The Rising Star Gazette

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STAR

2013 Volume 3 July 12, 2012

The Rising Star Gazette Recap of Week 3 Inside this issue: A N TI B A C T E R I A L P R O D U C TS O R P O C K E T C L E AN E R S ? M A S TE R M E D I C A L J A R G O N !

SEARCH AND RESEARCH

“In the end, what you do isn’t going to be nearly as interesting or important as who you do it with.” -John Green

This week, we were introduced to a wide variety of career paths and given helpful information generally not provided in a textbook. We ended our research on bioinformatics with Dr. Alam and began experimental trials and research surrounding bacterial resistance with Dr. Shuh. We continued our study of medical terminology and learned about the fields of clinical research, health research, psychiatry, and bedside manner. On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to eat lunch with several residents who could offer relatable advice on school and career choices. We learned new presentation skills on Wednesday which we will put to use at our Culmination Ceremony later this month. We learned a lot from Dr. Milani about cardiovascular wellness and spoke to

STAR class of 2013!

Dr. Sulaiman, who sparked an interest in Neurosurgery in our STAR class. We finished our week with a fun trip to Ochsner Baptist. Week three was a huge success! By: Madeline Evans

Antibacterial products or pocket cleaners? We said goodbye to one of the most influential mentors a student could ever work with, Dr. Alam, as we were introduced to Dr. Shuh with the beginning of our bacterial resistance project. With the closing of our Bioinformatics murder case, STAR students were puzzled with yet another research question. Are antibacterial cleaning products really helping get rid of harmful bacteria and germs, or are companies falsely advertising? We were shocked to

learn that we would be working with cultures of staph bacteria and even E. Coli, and we were certainly confused as to why we were handling bacteria that could be potentially harmful. Beginning the process, the putrid scent of the bacteria was overwhelming, but as we excelled further into the project, we were actively engaged. The procedure was simple: We first liquefied the bacteria, then spread it on the agar plate with a cotton swab, placed known resistant antibiotic disks on the plate, formed antibiotic disks with

antibacterial cleaners and soaps, and waited overnight to analyze which antibiotics worked. As a result of this research project, we have once again learned an important fact: all antibacterial soaps are not created equal. Be mindful of what antibacterial products you spend your money on, as some are only there to clean your pockets. With our third lab finished, our days in the STAR iLab are winding down, but the class of 2013 is sure to leave its marks. By: Jaymalisa Whatley

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Search and Research. Do you know how medications make it to market? On Monday, July 8, Ms. Heather Porter spoke with STAR students about her career in clinical research. During her time with the students, she explained how drugs go through various lengthy processes to make it to market. She explained to them the stages of clinical research - the first of which is testing on lab animals. No need to worry, though! The lab animals are comfortably protected from abuse by various boards. Tests on human subjects are closely observed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) that is given the responsibility of protecting the rights and welfare of people involved in research. Clinical research may be a tedious job, but it’s one that can help us find new and innovative drugs as medicine advances. Are you taking your prescribed medications? If not, you can affect the health of the general public, according to Dr. Wood, who works in the Public Health field that deals with the wellness of society in general. Public health combats threats to health by implementing educational programs, addressing current issues, administering services, and conducting research. Overall, the study of public health has an impact on all of our lives. An unhealthy society can lead to increasing healthcare costs, making it important for patients to make healthy decisions about their prescription medications. By: David Dupart

Master Medical Jargon!!! “Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.” -Hippocrates

ovar centesis oto bili squam mening cec macul pexy onco or sub spiro lacrim viscero lact onych thorac pyle vesic sphenic myel anti myco hallux

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Events to look forward to! ELISA: West Nile Virus Antibody Test with Dr. Li and Dr. Zhang Mock Clinical Exam Job Shadow Day!!! Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy Neuroendocrine Tumor Program

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin

Week three was great!! Can’t wait for week four!!