Applicants galore!

IMH is hiring for 3 tenure track positions (so exciting) and will be bringing in candidates for the interview process. There are folks from various other disciplines and one candidate who graduated from our program. I'm brainstorming questions:

-What do you know now that you wish you had known at the beginning of your doctoral studies?

-How can faculty best help graduate students complete their dissertation writing?

Lately, i have been more and more interested in the history of science! I've put in a request for syllabi so as to begin my own studies on the topic. If you've got one, please send it on over! History of medicine is definitely going to be my major area so now the excitement begins!

1 term down, 1 to go

Whew! So happy to have completed the first term on a note of success, 4.0 success that is! Word. In the world of male supremacist ideologies women are not encouraged to share their successes so in an effort to honor a commitment to undermining male supremacy, I will say for the record: I worked my tail off this term!

Grades for PhD coursework are less important in terms of continued schooling but they are increasingly important for fellowship applications and other awards so here's to hard work. Though UTMB does not support the Latin Honors (4.0 = summa cum laude) we have a Phi Kappa Phi chapter that accepts the top 10% of graduate students, fingers crossed. Bragging will now cease.

Regularly feeling more confident that this is the right program for me. Particularly when taking such AMAZING courses! I am so excited. I've decided that History of Medicine and Health Care Ethics will be my major areas and Health Policy will be my minor area for coursework and quals. More wonderful courses on the way!

For those who have finished recently or are in the final stages, I am so proud of you. This work is not easy, less than 5% of the population gets a PhD. You deserve this.

On writing not in a vaccuum

How can graduate education teach the practice of writing?

-Have workshop days for folks' papers.
Workshop 1: bring your outline and rough literature review
Workshop 2: bring the first draft of your paper
Workshop 3: bring the final-ish copy for last editing and review

These workshops would not happen IN ADDITION to the already assigned work, but INSTEAD! OR, this could be a lower credit course where you only read 2 or 3 books on the practice of writing and then bring in work from the other 2 courses you are taking.

-Assign evaluations
Students will have to pair up and read each others work a week before the pieces are due.
Part of their own paper grade will be determined by the level and usefulness of the feedback they provide to their partner.
Students will have to turn in a self-evaluation for their final paper as well.

Writing does not happen alone. Or it shouldn't. Right?

A love song dedicated to grad school

Trying to love what is sometimes hard to love

Answer, by sara mcLachlan

I will be the answer
At the end of the line
I will be there for you
While you take the time
In the burning of uncertainty
I will be your solid ground
I will hold the balance
If you can't look down

If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all gone out
You'll still be burning so bright

Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind
Take me to a
Place so holy
That I can wash this from my mind
The memory of choosing not to fight

If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
'Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all burned out
You'll still be burning so bright

Cast me gently
Into morning
For the night has been unkind

Most ununderstandable quote of the final papers

I argue that the emancipatory power of the asylum was an iteration of the larger story of positivistic science that privileged the discourse of corporeal knowability and disease conquerability.
-lobotomy paper


I use policy discourse analysis to frame a discussion of the ways in which the state of West Virginia uses Medicaid policies to produce both ideal, deserving citizen subjects and failed, undeserving citizen subjects.
-medicaid paper

Oh unintelligibility.

Graduation Inspiration

In case I get down! Check out that regalia? It is technically the regalia from UT-Austin. Historically, UTMB folks from the Graduate School of Biomedical Science (GSBS) have rented generic gowns (including mortar board hats) but JK (bless you!) spoke with the dean (bless you too Dr. C!) and got the all clear for us to wear the fancy stuff.

This example brings up an ongoing conversation about GSBS. Most folks within GSBS are pursuing doctoral studies with the intention of doing basic science research in non-university settings. These folks do not have an incentive to spend money (~213 bucks) to rent the regalia because they will never wear it again. However, those of us in the GSBS who are pursuing academic careers will be wearing this at every graduation we attend for the rest of our lives. On a personal note, I would like to wear it for the first time at my OWN graduation, not at the first one I attend when I get a university gig. And now I get to! Thanks JK and Dr. C!


Here is the website for ordering gowns:
http://www.universitycoop.com/ePOS/this_category=987&store=108&form=shared3/gm/main.html&design=coop3

I can definitely work burn orange.

In the beginning, there was Frankenstein

This feels a little narcissistic but i am giving it a try. I know that looking back will bring a sense of accomplishment so here we go.

First year of my doctoral degree! So wonderful! We have just 1 day of classes left before the first time (fall 2009) is over. I've written 40 pages so far and will be writing another 50 in the next two weeks. Which means i better get moving.

Three courses this term:
-Humanism and the Humanities
-History of Medical Research Ethics
-Access to Health Insurance

I am excited about my three final papers, lobotomy, medicaid and forbidden science oh my!