It’s fascinating — the strange clarity that a little panic brings. I remember thinking this in the days after, startled at the level of detail in my memories of the first time I watched a patient die. “Just got a call, transport’s bringing in a code. Y…
Category: Education
When you’re a physician, you’re a detective
A professor recently romanticized my idea of clinical reasoning as he began our session by saying, “When you’re a physician, you’re a detective.” He elaborated: “Every fact you have, every piece of evidence you have, must …
Why this medical student chose to pursue medicine
Pain and suffering together is a universal language. It is unspoken, one that a person of any age feels when they see a loved one die, or when someone sees another human being suffer when nothing more medically can be done. I once saw a Vietnam War vet…
These medical students signed up for rural medicine. What happened to them?
The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Salina opened in 2011 — a one-building campus in the heart of wheat country dedicated to producing the rural doctors the country needs. Now, eight years later, the school’s first graduates are settling into t…
Overspecialization in medical education: Is it hindering physician growth and stifling innovation?
In the recent book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein makes a strong argument for exploring or sampling different interests and jobs before settling on a career of choice, a process that leads to “match quality,” whic…
Are duty hour restrictions are preparing trainees for the real-world medicine?
Duty hours have been the focus of a lot of research recently. If you are just joining this discussion, the iCOMPARE trial randomized 63 internal medicine residency programs to either flexible (interns could work more than 16 hours) or standard (interns…
Are duty hour restrictions are preparing trainees for the real-world medicine?
Duty hours have been the focus of a lot of research recently. If you are just joining this discussion, the iCOMPARE trial randomized 63 internal medicine residency programs to either flexible (interns could work more than 16 hours) or standard (interns…
Made mistakes? How to spin them for your medical school applications.
Despite more than a dozen years in medical school admissions consulting, I still clearly recall a bright advisee who had improved her grades considerably throughout her college career. But I, unfortunately, had a less than stellar freshman transcript. …
A parent shares health care lessons with my son as he begins medical school
Dear Alex, As you realize your destiny, I want to share the lessons I have learned in my 45 years on the front lines of health care. I am hoping they will serve you well on your journey. First and foremost, love what you do. Have fun with the people wh…
Getting into medical school: Q&A with an admissions officer
Whether you’re hoping to become the first doctor in your family or you hail from a long line of physicians, navigating the path to medical school can be a daunting experience that takes years of preparation. Providing a peek inside the mind of an admis…
