A Brief Hiatus

It's that time of year again! Exam time! As customary here at The Night Owl Chronicles, I will be temporarily taking a brief hiatus as I will be preparing for my end of year examinations.

This semester has been very different for me and I will have tons to discuss once I am on Christmas vacation. Also, the December student feature will be posted before the end of December.

I am wishing you all who are preparing for finals a wonderful exam season and I am sending copious amounts of positive energy your way.

Until December 17th; have a GREAT week ahead!

Sweet Hour of Prayer

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

It is interesting to see  how my life can be off kilter when I stray from my routine, especially my planning for the week ahead. Sundays I tend to make an early morning trip to one of the countless local markets to stock up on produce and supplies for at least two weeks; once that's done I plan my meals, my study schedule and I have tried to take Samara's advice and plan my outfits for classes (which at times requires ironing), for the week. This believe it or not is done by noon which affords me the opportunity to spend at least six hours of my afternoon at the library.  

This past Sunday, however,  I just could not muster the energy to get up before dawn.  I spent Saturday night trying to catch up on on my Immunology that I neglected since the semester began and surprisingly, I somewhat enjoyed reading and learning  the various immunodeficiencies. I found that just a simple understanding of the basics made other areas of medicine so much easier to grasp. 

This morning I had a what's app conversation with my brother (I'm amazed at the advances of technology that allows for the connection despite the ridiculous distance between) which just gave me a whole lot of appreciation for life and for trials and for overcoming them. 

His reminder to daily recommit my life to God and to meditate on the text Philippians 4:6-7 gave me a sense of peace and hope for the week ahead and this is what I would like to share with you today.  

As I read the text, I found myself humming the hymn 'Sweet Hour of Prayer'. It's as if the text awoken something within and reignited my passion for life and drew me closer to understanding my purpose and calling-in this Ministry of Healing (a.k.a. Medicine). 

Yes, I may have sunken into a state of lethargy which resulted in the delaying of my plans; nonetheless each God given day is an opportunity and new beginning to accomplish more and to make adjustments as needed, because after all, life is never meant to go according to our plans and sometimes the smudge on the canvas is the masterpiece we were meant to create. 

Don't fret over not getting enough hours of studying in (if you have been keeping up with your workload throughout the semester) rather accept the delay, make the necessary adjustments and get back to work! 

May you have a great week and be comforted by the lyrics of the hymn below:

1. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   That calls me from a world of care,
   And bids me at my Father’s throne
   Make all my wants and wishes known.
   In seasons of distress and grief,
   My soul has often found relief,
   And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
   By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
2. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
   Of those whose anxious spirits burn
   With strong desires for thy return!
   With such I hasten to the place
   Where God my Savior shows His face,
   And gladly take my station there,
   And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
3. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   Thy wings shall my petition bear
   To Him whose truth and faithfulness
   Engage the waiting soul to bless.
   And since He bids me seek His face,
   Believe His Word and trust His grace,
   I’ll cast on Him my every care,
   And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
4. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   May I thy consolation share,
   Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
   I view my home and take my flight.
   This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
   To seize the everlasting prize,
   And shout, while passing through the air,
   “Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Helpful Study Aids

"Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose."-G. K. Nielson

It can be hard to maintain a certain level of momentum throughout the semester in medical school. I honestly do no know how the gunners amongst us do it. There are times when my understanding of basic medicine simply leaves me as I read and study Pathology, and that alone can be discouraging as it requires having to revisit the notes I complied from the first two years of medical school, in order to understand a new concept or idea.

In this post, I will discuss some study aids I have found helpful over the years and how I have adjusted my studying to incorporate new aids.

  Top 4 Study Aids.

1. Mind Maps/Summary Maps

The sole purpose of a mind map is to allow you to visually organize information, generally around a single concept. It can be drawn multiple ways, however, I find starting in the center and working out to work best for me.

Personally, mind maps can be  time consuming especially if they are done neatly and properly and manually. Due to this, I tend to do them at the end of a topic as a means of review and a way to gauge my level of understanding on a particular area.

The option does exist for those of you who may be interested in trying this form of study and are more computer literate. There are multiple apps specifically designed for the creation of mind maps. I use Mindnode, the 'lite' free version which can be found in the App store. 

If you are more interested in mind maps you can learn more about them here. 

2. Flashcards

Flashcards are used to exercise ones mental recall. Some people like them, others detest them. I for one find them useful for certain subjects of study such as Anatomy, Hematology and at times Diseases based on organ systems. 

During years 1 and 2, flashcards were my go to study aid. They were quick, colorful and easy to tote. I could test myself on during my daily commute and I was able to sort the cards into piles based on the concepts I understood and those that I needed to review a little more in depth. 

The only disadvantage of manual flashcards is that at the end you're stuck with a collection of cards that you may or may not use again.

Personally, I have a hard time going over my pre-made flashcards mainly because it is easier to use quizlet and most times I have to spend time sorting through the cards to find a specific thing. If I am not studying however, and would just like to refresh my memory on certain concepts they do come in handy in that regard as it is easier to review a set of cards rather than reading a chapter in a textbook. 

For those of you, that prefer using your computer, phone or tablet there are numerous sites that would allow you to create flashcards; namely Quizlet and Cram. There is also Kitzkikz that allows you to   create your cards online and have them printed. I haven't tried out their service so I cannot rate them but I am interested in giving them a try.

3. Color Coding

Did you know that color coding can be linked to making you an efficient thinker? Well apparently it can.

By color coding your notes, you automatically correlate certain colors with specific things. For example my main color codes specifically for my (lecture) notes are as follows:

* orange: locations

* pink: specific features/characteristics

* yellow: general information that I should know

* blue: things that I MUST know and commit to memory, either for examples or overall practice of medicine. 

* purple: headings/names

* coral: definitions

I must admit, it makes me all warm inside to pick up my binder of notes and to be able to identify certain things such as special features of specific bacteria all based on my choice of highlighter. It also makes finding certain things easier especially in a 20+ page printed lecture.

4. Folders/Note Storage

This is the ultimate must in proper organization of my study materials. For me, planning what I will study on certain days and sorting my notes in color coded folders or a big tabulated binder does wonders for keeping me focused. 

I recently came across Ellen's blog on Tumblr, where she has free printables that can be downloaded, printed and used for any student. Since I've been using her study planner, it has helped me tremendously keep track of what tasks I have to do, gauge my understanding of a topic, and it offers other ideas for ways to remain motivated as I study.

I found a few colored page protectors for $4.00TTD that I have been using mainly to keep track of my pending lectures to be read and annotated etc; and so far that seems to be working. The thought occurred to me to try assigning certain tasks for example: answering objectives, working on PBL, and practicing questions etc certain colors and assigning those colors to certain days. If I decide to switch to that method I'll be sure to let you all know how it's going, but in the meantime I'll stick with my current set up. 

So there you have it. What aids do you utilize when you study? How is it working for you? Do you lean more towards flashcards or mind maps? Manual or computerized? Share your study aids in the comments below. 

Medical Oath

“It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.” ― Aeschylus

As I prepared to study for the night, I happened to come across one of my plastic envelopes that held assignments from year 1. I of course, had to stop what I was doing to explore this modern day time capsule (of sorts) and indulge in a moment of nostalgia as I skimmed through each neatly organized sheet of paper.

One assignment, in particular, did catch my eye; it was a supplemental assignment for the course Professionalism, Ethics and Communication in Healthcare where we were to construct an oath as medical students that we could keep and live up to after graduating with our degrees and well into our practice of medicine.

Unlike the American system of medical school where their students attend a white coat ceremony at the inception of their degree, my University doesn't have that at all, so we don't get to stand on stage, receive a new stethoscope and a white coat and recite the Hippocratic Oath, although we do take an oath during a separate oath taking ceremony once we graduate.

I'd like to share the oath a few of my team mates and I constructed, as I think we did a pretty decent job. Feel free to tell me what you think in the comment section below.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - -

We vow to fulfill, to the best of our judgement and ability, this covenant:

I will be a Healer, first and foremost, a teacher, a confidant and an advisor to anyone who should seek me out or follow in this route. I will strive to put into practice all the teachings and knowledge I have gained and to prevent disease wherever and whenever I can in order to promote a better world in which to live.

I will be responsible and provide for all persons of the wider society who will require my aid in the capacity that I am able so to do.

I will be altruistic and use my discretion when providing moral and emotional support to those who ask for my aid, and will not be afraid to indicate unsurely or refer persons to someone who will be better equipped to help them.

I promise strength, to make impossible choices with a clear mind and a pure heart, strength to fully account myself if such a choice were to result in undesirable circumstances, strength to comfort my patients and their family in time of despair, strength to admit that I am human thus at times insufficient in my skills or expertise.

I will not impose my morals and values nor will I disrespect the privacy, morals or spiritual values of my patients but rather take into consideration the same when they are being treated.

I shall always act with my patient's best interest at heart, and in so doing push aside any form of personal reward, temptation or any activity which will stain my moral character, or contradict my values of integrity, honesty, responsibility and open-mindedness. I will serve as an example to lead those who may stray from a path of justice and I will not breach any component of my value system that may result in censure.

I will not fall prey to pharmaceutical companies or larger healthcare institutions who may be solely seeking to monetize and commercialize my skills and training.

I declare that I have a greater duty to help persons-regardless of their socio-economic status and I will make time to serve others-may it be via community health workshops and medical missions or allowing students to shadow and take part in apprenticeships.

I will constantly and forever remember that I am merely a human being to whom an incredible task has been given. I vow to myself and all those who may hear me to keep this oath and in so doing may I enjoy life and art, be respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

So what do you think? Did you take an oath at your medical school? How was it? Did you enjoy the experience? Share below.

The photo was taken in Berlin, Germany. It is the Neue Wache Memorial, and the statue is of a mother and her dead son. You can read more about the memorial here. 

Tablespoon Thursday: You Don't Have to Trade Your Sense of Style for a Stethoscope

Meet Samara!

Samara is one of my classmates with a very warm personality; someone I can approach when I have queries or am in need of clarification of something during my studies or simply want to know the name of her polish. From our first year of medical school I always admired the simplicity and modesty of her style and how she seemed to effortlessly piece items together to create an overall classy and comfortable look for classes or even a night of studying at the library. 

At our University, there are no regulations in place regarding mandatory professional dress for classes. As such, most of my classmates tend to dress down for lectures with the exception of a few persons. Samara being one of the exceptions. 

When I decided to start featuring my colleagues on my blog, I was more than thrilled when I threw the thought out there for her to be featured to discuss her fashion sense and how she managed to remain the well-dressed 'doctor-in-training' for the last two and a half years despite the lack of a strict dress code. 

I hope you enjoy this feature for the month of November. 

Hi Samara, tell us something about your outfit. 

I honestly really love stripes, so I always gravitate towards them when I'm shopping; plus the skirt has pockets! I also like to balance tighter pieces like the skirt with looser ones like my blouse because it balances the outfit and also makes me more comfortable. 

The pieces I chose for this outfit consist of my: 

1. Embroidered shirt from: Old Navy
2. Striped Skirt from: Macy's (Tommy Hilfiger)
3. Shoes: a local store in Trinidad that can be found in Gulf City Mall or Lowlands Tobago.
4. Necklace: Topshop.com
5. Earrings: from the Upmarket in Trinidad and Tobago, which is a local pop up, movable market that allows local craft/art vendors the opportunity to sell their goods. It's as if Etsy showed up in Trinidad for a weekend. 
6. Nail polish: Revlon's Color Stay Gel Envy Nail Enamel in 'Checkmate' which can be purchased locally at any SuperPharm branch.
7. Bracelets: the beaded ones I made myself and the silver charm bracelet is from Pandora. 

How do you manage to dress so nicely, when there seems to rarely be any time for oneself as a third year medical student? 

This year I started laying my clothes out the night before. Doing this allows me to put more thought into what I will wear, as I like to contemplate and plan what I will wear, and it also makes getting ready the next morning easier by reducing the amount of time I spend on planning an outfit. 

Do you believe that the clothes you wear may have an impact on your interactions with others? Explain. 

Yes it does. There's this idea that when you put more care and thought into your attire, you feel more confident. I also believe that even if my outfit isn't 'spectacular', just being comfortable in my clothes, affords me the opportunity to be comfortable around my peers and others as I am not constantly fixing my outfit or worrying about it. 

When choosing an outfit what are some things you consider? 

When I'm buying clothes, it either has to be something classic that can be worn with anything, or I need to be able to think of multiple ways it can be worn as I am trying the item on. By doing this, it ensures that my clothes are cohesive and everything can be used in at least two separate outfits, which makes life easier when I am planning and putting pieces together. 

When choosing an outfit for the day I always consider what I will be doing, for example if I am going to stay back to study at the library, I'll wear something that is very comfortable. The weather also influences what I will choose to wear, if it is rainy, I'll wear shoes that can get wet for instance. Overall, I'll pick things  that I 'have' to wear first, and then build my outfit from there. The same goes for my makeup too; if it's really hot or if I'm staying late I'll wear little to no makeup. 

Are there any tips that you can give to other medical students or students in general who are looking to improve their attire for lectures, library study sessions, skills lab or clerkship(s)? 

I think the best thing to do is to put your clothes out the night before. It just saves so much time and you'll be happier with your outfit if you chose it when you are not rushed. 

Dresses always make you look as though a lot of thought went into your outfit; so when I am rushed, I always pull one on. I also have an algorithm of sorts for what I'm picking, and then I'll just add things on top of it such as earrings or a necklace. For example, for Skills (which is a small class session where we are taught physical examination and history taking techniques which has a professional dress code), I almost always wear slacks and a blouse and then I'll pick different shoes or I'll put on eyeliner or something to make it different. 

Also, at the end of the day, be sure to wear what makes YOU happy! I'm not going to spend an entire day in something I hate. And why should we have to?

Do you agree with the statement "how someone feels and how someone dresses is connected?"

I think for me it is at least partly true. 

I wear clothes that I really love and that makes ME happy. Wearing something I genuinely like helps me look forward to school a bit more and just makes me feel more confident.

So there you have it! What do you think? Do you agree with some of Samara's advice? Do you have any tips to share on ways to improve your attire in medical school? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

All photos were taken by me at The University of The West Indies, Medical Science Complex, Mt. Hope Trinidad and Tobago. All clothing items were Samara's personal pieces and not given or selected as a review for any third party.