Week two of Podiatry school at SCPM is in the books.  It was a busy week where I pretty much went to class every day and studied every night (nothing extraordinary).  I have settled into a nice schedule and feel really organized as we head towards our first round of exams.  We have our first Gross Anatomy exam this Monday followed by our first Medical Biochemistry exam next Friday.  Then we have our first Structure and Function exam the following Wed.  As you can see things are picking up very quickly!

During this past week the podiatry students received their lower extremity bone boxes.  My fellow podiatry classmate and roommate quickly assembled his leg  as soon as he could when we got home.  So if you happen to swing by our apartment don’t be freaked out if you see a random leg hanging out on the couch.  Another highlight of this week came today when we had our first gross anatomy lab dissection.  We flipped over our cadavers and started dissecting the back, removing the skin and superficial fascia to expose the trapezius and  latissimus dorsi muscles. 

Between taking my first health history for Essentials of Clinical Reasoning (last week) and having my first Gross Anatomy lab dissection, I am really starting to feel that I have finally “arrived”…I’m a podiatry student who is going to become a podiatrist and treat real people in the near future.  This is real, it’s happening, and I am really enjoying it so far.

The SCPM class of 2014 just finished our first week of classes and needless to say it has been a very busy week.  We started Structure and Function (Histology and Physiology combined in one large class), Medical Biochemistry, and Essentials of Clinical Reasoning this week and will be adding Gross Anatomy next Monday.  For those of you who like stats we had a total of 18 lecture hours and two 2-hour labs giving us a total of 22 hours in a class room in the first week of school.  Now imagine sitting in a class room for 22 hours a week (for three classes so far) and add all the hours you study outside the classroom and you clearly get the picture that Podiatry school at Scholl is no joke (Podiatric Medicine and Surgery will ALSO start relatively soon).  I think my roommate said it best when he stated he studied more this week then he ever did in all four years of college.  We will see what he says when we add Gross and Pod Med & Surg to the mix. (more…)

Each year, members of the first year class apply to be considered for the Scholl College Student Ambassadors.  The program was conceived in 2004 as a way to involve current students in the Interview Day and since, has involved into a fully fledged outreach-oriented student group.  (more…)

Welcome to the 2010-2011 Application Cycle for Scholl College!  We just wrapped up our fall orientation where we welcomed 94 students to the North Chicago campus and life at Scholl College – so now we’re ready to switch gears and move into the Class of 2015 Applicant Cycle!  Ready?  Set?  GO!

Globally, a few changes you will need to be aware of:  AACPMAS has adopted Traffic Rules for this cycle.  And, you as an applicant should be thankful.  Traffic Rules are meant to support you by specifically spelling out what my responsibilities are, what AACPMAS is responsible for and what you are responsible for during the application process.  Take the time to read the rules, found here:  http://www.e-aacpmas.org/AACPMAS%20Traffic%20Rules.pdf.

Special highlights – or the CliffsNotes version (and thanks goes out to Marie at WesternU for this great synopsis of the Traffic Rules!) are here for you to read: (more…)

The SCPM class of 2014 just finished our student orientation this past week at RFUMS.  Orientation was  four days and consisted of various activities that allowed Scholl students to get acquainted with RFUMS, North Chicago, and to also learn what is expected of them in the next four years.  Some lecture topics were:

1. Overview of Podiatric Medicine
2. Curriculum and Academic Policies
3. Financial Aid
4. Professionalism and Integrity
5. Multicultural Awareness

During the third day of orientation students were allowed to pick three lectures they wanted to attend in the breakout lecture series. Lectures I chose to attend were:

1. Time Management in Professional School with Allegra Bohlen, Academic and Retention Services
2. Study Skills and Learning Styles with Steve Weiand, Academic Support and Retention Services
3. Student Housing  session with Jennifer Smith, Coordinator of Student Housing

These lectures during the breakout series gave me some initial tools to get my Scholl career off to a fast start.  If I ever feel I need help I can always turn to Allegra, Steve, and Jennifer for assistance, which is really comforting.

Everyday of orientation there was a free lunch provided by RFUMS.  The food was tasty and I used my lunchtime sessions to sit down with fellow P1 students and get to know them better.  I made sure to sit down with a different group of people each day to ensure I met a good amount of my class before school started.  Every night of orientation there was an optional evening activity that students could attend.  These were great opportunities for P1 students to mingle with the P2 students.  Optional evening activities were bowling and an outdoor picnic with buffalo wings as the main entree.

The highlight of my orientation took place during the last day.  During the “Pearls of Wisdom” session, P1 students were able to sit down and talk with current P2 and P3 students and ask them ANY questions they wanted about Scholl and the curriculum.  I learned a great deal from this session and felt I received some handy advice that will assist me with my studies at Scholl.

Orientation wrapped up with a Pre-Assessment Exam that all P1 students had to take.  This exam was not graded.  It is used to determine the incoming class’s initial academic abilities.  The P1 students will take another similar exam after their first two academic years are completed to see how much they improved.  The test had 100 multiple choice questions that covered the following topics:

1. Gross Anatomy
2. Biochemistry
3. Physiology
4. Histology
5. Lower Extremity Anatomy
6. Neuroscience
7. Microbiology
8. Immunology
9. Pharmacology
10. Pathology

It took me about 14+ hours of driving from NJ but eventually I arrived in North Chicago last Monday night.  I got a good nights rest and was at student housing building 301 by 9:30am  for my move-in appointment.  I checked in at the Student Pavilion located right next to my building and was able to pick up my room key, mailbox key and laundry card.  The overall amount of work I had to expend during the move in process was reduced since there were some handy loading carts available.  These made it easier to transport my heavy furniture into my room.  It took me about an hour to finally load all my stuff into my room.  Once in my room I was really impressed with the overall size of my apartment.  It is very spacious and very clean.  Building 301 also has a great view of campus.  (more…)

In the following link you will find a very nice article published by ‘News Blase’ that features the recent research performed by Dr Wrobel, which highlights the contribution of podiatric physicians in reducing limb amputation. Viva podiatric medicine!

“More than half of all amputations in the U.S. are related to diabetes,” said Dr. Wrobel, Director of CLEAR, the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research at the University’s Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. “Podiatrists are detecting conditions that can lead to amputation. That’s just what we do.”

http://newsblaze.com/story/2010080407451300009.wi/topstory.html

Enjoy!

Bijan

Wow! It’s finally that time and it never seemed like it was going to get here…it’s moving time baby!  Time to get out my parents house, time to start a new beginning in N. Chicago, and it’s time to start a new career.  I have a ton of stuff that I have been packing the last couple of weeks and its starting to stack up in my garage. 

I’ve inherited a bed from my older brother and was able to buy two wooden drawer sets from a neighbor who was moving away.  Already have my computer desk station and chair.  Have my laptop, scanner, and laser printer.  Have a ton of kitchen supplies such as silverware, dishes, cups, pans, pots, and other cooking tools.  Let’s not forget all my clothes that I need to pack as well! 

I anticipated that I would be moving a ton of stuff therefore I rented a U-haul truck.  It should be pretty interesting driving that thing 14+ hours from the Jersey Shore.  The only good thing about this whole process is that this will be the LAST time I have to move my stuff a long distance…hopefully.  See you around the RFUMS campus on August 3rd!

Recently, I had the honor of attending a Scholl College Alumni Event while at the APMA National Scientific Meeting in Seattle.  If you have met her, you know that Dr Parsley is a dynamic speaker – capable of capturing the attention of an audience distracted by seeing old friends and colleagues…in some cases a faculty or two from when they were in school. 

I wanted to share with you the transcript of the speech Dr Parsley gave that night… in hopes it moves and captures you, too.

“Thank you to Dr. Stone and Dr. Hutter.

Thank you to Alumni Association for hosting this event.

[Allow me to] extend my own warm welcome to our alumni in attendance and to all of the guests present.

[I am] honored to be selected as the next Dean and see a future filled with promises and possibilities.

As alumni of the College, we have much to be proud of and allow me to provide a few highlights: (more…)

I would like to share with you a recent blog written by Prof Armstrong about our research presented at APMA: 

http://diabeticfootonline.blogspot.com/2010/07/damage-at-take-off-rather-than.html

 Best,

Bijan