Category: Education

Medical school admissions: an issue of socioeconomic diversity

For thousands of individuals every year, receiving an acceptance letter from a U.S. medical school is a monumental occasion. The culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. It is an acknowledgment of academic prowess and ability. This is an indica…

The diversity-performance trade-off in academic medicine

The Federal Aviation Administration’s “What We Do” webpage describes the FAA’s primary purpose: “We’re responsible for the safety of civil aviation … We issue and enforce regulations and minimum standards … [and] cer…

Operating room etiquette: tips for pre-med students

“You know how to scrub, right?” The short story is no, I did not yet know how to scrub. As a premedical student, the operating room is different from anywhere else I have been. Just as with any new environment—whether it’s a friend&#8…

Modernize medical education or face failure

In 1950, newly trained physicians may have gone the entire lengths of their careers without experiencing a doubling in medical knowledge. In 2011, Densen predicted that medical knowledge would have a doubling time of approximately 73 days – or 0.2 year…

Is it ever too late to attend medical school? A nontraditional student shares her thoughts.

In a world where the path to medical school is often depicted as a one-size-fits-all journey, my story is a testament to the fact that there is no cookie-cutter method for current or prospective doctors. I am now a third-year osteopathic medical studen…

Generation Z and implications for medical education

Many Baby Boomers have been quick to point out that 2024 is not 1968. When students occupied buildings at Columbia University 56 years ago, at least their objectives were clear – to put an end to the Vietnam War. Do students today who have camped out a…

Honoring humanity: lessons from a medical encounter

At the heart of medicine lies humanity. This narrative documents a personal story where I felt deeply connected to this principle as a first-year medical student. I felt nervous and unsure as I was about to practice medical interviewing with a standard…

Supporting migrant adolescents

There is a public health crisis in America right now among the migrant population.  Chicago is dealing with a measles outbreak. Many parts of America are similarly affected, according to the CDC Measles Dashboard. Health care for migrant children and a…

Tips and tricks for presenting research at a medical conference as a premed

Last summer, I had the incredible opportunity to present a case report as a poster at the Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium. As a premed student, this was exciting but also quite intimidating. This meeting is a large national medical conference w…

Navigating post-match disappointment: What to do if you did not match

Over the last few weeks, I’ve spoken to applicants who did not match in the 2024 NRMP match. They are just a few of the thousands of highly qualified students and physicians who did not match this cycle. This is a wrenching experience, and it can…