D3 transition

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here! For those curious, I'm currently in the middle of 3rd year- been an exciting and welcomed change to all the lab and book coursework, and actually feeling like a real dentist. We transitioned into the clinic this past summer, slowly learning the ropes and learning the ins and out of clinic. I'm much happier to feel like I'm helping people and learning so much on the job now. Pretty stressful transition- you get thrown in and then have to sink or swim. The summer started off with the white coat ceremony, where the 3rd year students are awarded their white coats to symbolize the transition into the profession. Currently staying very busy treating patients- we see 2 patients a day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Sometimes you can fit in 2 patients in one appointment if you're efficient- normally you won't have the time to do that. Every person in the class is on their own schedule now- patients need different treatment plans, so one peer might be working on a ton of removable whereas another would be doing crowns, operative, etc. A lot of scary first times doing procedures you have never done on a live patient- but we all get through it; first injections, first filling, first crown prep, muddling through the procedure of making a denture, root canals, etc. A lot of it is luck of the draw unfortunately- have to just go with the flow and do what you can with what you have on the patients you're assigned. I'm hopeful to get out of school on time and hopefully get all my requirements. Currently I'm on a 6 week oral surgery rotation- been exciting learning how to extract teeth and add another skill to the tool set. In addition, we complete out rotations to health care clinics in the KC area in the 3rd year, and I'll go out on that in early March for a week. Exciting!

This next fall (D4), the Army requires us to apply for AEGD/specialty programs. I do not plan on specializing at the time, but am hopeful for a slot at an AEGD (why not...great education, opportunity to learn from the best). There are 6 different 1 yr AEGD programs (Fort Campbell KY, Fort Benning GA, Fort Lewis WA, Fort Sill OK, Fort Jackson SC, and Fort Carson CO) , and I think 3 2 yr AEGDs (Fort Hood TX, Fort Bragg NC, and Hawaii). At this time it is difficult to plan out at all where I'll be going, but I'm ready just to ride the wave and enjoy the journey. Being realistic, I may not get picked up right out of school, but who says I can't get some experience and go later. I will post more information for those curious/want help on the application process- I'm learning a lot of it currently myself. As far as I know it is a lot of paperwork/putting your packet together for the board, writing a letter of intent, and working with your recruiter to ensure you have all the paper pushing in a row. Probably not a bad idea to have a current DA photo on hand as well. God Bless!

 My sister and I at a commissioning ceremony at our alma mater. She will soon be an Army PA!

 Volunteering at Give Kids A Smile- delivering dental services to children in KC area

                                                           White Coat Ceremony!

Recent Happenings- into the D2 year

Wow! So I admit I am not good at staying updated with this blog :)

Where I last left off I was in the middle of the Basic Officer's Course at Fort Sam Houston- I truly enjoyed my 6 weeks of training down in San Antonio, and met a wide variety of fellow Army doctors, dentists, and veterinarians. The BOLC course for medical professionals is very easy for the most part- mainly an introduction to those who have no previous experience in the military, and most students are direct commissions. I can't say the same for other BOLC courses in the army- my peers from college have significantly longer and more difficult trainings, but I guess it is understood we will mainly be treating patients. Regardless, it is still important medical professionals learn these soldiering skills as well! I was in a mixed platoon of current med, vet, and dental students, and being one of the only dental students in the platoon I quickly was nicknamed the molar mechanic... After the 3 weeks of classroom we went out to Camp Bullis for 3 weeks of field training (hotter than than blazes out there...we were in a constant state of sweat). In the field we did a lot of basic soldiering skills (M16, 9mm, assorted weapons skills, CBRNE (chemical warfare training), land navigation, etc.) and also medical specific training. I have to say that experiencing the gas chamber a second time wasn't the most fun (won't be the last time I know for sure), but you definitely learn to trust your equipment! The most interesting part for me was learning how a field hospital is run, and about the roles of care on the battlefield (essentially getting patient basic life support care on battlefield and evacuated to higher roles of care/ hospital type settings). I am still in touch with my battle buddies from the course, even though we all live far away.

7th Platoon BOLC class 14-145

Another hot day in TX

My sister was nice enough to escort me to in-processing :) The Army's PA school is located in that building behind us.

Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio TX

BOLC graduation! July 2014

Range day! Heat was such that we were permitted to roll our ACU top sleeves and pants

On the road again

Embrace the suck!

Hanging out at during a break for field hospital training day in Role II

Mass casualty simulation training

I am now into the spring semester of the D2 year- this year is truly flying by. It's been extremely fast paced 'fly by the seat of your pants' year (a month in October is called "Black October" because of how difficult it is in the 2nd year), but I'm enjoying getting to work with my hands and actually be learning more dentistry things, like making dentures, crowns and prosthetic restorations, and prepping and restoring teeth. I had my very first operative patient last fall where I restored a small cavity! I don't know that I can say that the 2nd year of school is harder than 1st year, but it is definitely busier and you have less time to get everything done. The course load is very heavy, but all you can do is take one day at a time and just do the best you can.

My school has D2 students take the part I National Dental Board Exam over our Christmas break--I will admit that beforehand coming off of the very difficult fall semester it felt like I would never see light again. Study, study, study...and study some more. It is essentially a 400 question (they give you 8 hours to take it) comprehensive science exam testing all that you've learned so far in dental school: anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, dental morphology, pathology... honestly the most difficult test I've ever taken. Luckily, I got word a few weeks ago that I passed the exam- such a huge relief! Grateful to have jumped through yet another hoop to be that much closer to the DDS degree.

It's crazy to believe I've been in school for nearly 2 years- will be transitioning in the clinic in June and will have my own patients...very scary but exciting too. Taking things day at a time and enjoying the journey :)

"Stick 'n squirt"- the day we learned to give injections!

BOLC wk 1/2

Well, I am into my second week of my BOLC (Basic Officer's Leadership Course) at Fort Sam Houston, TX. BOLC is a 6 week 'gentleman's course' (just complete everything and you pass just fine) that trains new 2LT/CPTs to the ways of the Army and how to be an AMEDD officer. On my end coming out of ROTC at Kansas State, the course is easy and mostly review- been trying to help out new officers learn the customs and courtesies of the army, drill and ceremony, and whatever else I can help ease the confusion to those completely new. It has been a neat experience to get to network with fellow Army dentists, doctors, and veterinarians, as well as students like me heading back to school. The first 3 weeks of the course is classroom (lots of death by powerpoint, yet important information to refresh on) and an APFT (physical training test), following by 3 weeks out in the field training (FTX, or field training exercise) on land navigation, CBRNE (gas chamber simulation training; develops trust in our equipment and what to do in an emergency), weapons familiarization, small squad tactics, running a field hospital, and other soldiering skills. It's going to be hot- I'm definitely not used to 100+ degree weather like this down here in Texas. Today we got to meet the head of the Dental Corps, General Tempel- quite possibly the most humble and kind man I have ever met. He took the time to individually shake each and every one of our hands and meet us, and there were 150+ dental officers in the room- I am humbled to have gotten to meet him- striving to be the awesome leader and role model that he is!

D1 almost done!

Finals are this week...5 more days of the gauntlet that is D1 finals and I'm through year 1 at UMKC. Phew...what a relief that will be! This year has truly flown by and I don't know where it went; can't say I would want to go through it all again (the school part), but it was an eye opening and great experience- it's truly great to start seeing the things you're learning in class starting to apply to real life stuff. I'm going to pretend I never ever ever complained about finals in undergrad...

5 cumulative finals-

Monday- Preventative Perio
Tuesday- Physiology
Wednesday- Occlusion
Thursday- Anatomy, head and neck (God help me.....)
Friday- Operative

... back to studying- pretty much 24-7 round the clock through finals. I'll post some real life realistic tips from my experience for future pre-dents/incoming dental students after I survive the week. Keep calm and study on!

Probz of a D1...

Hey! So it's been a while for me updating this, so here we go. Currently, it's March and the dang coldest winter we've had in forever- the windchill is -18 with snow on the ground...and it's March. Something seriously wrong here.

The spring semester has been pretty busy, as I expected- just as stressful too- we finished up a really rough couple weeks of tests. We're in more classes, the main ones being Anatomy II (head and neck), physiology, operative lecture and lab, occlusion lecture and lab, histopathology, patient care, and a couple of professional development type stuff (think it comes to be around 25 credit hours, but we had an intersession class in January so really probably just around 23). I finished up my assisting clinical rotations in oral surgery and pedo, and have done my 2 first real diagnoses on patients which is neat- it makes the studying and agony all worth it to be in the clinic interacting with patients. The lab work is definitely more intensive this semester- I spend most of my weekends either studying or working in the pre-clinical lab practicing drilling cavity preps or cast for occlusion. We have our first operative practical this week, so hoping that will go well!

I have also been fortunate to be able to help out with a free dental/medical clinic that is run by KU medical center called JayDoc- I've really been enjoying giving time to those who need help and couldn't otherwise afford it, and it's great to learn new things outside of school.

A couple of weeks ago, my school had a talent show over the lunch hour- it was a great way just to chill and relieve stress. I just got a guitar for Christmas from my parents, so I thought it would be fun to learn guitar well enough and write a song to play for everyone. Needless to say, it was terrifying to get up in front of everyone (who actually likes getting up in front of people?!) but I think it was a hit and it was great to hear people laugh.

 As a part of a class we had to give a COHP (community oral health presentation) to a group of elementary school students in the KC area. Kindergarten has been conquered!

 This summer (tentatively) I will complete my BOLC course at Fort Sam outside of San Antonio, TX. My sister 2LT Erin Kornacki is in San Antonio at IPAP (the Army's PA school) and it would be wonderful to be in the same place as her again.

 Expect LOTS of hours in the lab practicing and completing lab work...have to time manage effectively!

 Gross...taking impressions...blechhhhh

I was so blessed to witness 3 of my very dear friends commission Dec. 2013...we were in the same class in ROTC, but our courses of study put our commissioning off a semester...the Army gained 3 great leaders that day.

UMKC Talent Show Feb 14, 2014


To end my post...A professor of ours tells us that dental school is like eating hot dogs...you have all these 'hot dogs' thrown at you, and you don't exactly have time to digest it :) It inspired me to write my chart topping hit, #Probz of a D1..Have a great weekend everyone!

*To the tune of Whatever she's got by David Nail*

Verse 1: It's a little complicated

You should you make your mind up just to change it

The kind of school that keeps you waiting

waiting around (4 years worth!)

                                          

You don't know what you're getting into

But you want to be a dentist don't you

But first you gotta power the way through

The dreaded D1

It's got something I can't figure out

The first day of operative, drillin' about

I dropped my bur block

All over the floor

Smashed my alginate impression

Into the door

I'm still recovering

From histology

Dr. Morrow's outfits are too crazy for me

But yet I do whatever I can

To make it through according to plan

but I love of that where I am

oh oh, probz of a D1...

Verse 2:

Leaving hard anatomy tests

feeling like a stressed out hot mess

What! what the heck did I even study that?

Moving right on

Sweat rolls down the side of my face

Oh crap why did I drill there in the first place

don't worry teocali's down the street in the

back alley

There's just something I can't figure out

To drill and not autofail all about

Dr. Purk says dental school's like eating hot dogs (..and he said..)

that Dr. Kiesendahl's as well preserved as petrified logs

While I sometimes feel so full of strife

Better than flippin burgers for the rest of my life

and yet I do whatever I can

To make it through according to plan

but I love of that where I am

oh oh...probz of a D1

Last leg to finals

It's that time...FINALS. 10 days, 7 exams... but so ready for Christmas break.

Our first year test/final schedule
STUDY STUDY STUDY
Tues: Patient Care final
Wed: 4th Anatomy Exam
STUDY STUDY STUDY
Mon: Dental Morphology final
Tues: Biochemistry final
Wed: Anatomy final
Thursday: 2 exams- Histology slide exam AND histo lecture exam
Friday- FREEEEEEEDOMMMM! *throws papers everywhere* ...until intersession classes begin and then spring semester.


This meme shows my true feelings about my histology class. Happy studying! :) For those LOTR geeks out there...this class is truly the evil fire demon monster thing called the Balrog...which nearly kills Gandalf...similiar comparison. But good news is, Gandalf doesn't die, and neither will I :P Almost survived the first semester of D-school!

Ice Cream

In undergrad, my friends and I would go get ice cream to celebrate being done with a difficult exam (plus K-state has the best ice cream place ever...if you ever go there check out Call Hall's ice cream!!!). I came to the sad realization that if I continued this tradition in dental school, I will be really fat by the time I graduate, because there are exams all the time..worse I've heard in the 2nd year.  Even though we had anatomy today, we have 2 histology exams next week and a lab practical, and a biochem exam the week after that. That's a lot of ice cream :) It's really tough to be prepared for all of them, so you just have to make the best use of your time that you can.