A few years ago, my college-age sons utilized the Common App for college applications. It’s a logical and brilliant concept: one online application that students can use to apply to multiple colleges and universities at once. And it’s accep…
Category: Education
How a standardized agreement could end the preceptor shortage
A few years ago, my college-age sons utilized the Common App for college applications. It’s a logical and brilliant concept: one online application that students can use to apply to multiple colleges and universities at once. And it’s accep…
How one medical student’s life-changing conversation reshaped her career
The fourth-year medical student “Megan” urgently wanted to meet with me. She just returned from an away rotation in pathology in mid-August and wanted to talk. She was not her usual confident self, appearing distracted and pale. She shared …
It’s not a normal job, folks: How 3 elemental forces of reality shape the profession of medicine
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 The weapons and technology they possess for the journey may be outdated b…
Insights gained by attending vascular surgery conferences as a medical student: tips and lessons learned
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 experien…
To care or not to care: reflections on treating incarcerated patients
In medical school, we are taught that the well-being of the patient is our highest priority. This principle is central to our training, constantly reinforced through lectures, simulations, and clinical experiences. However, this notion was challenged i…
The health crisis no one’s talking about: Why teens need better health education
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. Shockingl…
How can we make neurosurgery more accessible to future generations?
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-y…
How COVID-19 shaped my view on neurosurgery: a medical student’s insight
The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on every aspect of health care, including neurosurgery. As a fourth-year medical student navigating my neurosurgical rotations during this unprecedented time, I experienced firsthand how the pandemic res…
The surprising power of laughter and creativity in medical training
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 resi…
