Ask the resident (previously ask the 4th year)

[Elevencents]

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Does PCOM restrict what electives you can do 4th year? Like only 3 in one specialty, or can you do every single rotation in one specialty?

Thanks guys!

 

[Path hall]

Does PCOM restrict what electives you can do 4th year? Like only 3 in one specialty, or can you do every single rotation in one specialty?

Thanks guys!

There are no restrictions. You could do 6 months of orthopedics if you want.

 

[NontradCA]

No, not yet. I'm learning new stuff everyday and seeing cases I only read about in medical school. Eventually, in like 10 years, I'm sure everything will become pretty mundane and it will be like any other job.

The learning curve is pretty steep. I went from small community hospitals (200-500 beds) to a 1500+ bed hospital. The cases here are significantly more complicated than what I experienced in medical school. With that said, however, I'm doing completely fine.

All of the residents are cool. Most of the attendings are cool; some are jerks, but that is how it is anywhere.

Yea, I feel like I have stuff to prove, but that's me.



Anesthesia, but I'm on a surgery rotation at the moment. Surgery is horrible. I'm still at the hospital 🙁

My anesthesia rotations are 6am to 3pm.

I enjoy, but have lost some of the novelty. I've started answering phonecalls with my first name and talking to my patients using my first name. I'm over the "dr." tag.

The learning curve was steep because there was so much administrative stuff you don't learn in medical school. I'm still working on this curve because I haven't had a lot of inpatient time. I'm also working on not getting freak out over every little thing.

I do sometimes feel like I have a lot to prove, but that's my personality.

Thanks!

 

[Elevencents]

There are no restrictions. You could do 6 months of orthopedics if you want.

Lovely. Thank you!

 

[NontradCA]

Hey everyone. I've got some free time on my hands and was hoping I could help you guys out now that I'm not so bogged down by rotations. Leave me questions and I'll answer the best I can. No WAMC, as I'll be no help. Same for AACOMAS, etc.

And, sorry if you've been seeing too many of these threads.

If you want a competitive specialty, do you really have to have a one track mind about it and get involved in EC type activities?

Do you have time to workout right now if you want to?

Looking back 5 years, was it worth it?

Who will win the Superbowl this year? Seriously though, do you have time to keep up with current events?

 

[Bacchus]

If you want a competitive specialty, do you really have to have a one track mind about it and get involved in EC type activities?

Do you have time to workout right now if you want to?

Looking back 5 years, was it worth it?

Who will win the Superbowl this year? Seriously though, do you have time to keep up with current events?

1. I'd do research and focus on your academics. FM isn't competitive (imagine that 😉) so I didn't really worry too much about the extracurriculars. I was a member of the ACOFP by default so I'd do ACOFP activities here and there.

2. I just got back from the gym. I'm able to go 5-6 times a week at this point. The only time in intern year I don't think I'll be able to go is when I'm on ICU. 6-6 6 days a week. That said, I'm sure I'll make time to go. I went usually 4-5 times a when I was on OB and those were usually 6-530/600 days.

3. I would say its still worth it. I actually have several "golden" weekends in a row. The rotation I'm on now I work Friday nights and then have Saturday and Sunday off. I actually get to hang out with friends from residency (sometimes hard to do) and friends from high school.

4. I don't follow football. I'd have to say the Patriots based on their success over the past 10 years or so (I think?). I do have time to keep up with current events.

 

[NontradCA]

1. I'd do research and focus on your academics. FM isn't competitive (imagine that 😉) so I didn't really worry too much about the extracurriculars. I was a member of the ACOFP by default so I'd do ACOFP activities here and there.

2. I just got back from the gym. I'm able to go 5-6 times a week at this point. The only time in intern year I don't think I'll be able to go is when I'm on ICU. 6-6 6 days a week. That said, I'm sure I'll make time to go. I went usually 4-5 times a when I was on OB and those were usually 6-530/600 days.

3. I would say its still worth it. I actually have several "golden" weekends in a row. The rotation I'm on now I work Friday nights and then have Saturday and Sunday off. I actually get to hang out with friends from residency (sometimes hard to do) and friends from high school.

4. I don't follow football. I'd have to say the Patriots based on their success over the past 10 years or so (I think?). I do have time to keep up with current events.

Hey thanks for the quick reply sir 🙂. When you talk about research, do you mean during the year or during summer? Clubs are necessary as well? Does your hospital have a gym? Free food? Are you going to do OB when you're an attending? What do you and your residents do when you hang out? When are you going to get married?

 

[Bacchus]

Hey thanks for the quick reply sir 🙂. When you talk about research, do you mean during the year or during summer? Clubs are necessary as well? Does your hospital have a gym? Free food? Are you going to do OB when you're an attending? What do you and your residents do when you hang out? When are you going to get married?

I have seen people do research during school year and also in the summer. I'm not sure if it makes a difference. However, for competitive specialties you do have to do research. Clubs are a waste of time in my opinion.

My hospital does not have a gym on site. However it has several fitness health centers which are subsidized by the office of graduate medical education. This means that we do not have to pay for membership.

We have a yearly allowance for food. It's a pretty good amount of money but it may run out possibly.

I am not sure if I want to do OB while being an attending. If I do want to do that I will have to work in academics because I don't want to move to the middle of nowhere.

We hang out by going out to dinner and drinks usually. We have fun.

I'm not sure, but my biological clock has been ticking quickly for a while now. I have the itch.

 

[darklabel]

I didn't know men had a ticking biological clock 😵, thought it was more of an issue for women.

So quick question, are the other staff, like nurses, usually a pain or not really?

 

[Bacchus]

Not really. The problem ones are in the minority.

 

[carinakee]

I recently talked to a DO who said rotations that are mainly taught by residents are better than rotations taught by attendings. Did you have any experience with this? Thanks for doing this thread! I've learned a lot just by reading everything!

 

[Bacchus]

I recently talked to a DO who said rotations that are mainly taught by residents are better than rotations taught by attendings. Did you have any experience with this? Thanks for doing this thread! I've learned a lot just by reading everything!

It 100% depends on the individual. I can't make a general consensus.

 

[Bacchus]

Bizzump.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

I asked you how to become a moderator. You never replied.

It broke my heart.

 

[Major]

How did your internship go?

Are the horror stories true?

 

[deleted407021]

What was the atmosphere like at PCOM? Would you attend again, if you had the option? Pros/cons?

Thanks, Dr.

 

[apr27]

Thanks for the posts! I'm starting up this fall at kcumb. would you mind elaborating on studying "efficiently"? That seems to the operative word when people talk about studying in med school, but they never really go into what that really means.

 

[group_theory]

I asked you how to become a moderator. You never replied.

It broke my heart.

We await word from the Pythia, who makes prophecies (ie What Are My Chances). She resides at Temple (in philaDelphia), along the slopes of Mount Parnassus (UCSF), who speaks to the SDN moderators the wishes of the god Apollo, god of light and sun, truth and prophecies, and healing. Many medical students take a sacred oath towards Apollo during their graduation ceremony. It is through Pythia that we learn of the one true moderator that will serve the forums well. To enter this order, the candidate must be free of physical and mental defects, have two-living parents, and be a daughter or son of a free-born SDN netizen. The Pontifex Maximus (aka Lee), with the help of Pythia, chooses the candidate between their sixth and tenth year, by a lot of twenty highly-born candidates. The choosing ceremony was known as a captio (capture). Once a member was chosen to be a moderator, the Pontifex will PM the candidate and led him/her away from his/her friends on SDN with the words, "I take you to be a moderator, who will carry out sacred rites which it is the law for a moderator to perform on behalf of SDN" As soon as the member click "I accept" on the non-discloser EULA, and enters the sacred place of gathering for SDN moderators (the lounge), and survives the hazing and pledge week, that member will take on a new name, lose all contact with their former identity, and begin service as SDN moderator.



Actually, it depends on "need" of each forum. We also look at individual posting history, past "incidents", professionalism, and the opinions of other members. Nomination can either be initiated by another SDN moderator, or can be self-nominated (by PMing one of the moderators, or administrators). SDN moderators have input on every candidate and usually there is candid discussion. If there is consensus on need and whether the member is a good "fit" to be a moderator, then a formal offer will be made.

 

[Bacchus]

Sorry everyone, I forgot I bumped this and then relished in the weekend I had available to me. I'll reply soon (maybe tonight on NF).

 

[Bacchus]

How did your internship go?

Are the horror stories true?

Internship has gone well. I have tonight and tomorrow night left of my PGY-1 year. Looking back, I don't have any horror stories to tell. I've been very fortunate, happy, educated and celebratory (cmon, look at my handle) this year.

 

[Bacchus]

What was the atmosphere like at PCOM? Would you attend again, if you had the option? Pros/cons?

Thanks, Dr.

I'm going to answer this as a "would you do medicine, again?" versus a would you go to PCOM again. PCOM has been changing over the past couple years, especially the curriculum from what I remember. I can't comment effectively on its current state to say I would go again. That said, if I had to choose between the 3 schools I was accepted to (PCOM, VCOM, LECOM-E,) I would still choose PCOM. Obviously there is selection bias.

I would choose medicine again. I'm very happy for the most part. Of course there is bull**** to deal with, but I'd rather be doing it in this field than somewhere else.

 

[Bacchus]

Thanks for the posts! I'm starting up this fall at kcumb. would you mind elaborating on studying "efficiently"? That seems to the operative word when people talk about studying in med school, but they never really go into what that really means.

Determine your learning style (have an evaluation done, such as online) and study that way. Studying 10 hours a day isn't better than 3-4 hours at night if you're doing it the right way. Put the time investment in. Don't let things pile up. Don't take for granted your education prowess because there will always be someone smarter than you. This is your terminal education. If you **** it up, its only your fault and can severely limit you. Do what you have to do to get what you want (but don't be a gunner!)

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Determine your learning style (have an evaluation done, such as online) and study that way. Studying 10 hours a day isn't better than 3-4 hours at night if you're doing it the right way. Put the time investment in. Don't let things pile up. Don't take for granted your education prowess because there will always be someone smarter than you. This is your terminal education. If you **** it up, its only your fault and can severely limit you. Do what you have to do to get what you want (but don't be a gunner!)

Where?

 

[Bacchus]

Where?

http://bit.ly/1z0U5vZ