First contact with patients

Subject, during which we first came into contact with patients is internal propaedeutics. The principle of this subject is to be able to see the patient and to be able to quickly and effectively examine him, trying to uncover the problem, or the reason behind his difficulties. The examination consists of viewing the patient, percussion, palpation, and lastly listening, through stethoscope, which I had to buy. This is the reason why I will have to finish medicine, as the stethoscope is of the finest quality, and leaving it unused would be a waste.

Apart from internal propaedeutics, we had a weeklong seminar in the laboratory of microbiology, where we received samples from random patients, and were asked to diagnose what bacteria or yeast the patient holds, as well as recommending a treatment for the given pathogen. This week has been a non-traditional form of education; however, it has given us far more than a week spent studying textbooks.

I have spent numerous nights trying to understand the human body in the previous semesters, and the time to dive deep into the world of illnesses has come. During the pathology and pathophysiology classes we discuss, what in the body can go wrong, and how can we prevent it. It is truly a fascinating field, which will hopefully have use in the future, once I reach the M.D. title.

From one point of view, studying medicine could be seen as constantly repeating what you already learned. On the other hand, repeating things is the only way to truly learn them. Furthermore, the topics discussed are never completely repeated, as each subject takes the perception of it from a different angle. For example, in the first year we studied the anatomy of the heart, its location and its microscopy. In the second year we learned how it properly functions, and this year we will be focusing on the pathology of it. Anytime we repeatedly study a given topic, we enhance our previous knowledge, filling the gaps.

In my free time, apart from studying, I regularly exercise in the gym, as it is necessary to relax, and in my opinion, movement is the best form of a relax. Moreover, I chose to partake on the development of food supplement for students, which improves their memory and attention, Mindflow. Lastly, to use my English and Spanish knowledge gained at Open Gate, I chose to contribute on the expansion of Zonky, a financial institution, through Europe, specifically to Spain. Because these projects are so different from medicine, it is such a meaningful experience, as I learn new skills every day.