Thriving in Third Year

Image credit: Pexels

Author: David Fine, Medical Student Council President
Originally published: Common Sense  September/October 2019


The beginning of the year brings new residents and medical students to the floors. A question that all new learners have on their minds is, “How can I succeed?” Personally, I can’t speak to the resident experience, but any medical student knows that there is not just a single way to do well. Over the course of the year you will be challenged with new concepts, different practicing styles, and inconsistent expectations. There is not just a single method that will be successful in your unique training environments, but I believe that there are a few key pieces of advice that will help you thrive and adapt throughout the year.

Top Ten Things I Have Learned Along the Interview Trail

Author: Chris Ryba, MS4
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President

As my interview season comes to a close and Match Day now awaits on the horizon, I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to list the top ten things I have learned along the interview trail:

1. The Interview Trail is TIRING
Long days, long travel times across the country, early morning starts, and the constant goal of always trying to look your best during months of interviews can take a major toll on the body.

My advice: Rest up and keep a good sleep schedule, maintain a healthy lifestyle, pack meals for road trips, and take advantage of hotel perks.

Making the Most of Third Year

Image Credit: Flickr

Author: Mary Calderone, MS3
AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President '13-'14

Originally published: Common Sense January/February 2013

Aside from intern year, the third year of medical school is traditionally considered one of the most formative experiences in a physician’s life. Suddenly, we’re propelled from passively sitting in a lecture hall to thinking on our feet. Our thought process now has the potential to impact how we care for a patient, rather than just how we answer an exam question. Just as we impact the lives of patients, patients also impact us in powerful ways. We begin to make decisions about the future of our medical careers, ruling out certain specialties and exploring others further. As we navigate these new challenges, we gain an increasingly keen sense of self-awareness. Our strengths and weaknesses stare us straight in the eyes, whether we realize them through self-reflection, hear about them from one of our senior colleagues, or experience some combination of the two. We start to contemplate our life goals and our requirements for happiness and well-being. By the time we’re fourth years, we’re expected to have decided upon an area of medicine after a whirlwind of speed-dating with different specialties.

While many students enter medical school with some idea as to their future specialty, studies have shown that the majority of students change their minds. I entered my M1 year with a passion for emergency medicine that has only continued to grow as I’ve gained more clinical experience. Entering medical school with relative confidence in the area of medicine you wish to practice has its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, you can direct your efforts toward a concrete goal. You can lay the foundation for pursuing a career in a given area of medicine early in your training. You can participate in activities and opportunities that prepare you well. You can find the right mentors. On the other hand, you may fail to consider all of the exciting possibilities for your career, thereby prematurely closing your mind to an area of medicine that you might otherwise have loved. Your bias toward one specialty may cloud your judgment of whether or not you actually fit well into its culture. You may even disregard the importance of a clerkship because you think it won’t ultimately be relevant to the type of medicine you plan to practice, thereby cheating yourself of a fulfilling and valuable experience.

7 Tips for Selecting Your EM Audition (Away) Rotations

Image Credit: Flickr

Author: Michael Wilk, MSIV
President, AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council '15-'16

1. Apply for Your Rotations Early
Keep in mind some programs open their applications as soon as January. Check VSAS and EM programs’ websites for more information on when their applications open. Given the current popularity of EM, audition rotations are as competitive as ever. In fact, one program I applied to actually informed me that they had over 250 students apply for the six spots per month that they offer. In this case, the early bird gets the worm.

2. Location, Location, Location
Interested in matching in highly competitive areas such as California, New York City, or somewhere near your family? Rotating in those cities of interest, or at least in the general region, will increase your chances of receiving an interview at other programs in the area. However, keep in mind they can be very expensive and stressful, as you have to live in another city and may be living out of a suitcase for an entire month.

3. Academic vs. Community vs. County
The patient populations and experiences at different programs vary greatly. While still in medical school, it may be hard to know in what type of program you want to spend the next few years of your life. Rotating through at least two different types of programs (i.e., community and academic) can help you decide that before application season. If you are really interested in research and teaching, an academic program may be the best route for you.

Top 10 Ways to Ace the Interview

Image Credit: Flickr

Author: Melanie Pollack, OMSIV
Vice President, AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council '15-'16

Congratulations, emergency medicine students! You've selected your away rotations, succeeded at them, and now you're interviewing! Here are 10 ways to shine during interview season. Good luck!

1. Scheduling
Prime interview time will be November through January, so try to plan your rotations so you will have available slots. An important matter to keep in mind is geography. Try to make your life easier by lumping regions around the same time so you can save some money. Another important tip is to not schedule your top program first. Get a few under your belt so you are comfortable when you arrive at a desired program. If you have to cancel an interview, make sure there is a reasonable amount of time so the program can fill the spot. The biggest no-no would be to no show. Emergency medicine is a small world and people talk. Do not cancel the night before or no show. Just don’t do it.

2. To be Early is to be On Time. To be On Time is to be Late. To be Late is Unacceptable.
First things first, be on time. Plain and simple. Plan ahead, map out the path to take and notice possible delays. If you are late, make sure to call the programs contact and explain what happened.

3. Dress Appropriately
Especially as emergency medicine professionals, dressing in a suit and tie can be hard. You are interviewing for a job and must dress accordingly. Men, a suit and tie is easy and appropriate. For women, a nice pant or skirt suit is acceptable. For both, keep it simple with black or blue suits and a nice white or neutral colored shirt. Do not wear extravagant jewelry. Try to avoid strong perfume or cologne.

7 Tips for Succeeding on Your Emergency Medicine Away Rotations

Source: Flickr

Author: Dan Holt, MS4
Midwest Regional Representative 2014-2015
AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council 

Away rotations provide great learning experiences and opportunities for growth as a medical student. Performing well on these rotations is extremely important for those of us looking to match into an emergency medicine residency. Below are seven tips for success from top medical students around the country who have already completed their rotations. There is no secret formula to guarantee honors in any rotation, however this is great place to start.

1. Introduce Yourself
As medical students, we are dependent on the skills, knowledge and expertise of all of the staff members in the emergency department. This includes nurses, techs, and the custodial staff. People will be more willing to help you out if they know you from the start, so the earlier in your shift that you get your name out there the better. Let others know you are a medical student and that you are willing to help with anything (and I mean anything).

2. Determine Expectations
Every attending and senior resident has different expectations for each medical student. They will expect different presenting styles, involvement in procedures, and responsibilities in note writing, etc. It’s best to figure out what your team wants from you as early in the shift as possible.

3. Communicate
Whether it’s specifically written or implied, a huge part of the evaluation process is communication. Attendings and residents are busy people. They may not always have the time or remember to keep you informed about changes in patient care plans. Make sure that you are checking in regularly and relay any new information to the rest of the team (nurses, techs, etc.) and most importantly to your patients. Communication is also a two-way street. If anything changes with your patients, make sure that you let your residents and attendings know in a timely manner. This lets them know that you are on top of things and that you are striving to be an integral part of the patient care team.

Rules of the Road: Ch 16 Summary: "Planning Ahead for Success in Your Third and Fourth Years"

Originally Published: AAEM's Rules of the Road for Medical Students, First Ed. Chief Editors: A. Antoine Kazzi, MD FAAEM MAAEM; Joel M. Schofer, MD RDMS FAAEM
Chapter Summary by: Adrian Tripp, MSIII

Thinking about which specialty to select can bring about feelings of uncertainty and uneasiness in every medical student. It is an important decision that should be made with an open mind, honest self-evaluation, and after thorough investigation. Fortunately, if you have already decided on emergency medicine (EM), or have at least narrowed down your list of possibilities to include EM, AAEM's Rules of the Road for Medical Students can help you prepare for a successful match.

Planning a Student Symposium

Author: Bill Burns
Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University 

The following details the experience of the 2012 AAEM Midwest Medical Student Symposium

planning team. The 2012 event was the 6th Midwest Symposium held at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and we owe a debt to all those student leaders who preceded us and whose great work, in developing strong relationships with the

Helpful Document: Shock & Vasopressors - A Quick Review

Author: Alexander A. Simakov, MPH FP-C MSIV, Medical Student Council, International Ex Officio Representative

Things were much simpler back in the Roman days. When one was stabbed by a sword he/she bled and died of “cold” — or hypovolemic — shock. If the person got lucky and was only wounded by the dirty blade, they probably died of “warm” — or septic — shock. Today our knowledge has advanced well past “cold” and “warm,” and leaves us with at least 10 types of shock commonly encountered in the emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) (Table 1). Each represents a constellation of physiologic effects that require a tailored approach to management. Cardiovascular support with the assistance of vasopressors is a common method, while identification and treatment of the underlying disease process remains the ultimate goal.¹

Rules of the Road: Ch 7 Summary: "The Residency Application Process - Visits and Interviews"

Originally Published: AAEM's Rules of the Road for Medical Students, First Ed. Chief Editors: A. Antoine Kazzi, MD FAAEM MAAEM; Joel M. Schofer, MD RDMS FAAEM
Chapter Summary by: Kari Gorder, Medical Student Council, Regional Representatives - Northeast

Choosing a residency program is one of the most significant decisions a medical student will make. While the match experience can induce a considerable amount of anxiety, it is also an exciting and memorable time. With the right amount of research and preparation, applicants can navigate the process with skill and success—and hopefully the least amount of stress possible! This chapter briefly outlines the steps of interviewing for an EM residency.

Rules of the Road: Ch. 19 Summary: "The Clinical Years - Research & Scholarly Projects"

Originally Published: AAEM's Rules of the Road for Medical Students, First Ed. Chief Editors: A. Antoine Kazzi, MD FAAEM MAAEM; Joel M. Schofer, MD RDMS FAAEM
Chapter Summary by: Faith Quenzer, Vice President, Medical Student Council 

      ●     Should you do research or other forms of scholarly projects in medical school?

             ○       Depends on your interests

             ○       Formal research and publication of a manuscript is highly regarded as the most valuable form of academic involvement and skill

            ○       Research projects can be presented at conferences

    

Medical Student Council President’s Message Spotlight On Leaders in Emergency Medicine: Tom Scaletta, MD FAAEM

Tom Scaletta, MD FAAEM

Originally Published: Common Sense, November/December 2012
Original Author: Mary Calderone, MS3
AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President

The “Spotlight On” Series re-started by Dr. Leana S. Wen, AAEM/RSA President, will be continued this year by Mary Calderone, AAEM/RSA medical student council president. The “Spotlight On” Series features interviews with leaders in emergency medicine. The seventh installment is a conversation with a leader in EM and AAEM: Dr. Tom Scaletta. Dr. Scaletta is chair and medical director for Edward Hospital ED in Naperville, IL, and served as AAEM’s president from 2006-2008.


MC: What is your current position, and how did you get to it?
Dr. Scaletta: My first job was at San Francisco General (a county hospital/trauma center). We were a division of surgery and without our own EM residency program. I did work with many brilliant UCSF

Medical Student Council President’s Message Spotlight On Leaders in Emergency Medicine: Gus Garmel, MD FAAEM

Gus Garmel, MD FAAEM

Originally Published: Common Sense, September/October 2012
Original Author: Mary Calderone, MS3
AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President

The “Spotlight On” series re-started by Dr. Leana S. Wen, AAEM/RSA president, will be continued this year by Mary Calderone, AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President. The “Spotlight On” series highlights interviews with leaders in emergency medicine about their experiences, perspectives, and insights. The sixth installment is a conversation with a leader in EM and AAEM, Dr. Gus Garmel. Dr. Garmel is Co-Program Director of the Stanford/Kaiser EM residency program, Medical Student Clerkship Director (Surg 313D, Stanford University School of Medicine), and senior emergency physician at Kaiser Santa Clara. Dr. Garmel has received numerous teaching awards, including both the Peter Rosen Award from AAEM and the Program Director of the Year Award from AAEM/RSA.

Medical Student Council President's Message: Simple Solutions: Medication Reconciliation

Originally Published: Common Sense, November/December 2008
Original Author: Greg Casey, AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President

An elderly man sat on the edge of his stretcher, attempting to describe his abdominal pain. He did not even need to speak. Vomiting after a few minutes, I realized that this stoic individual was truly sick. As I thought through a differential, I continued to ask questions. His answers were short, but his wife helped him. When I asked about medications, he was unable to recall any of the therapies his physicians had prescribed. His wife dug through her super-sized pocketbook but was unable to help. When we decided to admit the patient with the working diagnosis of intussusception, I talked to the patient and his wife about the importance of maintaining a list of their medications.

Medical Student Council President's Message: Teachable Moments

Originally Published: Common Sense, March/April 2008
Original Author: Michael Ybarra, AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council President

As medical students, we spend four years of our lives being the lowest people on the totem pole, constantly trying to improve our level of knowledge, impress our supervisors and jump over what seems like an endless array of hurdles. What sometimes gets lost in the mix of medical education is the power that we, as students, can have in affecting our patients’ lives. We may not know exactly the best way to treat and manage their condition, but we have the ability to intervene in their lives in other ways that are equally important.