Derm, eye, ENT and Pulmonary modules...done!

             If you are anything like me and have ever thought to yourself "I can't wait to get into PA school, I wonder what it'll be like"... well here is a good comparison: grab a few rocks (the bigger and bulkier the better) lay them on the ground in an uneven pattern, and then lay on them for a while... then hours later get up and enjoy how GREAT it feels to not be in that extremely uncomfortable position anymore!

While I do feel lots of knots in my back from the stress... it is such a great feeling to pass modules and know that all of my studying paid off! One of the great things of PA school... you get a giant obstacle in front of you and then you climb it and feel way better about yourself! (until you look at the rest of the mountain you have to climb... ha ha but thats another story) right now i'm enjoying looking down at how far i've come and soaking in the days off, and small breaks I get to enjoy. 

The BIG derm, eye, ENT test I had been studying for is over...  and I was lucky enough to pass! I also finished the Pulmonary module which of course, was really hard also! Here are a few pictures of derm...

Actinic Keratosis 

Bullous Pemphigoid

 The Pulmonary medicine module was a lot more work than I originally thought. It took a lot of time to remember the different conditions that are obstructive and restrictive and how they would typically be treated. The most difficult part was that almost every condition had the same signs and symptoms! "Pt presents with  cough and dyspnea (difficulty breathing)" 

I learned how important it was to get a good thorough medical history in order to get a good idea of what could be causing the symptoms. Otherwise you end up with 50 different diseases on your differential diagnosis with none rising to the top! 

A few highlights of pulmonary...

Clubbing from chronic hypoxia

Tension Pneumothorax
(notice the clear/transparent right lung, it is air pushing the lung towards the middle)

Pleural effusion
(All the white in the lower left lung is fluid... it is a LOT of fluid, possible 2 liters worth)

For the pulmonary module we were able to do our physical exam skills test on Standardized patients! Which was scary and exciting at the same time. 

We practice on each other, and for our exam in Derm, eye, ENT we were tested on each other... but in pulmonary it was fun to have a patient that we had never seen previously, it made it seem like a real patient (besides having a professor sitting in there grading you). 

For those of you waiting to get into PA school, it is worth the wait, it is worth the time you sacrifice, it is worth all the obstacles you will encounter. The work is hard, the learning can be frustrating, but these experiences are amazing, and it is shaping me to be the best provider possible. Pacific University is an amazing PA school, and for those who are applying... for what its worth, it comes highly recommended by me. 

Next week is onto my next module and adventure... Hematology/Oncology. 

Rural health care track for Pacific's PA program

Pacific University school of Physician Assistant studies now offers Rural Health Track for PA students! Pacific was awarded a $1 million grant to provide this track for 5 students each year. This is really exciting!

It provides a certificate for students after they graduate on top of their PA completion certificate and Masters degree. Students in the track may also qualify for help with funding their clinical rotations! It's worth mentioning, so I thought I would post an extra little bit about it.

Click here to read more about it

White Coat Ceremony and Summer Break!

Finally got the white coat!! I wont lie it felt really cool to finally be donned with the white coat, and have the graduating class, and the class before us congratulating us on making it here. It really feels good to make it here after all my hard work, even though I know there is still a LOT more work ahead... It still feels great to celebrate little victories, I guess thats a little tip about surviving PA school.

Getting my white coat!               

Pacific's white coat patch

             

So with all of the hard-studying that came with my first semester in PA school... I get a short week (of course much needed and appreciated) of hard-playing! My wife and I have been enjoying all that Portland and the surrounding area has to offer. Its really has surprised me at how much there is to do here! (Another reason why I have LOVED being at Pacific University!)  

Punch-bowl falls 

Punch-bowl falls 

alotto gelato in Portland

I saw this in downtown Portland, thought it was cool

Multnomah Falls

                 

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

My wife and me at Multnomah Falls

This is the Alpine Slide at SkiBowl on Mt. Hood 

My wife just finishing up her ride on the Slide

The view from the lift

My first time wakeboarding!

Fall semester starts next week, and we are finally getting into the meat of everything! Ear, Nose, and Throat and Dermatology is our first module, and while its going to be a lot of work, its very exciting to get out of fundamentals and onto more in depth material. We also get to use the sim lab for this module as well, this will be our first experience with the sim lab to date and it is really exciting. I'll be sure to tell all about it. 

Infectious disease and Health Clinic visit

So this last few weeks have been quite the adventure! Infectious disease was my last course and it was the most draining class that we have had yet! It was a big dump of information and proved to be the most demanding module yet. 

One of the best things I love about Pacific's PA program is the built-in weekend "breaks" after modules. I am now enjoying my friday afternoon-monday afternoon break with little to no studying. I had a classmate explain it as "coming up for air" from our deep swimming in all of the curriculum. What a great explanation!

It was interesting to look at everyone after the individual and group test... it was like looking at zombies, everyone had tired written all over their faces with red and droopy eyes. It was apparent everyone was ready for a much needed break to rejuvenate. 

The night before the exam, it has been a habit of mine and a few of my classmates to review all of the material from the past module. However I was able to go to a free Health Clinic with a few of my professors to get some experience.

 I was able to look in a few ears (my first time using an otoscope) and I saw a Cholesteatoma. It was pretty cool, since my professor had only seen a few of them in her career. I also got to see a patient with an H. Pylori infection and practice my antibiotic knowledge and prescription writing skills. I was also able to practice and prepare for my next module with interviewing patients. It was a very enjoyable experience and helped to remind me of the reason why I want to be a PA! 


Our first semester is almost over, and it has gone by SO fast! At times it feels like it has been at least 6 months that I have been in school, just because of the amount of material. We have patient interviewing this upcoming week and i'm told it is a lot of fun. Our white coat ceremony is approaching soon and will also be an exciting event. Expect pictures of that too! 

First big course and Vice President

So... I have found myself VERY busy for the past month! I cannot believe how quickly things have flown by. After two big tests, my first course, Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine is now complete! It was so much information and I ended up having lecture 8 hours a day, then studying for another 4 or 5 hours afterword til about 10:00 every night (when the building closed). I have really enjoyed all the information and the challenge of learning medicine. It has, no doubt, been a lot of work and will continue to get harder as next semester approaches, but I can't wait until we get to do a little more 'hands on' with physical exams and working with patients. 


I do get the opportunity in two weeks to volunteer at the health clinic down the street from the school for an evening. It will basically be shadowing and following one of our professors around, doing a few things here and there. I will give the update on how that goes, it should be a lot of fun.


I have also been selected to be class Vice President! Its such a great opportunity to do a lot of good for my class, and get some more great leadership experience. I'm not exactly sure what is in store for me in this position, however I will give it my best effort and put all that I can into helping our class to succeed. 


The next upcoming course is Infectious Disease and Immunology, and this is technically our first Clinical Module. It will be a lot of work, just like everything i've done so far, but will be important for my clinical foundation. The end of the semester is soon approaching (the beginning of August) then we will have our white coat ceremony. Which should be a lot of fun too! Just starting my journey, and so much to look forward to!