Five is Right Out

A digital scrap-book with knitting and med school stuff and stuff. And whatever's on the brain. Y'know, stuff.

[medicaljourney]

Every year I participate in Small Business Saturday. I love supporting small businesses, especially as the holiday season approaches.

This year, Small Business Saturday is on November 28th 2015. Take part in Shop Small, a movement to celebrate small business.

Here is a selection of some medical and science related items that are all produced by small businesses and/or individual artists. 

1. Visual Anatomy Chocolates

2. Oxytocin iPhone case

3. Petri Dish Soaps

4. Brain Specimen Coasters

5. Neuron Ornament

6. Arteries of the Brain tee shirt

7. Medical Candle

8. Anatomical Heart Mug

9. RX Pill Soap Gift Set

10. Giant Microbes Ornaments

[thisfuturemd]

All I want for Christmas…is everything. Every single item on this list.

[fuckyeahnarcotics]

C'est tout ce dont j'ai besoin la maintenant.

[2sigma]

I absolutely effing hate bras. By the end of a long day, no matter what, whatever "real" bra I'm wearing makes me miserable. What kind of doctor can I be where I don't need to wear a bra??

[ninjatengu]

(via You seem awfully worried about catching Ebola for someone too lazy to get a flu shot.)

[marxism-leninism-utenaism]

medical care should be free

[2sigma]

medical education should be free

[telep0rt]

I just interviewed at a med school that has its students take Step 1 after 3rd year. I know at most schools, students take Step 1 after 2nd year. What are your thoughts on the pros/cons of when to take Step 1?

Interesting. 

I have NEVER heard of a school doing that… are you sure it wasn’t Step 2?? As far as I know, all the schools I am familiar with have their students take step 1 at the end of second year because you basically have to prove competency before you start working with patients. 

I think that I was glad to have step 1 behind me when I started on the wards. I think that if I had to wait until after third year I would have forgotten a lot of little details and would have been more focused on the clinical aspects. This also pushes step 1 REALLY close to when you take step 2 and I think I would have been way too exhausted to do Step 1 and Step 2 that close to one another. 

No me gusta. 

I think that you need to prove you have some foundation before start third year because otherwise you will have NO time to learn a bunch of the stuff you missed in the first two years. 

[2sigma]

My school has an accelerated 18 month preclinical curriculum, then we hit the wards for a year (end of December of MS2), and once we're done with clerkship (Dec of MS3) we study for/take Step 1... so that's in the winter of MS3.

Apparently, the Step 1 scores at my school have only gone up since they switched to the 18 mon preclinical curriculum, probably because many students learn better when actually practicing medicine, rather than reading about it in books.

I don't think Step 1 does a whole lot to prove a student's competency for working with patients.  All it really proves is your competency as a test-taker.  Step 1 scores serve as one way to sort through the many qualified residency applicants--much like the MCAT did for med school--so it's definitely important, and excellent motivation for learning a lot of discrete facts that might (or not) be helpful to have in your memory during clinical practice.  But I think I'll value the scores and feedback I get from my clerkships more than my Step 1, in terms of judging my competency and improving my abilities as a physician.

And during clerkship, at least at my school, I'll still be very much a student--good supervision, plenty of conferences and lectures, some shadowing, and individual attention from residents and attendings who can tailor their teaching to my needs (and the patient's needs!).

I'm a huge fan of the 18 month preclinical approach, and the fact that we take Step 1 after clerkship year (which is actually in the middle of MS3, not the end).  It's definitely challenging to learn so much material so quickly, and I've never been so aware of my learning disabilities, but it's doable.  I regard classroom learning as a necessary evil, so the sooner I can get through it and on to the real experiential learning, the better.  

If you're great in the classroom and like to take more time to study concepts in depth with textbooks and lectures, you'll probably prefer the more traditional 2 year preclinical experience.  If you're more like me (don't excel in the classroom), you might consider applying to schools with 1.5 preclinical years--seems like more and more schools are switching to that model.

Good luck to everyone on applications!  Hang in there folks--it's stressful and harrowing, but it'll be worth it.

[whatshouldwecallmedschool]

When you shave your legs for the first time in months because physical exam practice is next week

[2sigma]

And of course I only have one dull blade that's been living in the shower for a month.  I wonder if there's a medical term for razor burn...

[exgynocraticgrrl-archive-deacti]

Deconstructing Masculinity & Manhood with Michael Kimmel @ Dartmouth College

[girldwarf]

YAAAAEEESSSSSSS

[worldoflis]

You know what I like, and feel is so important? That he doesn’t say “Men thinks those are THEIR positions”. He says “We think those are OUR positions.”

As a male feminist, he still doesn’t exclude himself from the group of men.

[elloellenoh]

This

[2sigma]

...and that's why she's my favorite.

[whatshouldwecallmedschool]

The sad reality

[meggospurls]

Inspiration from my1992diary and for everyone who needs a laugh today:

My sister’s wedge hair cut can only be bested by my puffy triangle. Yay triangle haircuts of the early 90s! Please also note both our crispy and wispy, blow dried with a round brush bangs. Thanks mom! Please also appreciate the matching outfits that were wardrobe rejects from the Sound of Music’s Von Trap children. Drapery chic, no?

[2sigma]

So bad I think it might go viral

[2sigma]

Post exam train ride cold one.

[meggospurls]

I love my hat!

[2sigma]

She is beautiful and I miss her.

(also, nice hat)

[whatshouldwecallmedschool]

Trying to sleep the night before an exam

[2sigma]

Yet again... slept for two hours, awake for two hours, back to sleep for a few minutes, and tossed and turned until dawn.  If it were a morning exam I'd be fine, but since it doesn't start until noon... can't think.  Must study cardiovascular drugs.  ECG.  Heaven help me.

[2sigma]

Hello old friend

[2sigma]

...and that's pretty much my life. I have indeed found my keys in the freezer.

[2sigma]

[2sigma]

Mise en CV Exam Prep