Saturday, January 31, 2004
Meet Hugh Heifer
Okay, okay, I know he's a boy, so he's not technically a heifer. . .
picture removed--I guess the college does not want cadaver photos online--don't want animals rights activists on their tail. . .
Kathleen and Hugh
Our anatomy groups paired up for the semester, so there are 6-8 of us in a group, and each group gets either an ox or a horse. Since we got an ox, we look at our neighbor's horse for reference.
Note how Hugh's wrappings are color-coordinated, all the way down to the orange plastic-bag "socks". . .
And yes, he is hanging from the frame by meat-hooks and chains. . .oh, don't boo-hoo me--you've probably had a hamburger more recently than I have (11 years ago?). . .
Imagine a photo of Kara pretending to kiss the bull cadaver. . .
Kara thinks Hugh is cute. . .
Courses for Spring 2004:
Immunology lecture and lab:
The Basics of the the immune system, based mainly around mammalian immunology. We get to micropippette a lot in lab.
Physiology lecture and lab:
This semester we cover cardiovascular, pumonory and gastrointestinal systems. They saved the fun stuff for 2nd semester!
Anatomy lecture and lab:
This semester we focus on the lager animals, namely the horse, ox (which I didn't know until last week refers to a cow and bull--silly me), sheep and pig. And we actually get to touch
live animals this semester during palpation labs. Our exams will will include identifying/finding structures on live animals, too. . yay! Cows have the cutest noses, and horses have the cutest lips. So cute I can excuse the
smell.
Animal Nutrition:
Basics, focusing on both ruminants (multi-stomached) and monogastrics (single-stomached). Later we'll talk about nutrition and the sick animal. During labs we get to see endoscopies and other cool stuff. . .
Clinical Orientation:
a.k.a. "introduction to handling big animals." We get to handle the horses and oxen and we get to onserve patients and write up clinical case reports.
Electives:
Research Methods:
A small discussion group with Dr. Gross (our cardio professor) in which we read, discuss, evaluate and debate research paperts and topics. We then write our own research proposals and evaluate each other's.
Bioterrorism, Disaster and Community Health:
A survey course with about 300 students. I get to actually be a civilian and go to the main campus and attend class with a bunch of giggly undergrads. We mainly read timely articles and are supposed to discuss an debate what we read (although no one in class likes to speak up, and I'm feeling like the one annoying opinionated person who always has something to say--but nobody else says anything while the instructor, who's all worked up about the topics at hand, is aksing, "Anyone?. . .Anyone?. . .)
This class should give me a good background of governments' and health officials' relationships with each other and the public.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Good to be Back
I have to admit, I was getting pretty bored during the third week of break, even though I tried to keep busy.
I forgot to blog about my visit with my mentor at the Shedd Aquaruim--it was cool, but I'll post it later since I don't have the photos with me right now.
The first day back was kind of exciting, but without the nervous and lost feeling of the very first day back in August. It was good to see some familiar faces, and as expected everyone looks a little different--new haircuts, tans on those lucky enough to go somewhere warm, and what not. Our Cardiology professor seem very cool, wildlife rounds were interesting, I cooked up a gallon of curried potatoes, carrots and tofu for this week's dinners, and I even squeezed in some water volleyball at a little pool party held by a classmate.
The highlight of my first day back undoubtedly was an enlightening conversation I had with
Dr. Val Beasley (co-founder of the
Envirovet program). I stopped by his office to ask him about a conservation biology course and soon found myself knee-deep in a discussion about the veterinary, pathologic, toxicologic, agricultural, economic and political aspects of the this broad and growing field of "conservation medicine."
When I was first considering coming back to school, I considered things like conservation biology, entomology and zoology. Anything that could be applied to active conservation of natural resources and species. I chose veterinary medicine because I thought of it as hands-on, specific yet broad, and very applicable to many areas of conservation. A good choice, yet the applications for
veterinary knowledge alone in conservation are still very broad and varied, according to Dr. Beasley.
So what do I do? How do I choose and pursue a veterinary role in conservation? Well, Dr. B says the first step is to minimize debt in case I need to pursue further schooling. "Live in a crappy apartment, don't eat out much, get a job." Done, done, and working on it (although he also emphasized that it
is very possible to make a decent living in this field--contrary to my prior belief). The other first step is to think about what kind of habitat I want to focus on. Where do I want to work--around the country, around the world, mountains, farms, coastal, tropical, rivers? Think about that, then see him again in a few days after I've figured it out.
I'm thinking coastal because I'd love to work and live near water, but then I was thinking tropical caves, because I love bats. What a dilemma.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
2003/The Year in Review:
Fun
I had plenty. Maybe more than I should have. No, I'm not talking the "getting-wasted-at-the-local-bars" type of fun, but more like the "chatting-and-laughing-while-I-should-be-studying" type of fun. Anyone who's tried to hold a "study session" with me knows. . .
Seriously, I've spent enough time this semester sampling the various cheap eats in the Urbana-Champaign area, watching movies and bad TV (I still want the hour of my life back from that stupid "Bachelor" show!), doing impressions of my professors ("around the outside, Tom. . ."), browsing the aisles of the Lincoln Square Farmer's Market, and just meandering about town on nice days. Now that the weather is cold and bitter enough to deter walking and even driving around town, I can spend more time inside, alone, studying. . .
Monday, January 05, 2004
2003/The Year in Review:
Academic/Professional Performance
Well, I'd say I'm about average in this category, and right now, average isn't enough for me. I got through the semester with very limited involvement in extracurriculars and straight B's.
If the class load is similar next semester, I can afford to put more time into extracurricular stuff and general professional development. I got my first copy of JAVMA yesterday (finally!), which reminds me that there is a world of veterinary medicine outside of school. We've been getting lots of e-mails about job and research opportunities in specific fields of interest which I plan on looking into, and I plan on attending the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA) in March.
To reiteate, it's difficult to know how to prioritize and distribute time and energy; how much should be devoted to studying and understanding the books stuff, to extracurriculars that develop technical skills, to extracurriculars that develop "networking" skills and relationships, to socialization with my collagues, and how much to devote to the other things that make up human existence (personal relationships, hobbies, fun, health, etc.)?
I managed to keep my head above the water this past semester. But is merely staying afloat
enough?
2003/The Year in Review:
Health and Fitness
(I just realized this whole "Year in Review" thing is going to be little more than a whiny summary of all the things I could have done better this year. . . but it's good to get off my chest, right? And now that it's all going to be documented, I'm commited to stop whining and do something about it. . .yeah, right)
I'm weak. I'm fat. I'm sluggish. My eating and exercising (or lack therof) habits have been poor. And it shows. My energy and enthusiasm have been lackluster at best.
The exercise thing will pick up when the weather warms up--I'll bike and walk more. Until then, I'll try to keep my twice weekly swimming dates with Linea.
Kara lent me a meditation video that's a lot of fun--it's got yoga and "body scannning" and all that. I'll practice the techniques whenever I feel stressed.
I'm going to try cooking more often, and try some of these raw vegan recipes I've discovered. I have all the kitchen gadgets I need: a Vita-Mix, a food dehydrator, super slicer/shredder and all the works, so I'll try to use them more. I'll make more batches of vegetable soup and insist that my sickly, coughing classmates eat, eat, eat it! You hear that guys? If you're sick, stay away from me unless you want to deal with the soup nazi!
2003/The Year in Review:
Intellect and Creativity
I think I was an intellectual at one point. . . in the sense that I engaged in the more-than-occasional discussion about art, history, literature, music, politics, current events, et cetera. I even took up painting for a stint. I used to write little ditties about love and truckers and dogs and flowers and the like. I wrote essays and short stories just for the fun of it. I liked to think of myself as a Renaissance woman in the making. For a while one of my hobbies was reading up on metaphysics and discussing the philisophical and theological implications of the existence of wormholes and fourth dimensions over jalepeno poppers and beer (true intellectual food).
Look at me now. My daily and weekly goals consist of rote memorization of facts. My books by Hemingway, Welty, Hawking, Thoreau, Plato and the likes are all collecting dust. I gave away my paints and easel to afford the space for a real working desk. I find myself sitting in bars dumbfounded when my non-vet school friends talks about politics and current events. The closest thing I do to creative writing is posting on this blog.
The solution/resolution:
I still have my watercolor paints. And my German "water-color pencils." I am going to give some of my past animal-related artwork to the ISCAVMA auction (to raise money to cover the cost of the conference in March) and I'm going to start experimenting more with watercolors. If I get strapped for study time, I can just combine the two--I can practice painting the inside of a cow in full color. (but I don't think anyone would want to buy that at an auction. . .)
I will subscibe to a daily newspaper. A
good one. And I'll try to read a half-hour a day.
I will put my favorite books in the bathroom so I can flip throught them and remember how much I love them.
I will draw a few comic strips and submit them to the T-Times (vet student-published newsletter).
I will listen to good music a little each day, perhaps while I read or study.
I will write at least two good songs this year, and at least one will NOT be animal or school-related.
All this in addition to maintaining good grades and getting the most out of my education. . . right?
