Chanson du Jour

I don't think Anonymous will make it to the end of this one.

Planes Like Vultures by Le Loup

SDKJ Chronicles

I get asked a lot of questions about school and the goings on there. That gives me lots of opportunities to talk about what students do as they train to be doctors. Even if I don't get asked questions, I am usually more than happy to tell my stories anyway. Why? Because if I kept them all in, I would explode.

What kind of stories are these? Stories about my classmates, stories about my curriculum, anatomy lab fun, shadowing doctor fun, etc. So, we are starting a new segment on the blog called Student Doctor Kevin Jensen (SDKJ) Chronicles. These stories will be engrossing or grossing to those not in the medical field, and boring and insignificant to those in the medical field, but it should be fun anyways. Since the first year is almost over, we are going to have to do some retroactive posts, but I don't think y'all will mind too much. And if you do, tough. I don't really care. How's that for future doctor compassion!

First up, I will talk generally about the anatomy lab experience. Many of you have never been in an anatomy lab. Let's just say it's an experience. Our lab is one really long, skinny room with "tanks" (metal coffin looking bins with the bodies in them) on both sides and an aisle down the middle. Each tank has an iMac on the wall next to it as a reference and guide for the dissection and identification of body parts. There are about 40 tanks in the room, 20 in a row on each side.

Here is a picture of a really rinky dink lab (not ours) but it gives you an idea of what the tanks look like and what the bodies look like under the shrouds inside the tanks.


On each tank is a small notecard with a brief description of the person(of course, leaving out the name) that includes age of death, cause of death, gender. There were 5 of us assigned to each tank which contained one body.

For about 2/3 of the first year, we were in the lab at least once a week dissecting some part of the body. It was very systematic, because once you cut a part of the body, it will never be intact again, so we kind of had to work from the outside in and work on one region at a time. Then, we would move on to the next section. We will get into specifics later, for those of you interested, but I just wanted to give a flavor.

FAQ Answered...
1) No, I never saw anyone vomit
2) Yes, we got grossed out by some stuff we found - those stories will come later
3) Some people wore masks because of the horrible smell, but I did not
4) Yes, you smell like the lab for most of the semester
5) Yes, it is a mess inside the body
6) Yes, dissecting the body and learning more about it made me want to be healthier
7) Yes, I really truly enjoyed being in there
8) Yes, I do miss it now that we are done

If you have any questions, please put them in the comments and I will answer them. More to come on SDKJ Chronicles.

Chanson du Jour

Well, I think a three month break (exactly, btw - not planned, but awesome nonetheless) is quite enough. I know, I know. You were getting the "ridiculous band shakes", but don't worry...those will go away. NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll pick up right where we left off. If you are new here, yous gots lots of catchin ups to do. This is a Seattle band.

Last Dance by Math and Physics Club


Oh, what the hay. In honor of my two favorite things (not people mind you), 1) the $1 Mickey D's double cheeseburger and 2) the $.99 Wendy's double stack, let's make this bad boy a double, just as a "welcome home son" to me. This band is not from Seattle, but they are from Finland. So, that's good.

Higher Ground by Cats on Fire

Chanson du Jour

A little break from learning about the adrenal gland. Fascinating stuff. Today I bring you a fairly good song with a pretty awesome video.

The Weakest Shade of Blue by Pernice Brothers

Chanson du Jour

Every once in a while supergroups form and treat the world to fantasticness. The Eagles are not such a band. Today's group is. Let's do a quick rundown of the accomplished members of today's band:

Jim James from My Morning Jacket
Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes
Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes
M. Ward from M. Ward and She & Him

Put them together and you get Monsters of Folk.

Enjoy The Right Place by Monsters of Folk

Chanson du Jour

3 weeks til spring break. Thing we're excited? We get to clean the house uninterrupted. Now, that's a party. In the meantime, I better find out what happens to T3 and T4 when there's a hot nodule on the thyroid gland and how that differs from when there is a cold nodule. Got a thyroid quiz tomorrow at 8:15. Peace out.

X-Pat by Octoberman

Chanson du Jour

Can't believe it's Wednesday already. It has been a good week so far. I owned my two tests on Monday, the presentation got moved to next Wednesday and we are just having so much fun learning about the endocrine system now.

Today's song is Bob Dylan meets wife beaters.

Roll On Arte by The Felice Brothers

Chanson du Jour

Well we didn't get our 1-2 inches of snow today as predicted. We got 6 inches instead. It snowed all stinkin' day. School was canceled today and tomorrow. My test tomorrow got pushed back to Monday evening, so now that makes 2 tests on Monday and Student Grand Rounds on Wednesday. But, I get to stay home with the wife and kid and ...puppy.

Enjoy this tune from Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail. The Puppy Song by Harry Nilsson.

Chanson du Jour

This is the last song from Julie & Julia during Nora Ephron week. Little AK loves this song and especially loves it when her mama sings it to her. Pretty cute.

Meanwhile we are awaiting some snow (maybe 2 inches) here in Dallas overnight. Maybe school will be canceled tomorrow. That would be excellent. Give me extra time to study for my test on Friday, my test on Monday, and prepare for Student Grand Rounds (a big presentation that I have) on Wednesday. Then again, I would miss out on the exciting lab that is prepared for tomorrow where there are three stations where we learn a clinical skill for an hour a piece. Tomorrow is phlebotomy, X-ray reading, and listening to different heart and breathing sounds. I know Anonymous will be volunteering for the phlebotomy lab. He loves that stuff.

A Bushel And A Peck by Doris Day

Chanson du Jour

Let's continue with Nora Ephron week. This song too is from Julie & Julia.

Psycho Killer by Talking Heads

PS - The chick plays the bass like I play Guitar Hero...and that is not a compliment. How rigid. How amateur looking. How funny.