Conferences

Conferences tend to be a great way to gain knowledge, meet others in the field, and learn the latest skills in the field. I had no idea they give out medical degrees too.

Conference

As part of the first year curriculum, we are exposed to a medical jurisprudence course that incorporates medical law and ethical questions. Our professor is affiliated with the American College of Legal Medicine, which hosted a mock trial this past week. For someone such as myself, who has never set foot in a courtroom, this was a great opportunity to see the workings of a medically related lawsuit. It included a judge, witnesses, attorneys, evidence and the audience participated as a jury.

Certainly, the identification card which I was given is in error, but it does give me something to aspire to in years to come...the physician part anyway. And with any luck or skill, I won't be the defendant in such a case. If you are looking to attend an upcoming conference, consider these resources:

• CME Mall - One stop source for CME and conferences in the US
  
• New England Journal of Medicine - Includes a search tool for better specificity
• American Osteopathic Association - CME courses and tools
• American Medical Association - CME resources
  
• American Medical Student Association - Specific to pre-med students

Clinical Corner

Pneumocephalus

This is the condition that was in question during the mock trial which is characterized by air located within the cranial cavity. In that case it was a result of neurosurgery, but it can also arise from head trauma or basal skull tumors. When the air is trapped in the skull it is considered a tension pneumocephalus and radiology tests commonly find the frontal lobes of the brain compressed in what is known as the Mount Fuji Sign. Complications include neurological changes, therefore treatment is quick to follow ultimately removing excess air and repairing any bony defects. [Patient Case Review]