Brains brains brains

Today I got to see a brain for the first time. My favorite parts so far include the cerebellum (it's beautiful), the cerebral aqueduct (who knew we have an ecological landmark in the middle of our brain?!), and the circle of willis. The brain has a lot of cool terminology like that, which I think makes it fun to learn, plus the brain is FASCINATING. In the evening I helped with H1N1 vaccinations on campus, I am very confident in my vaccination skills after 3 hours of straight vaccinating. After 12 hours on campus, I am very fortunate that caffeine crosses the blood-brain barrier, can't wait for the 3-day weekend!

Support Haitians

I donated and you can too. Life is about people, and people in Haiti are in need of all the help we can give them right now. I can't wait to be a surgeon so I will have skills I will be able to provide anywhere, anytime needed. Here is their latest news release about the situation.

I love med school!

Days like today remind me how incredibly cool it is to be in medical school. I start the morning shadowing Dr. Osterberg at the VA's hypertension clinic, learning about all the different causes of secondary hypertension and the different ways to understand the source of someone's high blood pressure. Then I have an inspiring meeting with Dr. Salvatierra, who, through dogged determination created the US system of organ transplantation UNOS with Al Gore, basically saying I should aim high and never take no for an answer. Quick lunch and I'm learning about the new Stanford initiative to combat child mortality in war-torn chaotic places. Best part of my day, was my Surgical Anatomy and Techniques class. I learned how to do a bowel anastomosis! Basically how to suture together two torn parts of intestine, I learned how to use a GIA stapler and how to do a horizontal connell suture to tie it up nicely. But wait, I'm not done, then I went to the Muskuloskeletal exam class and learned how to do a basic hip and knee exam. I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!!

If only I didn't have to study all evening, oh well, it's not too bad to learn about the immune system and all the crazy bacteria that cause infection and disease, it's kinda fun.

Update: In case you're intrigued, here's a youtube video of the connel suture technqiue

Anatomy Update

Today I dissected the face. It was the day I've been dreading since the start of the year. It actually was not as terrible as I imagined. The face is incredibly interesting, tiny little nerves, torturous slender arteries, short, fast acting facial muscles. I spent 3 straight hours dissecting and I could have been there all night. After a while, it becomes so engrossing, methodical, and always interesting. I really don't know how surgeons do facial surgeries though, there is so much there! So little! Fascinating.