Future IM Doc

International Medical Student - Canadian in Ireland, M.Sc., long distance marriage, lover of coffee, puppies, naps [email protected]

[wayfaringmd]

To my followers

Do not send me questions asking me to prescribe things for you. Such questions will result in you being blocked. For me to prescribe something over the Internet to someone I’ve never met or examined is malpractice and I won’t even consider it.

Edit: this really burns me up. Not only is it dangerous for me to prescribe things over the Internet, it’s even more dangerous for you guys to ask for medical advice and prescriptions over the Internet. For all you know, I’m some premed dropout in his mom’s basement eating Cheetos. If you need medical advice or medication, please don’t waste your time with me. Go see a doctor who can actually examine you.

[futureimdoc]

the runner's high

I call bullshit how far must one run to experience it I haven't found it yet

[brostateexam]

summarize adulthood in one gif

[missandryifyourenasty]

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[arielcalypso]

Omg lol

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[futureimdoc]

[futureimdoc]

Hello, I was wondering if taking up a job in a pharmacy would be an appropriate holiday job for a pre med student? Recently I had done A Levels and have been looking for a clinic job or volunteering work in hospitals but none of them are willing to have me. A pharmacy is willing to offer me a part time job but I'm not sure if it considers as something related to my motivation to pursue med

Hi there! 

I definitely think work at a pharmacy could be beneficial to a pre-med. It gives you exposure to another field within medicine and allows to work with part of the multi-disciplinary team (and perhaps motivate you to keep your hand writing legible!). 

Keep in mind that many experiences can provide valuable life experience and not just those directly related to medicine - just because you don’t manage to get volunteer work in a hospital doesn’t mean you can’t learn from where you might gain that experience. I spent many years volunteering at a women’s shelter - and while I definitely didn’t learn any medicine - I learned how to interact in a very sensitive manner with the women and children who lived at the shelter. It also shows admissions committees that you are well rounded person - I didn’t have any medically related work experience prior to applying either. I worked at a hardware store, I worked in retail, and I had a summer job in a lab. 

All of your experiences build you as a person - whether related to your motivation to pursue medicine or not! 

If you think you will enjoy work at the pharmacy over another opportunity then definitely take it! 

[futureimdoc]

Hey, I just came across your page. I'm a 2nd year (Canadian) international medical student, and I'm just starting to wrap my around the whole electives process. Was wondering: 1) How early should I be applying for electives in Canada? 2) How many applications should I be sending out? 3) Any other general tips you had on matching. Hope to hear back from you. Cheers.

Hi Fellow Canadian! 

1. Since electives are completed in the summer between your third and fourth year it’s time to start looking now. I’m sure you’ve already heard about the portal - it has of information (if difficult to locate at times) regarding deadlines for application teach individual school. 

As I mentioned on my tips page - if you are planning to apply to the US for electives check their timelines first. Many schools in the US have specific block dates for elective applications and you may need to fit your Canadian applications into those dates - Canadian schools are (or at least were) much more flexible with elective dates. 

2. I would apply for at least 3 electives for each block to avoid disappointment. It is hard to secure electives given the increasing number of medical schools (especially international) trying to complete electives in Canada. 

3. General tips - most students already know the boxes they need to check off for the residency applications: exam scores, extra-curricular, volunteer work or alternatively: leadership, research, scholarly activity, volunteer etc. I strongly recommend having ‘stuff’ you’ve done to put in each category. 

Hope that helped and good luck! 

[15-blade]

Causes of pancreatitis

I hate mnemonics but this one might be worth it. I was asked this by the surgery attending this week and could only come up with a few of them. I GET SMASHED.

Idiopathic

Gallstones (#2 cause)

Ethanol (#1 cause)

Trauma (#3 cause)

Steroids

Mumps (or other infections)/Malignancy

Autoimmune

Scorpion sting/Spider bite

Hypercalcemia/Hyperlipidemia

ERCP

Drugs: thiazide diuretics (cause hypercalcemia), various antibiotics, cancer drugs, valproic acid, a bunch of others not worth memorizing.

Another cause not in the mnemonic is genetic - cystic fibrosis

Pro tip: When you’re in the hot seat flailing around for causes of something don’t forget to use VINDICATE (vascular, infectious/inflammatory, neoplastic, drugs, iatrogenic, congenital, anatomic, trauma, endocrine/metabolic). There is almost always some genetic, anatomic, or neoplastic cause of things. Drugs and iatrogenic causes are also good guesses. But then you’ll be asked which drugs.

[futureimdoc]

Now that you've matched, can you tell us your ccee scores and stats? greatly appreciate it!!

Scores are a pretty personal question - and if CaRMS were better at reporting the scores of successful applicants I probably wouldn’t disclose my scores. 

MCCEE: 390 NAC OSCE: 88 

We still don’t know what role these scores play in the application/interview process other than low scores are likely to exclude applicants rather than high scores guaranteeing interviews. A high score really just gets your over a cut off. 

For those applying to the USA there is tons of data for you to look up regarding average scores of successful applicants in different specialties, US vs IMG applicants, etc. Sadly CaRMS does not publish this sort of data leaving us really in the dark as to what a ‘successful’ score is. 

My best advice - aim as high as you possibly can. 

[futureimdoc]

I decided it was about time I was a tourist for a bit before I left Ireland for good - finally checked out the free museum that is only about 10 minutes from my place and walked a lovely pier. Champagne cocktails with brunch today - so good. Boarding a plane in 42 hours for home!

[futureimdoc]

mimosas chocolate chip banana pancakes blinkin the snek not pictured - captain america and Puerto Rican rice and beans for dinner I had such an excellent and relaxing Sunday - and the best part is that with school done there is no guilt for relaxing all day home in 3 days!

[classysassyrepublican-deactivat]

Did I need it? No. Did I buy it? Yes.

[futureimdoc]

Do I regret it? Nope.

[wayfaringmd]

It’s kind of my job

Front desk receptionist: Hey Mr. R’s wife called. They’re admitting him. And you were right! It *was* a stroke after all.

Wayfaring: I know.

Receptionist: How did you know? 

Wayfaring: I didn’t know he was admitted. I knew it was a stroke. That’s why I sent him out.

Receptionist: But how did you know? Like how were you so sure?

Wayfaring: Because I went to medical school. 

And because I examined him. Even without my CT scan goggles on. 

[drdessertfox]

Reading the hashtags, and I have to agree that physical exams are SUPER important. There are a lot of physicians I know who dismiss the importance of history and physical exams and instead rely heavily on labs and imaging. 

Don’t be afraid to touch your patient! 

[futureimdoc]

Truth!

A good history and physical exam are so vital to good clinical practice. My med school education over in Ireland reinforced this over and over - especially in a country with a health care system crying for funding. From week 1 we were not only taught the importance of the history and exam but always asked to justify every single test we ordered - even the CBC. 

I remember sitting in a morning round at one of my IM interviews in the US and they were discussed a patient admitted the night before with very vague symptoms - general malaise, fatigue, recent episodes of light headedness, fever - and they ‘weren’t sure what was going on so he got a CT TAP’ which revealed inguinal LAD - you know, something you could have felt on proper exam and not exposed a patient to that kind of radiation. 

Practice your exam skills - they will be of use for your whole career

[futureimdoc]

DONE

last exam of medical school complete

[futureimdoc]

never have i taken something so for granted as being able to breathe out of both sides of my nose until this moment... only having one functional nostril is torture 

[futureimdoc]

so the first part of my two part final final medical school exam is tomorrow 

two long cases over two days - 15 minute history, 5 minute presentation and pimping, 10 minute exam, 10 minute pimping 

we have had almost two full weeks off in preparation and I have done histories, exams, and questions each day for about 4 hours with a couple of friends 

today we just couldn't anymore and so we watched the new game of thrones 

I have organized all my snacks, my examination tools, and my white coat 

I am ready-ish and I just want to be finished and I just have to pass 

flying home for the final time: 9 days 

[badmedstudent]

Rolling into school as a post match Med 4

[futureimdoc]

[quilavastudy]

I can never understand how doctors and medical students walk around with their stethescope around their necks. When I see them I just want to cringe for them

If you mean walk around in the hospital (especially in a cardio/respiratory ward or A&E) with them I think it’s fine because you have to use your stethoscope a lot, and my pockets are never big enough to put my stethoscope in. It’s just handy to have it right there!

However, if you mean walk around with it in their day to day lives, like on the bus and in the street and stuff, then YES I completely agree, it’s so cringe! I don’t get why anyone would do that, it’s basically being like ‘hey look at me I’m a doctor’. It’s awful and completely unnecessary! Luckily I don’t often see people doing that, though. x

[myoneadmission]

At my Uni it’s frowned upon when medical students do this on wards! I know students who have been specifically asked to stop wearing them. We have to carry them in little handbags/ trouser pockets! Is it considered okay in other places? 

[futureimdoc]

It’s sort of a right of passage at my school - you only get to wear your stethoscope around your neck once you are in your final year. We also have to wear lab coats though so no one could confuse us with doctors. 

There is no end to things it gets caught on when it’s at pocket level - banisters, door handles, other people’s stethoscopes in their pockets - it’s actually a huge pain. And I don’t like rolling mine up small enough to fit into a small purse - it’s not good for the tubing. 

I don’t think it’s ‘cringe’ to have it on while you're at work. Just like it’s not ‘cringe’ for any other profession to wear the tools of their profession at work.

[anast0mosing-blog]

They stole my soul, so I stole their scrubs.

On taking scrubs from the hospital (via anast0mosing)