I really enjoy chemistry because I actually know what I am doing! I am brushing up on old skills every day, which makes me feel confident. Dr. Sullivan is also very interesting and easy to talk to when something doesn't make sense. We continued on with acid/base chemistry today and touched on some real world applications, such as bone chemistry and diseases that can result due to a disbalance of acids/ bases in the body. I love chemistry! So fascinating...
For our weekly HCD session, we focused on LGBT health and the lack of trust found between African American communities and the healthcare system due to historical reasons. I thought it was surprising that about 26% of gays/lesbians believe that their sexual orientation/practices do not impact their health since anything you do impacts your health. Anything you do can impact your health: occupation, education, etc. The main focus of the lecture on LGBT health disparities was to inform us that as future doctors, it is very likely that we will meet LGBT patients, and even if we can't treat them, we will have to refer them to another doctor.
My favorite part was reading about African American tensions with the healthcare system. Although the Tuskegee incident is often cited, we learned that the mistrust runs far deeper...it dates back to the days of slaves! Slaves were pretty much used a "lab rats," and even after slavery, some people stole Black bodies to use as cadavers. I never knew that there was suspicion within the Black community that HIV was a lab-created disease meant to eradicate African Americans. Learning about all this makes me look at race and prejudice in a different way, especially the way it applies to healthcare. It'll be hard to undo centuries worth of hate, but I hope that one day the mistrust will be gone.
We welcomed three gentlemen to our fireside chat: one orthopedic surgeon, a clinical psychologist, and the director of alumni affairs at Lincolin's dental college. Each told us his personal story to how he came to be the person he is today. Dr. Patrick Tyrance was an incredible personality! He is a man of wit and wisdom. He is a very good example of how medicine is a life-long learning adventure. Dr. Tyrance is currently pursing a degree in business, which I admire. He attended Harvard's medical school, which is also another very admirable detail about him. I think he shows that hard work pays off! His advice to us: be passionate and surround yourself with positive people (or as he said, don't be around the angry birds who are always complaining!). Will do, Dr. Tyrance, will do!
For our weekly HCD session, we focused on LGBT health and the lack of trust found between African American communities and the healthcare system due to historical reasons. I thought it was surprising that about 26% of gays/lesbians believe that their sexual orientation/practices do not impact their health since anything you do impacts your health. Anything you do can impact your health: occupation, education, etc. The main focus of the lecture on LGBT health disparities was to inform us that as future doctors, it is very likely that we will meet LGBT patients, and even if we can't treat them, we will have to refer them to another doctor.
My favorite part was reading about African American tensions with the healthcare system. Although the Tuskegee incident is often cited, we learned that the mistrust runs far deeper...it dates back to the days of slaves! Slaves were pretty much used a "lab rats," and even after slavery, some people stole Black bodies to use as cadavers. I never knew that there was suspicion within the Black community that HIV was a lab-created disease meant to eradicate African Americans. Learning about all this makes me look at race and prejudice in a different way, especially the way it applies to healthcare. It'll be hard to undo centuries worth of hate, but I hope that one day the mistrust will be gone.
We welcomed three gentlemen to our fireside chat: one orthopedic surgeon, a clinical psychologist, and the director of alumni affairs at Lincolin's dental college. Each told us his personal story to how he came to be the person he is today. Dr. Patrick Tyrance was an incredible personality! He is a man of wit and wisdom. He is a very good example of how medicine is a life-long learning adventure. Dr. Tyrance is currently pursing a degree in business, which I admire. He attended Harvard's medical school, which is also another very admirable detail about him. I think he shows that hard work pays off! His advice to us: be passionate and surround yourself with positive people (or as he said, don't be around the angry birds who are always complaining!). Will do, Dr. Tyrance, will do!