The Short Coat (Audio): An Inside Look at Getting Into and Getting Through Medical School

We've been bandying about the topic of professionalism recently, and perhaps we're not the only ones.  Kaci McCleary, Alison Pletch, and Eugene Velednitsky caught an episode of the Inside Stories podcast which featured a medical student who is in trouble with his med school's administration for what he might characterize as his activism and honesty (but which his administration might characterize as his propensity to express his opinions unprofessionally).  Consider listening to Joji's story before you listen to our show (link below), but given our recent focus on the topic, we decided to chime in on Joji's disillusionment.

We've been bandying about the topic of professionalism recently, and perhaps we're not the only ones.  Kaci McCleary, Alison Pletch, and Eugene Velednitsky caught an episode of the Inside Stories podcast which featured a medical student who is in trouble with his med school's administration for what he might characterize as his activism and honesty (but which his administration might characterize as his propensity to express his opinions unprofessionally).  Consider listening to Joji's story before you listen to our show (link below), but given our recent focus on the topic, we decided to chime in on Joji's disillusionment.

This time, Mark Toral, John Pienta, Kaci McCleary and Nick Sparr discuss Medical Student Performance Evaluations and Dave's problem: if you're looking for it to be a recommendation, that's not going to happen; but the good news is that when you start your clinical rotations, you are already starting to write your own MSPE through the comments you get, so we discuss how to get good comments and how to learn from the formative ones. We debate Mt. Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine ongoing program that guarantees admission to college sophomores who have good grades and are humanities majors, no MCAT required. And Nick describes one of his medschool interviews in which he laid out his plans for an end-of-the-world harem.

This time, Mark Toral, John Pienta, Kaci McCleary and Nick Sparr discuss Medical Student Performance Evaluations and Dave's problem: if you're looking for it to be a recommendation, that's not going to happen; but the good news is that when you start your clinical rotations, you are already starting to write your own MSPE through the comments you get, so we discuss how to get good comments and how to learn from the formative ones. We debate Mt. Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine ongoing program that guarantees admission to college sophomores who have good grades and are humanities majors, no MCAT required. And Nick describes one of his medschool interviews in which he laid out his plans for an end-of-the-world harem.

Melissa Palma met former transplant surgeon Hani Elkadi in the clinic, and when they got to talking  she realized she couldn't keep him to herself. Kaci McCleary, John Pienta, and Nick Sparr join her for a discussion of his youth in the middle east, the choices (or lack thereof) that led him along the winding road of life.   Dr. Elkadi discusses the role of technology and how it's changed medicine both for the better and the worse, shares stories from his medical training, the role of volunteering in medical training, and the trap specialists sometimes fall into when trying to treat patients.

Melissa Palma met former transplant surgeon Hani Elkadi in the clinic, and when they got to talking  she realized she couldn't keep him to herself. Kaci McCleary, John Pienta, and Nick Sparr join her for a discussion of his youth in the middle east, the choices (or lack thereof) that led him along the winding road of life.   Dr. Elkadi discusses the role of technology and how it's changed medicine both for the better and the worse, shares stories from his medical training, the role of volunteering in medical training, and the trap specialists sometimes fall into when trying to treat patients.

This time, Lisa Wehr, Aline Sandouk, Keenan Laraway, and John Pienta have a wide ranging discussion on evaluations and med school's fascination with data (and how poorly written evaluations lead to poor data); weather social media's emotional content is a true reflection of reality; and Dave's desire to have the opportunity to decide for himself that having a lot of money will not make him happy. And as Keenan's time in medical school draws to a close, and he has nothing to lose, he decides to get something off his chest--are students who are disagreeable really deserve to be tarred with the "unprofessional" brush?

This time, Lisa Wehr, Aline Sandouk, Keenan Laraway, and John Pienta have a wide ranging discussion on evaluations and med school's fascination with data (and how poorly written evaluations lead to poor data); weather social media's emotional content is a true reflection of reality; and Dave's desire to have the opportunity to decide for himself that having a lot of money will not make him happy. And as Keenan's time in medical school draws to a close, and he has nothing to lose, he decides to get something off his chest--are students who are disagreeable really deserve to be tarred with the "unprofessional" brush?

Melissa Palma wanted to find out more about the professors students love (and curse) so dearly, so she started a new series we're calling The Secret Lives of CCOM Professors with a student favorite, Peter Rubenstein, PhD.

Ruby, as he is known (but don't tell him, he doesn't know), has been at the Carver College of Medicine teaching biochemistry for a long time, and has seen a few different curricula come and go.  But it's his passion for teaching and his accessibility to the students that makes him a favorite.  That and his penchant for putting biochemistry to music.

Melissa Palma wanted to find out more about the professors students love (and curse) so dearly, so she started a new series we're calling The Secret Lives of CCOM Professors with a student favorite, Peter Rubenstein, PhD.

Ruby, as he is known (but don't tell him, he doesn't know), has been at the Carver College of Medicine teaching biochemistry for a long time, and has seen a few different curricula come and go.  But it's his passion for teaching and his accessibility to the students that makes him a favorite.  That and his penchant for putting biochemistry to music.