IF THE PLAN DOESN'T WORK....

Many times things are not in your favor. Many times things happen for a reason and you have to find a solution or temporary fix. My journey to medicine has been a long one. I've cried more than I thought possible over the last few years, and through sore eyes and an aching heart, I know that I cannot give up. If you follow me on social media, you know that I hate giving up. I have a strong passion for medicine and I will go out of my way until I'm where I want to be. 

When we think of medicine, our minds automatically think about medical school and becoming a doctor, however there are so many careers in medicine that you can be part of! 

If your main goal is to provide patient-centered care and make a difference in the world-become a nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, medical assistant, or scientist. The world provides you with endless possibilities! Seek them out, and find what is right for you and your way of life. 

Don't give up so easily, if everything seems to be falling apart. Take each day moment by moment. With each experience and failure, take the time to grow and learn. Nothing is impossible, prioritize the people and resources available to you, and go out there and achieve your goals. 

❤

▪️ Stop putting off your goals for “later”. Start preparing yourself mentally N O W! 

▪️ We may all want to get to the same destination, but truth of it all is that our routes are different! You want to get into your dream medical school, graduate school, nursing school, or PA program? Will you need to take a gap year or more? Then start by planning your route little by little today. Don’t wait, until it’s too late. 

▪️ I didn’t plan my gap year, and I ended feeling stuck, sometimes I still do but I found  myself along the way. I surrounded myself with like minded individuals who have motivated and encouraged me to continue pursuing my dreams. 

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE WORD ITSELF SAYS I'M POSSIBLE! 

Remind yourself that you CAN do this, you didn’t get to where you are by chance. Don’t take yourself out of the race just yet, the universe has bigger plans for you ✨

Dx: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

A few days ago I was diagnosed with an endocrine disorder known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome also known as PCOS for short. PCOS is characterized by abnormal, or absent menstrual cycles. Certain clinical features of PCOS are

1)Oligomenorrhea/Amenhorrea
2) Infertility/ First trimester pregnancy
3) Obesity
4) Acne
5) Hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face, chest, or abdomen)
6) Polycystic Ovaries

10% of women suffer from this disorder and many will not have the same symptoms. Some like myself may have more milder symptoms  of PCOS than others. To properly diagnose PCOS providers must take a detailed medical history and physical examination to look for other signs of this disorder. In many cases a pelvic ultrasound can be helpful in evaluating PCOS. Women with PCOS will have enlarged ovaries and approximately 12 or more cysts located in one or both ovaries, measuring 2-9 mm.


I know what you're thinking: Aren't ovarian cysts common, what's the big deal? You're right ovarian cysts are common among women of reproductive age, however twelve or more ovarian cysts is an indicator for irregular menstrual cycles and hormone imbalance. As a result, it can have a huge effect on your personal life mentally, physically, and emotionally.

As an endocrine disorder, your  provider must perform a blood screening test to make sure all your hormones are at normal ranges. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Lutenizing Hormone (LH) are hormones that encourage ovulation. Normally for ovulation to occur, primary follicles mature and develop into an egg capable of being fertilized. Usually women with PCOS have an LH level of ~18mIU/ml and FSH level of ~6mIU/ml. This elevated LH to FSH ratio is enough to disrupt the process of ovulation, resulting in the formation of immature follicles that remain in the ovary and are not released.

Treatment options depend on the severity of PCOS symptoms. If you are like me and noticed something slightly off with your body, do not ignore the signs and make an appointment with your primary care provider or specialist. I will be following up with a specialist most likely in the next few weeks. I am both nervous and excited because I knew something wasn't right with my body and I'm finally going to get the help I need!

How to Boost your Science GPA

It's finally October, and for many it's Pumpkin Spice Latte season or the dreadful midterm season. For some its both, but wherever you may find yourself I believe it's the toughest month of the year to get by.  As a science tutor at my alma mater this is the moment when premed and nursing students are overwhelmed with their course load and will do anything to get some tips and tricks on how to pass their lecture exams. Here I will share a few study tips, apps, and websites that have helped me pass every single one of my science pre-med courses. 

  So grab your grande PSL and prop your feet up cause I'm about to save your GPA (hopefully). 

1. Anatomy & Physiology/General Biology 

This is by far the hardest class premed and nursing students take during their undergraduate career due to the large amount  of information that must be learned in a semester. But have no fear, almost all of the A&P and Biology textbooks professors use have a website that you may find in the back of the book (The one I used during undergrad were  Hole's Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology ) . The website will contain multiple choice practice questions that will most likely appear on the day of the exam, animations for every chapter, as well as study outlines. If you're a commuter, downloading the animations to your phone will allow you to study on the go! (It sure helped me). 

Of course relying on this website alone will not help boost your grade in the class. You need to actively  study for the material a week and a half  prior to the date of your exam by reading, highlighting, making flashcards, or answering the question prompts in each chapter.  In addition, you will need to supplement your learning by going to the lab constantly after hours. Your time spent in lab will definitely help you ace those lab practicals!

Speaking of lab practicals, the best way to learn is by taking pictures of everything!!!! Stock up your camera roll with less selfies of you in your lab gear and more of the dissections and lab models in front of you. How are you supposed to take pictures/ understand what the professor is saying when the lab is super crowded?  Two apps that definitely saved my life and time: Phonto and Evernote for not just A&P, but for a lot of other classes as well. 

Phonto is a free photo labeling app that you can use to take pictures and label as you go. It comes in  handy when you need to review material for lab and don't have the time to head over there. I have literally used this app for almost every class! Evernote is a study tool that you can download on your phone and computer. You are able to take and share notes with classmates who also have the app. 

2. General Chemistry/Organic Chemistry 

Many people freak out at the thought of chemistry especially if you weren't so good at it in high school (like myself). However, I feel that college is a whole other ballgame and it's pretty easy to get the help you need through tutoring,  and  your professors office hours. 

Practice, Practice, Practice A WHOLE BUNCH OF PROBLEMS in the textbook. Even if you get them wrong, review them with a friend over lunch of coffee. 

If you already have some form OCD, chemistry lab will make it worse. Everything from your lab notebook to your experiment should be somewhat flawless. Make sure you are dressed appropriately for chem lab and are prepared to do the experiment at hand. Do not touch, smell, or mix anything in lab that you are not supposed to. The professors mini horror story of catastrophes that have taken place in a lab setting will most likely prompt you not to anyway! You want to take safe measures at all times. Professors will expect you to understand the experiment before beginning, so make sure you read over the experiment you will  be performing a few days in advance. Highlight, write down any questions, and prepare any data and/or calculations that you can ahead of time. Every professor has a unique teaching method/protocol, do your best to follow their instruction and always ask for help when you don't understand a step in the protocol. 

On the other hand, there's no hope for you in organic chemistry. Just kidding! Orgo is daunting and a premed students worst nightmare.  Now to be honest with you all, second semester of orgo was terrible for me. I still managed to pass the class after I found out about this website called masterorganicchemistry.com, here you will find cheat sheets on every organic chemistry  topic possible! Also make sure to check out their blog  for step by step explanations for organic reactions and mechanisms! 

Organic Chemistry Lab follows the same rules and regulations for Gen Chem, the only difference is that you get to use really cool gadgets. I brushed up on the laboratory techniques used in organic chemistry by purchasing the book below!

3. Molecular Biology/Genetics

Molecular Biology and Genetics are upper level courses you will eventually take as a premed student. The course load is decent, however be prepared to do a lot of lab work. As a commuter I would get to lab at 5 am with two of my best friends just to mate fruit flies and clean up an mistakes we had done the day before! We laugh about it now, but we literally lived in lab. I do remember using Excel  quite often in this class as well as in general chemistry, for inputting calculations and creating charts/ tables for data gathered.  If you're not familiar doing so, learn  as soon as possible! 

4. Biochemistry

 Biochemistry is a subject that was added along with Psychology and Sociology into the new MCAT format in 2015. As of now, most medical schools recommend taking this course at some point in undergrad. With that being said, if you can purchase your MCAT prep material in advance,  I would strongly urge you to supplement learning with those books. 

5. Physics 

This class is actually not as bad as it seems, but I did find myself studying for hours just to understand the material. It does take  practice. I supplemented my learning with doing the problems in the textbook and watching AK Lectures YouTube channel. There are many tutorials on YouTube, just find the one that best suits your needs and learning style. 

6. Microbiology 

 Phonto  will be your best friend for this class and maybe for the rest of your undergraduate career ( just saying). In additoin to taking photos, I found a super helpful website called Micro Bugz . It's an online source dedicated to making Microbiology a little more bearable. On the site you will find pictures, information, and quizzes on experiments performed and the types of tests used to culture different strains of microorganisms. 

NOTE TO SELF #7

CONFESSIONS OF AN AFROLATINA: EMBRACING YOUR NATURAL HAIR

It has taken me a very long time to embrace my coarse natural hair. To be honest, I never even knew I had curly hair, I thought my hair was naturally straight. I have had relaxers in my hair since the age of five, and by my sophomore year of college I had enough with the constant breakage, split ends, and excessive heat damage. So I decided to go natural, or I attempted to do so. The transition to natural hair was not an easy one, I can tell you that. I had people tell me that my hair wasn't pretty enough for me to go natural, and so my self-esteem was lower than it had ever been before. 

I would get really upset because my hair didn't look like the curly community on YouTube. And then I realized, I was watching the wrong channels. I found myself gravitating to what society perceives beautiful natural hair to be. And so at a very low point in my life, I had enough. I chopped my hair and had it relaxed not once, but twice. However, I still wasn't happy with my hair. I knew that this relaxed hair didn't show people who I really was. And it was a battle. At that moment  I knew I was going through an identity crisis. 

So I started again. 

I  stopped trying to tame the afrolatina within me.

And I fell in love. 

I fell in love with my perception of self.

My confidence.

My coarse/ frizzy coils.

Everything. 

I fell in love with what I was made to look like. After so many years not knowing what my natural hair looked and felt like, I can finally say that I can breathe again. My transition to natural hair felt as if a HUGE weight was lifted off of my shoulders. 

Many women do not understand why we afrolatinas struggle so much with self-love. It's because we were never taught how. 

Never taught to love our colored skin and coarse coils. 

We were taught that the pajon on our heads were a symbol of shame, and not of pride. 

And the only way to make a pajon beautiful was to chemically alter its natural form through relaxers.

Today, I am proud to have come this far, and am loving my natural hair. Yes, I do straighten it sometimes, but not excessively. The best part about my hair is its versatility. I can do whatever I want with it, and  style however I please. I just wanted to say that I have finally embraced who and what I am. And I hope that many of you transitioning do as well. 

❤

This is what I thought my natural hair looked like
(2012)

First time I transitioned. Braid outs were my go to style!
(2014)

                                      

                     Experimenting with bantu knots.
                   (2015)

Successful Wash & Go
(2017)

NOTE TO SELF #6

You're not in this alone. 

THE PATIENT

I arrived at the clinic at 7:30 am. Making my way to the conference room, I see a few of the medical assistants enjoying a warm cup of joe in silence, pausing in between each sip to blurt out a cheerful "Good Morning!" to the medical staff. Routinely I would join them for two minutes of bliss before a hectic shift began. But today, I took my time trying to make the perfect cup of coffee. You guys know what I'm talking about, right? That perfect cup that numbs your senses from  the days troubles. That cup of joe that jumpstarts your day, and makes the world seem...perfect. I didn't take a sip from my cup of bliss, for my mind drifted toward a patient we saw just a few weeks ago with an elevated PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)  just under 5,000. At that moment, my cup of joe didn't seem so perfect at all. From my time working as a scribe, I knew that a patient with an elevated PSA like that, was at a very high risk for prostate cancer. Metastatic prostate cancer. Normal PSA levels vary by age, and race, but this one was by far the highest I've seen. My mind was filled with many why, how, and whens. I nervously wondered what his prostate biopsy confirmed and prayed that I wouldn't have to write the dreadful words: PROSTATE CANCER in his chart, if I ever did see him again. 

I shook the thought out of my head, and kept my cup of bliss pressing against my chest as I made my way out of the conference room and into the doctors office.

After greeting my assigned physician, I went throughout the rest of my shift with ease. My cup of bliss lay untouched on the carpet. In between documenting charts and interacting with the medical assistants, the physician tells me to bring the patient in Exam Room #3 into his office. Although a very small task, I like walking into the exam rooms and greeting patients. It gives me time to engage in small talk with them, about other things in life not related to their visit. He looked  familiar, but from all the patients we had seen in the past few weeks, I couldn't seem to remember his name or the reason for his visit. He  was accompanied by an effervescent female friend who made jokes all the way to the office. They were like two peas in a pod!  Upon arrival, his chart was sent to me and as soon as I opened it, I knew who the guy in exam room #3 was. The guy with the ridiculously elevated PSA. 

I took a sip.

Like my coffee, the encounter was sweet yet bitter. I had to choke back tears as his friend was telling me what a wonderful man he is and the story of how their friendship grew. Sadly, her time with him has been shortened due to his metastatic prostate cancer, yet he was ok with his diagnosis. It didn't faze him one bit, as if he were in a state of bliss.  As I dreadfully finish up documenting the encounter, I wonder how  someone diagnosed with a very high grade cancer be blissful? It is moments like these that make me want to slow down and take life one day at a time. 

One second at a time. 

❤

NOTE TO SELF #5

NOTE TO SELF #4

ABOUT

I often get asked why I started this blog. The main reason was to track my progress throughout my journey to medicine, as well as keep myself motivated. I realize that there are many others embarking on this wonderful journey who can relate with me.  There are many things  I am interested in outside of medicine, such as my faith and love for Jesus that define who I am. In addition, this blog is to shed light on all the other stuff that make up my life. I hope to motivate you regardless of the path you're currently on, as well as remind you to live, laugh, and love through it all.

❤

NOTE TO SELF #3

Keep working towards your goal. 

NOTE TO SELF #2

Do not give up, you've already gotten this far. 

WHAT IS A MEDICAL SCRIBE ?

What is a Medical Scribe? I get that question a lot, mostly by patients who are startled by my presence as I walk into the examination room with the physician. Medical Scribes, believe it or not, have become a growing profession in the medical field; allowing undergraduate students and hopeful medical school applicants like myself, to gain exposure while working alongside licensed providers. The main goal: increasing the efficiency of physician-patient interactions as well as "provide accurate and complete medico-legal documentation for medical providers " according to ScribeAmerica, one of many companies that provide medical scribe services for healthcare providers. Each company trains medical scribes to utilize an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) to document patient visits, which includes but is not limited to the history of present illness and reason for the visit. In addition, all medical staff and scribes must comply with a set of governmental criteria for each patient known as Meaningful Use, which includes the chief complaint, vital signs, height, weight, BMI, and smoking status. This information must be included in each patients chart, so double check with staff to make sure everything is in order. It is important to understand that as a scribe you are only responsible for documentation and observation of tasks. You are not allowed at any moment to take vital signs or touch the patient, that is the job of physicians, nurses, and medical assistants. 

During my gap year, I currently work as a part-time Urology Scribe at a private practice. After my application was reviewed, I was informed of my duties through lectures provided by the company including medical terminology, description of illnesses, case studies, and proper documentation for billing purposes.  After passing a final exam, I moved on to floor training where I was introduced to my assigned Urologist, his partners, and the rest of the medical staff. I'm not going to lie, the first month was difficult! In addition to the scribe duties mentioned, I also serve as the physician's translator. If you are bilingual (speaking English & Spanish)  make sure that you understand Spanish medical terminology! You do not want to disrupt the flow of the practice. To be honest, there were a few terms I didn't know how to translate so I would review a new set of terms each day before going to work, and I have improved significantly! 

You can become a scribe in your desired department such as the Emergency Room, Pediatrics, etc, as long as there is a physician in need of a scribe. Scribes are beneficial for the practice because they allow the physician to focus on the medical decision-making process.  The best part is creating relationships with the medical staff. There is so much to learn from them, it's like getting paid to shadow! 

So if you are interested in becoming a medical scribe, here is a list of companies that are hiring! Click on the company you are interested in below!

ScribeAmerica

Proscribes

Elite Medical Scribes 

American Scribes 

PhysAssist Scribes 

CEP America 

DIFFERENT ROUTES, SAME DESTINATION.

Image created using Recite.com

"Stop crying, take a shower, pray, and study one more time". Words of wisdom from my boyfriend during video chat today. Why was he telling me this? I had a mental breakdown when studying for the MCAT. Well actually, I was doing a full length (FL) practice test that I had purchased from the AAMC and I felt like I couldn't understand some of the CHEM/PHYS passages. So I broke down and cried. A lot.  Honestly the MCAT is so exhausting. There are days when I'm scoring so well on practice passages and then there are days that are not so peachy. But hey, it's part of the learning process right? In the midst of tears, snot, and a series of hyperventilations later I began to rant. I ranted on and on, about how I wasn't good enough to get into medical school, and compared myself to other premeds and non-traditional premeds on social media, and those I knew personally. I created this idea in my head that I was least likely to get a seat at ANY medical school. However, I was reminded that I am my own person, and as such my journey will be different from others! I'm not the only one who wants to go to medical school and become a doctor! A whole bunch people want the same dream! Yet, we must  remember that although our destinations are the same, our routes are different. Who cares if *insert premed here* is doing groundbreaking research at a prestigious facility. Make sure you set yourself apart in a unique way! Others' experiences don't define you. Go out there and make your own. Study for whatever exam you're studying for at your own pace, and in a way that helps you understand the information. I've had to learn a lot of this the hard way. Assess your strengths and weaknesses and strive to be better than you were yesterday. Each day there is room for improvement. So grab some tissue, wipe your eyes, and blow your nose. Tomorrow is a new day. 

NOTE TO SELF #1

 Take a deep breath, it isn't the end of the world.  

EACH NEW DAY IS A BATTLE

Ok so here I am. Sharing with all of you my excitement and fear of retaking the MCAT. For those of you who do not know, MCAT stands for Medical College Admissions Test and it determines whether you become the doctor your parents always wanted you to marry. Well... not exactly. Hearing the word MCAT usually frightens most pre-meds and non- traditional premeds trying to achieve their dream of becoming a physician. As of 2015, the exam has gotten a little makeover which now includes three extra subjects: Sociology, Psychology, and Biochemistry in addition to the previous subjects such as General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and a Critical Reasoning section (CARS).  I won't talk too much about the specifics, just check out aamc.org for more info. Right now I'm going to be sharing with you all why I am giving the MCAT a second chance. The first time I sat for the exam was April of 2016 and I was a month away from graduation. I was trying to do so many things at once while also finding time to study. During my last semester of undergrad I was swamped by my responsibilities as a science tutor, volunteering at a local hospital, and being president of a club. On top of that there personal issues at home really made everything harder to balance. So how in the world was I able to find time to study for the MCAT?!  I received my scores a month later, and the results were so terrifying my chances of going to medical school were slim to none. Looking back a year later, I should have listened to my professors who begged me not to take the exam until after graduation. I knew I wasn't prepared yet I still took the exam anyway. The MCAT is not to be taken lightly, it is a very dense and time consuming exam and as such you need to prepare for it accordingly.  Ever since my MCAT I have been doing my best to study. now I am able to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses and understand the material at hand, but honestly it's not all sunshine and daises. There are some days where I feel like giving up. But I won't. I must keep working hard to get to where I want to be, and push out all the negativity in my head. Each new day brings its new battles but if you work hard enough, I assure you,you will see improvements on your practice exams. Strive to be better than you were yesterday. Your only competition is yourself.

Meme motivation!