Y4 Week 2: Orientation Part 2, Hospital Tours, and a 438 Study Session!

This week was our second week of clinical orientation, and we started things off with an awesome urinary catheter and feeding tube management lab. This lab was similar to the clinical skills lab we had the week before and was a nice way to practice some of the skills we will need to use as we enter the clinic. We also got some additional practice with diet calculations which are always nice to review. Monday afternoon we had a session with Janet Mahrle titled, “Leading Yourself Well Amidst Stress”. During this session we had some time to think about our priorities, values, and how we wanted to navigate the upcoming year. This session echoed a lot of the skills and themes taught at VLE and was a nice reminder as we head into the next chapter of vet school.

The rest of the afternoon included a session on the practical management of a patient in CEAMS, which is our companion and exotic animal service. This session was led by Dr. Keller, who always makes things interesting and memorable. We then toured the Equine Hospital before heading home for the night. That evening Churro and I spent some time on the field playing with his ball.

Tuesday morning began with a quick run around the neighborhood followed by my senior portrait session. The fact that we are already at the point of taking our senior photo is wild, and the time has truly flown by! This is the picture that will be on the wall next to every graduating class of UC Davis, and it is truly an honor to be a part of such an incredible program.

After the portrait session I went for a quick swim at the rec before heading home to get some work done and play with Churro. That afternoon we had a session on the practical management of equine patients in equine medicine. This was a nice way to understand the ins and outs of the Equine hospital and get an idea of how patient care is handled. The rest of the afternoon included two panel discussions. One was with our amazing block leaders Drs. Palm, Berryhill, and McNabb, and the second session was with current fourth year students. Both sessions provided valuable insight as to what our clinical year will look like, and I am grateful for the time and effort that was taken to organize these sessions.

That evening I had a few meetings with different curriculum leaders to understand the changes that will be implemented this upcoming year as well as learn how clinical concerns are handled during our fourth year. It always blows my mind how receptive the faculty and administrators are to our concerns as students and their willingness to hear our feedback and implement change.

The rest of the evening involved some time on the field with Churro.

Wednesday morning began with a quick run around the neighborhood followed by a mini-shadowing experience. I was on the CEAMS service and had the opportunity to see some cute bunnies, and a sweet conure. That afternoon we had a debrief session to discuss the past surgical block and provide feedback and suggestions for the upcoming course. As echoed before, the willingness to take feedback and implement change is evident. The rest of the afternoon included a session on the practical management of patients in livestock medicine followed by a session on blood transfusions. These were both informative sessions and provided important information that we will need to understand as we enter the clinic.

Duckling Season!

Wednesday evening I had the opportunity to host a study session for the Cal Poly ASCI 438 students. I have had the privilege of staying involved in this course throughout my time in vet school and it is so fun to watch the students light up when the challenging material becomes more clear. I remember being in their seats a few years ago and every time I get to work with them, I am filled with immense gratitude.

Thursday began with a quick whirl around the block with Churro followed by a nice hot yoga session. I then attended the large animal Grand Rounds session and learned about cryptorchidism in cattle and pyometra in horses. I then went for a walk with a friend around the arboretum before heading home to get a few things done. That afternoon we had a session on the practical management of patients in small animal medicine. This session went over medicine, behavior, nutrition, and the technical skills associated with small animal care. The last session of the day was a recap of the past two weeks and the announcement of our final assessment. This assignment involved writing a medical record for a patient. We were able to use a training version of our hospital’s record keeping system and practice performing all the main tasks including ordering labs, adding supplemental documents, and messaging the owner. This was a great way to culminate the skills we have learned in this course and practice some basic skills we will be using frequently in the hospital. The rest of the night included a tour of the livestock hospital and a school-wide celebration honoring the Weills and their recent donation.

Morning Run Views!

Friday morning began with a quick run with Churro followed by a strength training session at the gym. I then spent the rest of the morning working on the medical record assignment before heading to school for our review session. This session gave us time to ask questions about the assignment and clarify any misunderstandings. I then had a chance to see one of my favorite people, Dr. Spray, who was briefly in Davis for some of the client simulation sessions. It is always wonderful seeing her and spending some time catching up on life! The rest of the afternoon included some quality time on the field with Churro.

Saturday morning began with a fun 5 miler with Churro followed by a hot yoga session. I then got ahead of some of the business course assignments, did some grocery shopping, and took churro for a walk around the arboretum. The rest of the afternoon included some time meal prepping and reading.

Sunday morning began with a 6 miler with Churro followed by church. The rest of the day was spent learning about different access to care options, reading, and with Churro on the field.

Quote of the week: “If they are blowing up like a tick, maybe you did too much” – Dr. Bozorgmanesh on fluid therapy