Welcome Packet

Always remember what is important in your life, usually it is not the chapters you have not read, nor is it the C you made on your test.

Be sure that if you were to keel off tomorrow that you would die a happy PA student, and that you have done the right things by you family, friends, and classmates.

Plan a night off for you and your significant other. They deserve your undivided attention at least one night a week.
Go out and socialize with your classmates, get to know each other.

Dont sweat the small stuff and laugh every day!

In Gross Anatomy you are going to be working very closely with the people in your group. You can expect some interesting group dynamics and some growing pains, as you get used to each other. Respect each other, do your fair share of the work, and be considerate of others!

Remember, you will succeed. The program faculty will go above and beyond the call of duty for you!

Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility! I can not emphisize this enough. Expect your schedules to change from week to week during the Fall and Spring semesters. Dont gripe, it doesnt help or change anything. The changes occur because we are still being incorporated into the Medical School classes. Oh, and sometimes the schedule changes for the better!

In the summer:

On the Gross Anatomy days (every day in the summer) wear scrubs or clothes you dont mind getting formaldehyde and guts on (and you will do this!)

In the Fall and Spring:
Dress nice every day.
Men: khakis, dress pants, nice shirt, nice shoes, no sandals, and you dont have to wear tie or jacket!
Women: skirts (tactful length), slacks, khakis, nice shirts, no tank tops, nice shoes or sandals.
During your Fall semester, dress per dress code every day. In the Fall wear your white coats any time you are in the hospital or in a class with the medical students, so have your patches sewn on them. In the Spring you will wear your jacket anytime you see a patient, go to Grand Rounds, or when the faculty tells you to do so.
The dress code is important, you represent the program and we all appreciate you keeping our professional reputation!.

Buy your nice short white coat, you will receive your patch and name tag from Julie on orientation day.

Buy a lab coat for Gross Anatomy or better yet get a used one if you can, there is a good chance you may dispose of it after the summer.

Buy gloves for dissecting, youll go through about 2 boxes. Double glove to prevent your hands from smelling like formaldehyde. If you are sensitive to the smell of formaldehyde buy a carbon mask. Last year very few people wore them. Many did use hand cleanser from Body Works.

Buy the biggest, strongest backpack you can find!

Dissection kits are hand-me-downs, but do buy scalpel blades.

Buy them from the bookstores But be sure you check with several senior buddies on what to get.

IF money is and issue and you do not mind spending time at the library, most of the texts are kept on reference there. Some of us have saved a lot of money this way.

Barnes and Noble is a good source for books, and quiet study, not to mention the lattes.

Do not forget about online sites- new and used books are available. Walmart.com is a good site for new books; Barnes and Noble, Half.com, or Amazon.com for new and used.-But check with your senior buddy first!!!