Most medical students learn in classrooms, not the middle of the Colorado wilderness.

But students in Chris Buresh’s four-week wilderness medical elective will learn firsthand how to treat large animal attacks, lightning strikes, and envenomation. The class, which began March 30 and runs through April 24, will travel to Colorado for 10 days to learn about wilderness medicine and work with a local search and rescue team. Later in April the class will head to southern Missouri for canoeing and kayaking. (more…)

There are certain vital signs recognized by health care providers to assess the human body’s most basic functions, one being the pulse rate. It’s only appropriate that Vital Signs is the title of the UI medical student newspaper, a publication that consistently keeps a finger on the pulse of the student body.

Vital Signs provides a printed place for the opinions, ruminations, gripes and even raves of medical students at the UI. It publishes five to six issues a year and is funded entirely from advertising and its status as a UI-recognized student organization. The paper has a tradition of being student-written, edited and run, giving participants a change of pace from their vigorous scholastic routine. (more…)

Cathy Solow, assistant dean and director of admissions in the UI Carver College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs and Curriculum, will leave the College in mid-May to become associate dean for student affairs in the UI College of Dentistry.

 ”This is a sad event, but at least she won’t be too far away,” wrote Chris Cooper, MD, associate dean for student affairs and curriculum, in an e-mail announcing Solow’s departure. “We are grateful for the outstanding service Cathy has provided to the CCOM and its students for the last 10 years in her roles as both director of admissions and assistant dean.” (more…)