Greetings to Everyone,
The summer has gone by really fast. It seems like yesterday that I was seeing my first patient, and here it is another semester. I feel like I stayed so busy during the summer with class, lab, clinic, and extracurricular activities that I didn’t have much time to blog. I’ll try and do better.
Clinic was definitely a great experience. As I said the last time I blogged, my staff doctors were great, and I learned so much from them. My clinical knowledge is increasing with each patient that I see, and I’m trying to develop my “scripts” for different patient findings as well as when I’m taking case history. Case history is very important and is the basis for your diagnosis, while your exam findings help support it. As a student doctor you take the history of your patient, and then report to your staff doctor to let them know why the patient is visiting. I always aim to make sure I ask all the pertinent questions I think my staff doctor would want to know, so I think I’m getting better with that. I guess we’ll see as the new semester unfolds. My first day of clinic this fall semester is today, so I’ll find out pretty quick.
I also had a great experience this summer in that I visited Toronto, Canada. The National Optometric Association had their annual conference there, and a classmate and I jumped at the opportunity to go. We had a blast as we met students from other optometry schools, met doctors from all over the U.S., attended continuing education courses, as well as award banquets. I was fortunate and blessed enough to win a scholarship during the conference called the Cave Memorial Award. I had applied for quite a few scholarships, but to actually hear my name called out in front of all of the attendees left me speechless. I had a ton of fun, and made a lot of new friends that I will keep in touch with for a very long time.
In other SCO news, the ‘new kids on the block’ are here now (the incoming 1st year class), and they just finished up their student orientation this past Friday. There are lots of new fresh faces on campus, and it was fun helping them get adjusted. SCO has recently added a new facet to orientation by allowing spouses and significant others to attend what is called the “Family Orientation Program.” Another student and I gave the spouses a campus tour, and answered lots of questions in regards to being married as a student. My wife and I both participated in the “SCO Students’ Spouses and Partners Panel” where we joined Dr. Lebowitz and her husband in trying to give a heads up on the transition issues faced by incoming students, and give insight to how we each have balanced school, marriage, and family time. I think it was a great program, and I think all of the attendees gained valuable information by participating.
Well that is it for now, as its time to start my day.
Until next time, Later~
My Wife and I at the "SCO Student Spouse and Partner Panel.