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The temperature is well above freezing, there are leafy green things growing outside, and the birds have come back in full force. I guess it’s been a while since the last time I wrote considering that I was excited that the temperature was in the high 20s at that point. It’s been a very busy past few weeks, with the end of CNS, spring break, the beginning of Infectious Disease, and Second Look Weekend, so I guess it’s best to start from the beginning.

With the end of CNS came the end of anatomy. I was really sad that anatomy was ending because my dissection group became really close over the course of the year, and it was going to be strange not seeing them at least once a week for dissection. Naturally, we had to take a picture…

The best dissection group ever.

I think we all managed to cope, though, because spring break started as soon as we finished the CNS exam. For spring break, I headed to New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA!) with my BMA family (that’s the Black Medical Association for those confused by all of the acronyms). We were headed to the Student National Medical Association American Medical Education Conference, conveniently shortened to AMEC (now you understand why we use all of the acronyms). This year’s theme was “Unsilencing the Unheard and the Underserved.” The talks were inspiring, and it was great to be around so many physicians and students who are so passionate about putting an end to health disparities.

UMMS's M1 and M2 delegation

Outside of the conference, we also had fun exploring NOLA. We did some shopping, listened to some jazz, checked out the architecture of the French Quarter, and ate delicious beignets at Café Du Monde. Did I mention that the temperature was also in the 80s the entire time we were there? I was able to catch up with friends from the interview trail and even from high school! I was so sad when I stepped off the plane in Detroit to 35-degree weather (at least it was above freezing), but that didn’t last for long at least.

M1s looking classy

And a fun one

The next morning, we started our Infectious Disease and Histopathology blocks. The ID block, fondly nicknamed “Bugs and Drugs,” is our first taste of what M2 life will be like. The M2s (almost M3s!) told us that ID was an M2 class taught in M1 year, and they were definitely right. The workload has definitely increased, but the material is so interesting. Usually we have lecture from 8-10:30am or so, followed by small group. I transitioned to a dedicated streamer back in November, but I’m actually going to class this block since I have to be at school for small group anyway. Twice a week, we also have Histopath, which is taught by our hilarious pathology faculty. I have to say that I really like this block. It makes the epidemiologist in me very happy, but it makes the germophobe in me very leery (there is NEVER too much hand sanitizer). The Cliffsnotes of ID:
1. WASH YOUR HANDS!
2. We should really give our immune systems a round of applause.

Last, but most definitely not least, is Second Look Weekend. After MONTHS of planning, SLW finally happened! We welcomed 185 admitted students back to Ann Arbor to have a second look at the place we call home. Appropriately, the theme was Welcome HoMe. I was one of the Clinic Visit Co-Chairs, and it was so great to watch everything come together as so many admitted students returned to UMMS. I was able to meet or catch up with so many M0s, as we call the incoming class, and they are people who I am so excited to train with in the future. They have come from a variety of backgrounds and have done some really great things, so I can’t wait to welcome them back again in the fall. Class 169 is going to be amazing.

A great end to Second Look Weekend

As always, thanks for reading! Don’t forget to wash your hands…