Out With the Old, In With the New... By: Jameel Shareef

Hello everyone. I would just like to congratulate all of the first year Biomeds for completing the fall term. There is still plenty of work to be done, and the remaining courses are not to be taken lightly, but in my personal opinion, the worst is over. After hitting the ground running shortly after school started, I know most are looking forward to the break next week as much as I am. The break is much needed and well deserved, but at least for the next few days I encourage you to remain focused. Letting up between now and then could set you back a bit when you return, and that is the last thing you want to have happen. Anatomy and histology are “monsters” in their own right, but the hands-on aspect of the courses certainly makes learning the material a little easier.

Anatomy was my favorite course of the Biomedical Sciences program, mostly because of the lab component of the class. At first, the idea of working with a human cadaver may be daunting to some, but for me, it made the course exciting and intriguing. Being able to examine the intricacies and inner workings of the human body first hand was an amazing experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.

A few words of advice: the key to success in anatomy is to LIVE in the lab. It’s true that everyone has different ways of learning, but just speaking from my experience, lab time is invaluable. The lab is open most of the day, including weekends, except for the day of exams so I encourage you to spend as much time there as possible. I would also suggest that you study with some of the cadavers that belong to the other groups, as long as you have their permission. Key tissues or structures in certain cadavers may have been damaged or removed altogether during the dissection, but if it is listed in the lab manual, you must be able to identify it on the practical. If anyone has any questions about the course please do not hesitate to stop me and ask when you see me around campus. Good luck to everyone, and I wish you all continued success in the program.