Hey guys. I haven't been on here at all lately, and I'm just reading through this thread, amazed at how much many of you have done already, while some (EllieG) haven't started, and I'm in the middle of rotations (which are just interesting and not hard work).
I am dreading what I face in 4 weeks from now when real classes start.
LSD are you really regretting your decision?
Davis peeps, how is the new curriculum looking?
I have learned SO MUCH in the 4 rotations I have done so far, (diagnostic medicine, ultrasound, anesthesiology, and shelter medicine). I even neutered a cat today on my shelter med rotation. Next week I am on a farm rotation, where I will be wrangling sheep and drawing blood from pigs, among many other things. I also have a dentistry rotation, a surgical skills rotation, and a wildlife and exotic medicine rotation. I can already tell how much more relevant all of the classwork will be when it comes to it, (I think I've said this before), but I really think this is a brilliant way to teach us.
I also think that because we all get shuffled around each week it really brings our class together because we meet many more of our classmates than we would just being in classrooms together.
We have online modules to complete while we are doing our rotations, they are kinda extensive and test us on breed and species of every kind of animal we may come across, medical terminology, and drug calculations. Our rotations each give us small assignments to do, like presenting cases or researching a topic. We've also been given our bone boxes, so I'm trying to get a head start on learning every single friggin' nook and cranny on the bones, ugh.
I work with wildlife through the wildlife clinic on campus. The clinic has only two staffers, it is otherwise run by members of the wildlife club, working in small groups who direct the cases themselves (as a group), make all of the decisions, and do all of the medical care (while being able to turn to the wildlife doc if needed). So far I have worked on a baby raccoon, a baby bunny, and several baby squirrels.
I really like living in Illinois, well particularly Urbana/Champaign, because it is a smaller city that the busy SF Bay Area which I'm used to, quieter, and more country (and I really think that suits me better). I love the thunder storms, though my dog hates them. I realize that the awful winter weather isn't here yet, but so far the weather has been great, and the humidity has been tolerable thanks to the central a/c in my house.
I also just found out that I will get IS status beginning next year because Illinois passed a same-sex civil union law in June so the school will now recognize my marriage and I will get residency through my wife. Yay!!!!
Well that's all for now, it has been good reading up on what you guys are up to.
, will be happy with a B, will be surprised if I get below that, but we shall see.
<-----me. Every time I look at anatomy. Exam in < 1 week. barf. 
