Recommended Reading for Interviews?

[twofootslim]

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Since a lot of us are starting to prepare for our interviews, I thought it would be helpful to have a list of suggested books to read before interviews. Please list any suggestions for books that will give a well-rounded understanding of the health field in general, or about controversial topics in medicine today? Any ideas are welcome!
Thanks!

 

[akademiks1989]

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a short yet compelling read. May help you learn the meaning of compassion and some other things. It is definitely my recommendation if you do not have much time on your hands.

 

[CalGirl07]

Since a lot of us are starting to prepare for our interviews, I thought it would be helpful to have a list of suggested books to read before interviews. Please list any suggestions for books that will give a well-rounded understanding of the health field in general, or about controversial topics in medicine today? Any ideas are welcome!
Thanks!

twofootslim, this is an excellent idea! =)

 

[Dr. Roket]

Since a lot of us are starting to prepare for our interviews, I thought it would be helpful to have a list of suggested books to read before interviews. Please list any suggestions for books that will give a well-rounded understanding of the health field in general, or about controversial topics in medicine today? Any ideas are welcome!
Thanks!

This isn't a book, but here's a thread I found useful in breaking down two sides of universal health care at home and abroad. Faceoff between Quickclot and f_w, both seem reasonably informed about their side of the argument, one more than the other, but I'll let you decide, it's a good quick read that allows you to spin off and investigate issues deeper if you're interested. Cheers.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=289457

 

[deleted109597]

Why do men have nipples?
Kill as few patients as possible
House of God

 

[Dr. Roket]

Why do men have nipples?
Kill as few patients as possible
House of God

I don't get it, is there a book called "Why do men have nipples?" or "Kill as few patients as possible" or are they excerted topics which will be addressed in the "notoriously accurate" House of God?

Not for me, for the rest of the posters, I mean I already know why men have nipples. 😳

 

[akademiks1989]

I went to Border's yesterday and saw this book near the med school stuff called "Why do men Sleep after having sex" 👍

 

[Beau Geste]

If this thread could stay focused on this topic, it would make a great sticky!

 

[rachmoninov3]

"The spirit cathes you and you fall down."

Lots of good med-ethic/cultural issues, not to mention a damn good read!

 

[rachmoninov3]

Also, you might want to look through JAMA and the New England Journal as well.

 

[Beau Geste]

"The spirit cathes you and you fall down."

Lots of good med-ethic/cultural issues, not to mention a damn good read!

Good one. Had to read it for a medical ethics class. Also had to read "First do no harm" which I liked even better.

 

[deleted109597]

I don't get it, is there a book called "Why do men have nipples?" or "Kill as few patients as possible" or are they excerted topics which will be addressed in the "notoriously accurate" House of God?

Not for me, for the rest of the posters, I mean I already know why men have nipples. 😳

 

[twofootslim]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Does anyone know of a good book that focuses on the problems in health care? I have found a lot on Amazon, but I was wondering if there was one that was better than others.

 

[dbhvt]

Also, you might want to look through JAMA and the New England Journal as well.

Good general news media will be a better use of your time. Flip through the Economist, New Yorker, Wall Street Journal and Times for medically related articles. And listen to NPR.

If you're involved in research, certainly, read medical journals related to your topic. If you're trying to get a good overview of health issues so you can carry on an intelligent conversation in the interview, look elsewhere. It would be like using First Aid to help you study for the MCAT.

 

[deuist]

Kill as Few Patients as Possible was an exercise in flexing the author's ego. There was nothing in that book that was entertaining or that taught me something about medicine. For example, one of his pearls of being the greatest doctor is to become Jewish.

One of your goals during interviews is to appear informed about current medical topics such as health disparities, malpractice, health insurance, and the list runs on. Tuesdays with Morrie and The House of God are great books, but I don't think that they'll prepare you for the interviews. I recommend going to the The New York Times' health section and reading about the major topics that are important to the lay public (i.e., your patients). The website bioethics.net is very current with trends in medical ethics. The Economist and the WSJ are good, too, as dbhvt mentioned. However, reading them costs expensive subscriptions. If you're lucky, your library may carry them for students' use.

 

[drjewel]

My Sister's Keeper was a good read. It raises some interesting medical ethics questions, even though it is fiction.

I would also recommend The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat which has some interesting anecdotes relating to psychiatry/neurology. 🙄

 

[Beau Geste]

What about Science mag?

 

[drjewel]

Ohh, and Gifted Hands (Yay Ben Carson!)

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

oh, i thought you were making haiku.

 

[deleted109597]

Kill as Few Patients as Possible was an exercise in flexing the author's ego. There was nothing in that book that was entertaining or that taught me something about medicine. For example, one of his pearls of being the greatest doctor is to become Jewish.

Pretty much all of it was tongue in cheek. It is still a funny read.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Does anyone know of a good book that focuses on the problems in health care? I have found a lot on Amazon, but I was wondering if there was one that was better than others.

a relatively short, approachable, and up-to-date book is _understanding health policy: a clinical approach_ by bodenheimer and grumbach.

a great classic is _social transformation of american medicine_ by paul starr. it's over 20 years old, but it provides a very insightful historical perspective. he predicted that corporate control over medical practice would endure.

 

[DoctorPardi]

Go to this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=309411

You will find all the books you need. Also I enjoyed Letters to a young doctor by Richard Selzer.

 

[durfen]

Since a lot of us are starting to prepare for our interviews, I thought it would be helpful to have a list of suggested books to read before interviews. Please list any suggestions for books that will give a well-rounded understanding of the health field in general, or about controversial topics in medicine today? Any ideas are welcome!
Thanks!

Machiavelli. It will help you in dealing with fellow interviewees

 

[WantsThisBad]

Kill as Few Patients as Possible was an exercise in flexing the author's ego. There was nothing in that book that was entertaining or that taught me something about medicine. For example, one of his pearls of being the greatest doctor is to become Jewish.

One of your goals during interviews is to appear informed about current medical topics such as health disparities, malpractice, health insurance, and the list runs on. Tuesdays with Morrie and The House of God are great books, but I don't think that they'll prepare you for the interviews. I recommend going to the The New York Times' health section and reading about the major topics that are important to the lay public (i.e., your patients). The website bioethics.net is very current with trends in medical ethics. The Economist and the WSJ are good, too, as dbhvt mentioned. However, reading them costs expensive subscriptions. If you're lucky, your library may carry them for students' use.

Didnt you know that the secret to being a good doctor was being jewish?

 

[Rainman84]

i like Complications by Atul Gawande. worth a look if you into these books.