Words I Want to Avoid as a Physician: Focal

Medical jargon drives me crazy sometimes. It makes sense to use with other health professionals who will know what you’re talking about. It facilitates communication in certain situations. With patients though, it seems to just get you in trouble, or make you look like a fool.
A focal neurologic deficit as I understand [...]

Mountains Beyond Mountains: What Paul Farmer Teaches Us About Passion

“I’m going to build my own f—ing hospital. And there will be none of that there, thank you.”
Dr Paul Farmer can get testy at times. He helped raise money to get blood bank equipment at a rural hospital in Haiti. He was pissed when he found out the hospital was going to charge patients [...]

My First Deposit to Medical School

I just put down my first deposit for medical school. $1000 to hold my place at my top choice so far.
One thing I didn’t realize about osteopathic medical schools is that they have early and expensive deposits. They want deposits 2-3 weeks after you are accepted.
This was tough to do, but I didn’t [...]

Summer Medical And Dental Education Program: Awesome Opportunity

Apply for the Summer Medical And Dental Education Program, a great opportunity for pre med and pre dental students. For all the details check out the site here.
Here is a brief overview:
-The program is a free (tuition, room and board included) 6 week educational experience for those interested in medicine or dentistry. This includes some [...]

Pre Med Resources

This is the best list of relevant websites, articles and blogs regarding the pre med journey that you will find on the internet. Bookmark this. I’ll be updating the list as I find more useful info.
Pre Med Basics

Pre-requisites for Medical Schools. These are the undergraduate classes you need to take to apply to most medical [...]

Accepted!… and exhausted

I will be going to medical school.
It feels great to type that. I recently heard back from my first interview and was granted an acceptance. I was also accepted at my second interview.
All the hard work, the long hours studying in undergrad, the revisions of the personal statement, the tedious application process and the nerve [...]

Adventures in Medical School Interviews

My first interview was last week. It was everything an interview day should be: fun, informative, boring, nerve-wracking, awkward, stressful and relieving. I hope you all get to have this enlightening experience.
Biggest take home lesson?
The interview is as much about the school evaluating the candidate as it is about the candidate evaluating the school. [...]

My First Interview Request

Well, it has started. I received my first interview request this week. I got another phone call yesterday for my second interview request.
Whew.
It’s nice to know that my applications are complete and schools are reviewing them. It’s better to know that they like what they see and they want to know more.
I’m excited and anxious. [...]

MCAT 2010 Registration is OPEN

If you’re on top of things and want to register for the MCAT now’s the time.
Click here to register for the 2010 MCAT. 
I personally chose to take the MCAT in January and it worked well. I had no stress deciding whether to apply to schools or not waiting for my score. Read more about my [...]

Great ER Quotes

What follows is a number of quotes heard while working in the ER that I have found entertaining/thought-provoking. Enjoy!

“You don’t even understand graham crackers.”- Psych patient. No, I don’t.

“They just need to go home and be sick at home,” exasperated physician in the pediatric ER.
“I shot a guys genitals off for raping my sister.” Eesh.
“No [...]