Medical education

2,303 articles · Since 2007

Articles, page 95

Should medical schools find a way to fail gunners?

March 28, 2013Mar 28, 201319

In the satirical novel The House of God, author Samuel Shem writes about experiences as a medical student at Harvard. In the novel, many famous quotations are used that have been passed on from generation after generation of medical students…

In the satirical novel The House of God, author Samuel Shem writes about experiences as a medical student at Harvard. In the novel, many famous quotations are used that have been passed on from generation after generation of medical students and residents. Some slang terminology is also referenced and characters are created to illustrate the qualities of certain types of students.

One particular student that is found in every medical school …

The physician’s role in cost containment is absent during training

Brian Powers

March 26, 2013Mar 26, 201325

After graduating from college I had the opportunity to spend two years working at the Institute of Medicine on a variety of health care improvement topics. When it came time to apply to medical school I noticed an odd dissonance—the challenges I had been grappling with at the IOM were not manifest in most medical school curricula. I knew that multidisciplinary teams …

3 business skills doctors need to know

Brian J. Secemsky, MD

March 22, 2013Mar 22, 20134

Prior to entering the medical field, my preconceived notion of what makes a good doctor essentially compromised of compassion, intelligence, and the ability to think fast on ones feet. Although I continue to believe that these professional qualities are paramount to excellent patient care, I am finding that other, less obvious proficiencies are also required. Ironically, these skills that I have in …

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3 business skills doctors need to know

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The role of medical research in developing countries

Wilson Castillo Tandazo

March 17, 2013Mar 17, 20132

As a medical student, I am in direct contact with the past, present and future of science. Sometimes, for instance, I read books concerning the history of medicine that bring me back to how diseases were diagnosed and treated a…

It’s amazing to see how medical science has progressed since then. It’s only been a hundred years. We have gone from the discovery …

Can group visits be an ideal way to practice primary care?

Joshua St. Louis

March 16, 2013Mar 16, 20136

After a long day on the internal medicine ward at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, I rushed across town to lead that evening’s two-hour group diabetes visit at Union Square Family Health Center in Somerville, MA. So when my preceptor asked…

Although we had discussed taking our Brazilian patients …

How to avoid becoming a gunner in medical school

Wayfaring MD

March 15, 2013Mar 15, 201313

gunner: a pre-med or medical student who is ambitious to a fault. They often throw other students under the bus, put their accomplishments and grades on display, and generally make life miserable for any student who they perceive to be…

gunner: a pre-med or medical student who is ambitious to a fault. They often throw other students under the bus, put their accomplishments and grades on display, and generally make life miserable for any student who they perceive to be a threat to their own success. In short, they are what Hermione would be if she was a Slytherin.

On my blog, I am fairly vocal about my disdain for gunners. They …

When it comes to medical residents, patients have a choice

Shirie Leng, MD

March 8, 2013Mar 8, 20136

A resident is a person who has an MD, meaning they have completed 4 years of school, but they are not yet qualified to actually do anything. An MD is just a piece of paper saying you did your time…

A resident is a person who has an MD, meaning they have completed 4 years of school, but they are not yet qualified to actually do anything. An MD is just a piece of paper saying you did your time in the lecture hall/lab. Residency is where you learn how to be a doctor. The term “resident” originates from the old days in which newly-minted doctors were actually living at …

Is physician shadowing harmful for patients?

Elizabeth Kitsis, MD

March 6, 2013Mar 6, 201342

I was startled to learn, when interviewing medical school applicants, that tagging along with a physician, or “shadowing,” is a common practice among high school and college students these days. Yes, I did say students as young as high schoolers.…

Shadowing provides a way for students to observe at first hand what it is like to be a physician, and helps them decide whether the career will suit them. Medical school …

Learning about costs: A gross failure in medical education

James C. Salwitz, MD

March 5, 2013Mar 5, 20134

Of the 2.7 trillion dollars that will be spent on health care in these United States in 2012, more than $600 billion will be wasted. Excess testing and procedures, inflated charges, archaic business models, futile end-of-life care and exploding drug costs are some of many reasons. Predicted 25 years ago this crisis has been the focus of extensive academic analysis. It is reasonable to assume that with the primary goal …

We hide behind vague words for fear of not living up to specific ones

Shara Yurkiewicz

March 4, 2013Mar 4, 20136

“Your hands feel like velvet,” the 94-year-old woman told me as I pushed on her abdomen in the emergency department on a Friday night. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all day,” I told her. “That’s pretty sad,”…

“Your hands feel like velvet,” the 94-year-old woman told me as I pushed on her abdomen in the emergency department on a Friday night.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all day,” I told her.

“That’s pretty sad,” she said, and her abdomen quivered as she suppressed a laugh.

I walked out of the curtained room and briefly presented her findings to the resident on call. In return, he showed me …

Is the doctor of medicine degree vulnerable?

Jaan Sidorov, MD

March 3, 2013Mar 3, 201314

I remember when one of my patients with coronary artery disease suggested that he be given a course of an antibiotic to lower his future risk of a heart attack. The patient quoted literature that pointed to a possible infectious link to atherosclerosis. He also was aware of the theory that aspirin’s benefit had less to do with blood thinning than reducing underlying inflammation.

Fast forward to …

Medical students need to learn to be patients

Anonymous

March 3, 2013Mar 3, 20133

Growing up, I rarely had a steady primary care physician. Every school-physical, immunization, sports injury, and sore throat was addressed with care and diligence at a family clinic affiliated with a major suburban hospital. I opted to visit the clinic…

I opted to visit the clinic a few weeks ago for a minor concern but as I drove-in, I was attuned to the fact that the clinic I visit—my clinic—is a teaching site.

Before entering medical school I …

5 reasons why you shouldn’t go into medical school

Brian J. Secemsky, MD

March 2, 2013Mar 2, 201312

The gall, you might think to yourself as you click on this link in disgust. Before you write that brutal retort which I may/may not deserve, some simple disclaimers before we tackle this subject: This is not a ruthless attempt…

The gall, you might think to yourself as you click on this link in disgust.

Before you write that brutal retort which I may/may not deserve, some simple disclaimers before we tackle this subject:

This is not a ruthless attempt to crush your dreams and passions
This is not an op-ed on our current healthcare system
This is targeted towards individuals who are considering medical school in order to practice clinical medicine
This is being

…

What draws me to primary care: Building relationships

Diana Wohler

February 24, 2013Feb 24, 2013

No one knew just how long Freddy had been homeless nor what circumstances had brought him to the doorstep of the Baltimore Rescue Mission shelter. As far as Dr. Dalton – our physician supervisor – and his students knew, Freddy had been there forever. Residents of the shelter were required to help out, sweeping floors or cooking for the other residents. Freddy always volunteered for clinic duty and was charged …

Medical education: Reform the investment of tuition and time

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

February 21, 2013Feb 21, 20132

When I was in medical school in the 1990s, students were given a bleak picture of the life of a subspecialist. We were told that there would be few job opportunities and that the only way to ensure a job was to pursue a career in primary care. Many of my classmates did go into primary care but the majority of us accepted residency positions in surgery, neurosurgery and other …

Academic promotion criteria should include social media

Wes Fisher, MD

February 19, 2013Feb 19, 2013

"Doctor, could we have a copy of your most recent CV." "Sure," I said, realizing it hadn't been updated recently. It is interesting how I approach my academic pursuits now. It used to be that it was "publish or perish"…

“Doctor, could we have a copy of your most recent CV.”

“Sure,” I said, realizing it hadn’t been updated recently.

It is interesting how I approach my academic pursuits now. It used to be that it was “publish or perish” in the world of academic medicine. Of course, even now the only “publishing” that counts to the academic world is that of conventional peer-reviewed journals with high impact factors (or grant applications that …

The deaf medical student: Why technical standards need updating

Josh Butler

February 16, 2013Feb 16, 20134

A technical standard is a formal document establishing requirements in several aspects of medical care which all physicians-in-training candidates must possess. Most medical schools require that all candidates meet these requirements in order to receive their doctor of medicine (MD) degree. Some schools require students to sign that document when applying to a program or as a condition to matriculate into medical school.

I took a closer look at different technical …

Part of medical education is to learn limitations

Neil Baum, MD

February 16, 2013Feb 16, 2013

There is a strong relationship comparing sports to the military, business, and also to medicine. Young athletes, in their late teens and early 20s, are mostly brawn and use their strength and speed to achieve success early in their professional careers. As the athlete matures in their late 20s and early 30s, the physiologic processes slowly decrease and efficiency and maturity and other cerebral skills emerge.

There are 2 rainbow arcs …

Questions to ask when selecting medical interns

Brian J. Secemsky, MD

February 15, 2013Feb 15, 2013

Spring season is still many months away, but residency programs are in early heat as selection committees across the country buckle down to nominate the next batch of interns for the upcoming academic year. Spread across these institutions' tables one…

Spread across these institutions’ tables one may find headshots, board scores, recommendations and interviewer comments of top candidates interested in training at their respective programs. Often, faculty members of esteemed medical centers will have only a few …

Medical students: Be sure to thank your patients

Reflex Hammer

February 14, 2013Feb 14, 20136

When listening with a stethoscope to a patient's heart, one sometimes hears a deviation from the typical "lub-dub" rhythm. Sometimes the "dub" is too loud, or the "lub" too soft. There might be a rubbing sound, or a harsh blowing…

When listening with a stethoscope to a patient’s heart, one sometimes hears a deviation from the typical “lub-dub” rhythm. Sometimes the “dub” is too loud, or the “lub” too soft. There might be a rubbing sound, or a harsh blowing sound. By interpreting subtle characteristics such as the location, pitch, and timing of these sounds, one can sometimes diagnose things like a diseased heart valve or congestive heart failure. …

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Articles, page 95

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