2nd year Medical School Auckland Uni: the modules

This post is going to be a brief breakdown of the topics you cover in second year. 

1. Musculoskeletal - you get a bit of time for this one. There's a lot of content, I can't remember most of it, and if you don't start on it soon, muscle names will haunt your thoughts. Mostly anatomy, a couple of physiology labs, some micro and radiology. 

2. Digestive - there are a lot of lectures crammed into a shorter amount of time. Don't underestimate it. A good balance of anatomy, physiology and pathology.

3. Respiratory - lots of physiology - you wouldn't think two little sponges in the middle of your chest were so functional. If you like that, great. If you don't, good luck. 

5. Cardiology - ECGs are the bane of my existence. Anatomy is easy but physiology is more complicated. 

6. Genitourinary - there are a lot more structures in the pelvis that you think. Nerves, blood vessels, muscles. 

Those are topics. You finish one, get a test, then move on. 

POM and CP

-you'll also have 1 paper for the duration of the semester. In sem 1 it's POM (principles of medicine) and in sem 2 it's CP (clinical pharmacology). 

In sem 1, lots of people left it to the last couple of weeks (me included). Not wise. 

In sem 2, we learnt from our mistakes but pharmacology is a hard concept to grasp so that's my reason for a less-than-ideal grade. 

PCS

-throughout the whole year you also have Professional and Clinical Skills. This includes ethics, ethics essay, alcohol/drugs, cultural diversity, health and wellbeing. Lots of reflective writing for portfolio too. 

Lab

-a separate component worth 10% in total and included the PSTs, the physiology lab results, the assignments and others. 

That's a general breakdown of the modules and topics you'll cover. If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask! 

-Diana