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February Blog!

February Service Hours: 7 hours; Cumulative Spring Service Hours: 10 hours


I can't believe it's already the end of February. Time is flying by a little too quickly for my liking, and it doesn't feel real that we really only have two more months of the program. I'm glad we got through the first Cellular Control Mechanism exam because now I know what to expect, but I'm still adjusting to studying for this course. I did relatively well on this first CCM exam, so I guess whatever I did is working! We're currently in the Neurology module, and I've really been enjoying it because it feels more familiar, especially because I majored in neuroscience during undergrad. The first two lectures with Dr. Mostany specifically reminded me of a class I took in college called Biology of Mental Disorders, and I love that I still feel like I'm learning on top of the information I already had about this topic. Now, I better understand the molecular mechanisms/pathways that underlie conditions like Parkinson's and addiction, which I didn't have a strong grasp on prior to these lectures. On top of classes and getting ready for my Endocrine presentation next week, I have also continued studying for my MCAT and was able to increase my score by a few points, which is a win I'll take considering I hadn't really focused on MCAT studying during break. 

This month, I continued volunteering at Manning Family Children's Hospital as a Family Resource Center volunteer, but I also volunteered with Second Harvest Food Bank where I helped restock shelves and kept the floors tidy. Studying public health during college where surrounding neighborhoods were food deserts, I've come to have a deep appreciation for efforts increasing access to cheap and nutritious foods. I feel like this is a factor of health outcomes a lot of people might underestimate, especially when so much of health is focused on actually being able to access care rather than the factors that influence it.

I'm excited to see what the next month of the program brings!

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