As a child, I was always reading. As is the case for many people, I lost my literary passion in high school and college as my time was taken up by extracurriculars and doomscrolling on my phone. One thing I have thoroughly enjoyed about my gap years between graduation from college and matriculation into medical school is reconnecting with reading. I have read a wide variety of books, but below …
My book reviews for premed students
A few years ago, my college-age sons utilized the Common App for college applications. It’s a logical and brilliant concept: one online application that students can use to apply to multiple colleges and universities at once. And it’s accepted by thousands of colleges and universities worldwide. I remember thinking, “Why aren’t we doing this for nurse practitioner (NP) programs?” It seemed like a great solution, so I decided to research it.
Anyone …
How a standardized agreement could end the preceptor shortage
The fourth-year medical student “Megan” urgently wanted to meet with me. She just returned from an away rotation in pathology in mid-August and wanted to talk. She was not her usual confident self, appearing distracted and pale. She shared that she had thoroughly enjoyed her rotation and had found it stimulating and the faculty inspiring. One of her …
How one medical student’s life-changing conversation reshaped her career
Introduction
In the book Ender’s Game, humans face a time-dilation war in which they must travel light-years into the future to face an enemy of unknown strength and scale. The weapons and technology they possess for the journey may be outdated by their arrival, because relativity minimizes the passage of time. The same dilemma is true for medical and premedical students who can spend decades in training, only to emerge without …
It’s not a normal job, folks: How 3 elemental forces of reality shape the profession of medicine
Attending academic conferences as a medical student offers a wealth of opportunities. Whether it’s networking, finding potential mentors, deepening your knowledge of specialties, or simply exploring new cities, conferences provide unique experiences that can significantly shape your career. As a medical student, I had the chance to attend both regional and national vascular surgery conferences through travel scholarships, and I want to share the lessons I learned in the hope …
In medical school, we are taught that the well-being of the patient is our highest priority. This principle is central to our training, constantly reinforced through lectures, simulations, and clinical experiences. However, this notion was challenged in an unexpected way when I found myself caring for an incarcerated patient.
The start of the interaction was unsettling. As I approached the patient’s room, I hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Should I …
To care or not to care: reflections on treating incarcerated patients
Many students only learn basic health facts, like how to put a condom on a banana or that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. But when it comes to making real-life health decisions, this scarce knowledge just doesn’t cut it. Shockingly, only 12 percent of American adults have proficient health literacy skills. This gap becomes especially clear in college, where young adults face new independence and make crucial …
The health crisis no one’s talking about: Why teens need better health education
Neurosurgery is an exhilarating and rewarding field that combines cutting-edge technology with the intricate art of surgical precision. Yet, despite its allure, many medical students feel intimidated or uncertain about pursuing this path. As a fourth-year medical student applying to neurosurgery, I have noticed several barriers that could be addressed to make the field more accessible and inclusive for future generations.
One of the primary obstacles is the lack of early …
How can we make neurosurgery more accessible to future generations?
The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on every aspect of health care, including neurosurgery. As a fourth-year medical student navigating my neurosurgical rotations during this unprecedented time, I experienced firsthand how the pandemic reshaped our approach to medical education, patient care, and surgical practice. This period has been transformative, challenging my understanding of neurosurgery and reinforcing the need for adaptability and resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Before …
How COVID-19 shaped my view on neurosurgery: a medical student’s insight
Teaching is a blast! As an attending, I love to employ offbeat methods, with absurdity and humor, at times skirting the edge of political incorrectness, all for the purpose of enhancing one’s medical education.
Educating medical students and residents by practicing physicians is a tried-and-true element of medical education, a practice dating back through the ages, where those without formal education in the art of teaching provided instruction. This tradition continues …
The surprising power of laughter and creativity in medical training
Failure is a word that carries a heavy burden, particularly in the field of neurosurgery, where precision is paramount and the stakes are often life and death. As a 4th-year medical student preparing to enter this demanding specialty, I have come to realize that failure is not something to be feared, but rather an essential part of the learning process. During my rotations, I have witnessed and experienced firsthand how …
Redefining failure in neurosurgery: a student’s perspective on growth and learning
A medical school classmate recently said to me, “You won’t be remembered for your failures.” Her words were exactly what I needed to hear after failing my medical school licensing exam. She was right—I am more than my failures. I have failed, but I am not a failure. There is a difference. Failing is something that happens to you. Failure is what can define you, but only if you allow …
Failure is not the end: Creating space for grace in the medical field
As a fourth-year medical student on the cusp of entering neurosurgery, I am constantly amazed by the innovations revolutionizing this field. These advances promise not only to transform the practice of neurosurgery but also to redefine the training and skill set required for the next generation of neurosurgeons. From virtual reality (VR) for surgical planning to novel minimally invasive techniques and the emergence of personalized medicine, these cutting-edge technologies hold …
Neurosurgical innovations that could define my generation of surgeons
Neurosurgery has always been at the forefront of medical innovation, but recent technological advancements are poised to transform the field even further. As a fourth-year medical student applying to neurosurgery residency, I’ve been fascinated by how emerging technologies are reshaping the landscape of neurosurgery. From artificial intelligence and robotics to augmented reality and minimally invasive techniques, these innovations promise to enhance surgical precision, improve patient outcomes, and expand the possibilities …
How neurosurgery is evolving with technology: a student’s perspective on the future of the field
Neurosurgery is a rapidly evolving field, with continuous advancements in technologies and techniques. For aspiring neurosurgeons, involvement in research is key to enhancing residency applications and contributing to the field’s progress. Here are some practical tips for students aiming to contribute to neurosurgery research:
1. Find a mentor who matches your research interests. Identifying the right mentor is key to starting your research journey. Look for faculty members who are active …
How medical students can contribute to neurosurgery research: tips for getting started
Recently, Bloomberg published an article titled “The Miseducation of America’s Nurse Practitioners” by Caleb Melby, Polly Mosendz, and Noah Buhayar, which brings to the public’s attention the dismal state of education for APRNs. I would like to share my own story and that of several other APRNs who attended my APRN program. This story will demonstrate many of the disturbing facts about the educational system designed to train APRNs.
I …
Nurse practitioner reveals startling flaws in APRN education: Is patient safety at risk?
I attended a workshop on developing equitable health information materials, emphasizing that people are more responsive to data when individuals of similar complexion and/or features are represented. This concept originated in education, where research indicated that youth learned better from teachers with similar characteristics, and it was subsequently extended to health care. However, universal application is unrealistic, as Black children will not always have Black teachers, and patients of color …
Why representation alone won’t solve health care equity issues
As a fourth-year medical student applying to neurosurgery residency, my rotation in neurosurgery has been one of the most intense and rewarding experiences of my medical education. The days are long, the cases complex, and the learning curve steep, but every day reaffirms my passion for the specialty. Here is a glimpse into a typical day on my neurosurgery rotation—a day that starts before the sun rises and is filled …
A day in the life of a medical student on a neurosurgery rotation
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in resident unionization across the country, driven largely by the grueling working conditions many residents face. While the most pressing issues are pay and burnout, one contributing cause is the long hours of training that contribute to resident sleep deprivation – a serious threat to resident health and patient safety. Despite duty hour restrictions imposed by the Accreditation Council for …
The cost of exhaustion: Resident fatigue is a public health emergency
Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York City mayor, has once again demonstrated his commitment to equality and social justice. Through his Bloomberg Philanthropies, he announced a monumental $600 million donation to four historically Black medical schools in the United States. This follows his Greenwood Initiative’s $100 million gift in September 2020, aimed at reducing student debt for these institutions.
Other major donors have also made significant contributions to HBCUs. MacKenzie …
Michael Bloomberg’s $600 million donation to Black medical schools sparks major change
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