How much public speaking is there in medical school?

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

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As someone who struggles with fear of public speaking this is something I have wondered.

I have tried many things to help myself relax when I speak in front of others but have been largely unsuccessful. This has gotten me worried for next year and I have been wondering how often I will be recruited to speak in front of others throughout each year of medical school?

 

[WedgeDawg]

I've had to do a lot of small group speaking (up to 30 people at a time) but have not yet had to speak in front of a huge number of people. However, if you end up giving a research presentation or something, you'll likely have to do that. Additionally, you'll have to present patients to your attending and the rest of the team, which means the more comfortable you are with interpersonal communication, the easier it will be.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

I've had to do a lot of small group speaking (up to 30 people at a time) but have not yet had to speak in front of a huge number of people. However, if you end up giving a research presentation or something, you'll likely have to do that. Additionally, you'll have to present patients to your attending and the rest of the team, which means the more comfortable you are with interpersonal communication, the easier it will be.

Thanks wedge. Looks like I need to find a way to improve :/

 

[Nymphicus]

Thanks wedge. Looks like I need to find a way to improve :/

Yes. There's quite a bit of speaking in front of others.

 

[bararaboi]

Here's a question I had: how do you improve your own public speaking skills? I always envy listening to those people that can easily captivate the audience with their public speaking skills. I'm worried I won't get much of an opportunity to do so in medical school.

 

[frosted_flake]

Hello🙂 I used to be terrified of public speaking, but now I love it! Here are some of my best tips if you are interested.

- Practicing in front of family/your significant other (if you have one) is very helpful. They will not be afraid to give you honest feedback (which is the most helpful versus a friend who might tell you it was great when really, it sucked).
- Each time you practice the presentation, pretend as if you are actually giving it to the audience. Not only did this help me with timing, but also helped me realize spots where I was getting stuck the most often.
- When first starting to practice a presentation, I record myself giving it on my laptop, watch it and critique myself on how to improve the next round.
- Have confidence and smile! Nervous presenters make me nervous too... own the material you are presenting!

I now get excellent presentation grades (and compliments on my performance) versus getting horrible grades in speech class before I did these things (and was a nervous wreck!). I also believe that 3rd year of med school you give presentations during rounds in front of the attendings and other health care providers.

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Hello🙂 I used to be terrified of public speaking, but now I love it! Here are some of my best tips if you are interested.

- Practicing in front of family/your significant other (if you have one) is very helpful. They will not be afraid to give you honest feedback (which is the most helpful versus a friend who might tell you it was great when really, it sucked).
- Each time you practice the presentation, pretend as if you are actually giving it to the audience. Not only did this help me with timing, but also helped me realize spots where I was getting stuck the most often.
- When first starting to practice a presentation, I record myself giving it on my laptop, watch it and critique myself on how to improve the next round.
- Have confidence and smile! Nervous presenters make me nervous too... own the material you are presenting!

I now get excellent presentation grades (and compliments on my performance) versus getting horrible grades in speech class before I did these things (and was a nervous wreck!). I also believe that 3rd year of med school you give presentations during rounds in front of the attendings and other health care providers.

I appreciate the long post. The thing is I get nervous saying my name, major, and year in front of a class of 40 as well and my voice shakes. I have tried breathing techniques and meditation to overcome this but alas, no success. Itis embarrassing and I don't know what to do

 

[frosted_flake]

I appreciate the long post. The thing is I get nervous saying my name, major, and year in front of a class of 40 as well and my voice shakes. I have tried breathing techniques and meditation to overcome this but alas, no success. Itis embarrassing and I don't know what to do

Are you talking about in the beginning of a presentation? Or that horrid "stand up and introduce yourself to the class" that professors make us do?

 

[Mr. Beefy Lion]

Are you talking about in the beginning of a presentation? Or that horrid "stand up and introduce yourself to the class" that professors make us do?

Just when going around the class, doesn't even have to be standing up. Like it happened on Friday, and my voice got all weak. It's just so embarrassing and I feel like it will be 1000x worse in medical school

 

[eteshoe]

Exposure was the way I got over my nervousness. Basically take as many opportunities to talk to groups of people - study groups, class, friends, church, lab, etc.

 

[Lucca]

Good public speaking is just about two things in my opinion: organization and confidence. Practice what you are going to present and have in mind clearly how you are going to flow from one idea to the next. Then just believe that you know what you are talking about and do your best. Practice is how I got over the shy-ness factor but speaking has never given me anxiety

 

[cantankerous]

Just when going around the class, doesn't even have to be standing up. Like it happened on Friday, and my voice got all weak. It's just so embarrassing and I feel like it will be 1000x worse in medical school

Most people can't actually hear it unless you're that terrible. If that was the case, you probably wouldn't have passed the interview stage.

 

[RuggerMD]

I have tried many things to help myself relax

Have you looked into Toastmasters? If not, you should. They meet once a week/once every two weeks/once a month depending on the club and it is a stress free environment to practice both prepped speeches and impromptu speaking. You get to meet some really neat people along the way too.

 

[takeurmeds02]

I appreciate the long post. The thing is I get nervous saying my name, major, and year in front of a class of 40 as well and my voice shakes. I have tried breathing techniques and meditation to overcome this but alas, no success. Itis embarrassing and I don't know what to do

OMG, I absolutely hate this. I do better with actual presentations when I have much more time than a minute or two to think about what I'm going to say. I know some people are thinking, "it's just your name, major, etc get over it" but all of those faces staring at you at the same time, all up close, is nerve-wrecking haha

 

[Goro]

At a minimum, you will be expected to give case presentations, as well as present in lab or group exercises. So to answer your question, depending upon the school, a lot.

Take a debate, speech or acting class if this is an issue.

As someone who struggles with fear of public speaking this is something I have wondered.

I have tried many things to help myself relax when I speak in front of others but have been largely unsuccessful. This has gotten me worried for next year and I have been wondering how often I will be recruited to speak in front of others throughout each year of medical school?

 

[cardzkp]

I appreciate the long post. The thing is I get nervous saying my name, major, and year in front of a class of 40 as well and my voice shakes. I have tried breathing techniques and meditation to overcome this but alas, no success. Itis embarrassing and I don't know what to do

Hi I realized I had the same problem when I gave a presentation in front of 40 people and blacked out/couldn't hear my thoughts from the blood rushing through my head/chest. For a quick fix, you can get prescribed beta blocker like propranolol, which I have used in front of people. I also get nervous when I have to simply say my major and name. However, I only use the beta blocker when I give large presentations like my personal research. Otherwise, I am going to start attending ToastMasters nearby me I think. PM me if you want, I can relate all too well.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Toastmasters sounds like it could be extremely beneficial! If anyone has participated or belongs to one of these clubs id love to hear about it.

 

[RuggerMD]

Toastmasters sounds like it could be extremely beneficial! If anyone has participated or belongs to one of these clubs id love to hear about it.

I've been in Toastmasters for over a year now. If you have any questions, feel free to send them my way 🙂

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

I've been in Toastmasters for over a year now. If you have any questions, feel free to send them my way 🙂

Im browsing the website and watching the tutorial meeting. What are your overall impressions? What do you actually speak about? Do you take on a different role every meeting?

I found several groups in my area already

 

[gyngyn]

Coherent presentation is an important skill in medicine.

 

[RuggerMD]

What are your overall impressions? What do you actually speak about? Do you take on a different role every meeting?

Each club is a little different vibe/focus wise, so I would suggest sitting in on a few and finding one that feels comfortable and works with your schedule. For me, Toastmasters is a relaxed place to work on my communication skills. Everyone is there with the same goal, to get better at speaking and make each other better speakers, so it is a supportive and positive environment. You're given a manual to work through that has ten speeches, each focusing on a different aspect of crafting and delivering speeches. You can talk about whatever you want in the speech. The only thing that constrains you is time (most speeches are 5-7 minutes). You work through the manual as fast or as slow as you want. There will be months I don't have time to give a speech so I fill in one of the roles that requires no prep. There will be weeks where I can't make the meeting at all. That is all fine, you take on as much responsibility as fits with your time and goals.