Category: Medical school

Let’s rethink letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation help open gates to university admissions, jobs, and scholarships. Now that more colleges are ditching SAT/ACT requirements and medical schools are grading pass/fail, these letters will likely rise in importance. As a decision-…

The transformative power of volunteering at the science fair

“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 be…

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

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 eac…

Breaking barriers in health care: the power of cultural competency training [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join us for an insightful podcast episode as we delve into the significance of cultural competency training for physicians in providing health care for LGBTQ+ individuals. Our guest, Michae…

Unveiling the true origin of “first, do no harm” in medicine: Discover the father of clinical medicine

A recent essay on this blog, “Navigating the complexity of ‘first do no harm’ in modern medicine,” provided an excellent review of this principle. However, as is so often the case, it misattributed the statement to the Hippocrat…

Pursuing undergrad research without misrepresenting your career path

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. Someti…

The pros and cons of taking a gap year during medical school

This article is sponsored by Med School Insiders is the premier resource for future doctors, home to the world’s largest YouTube channel for premed and medical students. Taking a gap year during medical school provides you with an opportunity to …

The controversial oaths of American doctors: Prioritizing ethics over patients?

May is the month most American medical students finally see four years of grueling work bear fruit. Most U.S. medical schools hold commencement exercises in May, conferring “doctor of medicine” degrees in elaborate ceremonies. During these …

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

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 pre…

Love in medical education: Why it’s vital to nurturing empathy and compassion [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, we sit down with Stevan Walkowski, an osteopathic physician, to discuss the impact of technology on medicine and medical education. With the recent news of artificial intel…