We survive FMED 500 and the Mayan prophecy...

And move onto FMED 501, an introductory course into the principles of forensic medicine.  Here, we get to the “heart” of the track, so to speak – the basics of crime scene investigation, the science of fingerprints, forensic photography, the study of blood splatters...  The latter topics will be covered in my next post, but for now, I’ll just touch briefly on a few of the highlights from the first class.

We began the course by building off the pathological processes we learned in the previous trimester and get a general overview of the post mortem changes that take place, e.g. rigor mortis, changes in body temperature and color, skin slippage and marbling, other characteristic physical and chemical changes etc. And also got the chance to exercise our deductive reasoning skills, Law and Order style, running through a couple of different scenarios and debating what the manner of death is, for instance, of someone who dies while playing Russian roulette.  Accident? Suicide?  Switching gears from a biological and clinical background to a legal one was not only thought provoking, but dare I say, even fun?

Much to my surprise, a particularly interesting section for me was the forensic entomology workshop.  Frankly, and maybe, I’m the only one on this island of thought, but I never really found the world of insects especially exciting.  Maybe it’s due to my instinctual first hand response to search and destroy most critters that cross my path, but with that being said, it was really interesting to learn about the essential role insects play in body decomposition and how the stage at which the collected specimen is found in can help provide vital information such as relative time frame of death.   Furthermore getting a hands on look at some common, and not so common, species of flies, maggots, and beetles, and inspecting their anatomy macroscopically and microscopically was especially cool and and identifying their structures gave me a better understanding of their role in crime scene investigation.

I'm looking forward to the next set of classes and writing about some of the hands on activities and learning more of the social science perspective of forensics.  I'll keep you posted.

See you in 2013!

Onto the second term!

The first term has come to an end and I want to congratulate all of the first year Biomeds for completing IP and MBM. I know that it was a tough term so take the time to reflect on what you have just accomplished. As another term is upon you, refocus yourself on the reasons you came to PCOM's Biomed program. Don't be discouraged by the work but be motivated to continue to do your best. You have two new classes lined up. Take the advice of the second years and know that both Anatomy and Histology are not to be taken lightly. Make sure to re-evaluate your learning styles and decide if they are applicable to helping you succeed in Anatomy and Histology.

On another note, it's time for some introductions. I'm Odessa Pulido, a second year Biomed in the Organizational Leadership track. I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and I graduated from Seattle University in 2010. As a Biology major, I studied the effects of TGF- Beta on the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of breast and bladder cancer cells.  Organizational Leadership was one of the reasons I was attracted to PCOM's Biomedical Science program. This program is for students who want to be leaders in their respective fields and make a change in their organizations. If this interests you, I highly recommend pursuing this route.

I hope that you all enjoyed your time with family and friends during the Thanksgiving break, and got to fit in some studying too, while recovering from your food coma. Again, congratulations for finishing your first term. I hope that you all stay focused on your goals and allow those at PCOM to help you get there. Onto the second term!

Life as a 2nd year...

Welcome!  My name is Irene and I’m a second year Biomed Student at PCOM.  Over the course of the next year you’ll find posts from second years such as myself who are completing the second half of the Master’s program, having chosen a concentration via one of the following tracks - Forensics Medicine, Research, and Organization Leadership.  We’ll be documenting, writing, and sharing our experiences while offering tidbits of advice and wisdom, and perhaps, even a bit of humor/sanity to you folks out there who have decided to go down the harrowing, but very rewarding path of a career in health care.   

First and foremost, let me take a moment to introduce myself.  Just a little background information, I graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Psychology and worked in two labs, one studying the effects of automaticity on implicit attitudes and beliefs, and the other, exploring cognitive attentional deficits from prenatal cocaine exposure using the rat model.  After undergrad I moved to Philadelphia to complete my premed requirements at Penn and worked as an Academic Associate in the ER at CHOP and then worked for a local women’s health non profit for a bit before applying to PCOM’s Biomed program, and am now in the midst of completing the second year via the Forensics Medicine track with the final destination of medical school in mind. 

(If you have stumbled upon this blog in pursuit of information regarding the first year’s coursework and experiences, please click on the entries in the archive on the right hand side of the page.  You’ll find a great deal of insight, information, and support there!)

Ok, whew, moving on.  After completing the first year of the program, you’ll have the option to pursue one of three different tracks.  I decided to choose Forensics Medicine because I was interested in pathology and wanted to build on the foundational knowledge I had gathered from the first year of the program (and because I might have watched one too many episodes of HOUSE, CSI, and Dexter).

The forensics track begins with taking FMED 500, which is a four credit course that starts in the fall.  It meets one weekend per month for four consecutive months, Friday to Sunday, 8 AM to 4 PM.  Though this turbo style of class might sound not as heavy in coursework as say Histology or IP, heed my words, take this class seriously, do not underestimate the rigorousness of this course.  Study a little bit every day.  There is a significant amount of material to get through and leaving it one week before the exam will not cut it.  FMED 500 covers general pathology of nearly every system (kidneys, respiratory, cardio, liver, etc).  At this point, having taken histology and IP, you should have a pretty good understanding of the disease process – initial onset, progress, and morphology – and this will give you a leg up in path.  Oh, obviously, on the plus side of having classes only once a month, this will leave you a nice chunk of time to pursue other things, e.g. a work study/volunteer position in another faculty member’s lab, shadowing, finishing up applications, getting more involved in one of PCOM’s many clubs and activities, and perhaps even having a bit of a social life.  J

Taking pathology has given me a more well-rounded, comprehensive view of understanding the etiology and progression of disease, and has helped me especially to begin to think like a clinician.  Things are beginning to make more sense this year, and I find myself thinking more along the lines of “What are the symptoms that my patient of a specific demographic will present with?  What are the hallmarks of the disease?  How can I use them to compare & contrast and eliminate them from other differential diagnoses?” Getting in this mode of thinking has been empowering and motivating and makes me feel like all the hard work I put in, in acquiring the foundational knowledge, has been worth it in helping me to really understand and  begin to think like a physician.  I’m looking forward to phase II, FMED 501, where we incorporate more of the forensics aspects of medicine, and will keep you posted on what I learn.  Please don’t hesitate to email me at irenepa@pcom.edu  if you have any additional questions!

Onward... by Alexis Mark

Graduation has come and gone for the PCOM Biomedical Sciences Class of 2012. I know that no matter what the journey has been to accomplish this achievement, we all have worked so hard and most definitely earned a moment of glory! Congratulations to everyone!

My experiences during the first year the Biomedical Sciences program at PCOM have strengthened my knowledge base of the sciences and enhanced my appreciation of just how complex and useful science is toward piecing together the processes involved in human health and illness. The advancement of medicine would be incomplete without scientific progress. And this was part of the big picture lesson that I more fully realized while pursuing the research concentration during my second year of the program.

Now, I would just like to take a moment to share with you some words of wisdom, a handful of hopefully helpful hints on surviving and thriving in graduate school. My first tip would be to work smart. While, of course it is a known fact that you must work diligently to achieve your goals, it is important to be efficient! This means understanding how you best study and absorb ideas with the goal of truly learning the material you need. Gauge the tools, tangible and abstract, that will help you move forward to thoroughly understand the concepts you will need, whether it be in preparation for a test, how to plan an experiment, or learning how one idea fits into a more complex one.

Secondly, take time. Remember to pencil in time for activities that make you, well ... you. Meaning to say, take time for what is important to shaping who you are and contributes to your success ... by the way, this includes SLEEP! Seize those opportunities that enable you to grow by stepping outside of your comfort zone. Take time to appreciate the resources available to you, and use them to your benefit to enhance what you know.

Lastly, have fun! No one wants to be around a boring grad student who only talks about their research all day and all night! Get out and live a little!

Also, the website scholarships.com reviews ways to make the most of your graduate eduction in the article, “Top 10 Tips for Surviving Graduate School,” found at the following website: http://www.scholarships.com/resources/after-college/graduate-and-professional-school/top-10-tips-for-surviving-graduate-school/. My favorite snippets of wisdom from the site’s features are: 1) Take initiative, 2) Get organized, and 3) Prioritize.

And now, as I end my final blog post, I am reminded of that cliché phrase that although graduation marks an end, it also symbolizes another beginning. So onward to next chapter I charge, full of unknowns and new horizons that I eagerly anticipate! But, I will remain thankful for and remember the challenging times and lessons learned, the people I met and true friends made, and the experiences I’ve gathered over the past two years.

PCOM - Relay For Life by Phil Koehler

Once again I found another reason to be extremely proud to be a part of the PCOM family!  Friday, March 30^th marked the first annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life at PCOM.  Relay For Life (RFL) is run by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and seeks to bring together communities in solidarity for remembering and celebrating people who have battled cancer. Funds raised go toward American Cancer Society’s research efforts and services provided, such as transportation to treatment centers and providing a place for patients and caregivers to stay when away from home at ACS Hope Lodges.

It was an unbelievable event, in which I hope to participate for years to come!  About 200 members of PCOM participated in the 14 hour-long celebration, raising more than $20,000 in donations!!! Donations can still be made: Donations.  More info about the event can be found here: What Is RFL?

Some of the fun things at the event: Luminaria Ceremony, Survivors Lap, Photobooth, Yogurt Truck, Pizza/Pie Eating Contests, Zumba, Cross-fit, OMM Demonstrations, Raffles, Rootbeer Pong, Awesome Food, Great Music, Creative Laps (Cross-dressing, Backwards, etc.), PCOM Pulmonics, Juggling, Cornhole, Ladderball, Raquetball, Twister, etc….

The coolest part for me was hearing so many inspiring stories and the camaraderie amongst participants.

I am also so ecstatic to report I have been accepted to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2016 at PCOM!  It is a tremendous opportunity and I am very grateful for the many people that have worked hard at helping me reach this goal. I can honestly say it would not have happened without the Biomedical Science program!

Before classes start in August, I will be writing and defending my thesis.  I am looking forward to presenting and watching all of my classmates defend over the next couple months.  The Biomed program has gone by so quickly, and it will be surreal graduating with all of my classmates and dear friends in July!

An Amazing Opportunity (AAAEB 2012) by Jameel Shareef

Time is really flying. Can you believe that the year is almost over? Only 9 weeks left in the school year. For us 2^nd years there is still so much work to be done. On the research track most have completed data collection for their respective projects while others are finishing up experiments. Many of us have started writing our thesis papers, (or we have at least thought about it), and others are preparing posters to be presented at various conventions such as the American Association of Anatomists Experimental Biology (AAAEB) Conference in San Diego. This year, I am excited to have the opportunity to do just that.

At this year’s AAAEB conference, I will be presenting my project which is titled “The In Vivo Reorganization of Laminin in Relation to α1 Integrin in Chick Skeletal Muscle.” This project has involved studying the arrangement of an extracellular matrix protein called laminin that plays a key role in the development of skeletal muscle in embryonic chicks. Laminin is a heterotrimeric, (composed of 3 subunits (α, β and γ)), protein that is a major component of the basement membrane, which is an extracellular matrix material that coats most cells in the body. Laminins work with Integrins, which are heterodimeric (composed of 2 subunits (α and β)) cellular transmembrane receptor proteins, to anchor cells to the basement membrane. Deficiencies in the Laminins and or Integrins that are involved in the development and organization of skeletal muscle have been known to result in muscular dystrophies. The specific Laminin to Integrin combination involved determines type of muscular dystrophy. In previous work, Alpha-1 (α1) Integrin was found to reorganize in chick skeletal muscle from a punctate (spotty) distribution to one that is more periodic (occurring at intervals) within the muscle sarcomere. Prior to hatching, α1 distribution becomes punctate again and eventually disperses to a point where it is no longer visible with immunohistochemical staining. The function of α1 integrin is unknown, but its reorganization during the gestation period is thought to indicate a structural role in muscle development. Previous In Vitro studies have established a linkage between the spatial and temporal reorganization of α1 and the localization of Laminin. The purpose of my study is to determine if that same relationship occurs In Vivo.

I am genuinely looking forward to attending the AAAEB conference next month. The opportunity to not only share my work but to learn about other potentially revolutionary studies is exciting. I have learned so much this year and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

V-Day: A Venue for Change by Alexis Mark

Many enter the healthcare field with the intent of helping people. This often becomes a challenge for many reasons. Sometimes this challenge is attributed to the fact that a disease is not fully understood. At others, it is because patients are noncompliant with treatment. Then there are instances in which environmental or lifestyle factors become hindrances. Throughout our professional lives, we will face circumstances in which a problem just seems insurmountable, and the intent to solve it gets lost in the reality of its power to overwhelm us. However, we also hold the power to decide to remain persistent. I’m now reminded of one of my former teachers who frequently said, life is a series of decisions. And, while I agree with this, I also posit that it is a series of actions that we take to define solutions and improvements.

So where does V-Day come into play with this post? And what, you may be wondering is The Vagina Monologues? V-Day and The Vagina Monologues are efforts that address the issue of violence, specifically tackling violence against women.

To briefly summarize, V-Day is a worldwide movement established in 1998 with a group of women in New York City as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its goal is to empower anti-violence organizations and at the same time represents a commitment to ending violence against women and girls. According to the website, http://www.vday.org, V-Day’s purpose is to end violence against females, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation, and sex slavery. This problem may be larger than you are aware of: according to the UN report The World’s Women 2012: Trends and Statistics one key finding was “Violence against women is a universal phenomenon.”

Eve Ensler, a Tony-award winning playwright and the author of The Vagina Monologues, decided to take action by expressing the voices of those women whose stories are often untold, forgotten, or deemed not as important as other matters. Her intention is to foster dialogues about and allow for an openness in understanding and breaking down this worldwide challenge. The play launched in 1994 and was the culmination of dozens of interviews administered by Ensler with women from a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences. The show initially ran in New York and then toured around the U.S.A.

Today over 5,800 performances are put on annually during the months of March, April, and May. Last year I had the honor of participating in PCOM's annual production of The Vagina Monologues. It required me to step outside my comfort zone, but this is something I believe I need to continually push myself to do. It also allowed me to come together in solidarity with others for a cause that DEMANDS attention. While violence against women may seem deep-rooted and overwhelming, there are steps we can take to educate and change cultural and societal attitudes about violence against women.

This year, PCOM’s performance of The Vagina Monologues will take place Saturday, February 11 at 7pm and Sunday, February 12 at 2pm. I urge you to come support your classmates who have put a TON of effort into this production and support V-Day as a way to implement change.

New Year, Fresh Outlook...By: Susan Ramirez

picture from: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ReviewPhotos-g34227-d633477-r7476815-Cocobelle_Resort-Fort_Lauderdale_Florida.html

Happy New Year everyone!

  I'm sure you're all off to a running start as you get back to work or school. First year Biomeds are now in the second half of Anatomy and Histology, and second year research students are well underway in their projects. 

  As my post-vacation serenity started to slowly give way with the rush of school, I decided to try new ways of kicking back and catching my breath. Learning is a priority in my life but burnout can make me lose sight of my goals (& lose my mind!). 

 Well, a few months ago a friend asked me a question about a park I walk through everyday. I was embarrassed that after living in Philly for over 10 years, she knew more about that park than I did. So, I'm checking out these "attractions" soon to learn more about my city. 

• Mummer's museum: The Mummers are a group of 10,000 people (yes, ten thousand!) that dress up and orchestrate a parade down Broad St. to welcome the New Year. The parade has been a Philly tradition since the 1800s, and it's rooted in the traditions of Philly's earliest settlers. Tickets are under $5 for adults. http://phillymummers.com/index.php  http://www.mummersmuseum.com/home.html
• Federal Donuts: This is Philly's new Chicken & Donuts food spot. I know it's not the healthiest of food choices but there's something about well-seasoned crispy (chicken) skin that makes my mouth water. I also don't want to pass up the challenge of getting in line early enough to actually get some chicken! This is just one of many of Philly's family-owned food spots, and in the heart of South Philly. http://federaldonuts.com/main.html

  If volunteering is more your thing, here are a couple of opportunities that I’m a part of:

• Puentes De Salud: http://www.puentesdesalud.org/welcome
• Puentes Hacía el Futuro: https://sites.google.com/site/puentestutor/

You can also find more opportunities here: http://www.uwsepa.org/

And take a break to check out this year’s student production of the Vagina Monologues, February 11^th @7pm or February 12^th @2pm.  Learn more about V-Day here: http://www.vday.org/spotlight2012

I hope to keep work-life balance a regular priority and part of my lifestyle rather than a New Year's resolution (you know- “in” for January, out by February). Leave a comment to let me know what you guys do to unwind, I’m always up to try something new!