One for CIM

"Congratulations!"

The results of the student council election were out today and people have been congratulating me because I won as the Vice-president for External Affairs of the CIM Supreme Student Council. The reflex answer to the short word of congratulations would have been a mere "thank you," yet at the back of my mind are some things;

To me, CIM is a place - rather, a home, that you learn to love gradually through time. We take pride in the academic excellence instilled to us early on as we battle our greatest enemy; that which is best fought from within us. Here, I met some really awesome people who are intelligent, holistically brilliant, and down-to-earth; the last trait I find truly admirable because these people earned the right to brag yet they chose humility over pride.

(c) Walter Lim

However, as we go in and out of SGDs and correlates, I find myself in search of something more. In the midst of a difficult examination, my mind drifts away, in search of a sense of purpose for all the difficulties that I have been encountering. Upon further reflection, I realized that I have been doing it all wrong. I treated being a doctor as the end of my efforts rather than having it as a means for the ultimate end of selfless service to the community. Perhaps we need more opportunities to get out of our comfort zones to once again be reminded of why we are here in CIM in the first place. Being a doctor is a calling that requires not only brute memorization, but also a passionate heart and a wise mind to give out sound advice to patients. Those patients would someday heed our advice, listen to it as if it were the Gospel, and cling on to it for dear life. The question is; "have we acquired passion and wisdom among the chapters of our reading materials or have we been caught up as zombies, mechanically flipping thousands of pages and losing the very essence of our education out of the dread of the next examination?

The decision to run for office in the first place was not merely out of whim. The quote "if you want something done the way you want it to be done, then do it yourself" stuck to me since the first time that I heard it from a good friend. The school and its students have so much untapped potential. I believe that the time to use that potential is not after the licensure examination but NOW. My words must be converted into action - tangible, sincere, and sustainable action that will impact the next generation of medical students. My vision is a CIM that is truly involved in its community: with other medical schools, with the CIM alumni, with other allied health care professionals, and especially with the Filipino people. There may be a large percentage of us who are planning to go abroad as soon as they are done with medschool. However, while we are here, we might as well make it worth our while and find ourselves creating ripples of positive change for the nation.

One in Nationbuilding and Empowerment (ONE) for CIM
(L-R) Josemari Lozano, Auditor; Regina Cuenca, Treasurer;
Dena Desabille, VP External; Kaira Osmena, President; 
JM Dangane, VP Internal; Hanze Claros, Secretary
Danica Oliveros, PIO

So, with my heart on my sleeve, I say "thank you, but please help me." All I have is a vision and a commitment to somehow extend CIM's involvement in external affairs. Among the other positions in the CIM-SSC, I specifically prayed for this because this is where I can make a huge difference. The gap between vision and action is large, but I hope and pray that you will be with me on this.

More than your "congratulations," please tell me that you will be with me on this, that you share the same vision as mine. Alone, I am nothing. Yet, with your support and with the grace of God, I have all I need to be something... all for the benefit of others, in the service of the nation.

Thank you very much, CIM. All I can promise you is this; "kakayanin."

One with you in every endeavor,

Tales from the "Other Side"

The CIM Class of 1990 gave us a career talk earlier today, as part of their 25th anniversary from graduation. I picked up so many lessons from all of the speakers. Of note, here are four practical tips from an alumnus whose name I can't remember. Short background, he topped the Physicians' Licensure Examination (Top 1!) and is currently an internist at the University of Illinois-Chicago:

1) Know Yourself

This tip cannot be overemphasized especially in choosing our specialty in medicine and our path in life, in general. It is not enough to know the specific medical subjects that we excel in. Rather, a holistic self-examination is necessary. What are you good at? What are your weaknesses? Which activities would truly make you happy, enough to make a career, nay a life, out of them?

His anecdote was about his own experience. He liked knowing about the universe - dark matter, stars, and all those celestial bodies of the universe.

Hi, Pluto!

In the same way in medicine, he liked working on the big picture, of seeing his patient as a complete being rather than as an organ system - thus, internal medicine. This is not to say that his path is the only path but to simply cite an example of his point.

2)  Know Your Market

It is an impossible feat to be able to cater to the needs of every individual there can possibly be. This is why you need to select your market, so to speak. Who are the people that you want to provide care for? What is your definition of fulfillment in your career?

3) Bring Yourself Close to Your Target Market

It won't really make much sense if you're a brilliant geriatric physician practicing in a place where the old people are few and far between. Yes, you have something to offer to your target market but where are they, exactly? Remember the 3A's: Accessibility, Affordability, Availability, and 1 Q: Quality.

Practical example for me in the future: I need to be in the community with the people in order to call myself a community doctor. Otherwise, all of my proposed solutions will be idealized and will cater to the imagined community in my head. It will only become a waste of resources. 

In the community, with the people.

4) Chance (but I would like to call this as Divine Intervention)

You know, like how the universe seems to conspire for or against you. Yeah, that one; that no matter how rigidly you plan out your whole life, unforeseen events may occur.

Case in point: the genetic lottery. We had no say with the chromosomes upon conception (no matter how convenient it could've been). There were so many possible adverse outcomes: Down's syndrome, congenital malformations, neural tube defects, trisomy X, and etc., yet Divine Intervention allowed us to become the kind of person that we are now. Realize, though, that the outcomes need not be adverse for they may work in our favor. 

OK, pause and do this with me: marvel at how much can change in a few years. We cannot exactly predict or foresee the future. All we have are the past and the present. What we can do, though, is to notice the patterns of the past, extrapolate it at present and make intelligent guesses of the future.

Inspiration comes just when I need it, even when I do not expect it. I find it truly inspiring whenever I listen to stories of people who made it. They have "tales from the other side", that all of these sacrifices to the point of suffering will make sense in due time. I need to be reminded about that often because (1) I am pretty forgetful, and (2) I tend to dwell on the present situation in my anxiety.

Ahhh, I initially thought that one blogpost is all it takes to unload my mind from what I learned earlier today. My, was I wrong! It has been a while since I wrote anything here anyway, so let's make this into a series of entries, shall we?

I would love to write about my #1 career bucket list item in the next blogpost! P.S. I don't have bucket lists for everything, OK. Just for my career. Haha.

Until the next adventure,

Dena

Whoa, Woman

Oh, how complicated you are, woman.

I will not even get started with your mind and its intricacies; I would rather save those thoughts for another day. Woman, I have learned that so many things could go wrong in your body -- in your monthly cycles, in childbirth, and everything in between. How complex of a being you truly are, with your curves and contradictions:

You say "yes" when you mean no; tell yourself you're fine when you mean otherwise. Your laughter and sobs sometimes sound the same, and you find beauty in everything around you.

How can you not break when you are faced with the gift/curse of nurturing life inside you? Why would you want another child when the very process of bringing a neonate into the world already sounds painful on print, let alone in real life? Oh, and need I mention the succeeding years of raising that child? You intrigue scientists and poets alike, woman, for you are an artwork and a phenomenon that they continue to try to understand but never tame.

If, by any chance the burden of childbearing does not enter your mind, your womanhood still manifests in your ability to create and to contribute a lasting impact to the world. You do not only teach, you do it by your example. You do not only lead, you serve. Woman, there is something about your touch and your perspective of the world that makes it a better place. You bring music and color, just by being yourself.

So many things can possibly go wrong yet you still take those worthwhile risks with your heart on your sleeve. You sacrifice all you have and so much more, yet over and over, you whisper to yourself that you are fine. The world disappoints you more frequently than not yet you continue to hold on to hope.

You are beauty personified,

the crown of all creation,

the pinnacle of miracles,

and the epitome of love.

Thank you for the gift of you.

(Dedicated to my Mama Mayette who had to endure caesarean section [and 20+ years after that] in order to make me who I am today. All these readings about pregnancy and delivery hurt my brain, yet they also warm my heart. Many years ago, someone willingly went through all of it, and I was fortunate enough that it was you.)

Fail Forward

Hello.

I am sad and frustrated to go on without you. I tried to rid my mind off of these thoughts, but too much empathy is my blessing and curse. I have nothing to offer, really, except these words that come from my heart. I can give you a hug or some food, or distance, if that is what you require. In exchange, let me take minutes from your precious time as you read this.

Failing is supposed to suck and hurt big time. No surprise there, I know. There isn't really an easy way to fail, my dear (may I call you that way, for now, at least?) However, let us make one thing clear; you may have failed now but you are not a failure. You never will be a failure. There is a purpose for your existence here on earth, one that you have to unravel for yourself. I wish I can tell you that I know the reason for this trial but I don't. What I do know is that this is not yet the end of your journey. Where you decide to go from here, what you decide to do with this failure just might be the turning point of your life. 

I hope you are trying to cope effectively. Keyword "trying." It's not like there's a sure-fire way to cope. Just remember that your defense mechanisms can only get you so far and they will only consume you from the inside out. Talk, cry, shout, exercise, make art, pray, and etc. Sometimes, people can say the darnedest things in their attempt to comfort you so instead, find comfort in God. He always knows what to do with you. He may be silent at this point because He knows that it is exactly what you need. Just continue to seek Him. Give yourself ample time for grieving. It is O.K. to be sad. Be the master of this emotion rather than becoming a slave to it. It will get better, you will be better, I promise. 

Seek in your heart of hearts the things that you really want. When you find them, fight with all your might. If you must stumble and fall, stand up again; this time, with your head a little higher and your back a bit straighter to show with pride your battle scars. Let your life be a testament of resilience. Fight the good fight of faith, warrior.

(c) James Lewis

For the Headless Chicken in Panic Review Mode

The finals season is the most emotionally taxing time of the academic year for a medical student*. It is during this time that our frustrations are brimming and the stress level is just too damn high.

*may apply to non-med students, too

How do you show some love for the headless chicken in panic review mode? Until the revolutionary inventions called learning-by-osmosis and knowledge-donations are yet to be realized, here are few of the ways:

Coffee

Coffee is probably man's best invention after  fire (this is probably an exaggeration, but not right now). This is our poison of choice when we need to stay awake. Be keen enough to make the right mix for your favorite medical student: some like it black, sweeter than usual, while others may prefer another drink altogether (eg tea, soda, etc). Also, offer coffee during their sleepiest time of day (night owls will have to drink it in the morning, while the early birds need it at midnight). Pay attention to those details!

Home-cooked Meals

After a long day in school with those frustrating examinations that we stayed up all night to cram for, home-cooked meals are just heaven-sent. They are the perfect solution to relieve our stress-induced hyperacidity, too. Word of caution: avoid cooking high-fat and high-salt foods prior to your medical student's exam because those foods can make him/her feel sluggish and bloated. 

Study Music Playlist

Look for existing study music playlists or better yet, make one for him/her! Songs with lyrics, especially pop songs won't probably do the trick. You won't want us LSS-ing to Blank Space and All About That Bass, instead of remembering pathophysiology of diseases, right? Classical, EDM, house, and instrumentals would be your best bets.

Hugs

There is a certain degree of closeness required to be able to offer a good hug. This is a simple gesture that speaks volumes. There's an "I'll help keep your broken pieces together" feeling with tight hugs (dramatic, I know, but really). The warmth of human touch will also be appreciated after having book authors as our only human connection for hours on end. Just make sure to ask for permission before you do it, in case you're dealing with an introvert.

School Supplies

Post-its, envelopes, highlighters, alligator clips, papers, folders, you name it- we probably need it!

Encouraging Words

There's so many things to learn in sooo little time! More often than not, your med student needs affirmation of their intelligence and skills. There's the threat of failure, of not being good enough. Knowing that there's someone who's rooting for them just might be the push that they need. Word of caution, though, DO NOT be condescending and DO NOT minimize their med student woes. You just might end up pressuring them without you even knowing it. Example conversation;

Med student: "There is a huge possibility of me failing my second year in medschool."

You: "Are you kidding me? You, failing med? That's impossible! You're our class valedictorian!"

Gee, thanks. When you are unsure of what to say, try being silent. You may also just encourage them to keep talking. Perhaps they just need to unload feelings of self-doubt without you having to say anything.

Human Alarm Clock

We will probably want to bite your head off for waking us up early to study but we'll thank you later, promise. Do whatever it takes to wake us up if we ask you to, provided that you won't leave permanent scars on our body. Haha. 

Prayers

We need Divine Intervention to survive everything. Our skills and intelligence combined with your support can only do so much. Help us pray for discernment, knowledge, and wisdom. Pray that we do not miss the fun parts in medicine, even as we go running in circles for dear life.

It may be tempting to just leave us alone inside our own world filled with readings, mnemonics, and diagrams, but please give us some love before you do. *puppy eyes*

I Can't Have Kids Yet

Times like this when I once again question whether or not my decision to pursue medicine was the right path to take:

• Family reunions where I get asked if I had a boyfriend and/or plans to get married soon. What have I been doing with my life? What will I specialize on? Add to that are the new babies every time we meet. I know they all mean well but still... oh, and I'm old enough to be maid of honor too.

• The brother's first anniversary with his girlfriend. My stone-cold brother engaging in sappy Facebook PDA, being one-half of a power couple that I admire. I am happy for them and all, but where is that one person for me? Would it have made any difference if I did not make myself so busy (consequently seeming unavailable) in medschool?

• The whole maternal clan on a night out while I tapped out and decided to forego karaoke with booze because I have an exam to cram for...

...only to find myself plagued with this question of whether or not this is still worth it. I will probably become that doctor-daughter/sister/aunt/niece in our future reunions; perhaps still single but nonetheless happy. Just know that I will never be too busy for all of you, at least I try not to. These sacrifices are all for us. I would also love to hear about your life stories (heartaches, school frustrations, what-not), not just about your health problems. I will always be 'Namae' to you, the one you witnessed growing up through the years.

To answer my question, yes, this is still worth it. Your first-born grandchild and (hopefully) first doctor in the family shall endure everything it takes to make you all proud. In the mean time, no pressure for kids/lovelife/whatever, OK? It will happen in due time.

Why Med?

Initially, I wanted to become a carabao doctor. My childish mind thought that we could just slaughter the poor carabao if worse comes to worst. Tada! Instant viand. It didn't end there, for my interests were so varied in as much as most of them were fleeting. I used to dream of becoming one (or all of the following): doctor, lawyer, teacher, nun, and astronaut. With the future ahead of me, everything seemed possible. My parents who were ever so supportive encouraged me to pursue the career that I set my heart into. We belong to the middle middle class but they never told me that we couldn't afford a degree program. Even if they had to pay with an arm and a leg, they encouraged me to pursue my heart's desire. For that, I am most thankful.

Early on, I knew in my heart that I wanted to make a difference but for a little while, everything was uncertain. I thought and thought of a career that can directly change a person's life, something indispensable. While it is true that I cannot leave an impact for every being on earth, I can do something for someone in my little corner of the universe, and that is more than enough.

My juvenile heart knew about the ills of the world. People are poor, hungry, and sick - they are suffering. The last trait among the three I just mentioned not only afflicted the poor but also the rich. At certain points of our lives, we fall ill to diseases and ultimately, we all die. What, then, can mediate this experience? What profession ushers most of us through life?

My answer came with one word: Medicine.

...out of boredom and for no reason.

With the rapid rise of technology, one may think that medical doctors will become obsolete in a matter of decades. I even read a comment on an online newspaper article that he can just google his signs and symptoms for a diagnosis, with corresponding treatments. To which I say, yeah, your two-day cough is definitely tuberculosis (sarcasm obviously intended). I cannot overemphasize here the value of individualized care, not to mention the human touch in providing care and cure. Indispensability, check.

Most of the time, the determining factor between healing and death is the intervention to stall one and to hasten the other. With its ever-changing evidence-based interventions, medicine is achieving this feat. The human body is an intricate work of art worthy of preservation and praise. It is then imperative that medical doctors are trained well in their attempts to protect this masterpiece. Importance, check.

A healthy nation means having a stronger workforce that will consequently fuel the economy towards greater heights. Although materialistic in nature, I think that it is essential to provide the masses with their needs and some wants. By saying "healthy," I mean the holistic well-being of every Filipino achieved through preventive, curative, and rehabilitative interventions. This effect will carry on to the many generations to come. Impact, check.

This does not mean, though, that medicine is the only way to leave an indispensable, important impact to the world. What I'm trying to say are the reasons why I was crazy enough to undergo the rigors of training as a medical student.

The promise of making someone's life better keeps me going. How about you, what inspires you?

Fighting Alongside Warriors

Last Saturday, I was reading about diabetes mellitus in a coffee shop. This topic hits close to home because my father has diabetes, hypertension, gout, and post-surgery thyroid cancer. If you met my dad, you wouldn't think of him as sick but truth is, he takes nine maintenance medications. These nine maintenance medications have been reduced to five, but he knows and we know that these meds will never go away for the rest of his earthly life.

I was reading Harrison's and I was on the verge of tears. When I looked up to rest my eyes, I found myself crying. I felt embarrassed to cry publicly in a coffee shop but I can't help it; knowing that diabetes and hypertension accelerate end-stage renal disease reminded me just how limited we are as people and most especially as doctors. I sent a text message to my dad saying that although we don't hold our lives, we can make the most out of our time here.

Thirty minutes later, my father replied to my text. This was unlikely of him since he replies to text messages right away. His reply was; "I love you, too, anak. Lingi kay naa ko sa imong luyo." (I love you, too, my child. Look behind you, I'm just here.) His mere presence reminded me of my purpose for becoming a medical doctor. Before anything else, my purpose is to take good care of my family, to teach them ways to prevent complications of diseases, to take care of their quality of life.

I study not for myself, not only for my future patients, but at present, primarily for my family. In times when I think I can't go on and fight for my grades, I remember the unwavering support and the undying love of my family.

I remember my Papa Boie who is doing his best to fight against complications with good compliance to doctor's advice. By all means, I want to fight with him as his personal nurse and medical student daughter. 

The journey is far from finished, there are even times when things get ridiculously hard. I'm blessed to have his words to hold on to, the message of everyone rooting for me; "I love you. Look behind you, I am just here."

Thank you. This is for all of you.

On Becoming a Physician with a Heart: Under Examination (Part 5)

First year was a very bumpy ride for me with the major life adjustments that I had to face. The major, major adjustment that I dealt with concerned studying. Don’t get me wrong, I loved learning but I disliked studying. Looking back, I realized that I should have studied wisely and prepared better for examinations.

Summer: So near yet so faaar.
(Chalk art by PBL 2, Grp 4; person in photo is Kezi)

Correlates are not lectures

CIM applies the problem-based learning approach in teaching students medicine. Let me rephrase that. The problem-based learning approach in CIM makes students learn how to teach themselves medicine. There are correlates by the end of each module that last for 30 minutes to 2 hours. The assumption is that each student inside the amphitheater has a good grasp of the topic at hand so the doctor does not have to spoon feed information. Instead of writing down everything that the doctor is saying during correlates, take note of the stuff and the book figures that he/she emphasizes on and consider them your pointers. Go back to your study notes and books to highlight them. They will most likely come out in the exam.

Practice makes perfect

Practice answering medschool-style examinations over the internet or at the end of chapters of most books. It helps to be familiar with the feeling of answering exams. Our answer sheets are scantrons so good shading is a must. Practice reading and shading make perfectly understood questions and well-shaded circles… and yeah, perfect scores. Totally. *sarcasm*

Remember what went wrong

You will know that you passed or failed an exam by seeing your score posted on the bulletin board a few days later. You won’t be able to see your test paper and answer sheet anymore since they will be shredded after checking. The final exam questions will be along those lines so you might want to remember as many questions and answers as you can, especially your mistakes.

Be practical for Histology practicals

In reviewing those microscope slides, it is best to use index cards with a photo of the slide and a list of the parts that can be found in each slide. You can bring this in the amphitheater for speed review prior to the examination. Make sure to view the slides in LPO and HPO!

Don’t mock the orals, do mock orals instead

The oral examination may only be worth 20 points but this exam is not a laughing matter. It can mean the difference between life and death especially when your grade is hanging by a thread. Do mock oral examinations so that you would have an idea on how to phrase your answers. Oral exam questions are given ahead of time so make your own fish bowl of questions. Review with your study buddy/ies. 

Medical school is undeniably difficult but for a good reason. We would not want our doctors to go and second-guess our diseases, let alone our treatment plans, right? The awareness of the challenge may or may not be convenient, depending on how we utilize this knowledge to our advantage. For one, knowing what to expect helps us prepare and (hopefully) focus better when the actual exams come. Yet, this same knowledge may only heighten our fears, and drag us down in the process. The choice is yours, as always.

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This concludes the five-part series of tips for the incoming CIM freshman. I can go on and continue writing about every tip there is under the sun. However, we can never really fully prepare for everything that comes our way, can we? What we can do is just ease some anxiety and toughen up. Appreciate the anxiety because it signifies that what you are about to do matters to you.

See you in school! I may seem aloof and/or snobbish with my chronic resting bitch face and poise (I can't change these two things even if I tried) but I really love meeting people and sharing stories. Say hi if you can, O.K.?

Until the next adventure,

Dena

On Becoming a Physician with a Heart: Of Friends and Foes (Part 4)

First year med is one of the most crucial parts of the journey. Just like the first note to set the pitch of the whole song, our first year in medical school sets the tone of the music for the long journey towards the coveted “M.D.” Classical, pop, rock, heck even metal or rap, we have no choice but to dance along.

Ha! I’m giving metaphors when I’m supposed to be writing about tips to ease the burden of PBL 1. A word of warning, these are at high risk of becoming burdens in PBL 1 with carelessness and lack of self-discipline.

Group dynamics with dynamism

Group 17!

You will become a part of a small group for the regular small group discussions (duh). Each group consists of 11 to 12 members, with 10 to 11 freshmen and 1 to 2 not-so-freshmen. Small Group Discussions (SGDs) are the venues for healthy discussions about the competencies. Ask questions regarding matters that you are unsure of; just see to it that they are not shallow questions answerable by a verbatim quote from the book, since that would only be a waste of time. You will be sharing many things with them, including but not limited to your understanding of the topic at hand, your resources and study materials, and frustrations after exams. They are the people that you’ll be facing for the first 10 months of your stay in CIM so you better work on your group dynamics early on. Group dynamism (syn: vigor, energy) is also important as you continue to adjust to the demands and harsh realities as you go along your first year.

Find a special friend

I don’t mean a boyfriend or a girlfriend, just a friend who is special enough for him/her to become your study buddy. Your study buddy is not just someone who will sit close to you at the library or at the coffee shop but someone who will help you pace your studying. You will be encouraging each other, learning from each other, and pressuring each other, so you better choose wisely.

Good food and chika in between :)

Internet, more like “enter the net”

…and try to remember what you came for in the first place. I sometimes prefer calling the internet as a “vortex of doom” because once I start clicking links to random stuff, I just can’t seem to stop. However, I also think that the internet is a good study resource right at your fingertips. Maximize it by using YouTube videos like anatomyzone.com), websites from other universities, existing mnemonics and that Ryan Gosling or Emma Watson meme with “I want you to study right now”. Just make sure you abide by your set time for surfing the net and you’re good to go.

What is your intelligence?

This is quite different from asking how intelligent you are. Remember that there are different kinds of intelligence and reading books may only be scratching the surface for you. Know your learning style and apply it in studying. Try this quiz.

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Your SGD group, your study buddy, the internet, and even your own intelligence can either be your friend or foe during your adjustment year. It’s about time to show your wisdom in deciding who you’ll be with and how you'll work with them. The music in this journey is not your choice but the dance partners are. Best of luck.

Until the next adventure,

Dena

On Becoming a Physician with a Heart: To Save Money (Part 3)

Without much introduction and further ado, here are other ways to save some money in your freshman year in CIM:

Uniform. Emphasis on "form"

Look for a small-time seamstress or a tailor to sew your uniform because they do not charge as much. You just have to take a copy of the uniform's pattern from the administrative office at the first floor of CIM and show it to him/her. The sewing shops within CIM's vicinity charge to as much as twice the price because they know that there is a high demand for their product. 

I know that you want your figure to show even with the uniform on but for practicality's sake, you may want to leave some "room for growth". Admittedly, med students tend to stress eat, and it is very likely for us to gain a few (O.K., a lot) of pounds before the school year ends. Needing new uniforms because you can't anymore fit in the old ones doesn't sound appealing for our self-esteem and our budget, right?

Borrow your lab gown for dissection

Initially, Dr. Suson and the rest of the anatomy lab faculty will require you to wear lab gowns for dissection. Initially. You can forego buying a new lab gown and use your old one or borrow from someone who owns one instead. Just make sure you do not skip laundry days for your lab gown to rid of the formalin scent.

Use the cheaper alternatives

I used to joke early in the school year that medical books feel like a level up version of coloring books. We use highlighters like crayons, with "coloring within the lines" replaced with "highlight only what's important"- only to end up highlighting 80% of the page. A cheaper alternative of highlighters are dermatographs. They work pretty well especially for photocopied notes.

Speaking of photocopied notes, you may use the flip side of the old ones for note-taking and bind them together. 

Choose to go paperless as much as possible. For books, try downloading e-books. Notes usually have soft copies so go ahead and ask for those. Some people say they dislike the eye strain from staring at a gadget's screen so they opt for hard copies instead. It can be solved by adjusting your screen's brightness, color, and contrast. Most gadgets have the reading mode. Apparently, if you stare at anything for so long, you will develop eye strain so try developing a habit to rest your eyes every 30 minutes.

Enjoy your student discount

Did you know that we can still enjoy our student discount? Hey, it's not like we're off earning our own bucks in medical school, so we might as well grab the chance to use it. Use it as much as possible: in paying for fares, getting freebies, etc. 

The study niche

No blackout can stop them from studying in the library.

Instead of burning your money at coffee shops, you can go for alternatives like:

• Making the most out of the 8 AM-7 PM library time
• Going to your local public library
• Designating a study spot in your home. This may be a bit tricky at first but you have to make your brain believe that the spot is dedicated solely for studying. Therefore, do not eat, sleep, or even surf the internet at that spot. You can mimic coffee shop conditions (lighting, ambient music, mug of coffee) if you want.

Saving money in coffee shops

You can do the following to save some cash whenever you're in coffee shops:

• Latte: Order espresso shot on ice and go to the condiments area to pour milk on coffee. Instant latte for a lesser cost
• Two grande frappucinos: Go with a friend, order a venti frappucino, and ask for an extra cup. Divide the venti frappucino equally into two parts- now you have two grande frappucinos
• Coffee press: share with a friend. This is cheaper than buying individual cups of coffee
• Brewed coffee: buy a pack of coffee. At Php 450 a pack (in Starbucks), it may cost a lot in one go but for your next 12 visits, you can take it with you and ask the barista to brew it instead of buying a cup of coffee each time
• Bring your own cup: this means Php 5 off your drink

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Do you have other money-saving tips up your sleeve? Share them below.

Up next are some study tips to ease transition to the CIM PBL life.

Until the next adventure,

Dena

On Becoming a Physician with a Heart: In Your Bookshelf (Part 2)

With the #char tips in the previous blog post, we can now talk about some practical tips for the first year in medical school. I am the thrifty bordering stingy type of person so I always see to it that I am able to save money in my expenses, when possible.

While it is true that medical school is an expensive degree program, there are different ways for you to save money. Let us start with the books:

Say hello to my pretentious "I Read" bookmark. Haha.

Must-buy books for your first year in CIM are: Harper's Biochemistry, Ross' Histology, Guyton's Physiology, and Gray's Anatomy. 

• A go-to store here in Cebu for those books is the C&E Bookshop since they give 15% discount for CIM students. It is located near Redemptorist Church (best to consult Google Maps for instructions on how to go there). Their medical books sell like pancakes because other medical students also purchase their books from C&E. It is best to call C&E Bookshop (Tel #: (032) 253-8120) to inquire about availability and reserve those books.

• You may also look for medical books for sale at olx.ph and ayosdito.ph. An alternative will be to look for someone from a batch ahead of you and purchase their old medical books. It may take some time and patience to look for books there but the efforts are worth it since they are way, way cheaper than the original prices. According to my friend, you can haggle with the seller by asking for Php 300 to 400 off the price tag posted.

• Another option is to have laser-printed copies of the books. I have not tried this for myself yet, but you can ask around for someone who can make them for you. A batch mate recommended Ems Medical Books and Printing Services (Contact #: +639273734579). You just have to make sure of the printing quality, especially the effect to the text upon highlighting.

• You may also search all over the internet for torrent links and downloadable e-books of the said medical book titles. Just be careful with scams and viruses. 

• For books that you'll only be using some parts of (like those in the reference list), it is best to photocopy the important pages instead of buying the whole book. Of course, you can use your library privilege and borrow the book for no cost at all, just make sure you return the book on the due date (library fine per day: Php 20).

Good-to-buy: Netter's Atlas of Anatomy

Buy it if you want to have your own copy of Netter's beautiful anatomically-correct artworks to supplement your study of anatomy. However, you can make do with an e-book and just borrow the book from the library during dissection.

Get real: You won't have the time and attention span for the big bad-ass Mama Gray (around 7k pesos). Go for the Baby Gray (around 3.5k pesos) instead

Mama Gray is this thick hardbound anatomy book weighing approximately 5 kilograms. It can topple your book stand, study table, and bookshelf if they are not sturdy enough. It contains in-depth information regarding the human anatomy. But let's get real, speed reading its pages which would most likely be the case given the weekly exams would only cause information overload and untoward nap times. On one hand, Baby Gray is the simpler, cheaper and more readable version. Just remember to be thorough with your studying and pay attention to correlates and discussions.

Not a save-your-money tip but a save-your-soul tip: Make study notes

Your future self panic-studying for the final exams will thank you for it. Formulate your own shorthand but make sure that you understand it when you read your notes few months later.

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I will be writing about other money-saving tips in my next blog post. Stay tuned for more. Oh, if you have some questions, go and write them below.

Until the next adventure,

Dena

On Becoming a Physician with a Heart: The First Heartbeat (Part 1)

So you want to become a physician with a heart; good for you. However, before you make your name two letters longer with the "M.D." and before you take the lifetime commitment to save lives, you will inevitably go through fire (figuratively and/or literally, depends). 

I have some tips for you, incoming CIM freshman.

You better be sure that you want to be here

This just has to be the first tip here; not to put you off but for you to think and rethink your decision to become a physician. Reality: you will be spending your prime years within the classroom's and the laboratory's four walls instead of seeing the world. You will be spending hours studying books with combined weights heavier than yourself. Financial emancipation from your parents will not be achieved until you're 30 (this, coming from a dermatologist I chatted with last year). It will demand so many things from you, so you better take it or leave it as early as now. This is my lengthier version  of "run while you can", really. 

You're smart and you can ace everything, as usual.

You think that it is your purpose in life. 

You want to save lives and be a superhero.

You'd like to see for yourself what the fuss is about in medicine.

I am not in the position to say which reasons are valid, but please remember why you are taking up medicine in the first place. Write it down and post it in your cork board, make a song out of it, and just remember your reason when you are in the questioning phases of your journey (they will come by more frequently than expected!).

It's everybody's game

I used to think that there were certain bachelor degrees that gave someone an edge in medical school. I have to admit that I was wrong. In our batch alone, graduates of mass communication, physics, and even engineering perform fairly well with the graduates of nursing, medical technology and other allied medical professions. I think that those bachelor degrees are supposedly preparations for the future professions intended for them, not as prerequisites of medicine. Sure, non-medical degree graduates need to go the extra mile to study unfamiliar medical terms but once they get the hang of things, they perform pretty well. The point I am trying to make is that more than your pre-medical degree, you need to work on your current efforts and study habits. This is instead of banking on your prior knowledge and being complacent throughout.

Also, since you are in one of the top-performing medical schools in the country, expect the smart ones to flock here. Do not be surprised with the 50 latin honor graduates, 25 board topnotchers, and the quiz bee legends whose names you only used to hear about. News flash, you are part of the flock of smart ones so do not be intimidated early in the game. It's all about your staying power.

Three things you can never get enough of: 
Prayers, Pep Talk, and Preparation

Just like essential amino acids, these three things are essential components in your journey to become a physician. A strong support system will be your rock when you feel like walking away from it all. Sometimes, our own strength will fail us so we need those extrinsic sources of motivation as much as possible. A hug from your parents after a long day dissecting for the muscles of the body, a listening ear of a friend for your rants regarding the latest hardcore exam, and just about every source of comfort and strength are important morale boosters.

This, on our dining table/my study table. A daily dose of quotable quotes to get by. LOL

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I realized that I still have so many things to talk about so I decided to write a series instead of one lengthy post. This is beneficial for both of our attention spans, as we may have some other things to do (like checking out that cat picture on the internet or watching a YouTube video of babies dancing or stalking our crushes or all of the above simultaneously, in multi-window mode).

I will be writing about some practical tips next time, now that the #char is out of the way. Haha.

Until the next adventure,

Dena

See, I am Here | CIM Here

I would like to start writing about my medical school journey here and now. No trigger, really, except that I would want to write down memories of my struggles and triumphs without regard for what is to come, even temporarily. In the end, I may or may not achieve my dream of becoming a physician but for now, this dream is becoming my reality. Too real in fact that it is consuming me in my waking hours, demanding the life out of me as much as possible. I would gladly oblige to this. I am willing to go the extra mile for this passion long after my legs have given up.

Rather than the topic of my medical school journey being out of place in this blog, I think that my thoughts on this matter have finally found a new home. With this addition comes the completion of my need to chronicle my travels in life, hoping to inspire other aspiring souls. Yet, as I have written before, I write primarily to remember. Let me remember the pain of molding through words written vividly on print.

I am an incoming second year student of the Cebu Institute of Medicine. I would like to tell you more about my winding path to become a medical doctor. Consider this as my stash of medschool-related thoughts and musings.

Until the next adventure,