Muser, M.D.

Just a few quickies on what's going on in the "body" of knowledge at UVA School of Medicine.

-Our lab group dissected our cadaver's brain on Monday...using a flat-bladed "brain knife," we sliced across the soft brain tissue in various sections, seeing structures such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and insula. It's one thing cutting out a bit of skin in the arm or leg...it wouldn't be that big of an effect on a living person. But even excising a tiny bit of brain tissue would have a large effect.

-Also on Monday, we had Standardized Patient Interviews. These are one-on-one interviews between student and patient (a volunteer who is role-playing) intended to develop comfort getting a history of present illness (HPI), past medical history (PMH) and other relevant issues. This round of interviews was a little more advanced than the interviews in the fall, with more complex issues in the history, like alcoholism, other substance abuse issues, and sexual issues, in additon to the regular "my leg/stomach/head hurts" complaints.

-Today was a half-day "preceptorship," spent shadowing a community physician. Three half-days this year are spent in this clinical experience...it's nice to get away from the basic science study and participate in something clinically relevant. Today I took histories from real patients, which was even more exciting. A little intimidating at first, but easy once you get used to it.

~Micah

Comments

[Bet]

Sounds like quite the day, Micah! Plus you got to have your mom's home cooking tonight... it can't get much better than that. :)

[Chris]

Sounds like the Muser M.D. is really enjoying his "work"... :) Enjoyed your blog entry. When I was in Nursing school my favorite part were the days we had "clinicals". Doing all the real nurse "stuff".... shots, IVs, treatments, working with the patients....Glad you are having some of those clinical days already!
Chris

[Aunt Rhonda]

Wow, Micah! That all sounds really cool. :) You're getting to be a real-live doctor! We are so proud of you (in the best sense of the word!) and we pray for you often.