Quick read to bring you up to speed on "Dr. Flea"

Some of you may have had the opportunity to watch the documentary that was posted to this blog a short while ago. The documentary, titled "The Vanishing Oath" contained a particular interview with an anonymous doc. Any who are interested in medicine should read his pertinent story..

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/05/31/blogger_unmasked_court_case_upended/

Enjoy.

PJ Rat

Checky Chest Challenge (C3)

Flat bench 80% of your body weight (if you weigh 170 lb use 135) for time:

-16 reps followed immediately by 16 push-ups
-14 reps, 14 push-ups
-12 reps, 12 push-ups
-10 reps, 10 push-ups
-8 reps, 8 push-ups
-6 reps, 6 push-ups
-4 reps, 4 push-ups
-2 reps, 2 push-ups

Note: Begin on the bench and start pressing the bar. If you need to rest between your bench reps you can do so but you must remain lying flat on the bench with the bar racked. As soon as you complete the bench reps you must transition directly to the leaning rest position (push-up position) and begin push-ups. NO RESTING in between bench press and push-ups. If you need to rest during push-ups you can do so but you must remain in the official push-up position. NO knees on floor.

The PRO version of this workout is 20 reps to 2 reps

Send your times in the comment section. Time to beat 4:13 by PJ JS!

Question: Recommended Board Exam Books while in medical school?

I know all our schools are going to have different required and recommended text books for all of our subjects. However, any input on review books for the STEP exams would be greatly appreciated. Also, do you recommend reviewing these board review books while in the didactic portion of medical school? Reason I'm asking is because I'm a M1 and I won't be taking my step for about 22 months from now.

PJ GS

//BREAK//

PJ Checky said the following:

- First and foremost, make sure you prioritize the core notes to your school lectures and all reading assignments assigned by your professors.

- In addition, be sure to prioritize First Aid Step 1 from the first day of school. Continually reference it and compare and contrast what it says with what you are learning in lecture. DO NOT BLOW THIS OFF, if you do you will regret it come time to study for step 1.

- I suggest that you purchase a year subscription to a Q bank such as USMLE World or Kaplan and use it during your second year. Every week you should be doing questions and referencing First Aid to contrast what the Q-bank teaches you with what First Aid says. This will ensure that you will be prepared for the Step 1. Remember that the things you learn in lecture will not always be those things that you need to know for the Step 1. Your performance on class exams is certainly important but don’t forget that the step exams are what separate you from other medical students around the country.

- Almost forgot a must have book, Robins path. Make sure you have this and study it. I highly suggest that you get the review book that goes with it and use it religiously. This will also ensure your success on the step 1.

- Additional books such as BRS, Goljans, Costanza physiology, clinical microbiology, and case files are all good books but make sure you don’t go book crazy. You will have more than enough material to read and buying too many books wont help you. You will just have a pile of books that you never have time to read.

- I suggest that you prioritize those class specific books and the others that I mentioned. If you need additional resources then dig into BRS ect.

PJ Checky

//BREAK//

PJ Golf Sierra said the following:

Do you know if there are major differences between the annual installments of the First Aid Step 1 book? I see 2011 and 2012 versions.

I know there is a BRS for each subject, which ones did you end up using?

Did you find the same organizational methods that worked for you in pre med worked in medical school? I usually kept a binder for each subject and tabbed it out with lecture notes, book notes, problem solving, case studies, lab reports, etc. Your thought?

Which online Q bank did you like the best?

PJ GS

//BREAK//

PJ Checky said the following:

By the time you begin actual "official" step 1 study you will want to get the latest version of first aid. An older version will work fine for your first year though. The problem is that you would have to wait until the January of your second year to get the latest version, so just get what they have and begin now.

It is dependent on the individual as to which BRS you should get. I think I used psych, physio, neuro, and micro, but I only used them as adjuncts. Never had time to actually read through all of them.

Absolutely no way you can use your same study/organizational methods that you used in pre med. There is just too much info to get through and not enough time to do anything else but study. It usually takes 4-5 months of your first year before you can figure out a new study method in med school. You will see what I mean soon. If you spend time tabbing, organizing and reviewing things to the point of mastery you will quickly be way behind the class. You eventually have to get used to the fact that you can never know all that you want to or need to know about a lecture. You basically have to read, learn, study to get the main points and move on to the next lecture and do the same. A lot of info.

PJ Checky

Additional Scholarship Opportunities for Medical/PA/Nursing School

Some of you will have exhausted your Chapter 33 GI Bill before starting your professional school and paying for medical school is challenging. If your GI Bill is exhausted, in addition to applying for The Tillman Scholarship, you can apply for these other great scholarships for veterans. As I find other sources for you guys behind me, I will put them up on this blog. Please give me feedback and let me know if this information is of use to you.

PJ GS

The following is from my Veteran's listserv:

"The passage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill has improved the ability of many veterans to financially achieve their academic goals. However, this legislation and the other federal veteran education benefits still leave gaps in some veterans' programs. As such, Student Veterans of America has instituted three different scholarships to help assist some veterans with unmet financial needs:

Note: This will re-direct your browser so right click and select "open in a new tab".

SVA Chapter Leader Scholarship

SVA Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

SVA STEM Scholarship


SVA has allocated up to $10,000 for each scholarship for the calendar year 2012, to be disbursed based on financial need and SVA's discretion. The three scholarships each have their own focus and individual criteria, explained below and in the SVA Scholarships Guide. Student veterans wishing to compete for one of these scholarships must provide all the required documentation by the advertised due date to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.

Hopefully, these efforts will assist some of the student veterans who have fallen through the cracks and are financially unable to complete their academic goals."

If you have any questions please contact scholarships@studentveterans.org.

Blog Question

To whom it may concern,

I am a rising senior in college majoring in biology/pre-medical studies. I am in the process of applying to medical school and taking my mcats. I have a great respect for the military and have often thought about a medical career in the military. My question concerns becoming a USAF pararescue. Have you heard of anyone that was accepted to medical school and then chose to enter the military for 4 years and after their contract finished went to medical school? I have visited the USAF link on the pararesuce operators, but would love to learn more information. Thank you for all the sacrafices you have made.

Very respectfully,

CS

CS,

Thank you for contacting the Pararescue Doctors Association. I believe your question was "Have you heard of anyone that was accepted to medical school and then chose to enter the military for 4 years and after their contract finished went to medical school?"

I have heard of applicants who were accepted and subsequently requested a delayed start (for extraordinary conditions), however, I've never heard of someone getting in and putting off medical school for an entire enlistment. Think of it from a schools point of view - would you save a highly desired/competative seat for somebody who preferred to be a Pararescueman rather than a medical student? Moreover, would you save a seat for someone that may indeed never return? Most schools are going to want you to fully commit or return at a later point in time when you can. As for your potentially saved seat, you'd probably have to ask the specific school you are applying to. I'm sure by now you've discovered that each school handles their operations a little different.

If you're having second thoughts about being a physician and are interested in becoming a PJ (or other armed forces soldier), you may want to reconsider applying to medical school. Each career requires 100% of your heart and mind and any uncertainties will be exposed during either path. Do some more reading, researching, and soul searching and then go after one with everything you have. You're already on the right track asking questions and being proactive. I hope this helps in some way.

RC