Thanks to Anatomy Bootcamp for sponsoring this post!
While prerequisites vary between physician assistant programs ton, there is typically always one class that is required no matter what - anatomy and physiology. Anatomy is also a core part of PA school curriculum in every program.
Having a thorough understanding of the various parts of the human body, along with how they work together to help everything function correctly, and what happens if something goes wrong, is the foundation of a medical education. How can you fix a problem if you can’t understand exactly where the cause is coming from?
If you’ve attempted any anatomy courses, you know just how extensive the lists of structures are. There is a memorization component, but pairing that with understanding is what helps the information stick. At an undergrad level, your goal may just be to pass and get through it, but as a graduate student, you’re studying to take care of actual humans and potentially save lives. That’s where Anatomy Bootcamp comes in to make sure you are gaining that comprehension of the material.
At the graduate level, like in PA school, anatomy is an entirely different beast. The structures have structures and they all have a specific role. (Except the appendix. No one can figure that one out.) That may require a change in study techniques or quick adjustments to keep up with the pace of PA school. I learned this myself in the first two weeks of school. Visual examples that Anatomy Bootcamp incorporates offers an easy, fun way to learn anatomy. By combining high-yield videos with an innovative question bank, you’ll master anatomy while applying your knowledge.
During undergrad at UGA, anatomy wasn’t included as part of my biology major, but counted as an elective. It didn’t make sense then, and still doesn’t, but that meant I had to sign up for a summer course back at home. Over 12 weeks, I completed anatomy and physiology 1 and 2, and I scraped by on memorization. The lab portion of our course consisted of models, pictures, and frog and cat dissection. While those were good experiences, I can’t say I was fully prepared for PA school anatomy. If you’re going to be working on humans, using a tool that offers real HD cadaver images while studying like Anatomy Bootcamp will reinforce the information.
The first semester of PA school at Augusta University was primarily focused on anatomy. We started in May with 3 months to do a full cadaver dissection. We attended lecture from 8-12 Monday through Thursday, and then went into the lab from 1-5pm on two weekdays to dissect. We were combined with physical therapy and occupational therapy students, and we got very close over those 3 months. There were three separate test days with a traditional multiple choice section followed by a lab practical with the cadavers (spelling counted!).
I felt alright on the first test day. Until I got my score back. 74. Whoops. As a perfectionist who was used to doing pretty well school, that hit hard. I realized quickly that something needed to change. My study methods clearly weren’t translating to comprehension of the material. I reached out to my classmates and advisors for advice. I’m a note taker, but there just wasn’t time to write everything out like I was used to. By switching my focus to starting with big concepts and working down to the details and incorporating more practice questions, I achieved a B on the second test, and finally an A on the last test. Using a custom question bank with Anatomy Bootcamp will personalize your experience so you can make sure to study what matters most. Tracking the concepts you struggle with by tagging questions will help you come back to the topics that need a little more focus. By making some changes, I was truly learning the material to set up my foundation for starting the clinical medicine sections in PA school. Ari, the creator of Anatomy Bootcamp, shares a similar story of the difficulties he faced in trying to learn how anatomy works so quickly with less than optimal images for studying.
Here are my tips for studying anatomy:
Start with your well known study techniques. Give them a chance if you know what works for you. Figure out how the information is divided in your class to focus on each section appropriately.
If your methods aren’t working, it’s time to move on. Spend some time revisiting your previous study skills and try something new. Look into new resources and ways of learning. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but that’s the best way to find growth.
Assess yourself regularly. Practice makes perfect, and will also allow you to gauge where you’re at with the material. The test shouldn’t be the first time you are applying your information. With Anatomy Bootcamp, you can even study on the go by studying anatomy right on your phone.
Ask for help! If you’re still struggling, reach out. Fellow classmates, instructors, TAs, prior students, advisors, social media, etc. Anatomy Bootcamp offers a team of teachers that’s like having your all-time favorite TA right by your side 24/7. You don’t have to do this completely by yourself and others have done it before you. Use their experience to make yours less painful.
If you’re struggling with anatomy or worried about how to make sure you get the best job the first time, check out Anatomy Bootcamp! The video below will show more information. This is a great option for supplemental learning with any anatomy courses that have been moved to a virtual platform as well! Follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and sneak peeks of the great images and lessons included with Anatomy Bootcamp.
