KCUMB Class of 2018

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i don't think they'll curve. right now the average for the complete course is a 89.8.

Right, but the test average is a 79.6 and you need 70% on the tests to pass (according to how I interpreted the syllabus)... With the average only 9.6% away from failing I would bet there are people below that margin...
 
Right, but the test average is a 79.6 and you need 70% on the tests to pass (according to how I interpreted the syllabus)... With the average only 9.6% away from failing I would bet there are people below that margin...

I think it just means to pass you need a 70%. Like it always means.
I don't think there is any remediation just for failing an exam if you pass the class without it. But don't quote me on that. 🙂
 
I think it just means to pass you need a 70%. Like it always means.
I don't think there is any remediation just for failing an exam if you pass the class without it. But don't quote me on that. 🙂

Talked to curriculum and they cleared it up for me - you have it right.

Syllabus is just worded very confusingly. The way its structured currently they're surprisingly generous about essentially giving free points for all the random 3 pointers throughout the semester... So thats pretty cool. Yay us.
 
Anyone else hit this point yet?

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Quick question. Do any of you know if Dr. Smith does any sort of activities within. internal med? I know he is FACP but outside of teaching PCM here, does he teach at St Lukes or TMC?
 
So the final is cumulative eh? I am not sure if I have a good recollection but I seem to remember that Dr Kruse had said no more cumulative exams? At least for regular system courses?
 
So the final is cumulative eh? I am not sure if I have a good recollection but I seem to remember that Dr Kruse had said no more cumulative exams? At least for regular system courses?

Dr. Puthoff's reasoning was that it's difficult to break apart the material so it has to be cumulative.

Probably the next block and the remainder won't be.
 
So the final is cumulative eh? I am not sure if I have a good recollection but I seem to remember that Dr Kruse had said no more cumulative exams? At least for regular system courses?

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At this point I've just learned to accept it...
 
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Quick question. Do any of you know if Dr. Smith does any sort of activities within. internal med? I know he is FACP but outside of teaching PCM here, does he teach at St Lukes or TMC?
He doesn't do anything at Truman anymore to my knowledge, but he knows lots of people there of course since he worked there so long. Why do you ask?
If you have questions about internal medicine training, Dr. McGowan is also a great resource as she just finished IM training in 2012 then worked at St. Luke's before coming to KCU. Plus, she's a FACOI now too.
 
He doesn't do anything at Truman anymore to my knowledge, but he knows lots of people there of course since he worked there so long. Why do you ask?
If you have questions about internal medicine training, Dr. McGowan is also a great resource as she just finished IM training in 2012 then worked at St. Luke's before coming to KCU. Plus, she's a FACOI now too.

I was looking to shadow him if he was still practicing. I may just ask Dr. McGowan but she's a bit intimidating haha.
 
I was looking to shadow him if he was still practicing. I may just ask Dr. McGowan but she's a bit intimidating haha.
Oh he is still practicing, but not inpatient medicine. None of our on-campus faculty clinicians do inpatient work to my knowledge if that is what you are looking for.
 
Oh he is still practicing, but not inpatient medicine. None of our on-campus faculty clinicians do inpatient work to my knowledge if that is what you are looking for.

Nah I'm not looking for inpatient shadowing right now, just something to put what I've learned in PCM to practice outside of SPs. I tried emailing Dr. Smith but he never responded, maybe I'll just visit his office in SEP. .
 
Nah I'm not looking for inpatient shadowing right now, just something to put what I've learned in PCM to practice outside of SPs. I tried emailing Dr. Smith but he never responded, maybe I'll just visit his office in SEP. .
I wouldn't worry too much about PCM material or physical assessment stuff. Everything will change in the real world during year 3. Something to look forward to ( I know I am).

If you really want to spend time shadowing or working on physical assessment skills, try to get involved in the student clinic. I don't know much about it, but I know its a thing that occasionally happens. Thats probably your best chance of shadowing someone that works at KCUMB. Every once and while someone will post on Facebook an opportunity to work with docs/fewllows doing physicals on the weekends if that is something you are in to. There is also Score 1... which is a thrill, let me tell ya.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about PCM material or physical assessment stuff. Everything will change in the real world during year 3. Something to look forward to ( I know I am).

If you really want to spend time shadowing or working on physical assessment skills, try to get involved in the student clinic. I don't know much about it, but I know its a thing that occasionally happens. Thats probably your best chance of shadowing someone that works at KCUMB. Every once and while someone will post on Facebook an opportunity to work with docs/fewllows doing physicals on the weekends if that is something you are in to. There is also Score 1... which is a thrill, let me tell ya.

You'll get plenty of exposure with score 1 during your second year. I think we had probably 5 or 6 score 1 events fall semester, all of which seemed to conveniently fall a day or 2 before a test :meh:
 
No one loves research.

I love research and the idea of doing anything this summer that does not involve me becoming a proverbial baked potato in the sun is disgusting. But seriously enough, I think KCU needs to add another month to our vacation to allow people to seek out opportunities for research and or etc. I could see myself doing something for 6 weeks over the summer and having 2 off. But only having 4? That's precious time for me to recuperate after this cataclysm we call year 1.
 
I love research and the idea of doing anything this summer that does not involve me becoming a proverbial baked potato in the sun is disgusting. But seriously enough, I think KCU needs to add another month to our vacation to allow people to seek out opportunities for research and or etc. I could see myself doing something for 6 weeks over the summer and having 2 off. But only having 4? That's precious time for me to recuperate after this cataclysm we call year 1.

Haha...I was just kidding. I'd also like to get some research in.
 
Haha...I was just kidding. I'd also like to get some research in.

I "want" to as well. But I'd rather not have to get about 3 background screenings, wait for a temp badge, go through inspections just so I can work at my old lab or another lab in that area for a month.
 
Maybe he loves research...

I don't LOVE research but I do enjoy it. This is the only time I'm really going to get bench work time for..essentially the rest if my career haha. So I'm going to try it. But FYI I'm not burning the whole summer for research, just a week or two. Also I couldn't pass up working with her, she's a beast PI even in comparison to a lot of PIs at Ucsd
 
We've been told multiple times that if you really want impactful research, to use an elective rotation during 3rd/4th year as research (two if you really want to). Idk if it really holds more weight, but there's time other than 1st year summer to do it.

Plus part of why your summer is so short is because we get extra time after 2nd year to study for boards. We're essentially done in April, so we get all of May and June to study for them where a lot of schools only get 3-5 weeks of dedicated time. I'd rather get 8-10 weeks to raise my COMLEX by 25 points or my Step by 10 than get a summer of research under my belt.
 
We've been told multiple times that if you really want impactful research, to use an elective rotation during 3rd/4th year as research (two if you really want to). Idk if it really holds more weight, but there's time other than 1st year summer to do it.

Plus part of why your summer is so short is because we get extra time after 2nd year to study for boards. We're essentially done in April, so we get all of May and June to study for them where a lot of schools only get 3-5 weeks of dedicated time. I'd rather get 8-10 weeks to raise my COMLEX by 25 points or my Step by 10 than get a summer of research under my belt.

True enough.

Honestly my plan is to do two research electives and then maybe a third psych elective at the same institute. That way I can maximize my exposure and etc. Likewise hopefully my old PI might be able to get me into one of the labs by connection.
 
I know this is far off, but how was the CSA/ graded Standardized Patients for your class? What was expected? Did the SPs try to make it relatively easy?
 
I know this is far off, but how was the CSA/ graded Standardized Patients for your class? What was expected? Did the SPs try to make it relatively easy?

You get graded on the components: communication, documentation and history/exam...
So, interviewing the patient, doing appropriate and relevant and correct physical assessment, and your SOAP Note. You have to get 70% in each part to pass. At least that's how it is for us.
 
You get graded on the components: communication, documentation and history/exam...
So, interviewing the patient, doing appropriate and relevant and correct physical assessment, and your SOAP Note. You have to get 70% in each part to pass. At least that's how it is for us.


What exactly does a 70% mean tho? I mean so far my timing for SPs sometimes is pretty bad, like today I had pretty much only 1minute to do a Physical because I got too caught up with my patient's social and she talked a lot and I pretty much rushed through the physical in 1minute.
 
What exactly is a 70% mean tho? I mean so far my timing for SPs sometimes is pretty bad, like today I had pretty much only 1minute to do a Physical because I got too caught up with my patient's social and she talked a lot and I pretty much rushed through the physical in 1minute.

They have grading rubrics and assign points. In your SP reviews do you go over your checklist?? They grade off the checklist for the SOAP. must get 70% of that as a component.
Then they go off rubrics for the other parts -- taking a complete history, intro, hand washing, conclusion, exit etc.
if you did the abdominal exam correctly - points.
If you do relevant special tests - points.
Etc etc.
 
Make sure to get the timing right. If you run out of time during the CSA that will most likely result in a failure. This is pretty easy to do though just make sure to keep the interview on track by asking open ended questions in the beginning then diving straight into a focused interview using OLDCAAARTS. Ask a few associated symptoms that are important to the complaint then before you finish the HPI ask them if there is anything else they want you to know before moving on. Don't forget to show empathy by throwing in a "Im sorry to hear that or that must be frustrating." Know what physical exams you would do for every common complaint so that way you'll be prepared before you even walk in.
 
What exactly does a 70% mean tho? I mean so far my timing for SPs sometimes is pretty bad, like today I had pretty much only 1minute to do a Physical because I got too caught up with my patient's social and she talked a lot and I pretty much rushed through the physical in 1minute.

Wear a watch if you are bad with timing and give yourself 7-8 minutes for the HPI + summary. You want at least 4 minutes for a good physical because remember in 2nd year you have to perform OMT for a 2 whole minutes.

You should be able to close the SP interaction in the final 1 minute with comfort when you get your timing down.
 
Wear a watch if you are bad with timing and give yourself 7-8 minutes for the HPI + summary. You want at least 4 minutes for a good physical because remember in 2nd year you have to perform OMT for a 2 whole minutes.

You should be able to close the SP interaction in the final 1 minute with comfort when you get your timing down.

Yeesh, that's going to be pretty intense.

Any tips for keeping the patient on track though? Today mine basically spend 2 minutes giving a lifestory that was in all actuality relevant to her diagnosis. I mean how do you balance being emphatic and yet also being able to get through the HPI? I mean if it's a my arm hurts patients then sure, 8 minutes can be done, but what about a GI issue stemming clearly from lifestyle activities/ psych issues? I mean my friend was a bit quicker than me and he managed to only finish 2 really quick GI exams.
 
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