Calvarium #1 by CALVARIUM

CALVARIUM

2013

CALVARIUM “Untitled” A play of words to reveal my thoughts Questions upon questions, Is the pen truly mightier than the sword? Food for thought, Can a mind be sought? Its ideas captured And like a portrait pinned for all the world to see? - EmKay

Contents Editorial, Contributors List

Mr & Miss SOM 2012 Charity Handover

Pink Friday

Meet Mr & Miss SOM 2013

Lecture Feature: Dr Alex van der Horst

TED Talks – These Ideas are Worth Spreading

Lecturers’ Trademark Quotes

SRC 2014 Portfolios

Pharmacy Students’ Society of Namibia

Anatomy in 3D

UNAM Students’ Surgery Society

It’s Official: Inauguration at SOM

The First Year Experience

The Sweat

We Asked, You Answered

Student Recipes

How to Stay Awake in Class

Med Student Parodies of Popular Songs

Med School: Finding the Balance to Recharge

Sharing is Caring: an Open Letter to MBChB II

The A-Z of a SOM Student

The Truth is in the NUMB3RS

Websites of Interest: Sites we Like

Email Etiquette

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One Year Closer

“What does the fox (editor) say?” Hey Guys! What a rough year it’s been, roughly productive I hope. From the SRC’s side it has been an amazing year; we’ve really had our hands full this year. To the Calvarium team thank you so much for your unwavering support, WE DID IT! We got the first issue out. Special thanks to Takatu Shafashike who believed in Calvarium even more than I did. Another special thank you goes out to all our Contributors who so generously (were begged, bribed or threatened into giving up something) handed in submissions. For this issue we’ve included the some seriously serious stuff and some freshly funky bits for the fun lovers too. We have taken a look at the new faces on the academic front, as well as the new and upcoming societies. We’ve done some features on the latest happenings at SOM, so take your pick! To the fourth years this is the final stretch, the last hundred meters of the race, so run with determination and enjoy yourselves wherever you get placed. To the rest of the SOM peeps, it’s the end of yet another year so let’s finish off in true SOM style doing what we do best: Reading! To the outgoing SRCs it’s been a rough year but we’ve endured. To the incoming SRCs, leadership is a challenge – meet it! We (the Calvarium team) believe in delivering nothing but the best and that is exactly what you have here, so have a good read and enjoy the first ever edition of Calvarium!

Ruth

UNAM SOM SRC Information & Publicity 2013

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Tax

Sharon

Anna

Nomsa

“Simulium damnosum”

“Look mom, no hands!”

“Dreaming is a form of planning”

“Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine”

“The short answer is I didn’t want to get up this morning”

Claudine

Lexi

Tuli

Catherine

Etuna

“What’s up doc?”

“I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives”

“I was born to be awesome, not perfect”

“When life hands you lemons make grape juice and watch as the whole world wonders how you did it”

“Let it all go and just live”

TORS

CONTRIBU

Ruth

the Calvarium Team

Karl-Heinz Piechazek Siku Ndoroma Liezl Weder Taleni Shafashike Georgina Mutelo Llewellyn Titus Martin Koroma Marcus van Wyk Brumhilda Ochs Dr van der Horst Twitileni Hileni Njohela Mwandemele Mareneta Koortzen Nappyboy & Prettyboy

The Standard Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in Calvarium are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UNAM School of Medicine management.

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One Year Closer

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CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 6

inston Churchill once said: “What is the use of living, if it not be to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?” What would the use of living be indeed? The winners of the 2012 Mr. and Miss School of Medicine pageant, Mr. Gerald Pachawo and Ms. Georgina Mutelo, as well as First Prince and Princess, Mr. Sikunawa Ndoroma and Ms. Julia Kapofi, proved their lives worth living when they organized and executed various fundraising events and charity programs for the benefit of the disadvantaged.

One Year Closer

According to Ms. Mutelo, one of these charity events involved acquiring clothing donations from the students and staff of the School of Medicine during the first semester of 2013. These clothes were donated to Physically Active Youth (PAY), an after-school centre that offers academic and sports assistance to teenagers and children many of whom are from different places and disadvantaged backgrounds. Another enterprise organized by this team resulted in the funding of the secondary school education of seven children from seven different towns through Kayec Youth Development (KYD)Centre. The funds were collected through various and

rather innovative means including hosting several movie nights, braai sales and kids’ art sales. A total of N$ 5050.00 was collected, N$2240.00 of which was used to pay for the children’s school fees and the rest was donated to the KYD centre. Other charity events included a hospital visit and food donations to the Kilimanjaro community. We say that they are a good representation of what we as future medical professionals all should be. Way to go, guys, we’re proud of you!

Alexia C

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CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 8

ithout doubt the highlight of UNAM School of Medicine’s events calendar, this year’s search for the new Faces of UNAM SOM was hosted on 17 August 2013 at the Windhoek Gymnasium Hall. Held under the theme “1950s Fashion and Culture” the contestants combined “elegance with a refined vintage feel.” Contestants had varied reasons as to why they entered, such as wanting to move beyond their comfort zone; the exciting

One Year Closer

prospect of doing something new; they’d bet with friends to enter as a group for moral support; they’d lost said bet; and not forgetting the most obvious lure, the desire to win the prizes.

Wyk, says he wishes to be a good ambassador for the school and use the platform to raise funds for those in need, something that resonates deeply with Miss SOM 2013 Brumilda Ochs.

But apart from the glamour and the search for the Faces of the school, one of the most important reasons for the pageant is to find heads to drive philanthropy at the school, as the winners become the spearheads of various community development projects. Reigning Mr SOM, Marnus van

Figuring out what the student body would like to know about the Faces of SOM was a bit daunting, but nonetheless I sat down with Marnus and Brumilda to get insight on their experiences and future plans.

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One Year Closer

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Introduce yourself in one brief sentence. Marnus van Wyk: My name is Marnus van Wyk and I am currently a first year med student. Brumilda Ochs: I almost never go a day without smiling. What do you think is your best quality? MvW: When my mind is set on achieving something, I will go to great lengths to obtain my goal. BO: My respect for all around me, regardless of their background or what society may define them as. What is your biggest fear? MvW: Probably the prospect of failure, and by that I’m referring to all aspects in life. BO: A wasted life. In other words, not truly living up to the person God created me

challenge you face as a medical student? MvW: The biggest challenge for me (and for most of us I think) is balancing the hefty workload and getting through all the heaps of extra reading. BO: Consistency! Even after an overwhelming Biostatistics test! Lol! But I would say the one character that would overpower any challenge faced is determination. Do you still have a social life? And what do you do for fun? MvW: I do indeed still have a social life. I like going out with friends and having a good time and exercising when I find the time. BO: I do fashion shows whenever I get the chance to, it’s like my “escape” from a busy week.

people see on the outside. And a question back to those people: what do they focus on when they watch a pageant? Opinions are derived from the different ways we view the same thing. What advice would you give to students who want to enter pageants in the future? MvW: The best advice I can give, and I’m going to quote Oscar Wilde: “Just be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” Oh, and have fun with it. BO: Know who you are and be really selfconfident. Going on that stage is fun and daring, an exciting way to challenge onesself. Whether one wins or loses is secondary. At the end of the day, your selfworth shouldn’t be determined by the outcome of the pageant. The experience

to be. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you? MvW: I once walked face first into a glass door in a busy shopping mall and everyone nearby started laughing. So yeah, that was nice… BO: Well, nothing really comes to mind. It’s one of those questions that make me go blank. What would you be studying if weren’t doing medicine? MvW: I don’t think there’s anything in the world I’d rather do, but if I absolutely had to choose anything else it would probably be law. BO: Apart from medicine, my second greatest passion is fashion! I would like to think that somehow I would’ve found myself in that world. How would you describe the biggest

Is there a particular project that’s close to your heart? MvW: Yes there is, I would like to do something involving the children’s ward. BO: Yes, there are actually a few and, one of my favourite concepts is something a bit different from the usual. Since all these are still works-in-progress, I’d rather keep everyone guessing for now. Some people believe that pageants are demeaning. What would you say to them? MvW: I’d have to disagree with them, because in my opinion pageants brings out the best in the contestants and an added bonus is new friends. BO: There’s a deeper meaning to a woman/man walking on a ramp. It’s associated with passion; a form of art that’s expressed in that particular way. It can therefore not just be measured by what

was truly incredible. I met new people and made new friends in the process.

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 It’s unsurprising that as medical and pharmacy students we are pretty nerdy. And although we’re not all introverts, donning an evening gown and swimsuit in front of hundreds of others is still up there among the most daring of things to do, so I believe that just entering the pageant is a victory in itself. We wish to congratulate all the participants and organisers of the Mr and Miss SOM 2013 pageant and wish the winners the very best in the upcoming year: Shinéne Steyn (first princess), Petrus Shilongo (first prince), Latoya Mwoombola (second princess) and Josef Shivute (second prince).

Tuli C

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One Year Closer

TEDTALKS These Ideas are Worth Spreading

oo many students, and even lecturers, are still unaware of the inspiring TED (video) lectures being aired on campus every Wednesday during lunch (13h30-14h00). TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. It consists of brief speeches spoken by bright thinkers of our time on topics that involve everything awesome, and they can be viewed over the internet for free. However, the initiative to air it in our campus auditorium came from a first year pharmacy student, Mr. Thomas Huber, who believes in the value of idea sharing and personal growth. He chooses lectures that most relate to our future careers as medical professionals, but also includes lectures that motivate, challenge and inspire us. The aim is not merely to watch and leave, but the audience is encouraged to participate in a short discussion afterwards in order to process and incorporate new ideas into our campus community. Not only does one leave with more friends after each “TED session”, one leaves energized, fuelled by the passion and brilliance of the speakers. Perhaps the word “lecture” does not tantalise your taste buds, but don’t let that keep you from trying out TED lectures. Sit back, relax, and let the speakers WOW you. After all, if your mind is left unchallenged, you will never see growth.

Sharon C

№16

You will ask a complete stranger about the quality of

their stools.

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SRC2014PORTFOLIOS A brief overview on the updated portfolios

he Student Representative Council (SRC) is a branch of the University of Namibia (UNAM) management. The SRC represents, organizes and unifies students; campaigns and provides equal opportunities for all students of UNAM, creating links with other student bodies both nationally and internationally; promotes the rules and regulations of UNAM as well as and embracing the vision of UNAM. The SRC has an executive and nonexecutive board. The executive board of the School of Medicine (SOM) consists of the Deputy President, Secretary General and Secretary for Finance. The SubCommittee Representative consists of Secretary for Sports, Recreation and Culture; Secretary for Academic Affairs; Secretary for Accommodation; Secretary of Information, Publicity & Internal Affairs; and Secretary for External Affairs & Community Development. According to the SRC By-Laws, to qualify for elections for the SRC executive board a student must be in their 3rd year or have been in UNAM for at least 3 years; maintain a C average; have a sense of responsibility; should be able to work with people; should not have any criminal record or have been involved in misconduct at UNAM; and not served more than 2 terms in the SRC executive board. To qualify for elections for the nonexecutive portfolios and sub-committee representatives’ one must be: a second year at UNAM; have some leadership experience; maintain a C average; have no criminal record and not served more

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than 2 terms. The duties of the SRC Members are as follows: Deputy President Co-represents the Student Body on the University Council; act as president on their campuses; the chairperson of the legal committee at their respective campus and co-ordinates the portfolios within the SRC. Secretary General Prepare agendas for SRC meetings; act in the absence of the President and Deputy President; publish minutes of all General Student Assemblies (GSA) and keep proper records of all minutes of the SRC meetings and the GSA. Secretary for Finance Keep all financial records and books entrusted to the SRC; originate all financial documents of the SRC; prepare and present annual financial reports; responsible for all property of the student body. Secretary for Information, Publicity and Internal Affairs Responsible for gathering, analyzing, publishing, and disseminating information among members of the Student Body; initiates forums and programs aimed at stimulating intellectual inquiry, debate and research; attend to all issues that affect the general welfare of students; liaise with departments responsible for all student support services and be responsible for the economic and social wellbeing of students. Secretary for Recreation, Sports and Culture

Promote and create a conducive recreational environment; present the annual Recreational Program; promote sports activities and sport links with various institutions; register all approved sports clubs and societies; responsible for the promotion of national and internal cultural exchange programs. Secretary for External Affairs and Community Development Promote and establish links with other institution of higher learning within and outside Namibia; establish channels of Communication between the Student Body and national, regional and international student and/or youth bodies; promote and extend developmental assistance to needy communities; initiate fund raising campaigns for needy students; organize workshops and seminars that will encourage student participation in issues relating to community upliftment. Secretary for Academic Affairs Represent the academic interests of all students; attend to all academic matters; represent the Student Body on the Senate. Secretary for Accommodation Must be a member of the HC; advice the Student Body on matters of student accommodation; campaign for adequate and better student accommodation. This article was compiled from the General By-Laws of Student Representative Council of the University of Namibia. Catherine C

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One Year Closer

s we’re sure most of you know, the former library area is soon to house our very own bona fide anatomy museum! Construction will begin right after the exam period is over to make the room available to us as a study area. Basically, the previously dissected cadavers will be further sliced ‘n’ diced, cleaned up, and the various parts, be it organs or limbs, preserved in glass jars. Rumour has it—not exactly; we heard it from Prof. Vorster—that students may be given an opportunity to help out. Then afterwards your name will be engraved on a gold plate and put in an ornamental crystal display cabinet. That part we made up. Think about it: for those first and second years doing anatomy, this is an added resource that you can use when your textbook starts speaking in Greek again (or Latin as the case may be). And for those who are done with anatomy...well you’re not done with anatomy. Think Internal Medicine and hospital rounds. You know what we mean, when you don’t know what the doctor means, you know? So what better way to resurrect your anatomical knowledge (assuming you managed to get any in the first place) than to pay a visit to the museum? We think these are all good reasons to watch that space.

Nomsa C COMING soon TO A MED SCHOOL NEAR YOU №73

Your family members and friends will ask you for

medical advise, even after your first week of first year.

S A

pool, restrooms with showers, top of the notch exercise equipment, a place to burn off steam, release endorphins and get high on dopamine.

 Life Sciences II & School of Pharmacy Inaugurated 

The gym experience so far? Like a fast paced action movie! Anyone who’s taken JJ’s cardio class would agree. A word of caution: the floors are slippery especially if you’re coming back from the pool. More than one gluteus has hit the floor. Kudos to the gym management, the fact that they are giving all classes for free is highly commendable. The instructors are the best ever, much like movie superheroes except their powers are real. As for whether gym use will be by paid membership only as from next year is still under debate. But until then, and hopefully even in spite of that, see you in the gym!

On Friday 27th November 2013, the inauguration ceremony for the Life Sciences II building and the Student Hostel took place, as well as the official launching of UNAM School of Pharmacy. The school was visited by the Prime Minister of Namibia, Dr Hage Geingob and Minister of Education Dr David Namwandi. There were also various representatives from UNAM and other institutions present. Speeches were given by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lazarus Hangula and Dr Namwandi, after which a tour of both the School of Pharmacy & the Hostel was taken; as well as the cutting of the ribbon. Much to the joy of guests and students alike, the event was concluded with the serving of food and drinks. Happy birthday to the Hostel and the School of Pharmacy.

Etuna C

Nomsa C

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One Year Closer

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Pink Friday

Catherine • The MESANA Public Health Standing Committee hosted a Pink Friday at UNAM School of Medicine on 11 October 2013 in efforts to support the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN). The student body and staff did not disappoint and wore pink abundantly. Besides fundraising, the day aimed to raise awareness of cancer and its impact on today’s society. N$ 4000 was raised for CAN through the sale of “Pink Goodies.” The organisers for the event were Hoandi Hoes, Efemena Ogbokor, Bupe Zeko, Hileni Nghilukilwa and Ivy Muadinohamba. C

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One Year Closer

As busy and under-pressure as he is, Dr van der Horst politely invited us into his office for our “brief” interview. Despite the hilarity that ensued, a chilled and down-to-earth side emerged.

Calvarium: Who is Dr van der Horst and what do you teach? Dr A: I’m an orthopaedic surgeon and specialise in spinal surgery – I operate backs. So if someone comes with a hip or knee problem, I tell them to go somewhere else. There are 2 ways to get into spinal surgery: be a neurosurgeon and do spinal surgery or be an orthopaedic surgeon and become a spinal surgeon. I did orthopaedics, then spines. I teach the 4th years orthopaedics, although it’s going to change next year. I’m going to teach trauma orthopaedics to the 3rd years and elective orthopaedics of hip-replacements etc. to the 4th years. I’m going to be in charge of the emergency medicine course next year for the 3rd years and 4th years. I’m also an ATLS instructor (Advanced Trauma Life Support – an American course) and we want to try and have all the students do an ATLS course and a number of other courses before they finish. If I’m not busy giving lectures, I’m running a one-man department...So I’m dying of stress. The student’s aren’t grateful *chuckles*. It’s quite a workload: it’s lectures, assignments, making tests, marking tests and all those things. Then I work at Katutura and Central Hospital – do spinal surgery at Central, broken necks, TB spine, degenerative spine problems; and I do a bit of orthopaedic trauma surgery. And finally 1 day of private a week – both at Medi-Clinic and Roman Catholic Hospital. Calvarium: Have you been at another university before coming to UNAM? Dr A: I specialised in Cape Town at Groote Schuur Hospital, and did my medical degree in Bloemfontein, University of the Free State. While I was specialising, we obviously had medical students around us the whole time; so we were constantly giving them lectures and training them. When I was 3rd year in spinal injury, we were teaching more and more. And being an instructor for ATLS, I gave a lot of talks, got invited as a guest lecturer at various talks at functions and trauma courses. When I heard there was an opportunity to be an orthopaedic lecturer here, I took the chance because you can make a big difference. If you operate on 1 or 2 cases in the state, you help 1 or 2 people. Although, if you teach well, then you influence quite a lot of people. Calvarium: Do you have a pet?

Dr A: It is criminal to have a pet when you’re not at home! If I have a sweet little puppy at home, and I have to work the whole day, the poor thing cries the whole day; that’s very sad. But eventually, I’ll have lots of pets: 2 dogs, 2 geese... I love pets. Calvarium: What are your hobbies? Dr A: I run, I like long-distance running. And I started mountain biking. Calvarium: Have you joined a club for mountain biking? Dr A: No, I’m just going to do the Desert Dash in December. Desert Dash – a race from here (Windhoek) to Swakopmund on a bicycle through the desert. You do it in teams of 4 and it’s 24 hours long. Calvarium: OMG! Have you already started training for it? Dr A: Not enough, because I’m busy marking your tests. So it’s that and long distance running. Calvarium: What about surfing? Dr A: No. Calvarium: You had a photo of yourself surfing at the Surgery Society Debate... Dr A: Oh, it wasn’t me. Why did you vote for Prof. Meguid? Put it in the article that I’m still bitter about it; you people all took emotional decisions, you felt sorry – “Poor little gynae ooh; must be so nice working with parents and babies.” Calvarium: If you weren’t an orthopaedic or a medical doctor, what would you rather do? Dr A: I don’t know. I would hate sitting down at a desk like I am now. Orthopaedics is so fun, it’s so practical. It’s cool equipment, cool tools, drills, hammers... Fixing a neck is very stressful but a lot of fun. It’s better for me to do one thing very well (like spinal surgery); then you have authority over it. No one questions you, you do your thing. Rather than trying to be a jack-of-all trades and master of none. I don’t feel like competing with all the others, I’d rather say: “I do orthopaedic trauma – car accidents, bashed up leg, that sort of thing; and then spinal surgery – spinal trauma, spinal infections, spinal tumours, etc.” I’d rather do that only, and do it well. Problem is I’m still quite young, I’m only 37 – you forgot to ask me

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One Year Closer how old I am! And you don’t become a spinal surgeon overnight. Spinal surgery is a long slow process. Fast [operational] procedures take about an hour to an hour and a half; and they can take 8 -12 hours sometimes. Doing a big TB spine in the back or a child with scoliosis can take 6-7 hours. Calvarium: How many cups of coffee do you drink per day? Dr A: I love espresso. Though I’m running around all day. I’ll have 1 cup of coffee here, but I start my morning at... *pause* Ask me how my day works every day. Calvarium: How does your day work every day? Dr A: Thank you for asking. When there are students here, I start at 7 o’clock in the morning at Katutura. We’re on the 4 th floor in the seminar room and we start with a tutorial from 7:00 to 7:30. Then 7:30 to 8:00, we have an x-ray meeting where we discuss all the xrays from the previous night; all students are there as well. 8:00, we then go to ward rounds or theatre or out-patients; so the groups divide up. Then I will (depending on what day it is) go to theatre or rounds or out-patients. That I do in the morning till

about 12 o’clock. Then some days I’m at my own clinic at Central. 12:00 to 13:00, I take the students for another round of tutorials. In some afternoons, I lecture, other afternoons I’m operating or doing whatever needs to be done. So my week changes a lot. Usually Friday afternoons I receive private patients. Calvarium: And the weekends? Dr A: I go home and die. This has been a very stressful 4-5 months. Like making lectures, once you get your basic 30 or 40 slides, then you go on auto-pilot; and modify it a little. To make a 1 hour lecture takes about 6 hours. So my months have been very busy, but it’s quite exciting, can’t complain. Calvarium: Thank you very much for taking the time to do the interview Dr. Dr A: If you require more information about me, you can just make it up.

Anna C

№3

Familiarity breeds. . .

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Only half of your class will be in the top 50%. You

have a 50% chance of being in the top half of your class. Make peace with it.

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One Year Closer

n the 27th of March this year, the UNAM School of Pharmacy celebrated the inception of the first and only pharmacy students’ organisation in Namibia. Now less than a year since the gathering of the first members of the Pharmacy Students’ Society of Namibia (PSSN), the annual report is bursting with news. The enthusiasm for the society perhaps began with the sponsorship of T-shirts by Erongo Med that gave the PSSN members a sense of identity. This enthusiasm spilled over into community service, where PSSN members participated and hosted various events. To name but a few, these events involved a visit to the Fidel Castro Kindergarten in Kilimanjaro where the importance of hand washing was taught to young children; working with the Kids’ Soup Kitchen Organisation in collecting and donating general necessities to children in need; and the launch of Champions for Life Namibia in association with Erongo Med where a faith-based psychosocial support and training were given to the youth of Namibia living with HIV.

In addition to all this, the PSSN focused their energy into the academic well-being of all pharmacy students at UNAM with initiatives such as the Student Mentorship and Academic Learning Skills programmes. The founding president of this prestigious society, Ms. Vulika Nangombe says in retrospect, “Considering that PSSN is a relatively new society, I believe we have started off on a good note...the future is looking bright for the Pharmacy Students’ Society of Namibia.”

PHARMACY STUDENTS SOCIETY OF NAMIBIA

Her successor for 2014 is to be Ms. Mpeza Kantumoya and we wish her great success for her term as president.

Sharon C

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One Year Closer

hristopher Hitchens once said: “You can only have one aim per debate.” And that, dear readers, is exactly what happened at the UNAM Students Surgery Society (USSS) debate. The event titled “Who’s a Cut above the Rest” brought together some of the most brilliant surgeons from the different fields of surgery in Namibia for a single purpose – to prove that their specialty is the best. The debate was facilitated by Adv. Gawanas and included Vascular Surgery (Dr Romay), Orthopaedic Surgery (Dr van der Horst), Urology (Prof Labib), Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Prof Meguid) and Otolaryngology (Dr van der Westhuizen). Obstetrics and Gynaecology proved itself to be the best showing once again that “the magic pink scrub set” is not just a thing of fairytales.

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lways say pub quiz! The USSS Pubquiz brought together a variety of students and civilians from all walks of life. The event took place on the fateful evening of October 4th at the Playhouse Theatre. The participating teams were 5 Plus 1, Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi , The Avengers, The Dream Team and The Circumscissors. With their neverbefore-seen ability to tackle questions from every field of science the contestants barely ever missed an answer and it soon became evident that these were not your garden variety medical students.

UNAM STUDENTS

SURGERY SOCIETY

* “Battle Surgeons” in French

Ruth C

But there could be only one winner and that was 5 Plus 1. Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi and The Circumscissors, however, also came in close. We hope this spirit of “SOMfulness” is upheld and we hope to see many more events of the sort in the upcoming year.

USSS

The USSS is the newest kid on the UNAM societies block. The Board: (from left) Mareneta Koortzen (Vice President), Louisa Blaauw (Year III Representative), Melody Chipeio (Year I Representative), Rahischa Peters (Year IV Representative), Delicia Lyners (Secretary), Kathy van Niekerk (President), Shinene Steyn (Treasurer) and Ruth Amunjela (Year II Representative). The team has been hard at work and have already pulled off two successful events so far, with much more to come.

№39

You’ll look forward to the weekend, not so that you

can relax and have a good time but so that you can catch up on studying for the week.

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One Year Closer

A group of diverse and excited students kicked off this year energized and ready to fill their heads up with knowledge. As the year drew on, many realised that medicine and pharmacy was not a cup-of-tea. There’s much more to medical school than what some originally thought. After having asked a couple of students, a compilation of the 1 st year’s thoughts and opinions of varsity, work and their colleagues was made. Questions were asked and numerous diversified answers were given...

It’s hard, it’s VERY busy and it’s a vast transition and adjustment for those coming straight from Gr. 12. One should not remain with a Gr. 12 attitude, cockiness and/or big-headedness; mainly because medical school has nothing to do with being smart, but everything to do with working your bums off. However, despite all the madness, it’s been amazing and fun.

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The friendships made

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Our classmates

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The knowledge

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The subjects we feel are currently relevant and relatable to our desired degrees

Take gap year! Some of us need a break before experiencing and dealing with all the hullabaloo of med school.

Would have started off the year with a solid routine; as well as a better study method that is different from the one utilised in Gr. 12.

Have mentors from 2nd year spend a few weeks with the 1st years to help explain and give direction in reference to studying, test set-ups of the different modules and managing with all the stress. This would help prevent the mass confusion experienced by many at the start of the year. [Similar to the setup the Pharmacy Society has].

№90

The best time of your entire medical school career is

between the times when you first get your acceptance letter and when you start school.

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One Year Closer Mentors should still be made available for students who would like assistance. Especially since it’s a new school and a new system – just to get a hold of how things work. One can’t go through university on their own.

Adjusting to the work is part of one’s university experience. People before us have made it through without mentors; therefore it is possible for us as well.

Failing is a part of the varsity experience (whether it is a test or a module). Acceptance is the first step in moving forward. One should see the plus side of things when they’ve failed.

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It brings people together, and allows classmates to bond. It would have been nice to have had more activities or an outing that forced us to mingle and work together at beginning of the year instead of simply sitting in the hall listening to speeches. The 1st Year Welcome Bash Party was a great mixer. It would have been nice to have more traditions but these’ll develop (hopefully) over time.

We’re very unified in terms of work. If summaries of a chapter are made by one, they are shared to all others in the class. No one keeps any information for themselves, but shares it instead. If help or explanations are needed, classmates will assist each other. The Whatsapp group that was formed also makes things 10 times easier. In social terms, there are many cliques/ groups [which is normal]. People that are from the same high schools tend to remain together. One shouldn’t be limited to just their group of friends. However, despite the cliques, everyone talks to each other and there is still unity amongst us.

2nd years They have many “backstabbers” and are very segregated. Despite these flaws, they’re very hard working and approachable. They have a direct influence on us because they’re a year right above us. 3rd years They are quite distant from the other years and instead prefer to keep to themselves – hence they’re a close-knit group. They seem very chilled and are always so relaxed.

№37 It’s always the medical student’s fault. Even when it isn’t.

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4th years Not much is known about them since they’re rarely at school. However, they appear as “role models” to some. They’ve made it far and it serves as encouragement to us, showing that hard work and determination pays off.

Anna C

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 20

One Year Closer

Rectus abdominis “Wow! Look at his rectus abdominis. Super hot!”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEDICAL

reticular formation “The stimulation to my reticular formation has decreased.” *yawn*”

TERM TO USE IN FRONT OF NON-

gluteus “She has a fine gluteus.”

MEDICAL PEOPLE AND HOW WOULD YOU USE IT?

masticate “The longer you masticate, the easier it is to swallow.”

cephalalgia “I’ve been suffering from recurrent cephalagia. Must be stress.”

What am I saying? What I’m saying is... Dr Adorka

Life is very easy, my friend. Dr Mitonga

Isn’t it? You guys are doing awesome!

Dr Sheehama

You people are not serious. Mr Nogoshi

Sugar levels are low... Dr Goraseb

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE REPEATED (FUNNY) PHRASES THAT LECTURERS USE

Wat is dit nou in Engels? Dr du Plessis

I’m not preaching

OFTEN?

FIRST YEAR EDITION

Minus five, my friend!

Dr Ntumba Dr Mitonga

Prof. Hunter

How many burgers would satisfy you? Mr Kibuule

Don’t worry, it will be easier next year. Prof. Vorster

Are you readeee? Prof. Barongo

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One Year Closer

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Cultural Day RETURN

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 22

One Year Closer

Learn how to keep your eyes open when all you’d rather do is sleep

o you stayed up late studying for that upcoming Internal Medicine test, inevitably leading to the following scenario we've all experienced at some point or another: your shoulders slumping forward…eyelids slowly drooping…the monotonous voice of your lecturer is sending you to sleep… If you were lucky you snapped awake out of your own accord without anyone else noticing. Otherwise, it was your neighbour "gently" nudging you awake, the whole while trying their hardest not to laugh at the drool smeared across your cheek. Class drowsiness is an unfortunate consequence of reduced sleep – which in turn is an unavoidable consequence of studying at our school – and is without doubt embarrassing. It’s not that you mean to: the lecturer isn't being boring on purpose and you know that you're losing out on valuable information by not paying full attention. So, is there anything that you can do? Fortunately, the answer is yes. And for your convenience, the methods have been arranged according to your stage of sleepiness.

Tax Shafashike (not) MBChB, Ph.D

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One Year Closer

STAGE 1

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 23

Slightly sleepy or "Denial" sleepiness Danger level: Moderate

Description: You find your eyelids drooping and are having trouble following the lecture. Your neck can still support your head on its own. When your neighbour looks at you accusingly, you claim you were just resting your eyes and you're not tired at all.

Rescue plan: Raise your arm immediately to get the lecturer's attention and ask a question. Any question. Since you weren't really paying attention, the best thing to say would be something along the lines of "I didn't quite understand that last part sir/ma'am/ Doctor/Prof, could you please repeat it?" Chew gum if you have any. Stare unblinkingly into the hopefully bright lights until your eyes begin to water. Sit up ramrod straight.

STAGE 2

Definitely sleepy Danger level: Considerable

Description: Your eyes are closed and only your neighbour tapping you or a loud/sudden sound brings you around. Your head is being supported by your hand. Rescue plan: Doodle. If you're still capable of following the lecture try collating that information into a kind of diagram. Play a scattergory game (instructions included at the end), list all the branches of the aorta; make a tally of how many times the lecturer says a particular word (such as "important," "vital," "test" or "exam"). Practice your penmanship with your non-dominant hand. Move: wiggle your toes if you can (NOT recommended for sufferers of bromodosis), jiggle your knee(s) up and down, tap out Rimsky's Flight of the Bumblebee with your pen on your notebook.

Very sleepy to extremely sleepy

STAGE 3

Danger level: High

Description: Your arms are supporting your head. You were out and your neighbour had to shake you a while or poke you in the side with their pen before you responded. Rescue plan: If you're just “very” sleepy then try some acupressure. Pull down hard on your earlobes; pinch the skin between your thumb and forefinger hard; bite down on your tongue or the inside of your cheeks or place your four fingers just below the backs of your knees and press hard. If none of that works, then you are most certainly “extremely” sleepy in which case, you have to stand up and walk out. Once out of visual range of your class, do jumping jacks or run in place for about 15 seconds. If you're able to, step outside into the sun and recharge much in the way reptiles do. Walk to the bathroom and splash some water on your face. Then return to class.

STAGE 4

Asleep

Danger level: Extreme

Description: You're experiencing REM sleep with lucid dreams. Your head is on your desk Rescue plan: None. Your sleep debt has accumulated beyond your grace period and the Sandman is here to collect. Pull out your thickest textbook or your bag; you might as well be comfortable.

How to play a scattergory on your own: Decide on a category (blood vessels, NSAIDs, ice cream flavours, actresses, cars, etc.). Pick a letter of the alphabet. Try to name as many items in your chosen category that begin with your chosen letter. When you get stuck, repeat the process. Continue until you’re either coherent enough to follow the lesson or it mercifully reaches its end. C

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Prevent this

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 24

One Year Closer

MED SCHOOL:

e c n a l a B e h t g n i d e n g i r F a h to Rec

When I was approached to write something for Calvarium I was totally taken aback, honoured, but shocked nonetheless. “About what?” “Oh, just how you manage to balance your life in med school. You’re always busy so tell us how you keep up”. Heaven forbid! I was barely keeping it together. “Sure.” Stupid. Why can I not learn to just say no to more hay on my fork? It is a life skill I am seriously lacking. Upon hindsight, however, it was an amazing opportunity to sit down and reflect about what keeps a medical student going when the road is long and the hill is steep. What drives a student? What inspires them when their morale is low? I had to take a look at the people I surround myself with: inspiring professors, strong MESANA leaders, motivated SRC members, social butterflies, student tutors, accommodating lecturers, loud know-it-alls, lecturing doctors, quiet bookworms and enthusiastic series watchers; quite a diverse campus community. What did they all have in common? Bingo: their ability to recharge their passion. All students are familiar with the triangle of choice: sleep, a social life or good grades, where each angle holds an answer and the base requires a student to pick only two of the options. I myself picked a

№77

It’s amazing how fast time flies on your days off. It’s equally amaz-

ing how slow the days are on rotations you don’t like.

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One Year Closer social life and good grades, although I know many of my peers would replace social life with sleep without a second thought. It got me wondering, shouldn’t those who get more sleep get better grades? No, this was not always the case. There were students who were frequent party goers and still did fantastic in school. What is the link between sleep and social? Simple: the way your personality prefers to recharge. If sleep could symbolise relaxation in the physical sense it would include watching series in your dorm with a bowl of popcorn, having a big foam bath or reading a book, while social could symbolize relaxation in an emotional sense using the interaction between friends to forget about the day’s troubles, such as playing a soccer game over the weekend, dancing or going out for drinks. It doesn’t matter what you chose so long as you know what fits you and helps you to recharge. If you are a people’s person, staying at home because you feel guilty about going out will only leave you frustrated and bored at home. Totally unproductive. If you like sleep, do not think pushing through four hours of straight studying and rewarding yourself later with even more hours of sleep is not going to cut it. We all know where that leads: falling asleep at your desk. It would have been more useful to take a power nap break in between those four study hours. It would have made you feel better to go for a pizza with friends and come back with a positive attitude to study. We all have the passion for pharmacy and medicine, but we cannot go the distance if we do not recharge. Adding on, I hadn’t seen a friend of mine in a while and he happens to be studying emergency medicine. In desperation to get my logbook done I asked him if he would join me in casualty for a catch up and I could get my signatures. At that point in my life, the end of the year was far and long and I was losing my drive to study, but helping patients together was a lot of fun. I was killing two birds with one stone, recharging my social side and learning new techniques. It managed to renew my will to want to be a doctor. Some students prefer to go to the hospital alone in their free time. Others prefer a group interaction. It is important to recognize how you prefer to recharge. How awesome does it feel to go for drinks with non-medical students and end up telling them all these medical facts that you have learnt? When you realise how much you know you end up boosting your own self-esteem and end up encouraging yourself to want to learn more, just to impress them again next time. Medical school is not for everyone and I have realised that time management is key and the competition is tough, but if you do not recharge with a hobby or a book or more “me time” there is no way you can stick to a study schedule or be motivated to stay on top. It is challenging and draining and therefore it is easy to despair and become distracted and find it difficult to focus. My hobbies include ballet and drama and three times a week this year I would attend ballet classes and feel refreshed to study after the exercise. Others use hockey matches to keep them disciplined with studying while some others use the strength they get from group prayer sessions to help them distress from a hectic week. Distracting yourself for a few hours I found helps to keep the studies of medicine interesting. A few study breaks helps that Macleod’s textbook to seem thinner than one long night of trying to push through it all. Just like a cell

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CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 25

phone, frequent use means the screen light will become dimmer until it goes out. Prevent that. Recharge the batteries. In conclusion I found this year to be one of the most challenging thus far, but I know this is what most medical students will say at the end of a long semester. However, I learned that life is about finding the balance between recharging and going for gold. Taking a step back to marvel at your accomplishments, relax with a glass of wine and share the moment with friends and then starting the new day with renewed vigor to push harder and build up on the progress you made yesterday. The passion is always there, but the motivation to study often fades. Recharge yourself to find the inner strength you need to go on. Recharge yourself, recharge your passion. C

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 26 Attendance: Enough said Books: Read, read, read! All the answers to every exam, every test and every practical that a lecturer will set during your time at varsity are in the library! Make a decision. Can’t: Scratch this word from your vocabulary. Dedication: Show commitment to the cause. It’s not just about getting that degree. Great things are expected of us especially in Namibia. As long as we can accept and understand this, then we stand a fantastic chance. Ethics: Merely having the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong is not enough. Acting accordingly is important. Forgiveness: Varsity is a kaleidoscope of personalities. There are bound to be clashes. What is important is that no grudges should be held. Forget revenge, forgive and move on. Don’t get side-tracked from the real reason that brought you here. Group work: Working together with classmates can help in understanding certain concepts of school work that might find tough to grasp. We all have differing strengths that could benefit not only ourselves but others too. Humour: Don’t be too serious. Have some fun from time to time. Not only recreationally but also in your learning experiences. But always know where to draw the line! Imaginative: Use different media to help you understand stuff. Use mnemonics, music, stories or whatever you prefer to help you remember stuff. Jargon: Know your RVD, MVA, ETOH, CP, CPD, BTL, AGE, MUAC, LNMP, D&C, NAIS, NSAIDs, PUD, DKA, HPT, PET, Ca, LTB, L/URTI, CXR, AXR...No one has time to write out things in full, so make sure you know the vernacular.

One Year Closer Knowledgeable: Know your work! You might have all the traits of the '7 Star Doctor', but if you know nothing then you are nothing! Luck: Eventually luck runs out. Proper preparation is key; make your own luck. Motivate: We are all from different backgrounds with personal struggles and challenges. These can affect our school work and our relations with students/lecturers. Some people are good at masking their problems from the outside world whereas others are more expressive. Look out for each other. When someone is in need, offer a hand, inspire, motivate. Neat: This is not about “good looks” or having a “perfect figure,” neatness is all about how you present yourself. When out in the field especially, the image of the school and the profession should be maintained by wearing decent tidy attire. Open-minded: Be open to new ideas and situations. Don't be judgmental. Professionalism: Be punctual, treat others with respect, write legibly, address doctors (including interns) and nurses like the seniors that they are to you and not like they're your friends. Don't chat during morning meetings, don't gossip, speak clearly and look at your audience during presentations. Don't discuss patients in front of nonmedical people. Questioning: You should have an inquisitive and questioning mind – ask questions. But, don't believe everything you're told! Lecturers, doctors and other people are all only human and not infallible. Therefore, if something doesn't add up or make sense, ask or go research it yourself. The catch, however, is that you won't know when something doesn't add up or know the right questions to ask unless you have some prior knowledge...so, again, you should know your work!

Siku Ndoroma

Resilience: “Resilience is that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes.” (Psychology Today) Self-study: What we learn in lectures and practical sessions needs to be supplemented by further reading and self-study. Go beyond the infamous ‘Study Guide.’ Time management: Set a schedule and stick to it. Procrastination is lethal. Understanding: Different cultures, different languages and different families. Different expectations, different disappointments and different breaking points. Different ambitions, different opinions and different ideas. Respect, accept and understand the different differences. Viewer: Don't be a spectator. Volunteer to help out with or to perform procedures or physical exams. Medicine is a practical discipline – you cannot learn if you do not do. Will: There are times when you’re alone; times when only you can help yourself. This is where willpower comes into play. Pushing yourself to go that further step. “When the stadium is empty, can you will yourself to succeed?” (The Hip Hop Preacher) X-rays: It’s nearly impossible to see any abnormalities on the first 1000 x-rays one encounters, but after that it’s a breeze! Yardstick: Set your standards high. Don't just aim to pass - strive to be the best. Our mistakes as doctors and pharmacists kill people; therefore we have to be better than 'good enough.' Zzzzz. Not Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz: The difference between passing and failing a module is sometimes determined by the extra hours you stay awake to study. Eric Thomas said “if you’re going to be successful, you’ve got to be willing to give up sleep!” If you really want to be successful, some days you’re going to have to stay up three days in a row; because if you go to sleep, you might miss the opportunity to be successful. That’s how bad you’ve got to want it! C

A-Z of a SOM Student

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One Year Closer

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SITES LIKE TED Talks http://www.ted.com/ Videos of more than 1400 talks from the world's greatest thinkers.

Forum of Medicine http://forum.facmedicine.com/ Controversial and up to date medical topics and discoveries. It is awesome site for medical students and doctors full of fun facts and clinically relevant data.

Coursera www.coursera.org Online degrees and lectures from the best professors worldwide.

Medical Humour http://medicalhumour.wordpress.com/

Surgery Squad http://www.surgerysquad.com/ Virtual step-by-step guide to performing various surgical procedures.

Purportedly the largest collection of medical humour, jokes, funny quotes, interesting medical facts, medical gossips & lots more.

http://www... Street Anatomy http://streetanatomy.com/ Street Anatomy is dedicated to showcasing how anatomy is visualized in art, design and pop culture through its visual blog

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y s a E

One Year Closer

Hungry? Don’t have time? Here are a couple of recipes for the on-the-go student, and it won’t cost you that much either. And get this, you barely have to use the microwave at all. Aaaaaand drumroll please!!!

Georgina Mutelo

Jacket potato

Ingredients Potato Stylish jacket (not really) Method Wash the potato and prick with a fork. Rub salt evenly on the potato. Place in a pre-heated oven at 220°C and cook for about an hour, until the skin is crisp. Cut open and accompany with your filling of choice. Cheese, beans, coleslaw, sour cream, cottage cheese, the list is endless... Tip: while baking the potatoes why not throw some drumsticks in there as well.

We know how much everyone just loves pizza. Here’s how to make the base

Pizza

Ingredients 375g plain flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon caster sugar 7g dried active baking yeast 2 tablespoons olive oil 225ml warm water

Cake-in-a-Cup

Ingredients 4 tablespoons self-raising flour 1 tablespoon sugar (only a guide: start by putting less and taste the mixture until it suits your taste) ½ of a beaten egg (optional. You can also use ¼ or whatever. Using a whole egg will result in an eggy taste) 2 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional) 1 tiny pinch of salt 3 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon oil (the original recipe said 3 tablespoons, but I found 1 to be more than enough) Few drops of vanilla essence (optional)

Method Combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in oil and warm water. Spread out on a large baking tray. Top as desired. Personally I prefer mince with sweet basil, complimented with yellow, green and red pepper, tomatoes and cheese, lots and lots of cheese. Bake at 160°C for 20 to 25 minutes.

This recipe’s a guide, so play around with the ingredients and quantities to see what you like best. Also, not all cups are the same size. A large mug works best, but just to be on the safe side, only put half of the mixture at a time, and see how that works. Method Add dry ingredients into cup and mix well. Add egg, and mix thoroughly. Pour in oil, vanilla, & milk and mix well. Set your cup in the microwave for 2½ - 3 minutes. Watch carefully! Serve with chocolate syrup or whipped cream and enjoy! C

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One Year Closer

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 29 Why do we need drips for? Needles make me go numb Patients 'bout to scream like: "Somebody get me out of this place"

If I Get Zero AKA “The Exam Song”

IV LINES

Now and then I think of when I went to lectures Like when I said it was so boring I could die I told myself "no need to write that down" Oh well, now I'm feeling like a clown Cause now the test is filled with work I don't remember

If you came here for an operation If you came here for an X-ray You feeling dehydrated? If you ain't feeling fine? Time to get you that saline

You can get addicted to a certain kind of laziness Like only reading chapter ends, only the ends So when I found the work did not make sense Well I knew to just put down my pen Cause when I got the question paper it was over

Okay you're comatose, time to resuscitate ya If you're in casualty, man it's second nature Just let me rehydrate ya Pull it off just like a caper Like I do it for the paper

And that's why I'm gon' tie a tourniquet Okay I've got it (Hey have you got it?) I said yes I've got it

And that's why I'm gon' get a tourniquet Okay I've got it (Hey have you got it?) I said yes I've got it

Now some alcohol! Can't let it get infected Patient's protected Microbes expected

I love these IV lines! You may not want it (x3) It's a cannula! The way I jab it Needle, I stab it Then I retract it

Parody of Somebody I Used to Know by Gotye

I can't believe that I blanked out, Went through my question paper and I knew nothing Can't even answer question one, I thought that I had studied but it's not enough I hope the average is low, And everybody failed that paper so that we rewrite it And with negative marking yo! I know I'll be happy if I get zero I know I'll be happy if I get zero I know I'll be happy if I get zero Now I realise the professor screwed me over He based the questions on everything I haven't done But I can't let it end this way Got to think back to that day They spoke about the adipose, And the tissues and the enzymes All this info that I used to know

Parody of Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke

TO LISTEN  https://soundcloud.com/01nj1music1  http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperNJ3000

№13 №23

Most of your time on rotations will be wasted. Thrown away. You’ll be sleep deprived.

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If you're unlucky IV's for trauma What rhymes with trauma

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 30

One Year Closer

BLAH BLAH Karl-Heinz Piechazek

Sharing is Caring: an Open Letter to MBChB II When we started with first year in 2012, all of the students teamed up together for a common cause, regardless of age, sex or even ethnic group. And this cause was that no one was isolated when it came to caring. Back then, students sat together in the library to cram Anatomy and sometimes Biochemistry. Yes, people “crammed,” I know—I was one of them—but it was seen as a student notion kind of. And then, perhaps because we didn’t have Anatomy or Biochemistry anymore or maybe even because the library moved—for whatever reason it didn’t happen anymore. People left; people like Rafaela, Michael—great team players, if I may add! And without them it seemed like student communication disappeared. In the beginning of 2013 it seemed like we were all competing against each other, although here and there were a few exceptions. Then after a much needed class fight, people slowly started caring for one another once more: once in a while, you would see people stretching out hands to greet others and people asking the all-important questions again like “how have you been?” The class soon followed this trend and we all seemed like one again. The remarkable thing is that the fight was subtle and far below your average radar. By that I mean everybody knew who the guilty parties were although no one wanted to say it out loud. (If you’re currently in 2 nd year medicine and you don’t know what I am talking about, don’t worry you’re not the only one I had to sit and think real hard of who it was, with it being so undercover. I’ll give you a tip: a certain MR S. wrote an email to all calling the individuals selfish.)

“…it seemed like we were competing against each other…”

So, after that scenario, it appeared as though the whole class was anxiously anticipating what would happen next. For about a week, I remember the most neutral parties filling the last 2 rows to see what would happen (again a tip, these are usually the people who sit and pay attention in class and hardly ever sat in the back rows). Perhaps because a lack of excitement or perhaps because of the fear of students finding out about her involvement in the plot, a student took it upon herself to share information. What it was I frankly don’t remember, or really care anymore, I was just happy to be informed and enlightened. And not wanting to be the stubborn party to accept peace when it was clearly the best option, the ‘opposite member’ replied immediately with a different aid and a thank you letter. The thank you particularly struck out and a new wave of student co-operation was started. Soon after, people started posting addresses to different helpful websites and resources and pictures of old tests and anything useful so that all could reap the fruits of the internet. Luckily that trend is still with us today in October 2013 and going strong. With this letter I just want to thank the parties involved and want to say thank you for having the argument and starting the trend of sharing and caring; without you I wouldn’t have passed most of my tests. Thank you and keep on caring! With kind regards KH

EmKay

The Dreaded Adieu yet alas, you depart, depart and leave my heart in parts lonely parts that long for bigger halves halves like horses hooves when apart, create a storm of dust and turmoil, tainting ones calves my only solace the fact that eventually all storms die settle to reveal a sublime calm and comfort, a comfort that in truth masquerades a lie, the lie that threads and mends ones broken heart

“my only solace the fact that eventually all storms die”

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One Year Closer

Architecture of UNAM SOM

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CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 32

One Year Closer

Funny T-Shirts

№18

At some point during your training, a stranger’s bodily fluids will

come into contact with your exposed skin.

№86

Hospitals smell funny.

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One Year Closer

CALVARIUM ǁ 2013 ǁ 33

BLAH BLAH The Truth is in the NUMB3RS

On purpose. For

the aliens.

     

So, you have an average of 6 sessions a day

Crazy&IknowIT

Med school is there to make people go crazy.

I really don’t like studying and I guess a lot of people will agree to that statement too. It’s not the fact that you hate it but nothing is fun or interesting when you are being forced to do it. Okay, maybe ‘forced’ is the wrong word to use, but if something is a ‘have to’ then your brain doesn’t really cooperate. It’s quite ironic how this seems so forced when we actually do need to know these things for the future. It’s not that you were dragged with a rope tied around your ankles to come to med school and know these things (sorry for those who were) but it’s hard. To make it worse there are a whole bunch of things you need to know. I even did some calculations:

55 minute per sessions, 5 days a week You probably learn a new word and its meaning every 5 minutes, sometimes more than that So 55/5= 11 new words so that’s 22 new words and meanings a lesson 22 terms x 6 sessions x 5 days x 4 weeks = 2 640 terms in a month In a year, that’s approximately 2640 terms x 8 months =21 120 words of jargon

That number doesn’t look alarming does it? But look at it real hard; in fact count to it... Now you see my point, don’t you!? It’s big enough to drive anyone crazy, insane, coo-coo, cockamamie, deranged or demented, don’t you think? If you don’t then I think some of the crazy is already seeping in. Just an out of the box-aliens-are-real idea: don’t you think this is the reason there is med school: not everyone is going to go crazy obviously but the small percentage that will, will definitely be admitted in a loony house right? And since no one’s really going to miss a couple of kids certified crazy, they get to experiment with us as their human subjects conducting in depth scientific research on the human brain… *light bulb moment* That is exactly why we are here!!! How hasn’t anyone thought about this before???? There are oval-headed, two-fingered green-from-out-of-this-planet beings out there waiting for some of you to go crazy so they can do horrible things to you… Well I hope you guys are keeping tabs on your mental states, you don’t want to be the one “mentally disadvantaged,” now do you? Do you?!

Email Etiquette

Not wanting to be a Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced “Bouquet”) on the matter I’ll only mention two things: 1. Subject Lines: The subject line is the most important part of an email and for some determines whether they’ll even open it to read what it says. Therefore, if you’d like to ask the class if anyone has seen a book you’ve misplaced, it won’t help you very much if the person who has didn’t open your message because the subject line read Fwd: Re: Fw: PPT from 29.8.2013. Even if you’re sending the mail from an old message that already has everybody else’s addresses, you can still change the subject line very easily. The same goes for emails being sent from your smartphone. It would also help when forwarding notes that you specify for which module; it certainly makes searching your inbox much less frustrating. 2. Reply-to-All: Do not select reply-to-all when you only mean ‘Reply.’ It makes one sigh dramatically when receiving a fresh email you think is important only to read it merely says something like “I agree.” And another thing, when an issue pertains to a class rep, allow the emails to flow between the two of you first and once resolved or an impasse is reached only then should you consider forwarding it to inform the rest of the class or ask for suggestions. C

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Tax Shafashike

It niggles me somewhat (alright, a lot) that as email is the primary method of communication among us as students, that some people haven’t yet realised that there are certain rules that govern its usage.

CALVARIUM 2013

For 2014 Semester I submissions: theletterQ@yandex.com