As a nontraditional student with a year of corporate America work experience before starting school, I entered medical school feeling immensely intimidated. Hearing from former students about the endless amount of content awaiting us in anatomy and radiology, I questioned whether I could adapt to the intensive learning demands of medical education. As I embarked on the journey through the anatomy and radiology class, I discovered a newfound curiosity and fascination with the intricate workings of the human body. Each cadaver and radiological image unveiled a new dimension of understanding, igniting a passion for exploration and discovery. Over time, my initial apprehensions began to fade as I gained confidence in my ability to master the intricacies of anatomy and radiology. The transition from apprehension to anticipation marked a significant milestone in my journey toward becoming a proficient and compassionate physician. In retrospect, the challenges posed by anatomy and radiology served as catalysts for personal and intellectual growth. They taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of embracing new experiences with courage and humility. In reflecting on this experience, I encourage students to approach their journey with an open mindset, ready to embrace challenges as opportunities for personal and intellectual growth.

The structure of this class's schedule and grading is unique. The following is an overview of what to expect. Schedule Typically, you will have three days of lectures followed by two lab days. Although there are two lab days, you will only attend one, determined by your "house." Each "house" is subdivided into three smaller groups (ICM groups) for around 18 small groups of 6-9 students. Pay attention to the lab day schedule, as your lab dates and times will alternate each week. I recommend marking your respective lab dates/times in your calendar as soon as school starts so you don't get confused going forward. During each lab day, three house groups will rotate through each session: once in the gross anatomy lab to view prosections, once for physical exam practice with point-of-care ultrasound, and once for an integrated clinical case conference session covering radiology. On these days, wear scrubs, bring goggles/glasses and gloves for the cadaver lab, a stethoscope for the physical exam, and your iPad or computer for the clinical case conference. Exams and Grading There are a total of three exams for this class. Each exam has three components: written, practical, and OSCE. The written component comprises vignette-style questions regarding anatomy and radiology principles to make you apply your knowledge. The practical component includes images from cadavers, surface anatomy, and radiology. The OSCE portion is where students perform a physical exam with a standardized patient. The OSCE takes place on the first exam day, whereas the written and practical portions take place the following day. The following is the typical grade breakdown for each exam for reference (this is subject to possible revision): Exam 1: Total points = 110 Written = 50 points Practical = 40 points OSCE = 20 points Exam 2: Total points = 110 Written = 50 points Practical = 40 points OSCE = 20 points Exam 3: Total points = 110 Written = 50 points Practical = 40 points OSCE = 20 points Total course points = 330 The minimum level of competency to pass this course is 70.0% (unless specified otherwise). The grading breakdown of this course is less rigorous than that of other courses. It is an excellent opportunity for students to experiment with their study strategies to see what works best.

This course requires an immense amount of information to be memorized. Among medical students, using Anki is a popular way to do so. Anki is a flashcard program that uses active recall testing and spaced repetition techniques from cognitive science for memorization. Not all students choose to utilize Anki in their studies; however, this class is an excellent opportunity for students to try it out. If you decide to use Anki, I recommend using the following decks: M1 Complete (Nate+Julia) and MD814 - Lab - University of Michigan - BlueLink Atlas. These decks can be found in the medical student class Google Drive. The “Nate+Julia” deck is a great all-around deck for the course, and the University of Michigan deck is excellent for cadaver images. During lab days, take full advantage of each session. For the prosection lab session, be sure to bring a copy of the "MD814 Check Lists for Lab'' as it lays explicitly out the anatomical structures you will need to be able to identify on the exam split up into the following categories: radiology, cadaver, skeleton, surface anatomy. This checklist will allow you to focus on the exact structures you need to know. You will go through radiological images associated with various pathologies during the clinical case conference with Dr. Ayoob. Typically, these cases are more complex than the ones presented in the lecture. Therefore, if you pay attention during this session, you will be more than prepared to tackle any radiology question on the exam. For the physical exam practice, take full advantage of the allocated time to run through as much of the OSCE as possible. Doing so will make you much more comfortable when it comes time for the real thing. Additionally, ask tons of questions to the standardized patients. I always asked for their feedback, tips, and what they are specifically looking for during the exam. The standardized patients are the ones who grade the OSCEs; therefore, getting their input can give you valuable tips to succeed. There are excellent third-party resources to practice applying your knowledge of anatomy. The following websites contain practice questions that are realistic to what you'll see come exam day: Texas Tech Medical Gross Anatomy Practice Questions and the University of Michigan Medical School Practice Questions (BlueLink). Found in the class Google Drive are the following textbooks that contain great practice questions: BRS Gross Anatomy and Gray's Anatomy Review. Some of the BRS and Gray's questions are more complex than those of other resources. However, they are a great way to work through challenging questions and hone your skills.

Don't stress! As you embark on this course, remember that it marks the beginning of your medical school journey, and you're not expected to have all the answers right away. Approach it with the mindset that it's a prime opportunity to explore and discover yourself as a student and learner. Experiment with various study methods and strategies, and don't shy away from encountering setbacks or failures along the way. Embrace them as valuable learning experiences that will ultimately contribute to your growth and development. By learning from your mistakes and refining your approach, you'll gain invaluable insights that will serve you well throughout your academic and professional endeavors. So, embrace the journey, stay resilient, and trust in your ability to adapt and thrive.