I am a 76-year-old semi-retired married man with 4 grown and 2 grand children. I hold a PhD in the Anatomical Sciences and an MD specializing in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine with 30 years experience treating inner city and adjudicated teens. I have enjoyed riding two motorcycles (BMW and Indian Scout). It seems hard to imagine now, but I have played in several rock bands in my distant past and a church band more recently. I taught Anatomy for 4 years as a graduate student and another...
I am a 76-year-old semi-retired married man with 4 grown and 2 grand children. I hold a PhD in the Anatomical Sciences and an MD specializing in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine with 30 years experience treating inner city and adjudicated teens. I have enjoyed riding two motorcycles (BMW and Indian Scout). It seems hard to imagine now, but I have played in several rock bands in my distant past and a church band more recently. I taught Anatomy for 4 years as a graduate student and another year teaching my first-year Medical student class.
I loved my teaching years, especially the moments when I saw the light come on after I helped some of the students finally understand a concept that had eluded them. The fact of the matter is that often the students taught me things I hadn't considered through their questions.
Often students can't understand why they have to learn certain subjects that don't seem to relate to their futures as Physicians, Dentists or Physical Therapists. I have found ways to show them the value of these subjects and thereby motivate them to enthusiastically engage the subject matter. Believe it or not, Medical students continue to ask the same fundamental question that they probably asked as second graders: "Do I have to know this for the test?"
Though somewhat older than my students, I easily related to them. I have helped some overcome anxiety in various forms and I have 1 on 1 tutored a few with Dyslexia. I also took it upon myself to offer review sessions on the weekend before exams.
Though the subject matter is fundamental and therefore must be our primary concern, there are sometimes concerns that are blocking success not not only in Anatomy but also in school generally and in life outside of school. These concerns can become just as important and in need of intervention to guarantee success in school. As I have a world of experience helping troubled kids, I would encourage those that come to me as their Histology tutor, to also talk with me about those things that are hamperin
