Finding the Art in Anatomy

There are many ways to appreciate human anatomy. The complexities of the human nervous system interest me more than any novel ever could. Many artists have seen the art in these systems and translated it to canvas.

Here is a few more Neuroanatomy power points to help explain the art that is the CNS. These deal with the cranial nerves (CN).

CN I - IV

CN V - VII

CN VIII - XII

On a somewhat personal note, my microbiology research is almost finished and I will post it on here as soon as it is finished and published.

Chemistry

Of all of the pre-requisites for most graduate medical programs, chemistry is the most time consuming and tedious. The typical chemistry that is required and/or taken for these programs includes:

1. Principles of Chemistry (not required ever but good for recommended for anyone who has a weak background in chem)
2. General (Inorganic) Chemistry I
3. General (Inorganic) Chemistry II
4. Organic Chemistry I
5. Organic Chemistry II
6. Biochemistry I
7. Biochemistry II

So, lets say one just takes the usual minimum requirement for PA school (GChem I & II and OChem I) that is still 3 semesters meaning an entire year straight of chemistry! If one was to take each one in the Fall and Spring sequence, that is over 3 years of chemistry!

One might look at this and wonder why so much chemistry is required by graduate medical programs. Chemistry is happening all the time in the human body and without a fundamental knowledge of the basic mechanisms of these reactions and all that goes into them, success in upper level Pharmacology, Physiology, etc. is impossible.

There is hope though, with adequate study time and a genuine attempt to enjoy the material one can be successful and send out transcripts to their programs of choice with confidence.

With all of the courses I have mentioned in previous posts, one may be overwhelmed and question their choice of profession. So I have included an Introductory Chemistry course lecture taken from MIT Open Course Ware

And make sure to never forget your handy Periodic Table!

Also, a bit off topic but I just wanted to share this bit of awesomeness.

Research

Finding a field that interests one's self early on in their undergraduate years is important. Although it is good to be a "renaissance man"of sorts and have a vast knowledge of many of the general subjects in science, is is also important to strive to be an expert on one field or subject (e.g. specializations in medicine). When one finds a particular subject that interests them, they should take the time to study that subject frequently so that they may be able to possess a mastery of the subject but also so that they can be up to date on new developments in that area.

I am currently involved in research in the field of Microbiology. I am looking at emergency department room protocol concerning room turn around and more specifically the cleanliness of these rooms after turn around. We have swabbed inanimate objects in these rooms that patients often come in contact with in their brief stays on these units. What we have found so far is what was expected, plates teaming with pathogenic bacteria. This has been a very educational and fun experience for me, as I feel that I will have contributed something to that which has given me so much, science. 

This is where research comes into the picture. Having research experience on one's application can be the deciding factors between them and another student in an ADCOM's decision to fill a seat in a graduate program. But, how does one get involved in research?

First, as I mentioned earlier, find something that is of interest. The long hours and often tedium that is associated with laboratory work in research can often make one question what they are doing there, this is where having a genuine interest and passion in that particular area can serve to help overcome those moments.

Second, go to that particular department. Getting involved in research will include meeting people at that particular department at one's school eventually, so why not go there and introduce one's self and express interest in getting some "hands on" experience by involvement in research.

Third, making sure that one's CV (curriculum vitae) has some indication of education in that particular subject. A position in a research team will almost always involve some sort of application so making sure that one has the "chops" to be a contributing part of a research team is essential to their success in acquiring that position.

Fourth, have fun! Research should be an interesting and education endeavour for a student. Even though it may be tough at times and take some sacrifices (weekends, nights), it will all pay off in the end by greatly contributing to a application and the personal satisfaction involved in making a contribution to science.

Physician Assistant Programs

There are over 100 Physician Assistant, or "PA" programs today in the United States. Each one with its own mission statement, didactic/clinical focus, and with many differing in the type of degree offered, it can often be overwhelming when choosing the "right program".

One great website is the PAEA (Physician Assistant Education Association). This website offers, among other things, the most comprehensive list of PA programs with highly detailed information on each in one place as I have seen on the web. However, the website requires a one-time membership fee of $35, which is a bit more than others but I have to say it was well worth it as far as research is concerned.

Another good, and more affordable option, is AAPA's (American Academy of Physician Assistants) page. This page shows most of the programs in the country and gives links to their home page.

The degree that is offered is another vital part of deciding which programs one should apply to. Traditionally, PAs were able to practice as long as they had passed the boards (PANCE). However, the "degree creep" is starting to hit the PA profession and many employers are starting to make the masters degree a necessity for hiring. I would recommend this route as being offered by the top schools on one's list and a very highly-ranking deciding factor in school choice so that one is not limited to the positions they are able to take upon graduation.

Neuroscience

Of all the the aspects and topics in science that I enjoy reading about and researching, Neuroscience (particularly Neuropsychology) is my favorite. Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system. I compare this field of study to that of space, where when one begins to look into the present day knowledge of that field we realize how little we know about it. The mysteries of the brain/mind are one of my favorite topics, the things that we cannot fully explain. 

One of the "all-stars" of Neuroscience is V.S. Ramachandran MD PhD. Ramachandran is a professor and researcher of Neuroscience at UC. San Diego and has dedicated most of his efforts into researching the anomallies of the mind such as phantom limb syndrome and some extreme cases where his patients believed that one of their limbs was that of somebody else. 

The following is one episode of a two part series on his work that aired on the BBC.