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THE

BLOOD CLOTTING

COURSE

with the Heme Queen™

Having nightmares about the coagulation cascade?

Dreading the PT, aPTT, TT, and all the other tests?

Relearning it all, yet again, for an upcoming exam?

MASTER COAGULATION ONCE AND FOR ALL WITH:

3D

Attach a platelet to exposed von Willebrand factor.  Then use its phospholipid surface for the coagulation cascade.  Perform tests, like the PT and aPTT.  Experience the clotting mechanisms and assays in 3D.

MEDICAL

Practice medicine through embedded clinical scenarios.  Master the art of answering exam-style questions correctly and confidently.  

 STORYTELLING

No memorization required! 

Stories are more memorable than floating, isolated facts.  Your knowledge is anchored to fascinating histories and clinical connections.

THE

BLOOD CLOTTING

COURSE

with the Heme Queen™

Having nightmares about the coagulation cascade?

Dreading the PT, aPTT, TT, and all the other tests?

Relearning it all, yet again, for an upcoming exam?

WANT TO MASTER COAGULATION, ONCE AND FOR ALL?

OUR 4-WEEK CURRICULUM

Begins July 21, 2024

WEEK 1:  CLOTTING INSIDE A GLASS TUBE

  • Experience the coagulation cascade unfold in a highly memorable way.
  • See how factor deficiencies and dysfunctions result in bleeding disorders.
  • Perform clotting tests and interpret their results to make a diagnosis.  Tests include thrombin time, PT, aPTT, mixing studies, Reptilase time, and much more.  

WEEK 2: CLOT BRAKES, CLOT BREAKS, AND  THROMBOPHILIAS

  • Learn how the natural anticoagulants of the coagulation cascade (TFPI, Protein C and S, and antithrombin III) put the brakes on clotting.
  • Understand how anticoagulant therapy (such as warfarin and heparin) interfere with clotting.
  • Watch the fibrinolytic system break down a clot.
  • Diagnose thrombophilias, such as Factor V Leiden and lupus anticoagulant.

WEEK 3: CLOTTING INSIDE A BLOOD VESSEL

  • Watch primary hemostasis patch up an injured blood vessel.
  • See inside a platelet to understand how it is perfectly designed for clotting.
  • Diagnose von Willebrand Disease and platelet dysfunctions, such as  Bernard-Soulier Syndrome, Glanzmann Thrombasthenia.
  • Understand how drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel affect clotting.

WEEK 4: THROMBOCYTOPENIAS AND TEG

  • Pinpoint the cause of low platelets: is it lab error?  Or is it a production, destruction, or usage problem?  
  • Watch the microangiopathic hemolytic anemias (DIC, TTP, HUS) shear red blood cells, use up platelets, and break up fibrin into D dimers.
  • Perform TEG (thromboelastography) and interpret results.  

OUR 4-WEEK CURRICULUM

WITH 3D MEDICAL STORYTELLING

Begins July 21, 2024

WEEK 1:  CLOTTING INSIDE A GLASS TUBE

  • Experience the coagulation cascade unfold in a highly memorable way.
  • See how factor deficiencies and dysfunctions result in bleeding disorders.
  • Perform clotting tests in 3D and interpret their results to make a diagnosis.

WEEK 2: CLOT BRAKES, CLOT BREAKS, AND  THROMBOPHILIAS

  • See how the natural anticoagulants of the coagulation cascade (TFPI, Protein C and S, and antithrombin III) put the brakes on clotting.
  • Understand how anticoagulant therapy (such as warfarin and heparin) interfere with clotting.
  • Watch the fibrinolytic system break down a clot.
  • Diagnose thrombophilias, such as Factor V Leiden and lupus anticoagulant.

WEEK 3: CLOTTING INSIDE A BLOOD VESSEL

  • Watch primary hemostasis patch up an injured blood vessel.
  • Go inside a platelet to understand how it is perfectly designed for clotting.
  • Diagnose von Willebrand Disease and platelet dysfunctions, such as  Bernard-Soulier Syndrome, Glanzmann Thrombasthenia.
  • Understand how drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel affect clotting.

WEEK 4: THROMBOCYTOPENIAS AND TEG

  • Pinpoint the cause of low platelets: is it lab error?  Or is it a production, destruction, or usage problem?  
  • Watch the microangiopathic hemolytic anemias (DIC, TTP, HUS) shear red blood cells, use up platelets, and break up fibrin into D dimers.
  • Perform TEG (thromboelastography) and interpret results.

About Me,

The Heme Queen™

(Dr. Natalie Ciomek, MD)

 

I REALLY struggled during my first two years of medical school.  I passed the Step 1 exam by one measly point...my heart broke when I opened that e-mail and saw a three-digit score beginning with a 1!

After days of nonstop crying, I was ready to blame someone: myself.  I had to find a way of studying that worked for me.

The AHA! moment was realizing that I was a visual learner.  My notes soon became filled with more scribbled graphics than actual words.  And when I added fascinating medical histories and connected the clinical dots, my notes came alive!

Cramming was no longer required.  I aced all of my exams after Step 1, including three pathology board certification exams.  Fast forward to today: this new study method is how I teach today, with lots of high-resolution visuals and memorable stories.

I received my MD from the Florida State University College of Medicine in 2011.  I am board certified in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Hematopathology. 

In 2017, I became an assistant professor of Pathology at Tufts Medicine, where I discovered my passion for teaching.  I won an outstanding lecturer of year award for every year I taught at the Tufts University School of Medicine, from 2018-2021.  But I was getting bummed that teaching was becoming the smallest part of my academic job. 

I resigned in 2021 to study 3D medical art and animation.  I can now bring my messy scribbles to life at Mededdo Studios, where I now teach full-time.

About The Heme Queen™

(Dr. Natalie Ciomek, MD)

 

I REALLY struggled during my first two years of medical school.  When I found out I passed the Step 1 exam by one measly point, I was devastated!  

I had to find ways to make studying work for me if I ever wanted to become a doctor.  The AHA! moment was realizing that I was a visual learner.  My notes soon became filled with more scribbled graphics than actual words.  And when I added fascinating medical histories and stories, my notes came alive!

Cramming was no longer required.  I aced all of my exams after Step 1, including three pathology board certification exams.  Fast forward to today: this new study method is how I teach today at Mededdo Studios, with lots of high-resolution visuals and memorable stories.

COURSE REVIEWS

from Dr. Ciomek's online courses
for the Tufts University School of Medicine Class of 2020:

"This month was so fun, interactive, enriching, and educational!"

"The instruction was fantastic. I learned the basics of pathology in an engaging way through didactics and cases."
“Dr. Ciomek! She is an amazing teacher, great at explaining...does a really good job of helping guide students to the correct answer.”
“The class was organized, her lectures (didactics) were very clear. The quality of her videos was excellent.”
“This was so great and I'd definitely recommend it to any student if you were to do this again in the future!”
“I absolutely recommend this course to everyone (who is interested in learning)."
“…the way the course was organized made pathology really fun and accessible. I learned so much, and this course will help me throughout my career. The best part of the elective was really all of it!”

COURSE REVIEWS

from Dr. Ciomek's online courses

for the Tufts University School of Medicine Class of 2020:

"This month was so fun, interactive, enriching, and educational!"

"The instruction was fantastic. I learned the basics of pathology in an engaging way through didactics and cases."
“Dr. Ciomek! She is an amazing teacher, great at explaining...does a really good job of helping guide students to the correct answer.”
“The class was organized, her lectures (didactics) were very clear. The quality of her videos was excellent.”
“This was so great and I'd definitely recommend it to any student if you were to do this again in the future!”
“I absolutely recommend this course to everyone (who is interested in learning)."
“…the way the course was organized made pathology really fun and accessible. I learned so much, and this course will help me throughout my career. The best part of the elective was really all of it!”

TESTIMONIALS

written by Tufts University School of Medicine students:

“I have never understood pathology slides better than when I did learning from Dr. Ciomek. Her explanations were incredibly helpful.”

-Student, class of 2021
“An amazing lecturer…Dr. Ciomek was phenomenal at being clear, concise and explaining pictures really, really well.”

-Student, class of 2024

“Clear, efficient, made the large amount of path material feel manageable.”
-Student, class of 2021
“She made pathology so approachable and interesting and was very clear on hallmarks to look for. I've never enjoyed histology so much.”
-Student, class of 2024
“I loved Dr. Ciomek! She explained the pathology of each disease so clearly and simply. I've always struggled with histology, and she made it so easy to follow along. Her simplified language was incredibly helpful to me.”
-Student, class of 2024
“Dr. Ciomek was great at explaining histology/pathology. I often feel overwhelmed looking at the various stainings, but she helped me make sense of them.”
-Student, class of 2024
"Dr. Ciomek was an approachable and knowledgeable teacher. She encouraged us to reason through our diagnoses and taught us to think like a pathologist."
-Student, class of 2020

Frequently Asked Questions