Golden Scapula 2012

As I think many of you have heard, I participated in a competition called Golden Scapula and did quite well. I decided to take the time to explain exactly what it is, especially so that my non-UWM friends will understand what it is going on. I guess the best way is just to tell the story as it happened, so here goes...
Golden Scapula, or in Latin Scapula Aurea, is an anatomy competition that is held annually in Poland. Polish divisions of the Medical Schools compete against each other, and the English Divisions, which are composed of international students, compete against each other. The competition consists of a 2 hour Anatomical Theory section, which is composed of 100 MCQ, followed by a Practical Anatomy consisting of a "Pin" test on specimens of all different types of body parts, from brain tissue to metatarsals. Each year it is held at a different University in Poland (Krakow, Szczecin, Warsaw etc.) and this year we had it on home turf as it was held in Olsztyn.
The test day was Friday June 1, and we started with the MCQ. It was quite difficult, and tiring, like an AP exam, except more intense but a little shorter.

                                                          Getting ready for the MCQ

Then after this we all went to hotel to have lunch. We were treated to some nice Polish cuisine and a quite marvelous dessert. However, after this we had the next session of the test, the practical part. There were 50 specimens, and each worth 2pts (Correct name and correct side of the body) so all in all 100pts to be had.
It was most definitely the hardest Pin test I have ever taken, with extremely complicated CT and MRI images, and terribly tricky specimens. After that test the term "Mind Raped" was most fitting, as to get an idea of how it was.
The following day we got to know preliminary results. It was very positive as we were told that my team from Olsztyn, along with the teams from Krakow and Warsaw had progressed to the the Team Competitions. That we were quite excited, Krakow and Warsaw are the two biggest cities in Poland and have very bright students.
The team competitions which were the following day were less serious, and more like anatomy games. Our professor, Prof. Gielecki has been working on a virtual anatomy program for quite a while, and games from that was used. Games included anatomy puzzles, quizzes on arteries and the different Brodmann's areas of the brain. Xbox Kinect was used, allowing us to move things around on the big projected screen by simply moving our hands, grabbing things and moving it to the right area etc. Very futuristic and quite cool actually. Well, I was impressed anyway, I have lived in Africa for far too long =)

Anatomy games on Xbox Kinect, that's the future =)

Then came time for the award ceremony and everyone got back to being all serious. First they gave the prize for the best Team. The scores of students were added together, and results from the Team Competitions were also factored in. Olsztyn came third! We were very excited, and me and my teammates (Justyna and Peter) went to claim our prize. 

Receiving 3rd Place Award for Team Competitions

Then it came to the individual competition, every man's and woman's score counted for themselves, and no team competition involved. There was a quite a tense feel in the air, everyone fancied their chances. Third place was given to a lad from Canada attending the Medical University of Warsaw, he had got 145 points from the MCQ and Pin tests. Second place was to be announced, and it went to a Norwegian attending the Medical University of Krakow. He had accumulated 146 points from the MCQ and Pin tests. First place of Golden Scapula English Division, cue drumroll.... went to Joshua Manu of Olsztyn! 147 points! (yes, that's how tight it was!!) I was literally over the moon!!, but at the same time also in a state of disbelief, had I actually pulled this off!? I went up to receive my award, which not only included a trophy and a certificate, but also hundreds of dollars worth of medical books. Yes, textbooks as prizes, as anticlimactic as it may sound, it is actually great since they are quite expensive for a poor MK like myself ;)

After receiving the First Place award.

Medical Textbooks for Prizes

For all the success of Olsztyn English Division, (the best Team Competition placement for the Division as well as the first individual competition win) Olsztyn Polish Division absolutely killed it! As in they won basically everything! They won their Team Competition, and in the individual competition they claimed first place AND second place. So overall a very good day for Olsztyn and Prof. Gielecki (teacher for both divisions) He is the somewhat shorter and content-looking gentlemen at the front of this picture.

                                                                        Olsztyn = Najlepszego

Oh! and another cool thing, we were recognized for our efforts by not only the University TV, but also got a full page in the local newspaper!  

                                  The title reads: "Anatomy Demystified" or something like that. 

The reportage from TV Kortow: