Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
We welcome back internal medicine physician Vijay Rajput. Two years ago, he shared his insights on the KevinMD article, “Top 10 things new interns should do.” Today, he returns to discuss updates on …
Why kindness is the missing link in medical education [PODCAST]
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 The weapons and technology they possess for the journey may be outdated by their arrival, because relativity minimizes the passage of time.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 …
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?
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Join us for an episode featuring Lynn McComas, a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students. We’ll discuss the critical importance of hands-on training in medical education and the …
How lack of hands-on experience could endanger patient safety [PODCAST]
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
The student I worked with quietly said, “Dr. Reinking, I think you multiplied wrong.” My shoulders tensed slightly, and my stomach dropped. We had just spent the better part of an hour working through a feeding and fluid plan with a patient’s family. The child had recently undergone open heart surgery. Feeding intolerance is relatively common after surgery and in children with congenital heart disease. Fluid management is also important …
The power of emotional intelligence: a personal story and lessons for physicians
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 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
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
We sit down with Ben Reinking, a board-certified pediatric cardiologist, medical educator, and certified physician development coach, to explore the challenges and rewards of medical training. We dive into themes of delayed gratification, …
How delayed gratification in medical school can make or break your career [PODCAST]
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
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
In this episode, we sit down with J.C. Sue, a practicing board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Tune Rx, a medical music study resource. J.C. shares her unique journey of turning complex …
How this doctor turned music into a secret weapon for medical students [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
We sit down with Christina Stach, a medical student who shares her powerful journey of navigating the financial hardships of medical education. Christina’s story sheds light on the unique challenges faced by first-generation, …
Living out of a car to pursue a dream: the true price of becoming a doctor [PODCAST]
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
Every DO has the quote, “Mind, Body, Spirit,” ingrained in their minds. These words resonate when we step on campus, open a lecture, and discuss osteopathic medicine. These tenets are the foundation for osteopathic medicine when working with patients. While I always understood what that meant, it was only during my psychiatry rotations that I fully grasped the importance of focusing on holistic care and the mind, body, and spirit.
In …
A medical student’s perspective: Using my osteopathic training in the field of psychiatry
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
We sit down with Ellie Qian, a medical student, to discuss the profound experiences that shape the journey of becoming a compassionate health care professional. Ellie shares a transformative encounter from her first …
A medical student’s transformative encounter with end-of-life care [PODCAST]
Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.
