2018 Survival Guide_ Final

7/21/2019 2018 Survival Guide_ Final

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Section 1: Getting Started A Welcome Message to the Class of 2018

2

Survival Tips

3

General Information

5

Textbooks

10

Equipment 11

Grades and Honor Pledge 12

Section 2: The Inside Scoop Guide to First Year Blocks

13

Block 1 ‐ Foundations and Principles of Medical Sciences I 14

Block 2 ‐ Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Systems 15

Block 3 ‐ Gastrointestinal, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems I

16

Block 4 ‐ Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems 17

Block 5 ‐ Nervous System and Human Behavior I

18

POM ‐ Practice of Medicine (Through all Blocks) 20

Anatomy Lab

21

Group Work

22Study Tips 23

Summer Opportunities 25

Section 3: Beyond School Family, Friends and Significant Others 26

Social Obligations and Traditions 27

Relaxation and Fun Spots 29

Eat, Drink and Be Merry 32

Section 4: Advice Column and Parting Words 35



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Welcome to the University of Nevada School of Medicine and the medical

profession!

Most importantly, congratulations on taking a giant step toward your dream of becoming a physician.

Traditionally, the sophomore class is responsible for introducing the incoming freshman class to the School of

Medicine and for producing a guide that is designed to ease the transition into your first year of medical

school.

You are starting your first year as a medical student and for the rest of the year will be referred to as

an “MSI”. After just having been through what you are beginning to go through, we hope you’ll agree that the

Class of 2017 is in the unique position to help make your days a lot easier and this guide attempts to

accomplish just that. Though this guide contains some practical and well‐worn advice, the most important

thing we can tell you is to make time for yourself. Medical school is not just a time for cramming as much

information into your brain as you can. If you enjoy your years in medical school, you’ll be a more rounded

physician. Being a medical student requires a lot of active efforts on your part and enjoying what you are

doing (and having fun doing it) will make the time pass quickly and keep you refreshed and positive.

Starting medical school is a significant endeavor and we understand both the excitement and the

anxiety that you may be feeling. The next four years will be demanding, but they will also hold some of your

most rewarding and enjoyable life experiences. You will meet 70 new people from diverse backgrounds, and

they will become both friends and colleagues who will remain important in the years to come. You will begin

t o understand the paradoxical frailty and strength of the human body and be introduced to the intricate

mechanisms of our physiology. Perhaps most importantly, you will begin to interact with patients and learn to

think like a doctor.

We have just finished a great year here at UNSOM. Of course it was full of studying and there were

difficult times when some of us wondered why we came to medical school in the first place, but these doubts

were fleeting and it is all worth it. The majority of the year was enjoyable; we had fun times, both in and out of

class. Most of us feel that the past year was like a roller coaster. There were times when we worked harder

than we ever had before. There were also times that we were able to relax and enjoy life outside of medicalschool. Make sure that you take advantage of these times to enjoy all UNSOM and life has to offer. We hope

that this issue of Survival Guide will aid you during all of these times, both inside and outside of medical

school.

A special thanks to all those who have contributed, in one way or another, to this edition. We hope

this guide will help answer some of your questions. If the Class of 2017 can be of help, just ask. Lastly, try to

relax and remember that your years in medical school are meant to be enjoyable as well as educational. We

would like to extend our best wishes for success on your road to becoming a doctor!

To your first year of medical school and good health,

2018 ORIENTATION COMMITTEE





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Testing. After an exam, please be considerate of others still in the testing room. Try to keep the noise downwhile you are outside the auditorium. This allows the test takers to concentrate. Also, when you check yourscores, try not to have a vocal response to what your grade is! Remember, everyone is sensitive about theirgrades.

Studying. Some students choose to read the book while others stick strictly to the notes and learning objectives.Pick the style that is best suited for how you want to learn. Study groups may be useful for some classes also.

Once again, it comes down to your learning style.

$$$$$$$$. Keep up with financial aid (and all other paperwork!). Bottom line: it’s your responsibility.



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General Information

Bookstore The Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) bookstore is located on the ground floor of the

Joe Crowley Student Union. You can park in the metered lot just outside the bookstore, take the shuttle, or

walk from the medical school. Our shuttle stop is located in front of the Student Health Center and runs every

10‐15 minutes. For those who want a little exercise, it’s a brisk walk, especially uphill on the way back! Visit

them at www.asunbookstore.unr.edu or call (775) 784‐6597. The bookstore sells just about everything youneed, although they are not always for the cheapest price. If you are having trouble finding a book, you can

order medical textbooks or buy them on the Internet. Also located in the bookstore is the Computer Den. A

custom configured Dell Notebook or MacBook computer can be purchased through the Computer Den, which

also offers students great discounts on hardware and software.

Computer Requirement Incoming students are required to have a laptop computer in order to take tests. We have the advantage of

the high‐speed network connectivity in the first year classroom, the Student Lounge, the Savitt Medical

Library, and the group‐study rooms. In addition, the main campus library has wireless capabilities, thus it

may be advantageous to acquire a wireless internet card when ordering your computer. Questions on

suggested configurations and system requirements should be directed to Robert Boyd([email protected]).

Computer Accounts All medical students are assigned university Internet accounts on the UNR campus computer network. You

are eligible for free e‐mail accounts. The campus network also gives user’s access to the Internet, specific

departmental networks, on‐line research databases, and library catalogs. During orientation week you

s h o u l d see Robert Boyd in the Savitt Medical Library to set up your network connection, get your UNSOM

network ID and password, and/or solve any computing problems you may have. With proper authentication,

you’ll have lightning fast Internet access directly on your laptop whether you’re in class, the library, the

Student Lounge, or the group‐study rooms. Some configuration may be necessary, so be sure to visit Mr. Boyd

for further details! Each class also has its own mailing list based on their year of graduation (e.g.,

[email protected]). The mailing lists are available to students to communicate classannouncements and to faculty and administration to communicate general information to the entire class.

Electronic textbook/journal access To have access to electronic textbooks and journals you must set up your computer on the proxy and have a

valid medical student ID and password.

Immunizations and Health MMR, T-dap, Varicella, Hepatitis A or B, Tetanus, and Quantiferon/PPD for TB exposure are all required for

medical students at the beginning of school. It is important that all of your immunizations are up to date to

avoid termination of your enrollment. It is mandatory that your immunizations be completed prior to

Orientation week. You will not be allowed to matriculate if immunizations have not been documentedand sent to Pat Romney at [email protected]

The Student Health Center (www.unr.edu/shc or 775‐784‐6598) is located directly across from the

Pennington Medical Education building. The Student Health Center is open for walk‐ins from 8am – 4pm M‐F,

but closed Wednesday 8am‐9am for staff meeting and closed 12:00‐1:30pm the last Thursday of each month for

staff training and continuing medical education. They are not open on weekends.

http://www.asunbookstore.unr.edu/

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.unr.edu/shc

http://www.unr.edu/shc


http://www.asunbookstore.unr.edu/





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Student Outreach Clinic (SOC) The SOC is a student operated clinic serving the uninsured. We take pride in serving our community as well

as providing an atmosphere in which our students can learn to practice medicine. We are comprised of

medical, nursing, and nutrition students, volunteers, and translators for Spanish speaking patients. It is

coordinated by medical students and provides quality free health care services under the supervision of a

licensed physician. Services provided include physical examinations, blood pressure measurements,

vaccinations, PAP smears, breast exams, pregnancy testing, diabetes screening/info, STD info/referrals, and

referral services. The clinics are operated from the on‐campus Family Medicine Clinic, adjacent to the

Student Health Center. Clinics are run both on selected Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings on a walk‐

in, first‐come‐first‐served basis.

University IDs, School of Medicine IDs, and Other Personal IDs Your University of Nevada ID Card is also your library card, your admission into intramural games, and your

pass to the gym. Admission into the weight room/wellness center requires a reasonable per semester fee.

During orientation, we’ll tell you where to get IDs. There is a small processing fee, but the validation is free.

Replacement cards are issued in the Activities and Scheduling Office in the Joe Crowley Student Union for $15.

In addition, you’ll also receive magnetic “Medical Student” name tags that you should wear during orientation

week and on your white coats. A School of Medicine picture ID will also be issued to you. The picture ID is a

necessary form of identification for validation of your medical student status and security purposes and mustbe worn at all times while in the hospitals. It also allows you access to hospital libraries. Replacement cards

are provided by the Wolf Card Office on the second floor of the JCSU. Finally, you’ll get a personal four digit

PIN # that will identify you during your years in medical school. The first two digits will be your graduation

year, and the last two digits will be assigned randomly (e.g., 18xx). All of these forms of ID will be distributed

either during orientation week or the first week of classes.

Wellness Program Medical school can be hectic and the School of Medicine’s Student Wellness Program is committed to insuring

that Nevada’s future physicians know how to care for themselves. The mission of the Wellness Committee is

to encourage medical students to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle by balancing all aspects of their

lives and to provide the skills for students to become positive role models in teaching wellness to their

patients. The coordinating committee schedules programs and support services throughout the year to

address the social, emotional, physical and spiritual lives of students.

In addition, the UNR Wellness Program boasts almost every imaginable activity from intramural sports to

yoga/meditation to the traditional weight room and gym. Most activities make use of Lombardi Recreation

Center (http://hhs.unr.edu/crw/) and are generally open to the entire UNR campus. They also have family

passes and special arrangements for children 15 years and younger. A $70 student fee is charged per person

per semester or $189 per year. A Wellness Program representative will be available during orientation for

more information.

http://hhs.unr.edu/crw/)





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Student Committees and Representatives There are several committees that exist to represent you in various matters.

Student Executive Committee (SEC): SEC is the student government of the School of Medicine. The second

year officers will be available to help you with any questions. In addition to the President, Vice President,

Secretary, Treasurer, Historians, and Social Chairs, there are representatives to the Development Committee

and the Curriculum Committee.

●

President : Duties include organizing and running monthly meetings as well as facilitating

communication between the class and the administration.

● Vice President: Duties include attending monthly meetings as well as approaching professors

about giving back exam questions. Anyone questioning an exam question must talk to the vice

president, and it is then the vice president’s role to talk to the professor. This eliminates multiple

students asking about the same questions.

●

Secretary: Duties include attending monthly meetings as well as sending out a weekly

reminder of exams and other activities taking place. Secretary is also instrumental in changing exam

dates, scheduling review sessions with professors and trying to lighten the schedule for your class.

● Treasurer: Duties include attending monthly meetings as well as managing class funds.

Treasurer is responsible for collecting class dues at the beginning of the year and making an

appropriate budget.●

Historians: Duties include attending monthly meetings as well as keeping a photo record of

events throughout the year. You can make collages to hang in the lounge, you can keep an online photo

album, whatever works for you, but you are the picture person!

●

Social Chairs: Duties include attending monthly meetings as well as organizing class events.

Some of these include the Halloween Dance, a flag football game, ordering class shirts, and bringing

treats before or after the occasional exam.

Student Curriculum Committee (SCC): Your class will have two representatives to the SCC. This committee

is concerned with the ways we learn medicine, how the curriculum is structured, and how well students are

handling the learning process. The SCC may suggest improvements to or bring forth complaints about the

current curriculum.

Student Assistance Committee (SAC): Four of your peers will be your representatives to the SAC. These are

people you’d feel comfortable talking to in a wide range of situations, i.e., when the going gets tough. The SAC

facilitates solving problems while maintaining confidentiality.

Honor Committee: This committee will include of two of your elected classmates and is in charge of promoting

and further developing the relatively new honor system at UNSOM. This committee is also in charge of handling

any issues of honor code violations.

Student Health Representative: One person in your class will be your liaison for issues dealing with student

health insurance, scope of coverage, and providers.

American Medical Association – Medical Student Section Representative: Two people will be your

AMAMSS representatives. AMA‐MSS is the student branch of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Organization of Student Representatives (OSR): Your class will elect one OSR representative. OSR is the

student branch of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).



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Student Organizations and Interest Groups There are a variety of organizations and interest groups in which medical students can participate. The

following list is not all inclusive. Be sure to look for student organization booths during orientation week to

find out more about some of these groups.

Student Organizations American Medical Association‐Medical Student Section (AMA‐MSS)

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

American Geriatric Society Students (AGSS)

Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)

Christian Medical & Dental Society (CMDS)

Medical Students for Choice (MS4C)

Student Outreach Clinic (SOC)

Student Interest Groups American College of Physicians Interest Group (ACP)

Anesthesiology Interest Group

Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG)

Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG)

Student Interest Group in Neurology/Neurosurgery (SIGN)

History of Medicine Interest Group

Internal Medicine Interest Group

Journal Club

OB/GYN Interest Group

Pediatric Interest Group

Spanish in Medicine Interest Group

The Stethoscope Literary and Arts Journal

Surgery Interest GroupWilderness Medicine group

And much more…



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Textbooks We know that you have a lot of books to buy the first year. We strongly suggest using this information to save

money and to decide which books to buy. One great source for books is your MSII, MSIII, and MSIV

colleagues. They may have some books they wish to sell, let you borrow, or (better yet) give away. Keep

watch for signs around school and in your e‐mail accounts advertising these books.

Don’t think you’ll have to purchase books for every class. A few courses such as physiology, cell

biology, and embryology provide so much information in lectures, PowerPoints, or handouts thatrecommended texts may not be necessary. This is when books on reserve in the library will come in handy.

You may also consider sharing books with classmates to help offset some of the cost of the more expensive

texts.

Finally, we’d like to stress the benefits of using board review books in conjunction with your lecture

notes and textbooks. You’ll probably need them for review before the boards, so buying them now will help.

These books are generally focused, easy to read, and help cut out the minutia in lectures and textbooks.

They’re also good at addressing exceptions to concepts and emphasizing them for study. Board review books

are good for highlighting key points that are frequently tested on the USMLE Step 1.

Note: Board review books include the Board Review Series (BRS) , High‐Yield™ series , National Medical Series

(NMS) , and

Made Ridiculously Simple series. Although all are highly regarded by medical students, it is usually

best not to rely on any single series. First Aid 2013 for the USMLE Step 1 has an excellent review of these

resources that may be helpful in deciding which to add to your collection. Upperclassmen may also be able to

share their experiences. Bottom line: it depends on your learning style and preferences.

Note: In addition to the ASUN Bookstore, make sure to check the Internet for the best deals on new and used

versions of books. Sites like amazon.com , half.com , or ebay.com usually have great deals (up to 50% off in some

cases!) on the books you’ll need, as well as helpful reviews and lists ofhigh‐quality resources. These are usually

submitted by medical students who have successfully passed the Boards.

Some Textbooks We Recommend:

Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy: An absolute must. So helpful when studying for the lab

practicals and when finding structures in the lab (You may want to get an extra one between your anatomy

group because you won’t want to bring it home after you’ve used it in lab). All anatomy lectures use the

pictures from this book.

Moore’s Clinically Oriented Anatomy: If you need extra help, this is a great supplement to the

lectures. Dr. Sievert likes to use this book for some of his lectures and will sometimes assign recommended

readings from this book, but nothing required. Everything that Dr. Sievert will test on will be directly from his

lectures. The Savitt Library has an older edition of this book if you want to look at it first!

Salher, O.J., Carr, J. The Behavioral Sciences and Health Care. While this book isn’t the most

exciting, it is required reading for many of Dr. Jacob’s and Dr. Ishibashi’s lectures. They will make test

questions from this material. In human behavior heavy Blocks (especially Block 5) it may be beneficial to

form a group google doc and split up the readings.

Gartner and Hiatt’s Color Textbook or Atlas of Histology: This is a nice supplement to Dr.

Highinson's histology lectures as it includes most of the pictures from his slides. When first starting, this book

is useful because Highison’s lectures tend to be packed with information.

Sadler’s Langman’s Medical Embryology: This book is much more in depth than anything you will

be required. It is very useful when trying to get a good background. Overall it is a great reference.

Purve’s Neuroscience: You will only use this book in Block 5. Not required, but very helpful. Almost

every neuroscience lecture is taken directly from this book. This book helps you understand the lecturers who

like to just lecture on powerpoints full of pictures.





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Grades and Honor Pledge

Honor Pledge

The UNSOM Honor Pledge establishes the expectation and requirement that students act in an honorable

manner on every assignment. We all agree to uphold the Honor Pledge upon entry into the School of

Medicine. Our professors, in turn, are expected to trust us. Violations are very serious. The Honor Pledge will

be explained to you and will be recited during the White Coat Ceremony.

I will strive to maintain the highest standards of responsibility, integrity and professionalism during my

education and throughout my professional career.

I will neither receive nor give unauthorized assistance on examinations or assignments and I will approach

my education with honesty and integrity.

I will respect and support my classmates, colleagues and teachers at all times.

I will strive to acknowledge my limitations, strive to learn from my mistakes and work to improve my skills to

the benefit of my patients.

I will strive to commit myself to a lifetime of learning and teaching both the art and science of medicine.

I will strive to attend to all my patients with competence and compassion.

I will maintain patient confidentiality and be tactful in my words and actions.

I will honor the diversity of patients’ experiences, cultures and beliefs

I will recognize the privileges afforded to me as a physician and a physician‐in‐training and promise not to

abuse them.

I will use my knowledge to improve the lives of others and never to harm.

I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honor.

Grading System

The blocks are on a grading scale of Pass, High Pass, and Honors. The consequences for failing

classes are outlined in the UNSOM student handbook . Almost all exams are taken on the computer, which

allows you to see your grade immediately after completing the exam. If you want to review exams, you are

welcome to contact Jeff Wienert, who administers the tests.



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Guide to First Year Courses

Because the human body is complex, the dilemma we all face is how best to learn about it. While you

will continually encounter an excessive amount of information from a variety of subject areas (i.e.,

Biochemistry, Histology, and Physiology) in medical school, keep in mind that all of these subjects are

extensively interrelated. It’s easy to view the classes independently during one's educational experience, but

the importance of integrating the information from all subject areas becomes obvious. To properly diagnose

and treat an inborn error of metabolism (biochemistry), a physician must understand the pathological

manifestations on a physiological or histological level. Although your instructors occasionally guide you in

your integration of material, there is seldom enough class time to be complete. Although the blocks are setup

to integrate the courses, you are ultimately responsible for integrating the information provided to you, and

the extent to which you are able do this will ultimately determine your success in medical school as well as

your understanding of the structure and function of the human body as a whole.

You, as a member of the Class of 2018, will be witness to many continuing changes in the school's

classic curriculum, reflecting a new direction in medicine. For example, your course work will emphasize the

molecular aspects of medicine and their impact on health and disease. Experimental techniques such as "gene

replacement therapy" are moving out of the headlines and into the hands of physicians. This increased focus

on the molecular level will pervade all the basic science courses. You’ll be introduced to molecular physiologyas "Cell Biology." Also, testing and clinical preparations are moving in the direction of being computer based

in anticipation not only for the Computer‐Based Testing (CBT) on the Boards (USMLEs), but for technological

trends in clinical practice as well.

As with our class, you will be exposed to history taking and physical examinations in your Practice of

Medicine course. You will practice your skills on real patients and on patient models. By the end of the year,

you will have gained the tools necessary to perform complete patient histories and physicals, techniques you

will refine throughout your career and which will be the key to accurate diagnoses and compassionate patient

care. As you may know, in addition to Steps 1 & 2, the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) has

implemented the Clinical Skills Assessment Examination (CSAE). By allowing us to see patients early and

frequently in our training, UNSOM provides outstanding opportunities to help prepare us not only for the

CSAE but also for our clinical futures. Do not take lightly your exposures to patient care in the first year.

Finally, be VERY cautious of any advice you get from MSIIs, MSIIIs, or MSIVs, especially the “oh,

it’s an easy exam” kind. The best advice anyone can give you is this: don’t underestimate any class or

exam, no matter how simplistic the material may seem. An easy exam for one is hard for someone

else. Be active in trying to tie it all together—think clinically and critically.

On the following pages you’ll find brief descriptions of the Blocks you will take during your first year

at UNSOM. Please remember that courses undergo facelifts from year to year. If information in this guide is

conflicting, let your class syllabus and faculty be the final word on the matter. Good luck!



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BLOCK 1: Foundations and Principles of Medical Science I

Block Directors: Dr. Cynthia Mastick, PhD.

Dr. Thomas Hunt

This block is meant to start you off with the basics you need to understand to move on to the organ systems.The main classes are Histology, Development, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry.

You will start out learning the basic concepts of cellular processes, the biochemistry behind the processes,

and the genetic diseases that occur when these processes are interrupted. You will also be introduced to

Human Behavior, Anatomy, and Pharmacology. The most important thing to focus on during this block is to

establish your studying routine and learn how to switch between subjects.

For the first three self‐assessments, you will take them in class on Monday morning to get used to the format

of it. After three weeks, you can take them whenever you feel ready during the weekend. Each week, you

will work with your assigned group on case questions, due Monday and Wednesday evenings. The cases of

the week are presented at the beginning of the week, on Monday morning, and will be wrapped up on Friday,

either in the morning or in the afternoon. You will also work with you assigned group on a couple Team

Based Learning Activities. There will be a mid-term test in week 5 and a final in week 9, so there are only 2tests during this block.

Comments on Major Lecturers:

Dr. Baker (Biochemistry): Fair and willing to listen to comments and questions; very happy to see students

and answer questions in his office.

Dr. Koh (Cell Biology): His lectures are very beneficial to attend because he tells you which concepts are the

most important ones to focus on; he seems tough on students in class and lab, but he is just trying to get you

to figure out the answers.

Dr. Perrino (Cell Biology): He is very willing to answer questions and he is a nice professor. Most of the

time, his powerpoints are sufficient and the figures in the book that he refers to are important to look over forhis test questions.

Dr. Ward (Cell Biology): Know his notes, as his questions tend to be a list of statements and you have to pick

the false one. He is Irish and has an awesome accent, which makes his lectures pretty interesting.

Dr. Highison (Histology/Development): He is one of the best professors; his presentations contain all the

information you need to know, so make sure you know even the smallest details. He is always willing to

receive any questions and clear up confusion. His questions tend to be very difficult, but if you know the

information, you will be fine.

Dr. Sievert (Anatomy): Be prepared to type the entire lecture, as he talks quickly and a lot of his

powerpoints tend to consist of lots of pictures. Many students find it necessary not only to attend lecture but

to re‐listen to the echo recording to get all of the details. He is very approachable and willing to answer

questions. He tends to test information that is in Clinically Oriented Anatomy (especially anything about the

nerves), so if you like reading books, use that.

Dr. Bardin (Case of the Week/Anatomy): Dr. Bardin is awesome! He is a retired vascular surgeon, so if you

have any questions about clinical concepts or anatomical structures, he is a great resource.

Dr. Jacobs (Human Behavior): Very approachable and very clear about what she wants you to take away

from the readings and lectures. She gives objectives for each reading; so use those to help you identify major

points and facts that you need to know for her test questions.

Dr. Ishibashi (Ethics): She is a pediatrician who is in charge of teaching Ethics in both the blocks and

Practice of Medicine. She is very understanding and tries to engage the students during her lectures.





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BLOCK 3: Gastrointestinal, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems I

Block Directors:

Maria L. Valencik, Ph.D.

Kathy Keef, Ph.D.

Evan M. Klass, M.D.

Lasting 11 weeks, Block 3 is the longest block of the year and it is heavy in anatomy, physiology, and

biochemistry. If the setup remains the same, you will be given two midterms, an anatomy lab exam and a

comprehensive final. The first two weeks of this block take off very fast (seriously it’s crazy) so be prepared to go

right after winter break! (It slows a little afterwards). For this block, make sure to pace yourself: you still have 2

more Blocks before you get to summer break.

In addition to the main Block curriculum, POM preceptorships run throughout this block, either on

Tuesday or Thursday. This means that you will have a free afternoon every week.


Anatomy: Hopefully you will have gotten used to Dr. Sievert and his exam questions by now! His lectures in this

block are sometimes given to other lecturers, such as

Dr. Hulka: She was wonderful in lab! Her lectures were very simple. Read the book and study the pictures

in Netter. Make sure you know your collateral circulation! She’s a surgeon so she knows the anatomy really

well!

Dr. Cobine: Not as seasoned a lecturer as many of the others, but her slides are very clear and she is

extremely helpful. You will see her around the lab.

Dr. Valencik: lectures on the majority of biochemistry in this block. Fair and willing to listen to comments

and questions/ Go talk to her if you need help or have questions because they will often give practice

problems/ Very willing to help.

Dr. Blomquist: Lectures on lipid metabolism. Is a BCH professor for the university and that is his main aim,

but he is pretty fair about how in depth he expects you to know the material. Know where and how NSAIDs/

COX inhibitors and Cortisone work.

Physiology: Dr. Smith: An interesting guy with a great accent. Loves to go on about historical background of what he

teaches but doesn’t test on it. Lectures are sometimes far too detailed, but exam questions are typically

fair and are usually like: “All of the following are true except”

Dr. Ward Great accent! Awesome Irishman, know his notes. All of his questions are a list of statements

from his notes; you pick the false one.

Dr. Yan: Test questions are not too bad, and he doesn’t try to trick you/ tests on important material and

questions are straightforward/ do his objectivesDr. Keef: One of the most fair and understanding professors. Just read her syllabus notes and do her

homework questions / Do her sample questions!!!!! Her test questions are very similar! She is a good teacher

/ Awesome notes, do her questions, she asks questions like on the USMLE / Great teacher. Very willing to

help you out.

You will also get to see a good amount of Dr. Highison again for Histology, and will be having group histology labs

throughout the Block



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BLOCK 4: Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems

Block Directors: Carl Sievert, PhD

This block is a 4 week sprint through the musculoskeletal and integumentary system with finals on

week 5. This block is anatomy intensive, both lecture and lab, with Dr. Sievert teaching the majority of classes.

You will have two anatomy labs to complete each week, along with a full lecture schedule. The lectures start

early (usually 8am) with lab in the afternoon. You will also have a smattering of embryology, pharmacology,

pathology, and human behavior to round out the course work. Along with anatomy and other classes, you will

have many guest lectures from the community speaking on everything from bone and tendon mechanics, pain

management, orthopedics, to acupuncture. Since these are all local doctors donating their time to teach us, all

the guest lectures will be mandatory. This means that if you have decided not to go to class as much, you will

need to return and get comfortable in the lecture hall once again. As usual, you will also have cases of the

week and TBL throughout the block

This is a very time and information intensive block with no shortage of stuff to do and study. The bestthing you can do to really help you out is to STAY ON TOP OF THE INFORMATION. You will find that there is

nothing worse than realizing you have a stack of about 4‐5 lectures from Dr. Sievert that you have yet to

study. Be prepared to spend many hours in the anatomy lab. If you feel that your anatomy skills are weak to

this point, make sure that you get some help. Dr. Bardin is always there to tutor students who need a little

more tutelage. If you have not gone to an SI anatomy study put on by the second year students, this would be

the block to go. There are not a lot of hard “concepts” to understand in this block, just a lot of muscle

memorization. Group study comes in handy for quizzing each other on movements and muscles of the body.

While anatomy is by far the most important subject of this block, do not neglect the other lectures, because

they too will have questions on the final. It easy to forget about everything non‐anatomy, and even easier to

miss the questions on the exam.

Comments on major lectures:

Dr. Sievert: He only has three weeks to cover what he normally had much more time to cover. Because of this

he is going to move really fast through his lectures. Don’t panic. Remember to go back to Echo (video/audio

recording of lectures) and review the points that you missed. This is where your typing skills will pay off. He

throws a lot out there really fast. If you are a “book person” when it comes to studying, Moore’s Clinical

Anatomy is a good reference book to use. Remember that is questions can really test your knowledge, you

know the stuff well. A lot of students did a lot of different things to prepare for the final. Don’t be afraid to ask

the second‐years for some study tips

Dr. Highison: He will give his last lecture to you in this block. You will miss him.

Dr. /Dean Schwenk: He will give a lecture or two. Make sure you are in attendance.

Dr. Brown: His lectures can be a little laborious at times. Study what he tells you to study. His questions are

pretty straightforward.



18

BLOCK 5: Nervous System and Human Behavior I

Block Director: Dr. von Bartheld, M.D.

This is the crux of your first‐year medical school experience. In addition to the massive knowledge

bomb they will drop, you might be approaching burnout. Take a deep breath and know that it is all doable.The second years made it through and so will you. It’s really easy to get down and watch your morale dip.Don’t be afraid to seek help if you need a little. Most of us felt very lost for the first couple of weeks. Don’t stress if it’s not making sense at first; it will come together.

This block is six weeks long with finals on the seventh week. Your first year doesn’t end till mid‐June. Most of you haven’t ever been in school this long so be prepared for the extended semester. Along with theblock being all neuroscience, you will cover the last part of anatomy: head and neck. You are not done with Dr.Sievert. He teaches just as much in this block as he did in the last. This block also covers a lot of humanbehavior. The majority of students feel that human behavior is a little easier to handle than most othersubjects taught in the first year.Therefore, when you see the amount of human behavior you have, don’t get too worried. Dr. Jacobs is verygood at outlines clear objectives for the reading and lectures. There is a required book for this block. Dr. von

B will also give you a list of supplemental book that might be useful. A lot of students found Neuroanatomybased on Clinical Cases really helpful for this block, as well as Sandoz Course Cranial Nerves (because thecranial nerves can be very confusing).

Not only will you have head and neck lab, you will also have a wet brain lab almost every week. This doubles the stuff you need to know in the anatomy lab. Just like last block, do not get too far behind, becausethe information can stack up quick. Later in the block, many students found it helpful to laminate pictures ofbrainstem sections to label them with dry erase markers. As always, if you need help, contact Dr. Bardin.Also, during the block you might see an associate of Dr. Sievert’s named Dr. Morse. He taught medicalanatomy in Ohio and usually comes in the help with head and neck anatomy (one of his specialties). He ismore than willing to meet with students for some supplemental instruction in the anatomy lab. He is a greatteacher and an invaluable resource if you are struggling with anatomy.

There will still be many guest lectures as well as TBL and weekly cases during the block, so makesure to balance your time well.

student. After you take your last neuro final, take a deep breath. You did it! You are now a second year medical


Dr. Sievert: By now you should know that Dr. Sievert loves nerves. He will teach you the cranial nerves andtheir nuclei in what will feel like a very confusing/convoluted way. A lot of student found some greatsupplemental reading to help their understanding. Also, it is important that you study Dr. Sievert’s materialbased on the cranial nerve schematics he gives during lectures. I know that this might not make sense now,

but remember that he loves to test the majority of anatomy based on these schematics. Know them well.

Dr. Kenyon: He will teach a lot of the neuroscience. His lectures might seem pretty straight forward, but histest questions are anything but! He will only test on what he presented in class and what is on his powerpoints, but you have to know those power points very well! Don’t be fooled, his questions can really messwith you.

Dr. von Bartheld: He speaks a little slower some, so when reviewing his lectures on Echo, you can bump upthe speed to about 2x speed. He gives out great study guides for his material and his questions are fair if youstick to the study guides.





20

Practice of Medicine (POM)

The Practice of Medicine is a yearlong course designed to introduce students to the actual practice of medicine.

POM will introduce you to the art of taking a proper history and physical and lets you practice with several

diagnostic instruments. In the fall, class usually begins with 1 hour of lecture/presentation per week, followed

by about 2 hours of small group practice, using your newly acquired skills on patient models and each other.

The grading consists of you conducting a complete history and physical on a patient model while a faculty

member or 4th year student observes. Since this is an honors/pass/fail course, the final exam is more about

going through the motions and patient interaction than about knowing the difference between rales and

rhonchi. This course also incorporates brief quizzes each week on the readings from the Mosbys book.

These quizzes are just there to make sure people show up prepared and are nothing to sweat about!

Sometimes outlines are provided on the POM Webcampus page, so look ahead.

Preceptorship is in the spring semester. You’ll be paired with a local physician and will get to

experience and observe how medicine is actually practiced (this also includes the business aspect of medicine).

Some physicians will ask for you to be more hands on and take the histories yourself. It just depends on who

you get. No one will expect you to be an expert though, so no worries! The main POM class will continue through

this period, but it will be more infrequent. One nice thing is the preceptorships are scheduled over 2 afternoons,and yours will only be one of them so you are guaranteed at least one afternoon free.

Since this class may be your first time interviewing / examining patients it may be a little unnerving at

first. It gets much easier and less awkward. Promise. If you are really concerned start attending the Student

Outreach Clinic more.

Hints • Practice with your “toys” outside of class. You WILL be asked to use them and you don’t want to

embarrass yourself by staring blankly at your otoscope and not knowing what it’s used for!

• Relax. The more relaxed and confident you appear, the more relaxed our patients will feel (and the

more practice you get, the more relaxed you’ll be). Also, some will have better 4th year group leaders

than others; don’t be afraid to ask for help from multiple 4 th year leaders.

• Not all preceptorships are created alike. Some will learn to do sutures, while others will only get to

observe their preceptors. If you want to do something or feel like you need help/practice in an area,

don’t be afraid to ask. Amy McFarland coordinates all preceptorships. You can meet with her

individually if you have questions or requests. She can be a good resource and is usually nice to chat

with. She handles A LOT, so be sure to give her the respect she deserves.

Course Coordinator:

The block co‐directors are Dr. Danko, Dr. Calvo, and Dr. Jacobs. They are excellent teachers and are veryunderstanding of students’ workload and schedule.

Textbooks: Mosby’s Guide to Physical Examination: used for all the quizzes.







23

Study Tips

In order to have reached this point in your education, you obviously possess adequate study skills. However, we have

found that medical school differs in many aspects as compared to other schooling endeavors. The following are some

time‐honored strategies that work, but, of course, they are not for everyone. Do what works for you!

The common study places are in the Savitt Medical School Library, the main campus library,, the Agriculture library (no

one ever goes there), at home, and Pennington Health Sciences’ study rooms (perfect for yourself or small groups andopen 24 hours).

● If you miss classes make sure you are making efficient use of your time. Remember, medical students skip class to

study!

● Pick up all and any handouts given. Dating and organizing each one can be helpful. You will waste a lot of time trying

to figure out something simple if you don’t organize well.

●

Try not to walk into a test with an unresolved question. Professors are good at responding to emails the night before

the exam. Don’t hesitate to ask!

●

Try to "glance" over each day’s material prior to lecture and "review" lecture material each day. “Good luck”.

● Remember that in most cases lecture notes are usually where test questions come from in undergraduate. Med

school is no different. Utilize the powerpoints and handouts.

● Creating flashcards can be beneficial for memorizing facts, or it can waste a lot of time. Do what works for you.

● Utilize board review books. These provide condensed concept reviews and contain relevant questions in preparing

for the boards.

● Review sessions may be helpful. Check with instructors for when and where. Undergraduate cramming was 1 or 2

days before a test. Medical school cramming is 6 ± 1 day before a test. Prepare for exams early.

● Study groups may be beneficial for some, but avoid social hours. Studying with others may also bring light to things

that you have over looked, especially right before the test.

● Ask questions in class. Quite often, a question that you think is stupid is one that is on the minds of many other

students.

●

Take breaks as you study. It’s good for your memory. Remember that sleep is what integrates the information into

the long‐term memory. Don’t pull an all‐nighter before the exam.

● Ranna Nash is our Learning Specialist and has a lot of resources and good ideas that can help you study and prepare

for exams. If you are struggling, make an appointment to see her. She can really help.

●

Multi‐modal learning is best. It is one thing to read over material; it is another to read, write, chart‐out, speak, sing,dance, act‐out, the material. The more of your brain you can get involved, the better you will learn and retain the

information.

● Don’t forget your classmates; they’re often one of your best resources for information and support

For the gunners:

1. Rewrite your notes daily in your own words.

2. Write questions that apply to the notes and answer them.





25

Summer Opportunities

After completing the first year (yes, there is an end!), you’ll have about 2 months off from school. With this

free time over the summer, many students choose between four major options—(1) clinical preceptorships,

(2) research projects, (3) international medical trips, or (4) rest and relaxation. You can choose to gain

experience in a clinical setting or conduct your own research projects; some choose to do absolutely nothing,which is perfectly OK! Summer options are not mandatory, so you could choose to kick back, travel, and enjoy

yourself. But remember that the summer between the first and second year is typically the least hectic. If

you’re looking ahead and want to add some gold stars to your residency applications, this is a great

opportunity.

The clinical preceptorship usually entails an unpaid experience with a primary care practitioner or a

specialist where you are living. You’ll accompany your preceptor throughout their daily activities (including

call), giving you many chances to observe procedures, get hands on experience, and reinforce what you’ve

learned in your first year. This experience is strongly recommended as a review and application of your

medical knowledge and to strengthen your practical skills. It’s also a lot of fun! There will be some official

preceptorships and experiences that you can apply for, but you can also set up your own experiences.

Fortunately, medical students (usually) get more respect than undergrads. It is recommended that you try to

set up your preceptorships through the School of Medicine, i.e., utilize UNSOM faculty and staff as a stepping

stone. There are many physicians and researchers affiliated with the School of Medicine. Chances are they

will cover your interests or otherwise help you meet your needs. Amy McFarland

([email protected]) sets up all of your preceptorships in the second semester of your first

year, so she would also be an excellent source of information and assistance in setting up summer

preceptorships. You’ll hear more about specific programs that she coordinates and other summer

opportunities in a seminar that will be scheduled sometime during the year.

The research experiences are also plentiful. You can do almost anything that interests you. There is

enough time to devise, set up, and complete a research project in the summer. If you are low on research

experience and want some, this is a great time to get it. Look for research opportunities on bulletin boardsaround school or in the Student Lounge, check e‐mail, or talk to faculty about what they are currently working

on. There are many projects out there that are in Nevada, nationwide, and even abroad. If you’re thinking

about doing your residency at a certain institution, you might consider contacting them directly to find out if

there are any projects that you can participate in. Doing research or getting clinical experience there as a

medical student may be very favorable when residency applications are made. James L. Kenyon, Ph.D.

([email protected]) is the Senior Associate Dean of Research at UNSOM and a tremendous

resource in this area. He will be on hand at the seminar and will help you set up research opportunities. If

you are considering M.D. /Ph.D. as an option, he is also the person to talk to.

Both of these opportunities are strictly optional, and we’d suggest that you be careful not to fill your entire

summer with them. While they are awesome ways to get experience and fill residency applications, make

sure you take time to relax and pursue other activities that may be neglected during the school year.

Sometimes it’s a good idea just to clear your mind and refresh yourself. Take care not to overdo it!



26

Beyond School

Relationships and Medical School

As you embark on your journey through medical school, you will encounter many changes to your

current lifestyle. It is important to remember that the lives of your family, friends, and significant others will

change as quickly as yours will. Your free time for those important in your life is going to decrease markedly,but not disappear!! These changes are difficult but with dedication, you can still have a rich family and social

life. The key to success in managing medical school and a healthy personal life is honesty and realistic

planning. For those of you who have families, do not think that you are at more of a disadvantage as

compared to your single colleagues. In fact, the opposite may be true. You need to have other influences in

your life, something to take your mind off of medical school. If you let it, medical school will consume your

life. Relax a little and enjoy your family, friends, and significant others.

Over the next four years, people in your life will be called upon to be more than understanding about

the demands of your career training. You can lighten their load by ensuring the time you spend together

centers around subjects of common interest to both or all of you. In other words, be conscious of the fact that

you can both bore and possibly alienate those around you by continually discussing nothing but medical

school. Much of this stems from the fact that medicine demands from its students and practitioners anunending commitment to excellence unmatched by other professions.

Your present and future significant others will have to be among the more understanding people in

your life. The key to successfully maintaining your relationship is to base it in reality with regards to the time

you will have to contribute. Remember as you take on the responsibility of medical school, your significant

others take on a lot more responsibility also. Their life change is no less important than yours is. The

following tidbits may help you and your significant maintain sanity and a healthy relationship.

1. Be honest and realistic about how much time you need for school and how much time you can spend

with others outside of school.

2. Keep commitments that the two of you have made together.

3.

If you are married, date your spouse weekly.

4. You may find that you need to schedule time for activities that in the past were spontaneous. Learn

efficient time management and have fun.

5. Focus on the quality of time you spend together and not the quantity.

6. If your significant other is actually a classmate (yes, it happens quite often), you will have to work harder

at finding activities that allow the both of you to leave school behind and truly relax. Don't despair, just

plan a little.

7. As mentioned earlier, exercise is a great outlet. We strongly suggest incorporating it into your more

intimate encounters. Remember, even though you are a medical student, you are still human.

8.

Plan little getaways for the two of you.

9.

Invite your significant other to the lectures focusing on couples during the Human Behavior course early

in the first semester.10. Encourage your significant other to attend the Significant Other Group activities.

11. If the sailing becomes rough and things get intense, utilize one of the confidential counseling services

made available to you by the school. Contact your student development representative or student

assistance representative.

12. You will find additional resources for help listed below:

a) Student Health Center, upper campus

b) Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. UNSOM

c) Office of Student Affairs, UNSOM







29

Relaxation and Fun Spots

Relaxation is an important part of surviving medical school and life in general. When you have some time or

want to blow off some steam, here are some suggestions around Reno!

For the Cultured

Pioneer Theater Plays, musicals, and orchestras

Weigand Art Museum They have art! (Reno)

Nevada Museum of Art 160 W. Liberty St. Call 329‐3333.

For the Not ‐So‐Cultured

Century Theaters Riverside, Parklane, or Victorian Square.

Starlight Bowl Bowling and great shoes.

Hilton Bowling Cheaper than Starlight.

Miniature Golf South Virginia St. and Wild Waters Park in Sparks.

Grand Sierra Golf Driving Range Driving range over water.Bubinga Dance club at the Eldorado in downtown Reno. (8 PM ‐ 3 AM)

For the Bar Flies

The Wine Bar at Java Jungle Near the Century Theatre. Full bar, wine by the glass, intimate and classy.

The Chocolate Bar Everything chocolate…fondue and drinks! Full bar.

Roxy’s

Silver Peak

Martini and piano bar inside the Eldorado. Happy hour daily 4:30 ‐ 6 PM, ½

price martinis.

Two locations, both with excellent food and beer. Try a sampler platter!

Great Basin Brewery Great microbrews, and food. Just ask for an "icky."

The Brew Brothers More good microbrews. (Eldorado Casino). Has a dance floor / music at

night.

Chewy and Jugs Nice place and cheap beer. (Reno)

Bully's Excellent selection of beer and bar food. King Sports Bar.

The CorkScroo Has a blind onion pizza inside, $10 all you can drink on Fridays. Very

college‐y.

The Flowing Tide Ambience par excellence, $2.50 gin and tonics to boot.

Pub and Sub On Ralston, great veggie pizza and beer.

St. James Infirmary

Public House

Good cocktails, relaxed atmosphere. Live music some nights.

Relaxed, semi‐hipster bar with great beer and even better cocktails.

Zephyrs Very nice cocktails. Tends to have an older crowd and be more relaxed.

For the Active Student

24‐Hour Fitness Off I‐80 near McCarran, great for complete workout anytime of day or night.

Yoga Yoga Shack, Yoga Center, Juicebox Yoga (Bikram) or Lombardi Rec—all offer

great classes.

Batting Cages Several in town. (Reno and Sparks)





31

For the Beauty Queens (and Kings)

Caliber Salon in Midtown that knows and Loves the students!

Regis Salon at Meadowood Mall, give 20% student discounts, great for girls and

guys!

Genesis Salon and Spa Popular hair salon for ladies, maybe a little expensive, call 828‐9797.

Soleil Salon and Spa Another good place for hair and nails, call 828‐2323.

Rumors Full service salon, also popular in town, call 826‐6300.

Great Clips Inexpensive haircuts, guys or girls; no appt. necessary, walk‐ins welcome.

One on Kietzke (827‐2211) and one on McCarran (746‐0888).

Town Barbers Great barber shop for guys, call 827‐5333.

Blue Salon Ask for Lizzie Robinson; great salon at VERY reasonable prices. Off Wells

Ave.

Spa at Atlantis Pricey, but freaking awesome. Any treatment comes with admission to

the entire spa that includes, hot tubs, work‐out facilities, saunas, and

steam rooms. Plan to spend a whole day there. Great for after finals.

For Those Who Just Want to Relax

Rancho San Rafael Best park in town. Not crowded, quiet, a nice place for studying or

sunbathing. Take a football and a picnic lunch. Also has a museum,

arboretum and amusement rides for kids.

Idlewild Park Great park, ponds, picnic areas, amusement park for kids, and a Truckee

River walking path. Feed the ducks!

Meadowood Mall The largest indoor mall in Reno, many major department stores.

The Summit Sierra New, large, wonderful mall. All the stores and restaurants you want and

then some.

Outlets at Legends More outlet shopping. Attached to Scheels.

Ralston School of Massage Inexpensive massages by massage therapists‐to‐be. On Pringle Way, call

982‐5450.

Carson City Hot Springs A great getaway to relax and soak your worries away! Call 1‐888‐886‐7848.

Steamboat Villa Hot Springs On South Virginia, call 853‐6600 for more info.



32

Eat Drink and Be Merry

AffordabilityScale…

$ You can still go here at the end of the semester ($3‐6)

$$ Just about right ($7‐12)

$$$ Better go after your loan check comes in ($13‑ 20)

$$$$ Have your parents take you out

American/Burger

$ One Stop Burger Shop Del Monte & S. Virginia / Clearacre & McCarran; Big juicy artery

plugging burgers and awesome fries and shakes. Turkey and veggie burgers also.

$ In‐n‐Out South side and Sparks locales. Animal Style, baby!!!!

$+ Archie's N. Virginia across from school. Good food and close to campus. 2 for 1 burgers with

student ID. Also breakfast served 24 hrs. a day.

$ Juicy's Several Locations; Super Burgers, a little expensive but worth the cost; delivery available.

$ Pub‑ n‑ Sub 1000 Ralston St; Subs, wings, beer, pool, etc.; Traditional UNR hangout.

$ PJ's S. Wells; Enjoy a burger, sandwich, or salad on the patio; great breakfasts.

$+ The Little Waldorf Saloon (The Wall) N. Virginia right across from campus; unofficial medicalschool hangout; open for breakfast. The bar has themed nights such as Trike night, etc.

$+ Ruby's National Bowling Stadium Great burgers and shakes; veggie and turkey burgers too.

$ Truckee River Bar & Grill 1113 California / 3466 Lakeside; Your typical bar & grill.

$$ Red Robin Kietzke & McCarran; Good sandwiches and great drinks.

$$ Chili’s S. McCarran across from Meadowood Mall; Also one on McCarran and Mae Anne. You know

what to expect.

$$ Claim Jumper Great food, huge portions and very interesting desserts, on Kietzke and S. Virginia.

$$ TGI Friday's 6410 S. Virginia; Great Happy Hour.

$ Sonic Burger N. McCarran; Great Shake and burgers served old world style.

$+ Peg's Glorified Ham and Eggs Two locations. Best breakfast around with world famous

Huevos Rancheros. It’s great when you’re feeling “dehydrated.”

Mexican

$ Mi Ranchito 500 Denslowe Dr; super authentic, super good. Close to campus too.

$$ Si Amigos 1553 S. Virginia; Can you say "Margaritas!”

$$ Cantina Los Tres Hombres 7111 S. Virginia; Another one of those nice Mexican meeting places; good

bands often play here.

$$ Mi Casa Too 2205 W. 4th St.; A Reno standby for good Mexican food.

$ Beto's 575 W. 5th; Best cheap authentic Mexican eats around.

$$ Bertha Miranda's 316 Mill St.; Reasonably priced authentic Mexican food; best margaritas in town.

$$ Hacienda 10580 N. McCarran Blvd.; Great food, excellent Margaritas. Turns into a club (dancing, drunken

undergrads, etc.) on Wednesday nights, they have great Salsa/Merenge dancing on Sat nights for the latin lovers.

$+ Baja Fresh Kietzke & McCarran.

Italian/Indian

$$ The Blind Onion Awesome pizza, near campus, great for lunch!! On McCarran and King’s Row,

one dollar off beer if your name is Fred (the name of the onion).

$$ Davo's 3671 King's Row; Great food; huge glasses of vino.



33

$$ JJ’s Pie Co. 555 W. 5th St.; Wings, things, and great pizza.

$$$ Renato's 6770 S. Virginia; Probably one of the finest Italian kitchens in town; be prepared for a waitbecause it's popular.

$$$ La Famiglia 170 S. Virginia; Take a date to this amazing Italian restaurant.

$$$Colombo's 145 W. Truckee River Ln.; Besides the fine Italian cuisine, one can listen to good music.

$$$ La Trattoria 719 S. Virginia; Authentic Italian.

$$ Macaroni Grill 5505 S. Virginia; You can use crayons on the table cloth and there's an all you can drink wine special. Enough said.

$$$ Colombo's 145 W. Truckee River Ln.; Besides the fine Italian cuisine, one can listen to good music.

$$$ La Trattoria 719 S. Virginia; Authentic Italian.

$$ Macaroni Grill 5505 S. Virginia; You can use crayons on the table cloth and there's an all you can drinkwine special. Enough said.

$$ Skyline Café 3005 Skyline Blvd.; Good food, great view.

$$ Blue Moon Pizza 6135 Lakeside Dr.; Great gourmet pizza.

$$ Bob's Pizza 790 Baring Blvd.; Great pizza.

$$ India Garden 1565 S. Virginia. Great lunch buffet for $6.95.

$$ Taste of India 315 E. Moana Ln. Just darn good Indian grub.

$$ Godfather's Pizza All you can eat lunch special. A must if you have a hankerin' for pie.

$$ Big Apple Pizza 720 Baring Blvd. The only pie joint in town owned by hard‐core east coaste





Advice Column and Parting Words

Please refer to the advice column that was sent out earlier. This is full of great guidance from some of the second

year students. You will also have a second year mentor that you can trust if you have any questions or concerns.

What you are about to go through is not easy. It will probably be one of the hardest experiences of your life. Just

remember that it is totally doable. Many people (thousands) have gone through it and now it’s your turn. Don’t

ever forget how excited you were when you found out you were accepted. Here are a couple of random pieces

of advice that can come in handy next year

‐You have access to the entire building whenever you need it. This is a privilege. DO NOT ruin this privilege for

yourself or the rest of the students by trashing the rooms, stealing equipment, rearranging the furniture in a

manner not otherwise approved, and/or generally messy behavior.

‐Brush up on your foosball skills. The second‐year students will come ready to play.

‐You are part of one of the smallest medical school cohorts in the country. That means you have more say in

what goes on here than in other schools. Be an active part of the school. All of the events that you will partake

of are what you make them.

‐If you see Chris Clifford doing pushups in a study room, please refrain from flash photography.

‐Clean up after yourself in the student lounge. Make sure to take home any left over food so it doesn’t sit in the

refrigerator for weeks and stink the place up. We all share the lounge. Let’s make it comfortable and clean for

all.

‐Dr. Bardin is a big runner and is always looking for people to run with. If you are looking for a running

partner during lunch, then he is your man.

‐The classrooms run a little cold...sometimes a lot cold. Bring and keep a jacket at school in case the lecture

hall dips to sub‐arctic temps.

‐When studying later in the evening in the building, Jimmy Johns will bring your food right to your study

room, just give them the room number.

‐Steve Hugdal loves Sour Patch Kids. Bring him lots of Sour Patch Kids.

‐Your class is your class/friends/study‐buddies/family. Get together and have fun. Plan to all go to a football or

a Reno Aces game. Meet up for drinks and dancing. Have a BBQ and someone’s house. For some, this will be all

the social interaction you get, so don’t waste it.

‐Don’t be afraid to ask the second year students for help/advice. They know exactly what you are going

through.

‐Remember that you got into medical school. You are going to be a doctor. This might be the first time you hear

this, but you will hear it a lot: At the end of the four years, what do you call the medical student that finished

last in his/her class? A doctor.

Documents

2018 Survival Guide_ Final