Oral Boards

[izzy025]

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Hopefully I'm taking the spring orals if the ABA places me in that batch.
Need some help, whats the best review sources out there, which courses books , jensesn or michael Ho why one over the other.

any suggestions and insight would be helpful....

 

[johankriek]

i heard good things about jensen.. however did not take it

I actually took Michael Ho's class and I cant see how he can be beat. the guy works tirelessly to make sure his class reflects the most current board tested material.. he tweaks it every couple of months.. i took it 4 times.. once 3 months before.. once 2 months before.. 20 must know cases set b a month before.. and 20 must know cases set b and set c right before the boards.. passed.. I followed michael ho around the hotel asking him questions at like midnite before the boards.. He wants feedback.. He WANts YOU TO PASS.. great course.. sign up.. I do not get paid by him..

 

[militarymd]

i heard good things about jensen.. however did not take it

I actually took Michael Ho's class and I cant see how he can be beat. the guy works tirelessly to make sure his class reflects the most current board tested material.. he tweaks it every couple of months.. i took it 4 times.. once 3 months before.. once 2 months before.. 20 must know cases set b a month before.. and 20 must know cases set b and set c right before the boards.. passed.. I followed michael ho around the hotel asking him questions at like midnite before the boards.. He wants feedback.. He WANts YOU TO PASS.. great course.. sign up.. I do not get paid by him..

It sounds like you paid him a whole lot.

For the OP, here's another way to approach it.....do NOTHING....I was stationed in Guantanamo Bay Naval Hospital...I was the ONLY anesthesiologist for a patient popultation of around 5000....I did 1 or 2 cases a day....knee scopes on ASA 1's.....

I wasn't allowed off the island except to take the Orals.....no fuss, no muss...no classes....read a couple of books....Passed on the first try.

 

[Noyac]

I think it all depends on you. You passed the writtens so bottom line is you know your stuff. You don't need any more knowledge you just need experience. Now, if you are the type of person that doesn't get nervous easily, can talk about anesthesia with your peers in a well informed way and with a lot of thought involved. Can adjust easily to changes (curveball in my mind) and are flexible not rigid. Then you will do just fine.

If you get nervous in front of people or stressful situations (probably not a characteristic of most good anesthesiologists anyway) then you need to work on your presentation and being able to relax. This is were these courses can be helpful. You will sit in front of many people and talk anesthesia in a mock format.

If you don't really know were you stand in the whole process then I can't really help you. Maybe you should do a course and find out just how easy or difficult it is for you to get in front of a crowd and be grilled.

Honestly, the Orals are pretty fun or at least not nearly as bad as you think they will be.

Good Luck.

 

[izzy025]

Thanks for all the insight guys, John how was Michael Ho's book i hear its like 750 pages, did u go through that multiple times?

 

[johankriek]

Thanks for all the insight guys, John how was Michael Ho's book i hear its like 750 pages, did u go through that multiple times?

I read is text maybe like 3 times... I cut the binder off of the book.. and read it chapter by chapter in the OR...

then used yao and artusio to study and mikhail morgan

i took his weekend course (great) and 3 of his 20 must know cases.. I followed the guy everywhere the last week before the exam at the exam city.. the only way to go.. pay attention to the HO course.. work hard and the orals will be a breeze. if you wanna be stupid and chance it.. and think that whatever knowledge you have for the writtens will get you through it.. remember this.. many people better thatn you.. who scored 98th percentile on the writtens failed.. and failed again becuase they dont understand the game of the orals