Clinical research

There's so much that goes on in the treatment of patients, I don't even know where to start. From financial barriers to language barriers to cultural barriers, how do we overcome all of this. It can be so disheartening to have stops after stops after stops. I hope all that I'm learning, I can apply in my own practice... Sigh..

Woo! Going to Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

So I've finally done it. I will be a member of the class of 2017 at RFUMS in Illinois.

After finally finishing my masters, torturous months of MCAT studying, I will be starting next fall. I'm nervous but confident. Right now I'm trying to soak up as much of the Bay Area before i get dropped off in cold Chicago.

The first thing I did was check out the girl to guy ratio of the last class. Nice. Balanced. When I interviewed there, I noticed there were some really cute girls there.

Anomaly? Maybe. I have to get my deposit in by Jan. 18.

And I have to apply for housing by Jan 2.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A game changer...

Ping! Usually that innocuous sound alerts me to deals on living social, groupon, or traffic alerts for my morning commute to UCSF. Ping! is usually reserved for the mundane and the everyday. Except for monday afternoon.

Last Monday, I got a very special email ping from a med school I applied to. An invitation to interview at their school! I looked over the email, to make sure I was reading it right. I should call within 2 weeks to make a date... I called within 10 minutes. The other minutes were spent calling my parents. The other was trying to get some advice from my younger bro.

I called and spoke to a very sweet lady who informed me that a cancellation occurred for Monday, and I gladly took it. As I spoke to her, I was already looking up flight details. She offered two spots, morning or afternoon. At first I accepted the afternoon before I realized my blunder. Crap!! There's not many spaces left! I should take the morning! I politely asked to change the interview to the morning. Done. Bingo bango. I have an interview....

(to be continued).

Update time!

Previously, on a very special Roth. I was just finishing up data. Did I finally write that thesis. Yes! I currently am adding more substance to a couple of sections but once that's done, defense time!

Second, all my apps are in and I'm working on completing them. Sent in st. George...

Third, I got a new job at UCSF working in cancer research. After a month, I still love it.

That's it for a short update... More soon.

A typical day...

So what does a person do, studying for the biggest exam of his life? 

Here's a breakdown of what happens. 

7:00 Wake up, hit snooze.

7:30 Actually get up, trip over dog, shower, brush teeth, etc

8:30 Get to UCSF library, remark whole seemingly empty it is.

9:00 After catching up on emails and wasting time reading, actually study

11:30 Pack up stuff, and grab books of the shelf to pretend someone is still there. 

11:45 Avoid eye contact with old people in the men's locker room. Change quickly to avoid glances.

12:00 Work out, run, etc, sweat

12:45 Go to Subway, order a blt, still sweaty from the work out because showering takes too much time.

1:15 Eat, text, listen to music...

1:30 Got to Library, and find that spot has been taken by some weird guy reading just a newspaper. 

1:45 Find a quiet spot and study.

3:00 Still studying

5:00 Still studying

7:00 Still studying

7:30 Security guy tells me the library is going to close soon. Better pack up.

7:50 Security tazes me

8:00 Carried out of the door and onto the bench.

8:15 Regain consciousness. Head home

9:15 Eat dinner, watch TV

11:00 Weep, that this is going to happen again for next 3 weeks. 

12:00 Sleep 

So far, it's been a month of this. It gets better right? RIGHT?!? =) 

 

Test

Why be surprised?

Part of the experience of studying/writing thesis/ filling out secondaries for 12 hours in a library, is the people that come here. A few minutes ago, I had a cube mate sighed angrily out loud. And patrons who crack open a cold one in the library.

It's the small things like this that makes studying enjoyable.

You've got residents, law students ( I could tell, because they were better dressed), and random people in one place. And they're all nuts.

The wifi here has been decent so far, but not great. Which is good for someone like me, who get tired of physics as circuits. Though, now, I can teach the damn thing now.

Still, I'm sure if I wait long enough, I'll have crazy stories about the people who inhabit this study haven of mine.

Back to studying.

P.S. Here's a pic of the "view"

Halfway through the summer

I should stop making posts about just studying. But I swear, it's all I do. I'm looking forward to the Gilroy garlic festival this weekend. That and salsa lessons.

I'm not really progressing as well l as I wanted in salsa, mainly because, i have no idea how to string a lot of spins and turns together.

I might have to find a different salsa instructor.

The library, a great place to bring your beer?

It's pretty interesting when you see someone snack away in the library, but it's even more funnier when someone brings a bottle of beer. Granted, she's working and all but wow. Cajones on that girl.

Things have been relatively quiet, salsa is picking up and I can't wait to do swing dancing at the Cal academy. Additionally, I haven't exercised in a while.

Yesterday, I did discover this really great and cheap place to get sashimi. Suruki market in San Mateo. Kinda far, but worth it.

Studying for 12ish hours is hard, I do get a roll sometimes, and finish some sections faster. Other times, i'm taking my time so I can really understand what I'm reading.

The library, a great place to bring your beer?

It's pretty interesting when you see someone snack away in the library, but it's even more funnier when someone brings a bottle of beer. Granted, she's working and all but wow. Cajones on that girl.

Things have been relatively quiet, salsa is picking up and I can't wait to do swing dancing at the Cal academy. Additionally, I haven't exercised in a while.

Yesterday, I did discover this really great and cheap place to get sashimi. Suruki market in San Mateo. Kinda far, but worth it.

Studying for 12ish hours is hard, I do get a roll sometimes, and finish some sections faster. Other times, i'm taking my time so I can really understand what I'm reading.

Finished data! And other life choices

Probably because I've been ridiculously busy, I have gotten a chance to update. So here's a recap.

In June, I finally finished all the data I needed to collect. Yay. And I also submitted my application for med school. Double yay. Currently, I'm studying (again) for the MCATS. I know I can score a wee bit higher. My exam is in August 23. This time it's in state.

So what's up next? Finish thesis. Study for MCATS. Send out secondaries. Defend thesis. Get job.

Never a dull moment that's for sure, but I wish I didnt have all these things at the same time. Sigh. That's what I get.

Right now, I'm at the library working on physics, the section I'm most weakest on, doing problem sets. Let's see how much I can get done before the library closes.

FYI, this library is sooo amazing. I cannot believe how much work I can get done. It helps that I can maintain focus longer than I was in undergrad.

Back to work!
-R

To think, it's almost been 3 years

Since I've started grad school. Wait. Wasn't supposed to take 2 years? Oh yeah, about that...

Never ever do the hardest research project that has baffled post docs previously. Recipe for disaster. Much less tasty than a recipe for mac n cheese.

But I'm nearing the end! Soon. I will be done. Oh, yes. I will be done.

What's that fireball in the sky?

Went out last afternoon to enjoy some sun and brought the T2i with me to record in it's awesome glorious... I think it turned out really well!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6AfIC5Zho

My dad used to talk to cows

So over the weekend, I talked to my dad and he told me a story about when he was in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge.
At the time, there were different factions of Khmer rouge. East, west, north , south. Each faction had their own scarfs to show to which ones they belonged. At the time, the strongest Khmer Rouge claimed that the others have strayed from the "true beliefs" of the Khmer rouge and started attacking and killing the people of the villages to which each faction belonged. At a point, it was too time consuming and difficult to kill entire villages of khmer rouge factions. So the strongest khmer rouge, decided to bring people to the mountain where it was a lot easier to kill a large group of these people. My dad was forced to work for the strongest Khmer Rouge to bring supplies from the river to the soldiers in the mountains who were fighting. These supplies were heavy and required an ox cart to bring these items. On his first trip from the river to the khmer rouge, he would see entire families and farmers with kids, singing songs about how they were going to get more supplies and food at the mountain where he was going. My dad, would pass these people and arrive way before the villagers. By the time he got there, he witnessed soldiers killing and disposing these people into these "killing fields". My dad was horrified but was even more afraid to show it in front of these soldiers. It was obvious that the families that he passed were going to get killed. So he would quietly unloaded his supplies, picked up what he needed and returned to the river. It killed my dad, as he drove his ox cart pass these families and villagers. He wanted to tell them but was afraid that by telling them, a spy or a soldier working for the stronger khmer rouge nearby would hear him and kill him instead. Even those these villagers supported these khmer rouge, they really had no part to play except grow crops and supplies from their khmer rouge armies. At night, he couldn't sleep, no matter how tired he was from driving the ox cart. He had to think of some way to tell them without alerting a spy or soldier for the khmer rouge. On his trip bringing more supplies from the mountain, he stopped at a local village to give his ox a rest in the river. While he washed them, he realized, that out here, no one could really hear him except for the villagers of these places who also came to bathe in the river. So, slowly, he got as close to one of the families, he started to talk to his cows. He started talking about how there weren't any food for them and that it wouldn't be a great place for them to be stuck at. Some of these families laughed at my father, thinking he's a country bumpkin, a farmer who spent too much time with his animals. As some of these family members started to leave and head back in the direction the mountain, one of the older members of the village got close and asked where they should go instead? My father, realizing that this man is too old to be a spy or soldier, nonchalantly said that the river where he was returning would be a great place to start. The old man went back to the rest of the group and my dad, hoping that he didn't just get himself killed, finished taking care of his cows start back on the road back to the river. As he traveled down the road towards the river, a few people started to follow him 20 meters behind. As he passed other villages, that small group began to grow pretty large. When he finally made it to the river, the old man asked them where they should go? My dad looked around and saw how large this group has gotten and realized that the stronger khmer rouge wouldn't be able to do anything against such a huge crowd. So he told them to head into the city nearby where only a handful of khmer rouge soldiers would be. They thanked my dad and entered the city where they were able to get to safety. After my dad unloaded his supplies at the river, the viet kong had started to invade and my dad used the opportunity to join his family at the capitol city where he met up with my mom.
I don't usually document stories but I think, I will now from now on. Some of these stories I can see myself in my father and others I can see myself become more like him.

Research update!

So apparently, it's difficult to cajole your undergrad into doing work. Abu (not his real name) has not been in to do work. Irritating. I would be more annoyed if I didn't expect this already. But luckily, this is why you have more than one undergrad. Without Ty, I truly would have been screwed. Yeah for cramming a weeks worth of data in one day. So, the nitty gritty of research. As it looks, I have reached my sample of size for one of my experimental groups. This means I can move onto my dosage curves. I'm going to try 10-7 concentrations first and then convince my advisor that dosage curves are just fine...She did say 3 groups are fine as it is. Currently, this weather as of now sucks! Its totally making it difficult to see the actual pertinent spikes in my ephys. Luckily, technique counts for something, I can still use the data, without having baseline noise cover it up. The writing portion is doing well, I finally have an idea how to write everything. Cut, copy, paste. And repeat......

I'm a creeeeep, I'm a winner....

So as of late, I've been showing my friend Diana around the city. Took her to a couple of outings, generally showing her around. Tonight, I invited her to join my friends Sam, Celeste, lilia and various of other friends.

We met up with Julia and her friend, Amanda and danced all night. I got tired and we decided to hang out at the bar to talk and chat. More precisely, Sam and Diana spent most of the night talking with each other as I stand there awkwardly bouncing my head to the music. I suggested that we head out and so they talked as we walked to my car. Talked as I drove them home. Talked as I waited outside sam's house as they continued to talk.

After sam went inside his apt, I pulled away and drove to Diana apt. Diana tried to give me a compliment on how I went to such a nice high school. I accepted politely and we talked briefly about Buddhism.

I felt kinda bummed out, that she hardly talked to me. Especially, since I really took the time to introduce her to my friends, showed her around. But I knew that, as hard it would be, i needed sam to hang out with her.

Sam's a shy guy, had flings but not any real relationships. He's a great guy and pretty decent.

So I suggested to Diana that instead of me going with her to the concert, maybe Sam should go. She asked me why I didn't want to go and I told her that they seem to have a lot to talk about. I told her I'd text sam's number, which I did. I then told sam that maybe he should go with her since it sounds like she would have a good time with him.

He asked what it was about and I sent him, her number as well.

Dropped off Diana, helped her find her phone and got a wimpy hug and left.

I know what I probably did was for the best, as they had a good time together but it's hard not to feel snubbed a bit. I guess, later down the road, I'll feel good about it. But selfishly, I wish I was able to get that sort of response.

As it is late, and I should probably sleep before I wake up in 6 hours to do bug duty, I should go to sleep.

I'm a creep. I'm winner. What the hell am I doing here. I don't belong here.

The best iPad stylus for a grad student

So if you just recently bought an iPad for dirt cheap on craigslist, and got yourself a notetaking app for lab meetings, experiments, boring colluqiums in which you're just doodling odd star trek episodes, you're gonna want two things. Fingerless gloves (one will suffice) and a griffin or targus iPad stylus. For realsies.

I've been searching for an iPad stylus that would work and actually bought a pogo one. That sucked. Hard.

I've read reviews, seen dozens of YouTube videos of griffin stylus and they look amazing... I'm quite impressed with the sensitivity, the bounce it has, and build quality. And you can pick up these guys (targus) at Bestbuy.

And I'm sure this will work for an iPad 2 as well, ;).

Till next time.

-Roth

Hemlock and vertigo

See and download the full gallery on posterous

A night out at hemlock and vertigo was amazing. Here are so pretty blurry moments of the night. It was topped of by some delicious donuts at Bob's donuts!

I punk'd out around 12:45. Yes, I know I'm lame. Slowing down...

And some photos of Vegas malls

Woo!

In Vegas!

It's been a fun few days here! Went shopping with my bro to Zara's and got to see a fashion show.