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STUDENT TO

STUDENT STUDY
GUIDE

IC1
WRITTEN BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS

This guide is for student use and is not copyrighted. It can be adjusted, reproduced,
photocopied, updated and distributed as needed.

Many of your peers as well as alumni members have put a great deal of effort into
ensuring that the data and information in this text is up to date and relevant to the
2014 curriculum at RCSI. However, the authors and RCSI are not responsible for any
errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information
provided in this text. We do not claim that this text will guarantee a student a passing
grade or honors in their respective courses. This text is simply a way for students to
get a better understanding of what to expect in their respective courses, as well as
being provided with information and tips on how students who managed an honors
grade were able to achieve this grade. Everybody is different. Some require 1 read
through of information to understand and some take 20. Use the information provided
in this text to help guide your studying but keep in mind and understand your
strengths and limitations. There is no easy way to success, however the information in
this guide should help limit or eliminate the time many students waste in gathering
information and tips about courses from senior students, as well as the time they
spend trying to figure out what each course is about and what content is heavily
tested.

Please continue to review your courses administration page as well as the examination
page for changes and updates to your respective courses.

Best of luck in your studies, we hope that this guide provides you with a useful
blueprint to your courses and helps you achieve the grade that you seek! Please email
any suggestions or complaints to stsguide@gmail.com, we welcome any
compliments, suggestions or criticism!

Sincerely,

STS guide members.

Introduction to IC1
Outline of the semester
The transition to Beaumont can seem overwhelming at first- what with figuring out
the transit system, wearing professional attire, and becoming adjusted to what some
would say is a completely new way of both teaching and learning. However, IC1 can
be exciting as well, as the material in this semester is heavy on clinical informationor in other words, this is finally the semester where you really feel like you are really
one step closer to becoming a doctor.
There are three modules in IC1:
Foundations of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology (FMIP)
Cardiorespiratory (CR)
Hematology Oncology (HaemOnc)

Teaching
Essential information- The sections in red are teaching sessions with crucial
information that you must know for your exams.
Reinforcing information- The sections in green are mainly teachings sessions which
help students put all the different concepts together. However, they may include
extra information that can come up on exams.
o Lectures. Within the three modules, lectures can be divided mainly
into Pathology, Microbiology, Clinical Medicine/Surgery and
Pharmacology. Therefore, a certain topic e.g Tuberculosis or
Endocarditis, can be covered multiple times in several different
lectures (TIP: these are often high yield topics)
o Online Learning. IMPORTANT. Many students do not think online
learning is important, but in actual fact it can make or break you. Not
only does the e-learning material cover concepts you learn in lectures
(sometimes in an even better and more in depth way), but it also
contains new information that is 100% examinable. The best way to
use online learning is to study the online material alongside your
lectures when you first learn them.
o Therapeutics tutorials. IMPORTANT. Do not be fooled by the word
tutorial. The slides from these tutorial sessions should be treated as
lectures, as much of the pharmacology can appear on the MCQ exam.
These sessions briefly review how to make a diagnosis based on a
clinical vignette which will be helpful for case-based questions and the
USMLE.

o CPCs. These are group tutorials run by the pathologists in which cases
are presented (eg. Symptoms a patient is having) and students are
required to participate in an interactive diagnostic process. It involves
bringing together what the student has learnt in both Pathology and
Microbiology into a single session. They are an excellent source for
focusing on core materials.
o Microbiology Tutorials. These are tutorials in the computer lab. The
slides are uploaded onto moodle afterwards and it is wise to look
through these while studying for exams. While this is mostly
reinforcing information, they CAN include new information that is
important- especially the staph/strep tutorial.
o MDTS are Multi-disciplinary lectures. These lectures are given by
multiple doctors (usually a pathologist, radiologist and medical
doctors) that focus on one concept from a variety of disciplines. For
example, an endocarditis MDT will bring together the
pathophysiology, pharmacology, radiology and therapeutics into one
session, and is a great way to reinforce your learning. (There is usually
no new material in these lectures, but they are a great summary)

Exams

End of year:
There will be an SNQ/MCQ exam on all modules (FMIP, CR,
Haem/Onc).
o SNQs will be similar to those with which you have become
familiar in JC. However, SNQs in IC tend to be broken down
into sub questions and generally require more information
than in JC. It is worth bearing in mind that SNQs are allocated
fifteen minutes in IC. It is worth noting that unlike JC, the
written part of the exam is worth 50% while the MCQ section
is also worth 50% (if the OSCE MCQs are included).
CR and Haem/Onc exams will also include a CPC
within the SNQs. Essentially, a CPC will present a case
and then ask several short note questions on the same
general topic. For example, you may be given a case of
a person who presents with symptoms of an MI
(myocardial infarction). One question may ask what all
the symptoms and signs of an MI may be, another may
ask what tests you would order and why, another may
show an ECG and ask you to interpret it, another may
ask what therapeutics should be given, and another
would ask what complications may occur.
o MCQs will be made up of many questions of varying difficulty.
As in JC, 90 seconds are allocated to each MCQ.

OSCE Exam: There will be 1 OSCE exam covering FMIP, CR and


Haem/Onc. This exam will have pictures (usually from cal-path), with
associated questions. The structure of the OSCE exam is often poorly
explained to students and is a source of confusion. Do not worry! It is
the most straightforward exam that you will do in IC1. Students will
be presented with an image and a selection of MCQs. It is advisable to
familiarise yourself with these images (which can be found in your
lectures, on CALPATH and on e-learning) but most of the time the
MCQ can be answered using prior knowledge regardless of your
ability to recognise the image. As well as images, random topics
related to occupational health may also arise such as needle-stick
injuries and hand washing. In addition, microbiology questions may
assess practical knowledge such as the correct use of medium in
micro culture.
Midterm:
There is usually a pathology MCQ, which isnt worth a lot, but will
have many questions and will teach if you are studying the right way.
CR practical exams: There will be both a cardio/vascular and
respiratory pass/fail exam during the year. *See CR for more
information.

How to do well
o Time Management. Unlike other semesters, in IC1 reading around
the subject is important, as anything is fair game for exams. This
means that naturally, everyone will be pressed for time to not only
attend and study the lectures, but also attend tutorials, read elearning and look at extra videos and textbooks. The best advice we
can give you is find out what forms of learning work best for you and
manage your time strategically. Different things may work for
different people, so dont be pressured to learn concepts the way
others do.
o Use the tutorials in IC1 to ask your tutor any questions you have
regarding material.
o Start using CalPath early and get used to it. The amount of
information is very high and hence last minute cramming is unhelpful.
Use Calpath each week by completing the Calpath homework, as it
reinforces the lectures from the same week as well as providing you
with extra material that appears in MCQs.
o You may find it helpful to study the pathology, micro and
medical/surgical lectures for a particular topic together after you have
completed them in class. Testing yourself by making notes in this
format is useful, as this may be how they ask questions in exams:

Incidence, aetiology, sex, geography, epidemiology,


presentation, pathology, macroscopic appearance,
microscopic appearance, staging, treatment, prognosis
Mnemonic: In a Surgeons Gown Even Pathetic Physicians
Might Make Some Timid Progress
o Do not neglect additional information on moodle such as hygiene
tutorials (these have shown up as SNQs in the past!)
o Cramming in IC1 will not help you out in any way
o Watch out for pharmacology. It appears primarily in the MCQs but
also makes appearance in the SNQs.

Practical Points
Hospital Attire:
The dress code is smart casual. It is advisable to dress well for CC exams. Also,
people have been called out for wearing jeans and t-shirts etc. during
tutorials. There is no need for your white coat until IC3. And please dont
wear your stethoscope around your neck this privilege is reserved for older
students and qualified doctors.
Hospital Etiquette:
Bear in mind that you are now entering a hospital which you share with many
ill and vulnerable people. Please be courteous to our patients by not
travelling in herds, being noisy or obstructing corridors. Remember that your
behaviour affects the reputation of all medical students at the hospital. Be
professional at all times and never discuss privileged information either
within the hospital or on public transport.
Canteen:
The Cro na B staff canteen is accessible to students during the day. It is
poorly signposted so it may be wise to ask for directions. A swipe card is
necessary to enter. Students may also use the public caf which is located on
the main hospital corridor. Although it may seem like a good idea, there have
been complaints in the past about students pushing tables together in the
canteen. This practice affects other users of the canteen and should be
avoided.

Travelling to Beaumont
Bus routes:
The only bus which travels from the city centre to the hospital entrance itself
is the 27B. This bus leaves from Eden Quay roughly every twenty minutes.
Beware of some buses which give Coolock Lane as their destination. Some
of these buses do not operate via Beaumont. Its best to always ask the driver
to avoid confusion. The 14 bus operates to the hospital gates (walking time:
6-8 mins) and the 16 bus operates a little further away (walking time: 8-10
mins). It is a good idea to download the Dublin Bus app in order to get real
time schedule information. Further information can also be found at
www.dublinbus.ie. At quieter bus stops, it is advisable to beckon to the driver
as the bus approaches to ensure that you dont get left behind!
Paying for the bus:
The most cost effective way to travel by bus is to get your hands on a Student
Travelcard (available during Freshers weeks at RCSI and during term time at
TCD and DIT). These travelcards have built in smart technology which allows
you to load monthly bus tickets at student rates. This can be done at various
ticket agents (see www.leapcard.ie). A monthly bus ticket will set you back
100 but it can be used for 30 non-consecutive days and most people get
about a month and a half out of one. It is worth remembering that once you
validate your card, you can use the buses unlimitedly for the rest of that day
at no extra cost. This feature also allows you to transfer onto different bus
routes during your journey without having to pay multiple times. If you
decide to pay by cash, Dublin Bus DOES NOT accept notes/bills and will only
accept exact coins (however, you can pay in excess of the fare and get a
refund at the Dublin Bus office on OConnell Street). Students who arrive on
the bus with only notes cause unnecessary delays.

Parking at Beaumont:
If youre lucky enough to have a car, then you can park at the hospitals
official car park at an hourly rate. Some students prefer to park their cars in
one of the many housing estates surrounding Beaumont. If you decide to do
this, ensure that you do not block the entrance to any of the houses as this is
a sure fire way to upset the residents of the area.

FMIP

FMIP is quite a big module- and you can further separate it in your notes as
microbiology, immunology, and pathology lectures.

FMIP Exam

Structure of FMIP exam:


o 60 MCQs
o 6 SNQs
o No CPC (please be advised that although there was no CPC on the
2014 FMIP exam, this structure may not be standardized and carried
forward to 2015)
The MCQs can be tricky and often require specific knowledge. They can be
drawn from anywhere including online resources and material covered in
tutorials.
The SNQs will be assess understanding of broad topics and will not examine
specific detail.
It is worth noting that unlike JC, the written part of the exam is worth 50%
while the MCQ section is also worth 50% (if the OSCE MCQs are included).

Microbiology

Lectures

Some claim that these are the most challenging lectures to learn as there is a
vast amount of material. First, try only to memorize the most basic material
about each bacteria or virus. For example, make a chart summarizing which
category each bacteria fall under (gram negative, gram positive, bacilli, cocci).
After you know the basics, then study everything more in depth. For bacteria:
staph and strep are high yield SNQ topics. For viruses: influenza, measles and
mumps are high yield. Do not ignore the seemingly less important lectures
such as hand hygiene, as these have been known to surprise people as full
SNQ questions.

E-Learning

There is a plethora of E-learning aids for microbiology. It is very important to


read the e-learning material for each lecture, as extra information is usually
provided and can be on exams. The online MCQs are a good resource to test
yourself as well- do these after youve read the e-learning. Also note that
there are podcasts available on moodle which you can listen to that
summarize certain lectures.

Tutorials
Microbiology tutorials are usually in the computer lab. The staph/strep
tutorial is quite important. All tutorials are normally posted on moodle
afterwards and can be useful to go through.

Supplemental Material

Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple: This textbook will save your life! It
makes microbiology funny with comics and mnemonics that help you
remember. Many available at both libraries.
First Aid USMLE Step 1: You dont have to read this whole text book in IC1,
but specifically for micro there are a few summary pages which provide some
helpful mnemonics and basic information on each topic which is a helpful
overview.
Sketchy Micro (www.sketchymicro.com): This is a series of videos that you
must subscribe to online with many different pictorial aids to help remember
microbiology material. Several students found these videos useful.

Exam (micro):

Bacteria: Staph and strep will show up. While the clinically relevant
bacteria series are very hard lectures to study, they may not show up as
much on SNQs as we are only taught a little bit about each bacteria.
Viruses: Influenza, measles, and mumps are very important.

OSCE Exam

Make sure you look at all the pictures from e-learning, micro tutorial slides
and lectures. However, sometimes you can answer questions even if you do
not recognize the picture. Therefore, knowing your basics about the various
bacteria, viruses and fungi is still important for this exam.
Immunology

Lectures

There are quite a few immunology lectures in the series. Most will be a
repeat of previous years, however with extra information. The lectures can
be a bit hard to follow if you dont attend, as sometimes only pictures are
provided with no explanations. Thus, supplemental material can be
particularly helpful in this case.

E-Learning

The few E-Learning materials can really help with immunology, as they
provide written, detailed explanations.

Supplemental Material

Janeway Immunobiology: Many of the pictures in the lecture slides are taken
out of this textbook. There are helpful explanations beside the pictures if you
read the text book.
Armando Hasudungan Youtube Videos. This series of free videos on
YouTube is an excellent visual source if you really want to understand
immunology.

Exam (immunology)

While it is important to study, immunology in the past has not heavily tested
on the exams. Vaccines and immunodeficient disorders (aka clinically
relevant topics) can be tested in FMIP or other modules where they are
covered.

Pathology

Lectures

Pathology lectures are very interesting and form the foundations on which all
other lectures are based upon. Thus, it is essential to study these well.
NEOPLASMS is a key lecture series that you need to know not only for FMIP
but also CR and Haem/Onc.

E-Learning

E-learning is a great aid for pathology lectures. These should be studied


alongside the lectures. Neoplasms, cell injury and cell death, acute and
chronic inflammation are very important and are covered under general
pathology in Cal-Path.

Tutorials
Tutorials include pathology lab tutorials (in the computer lab), CPCs, and
POTs. These are all great reviews and it can be helpful to study the relevant
lectures beforehand in order to get the most out of the tutorials. POTs
sessions are small group tutorials in which a pathologist will display a pot,
or specimen in a glass container, and then present a case corresponding to
the specimen. Together, students will go through the case interactively.

Supplemental Material

Underwood, Robins Pathology and Pathology Illustrated are great text


books which are recommended reading.
Pathoma (www.pathoma.com) is a great video resource. This website
requires a subscription to the videos, but you also get a textbook which is a
great reference. Many students find pathoma extremely useful as it covers
almost all the pathology lectures in FMIP, CR, and HaemOnc.

Exam (pathology):

Neoplasms, chronic inflammation, acute inflammation, cell injury and cell


death and amyloid are very important topics. Dont forget that there are
some cardio pathology lectures that are under FMIP- these can be tested on
in both FMIP and CR.

OSCE Exam

Some classic pictures that may show up are amyloid (green birefringence) or
a picture of skin with sutures (primary healing). For the most part, if you
know the pathology material (from lectures and cal-path), you should be able
to answer the OSCE questions whether you recognize the pictures or not.
However, you can never depend on this so looking over images is always a
good idea.

CR
CR, like FMIP, is an extensive module which can be daunting at first. However,
students who have clear focus from the beginning of the semester usually excel. The
module is broadly divided into cardiology and respiratory medicine.
It is important to establish from the beginning that the main topics of study will be
covered in many different lectures. For example, if one were to take pneumonia as
an area of study, there will be lectures specifically on pneumonia delivered at
different times by three different departments i.e. microbiology, clinical
medicine/surgery and pathology. The principal topics of the study are:
Respiratory:
o Infective lung disease (pneumonia, tuberculosis)
o Obstructive lung disease (COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis etc.)
o Restrictive lung disease (fibrosis etc.)
o Lung tumours
Cardiology:
o Ischaemic heart disease
o Heart failure
o Valvular heart disease
o Structural and vascular disease (arteritis, cardiomyopathy etc.)
Please note that these lists are not exhaustive but aim to indicate the principal topics
of study.
Bearing this in mind, it is wise to assimilate the information delivered by all three
departments to avoid compartmentalisation of the course material. It is also sensible
not to panic if everything related to a particular topic is not covered in one lecture as
there will be several others forthcoming which should allow you to join the dots.

Microbiology Lectures

There are comparatively fewer microbiology lectures in CR than in FMIP.


However, the lectures that are delivered are high yield and must be well
known. Also worth bearing in mind is that microbiology MCQs tend to pop up
in the CR and Haemonc exams despite having been covered in FMIP. Beware
this is a common gripe amongst students!
If you experience any difficulties with microbiology, do not hesitate to
contact Dr. Niall Stevens who is particularly helpful in organising extra
teaching sessions and such.
Again the textbook Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple is very
comprehensive in the area of CR microbiology.

Clinical Medicine and Surgical Lectures

The clinical medicine lectures are dense but many students find them to be
the most interesting. These lectures will allow you to bring together the
material covered in microbiology and pathology. These lectures often form
the basis for SNQs and CPCs and are therefore of high importance. While the
majority of lectures will be delivered from a medical perspective, there will
also be some surgical lectures within CR. Do not neglect these lectures as
there is a high chance of at least one of the SNQs being based on these
surgical lectures.

Pathology Lectures

Again, one should approach pathology lectures with a view to assimilating


the material you learn in micro and clinical med/surg. There is a tendency
amongst students to neglect the images which are interspersed throughout
these lectures. However, knowledge of these images as well as those found
on CALPATH will be examined in the OSCE exam.

CALPATH and E-Learning

There are vast swathes of material related to CR within CALPATH and elearning. Many of the more tricky MCQs will have been drawn not from your
lectures but from these online resources. Do not review these online
resources in one foul swoop (as this would be overwhelming) but rather
allow CALPATH and e-learning to accompany your lecture notes and text
books as you work through the semester.

Tutorials
Clinical Competency Tutorials:
These tutorials are staggered throughout the semester and cover the skills required
to perform two physical examinations; respiratory and cardiology. It is important to
attend and pay attention at these tutorials as there will be assessments of
competence in both respiratory and cardiology examinations. The assessment is
similar to CC in JC3 but the student will often be requested to perform an exam from

beginning to end as opposed to being given specific instructions (as was the case in
JC3). These assessments are pass/fail and students do not receive an exact mark.
However, one must pass to progress to IC2. If you fail in your first attempt, it is
possible to retake the assessment at a later stage in the semester. It is worth
preparing well to avoid the hassle of having to repeat.
Therapeutic Tutorials:
Therapeutic tutorials are delivered by Prof. Stanton and attendance is always taken.
Students may find the interactive nature of these tutorials daunting and are advised
to prepare will before attending. It is worthwhile casting an eye back on the
pharmacology lectures delivered in JC in preparation for these tutorials. The material
is very much high yield and often features in both MCQs and SNQs.
Microbiology tutorials:
These tutorials are delivered by the microbiology department and concentrate on
the practical points of cell culture and microbiological staining. These topics tend to
come up in the OSCE exam. It is advisable to use this time to clear up any issues you
may have regarding microbiology.
CPCs (Clinical Pathological Cases):
During these weekly hour long tutorials, one of the principal areas of study will be
discussed in detail from three perspectives (micro, clinical, path). These sessions are
useful as they provide further opportunity to bring together all the material
delivered in lectures.
Pot sessions:
These sessions are held weekly before or after the CPCs. These sessions are
delivered by the pathology department and allow students to view pathological
specimens which have been fixed and placed in glass pots. These sessions allow
students to discuss the finer points of the pathological process of a particular disease
and are usually quite helpful.
MDTs:
These multi-disciplinary team sessions represent a further opportunity to assimilate
all the material which has been delivered throughout the semester.

CR Exam

Structure of CR exam:
o 60 MCQs
o 1 CPC
o 4 SNQs
The MCQs can be tricky and often require specific knowledge. They can be
drawn from anywhere including online resources and material covered in
tutorials.

The CPC will generally be drawn from the selection of CPCs delivered
throughout the semester. Again concentrate on the principal topics of study
in order to best prepare. It is advisable to assimilate material from an early
stage.
The SNQs will again be based on the principal topics of study.
It is worth noting that unlike JC, the written part of the exam is worth 50%
while the MCQ section is also worth 50% (if the OSCE MCQs are included).

HaemOnc
Lectures

The Haemonc course is much shorter and therefore much more manageable
than the others. Many students enjoy it and excel as a result. The pathology
department delivers the majority of lectures and indeed they set the majority
of questions.
The course is delivered at the end of the semester so make sure you allocate
enough time to haemonc to grapple with some of the more complex topics.

E-Learning & CALPATH

Material from e-learning and CALPATH often pops up in the exam so make
sure to review them in time.

Tutorials
CPCs:
Haemonc is allocated a small number of CPCs which are delivered towards
the end of the semester.
MDTs:
Again, a small number of MDTs related to Haemonc are delivered.

HaemOnc Exam

Structure:
o 30 MCQs
o 1 CPC
o 3 SNQs

Conclusion and Disclaimer


We hope you have found this guide useful. It has been completed by students, for
students. Please be advised that all the information we provide is correct in relation
to our experience as IC1 students in 2014. As the system of education delivery is
continually up for review by the Faculty, some information may not be applicable to

future IC1 students. Make sure to consult the Marks and Standards documents
made available by SARA for the most current information about IC1.
Many thanks and best of luck,
Zahra Merali and Praic Behan

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