthday in years I did not have class, work, exams, or a hurricane. With the temperature a balmy 85 degrees, I could almost feel fall in the air. I spent most of my afternoon at City Park with some of my classmates. And of course, what's a trip to City Park without a beignet and cafe au lait run?

Volunteering at UMC is never a dull moment. I'm finally able to successfully navigate the Emergency Department without losing myself in the seemingly endless hallways. I find it difficult each week to see very sick patients wait several hours for triage, let alone to receive an ED bed for evaluation of their complaint.

Today my group presented a review article of the effects of integrin treatment in type 2 diabetes for our Advances in Pharmacology course. I (reluctantly) appreciate the experience this class gives me in improving my public speaking skills. This class is also beneficial in that helps keep my classmates and I up to date on relevant research topics.

Volunteering:
9/18: 3.5 hours
9/25: 4 hours
Total September: 7.5 hours
Total Semester:10.5 hours