Tomorrow is WHAT.

6:49 PM

Author | Stefanie Stallard

I seriously can't even handle the fact that tomorrow is January 1st. Where on earth has the time gone?!? My classmates and I are already halfway through our first year of medical school and I still haven't completely accepted the fact that I'm even in medical school, let alone that I've actually started classes. (What can I say, I'm a little slow on the uptake.)

It's been both refreshing and eye-opening to take a step back and get away from school for a while. In the grand scheme of things, we're just babies on the timeline of becoming People Who Know What They're Doing. All the same, I've been shocked time and time again over the holidays at just how much I've already learned. I'm able to chime in at the most random times with bits of wisdom I've picked up in my months at Michigan. On the way home from the airport, my mother and I had a rousing conversation about the mechanism of action of her osteoporosis medication. (In our defense, it was nearly 2 AM. We can't be held responsible for the cool factor of our conversations at such an hour.) I schooled the fam on why suddenly stopping beta blockers is an epic no-no. (This one was actually relevant to discussion and not initially brought up by me, I swear.) There's obviously oodles and oodles of stuff about which I'm completely clueless, but I've accomplished far more already than I realized.

We've tackled three big chunks of the full physical exam: cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal. Several wonderful people gave up their time to allow us to learn from their medical maladies and experience 'abnormal findings' firsthand. We've practiced taking patient histories (spoiler: I'm still super awkward at it) and learned the absolute must-ask questions for a variety of conditions. I've shadowed a number of awesome and generous doctors who welcomed me with open arms and gave me the opportunity to see some incredible things. On top of all that is the obvious: we've learned. We've learned an insane amount of things and we're just getting started. Holy moly.

I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store. If it's anything like 2014, it's going to be BOSS.

© Copyright 1995-2024 Regents of the University of Michigan
Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories
Cancer Aware
How De-Implementation Can Improve Health Care in the U.S.
In the United States, unnecessary tests and treatments not only drive-up health care costs but may also contribute to a waste of valuable resources and avoidable patient harms. Today we talk with Michigan Medicine assistant professor of surgery Dr. Lesly Dossett, M.D., MPH about an effort to reduce such practices through a process called de-implementation.
UMMS student Amy Kwarteng with other participants at the Winter Schools 2024 session.
Department News
Winter is coming: Brazil partner seeks applicants for Winter Schools program
2025 FMUSP Winter Schools program applications now open, funding available
Joanne standing in front of a research poster she created
Points of Blue
Joanne Constantin, Postdoc: Bridging the fields of public health and medicine
In this interview, Joanne answers questions about her work as a postdoctoral fellow in Health & Healthcare Research and the real-world impact it’s having.
older woman taking care of plants at a job
Health Lab
Working later in life linked to positive health impacts
People over 50 who work say having a job aids their mental and physical health, but disabilities, caregiving and other issues act as barriers to working for many, including those who aren’t working but aren’t yet retired.
kasssidy jungles
Department News
Kassidy Jungles receives the Anna Olcott Smith Fellowship Award
Kassidy Jungles receives the Anna Olcott Smith Fellowship Award
blood test bottles above arm with white bandaid
Health Lab
How can we cut wasteful pre-surgery testing?
Pre-operative tests in low-risk surgical patients dropped sharply, and safely, after a quality improvement effort aimed at reducing inappropriate care.