Critical Thinking in Patient Care
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Introduction
As I made progress through undergrad, taking one semester at a time, I had the opportunity to explore many undergrad classes as well as take classes that may align with my future goals. These courses have contributed to the development of foundational skills that can be used for my future career as a medical professional. A skill in particular that I have developed is my critical thinking skills that were developed through the combination of science and biological classes as well as my humanities classes from my medical humanities minor. Interpreting information from these different views gives larger perspective on specific ideas. The courses in particular that have had the most influence on the development of this skill was Cadaveric Human Anatomy Laboratory, Microbiology Lab, and Biochemistry.
Cadaveric Human Anatomy Lab (Spring '26)
The Cadaveric Human Anatomy Lab has strengthened my critical thinking by allowing me to visualize real pathologies and recognize that the human body does not always match the idealized images found in textbooks. This course has deepened my awareness of the anatomical variations that exist from person to person, as well as the emotional and ethical significance of working with a donor. In addition, the importance of team work and communicating with my group aiding in the development of my understanding.
“¡Y tenía corazón!” (1890) – Enrique Simonet Lombardo
This image shows that blends the the scientific distachment that can happen with cadavers and the underlying emotion and sentiment that that embodies the donor as well as the pathologist.
Honors Microbiology Laboratory (Spring '25)
My Honors Microbiology Lab experience gave me foundational insight into how antibiotics were first developed and allowed me to work directly with clinically relevant bacteria and microorganisms commonly associated with infections in healthcare settings. I can further apply what I learned in this lab to better understand how infectious diseases or bacterias spread in a health care setting and to provide patients with clear, accurate education about their conditions.
Honors Contract for Biochemistry Lecture (Fall 2025)
Lastly, my Honors experience in biochemistry lectures strengthened my critical thinking by deepening my understanding of the chemical processes that maintain the body’s homeostasis. Learning how reactions occur at the molecular level and how even small the biochemical changes can influence day‑to‑day function and helped me think more analytically about health, disease, and the mechanisms behind clinical symptoms.
Reflection
Overall even though being three different experiences each attribute meaningful purpose to the development of my critical thinking skills that I can apply in patient care.
My experience in the cadaver lab, I have learned how to be patient, to value small intricate details as well as to appreciate the difference that each individual person holds.
My honor's experience within the microbiology laboratory expanded my knowledge on how bacteria can affect humans, their mode of transportation, as well how they can affect humans on a more biological scale.
Lastly, exploring other concepts within biochemistry deepened my understanding of how the biochemical pathways are connected in the body and what can happen when they go wrong.
Together, these experiences have uniquely influences my criticial thinking, through a physically lens of touching structures, but also pathological and systemically.
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