Category: Residency

How medicine’s demanding training took my sleep away

I, like many of my peers in medicine, am a terrible sleeper. And it’s no wonder, after all. I spent the better part of my twenties and thirties training my brain not to give in to sleep when I needed it. Then, in the rare hours I did sleep, I was…

Improving medical specialty selection with pre-training examinations

Considering that the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) primarily evaluates candidates’ general medical knowledge, there is a growing need to introduce specialty-specific pre-training examinations (PTEs). This is because the USML…

Authenticity and bias in recommendation letters [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Heather Furnas, an adjunct clinical associate professor at Stanford and an aesthetic surgeon, joins us as we delve into the intricate world of recommendation letters, biases in evaluations,…

Disparities in DO vs. MD applicants to subspecialties: Identifying challenges and bridging the gap

In recent years, the disparities between doctor of osteopathy (DO) and doctor of medicine (MD) applicants in securing coveted residency slots across various medical subspecialties have garnered increased attention. Despite the acceptance of DO-trained …

Physician burnout and the Kentucky Derby: a shocking parallel [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! We discuss the striking similarities between the Kentucky Derby and the challenges of medical training. Our guest, Corinne Sundar Rao, an internal medicine physician, shares valuable insigh…

The transitional year: a must-have preliminary for GME

The debate surrounding graduate medical education (GME) revolves around whether one should dedicate themselves to their current residency or focus on future fellowship opportunities. This confusion becomes more pronounced after completing fellowship pr…

Improving the financial struggles of resident physicians [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Kelley Butler, a family medicine resident and member of the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU, as we delve into the financial struggles faced by health care workers, focusing on …

The invaluable role of residents in transforming health care

The query surrounding graduate medical education (GME) programs and their faculty revolves around whether they truly recognize the value of residents. Assessing their value can be subjective as well as objective. Here are some questions that programs, …

Stepping into the unknown: reflections of an intern on July 1st

I remember it like it was yesterday. Orientation had concluded, and it was showtime. Officially July 1st. It felt like all the cramming from the last few weeks was sitting astutely in my upper chest. My breathing was fairly shallow, and my brain was in…

Academic hazing culture killed Dr. Nakita Mortimer

“Say her name,” “She didn’t deserve this,” and “The system failed you” were the sentiments expressed on social media by resident physicians and trainees in medicine on the death of Dr. Nakita Mortimer, an advoc…