Neurology block: A+

The neurology block has long since passed, but I feel the need to comment on how great it was. I really enjoyed this block, and not just because I had already studied much of the material and am interested in the brain intellectually.

First and foremost, the block's co-directors Dr. Ojemann and Dr. French brought a combination of sincere interest in our educational experience, passion for their respective subjects, and don't-take-myself-too-seriously humor that made going to class that much more enjoyable.

For instance, the famed neurosurgeon Dr. Ojemann was not above wearing a helmet outfitted with rams horns to demonstrate the C-shaped organization of the brain. He also made use of balloons and finger puppets to teach other neuroanatomical arrangements. Then there's the renowned pharmacologist Dr. French who raffles off tickets to Rockies games or Avalanche games during his lectures. It's obvious how much they both enjoy teaching, and they put together a course reflecting that.

Also, the course itself was refreshingly organized. Top on my list was having lecture notes printed out well ahead of time. This may seem like a trivial point, but it's surprising how previous blocks were not able to make that happen. I gain so much more out of lectures when I'm able to read the notes ahead of time and when I don't have to start out a new unit four lectures behind in reading.

I'm sad that the neurology block is over, but medical school is rapid-fire, and there's no time for looking backward. We're already knee deep in the next block: Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, and Metabolism (DEMS for short). We may have had to give up Dr. Ojemann and Dr. French, but we got Dr. Michaels in return - a fair trade.