gusto ko na matulog. pwede ba next year gumala na lang sa New Year... without the family? Or mag-volunteer duty sa PGH? Gusto ko mag-treat ng naputukan.

Our neigbhorhood seems quieter this time around especially with that blasted boga of yesteryears gone. Sadly, I do notice that there are increasing encounters with kids who smoke and drivers who smoke inside moving jeepneys. I am not aware of any program for kids but the LTO or LTFRB program is failing. Even drivers who have No Smoking signs inside their vehicles, smoke. I say confiscate matches and lighters and ban cigarette peddlers especially in terminals.

sana dumating na iyong dapat dumating. in the meantime, Skyrim at transcribing interviews.

why am I still at home?

(oh hello 600th published post!)

Bah humbug.

PhilHealth will be releasing funds for treatment of Sendong victims in both accredited and non-accredited health facilities.

Something is wrong with me. I'm thinking too much like a manager. This is a logistic and bureaucratic nightmare. I feel for the people who will be handling the tracking, disbursement and reimbursement of funds.

Apparently, people already know what is wrong and what needs to be done to be prepared. You think a country which experiences at least 20 typhoons a year would be better prepared for these things.

 

or google help sendong. There are lot's of ways. My feed is full of links and probably, yours is too.

let's be selfish for a moment.


I want a new canon body (60D), a zoom lens with further reach (up to 200mm), new prime lenses (10mm, 35mm, 100mm), an external flash unit (yongnuo is fine, canon is better), hardbound copies of the final "book" of Wheel of Time, a roundtrip ticket to Japan, a new stethoscope, a Welch-Allyn diagnostic set, tennis strings, tennis shorts and clothes (shirts, slacks and jeans) that fit properly.

I obviously need a well paying job in  the future.

Finding it hard to function and it's not just due to the lack of sleep. This is might become one of the worst breaks ever.

I don't think I've ever been this busy for TRP. Being involved in the stage design, assisting at the backstage and at the gates, teaching dance steps, practicing a very difficult dance routine, practicing the choral piece and documenting the midnight set-up. I had roughly the same number of performances. I think what drained me is the all-nighter for setting-up the stage design. It's a good thing that I'm in the benign part of Pedia. Benign, meaning, I don't have to study for preceptorials or SGDs.

The following day was fun too. I got some new books, bought Pedia stuff and met Jesus and Margie Holmes. Had fun shooting haters too.

Nearly two decades after the International Conference on Population Development in Cairo, the Philippines has still not laid out a clear national policy on reproductive health in line with its commitment to the ICPD Program. More than our failure to meet our commitment to the global community, this lack of action highlights the State’s failure to recognize reproductive rights of Filipinos.

 

waiting and confused. It's a good thing I have TRP to occupy my mind but what's going to happen after that? 

I'm sick on one of the busiest weekends of my LU5 life. This sucks.

whirlwind week of walking and talking... let's be optimistic as Dido plays in the background singing "It's not so bad. It's not so bad." (the title is "Thank you", thank you very much.)

Aside from the lunch treat by November celebrants, this long weekend has been another bust.

I plan to have a better week ahead despite the hectic schedule.

I didn't know that this was a cover of Depeche mode song.  Must now rethink my judgement of Depeche mode

Urbandub - Home


Depeche mode - Home

. I think the cover has a richer, darker yet more hopeful sound than the original. Yes, this is how I spend the 4 days of "sembreak."

This and browsing graduate school websites. On one hand, I have a goal and I'm laying out my plans. On the other, I think I'm so obsessed with getting out of med school and going to real grad school that I find it relaxing to browse through curricula, funding mechanisms and student profiles. Realistically speaking though I would probably need to work at least 3 years after med school before I even become good enough for grad school and have a fighting chance to get a full scholarship.

 

Studying medicine is really about learning how to communicate. It could be with fellow doctors, allied health professions or our cherished patients. I feel that the difference between a great doctor and an average one is determined by his or her ability to communicate his or her thoughts to the intended audience. It is imperative that doctors have a good grasp of the dominant language or languages in the their area of practice or in, UPCM lingo, community whether it be Filipino, English, Bisaya or swardspeak.

Unfortunately, UP students have lived very sheltered lives within the confines of the university. Although we know Filipino, we do not have a good grasp of the Filipino being used outside academic circles. For example, multiple classmates were shocked that the term for masturbation is Mariang-palad. And yet, still many do not feel the need for our community exposures. Compound this with our still rudimentary grasp of med-speak and the variations that occur for each hospital and each department.

---
Again, in retrospect, I should have been more attentive participative eager during Filipino and English class. I still regret not being able to gain a good grasp of effective communication, in writing and in speech, much earlier in my education. I've always told myself that writing and public speaking is not my thing. Someone should have told me that these two things are the vitals things a doctor should have in his or her arsenal.

committed my first blooper for the 2nd sem* even before it started. It seems that I would have a very full day on November 12. Must start taking in more calories. Of course, my new-ish friend tells me that I should say carbs or fat instead of calories.

* - technically, we don't have a 1st or 2nd sem in ICC I year. I'm just considering Nov 7, the day of our enrollment as the 1st day of 2nd sem.

just when I was in the mood to post pictures, my PC starts acting up. this sucks...

at least the suspects were quickly identified and nabbed unlike in multiple other murder or disappearance cases.

Gah! This is not a good day. Survey woes... I'll just have to assess and plan on Monday.

---
I'm itching to do procedures yet I really won't need any of those skills in the future. I guess it's just that desire to prove myself. I should really get my priorities straightened out.

---
Really, why this urge when I know that I'll be suffering through those very procedures next year?

---
And that my friends is called rationalization.

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Everyone is talking about their summer electives. I've long given up hope on finding a really good research elective abroad so it's PGH for me. I've decided that an RA position looks better on the CV. There will be much more learning and best of all, I get paid. Still, I must brace myself for the deluge of elective-related fb posts and pictures this coming summer and the jealousy I will probably feel. Money money money sounds like a good chant.

---
I resolve to discuss salary with my future boss. Getting the minimum wage is not fair given what I can now offer.

---
Insults and snark comments. I guess it's better that I take it all instead of some poor sap. It's better for the group dynamics. And other blocks wonder why we function so well. I do fear that one day I'll explode and utterly destroy someone.

ICC year has been good so far. Stress levels are manageable and spike up only when I have pressing extra-curricular activities. I have ample amount of time to study and relax. My motivation to study is so I could perform a good interview and assessment of the patient and not because I would do poorly in a written exam. Very much unlike LU4. It's helpful that the consultants are very supportive and tolerant of our relative lack of knowledge.

---
I also view this year as my year of redemption from ignorance of basic anatomy and disappearing knowledge of physiology and biochemistry. Finally, those anatomical landmarks are put into useful context and I wouldn't have to rely on rote memorization.

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Last week, I had another CEA worthy experience. CEA is a tool primarily utilized by Family Medicine specialists to handle psychosocial concerns of patients. CEA is an abbreviation of Catharsis, Education and Action. It works on the theory that talking about a problem helps solve it. I wasn't a great believer of this tool but the universe wants me to convert me and has put me into CEA patient encounters. Ironically, it is not during those sessions where we were expected to utilize CEA. The first one was during our musculoskeletal module in LU4 (2nd year) involving a patient with a fracture needing surgery. She's greatly troubled by her finances. I was interviewing her alone when she suddenly started crying. Hence, C of the CEA.

This time I was interviewing a patient again on my own as my groupmates were talking to the bantay. I was having a hard time getting a good history of the patient as she keeps going on about how she has no money, how she doesn't know why she needs another surgery and her desire to go home. I guess I should have read the  clues and started CEA but I have little time so I pushed for the obtaining the "pertinent" history. A seemingly innocuous question from her daughter whether she really wants the surgery or not opened a dam of emotions which frankly overwhelmed the shit out of me and my classmate (who was really an innocent bystander). Apparently, she feels abandoned by her family, fears that she will lose sight from her remaining good eye and feels betrayed by the PGH. I was put in a tight spot, I know that I can address at least one of her issues and allay her fear of becoming blind but I am not comfortable in interfering with the management of a patient who is not mine. In the end, I think she really did went home untreated and it's sad that her remaining years will be full of pain, anger and suffering.

In one of the Peace month events I attended, we were asked how can you contribute to achieving peace? It seems so easy to answer. Just give a cliche albeit like I will not be violent to anyone or I will strive to achieve inner peace. But are these answers valid? Do they really contribute to peace?

How is peace defined? Scholars through the years have debated this issue and currently there are three kinds of peace. The most common one is that peace is the absence of violence. Note that this definitions allows for conflicts. Conflicts are an innate part of the the human experience and help us learn. In a peaceful situation, conflicts are resolved in a nonviolent way.

The second one builds up on the first and seemingly borrows from the WHO comprehensive definition of health: Peace is the ideal state of harmony and not just the absence of violence. This definition agrees that violence should be absent but if people are not in harmony with themselves, others or their environment, then there is no peace. It is an encompassing definition which then allows concerns such as health and environment to be concerns also of peace workers. Peace is not limited anymore to just eradication of war and disarmament. Peace work is now making the environment not just safe but promote human growth and development and harmonious living.

The last one is the trickiest one for me. Peace is not just a state but it is a capacity of an individual. That is a peaceful individual is not just in harmony with ones' self and his or her surroundings but is able to handle situations in peaceful ways. This definition again adds another dimension to peace work. After (or while) ensuring peace within a person, he or she must then learn to live and act peacefully.

Based on these definitions, achieving peace or peace work covers almost anything a "good" person can do. These definitions also imply that peace work cannot be the work of just a single individual. Peace is a complex entity which demands a comprehensive approach. Thus it entails the contribution of every peace-seeking individual.So those cliche answers are valid. Vague and general but valid. In my case, I can answer that as a health worker I will strive to ensure the right to health as health is a necessary component in achieving peace.

Sadly, health workers around the world are ignorant of this health-peace concept. That by being health workers they are peace workers. That they are potentially the most powerful bloc of peace workers as they not just treat individuals but if they apply the biopsychosocial approach, they can treat communities. Commitment to preserve the health of an individual should spread to preserving the health of the community he or she lives in. As violence would eventually come into play, health work then covers prevention of violence and achievement of a certain peace.

Ovitraps are now being marketed by the DOST. UP Manila students set-up a drive to collect empty cans that can be used to build ovitraps for our rural community partner. But does it really work?

First, let's tackle what ovitraps are. Ovitraps are primarily surveillance tools researches use to determine the number of breeding mosquitos in the area. It is made of a small container partially filled with water and a strip which serves as the site for egg-laying. During my undergrad, we used it to catch our mosquitos for our entomology project. So, if you just want to catch mosquitos. Yes, it works.

Ovitrap yo!

Now, some people thought that maybe instead of just for surveillance we can use it to kill those pesky mosquitos in our area. So they made a lethal version of the ovitrap by adding instecticides such as bifenthrin. They call this the lethal ovitrap. Basically, it attracts gravid mosquitos to use the can. When a mosquito touches the strip, it comes in contact with the insecticide. Thus, whether it decides to lay eggs there or somewhere else, it will die. Gravid mosquitos die, less mosquitos in the area, less mosquitos, less likely to be bitten and less dengue cases. Like most innovations, it sounds good on paper. But again, do we reach our end objective of less dengue cases?

Finally finished Chrono Trigger!

It was Friday when my 11 year old self played it on the SuperNes up to the 2nd form of Lavos. Foolish as I was, I got tired and turned off the game after defeating the 2nd form and realized that there is still a third form to fight. It was kind of surprising that I got that far given the low level, poor equipment and weird preference of not using items. After that day, I don't remember playing with the Supernes again. Finally! After 12 years! O joy!

For the curious, I used Crono, Marle and Robo. Lucca packs a punch but I needed someone with mass healing skills. Marle's just my item user, although haste is not that bad and Life 2 is useful as long as Marle is alive to use it.

I shared to a friend that one discussion I went to wasn't as stimulating as I had expected and posited that it's probably because we all thought about these issues before hand and ended up with the same stances and conclusions. He was surprisingly skeptical about this occurrence and I am taken aback. Which got me thinking, why is he so surprised that a group of people who don't know each other end up concluding the same things independently? Is it his bias against secular individuals? Or is it due to the fact that this group has very different belief systems and each person purport to follow his or her own unique philosophy in life? Maybe it's because in his belief system, people don't agree with other and he's surprised how our heterogeneous group achieve a consensus that easily. My take is that we all end up concluding the same thing because we follow a very short list of clear principles: 1) Every human has rights. 2) Human rights should be protected. 3) Rights of one person should not be sacrificed to ensure the rights of another individual. 4) Government should be secular. Those who have confusing systems have a book or a series of books or even books about the original book or chapters that were removed from the original book.

So nakatapos na rin kami ng isang ICC rotation. At sa pagtapos nito, kailangan namin magsulat ng report. At part ng report na iyon ang reflection paper. Shet. Eto na naman si writer's block.

Alam ko naman ang gusto ko isulat. Di ko lang mahanap ang tamang organization at style ng pag-present nito na lalabas sa nagbabasa na ako ay makatotohanan at pinagisipan ko naman kahit papaano ang aking ginawa. Tipong di lang dinukot mula sa kung saan.

Batman, kailangan ko ng iyong tulong.

huwag tayo magusap about offensiveness. Ang tanging mali sa mundo ay kapag ang isang act ay nag-violate ng human rights. --- I love how I can have fierce debates regarding principles with my friends and still remain friends afterwards.

akala ko di ko na maiisip na mag-quit ng med school by LU5. ahaha. As if gagawin ko naman. Di na talaga end ang med school, means to some ends na siya.

Not in the mood to study. I just learned that we won't be presenting our Ther research in the RIDO student forum. I would be lying if I told you I wasn't shocked it didn't manage to go through. It's not the most perfect research in the world but I do think it was one of the best LU4 projects last year.

LU3: Snubbed by our department and awarded by RIDO and ISCOMS.
LU4: We were recognized by the department but snubbed by RIDO.

When will research misery end?

At the very least, there is the huge possibility that it will be published this November in the university journal. I just have to finish writing  editing the manuscript. On that note, I will finish it by Tuesday next week!

'Cause I went to Hong Kong...

Distracted by my blog stats. A significant number of my "audience" comes from Germany and France. Eh?

And one of the top search keywords for my blog: "mermaid figures." Eh???

I'm clearly having too much fun with the updated Blogger interface.

I don't want tomorrow's exam to be a repeat of my Cardio fiasco. But why am I not studying seriously?

Arrived from Hong Kong last night. Later, read a series of blog posts about a HK trip. Made me realize I should have taken more photos.

after doing some math, I realized I need to work extra-hard to pull my grades up to the level where I want it to be. Damn OB module.

"we are stardust... billion year old carbon."

Happy birthday Rizal!

The Joni Mitchell quote and Rizal may or may not be related.

Feeling ko nag-ti-thesis uli ako at mayroon akong apat na advisers. Nakakaloka. Kung pwede lang tigilan muna ang med school para matapos ang project na ito. Sana ma-award rin iyong isang project. At least may validation na naiintindihan naman ang aking pagsusulat.

So much to learn. Dapat maging productive uli ang next summer. Wag na siguro iyang away elective. Mas maraming learning sa pag-RA, may bayad pa.

And now off to editing our two papers for publication. Time to release my BS powers.

And apparently according a Singaporean med student I met yesterday, I have that smart look. He probably means the tired and wasting away look. Or maybe it's just my disproportionate (read = large) head.

Teka! Ang baba ng sweldo ko. Wala na kasunod? Dagdag naman diyan bilang mas marami naman akong ginawa compared sa kasabay ko.

Apparently, nakaka-demotivate talaga ang mababang sweldo lalo na kung ang habol mo sa trabaho ay ang pera at hindi ang experience.

A week left for vacation. I had a fun weekend. Starting with writing a proposal and submitting it to WHO and ending with taking a jab at windsurfing (another expensive hobby in the making?). Also, teaching kids in between. As the laptop is still in the shop, I'll just leave you with pictures of my weekend trip.

Saw Third World Happy and a bunch of shorts from ANC's Kinse.

Different sizes of canvass, so how do I fill mine up? And will I ever feel like Juan Luna when he won the Spoliarium? At the very least, get the chance to achieve that feeling? Damn movie. Had me thinking and reflecting again.

As I surfed the net, I saw this entry of a management graduate talking about how he'd probably attend Harvard grad school or maybe London or some other foreign school. I envy those rich kids. They get to go to whatever school they want to go to without the need to think about finances. Made me realize an undergraduate US degree means you are probably from a damn rich family, whether you are smart is a different matter. Or as a proud UP student would surmise, baka kasi di pumasa sa UPCAT.

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work is becoming more interesting now and holy shite! I have to finish writing those papers. Two weeks of vacation left.

A UP education is not taken to ensure success in life, it's there to mold you to the type of person the country needs you to be.

Although the University will no doubt equip you with tools that will help you succeed in the field of study you are in.

Not in the mood to do any thing requiring mental work. damn it. can't be. I don't have a zombie mode.

let's get distracted with mind reading cat ears!

very unproductive day at the office. I'm kind of feeling like I'm just mooching off the department's electricity. I actually managed to finish book 3 of Song of Ice and Fire because of all the down time we have. And it's not like I didn't try to be productive. I am so ahead of the paperwork right now. I have the tool, consent letter, kit and presentation slides on hand. I just need a go signal from those people! Gah those physicians and their freaking societies! meet with us dammit! let's get this study rolling! If we manage to send out the protocols before school starts, I wouldn't feel guilty receiving my pay.

in other news, I get some time to do the paperwork for other stuff I need to work on like the immersion report and that reflection that remains a blank sheet staring at my face.

Research here in the Philippines seems so different from what I read in the blogs from US researchers. I don't feel too happy about the prospect of being an RA for around 2 years after I graduate but I do need experience before I commit myself to getting a Masters or, if I'm crazy, a PhD. Maybe it's because RA positions do not seem to need that much of dedication and can be just temp jobs for many MD not wanting to go straight into residency. I guess I have to just show it to those people.

Attended a lecture by Dr Ian Frazer this morning. During the lecture, my friend and classmate was asking me about where HPV can also go and cause cancers. I've heard about how it is related to oral and anal CA but wasn't sure if it was already conclusive. Well, Dr Frazer helped and said that it is already proven. And browsing through wiki, I saw that the HPV vaccine was recently approved by the US FDA for use against anal CA. Interesting... I wonder if the government would ever have a vaccination program for anal HPV infection which you get from having anal intercourse. I think it'll be a long time before they'll do that. They already have a hard time enacting a law that would serve the needs of half of the population ie the women since some people do not want their taxes being spent on contraceptives and sex ed. HPV vaccine for men will benefit the MSM and gay population more than the straight population and I find it difficult for those same people who oppose a certain bill to swallow the fact that the money they give to government will be spent on vaccines to protect the sinners from disease they think the sinners deserve (as if they they want these people to experience hell here on earth or fear that the gays wouldn't go to hell since hell probably doesn't exist in the  first place).

If you just use arguments based on rights and health, we wouldn't have this conundrum. Why can't people just let others live? Their salvation isn't even at stake.

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The google doodle is wickedly brilliant today!

was googling something and my old entries came up. I'm not such a bad writer. Talkative but not bad. Or maybe I'm just biased.

We're playing the waiting game at work this week. I hate this waiting, following-up and waiting. I really hope we can finish the protocol and pre-testing before classes start.

Laptop is ill at the moment so no new pictures. Haven't even finished the davao batch.

Apparently doctors are very much like med students. They work a lot, cram too much stuff into their schedule, juggle multiple projects, have two or three meetings within the same time period, get distracted easily and gossip a lot during breaks. Only difference is they get to travel to many places while med students are stuck inside whether it be the classroom, the laboratory or the hospital.

And being assistants for multiple bosses, all on flexitime is not fun. I'm still kind of lost in what we'll be doing next week.

And I'm having the block right now. Can't freaking finish a 350 word reflection on the field work we just conducted. damn.

See? Messy and complex.

okay, that's one less mystery in the world. Not that I was seriously considering devoting my life to malaria laboratory research. Public health and social science research is way more fun. Granted it gets tedious and repetitive but the complexity and the messiness is really attractive.

so I've been to places...

Blogger, how I missed you. Damn China with the blocking of social sites. Photos (shot with my not-so-new and much abused Tamron lens) are waiting to be edited, resized, uploaded and posted.

Will be leaving again for my immersion/field work. Still having troubling thoughts about how to approach the community. First things first though, establish community rapport.

In other news, half of my summer break is done, my junk from LU4 is still scattered throughout our house, I still won't be able to sleep on my bed due to the junk and my PC is still comatose. Laptop is becoming slow and threatening to break again. And a lot of plans are awaiting my attention. This running an organization is becoming really stressful.

Need to have my cellphone repaired. But money is going out for fun activities.

Shit. Di ata ako ma-C-CS this year. No...

But studying for compre kinda paid off. I'm in the top 3 scorers. O straight internship, you will be mine.

hahahahaha seriously? You want us to not tell you to be a bigot you bigot because it's always better allow bigots to be bigots. This is such a bigot comment, Bigot! It may be your right to have differing opinion but that doesn't include to right to incite violence and hatred towards certain people.

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Tamron still eludes me. I must scour the intertubes for a seller. Must have it before the Beijing trip.

And thus it ends giving way to another beginning.

Perspective...

Need to do well in compre tom because I want to go into straight internship. Good grades will also be a way to convince the dean to allow me to go to the JC.

And I really hate feeling stupid during exams.

Jerk. Never again.

Some people just do not know how to say things properly.

My summer's pretty much full now... but before I get to those I must deal with the things this week. And I still haven't found a patient to do a CEA. damn it! I have to visit DFCM soon.

Finished a pharma reviewer book... apparently that's possible. Of course, it's mostly shallow reading so it's not such an impressive feat.

almost done with LU 4.

Three exams. One patient interview. One big event and then off to vacation.

In the face of manga, two novels and the need to earn money, my resolve to use this weekend to study for the pharma-compre combo has been shattered. I sit at home watching as the wind blows away the fragments. I hope sanity returns soon to pick them up and put them together.

Patient encounters. As we were taking the history of our patient, she started talking about her feelings. Deep, pent up feelings and before I knew it, she was crying. Gah! In all the interviews we conducted during LU IV, there were only two times that the patient cried and on both occasions I was one of the lead interviewers. In this case, I was the only interviewer. Why?!

It's not that I don't like it. It's good that they are able to release their pent up emotions. It's good that even as a 2nd year student, I'm already able to help the patient. It's just that I'm not good with handling these situations. Fortunately, I had the CEA method and Psych 220 to fall back on. Though I saw that the patient had gained something from the catharsis, I still suck at the counseling and educating part. Especially, when I really don't have any control on her management nor can I give her money to solve her problems.

And my group mates finally saw some semblance of goodness residing in me.

What's happening in Japan is horrible.

And to think they are the one of the, if not the most, prepared to face these kinds of disasters. Then again, how can you prepare for an 8.9 earthquake? It makes disaster preparedness look like an exercise in futility. It's good to know though that most of the people I know from Japan are accounted for and are safe.

The call for prayers are mounting up and I''m finding it weird. And there was an insensitive comment over at the FF group. *sigh* At least, I haven't seen misguided comments  from religious wackos in the form of "the earthquake as a punishment for that heathen country that is Japan" or something to that effect.

The rapid response by the other nations is nice to hear but I've learned from a disaster management class that foreign aid, at least those in the form of human resources, should not be allowed into the disaster area until (at least) a quick survey and assessment has been conducted. Allowing them in would just lead to confusion and inefficiencies, I think this would be especially applicable to Japan which probably has a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan.

The nuclear plant situation makes me want to re-think my stand on nuclear power all together. It seems that Nature is telling us that we shouldn't mess with that because I can so totally overcome all your safety barriers.

On a lighter (slightly insensitive note), what will happen to the manga?

Had nothing to blog about for the past weeks.

Except for this thing... there's the draft actually but it's so full of angst I might not be publishing it at all.

Last two weeks of classes and off to death aka comprehensive and med jurisprudence exam combo.

As I plan my summer, I realize just how short it is. I don't even have enough time to get a decent job. At least my parents agreed to give me an interest free loan so I can purchase the lens I've been eye-ing for the longest time.

won the culture week photo contest! Yey for kumikitang kabuhayan!

but the feeling is dampened by the utterly stupid act in Ayala Alabang regarding condoms. And WTH! Why is there language like anti-conception in one of the republic acts. We have another EO 03 in our hands. It looks like the RH battle should be moving more into the grassroots level.

Night before the exam.

Of course, I just had my most benign weekend for this academic year. I'm looking forward to 1 week modules and weekends where I think of nothing but myself.

 

at the abandoned science museum

I think what the other block was saying is true. We are now at the benign part of LU IV. I spent the entire weekend not studying. We were also lucky victims of miscommunication between the LO and the resident monitor. Even though we had an early preceptorial and managing to look like idiots in front of a consultant again, we at least had the weekend free unlike our classmates who had to spend it doing ward work or wait for patient assignments.

Tomorrow will warrant a need to return to reality. I have to start recruiting patients for my group, take that photo and study (seriously) for neuro. I also need to stop falling asleep in class.

I have to study. However, I don't feel like it today. As I read the trans and try to commit the concepts to memory, I keep having this nagging feeling that what I'm doing is stupid. I know already what I would need to master the topic. I even had it laid out in my head what ideas to connect and what concepts I need to read up on or review to make the mesh tighter and stronger. But, I'm too lazy. Sht*t.

Thinking about what photo to enter and making up choreography is not helping. The artist is demanding some attention and the scientist is lazing around.

Dengue detector

One should really avoid extending your conclusions. I was kind of let down. Based on the article, it's just another way of monitoring platelet counts and not detecting the virus or antibodies to the virus. Actually, one shouldn't call it the dengue detector for it doesn't detect dengue. There are many illnesses that can lead to decreased platelet counts. But this application could have potential used in other thrombocytic conditions.

And the interview reveals their inadequate knowledge about the pathophysiology of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Dengue fever doesn't progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever. They are two separate disease entities. It's a good thing that they'd be working with doctors in developing their concept further.

Too bad the article was too vague on the mechanisms used to count the platelets. Then I'll know for certain how it "detects" dengue.

neurology?!

and what is a surgical specialty doing in my top 7?

well, at least it's not pathology again.

from the medical specialty aptitude test:

Rank	Specialty	Score
1	neurology	44
2	aerospace med	43
3	occupational med	42
4	endocrinology	42
5	urology	41
6	psychiatry	41
7	preventive med	41
8	thoracic surgery	40
9	plastic surgery	40
10	pathology	40
11	allergy & immunology	40
12	radiology	40
13	nephrology	40
14	infectious disease	39
15	gastroenterology	39
16	cardiology	39
17	general internal med	39
18	neurosurgery	39
19	physical med & rehabilitation	39
20	otolaryngology	38
21	nuclear med	38
22	med oncology	37
23	dermatology	37
24	orthopaedic surgery	37
25	rheumatology	37
26	pediatrics	37
27	general surgery	37
28	pulmonology	36
29	ophthalmology	36
30	hematology	36
31	radiation oncology	35
32	emergency med	35
33	family practice	34
34	obstetrics/gynecology	34
35	colon & rectal surgery	33
36	anesthesiology	33