It's hard to believe it's been 5 months since we started. Time has flown by. I've learned so much and had the pleasure of making so many new friends. I'm looking forward to next semester and what it entails!
9/6/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
9/13/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
11/20/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
12/4/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
Total: 32 Hours
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Sunday, November 30, 2014
November
It's hard to believe it has been another month in the Pharmacology program. We've only had one test since my last post and I'm glad to report that went well. Now that we've had two blocks covering the new Mol Cell class I feel confident on how to prepare for our last GI block exams coming up. With our curriculum lightening up we have been spending more time volunteering and socializing. A couple of weeks ago about 10 of us traveled to Fountainbleau State Park across the lake to go camping for a night. We set up our tents and luckily we had two boy scouts with us (Graham and Spencer) to work on the fire. Nick brought several friends who cooked up fish fillets they had caught that morning. It was a great experience, and a much needed change of scenery. I'm looking forward to finishing up this last block exam so I can enjoy the winter break and hopefully catch up on some MCAT studying! I hope next semester doesn't pass as quickly as this one is.
Here is a photo of a few of us circling the camp fire our boy scouts worked so hard to build!
Here is a photo of a few of us circling the camp fire our boy scouts worked so hard to build!
Friday, October 31, 2014
All About Renal
It's hard to believe its been another month in the Tulane Pharmacology Masters Program. Having the CV Block completed, we dived into the renal system. I have really enjoyed the renal system and that all of the lectures overlapped on a set of common concepts. It was very interesting and useful learning about all the different drugs to treat hypertension, BPH, ED and UTI's. These are issues that many Americans have. The other night I spent several hours talking to my uncle about what medications he was on for hypertension and was relieved when I knew all of them.
In the last month we had a new class sprung on us, Molecular Cell Pharmacology. I heard how hard this class was from several students who graduated last year, so I was nervous at first. Upon having a few lectures, my nerves calmed and I found the material fascinating. We learned a lot about gene therapy and stem cells from Dr. Bunnell, who has a lab at Tulane. Dr. Beckman has recently introduced us to the techniques used in tissue culture, a practice that is essential for pretty much every lab in the country. She gave us an assignment to find a good Youtube video explaining the basics of cell culture. Unable to find a decent one, my group decided to make our own. I've spent the day working with Nick, who graduated last year and who now works in Dr. Katakam's lab, making our own video on cell splitting. Below is a picture of us in the lab working on our production!
In the last month we had a new class sprung on us, Molecular Cell Pharmacology. I heard how hard this class was from several students who graduated last year, so I was nervous at first. Upon having a few lectures, my nerves calmed and I found the material fascinating. We learned a lot about gene therapy and stem cells from Dr. Bunnell, who has a lab at Tulane. Dr. Beckman has recently introduced us to the techniques used in tissue culture, a practice that is essential for pretty much every lab in the country. She gave us an assignment to find a good Youtube video explaining the basics of cell culture. Unable to find a decent one, my group decided to make our own. I've spent the day working with Nick, who graduated last year and who now works in Dr. Katakam's lab, making our own video on cell splitting. Below is a picture of us in the lab working on our production!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The Start To a New Beginning!
It feels like yesterday I was sitting in class during the first week of the Tulane Pharmacology Masters program in the middle of July. We were told about our blogs, and how we wouldn't have a post due until the end of September. I remember thinking how long I had. I can't believe that time has already come! I'm about to take my 4th block exam in two days!
I decided to apply to this program at the end of my senior year at LSU, as I thought it would be a great way to not only help me get into Medical school, but also to prepare me for it. I couldn't have been more right. While the exams and material are challenging, I find it extremely fascinating. I love learning about medical pharmacology. I love that for once in all my years of taking tests, I find the questions (clinical vignettes) relevant to something I love!
In addition to the course work, I've made tons of new friends while at Tulane. Our class sticks together, and it's nice having such amazing people around me as I complete this journey, both in the good times and the more stressful times! Last month a lot of my classmates and I started to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. We coordinated two weekends where a bunch of us could go out, and we carpooled out to two different sites in New Orleans to help build houses. Working with Habitat for Humanity in Baton Rouge, it brought back lots of great memories. It's an amazing feeling when you get to make such a positive difference for your community. I also loved getting to bond with my classmates despite all the sweat and mud!
I'm looking forward to the rest of the semester, and can't wait to see where this journey takes me!
Volunteering Hours for September: 16
9/6/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
9/13/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
I decided to apply to this program at the end of my senior year at LSU, as I thought it would be a great way to not only help me get into Medical school, but also to prepare me for it. I couldn't have been more right. While the exams and material are challenging, I find it extremely fascinating. I love learning about medical pharmacology. I love that for once in all my years of taking tests, I find the questions (clinical vignettes) relevant to something I love!
In addition to the course work, I've made tons of new friends while at Tulane. Our class sticks together, and it's nice having such amazing people around me as I complete this journey, both in the good times and the more stressful times! Last month a lot of my classmates and I started to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. We coordinated two weekends where a bunch of us could go out, and we carpooled out to two different sites in New Orleans to help build houses. Working with Habitat for Humanity in Baton Rouge, it brought back lots of great memories. It's an amazing feeling when you get to make such a positive difference for your community. I also loved getting to bond with my classmates despite all the sweat and mud!
I'm looking forward to the rest of the semester, and can't wait to see where this journey takes me!
Volunteering Hours for September: 16
9/6/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
9/13/14: 8 hours at Habitat for Humanity
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