Microbiology and Microscopes

[OrangeCaramel]

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I just have a curious question. I was wondering if in medical school, when you are studying microbiology, do you have to use microscopes? I know some medical schools, such as George Washington, have "done away" with microscopes and instead look at slides on the computer, but there must SOME instances when you still have to use a microscope.
I am worried about using microscopes on a regular basis, because I usually get headaches when I am in bio lab and we are using 'scopes. Specialties such as pathology and infectious disease are still interesting to me, especially ID because you get to deal with epidemiology/globalization/many opportunities to travel.

 

[hxkenshin]

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[nysegop]

Really? That's interesting. It makes sense. Many will probably argue that students should have at least some exposure to using microscopes but if they took a high school or college lab based science (which is required to get into med school) chances are they already have. Looking at slides reduces time.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I sympathize because I get migraine headaches frequently and they are exacerbated by the movement of the slides under the scope.

As a matter of fact during fellowship I was required to spend a month on surgical pathology and it actually happened my first day much to the amusement of the pathologist as I was vomiting into a trashcan.

At any rate, yes many schools have gone to using computer slides but you won't know until you get to medical school what your particular program uses. Of course you always have the option of prophylaxis with medication before. You're not by any means the only one with this problem.

 

[OrangeCaramel]

Looking at slides reduces time.

Wait, reduces time? Wouldn't looking at slides increase time, when you could do it digitally?

@Winged Scapula So I take it that you aren't going to specialize in pathology or another specialty that requires the use of microscopes daily? Even though my physician says taking medication (Tylenol, actually) before lab is okay, I am afraid of becoming dependent on the drug. Right now it's not a big deal, since my bio lab is only once a week, but I could see it becoming a problem later.

Thanks for the replies.