Semester 5, Week 1--Feelin' Like the Doctor

Fifth semester is AMAZING... well, at least for now, it is!  It feels like the instructors finally view us more like equals... or at least like a future veterinarian.  Classes are now case-based and we're looking at what sorts of presentations the different diseases will have in a clinical setting.  Laboratories are more hands-on and clinically oriented.  This is exactly what I've been waiting for!  At the same time, you really feel like you've learned a lot in the prior 4 semesters.

As for classes, we have:

• Small Animal Medicine I - This is the most case-based one.  We're looking at symptoms, diseases, treatments, and prognoses.  It's tying everything together into what we'll be thinking about in a clinic.  Lectures are at least half case-studies and you start figuring out what's wrong with the patient.  Not to mention, we started with endocrine diseases, and it just so happens that Chester (one of my cats back home) was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism as well.
• Diagnostic Imaging - This is all looking at x-rays and ultrasound.  It's tough because I was somewhat weak on anatomy, BUT it's great to review all that in a fun way--I LOVE solving puzzles, so I like trying to figure out what's wrong with an x-ray.  Again, it's very case-based, so I enjoy it.  In our lab yesterday, we took x-rays of one of the dogs and were looking at our technique.  Felt good being back in a clinical setting.
• Anesthesiology - I did a lot of the anesthetic monitoring when I worked at the clinic back home, so it seems pretty... easy so far.  I hesitate to say that, but we've just been looking at the anesthesia machine, how it works, how to put it together and troubleshoot, and the monitoring tools associated with it.  
• Toxicology - I'm most afraid of this class, as it's taught by Dr. Shokry again (the one that taught pharmacology), but it's definitely less abstract at least--it ties in the clinical presentations of various poisonings and toxicoses, so hopefully it won't be as bad.
• Introduction to Clinics I - This one is all hands-on.  Clinical skills ties into this one, so we'll be working on suturing, phlebotomy (blood drawing), skin scrapings, intubation, etc.  Then we also have labs on how to do a physical exam on a dog, horse, and sheep.  The only thing I'm DREADING is the communications module in week 14, where we'll be recorded in a mock client consultation on video.  *shudders*

Other than that, I figured I won't be too involved in later semesters with clubs and everything, so I joined a few different ones this time:

• AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) - Same as before.  Only a member this time--much less stress... although Jackie, my roommate, is the new president, so I still help her out a lot.
• Scuba Club - Just cheaper to go on dives.  ;)
• VBMA (Veterinary Business Management Association) - I'm about 4 hours away from completing the business certificate program.  Woo!
• SVECCS - I forget what it stands for, but it's emergency medicine... I figured the case-based discussions couldn't hurt to solidify everything we work on in Small Animal Medicine I.
• IVAPM (International Veterinary Association for Pain Management) - Holistic club essentially turned into this one--they focus on chiropractic and acupuncture case management of pain.  Again, with surgery coming up in the next few semesters, I figured it's a good way to start thinking about this.
• And I'm still a part of Ross University: Nerds Anonymous and Ross Community for a Greener Campus and will be now training someone to take over the tortoise volunteers and overseeing their care.  

I think that's good enough for an intro to the semester.  :)  Here's to hoping it's a good one!