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.

Mid Semester Update

Well, I apologize for my exodus from keeping up on this blog...school started and in a whirlwind of activity I was caught up in trying to stay afloat! A couple of months in- I LOVE dental school and know this is the place for me. Yes, it is brutal and very difficult, I drink coffee more than I ever did in college, but am truly loving staying busy and learning!

My class schedule is actually a little bit easier than I thought it would be originally, just because we don't have clinical rotations every week and if you aren't on rotation you get a nice big chunk of time to study. First years take about 7 classes: Dental Morphology, Human Anatomy I, Histology, Applied Biochemistry, Patient Care I, Clinical Decision Making, and a class called Transitions (where we learn about the profession essentially).

Here is a typical Wednesday!

Get butt out of bed..somehow...coffee
8AM Anatomy lecture
9-11AM Anatomy lab
11-12 Biochem
12-1 lunch
1-2 Dental Morph lecture
2-5 Dental Morph lab
go home...study..sleep..repeat!

Not every day is the same, but Wednesdays are the longest...the other days in the morning we usually have anatomy, biochem, and histology lectures straight through, and then rotations in the afternoons on Tues/Thursday... At my school D1s rotate through team clinic rotations (helping the 3/4 yr students), radiology training and then radiology (I've already learned to take X-rays on real patients! Woo!), pedo, oral surgery, and a rotation in a regional clinic.

Well, I need to stop avoiding studying for my anatomy exam tomorrow, so gotta get back on that. But, I leave you with a goofy anatomy pick up line (try it out sometime and let me know how it goes): "Hey lady..would you like to take a look at my 4 tendinous insertions into the superficial division of the rectus sheath?" ie....look at my six pack... :P I think I've been studying too much hehe... Happy Tuesday!

The Journey Begins

Tomorrow is the big day! Orientation was Thursday and Friday, where there were many new faces to meet and opportunities to take a little look into what the next 4 years will be like. I'm very nervous, but think I am ready to take this all on. All of the waiting, studying, hoping, and dedication to getting here have all been worth it- God is so so good :) Jumped on my horse bareback the other night, took my 4 dogs with me, and enjoyed one of the last summer nights of 2013 <3

Here we go- into the grind!

HPSP

Received the call I've been anticipating all summer- received a 4 year Army HPSP scholarship for dental school. For 4 more years of military service, my school is paid for- take me up to about 10-12 years of service, but this is what I want to do. I'm so happy- so much relief after the past year of waiting and working towards everything. So very grateful... Orientation is in 8 days! So the journey will begin :)

Make A Legal (or illegal...hmmm) U-turn!!!

So, there's been a bit of change in the master plans... I just about fell out of my seat and crapped my pants when I got a mysterious call on my cell phone- the call was from UMKC's School of Dentistry in Kansas City- a seat has opened up in their dental class, and my name happened to be next on the alternate list. I could barely squeak out a response to him on the phone, just stunned silence! I was told by the director of admissions that the chance of me getting called up off the list was about slim to none. I jokingly kind of wondered if he just told me that to get me to stop incessantly calling him... "HAS THERE BEEN MOVEMENT ON THE WAIT LIST YET?!?!"...the poor man was probably about ready to chuck the phone into the street. I called every week. Every. week. Figured I needed him to know I meant business and that I still had hope of being called! Week after week went by...and nothing. :P So really, getting a call in July was the last thing I expected.

I had a really really tough decision to make- was already pretty much set to go to MOSDOH (in Kirksville), and was honestly really torn. I didn't have a lot of time to make the choice. When it came down to it, if my army scholarship doesn't come through, finances will be a huge struggle. UMKC is about half the cost...and so close to home. If I went to UMKC, I could live at home for the first semester/year and save some money, and just commute- not the most desirable option with a 45 drive, but I'm sure I could still beg my mom to still feed me :)

I'm trying to enjoy what's left of my last summer of freedom. I now start DENTAL SCHOOL in less than a month...which is completely TERRIFYING. And exciting!!  I'm scared about being way over my head- but maybe this is what the experience has to have. If there's a will, there's a way, and I will learn to discover the greatness of coffee and its magical powers.  It's been a roller coaster summer of not knowing what to expect next, but I'm truly counting my blessings to be in this position. Guess I'm learning a great lesson about being flexible and going with the flow! By this time next month I will be a first year dental student at UMKC! :)

Waiting...

Sometimes waiting for the unknown is tough. Currently, my school isn't set to receive accreditation until Aug. 9th... I'm thinking good thoughts, but need to be thinking of backup plans if things fall through. Luckily, I think I can request an educational delay extension from the military and start the following year with the school (their backup plan would be summer 2014), but I need to find out for sure... It's kind of a tough situation. Most people can just reapply if they don't get into school, but I am required to go on active duty at some point- which throws a huge wrench in my school plans. Luckily I might be able to get that extension due to the special circumstances.. Also waiting to see if I will receive the HPSP (health professions scholarship) through the army to help fund me- should find out for sure sometime in early August after the board reviews my packet. Hope hope hoping for some more good news! Just the wait is agonizing from all the waiting this past year! I guess I need to try to not worry about things I can't control, as I've done all I can so far...

Rub some dirt in it :)

Commissioned May 17, 2013

My battle buddies at LDAC, Fort Lewis, WA June-July 2012

Good evening! Was just reminiscing tonight on how much can change in a year. I know a lot of students are busy studying for the DAT, preparing their application, and balancing insanely busy lives. I remember how last year I finished up my junior year of college (very tough balancing O-chem, a bunch of other science courses, band for stress relief, and ROTC..), then jumped right into 6 weeks of solid DAT studying... I can't say I enjoyed it too much ;) The week after I took the DAT, I shipped out for Fort Lewis, WA to complete a month long military training course (LDAC, the leadership development and assessment course) that I had to successfully negotiate before commissioning, as a requirement for my ROTC program. Long story short, I spent a month playing soldier in the Ewok infested woods of Lewis (and by the way I THINK the area I was in was where the original Star Wars movies were filmed....PRETTY COOL RIGHT?!). I was beyond stressed because a shot at dental school was very slim, as I had to compete for an educational delay. The army allows cadets to have a wish list of branches (career areas within in the army) where you can choose to be placed...may not get what you want, depending on performance over your 4 years in ROTC and at LDAC. An ed delay would delay my service for 4 years while I finish school, then come into the Army as a dentist...which is highly competitive to even receive. I can say it was by far the toughest month of my life, but I have a wonderful experience to look back on and I experienced firsthand how a team of people can help each other succeed. Now, I look back on the tough times and glad I went through them, because it'll help deal with the tougher things in life that may come.

Anyway, to those applying to school now, it was a super stressful time for me, and I understand it's hard! VERY hard!!! Heck, I had been rejected by the majority of the schools I applied to (to the point where my friends would joke and compare how kind or mean rejection letters could be...I applied to 13 schools,  2 interviews, 1 acceptance- all ya need!). I was fully prepared to go on active duty with the military in an area completely unrelated to health or dentistry (had to fulfill my obligation), which was discouraging because I couldn't reapply. It was JUNE when I got the call I was accepted...just about died of relief! I was worried what I would do, where was my life going...worry worry worry!

But, what helped me was to try to keep a positive attitude, smile and be happy as much as possible, and try to focus on the big picture of life. You can do it- keep on truckin'! Find something small to enjoy today :)

Hey there! I'm 2LT Tess Kornacki, and I hope that this attempt at a blog I am starting will show others the journey I am about to take on! I hope my documentation of my experiences will give advice, laughs, and some wisdom to those wishing to become healthcare professionals as well! The lovely gal in the picture is my identical twin sister, 2LT Erin Kornacki, and she is heading to San Antonio to IPAP (the interservice physician's assistant program) at Fort Sam. We are both very excited to begin our careers and start helping others, but separation for the first time after 22 years of togetherness will be tough!!

To give a little background on me, I completed my undergrad at Kansas State University as a Psychology major, and commissioned through Kansas State's Army ROTC program. It has been a very difficult but rewarding experience, but I'm so glad I chose ROTC as my avenue to achieve my goals. I will owe the military a minimum of 4 years active duty and 4 years reserves, and am also currently in the process of applying for HPSP (health professions scholarship program  through the military)- which if I receive that I will owe 4 additional years. It is my true desire in life to serve soldiers and help others through my career choice.

I have been accepted to the inaugural class at AT Still's Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health, and I will begin in late September. I'm so excited! I have no idea what to expect, as I will be the guinea pig :) I definitely know that the next 4 years will be incredibly rigorous, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve my country in the future as a dentist! Hoo-ah! I hope my experiences will be able to help future dental students get through it as well!