A Second Time Around

Ahh yes. It's that time again. The heat of the summer is in full swing and August is upon us. This can only mean one thing: school. We started a week and a half ago and my second year of medical school is already on full blast. A full week of class is in the books and we have a test next week. Our work is never done! I have my research project to finish which is also keeping me busy. So far, so good since we are in cardiovascular system which is right up my alley. As a future vascular surgeon, CV is the highlight of my year. The problem is, it's first. Now what am I going to look forward to?! Board study I suppose is the answer to that question. Since I have to take my first round of boards at the end of May, that's another exciting thing I get to do this year. But, I love it so I can't complain too much.

Aside from that, not much else is going on. My trip to London back in July was amazing. I had the best time with my dad and I would love to go back. We did so much but I feel like there's still a ton I missed. Maybe someday soon I'll go back to visit. You know, once people stop rioting and burning places to the ground. Until then...

Back to the Beginning

It's been a long time since I last updated the blog. So, I guess it's time to give the rundown. First, year one of medical school is done. It's still hard to believe that the time has flown by so fast. It's on to systems courses and while it may be different, it's not exactly easier. There's still always something to do. However, being that it's summer break, I'll take some time to forget about studying...at least for the time being.

Speaking of studying, I'm working with one of my pharmacology professors this summer on a work study project. I'm investigating the effects of certain drugs on tissue injuries following a heart attack. I won't go into too many details here but basically the return of oxygen to the heart following an attack often sets of a series of events which can lead to further tissue injury. We are looking at preventing that. Pretty cool. I'll be presenting my results at the school in October and then taking the poster to the annual AOA student research conference later that month. I'm excited. It's been interesting.

Despite the research, I'm trying to find time to enjoy myself this summer. I'm going to London with my dad in a few weeks. We'll be there 5 days and I'm really looking forward to that. I'll be sure to update the blog during and after the trip so there is an account of the fun.

And now, the biggest news: Hockey. As we all know, I was a diehard Atlanta Thrashers fan. Some may find that comical, but I found it to be a big part of my life. Many people think that because the team is in the South that we don't have any fans. Not true. We had some of the greatest fans and most loyal fans in sports. Our group may have been small compared to the other "hockey" cities but it was always an awesome environment and I was glad to be a part of it. Since the Atlanta Spirit Group bought the team, the downward slide has caused the team to be sold and moved to Winnipeg. Atlanta doesn't deserve a team. There aren't any fans in Atlanta and should be sent to Canada where real hockey fans are. People there don't know hockey. Etc, etc. I find these statements insulting and ludicrous. I was a fan and I know my hockey. In fact, I just won the Playoff Challenge at NHL.com over everyone in Canada. I take my team seriously and other fans do too. Ownership caused this migration and it's not fair. But, since I don't have the money to purchase the team, there's nothing I can do. And so now I must say goodbye. It's not easy but it has to be done. I will look back on the memories of following my favorite team with fondness. I won't soon forget the friends I have made and while we will be cheering for different teams from now on, we're all Thrashers at heart. I'm from Buffalo and have always followed the Sabres. Some of my earliest hockey memories were watching Sabres playoff games on ESPN after I moved to Atlanta. I'll go back to rooting for them and it's nice to be in touch with my roots. It may be an unpopular decision among my Thrasher friends, but it had to be done. I still love you guys. And now, we all move on. As the team moves away, and times change, we will all go our separate ways. Nevertheless, we will carry each other in our hearts and will not soon forget the happiness we shared. Farewell, Thrashers. We hardly knew thee...

From An End Comes A Beginning

9 weeks down and 1 class complete. Anatomy is officially over. I don't have the results yet, but I know I at least passed. It was a long ride but it has finally ended. Biochemistry and Microanatomy start in the morning which is exciting. I'm glad to be doing Biochem since it's one of my favorites. Microanatomy, not so much. I have trouble visualizing a lot of that so it'll be interesting. I'm sure I'll get through it though. I just have to stay afloat and get it done.

Aside from school, things are going decently. We had Taste of Our Town yesterday which is where a bunch of restaurants set up booths downtown. I went with some friends and had a really good time. It was a much needed break and couldn't have come sooner. Bridge Day is next weekend and I'm definitely going to that. Living in a small town is great as a medical student but sometimes it's difficult to escape classes and stress of everything going on. When events like these pop up, it's a great break and a change of pace that is always welcomed.

While Anatomy was ending, hockey season was beginning. I can't believe it's been so long since the end of last season. So much has changed since then, it's pretty amazing. Not only with the team, but in life in general. The boys looked good on Friday. Not so much on Saturday, but at least they fought for it. Tampa Bay didn't play Friday like we did, and Mason had to play both days in a row due to Pavelec's injury. That brings up a different point. Medical school ruins everything! As soon as he went down on the ice, my head started swimming with the many different reasons as to why it happened. While I'm sure everyone watching was curious, only a medical student would go into the details of a subdural hematoma or the possibility of doing a doppler scan to rule out any vascular issues in the Common Carotid Artery or a AAA. Gone are the days when I can hear that a pitcher needs Tommy John surgery and I wonder how it will affect my fantasy baseball team and instead I start to wonder if he has a Palmaris Longus muscle to use for the graft. Anyway, I hope Pavelec is doing better. I also hope we pick it up on the California road trip we have coming up. The season is underway and it should be fun. While I miss being there, I still intend to keep up with all the goings on.

So that's about it for now. It's on to the new classes tomorrow and we'll see how it goes. Until next time...

Two Exams Down

6 weeks of Anatomy have passed. 2 Anatomy exams have past. We've covered the somatic and visceral body (everything but head and neck for you non-science types) and now there's only one exam left. In 3 weeks I'll be done with Anatomy. That's a phrase I never thought I would say. Time is whizzing by at lightning speed when I look back, but each day feels like an eternity. I get up, go to class, go to lab, come home, study, then go to bed. I had someone ask me the other day what's new and exciting and I started talking about Anatomy. They asked me if anything else was new and I paused for a few seconds and the only thing I could come up with was that I ran my car through the car wash. Not a real exciting life unfortunately, but it'll do for now. I'm still enjoying it a lot. It's stressful and the pressure is greater than I could have imagined but at the end of the day, I really love it. I work best under pressure anyway so it's not such a bad thing.

Last weekend was our White Coat Ceremony. It was nice to see the family again and the ceremony was great. It was difficult at first because it was taking up the weekend before an Anatomy exam but it turned out to be fine. As our keynote speaker said, you have received a coat, but now you have to earn it and grow into it. I'm taking those words to heart. I'm going to continue to work hard and accomplish my goals. Some days it's not easy. There are days when I'd like to turn off my directional, drive past the entrance to my neighborhood, and keep going until I can't go any further. But, at the most difficult times, something small will come along. Even the tiniest, minutest of details in lab or lecture or in casual conversation will come up and it keeps you going.

Next weekend is the annual Penn State weekend and I'm pumped! It will be nice to get away for a couple of days and think about something other than school. I'll of course have the books and laptop with me to squeeze in a little bit of studying, but I'm still going to have fun and put most of that out of my mind, even if for a few hours. Speaking of next week, pre-season hockey starts on Tuesday! Where the hell does the time do!? I'm excited for the upcoming season. New coaches and a new look team should be exciting. I'm sad I can't be there firsthand, but I hope all of my Thrashers friends enjoy themselves. You know I'll be there in spirit.

It's off to the gym and then studying for round two of exams. A med student's work is never done. Until next time...

I've Learned What?

And now the real game begins... The second week is now complete and the first full week of medical school classes is over. Looking back at what I've learned so far, it seems like I've completed an entire semester but it's only been 6 days of class! I'm working harder then I ever thought possible, but you know what, I love it. I'm tired and I need a mental break, but it's been worth it in this short time. 

Anatomy has been pretty intense and it's only getting worse. We've completed the back and moved on to the upper limb. I've taken 8 years of Spanish and I'm pretty sure I've studied close to the same amount of vocabulary this week. OK, maybe not that much, but it does feel that way. 

In the midst of that, we've started OPP and Clinical Skills which makes it seem real. Yeah, it's how to take a patient history, but it's still exciting. Student Doctor Sorci would like to know what brings you in today. How can I help you today? It has a nice ring to it. 

So, things are moving along nicely. It seems like there's no possibility that I'll ever learn all of this stuff, but I'm confident that I'll get through. Two more weeks until the first Anatomy exam and 8 more weeks of Anatomy. That doesn't sound so bad after all. 

I hope everyone back in Atlanta is doing well. I still miss everyone but I'm getting by. Until next time...

One Week

Well, the first week is in the books. It's been 4 days of orientation and one day of class and I already feel behind! The message all week is keep your head above water and DON'T FALL BEHIND! That almost seems impossible. With the new schedule, we have 9 weeks of Gross Anatomy and that's pretty much by itself (with the exception of Clinical Skills and OPP). For those of you who don't know, OPP is Osteopathic Principles and Practice. More on that another time. Anyway, it's nice to not have to focus on 15 other classes, but at the same time, 9 weeks of anatomy is intense and a little frightening. There's so much time and so little to do...strike that, reverse it. Seriously, it doesn't seem possible but I'll get it done.

Where to begin? That seems to be the pressing issue so far. A million things have been thrown at us all week. Don't get behind, study lab, look at objectives, read this, don't read that, no wait go ahead and read that just in case, know this, and did I mention don't get behind? It just seems like there are a thousand things to do and about a day to do them in. Oh well. As one of our professors said in lecture yesterday, this is medical school, dearhearts.

Overall, the week has gone well. I've met some great people so far and I'm really happy with my choice of schools. The faculty and administration is very helpful and it's just a great environment. I really look forward to working with everyone and it should be an awesome experience. I'll keep everyone updated as we progress. Speaking of not getting behind, it's time to study. Until next time...

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day...

They tell me that time flies. I suppose they're right. One week ago I was in a Budget truck with my possessions behind me and my car in tow. Today I am sitting in my office in Lewisburg enjoying the comfortable summer day. Back in January, I never thought this day would come. When will I be moving and be able to start school?! It seems so far away. I have plenty of time. The air was freezing cold and the Thrashers still had Ilya Kovalchuk as the captain. A few months later it seemed closer but there was so much else to do that I could put off moving for yet another day. And now here we are. Orientation for medical school starts on Monday and I'm already moved into my new place. So yes, I suppose they're correct. Time really does fly.

I miss everyone back in Atlanta, but I am definitely enjoying myself up here so far. The move could not have gone any better. We made great time getting here despite the painfully slow ride up the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. Getting into my car made it feel like a Shelby GT500 and not the V6 that it is. It was hot on Saturday but we got it done before it got unbearable outside. We were able to put the ramp to the truck right into my front door over the porch steps so it was like a loading dock. That came in handy big time. It took some work but I got everything in order and I'm ready to take on the school year.

Yesterday I took a ride up to the New River Gorge Bridge. It is just outside Fayetteville, WV which is about an hour from here. Well, it's more like an hour and a half but the Mustang and I did pretty well around some of the mountain twists and turns ;) It is the longest arch bridge in the western hemisphere and the second highest in the world. It was the highest in the world up until a few years ago when the French built an aqueduct that's higher. Lousy frogs. Anyway, it was incredible. It really is amazing to see an engineering wonder that high above the ground. It was an amazing blend of man and nature. I think I will definitely be heading back up there soon for some calm unwinding.

That's about it for now. I am including just a few pictures. Those of you on facebook can see the whole album. If you're not on facebook but would like more pictures, send me a message and I'll email them to you. I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you guys and I hope to see everyone very soon. Take care.