Ep. 53 – AZCPM Class of 2027 – Zachary Anderson, Audrey Diaz, Rineeta Lahiri, and Austin Benally

Dean’s Chat host, Dr. Jeffrey Jensen, is joined by four students from the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine’s Class of 2027. These students have been immersed in the medical school curriculum for two months. 

Great insights on anticipation of the school year, the inevitable “free floating” anxiety of anticipating the 1st Quarter, study techniques that work (and don’t work) in Biochemistry, Anatomy and Podiatric Medicine I. We also discuss being integrated with DO students for basic sciences, the benefits of a class of 40, how they “recharge” between exams, and settling into Arizona. We are going to follow this group quarterly to document their academic journey at the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine!

Renita and Audrey both express the benefits of studying in groups. Renita finds that studying with others helps her stay focused and makes the process less tedious. She appreciates the social aspect of group studying, as it alleviates the overwhelming nature of the content. Similarly, Audrey mentions that studying with groups helps her catch any missed information on slides. Both Renita and Audrey agree that studying in groups is a valuable technique that enhances the effectiveness and enjoyment of studying.

The students also discuss the importance of time management for different subjects and tests. Renita shares her experience of learning to allocate her time effectively during her first semester. She emphasizes that this task is challenging and requires time to figure out. Audrey relates to this, mentioning that studying with groups helps her identify overlooked details on slides. Both Renita and Audrey emphasize the need to prioritize and allocate their time effectively. 

In this episode, the students also discuss the advantages of interprofessional relationships and communication among students in various programs. They note that it promotes parity and communication among different disciplines, allowing students to interact and learn about different specialties. The seamless integration of different programs is highlighted, as professors may not even be aware of which program a student belongs to. 

Dr. Jensen and the students agree that interprofessional relationships help students work toward the common goal of helping patients. They also mention that the presence of students from different programs creates a vibrant community of healthcare professionals. 

Additionally, they discuss how integration with the DO program provides a unique experience and helps establish effective communication techniques, as podiatrists may need to communicate with primary care providers who are not podiatrists but are DOs. Overall, the episode emphasizes the positive impact of interprofessional relationships and communication on students in different programs.

Tune in for the next episode with these students as we follow this group quarterly to document their academic journey at the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine!

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