Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
KevinMD

Christopher Cai

  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking
KevinMD

Christopher Cai

  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking
  • About KevinMD | Kevin Pho, MD
  • Be heard on social media’s leading physician voice
  • Contact Kevin
  • Discounted enhanced author page
  • DMCA Policy
  • Establishing, Managing, and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices
  • Group vs. individual disability insurance for doctors: pros and cons
  • KevinMD influencer opportunities
  • Opinion and commentary by KevinMD
  • Physician burnout speakers to keynote your conference
  • Physician Coaching by KevinMD
  • Physician keynote speaker: Kevin Pho, MD
  • Physician Speaking by KevinMD: a boutique speakers bureau
  • Primary care physician in Nashua, NH | Kevin Pho, MD
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recommended services by KevinMD
  • Terms of Use Agreement
  • Thank you for subscribing to KevinMD
  • Thank you for upgrading to the KevinMD enhanced author page
  • The biggest mistake doctors make when purchasing disability insurance
  • The doctor’s guide to disability insurance: short-term vs. long-term
  • The KevinMD ToolKit
  • Upgrade to the KevinMD enhanced author page
  • Why own-occupation disability insurance is a must for doctors

Why premedical education is disconnected from medicine

Christopher Cai
Education
December 22, 2015

Premedical education has become disconnected from medicine. Rather than helping students evaluate whether medicine is right for them or preparing students to enter the discipline, the premedical gauntlet encourages students to blindly discipline themselves according to rigid criteria.

For example, during a recent trip to the pre-health advising office at my university, my advisors presented me with the “A.C.E. checklist.” It includes the three accomplishments every candidate should have before applying …

Read more…

Why premedical education is disconnected from medicine

Want to become a doctor? Don’t be so sure.

Christopher Cai
Education
October 1, 2015

Recently, my friend “Tim” told me that he no longer wished to become a doctor. He had already taken the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and all his premedical course requirements. But a summer shadowing physicians whom he described as  “always unhappy” convinced him to cut his losses.

“I worked hard the last three years,” he explained to me. “But I don’t want to be miserable forever.”

Medicine is a demanding and often …

Read more…

Want to become a doctor? Don’t be so sure.

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Your doctor saved your life but won’t return your call [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why bipolar II is not just a milder version of bipolar I

      Ethan Evans, MD | Conditions
    • Opt-out states and physician-led anesthesia care explained

      Michael Beck, MD | Physician
    • Why artificial intelligence displacement threatens medical specialties

      H. Michael Boulton, MD | Physician
    • How a clinical trial changed the way I see Mother’s Day

      Regina Portnoy | Conditions
    • A family legacy inspiring advocacy in neurodevelopmental care

      Ronald L. Lindsay, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • I Googled my own name and a corporate clinic I’ve never worked at appeared [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Rethinking the role of family physicians vs. specialists

      Ronald L. Lindsay, MD | Physician
    • How corporate health care ruined the medical profession

      Edmond Cabbabe, MD | Physician
    • Clinicians are failing at value-based care because no one taught them the system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A humorous parody of medical specialties and the modern patient

      Sidney J. Winawer, MD | Physician
    • Pharmacy closures threaten our entire public health system

      Timothy Lesaca, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • How a clinical trial changed the way I see Mother’s Day

      Regina Portnoy | Conditions
    • What no one tells you about fertility, from a doctor

      Oluyemisi Famuyiwa, MD | Conditions
    • Why bipolar II is not just a milder version of bipolar I

      Ethan Evans, MD | Conditions
    • Rebuilding patient trust when medical advice is resisted

      Fabrizia Faustinella, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Women physicians’ health is paying the price of medicine

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Clinician burnout demands better health care governance

      Tiffiny Black, DM, MPA, MBA | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Your doctor saved your life but won’t return your call [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why bipolar II is not just a milder version of bipolar I

      Ethan Evans, MD | Conditions
    • Opt-out states and physician-led anesthesia care explained

      Michael Beck, MD | Physician
    • Why artificial intelligence displacement threatens medical specialties

      H. Michael Boulton, MD | Physician
    • How a clinical trial changed the way I see Mother’s Day

      Regina Portnoy | Conditions
    • A family legacy inspiring advocacy in neurodevelopmental care

      Ronald L. Lindsay, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • I Googled my own name and a corporate clinic I’ve never worked at appeared [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Rethinking the role of family physicians vs. specialists

      Ronald L. Lindsay, MD | Physician
    • How corporate health care ruined the medical profession

      Edmond Cabbabe, MD | Physician
    • Clinicians are failing at value-based care because no one taught them the system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A humorous parody of medical specialties and the modern patient

      Sidney J. Winawer, MD | Physician
    • Pharmacy closures threaten our entire public health system

      Timothy Lesaca, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • How a clinical trial changed the way I see Mother’s Day

      Regina Portnoy | Conditions
    • What no one tells you about fertility, from a doctor

      Oluyemisi Famuyiwa, MD | Conditions
    • Why bipolar II is not just a milder version of bipolar I

      Ethan Evans, MD | Conditions
    • Rebuilding patient trust when medical advice is resisted

      Fabrizia Faustinella, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Women physicians’ health is paying the price of medicine

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Clinician burnout demands better health care governance

      Tiffiny Black, DM, MPA, MBA | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today

Copyright © 2026 KevinMD.com | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme

  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group