Education

Navigating mental health challenges in medical education

Education
August 12, 2023

Medical education is a rigorous journey that demands dedication, resilience, and compassion. However, as medical students, we often find ourselves navigating through the pressures of this journey while silently grappling with our mental health. By sharing personal experiences and insights, I aim to initiate a candid conversation about mental health and advocate for positive changes within the medical community.

The weight of the white coat

The iconic white coat symbolizes not only …

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Programs that recruit and retain Black and Latinx students in health care fields are essential to address racial health disparities

Education
August 10, 2023

“We need more doctors who look like us.”

I led a small group discussion with high school students enrolled in the Medical Careers Education and Emergency Preparedness (MedCEEP) ‘s Summer Pipeline Program. Our task was to brainstorm solutions to address a critical health disparity, and our group was assigned the topic of “Maternal Health.” The students, all young Black and Latina women from the Southside of Chicago, unanimously agreed that increasing …

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How doctors prioritize family and career with “physician third”

Education
August 5, 2023

As I reflect on the concept of work-life “balance,” I realize that trying to integrate clinical and home responsibilities may feel like a juggling act while unicycling on a high wire. Instead, what we need is work-life “stability”; the reassuring feeling that we are firmly planted on solid ground. To achieve this, it is crucial to be three-dimensional, with three meaningful passions supporting our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

No one …

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Creating an inclusive medical culture

Education
August 3, 2023

“We want you all to do better,” said the presenter to the medical students, as if only the next generation can enact change … the next time around. This session is one of many aimed at making the culture of medicine more inclusive and collaborative—less hierarchical and less patriarchal.

Medicine has a longstanding history of hazing those lower on the totem pole with scut work and authority. Unfortunately, this breeds the …

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Orthopedists’ role in gender diverse athletes’ care

Education
August 1, 2023

Ask Alex what cuddly toy they slept with as a child, and you’ll discover that it was a soccer ball – real, not plush. This was by choice; they assure me. We sit at a small corner table in a local coffee shop in Ann Arbor, MI. With exposed brick walls, mix-and-match seating, and the latest pride flag in the window, it’s no wonder that two queer millennials choose this …

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Is it time to shorten medical education in the U.S.?

Education
July 30, 2023

Shortening U.S. medical education can significantly improve U.S. population health. As patients and stakeholders of U.S. health care, we are at crisis levels. There are not enough primary care doctors for the U.S. population — a basic human need for health and safety — which creates inequities. Peer-reviewed medical literature and mainstream media both document the highest burnout rates are in primary care and ER doctors, especially since the pandemic, …

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Female physician burnout and its impact on patient care

Education
July 26, 2023

Although many systemic factors universally contribute to both burnout in both male and female physicians, female physicians also tend to experience burnout at disproportionately high rates versus their male counterparts. Burnout, also known as a state of as a “state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion,” continues to grow despite being a recognized problem for decades. Burnout is a critical public health risk which not only affects …

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The surprising impact of medical students on patients

Education
July 25, 2023

There are a few clinical scenarios that stand out to me from my undergraduate medical education. I completed a combined MD/MPH program, and I remember coming back from the year of public health, inserted between years two and three of medical school, feeling rusty and often in the way. One conversation I’ll always remember is one I overheard between an attending on my family medicine rotation (my first rotation of …

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Coaching medical students: a game-changer for the profession

Education
July 21, 2023

Medical school is a wild ride, filled with anticipation and unforgettable experiences. From the excitement of the first day of orientation to the white coat ceremony and meeting new people, every moment is etched in your memory. Endless hours of lectures followed by late nights of studying at home, the thrill of dissecting for the first time, and the camaraderie of study groups and problem-based learning create a unique atmosphere. …

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My experience with repeating a year of medical school

Education
July 18, 2023

On a hot and humid July afternoon, the white coat ceremony for the class of 2025 at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine was in full swing. As I walked onstage, slipped into my brand-new white coat, and accepted the coveted “medical student” title I had spent years working for, I thought about why I was embarking on this journey: my family of Vietnam War refugees, my brother who has …

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Residency match system and flexibility: the hidden factors behind burnout

Education
July 15, 2023

ERAS is now open, and medical students all over are compiling their applications to match into residency. As someone who is in a field they desired to pursue while in college but took a circuitous route there (four years as a generalist in the Air Force, practicing after completing an internship), I cannot help but wonder if some of our residency match systems is a contributing factor to burnout.

Many studies …

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The transformative power of volunteering at the science fair

Education
June 27, 2023

“Thank you so much for taking the time today and judging,” yet another person said as they approached me, smiling or shaking my hand.

“You are welcome,” I said, smiling. It was my pleasure—my genuine internal pleasure.

I have been volunteering for schools and children’s education for many years.

As I agreed yet again to be a judge, I thought I was helping them: schools, students, the school district… It turned out that, …

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More than skin deep: the importance of culturally competent care in medical education

Education
June 26, 2023

The very first patient I met in the rheumatology clinic at SUNY Downstate heard I was applying to medical school and pulled me close to her, saying, “I want you to feel the swelling in my hands.” She took great care to ensure I palpated each joint and appreciated the warmth, erythema, and “boggy” feeling imparted by the inflammation. She explained her medical history and was very specific with her …

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A touching tale of hope and uncertainty in the hospital

Education
June 26, 2023

Indeterminate. That’s the word we use when we’re unsure whether a patient will be able to survive without mechanical ventilation. We can’t say for certain that they have a good prognosis, but we can’t say they have a bad one either. A chaplain once said that those teetering between life and death can sense two things: sounds and smells. They also shared a story about a patient who woke up …

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Pursuing undergrad research without misrepresenting your career path

Education
June 10, 2023


Reprinted with permission from Getting In: The Essential Guide to Finding a STEMM Undergrad Research Experience, Second Edition, published by The University of Chicago Press. © 2015, 2023 by Paris Grey and David Oppenheimer. All rights reserved.

Sometimes students disqualify themselves from participating in undergrad research because they believe (or someone …

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Master the ABIM Certification exam with effective strategies: insider tips for success

Education
June 5, 2023

The ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine) Certification exam is not always about the assessment of your knowledge but also about knowing the right strategies, which are keys to success. I passed the ABIM Board Certification Exam without any review course. I had to sign up to work as an attending physician on July 1st due to my financial and visa limitations.

In this article, I will discuss effective preparation methods …

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Breaking the silence: the truth about mental health challenges among medical students and why medical schools must take action

Education
May 16, 2023

Medical school can be a challenging and demanding experience, and it’s no secret that many medical students struggle with mental health challenges as a result. In fact, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA, the prevalence of depression, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among medical students is higher than in the general population. Despite this concerning trend, mental health support for medical students has often been lacking …

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Breaking the stigma: Encouraging mental health help-seeking in medical trainees

Education
May 8, 2023

I won’t judge you for asking for help because that is how I hope you treat me.

It took me five years to accept the fact that I needed help. As I pursued athletic endeavors at the highest level in high school and college, my mind developed a twisted, compulsive mindset towards eating to control my life, navigate my cultural heritage, and succeed in my sport. For those five years, I …

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I’m not so different from Lionel Messi – and neither are you

Education
April 12, 2023

In the United States, 16,783,000 viewers watched the 2022 World Cup final. That number doesn’t include me, who inconspicuously watched the match over the shoulder of a stranger sitting one row ahead of me on a flight — a traveler who had the means to purchase the plane’s Wi-Fi while I, a student surviving on loans, do not. So, let’s set the record straight and revise the number of viewers …

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6 ways ChatGPT can help you succeed in medical school

Education
April 12, 2023

Medical school can be a daunting journey for many aspiring physicians. As I look back now at the beginning of my 4th year, this has certainly been the case for me. With an overwhelming amount of information to learn and retain, students often find themselves struggling to keep up with the pace of the curriculum. Although somewhat mitigated by USMLE Step 1 transitioning to pass/fail, students are also pressured to …

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