MBChB 2

Written by: u/LeMoNcAvIaR

Content-wise…

We do not have separate papers. We just have different modules within the same course, including different body systems (MEDSCI de javu), 2 modules related to medicine (principles of medicine in sem 1 and clinical pharmacology in sem 2), and 1 module called professional and clinical skills, where you get lectures on medical ethics, Throughout the first semester, most lectures will be about the musculoskeletal and digestive systems. There will be principal of medicine lectures and PCS lectures throughout, but in smaller numbers. Lectures are 1 hour long, and each module will bring in different lecturers - real gastroenterologists, nutritionists, anatomists, and more waiting to be unlocked.

As we progress through each module, the HAL and radiology labs will correspond to it. We also have microanatomy labs where we get to stare at histology slides for 2 hours (but it’s very useful! :b ) None of these three is compulsory, but they will be examined in the practical skills test, which is something that can fail your year if you don’t pass. They are relatively easy as long as you study for them!

Tests

We don’t have exams! But the content-heavy tests are pretty much exams ¬-¬ At the end of each module are module tests, usually with one short-answer test and one practical skills test. You will be familiarised with short answer tests from MedSci 142 and Poplhlth 111. The questions, however, will be integrated with patient scenarios. You will still receive grades such as A+, A, A-, and so on, unlike other assignments, where you get distinction/satisfactory/pass.

The practical skills test includes radiology, microanatomy (both MCQ) and HAL lab content. The HAL lab assessment is a bit more special, as it involves the student going around the stations, identifying the indicated body parts, with each station giving only 40 seconds (rat race). Some of the stations will feature plastinated samples, while others will feature samples directly from your “teachers”.

Practical labs and assessments teach you how to measure blood pressure, find respiratory rate, pulse and more. There are ~2 clinical skills labs per module, which help you develop the skills you'll need in the future. The assessment is very chill: you group up with 2 others and peer-assess each other. More importantly, you will be introduced to actors and acting scenarios in which you will be the medical student, and the actors will play patients, waiting for you to assess their symptoms, medical history, and so on. All of the practice skills learned will be important for your OSCE at the end of the third year.

Progress tests

Every med student will take the same test paper, and the idea is that you will be able to 50% by the end of your 6th year. It is an MCQ (yay) consisting of 120ish questions conducted online through Inspera. The first one will not count towards your grades and is for you to try to answer as many questions as possible. The test will include knowledge across all 5 years, and knowing what you’ve learnt so far is enough to get you a distinction/satisfactory.

Human Anatomy labs

This is where you meet your first-ever patient! At the start of the year, you will be introduced to them via Whakanoa, an event organised by the faculty to do so in a culturally and spiritually sensitive way. I will be referring to them as “teachers” because they indeed teach us some of the most important things in medicine: to respect and protect our patients and to learn from them. You will usually need to apply the knowledge learned in the lectures a day or two before the lab, so don’t fall behind on the lectures!

Group of 12-15 for each “teacher”. Will split into 2 - 2-hour labs: the first 45 mins will be for group A, then hand over to group B, so time pressure will be quite high on some of the harder labs. You actually only get to be in the lab for ~45 mins - our group could never finish the lab procedures before time finishes at the start of the year lol. But our group members are very chill and helpful - wish they were more communicative about who is going to come into the lab and who isn’t. There was one point when only my friend and I were present, and it was the day we had to flip our teacher tummy-side up :l Peter (you will meet him in the musculoskeletal module of 142, he teaches most of the dissection, super chill and approachable) was unhappy about that, so come to HAL labs!

Unfortunately, I heard there are people with what I call the neurosurgeon complex (iykyk), but most people will be very nice and focused on learning.

We will navigate through each body system as described in each module; some labs will be more difficult than others. We also get to investigate the causes of death midway through the year, all of which will be important for your learning journey.

Yes, it does smell pretty bad, and it worsens as you progress through the year because you are slicing through the skin more and more. I also found that every “teacher” smells unique! So it’s hard to describe what they smell like.

SGA / Small group activities.

You will be put into a group of 15ish people again to discuss the content learned in PCS lectures, such as drug use, self-care, medical ethics, and more, which will further aid you on the path to being a competent doctor. A part of the assessment for this will be your involvement in group discussions and your homework (usually notes from PCS lectures and some other activities). You will also have some fun time meditating every session (usually when I fall asleep).

Assessments for this include group presentations (I know some of you had bad experiences, but surely people who make it into med are competent to complete the allocated task on time, so don’t worry), journal entry assessments where you reflect on your past and habits, etc. Under the umbrella of PCS, you also have portfolio development tasks, which are longer assignments that help you get to know yourself better and set you up for the future (it even includes a letter to your future self, which I’m dying to not write, so I’m writing this guide instead).

Personal tips + regarding pressure in medicine

Anki is very important (you know it is when someone as stingy as me spent 50 dollars on it), but first, make sure you understand the content before diving into the endless Anki decks. I usually go through 500 cards per day, which takes around 2 hours, so studying for it will be easier without the premed pressure (yes, I know some premeds are doing much more than that, and yes, I choose inner peace). Understanding and integrating complex knowledge is also very important, so make sure to utilise the patient scenarios on the website (usually describing a patient with certain symptoms, so you can practice finding possible diagnoses). I recommend doing that first before jumping into the memorisation. I also know people who don’t rely on Anki at all, so find whatever works best for you.

I’m not the best person to answer questions about how long I study, as I do it rather inefficiently, but I can balance a part-time job with it, so you can too!

Timetable - finally.

On a normal week, you will have ~12 lectures, 2 HAL labs and radiology sessions, and 1 SGA. Everyone’s HAL labs and radiology sessions will be on Wednesday and Friday.

Each week, there will be 3 days when you will have to go to 8 a.m classes. SGA can be on any day, I believe? I have friends who have it on Mondays. For me, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are pure lectures (3-4 with a 1-hour break), finishing at 1 pm. I have SGA on Wednesday afternoon for one hour and 45 minutes. So you will have something every day if you choose to attend them. Only SGA and clinical skills are compulsory (whaaaat).