The Vital Signs team interviewed three MS1 favorite faculty members: Laura Fraser, Ph.D., Harish Doppalapudi, M.D., and Vineeta Kumar, M.D. about their roles in the SOM and asked for any words of wisdom they had to share with incoming medical students.

Introduce yourselves and describe your role as a member of the MS1 faculty. 

Laura Fraser, Ph.D.LF: My name is Laura Fraser, and I’m an associate professor in the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology. I have been on faculty for 11 years, and the majority of the responsibilities associated with my position are centered around the SOM.  For your purposes, I am going to be the course-director for the “Fundamentals of Medicine” module, which will run from mid-August through mid-December.  Thus, I will be the point person for almost anything and everything related to academics during your first semester of medical school.

HD: I’m Harish Doppalapudi, co-director of the cardiovascular module, which is the first organ system module you will study at UAB. I am a clinical electrophysiologist and the director of the Clinical Electrophysiology Fellowship Training Program at UAB

VK: Hello. I am Vineeta Kumar, a transplant nephrologist and the fellowship director for the transplant nephrology fellowship program at UAB. I also help co-direct the MS1 renal module with my amazing co-directors. The renal module is the last module of your first year. Our goal when we receive you into the module is not only to help you learn a lot about the kidney, but also to send you into your summer break re-energized, enthused and excited about your life and professional choices.

Describe the first year of medical school from a professor/mentor’s perspective.

Harish Doppalapudi, M.D.
LF: It is often said that the medical school curriculum is like drinking from a fire hose, and in many ways, this analogy is spot on. The volume of material you will receive on a daily/weekly basis can seem insurmountable. A key thing to remember is that while you will be faced with a lot of material, it is all well within your intellectual grasp. In particular in the Fundamentals module, you will be covering the basic concepts of a variety of disciplines (biochemistry, anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, etc.), and at the time, you may not see where these concepts fit into the big picture of clinical medicine. But the point of this module is for you to learn the foundations of the basic sciences that become integrated and applicable when you get to the organ systems.

HD: First year can be quite overwhelming as the students are bombarded with a lot of information and terminology. Everything seems so disconnected at times, and students are not sure what is relevant to them.

VK: Reflecting  back to my time as a medical student (and while that was over 2 decades ago), I imagine the journey of the medical student has remained quite similar over this time.  Medical school was the most exciting and terrifying time of my life.  I loved learning all the new information and was constantly  fascinated with the inner working of the human body.  But I was also overwhelmed many a time with the amount of information, and the pressure of time and performance and was constantly in awe of all the seniors around me who seemed to have mastered things, which left me with the feeling, "When will I get there? Will I ever get there?"  Fast forward 25 years, and I realize that I got there and that means you will too!! While I am no longer overwhelmed, the joy of learning and the excitement of figuring out new things still invigorate and rejuvenate me.  If you can capture movements that are inspiring during your MS1 year, hold on to them because they will see you through the trying times and remind you how wonderful your choice to be a medical professional can be.  

What can students expect from their teachers in medical school?

Vineeta Kumar, M.D.LF: Diversity, enthusiasm and commitment. Unlike undergraduate courses where you had one professor for an entire semester, you will encounter a diverse group of faculty rotating in and out of your courses on a regular basis.  Some you will see for only a few sessions, some you will see for a few months and some you will see from the first module to the last (like me!).  Next, we hope you will find that your teachers are enthusiastic about teaching and learning.  Faculty involved in the preclinical curriculum are passionate about their disciplines and love sharing their knowledge and helping you form a solid knowledge base yourselves.  And lastly, without a doubt, teachers in medical school are committed to undergraduate medical education and are truly invested in preparing you to be the best, well-round physician you can be, regardless of which path or specialty you pursue.

HD: We are here to put things in perspective, help you prioritize the information and understand key concepts. We cannot do the learning for you, but we can certainly make it enjoyable by putting things in clinical context, clarifying seemingly contradictory information and simplifying complex concepts.

VK: Understanding, empathy, approachability, care and nurture, being a vehicle for your learning and role modeling.

What is your favorite aspect of teaching MS1s?

LF: Getting to know the students!  I feel very fortunate that I get to spend so much time with you, individually and collectively, in these very formative first few months. And because of what I teach (cell biology and histology), I teach in almost every organ system module throughout the preclinical curriculum. So I have the pleasure and privilege of seeing you transform from a shaky, anxious, deer-in-the headlights MS1 into a stable, mature, confident MS2 leaving the classroom to enter the clinical world.

HD: I always love to see the unbridled inquisitiveness (they question everything) and the pure passion for learning.

VK: So many things come to mind!  The chance to remember how it felt as a medical student. The chance to share in your experiences and reconnect with the wonder and fascination of new learning up close and personal. The opportunity to look at things from a beginner's perspective and make sure "I have it right, so I can teach it right." I have also immensely enjoyed seeing the relevance of some of the fundamentals (especially in nephrology) as they are applicable even today in my daily work life.  And finally, the chance to be around the idealism, the goodness and infectious energy that is so abundantly present in the MS1s. I realize,  just as faculty, our medical students serve as great role models too!

Any words of advice?

LF: A few words of wisdom:

• Take care of yourself – physically, mentally and emotionally.
• Keep up with your coursework. You will quickly find that cramming two nights before an exam will absolutely not work in medical school.
• Regarding study habits, whatever worked for you before will likely still work for you; you just have to do whatever that is with the dial turned way up.
• Ask for help when you need it; being able to do this is actually a sign of strength not weakness. A very important thing to remember.
• Drop the attitude and competitiveness.  You made it here, so relax; you are not in competition with anyone. Doing your best and succeeding for your own personal satisfaction is all that matters, and will result in a happier, more pleasant experience.
• This is a nice quote to keep in mind, “You are quickly becoming the person you will be.” – Anonymous

HD: I also have a few pieces of advice:

• With information overload students tend to gradually lose their inquisitive nature and start passively absorbing material. You should resist this and continue to be proactive in learning- not only will this make learning fun, but the only way you can contribute to the advancement of the field is by asking questions.  
• You don’t need to know everything that is presented to you. It is essential to prioritize your learning (to know what you need to know), and make sure you understand the key concepts thoroughly. You can revisit the ‘less essential’ topics later on.
• You are not alone. All of us too were overwhelmed when we started medical school.

VK: Take care of yourself – 

• Keep your pot of rest and self-esteem filled as they seem to be constantly seeping out of it.  Work actively to keep replenishing them.
• Read lots of books, not just medical.
• Take a lot of walks, in the woods if possible, or where there are lots of trees.
• Go on top of a mountain periodically, the air is cleaner, the noise lower and you’ll come back with a more fulfilled soul.
• At the worst of times, pause and ask yourself, "If this is the worst I have it, I am pretty lucky, aren't I?" Hope we can all continue to say that
• You know yourself well. If you are feeling overwhelmed or low, trust yourself and know these feelings are real and don’t hesitate to ask for help because there are lots of people around that truly care about your well-being and are willing to help. And asking for help is not a weakness.
• And finally, the connections! Medical school brings friendships not only for the next few years to come but may last you a lifetime. Cherish these connections and humanity in yourself and each other.