pathology, anatomy, and opp...oh my

hey outside world,

it has been awhile since I have posted an update and that is because I took my free weekend to actually go to the lake with some friends and relax and get away from school for a bit. We ended up having a blast doing wakeboarding, tubing, and then OPP on all our sore muscles. So know that we are back in the real world ill take a moment (cause that is all I have) to reflect on what has happened so far in the past couple of weeks. I ended up getting 3 A's and a B on first block of exams which made me very happy. Now that we are on the second block we have moved into the lower limb anaomty, and i find myself watching people's gaits and how they walk. It has been kinda a ackward and I always have to explain myself if anybody catches me. In MFM we have started pathology of dieseases and are currently working on studying cancer!!! This is what I have waited for and am excited to be studying and working on what I feel/hope will be my life's work one day. For all those who have had loved ones die of cancer or know someone who has cancer my thoughts are with you as I study this terrible disease. God willing one day we can and will find more cures, but the best treatment is the optimism that we can put life into the days we have, not days into our lives. OPP we have learned some soft tissue techniques so if anybody has had headaches, back pain, or neck pain...I can now treat you. Finally in EPC we are figuring out the bascis of a physical exam, HEENT, and blood pressures. One of my friends today said she needed a new brain cause hers was full and I am feeling the strain on my crainium as I type. Hopefully, I will update before my next exams, but considering I have 4 in the span of the next 14 days I might not get the chance too. So keep me in your prayers as I am continually in need of them. I hope all is well with you and maybe one I will see you soon, but for now...I am gonna go run...literally. peace

Philip R.

what day is it again???

Hey friends sorry it has taken me so long to update, but I have my first block exam this coming Friday and have been spending this past week and this weekend starting to prepare. is it just me or am I taking my first exam the week everybody else goes back to school?...anyways. As I continue to study I am learning and absorbing new material everyday. I feel like a sponge and if you were to excise my skull and look at the space where my cranium should be it would probably look like one too. however, my joy is being made complete the more and more time I spend here. This experience is not only teaching me alot about how to examine others, but also examine myself. I am excited because this week we will be working on taking vitals and blood pressure and other generic procedures when it comes to a clinical setting. As I learn more on how to be a doctor I realize that there has to be an immense amount of compassion for others regardless of who they. Also, I am slowly realizing, very slowly that it is possible to have a life outside of school and to do so is actually probably more helpful than spending all day in the books. Because who wants to talk to a doctor in the exam room who has his head in a book all day. While i barely have time to look up and look ahead I do see that I am still far away from my goal of becoming D.O., but at the same time it humbles me to work harder and pace myself for the endevours to come. So, before I get back to melting my brain with mechanism of 5' capping, glenohumral adduction, and clincal cases involving impingment of the ulnar nerve think on this from an all time great movie..."if you focus on the problem you can never see the solution...never focus on the problem." Always work to increase the quality of each others lives. We are all doctors in some small way. My love to all friends. Talk to you soon!

Be the tortoise

greetings to all!



well I have successfully completed orientation and the first few days of medical school. I had a professor tell me to be a tortoise in the state of taking things a year at a time and as they come along. Interesting considering I spent the next two days learning how to speed read like a jack rabbit. Things here are awesome and I love my professors...so far. The amount of material is beginning to increase, as seen by the fact I had four powerpoint lectures in the span of two hours this morning and a lecture on professionalism in the classroom and clinical setting. I look forward to tomorrow as we will be starting essentials of patient care and osteopathic principles and practices...pretty much how to be a doctor with examinations and script writing, while also learning cool techniques to help treat patients. The main thing that I keep realizing is how humbling all this is because while i have accomplished so much there is so much more to go. However, I am willing to sacrifice what is needed to achieve this goal of mine and ultimately serve god in the endevours to come. My love to all friends and confusion to all enemies. I hope that is well wherever you are.

Introductions, hopes, and goals

I guess in order to understand somebody's blogs you must first understand the person. My name is Philip Ross I was born in Virginia Beach, VA. It is a miracle by the grace of god that I am even here today. I was born 2 lbs. 2 oz. and two months premature. I was diagnosed with Jaundice, ITP (blood disorder), and an abnormal hole in my ventricular septum. I don't share this for sympathy, but rather testimony for how far along God has brought me in my life. The one thing I love doing is playing soccer. I have played my entire life and played through college. It was in college that my life really took on new meaning. I went in wanting to be an athletic trainer. As I progressed in my first year I excelled in my Anatomy and Physiology courses (thanks ashley!) and fell in love with study science. As I continued, I spent some time with my Uncle back in Virginia Beach who is a Physician's Assistant. From the moment I started shadowing him I knew that this is what I wanted to do. To me there is no greater calling then giving your life away to serve for the betterment of humanity. It is also my greatest desire to serve humanity as a medical missionary one day. I don't know where the lord will lead me, but getting to minister to different people home and abroad brings me joy in thinking about it. For me, medical school is the means to achieving this goal of becoming a physician and a medical missionary one day.
As I thought about starting med school I wanted to find a way to share with everybody what was going on in my life. Therefore, since I will not have as much time to communicate it is my hope that this blog will serve as a way to keep in touch and for everybody to keep up with what is going on in my life. Moreover, I hope that is serves as a helpful tool to anybody and everybody that might be considering the medical professional field and the rigors of what it is to be in a student in medical school. So, please feel free to leave any and all comments and I pray that as you read this blog it will challenge you as I am being challenged in my life as well. Isaiah 26:8