Aud, MD @audmd-blog - Tumblr Blog

Meeting with the Professor

Always nerve-wracking. When you schedule an appointment, s/heknowsyou want something. A letter of recommendation, an explanation of a grade, some sort of out-of-his/her-way favor.You're not in there to say "hi!"

So I've got guilt before I even ask for anything.

I know, I need to get over it. I'm going to have to start getting those letters so, so soon. And the worst that I could be told is that I'm a total joke and wouldn't even be accepted into cosmetology school no, right? So then I ask someone else.

Why is this so awkward? Why must I do this awkward thing as part of my premedical requisites? I don't like to be a bother, and I do feel that asking distinguished persons to take time from their busy lives to analyze my qualifications in letter formatis being a bother.

Get over it, right? I'm going to get over it.

#LoR #Get Over It #Applying to Med School

Sometimes I feel I'm just not smart enough.

Above average, sure, but enough to be a good doctor?

Enough to even get into medical school?

How does one know, aside from rejection or acceptance letters?

#PreMed #Self Doubt #Let Me In!

"I think we might have had a traumatic draw."

First tube, as you can see, is upside down. The "CSF" remains virtually unaffected by gravity.

Because it is a CLOT. One big nasty totally-missed-the-spinal-cord clot.

The rest were super hemolyzed.

Poor patient. Sigh.

#How Not To Draw CSF #Bad Resident #CSF #Lab Days #Hospital #Hemolysis

Neisseria gonorrhoeae on Thayer Martin and Chocolate Agar. Neisseria meningitidis would appear identical: Pinpoint, greyish colonies.

Out of the ten/eleven Neisseria species for which humans are the sole host, only two are pathogenic (disease-causing): Neisseria gonorrhoeae andNeisseria meningitidis.

N.gonorrhoeae causes, of course, gonorrhoeae, and likewiseN.meningitidiscauses meningitis and meningococcal septicemia.

Microscopically, N.meningitidis posseses a polysaccharide capsule, an important factor in its virulence, as the capsule allows the pathogen to travel in the blood and cross the blood brain barrier. N.gonorrhoeae lacks this capsule, and so is restrained in movement (does not migrate). Both are Gram-Negative diplococci.

Biochemically, N.meningitidis can utilize both maltose and glucose, while N.gonorrhoeae can only utilize glucose. Also, both are positive for catalase and oxidase.

While both grow on Chocolate Agar, Thayer-Martin Agar is preferential. Thayer-Martin Agar contains antibiotics that eliminate natural microbiota (for example, in a fecal specimen, which contains an immense amount of organisms), allowing for pure culture of Neisseria species.

#Neisseria gonorrhoeae #Neisseria meningitidis #Microbiology #Virulence #Laboratory #Pathogens #PreMed #Thayer Martin Agar #Chocolate Agar

Impetigo: Superficial skin infections.

Can be caused by both Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS, or Group A Strep).

#Staphylococcus aureus #Streptococcus pyogenes #Impetigo #Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus (L) & Streptococcus epidermidis (R)

S. aureus appears a golden green due to complete (beta) hemolysis.

S. epidermidis displays white, "pinhead" colonies, with no (gamma) hemolysis

Helpful: my micro lab TA says that "Staph is usually bigger, Strep is usually smaller" when it comes to deciding between the two macroscopically (colony size).

#Microbiology #StudyingIsLife #Staph #Strep #Science #Lab

Determination/Dependency

In pathology class (4 hours of class/lab already under my belt) with three coffee vessels on my person, none empty: Hot, room temp, and iced. Am I regarded as determined, or dependent? :P

#PreMed #Coffee #NoSleepTil...?

Not bad! I need more mnemonics in my life, especially this semester (super duper rote-memorization courses).

#Mnemonics #Bacteriology #Antibiotics #PreMed #MedMicro

Nearly Googling myself ill in the name of studying.

#TEN #SJS #Necrotizing Fasciitis #MedMicro #PreMed #Oh The Horrors

Chest Pain

Received the most lipemic samples of blood I've ever seen, opaque milky white plasma & serum. I joked with an MLT that the 46y M was probably on his way to myocardial infarction. I checked my screen. He's in here for chest pain. I'm a jerk.

#Called It #Myocardial Infarction #Mind Your Cholesterol

So-Long Semester, I'm Freeeee*

I think I'll celebrate by going to the gym. *To do other sorts of work besides study. Oh wait, what a lie I tell. I'll be studying all summer.

#PreMed #StudyingIsLife #School's Out For Summer

Joke's On Me

Sometimes when out I pause and wonder, "Is this a joke? One big exercise in irony? Ahaha." And then I see that no one else is laughing. Oh.

One More Final,

Then I pack and GTFO of this town. How am I supposed to focus on Organic Chem II when New York and London are calling??

All the anger is really sadness, molded into a more bearable form. Steam can vent; grief soaks into your clothes and merges you with the sea.

#Human Feelings