Lessons & Advice from Popular Med Student Blogger @DoctorOrBust

“I’ve helped friends fill out their Green Card applications; oddly applying for medical school feels reminiscent to that. There are background checks, character references, fees, and passport like photos to submit, tests, and of course interviews. All of this to gain citizenship to the country called medicine.

..It’s amazing how much your interviewers know about you by the time they invite you. I felt some interviewers probably knew me better than most people I’ve known for years.”

What year are you? What was your path to medical school like?

I’m currently a first year medical student. I had a very convoluted path to medical school, but in general it seems I had all the right proverbial “experience” check boxes marked: scores, volunteering, co-principal investigator, ethics (previously, I was an IRB and ACUC member), medical experience, bachelor degree level work experience, and respected people who could vouch for and mentor me. Originally, I had no idea what to do with my life, my first major was actually Mechanical Engineering. Later, a mentor and now friend influenced me, and I became dead set on getting a PhD in the focus of electrophysiology – I thought biophysics was the future for me. So, I was building my application for PhD programs and not medicine. I had a lot of mentors at various points in my life; I think we all do if we just choose to recognize them. I was always bad at appreciating this fact; and eventually I caught on at the right time.

So, I can’t gallantly say the path was one forged by myself, sure I walked it, but they lit the way so I didn’t fall off.

What have you been surprised to learn in medical school so far?

I suppose everyone knows you’ll learn a ton in medical school. But, I think the most surprising thing is the speed at which you will both be introduced to it and will have to learn it.

It’s hard to summarize the other students and the relationships we develop during our training. It quickly becomes apparent that like patient care, a lot of medical school is teamwork and looking out for each other so things don’t fall through the cracks. Prior to medical school, education wise, I’ve always been a lone warrior preferring to study on my (college, MCAT, etc.) own. I used to think it was a measure of my ability; I was just lucky that prideful mistake didn’t hurt me too much. In medical school and medical training, I’m quickly realizing that the greatest resource are others.

What do you wish you knew before beginning medical school?

One of the best periods of medical school is the period between acceptance and before school starts. Once the white coat ceremony is over, and your parents have flown home, real medical school starts. And it is a tough transition; equivalent to some type of boot camp. Though, it gets better and it gets easier as you get pass certain humps in the schedule. In a hard week it’s nice to reflect on the great times you had when you didn’t have so many things due. For myself, it’s a memory of going wine tasting for the weekend in Santa Barbara with my friends or riding my old road bike on long trips. Because medical school requires a lot of time devotion it’s easy to lose yourself and forget the things you enjoy, besides reading about oncogenes, ryanodine receptors and receptor potentials. So, it’s helpful, at least for myself, to look forward to both the things I’m doing now in the present and the hobbies I’d like to maintain later, whether that be reading, writing, sports, travel etc.

If possible, try to maintain doing the things you enjoy while in medical training.

What surprised you about the application process?

I’ve helped friends fill out their Green Card applications; oddly applying for medical school feels reminiscent to that. There are background checks, character references, fees, and passport like photos to submit, tests, and of course interviews. All of this to gain citizenship to the country called medicine. Though I am biased as a medical student, what’s different about the Green Card process is that the process is both efficient and pleasurable.

It’s amazing how much your interviewers know about you by the time they invite you. I felt some interviewers probably knew me better than most people I’ve known for years.

What has been your favorite part of medical school so far?

The patients. In my program we have clinic or hospital hours where we work directly with patients. It’s a good reminder of why you started this process in the first place, and that’s especially good to remember when things aren’t going so well. Also, I think if you can get introduced to patients and the realities of healthcare earlier it’d help prevent some disillusionment we bring into medical school as medical students. Also, not everything is equally clinically relevant in the first couple years of medical school; it’s good to ask residents what’s important or how to use something you just learned. All in all, it’s interesting to be on the other side of the conversation, even if you’re still learning.

Besides the clinical side, gross anatomy and neuroscience (and anatomy) was an unforgettable experience.

In your opinion, what are the three MOST important qualities that one should have if they are going to pursue medicine?

Knowing when to ask for help – this could be educational or personal. This includes being great at saying “I don’t know”, and not taking it as a blow to your ego.
Knowing how to be mindful and present, some might call this learning to be stoic. I guess I think the same thing, but not in a pejorative way.
Be humble and willing to contribute in any way you can, and it really doesn’t matter where you fit on that totem pole. A lot of things you might think as menial are actually part of the physician experiences: grabbing a sexual history off of the patient that you have to track down, or figuring out how to call a pharmacy to verify prescriptions. A lot of things have to happen in the background for things to go well for patients, it’s important to remember this and stay humble as we go through our education and experiences.
What keeps you motivated?

Because of my background I feel very fortunate to be able to go to medical school. When things are hard, I think back on life used to be growing up and how I’d never imagine that now I’m going to be a doctor.

Getting thanked by a patient or making them laugh after they’ve been bawling also helps to keep me motivated about my career choice.

Do you have a specialty in mind?

I’m still working on that. It’s commonly said that most people will change their minds by the time decision time comes around, so I’m keeping my mind open. Right now, I’m just trying different specialties that we’re allowed to sign up for at my program. For the summer I’m committed to a cardiology project, that as my initial “choice”, so I’m going to dive more into it and learn more. On the other hand I’ve been trying to get signed up for neurology patient service. So, I don’t think I’m close to having my mind made up on this.

How do you relax/what helps you ease the stresses of med school?

My classmates. They know what you’re going through because they’re also going through it. You know, stuff like washing someone’s bowel out in the sink or knowing the impending doom an exam block, it is just one of those rare experiences known to a few. Eventually, you get close to each other; it’s similar now to being around cousins.

What is your very best piece of advice for future applicants and medical students?

Stay grounded; call your mom when you can, take care of your health, and don’t forget the people who supported you e.g. your mentors and friends.
You’ll miss stuff: weddings, birthdays, and sometimes funerals. If you couldn’t get excused or take leave it doesn’t make you a horrible person. Make your best effort, but it’s best to get used to the sacrifices you need to make in your profession selection, like being late to dinner plans with friends because the patient in room 5 took a lot longer than you all expected. Set realistic expectations for yourself and with others as far as time.
If you’re accepted into medical school it’s because the school believes you will both finish and make a stellar physician. It’s easy to lose confidence in yourself, sometimes it’s important to remember that you were chosen to do this.
Remember that the end point of medical school isn’t for you to be an excellent medical student, but for you to be ready as possible for the new things you’ll need to learn and do later as an intern and resident.
Remember your Hippocratic oath; it helps to remember that the process of medical education is for the patient – all things for the patient while maintaining your health.

Thanks to our guest blogger @doctororbust! Follow him on twitter and read his blog here!

What’s your best medical school advice? We love to hear from students like @doctororbust, share your tips or questions below.