Talking U and Med Student Life

“I’m excited to be in a hospital with people that I love working with, everyone’s been so supportive in my fourth year rotations.”During her Second Look Day visit at UUSOM, Chesy’s interest was sparked in a new and upcoming program called EPAC (Education in Pediatrics Across the Continuum), sponsored by the #AAMC. We discuss what the program is, how the competency based training is different from timed training, and what applying to the program entails. Finally, we talk about how her fourth year has been different compared to her classmates as an EPAC participant, and what the new year brings as she begins her Intern Residency year after graduating from medical school early.

“I spent my time doing things that mattered to me, and in the end, I think that’s really what admissions committees want. They want to know you when you’re applying; they want to see who you are.”As Elynn prepared to apply for medical school, she didn’t take the typical pre-med route by getting involved in a premed club, but rather did things that were important to her that reflected who she was as a person. We talk about the three items she found helpful in her application journey, as well as how being involved in athletics not only assisted her goal in becoming a physician, but gave her insight when working with patients. Finally, we talk about her interest in Family Medicine and how her third year rotations have strengthened that desire, and the benefit of training in a rural area verses a higher patient population location.

“I knew that third year was going to be demanding and I have a personal life outside of medical school which is also demanding.  I decided that I didn’t want to be miserable for an entire year, so I was just going to pick a few things on every rotation that I enjoyed about it and be hyper focused on those things so that I could be happy and try to convince myself that I loved what I was doing, and it’s worked so far.”While it is healthy to have a goal or focus about what you may want to do, third year rotations present opportunities to learn things you may have never considered.  Travis and I discuss what the students see as the most difficult rotation, and some tips on how to make it through long hospital days.  We talk about how third year experiences may impact decisions, and finally, what is “psy-cation”?

“If you focus so much on doing the things that you think you need to do, you’re going to lose touch with who you are and what makes you unique and interesting.” As a Pre Health Professions Advisor, Liz is often asked what major is the “best” to get into medical school.  We talk about the concept of “Parallel Planning” and creating a professional development pathway, as well as the biggest mistake made by students planning a career in healthcare. Finally, we discuss the premed club at #uidaho and student involvement within the community of Moscow, Idaho.

“When you get the questions wrong, I actually learn the most from them because I will never get that question wrong again.”While on 3rd year rotations or clinical rounds, “pimping” is something many medical students fear.  We discuss what exactly pimping is and how it helps one to learn and grow, as well as how involved a third year medical student is in the operating room (OR) during a surgery rotation.  Finally, Pete talks about his preparation for the Step 1 exam, offering some tips that helped him study and prepare, as well as his collegiate baseball career.