May 2011
24 posts
9 tags
things that med school ruins.
Number one: any medical-based television show.
In hospital, elevators aren’t actually magical places where you find yourself stranded with your hush-hush lover. Staircases are not the hallways of deep and meaningful conversations. Your seniors, no matter how attractive you are, will not enjoy your romantic inclinations. Surgeons do not form empathetic relationships with their patients, and...
6 tags
the many faces of med students: the highlighter...
Her lecture notes are enough to induce an epileptic fit, they’re that colourful. And every single word on the page is highlighted—in three colours, no less. Instead of a pen, she carries around her favourite highlighter attached proudly to her ID badge. Her love affair with the adorable doesn’t cease with raindow-adorned papers, though—her list contains smiley faces next to...
4 tags
theme hospital. →
Why study medicine when you’re qualified to run a hospital and to cure fictional dieases?
6 tags
the many faces of med students: the proactive one....
Ward rounds are over, and you’re studying in the common room (read: surfing YouTube and watching parodies that aren’t really contributing to your studies at all). Do you know who isn’t in the common room? The proactive one. They’re off clerking patients, cannulating patients, catheterising patients, or, if nothing else, they’re actually studying (most likely in the...
6 tags
patients tell amazing stories.
Next time you’re on the wards and you want something to do, go talk to a patient. No, don’t take a history or perform an examination, actually talk to them.
They will tell you everything you need to know about being a good doctor. Learn from the mistakes that other doctors have made with them. Ask them what they want from health care.
For some people, all they want is to be heard.
Anonymous asked: do you think it's easy to balance a family and a career as a doctor/surgeon? Or do you think it's easier to choose?
5 tags
the number one rule of med school.
Never be rude to anyone. It’s okay not to like someone, but a good attitude and a simple “good morning” in the common room goes a long way.
Remember: the people you meet in hospital now will be your colleagues in ten years’ time. Respect that.
6 tags
patients are people, too.
“Never forget that patients are real people and not just part of your job”
Advice received from a cardio patient.
Anonymous asked: I'm thinking about pursuing medicine as a career, but I'm worried that I'm not smart enough to be accepted. I'm currently in Australia too, and have heard and read that to get into med school straight out of high school, you need to have received an OP 1. Is this true? And if so, without having an OP1, would you have to enter med school as a postgraduate?
Thanks...
Thanks...
April 2011
67 posts
Anonymous asked: not med related, but just out of complete curiosity, are you male or female?
Anonymous asked: I'm writing the MCAT in early August, which gives me threeish months to study. I don't really know where to start. I have a pile of MCAT books and all my class notes (which for the most part I don't really remember). Have any advice?
Anonymous asked: Is it common for med students to have periods of intense doubt as to whether they're even in the right course?
student4life asked: What is the curriculum like in Australia? Do you go in right after high school or after college (or university, don't know what Australians call it).
4 tags
thank you.
For everyone that left me a note regarding my clinical exam, thank you all so much. It meant the world to know that I had your support.
And for the record, it didn’t go too badly. I have work to do, but it wasn’t so bad that I made the clinical dean quit her job out of pure disappointment which, sadly enough, was my biggest fear on the day.
Answers to messages and general...
5 tags
only in med school.
Only in med school can having great veins be a compliment.
Example:
“Do you like Student Y?”
“He has amazing veins…”
anatomy is not a turn-on.
No matter how drunk you are, the words “Oh, my helix! My anti-helix! My tragus! My nuchal line!” will never be erotic.
Anonymous asked: Hi, this might be a bit sensitive but I get the sense that you want to specialize in Pysch because you suffered from some psych problems in past? I'm in recovery from eating disorders and depression and I want to get in med school and become a psychiatrist and help any other girls who are suffering. Do you think its a good idea? Thank you. And I love your blog )
cyanide-poisoning asked: I kinda agree with you saying that dermatology as the specialty the commands the least respect. But since I am coming from my dermatology rotation, I began to learn that it is just as hard as any other specialty. I never get the dermatology physical examination right. The histories I took during my derma rotation is full of erasures, corrections from my residents. I just couldn't get the...
5 tags
first clinical exam.
First clinical exam in thirteen hours. I may or may not be having a panic attack right now.
Oh med school, how you are turning me into a neurotic, perfectionistic slave to the books.
