Smartest you’ve been in your career

[acidbase1]

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or maybe smartest isn’t the best description. At what point in your career did you feel like you had the most medical knowledge in your career?

Reason I ask is all my attendings told me you’d “be the smartest” you’ll ever be right before you take orals. Granted, I had a lot of information floating around, I don’t feel like anything compares to right before/after I took Step 1.

It likely matters how much time you dedicate to a particular exam. I studied harder for step 1 and the basic than any other exams.

 

[nycitygas]

Most medial knowledge? Probably a few months after my anesthesia oral boards and critical care written boards.

I’m at my peak with procedures and monkey skills

 

[Noyac]

It all depends on the barometer. If it is overall knowledge of all things medicine then yes maybe STEP1. If it is all knowledge then probably MCAT. if useful knowledge then 10yrs out of training.

That’s my $0.02

 

[aneftp]

Probably 2007-2012. My best earning years. “Smart”est in the sense I worked the least and made the most!

It’s not how hard guy work. It’s how smart you work.

 

[deleted59964]

smartest - just before the fellowship exam (like your boards).
best at my job - now, still improving

 

[vector2]

I took my orals last May, advanced PTE July, and CCM boards in October. Been getting progressively dumber since thanksgiving, although my clinical IQ and skills have gone up 100-fold since I have to supervise 3-4 rooms with mediocre crnas taking care of sick pts. To stay fresh I frequently read uptodate, CCM blogs, rewatch Utah and Ptemasters vids, read journals, and stay current with my moca minute.

 

[chocomorsel]

I took my orals last May, advanced PTE July, and CCM boards in October. Been getting progressively dumber since thanksgiving, although my clinical IQ and skills have gone up 100-fold since I have to supervise 3-4 rooms with mediocre crnas taking care of sick pts. To stay fresh I frequently read uptodate, CCM blogs, rewatch Utah and Ptemasters vids, read journals, and stay current with my moca minute.

Do you do any CCM? Even part time?

 

[Psai]

By the end of second year I had more knowledge of scientific minutiae than most people will have in their entire lifetimes. I knew a ton of clinical stuff at the end of intern year.

 

[vector2]

Do you do any CCM? Even part time?

I'm about q10 week in the sicu here. Lotta surgeons in the rotation.

 

[GravelRider]

Of overall general medical knowledge, I probably peaked in my third year of internal medicine residency. We took care of a lot of really sick and complicated patients in IM that never made their way to the OR. Then you have to quickly change gears and go evaluate rashes and listen to vague complaints during your clinic. It’s a wide breadth of knowledge that makes you useful at parties when someone pulls you aside to show you a spot on their buttcheek. I got way dumber as a hospitalist.

My anesthesia knowledge definitely peaked around oral boards time, but my clinical skills and judgement are still improving. There is no way I could recite the minutiae from all those charts in Barash anymore, but I am a lot more confident in the OR since I do about 75% of my cases solo.

I’m still trying to figure out a way to efficiently stay current with my knowledge beyond flipping through the journals that get sent to my house.

 

[Dr.whom]

I think I am much smarter now than I ever have been in the past, even though my basic science knowledge and my general medical knowledge have dwindled dramatically.

I retain and build on knowledge that is useful to my practice. In my opinion, a smart practitioner is one who is able to effectively do his/her job and avoid malpractice pitfalls. That is really the most important thing you can learn, and it comes with experience and making a few mistakes. Coming out of residency, you may have a lot of knowledge, but learning how to apply those knowledge to your practice is what will really make you "smarter".

 

[deleted126335]

or maybe smartest isn’t the best description. At what point in your career did you feel like you had the most medical knowledge in your career?

Reason I ask is all my attendings told me you’d “be the smartest” you’ll ever be right before you take orals. Granted, I had a lot of information floating around, I don’t feel like anything compares to right before/after I took Step 1.

In terms of exam skills and current with the literature and book knowledge and ability to learn new information, I would have to agree.

In terms of clinical skill, late 40s-early 50s. At least for me.

IN TERMS OF SMARTS: A year ago when I went less than full time.

 

[pgg]

I get smarter every year. Younger, too.

 

[deleted126335]

I get smarter every year. Younger, too.

Except for the blip last year, I am getting older and dumber.

 

[Aether2000]

Because the technology, advances in techniques and skills change as medicine changes it is not a valid question