savoy096

Currently sprawled out on two economy seats (yes, I lucked out) sporting reading glasses, covered in text books, flashcards, and electronic devices - I can't help but revel in this fantastic mess of a scene.  You see, I am returning back to Israel after spending a week with my family in America.  I always try to make the most of my short time with loved ones, so (with the exception of some occasional glances at flashcards) I proudly did not crack open a textbook once. Seaside pictures and Sanskrit aside, the most important lesson I have learned in this first year of medical school is that of balance, balance of work and of personal time.  Not surprisingly, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of information that is thrown at students in medical school. As my father (who is also a physician) warned me, "it's like drinking from a fire hydrant with a straw." And while I have found this analogy rings true, it does not scare me.  You have to find comfort in the ...

Moving from the U.S. to Israel to study medicine has offered a unique learning environment that I could never have had anywhere else in the world. However, while great moves in life can inspire equally great adventures, sacrifice is, of course, an unwavering accompaniment.   Me and my mother Mother’s day this year was a searing reminder of that sacrifice. My mother was my first role model, my first example of a strong female leader. In a world where female leadership is still so very underrepresented, I try to always take note of the strong women around me. And so alternatively, this day has been an opportune time to reflect on the many women here at MSIH who have inspired me and helped shape my first year of medical school. Dr. Polina Schwartzman teaching us how to suture Let’s start with the physician mentoring program, which partners first year students with physician mentors at Soroka hospital. A classmate and I were paired with Dr. Polina Schwartzman, a gynecological surgeon...

When I think of my experience at MSIH, I think of a wave. There are the peaks, which come in the form of hard work paying off, when all your studies finally intertwine allowing you to understand a disease process, and time spent with my new friends and family. There are also the valleys, which come in the form of stress resulting in my first gray hairs, nights without sleep, and days spent in a library. Ultimately though, we are on a wave, so there is nothing better. Hopefully, this video gives you a glimpse into the med school wave: (name of the song: ‘There is a wave,’ Mush Ben Ari) It has been an honour to write for this blog and give you a glimpse into my experience here at MSIH. 😊 The Med School Wave:  A video of the ups and downs of med school by Yoni Abres  https://youtu.be/ujR_lUxSW44

In my first blog I spoke about what draws me to Israeli culture, and in my second I hoped to show you through pictures what my experience has been like. Since starting medical school, I have missed many hours of sleep, outings with family and friends, many perfect surfing days, and the list goes on. The hardest part has been leaving my family and friends in Canada. As a result, I learned over one hundred pathogens, all the biochemical pathways, and subjects I did not know existed a few months ago. The question then is why? In our first physiology class, our teacher came in late. When he got to class, he looked like a zombie. He had just finished a 36-hour shift as a resident. He lectured us for three hours that day. He was patient, thorough, and taught us the endocrine system to perfection. He did it because he loves teaching. When we went to visit Holot Detention Center, a center for asylum seekers, we met with some of the asylum seekers who are at the risk of being either detained o...