Advice for MD/PhD student

[Gfunk6]

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Hi everyone, I'm about to re-enter 3rd year of med school after a 4 year hiatus doing my PhD. I've decided to go the trial by fire route and start with the Internal Medicine clerkship.

I have done quite a bit of reviewing, but I am now concerned on focusing on especially relevant areas. For those 3rd and 4th years who have completed their Medicine clerkships, what topics would you suggest I focus on? Keep in mind that I took Step I in 2000.

Thanks for your help!

 

[the citizen]

Well since no one else is answering, I'll give it a shot. That you have done "quite a bit" of reviewing means you have done a lot more than most MD/PhDs I know. That being said, make sure you remember how to do a good, complete history and physical. The important material you learned years ago will come back quickly once you are on the wards seeing patients.

If you are entering with the rising 3rd year students, then I think you will have nothing to worry about. Entering in the middle of 3rd year is hard as the other students know what they are doing while the MD/PhD is lost for a while.

If you must start your rotation before you actually start, learn to diagnose and treat the following: MI/angina, community acquired pneumonia, CHF, asthma/COPD exacerbation, DKA, hypertensive crisis, DVT/PE, sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, anemia, DDx chest pain.

Good luck.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

See how it goes and read up on patients and diseases you encounter on the wards.

 

[Gfunk6]

Thanks for the info guys! I will be entering 3rd year with the rest of the class and my first clerkship is Internal Medicine (trial by fire).

 

[Leforte]

I was a bit stressed out when I returned to the wards after my PhD, too. I found that it all came back very quickly - I used my Maxwell Pocket guide for a reminder of H&P stuff, I photocoped an axtensive 1-page ROS from a physical exam textbook (swartz) for more indepth stuff and was not afraid to ask fellow med-students and residents for help. You'll pick up the little Mnemonics (ADC VAN DIEML for orders, CHIEF PRN Gi for A/P, etc) and that seemed to help not forget things.

Just relax and try not to be the uptight 3rd year med student.

for the most part, MD/PhDers do well in the wards - a lot is really self-confidence, maturity, independence and an ability to ask appropriate questions at appropriate times. The same traits that one hopefully developed during the PhD.

Best of luck.