Prepare for rotations and study for Shelf exams

Hello! My name is Joanmarie, and I am in my last year of medical school at UNC. My inspiration for entering the field of healthcare was growing up with a sibling with a critical illness and subsequently developing a passion for healing and the humanities. While medical school has been a long road, I reflect on it with great fondness as I admire how much I have learned and grown as a person over these four years.

Being the first in my family to have a career in medicine, I entered medical school feeling overwhelmed by my peers' knowledge. For example, I repeatedly had to Google "what does [insert abbreviation] mean in medicine" as my peers and professors seemingly talked in alphabet soup (PEs, MIs, oh my!). I hadn't grown up with these terms being casually brought up at the dinner table, so I truly felt as if I was starting from scratch. With that, I was constantly utilizing review books and YouTube videos to better supplement my general medical knowledge.

As the rigor of my education increased, the time I had to study decreased. With that, I had to make a quick change in how I digested information to be prepared for both the wards and Shelf exams. As the recommendation of a chief resident, I tried out OnlineMedEd for a way to compact my studies. Because of my study schedule and selection of resources, I was able to build my medical knowledge while applying it on rotations. My schedule went a little something like this (varied slightly by rotation):

After Clinical Duties

This, of course, varies by what rotation I was on. Some days I did a lot when I got home, and some days I did nothing. Do what feels right, and don't be afraid to swap a study session for a run, a nap, or a good meal - you deserve it!

1. Do UWorld Questions. The goal was to finish the entire QBank for the rotation that I was on.
2. I utilized Anki to have virtual flashcards for each UWorld question that I missed. To expedite this process, I used the Anki x UWorld Google Chrome Browser Extension. It is a paid tool, but it saved me a lot of time!
3. Read OnlineMedEd Prime Notes followed by Acquire Video for the specific rotation I was on. My goal would be to go through all the Acquire Videos, at least, before the rotation ended.
4. Download the OnlineMedEd Whiteboard Notes. These are a great reference when you need a refresher later on, or if you find yourself rewatching a specific video many times.

During Clinical Duties

I wanted to be very mindful of not looking like I was on my phone or computer too much, even if I was studying. After all, my purpose during clinical hours was to be as present as possible. If I was using my computer, I wanted it to be evident that I was doing flashcards and not, say, watching my favorite episode of the Office.

1. First & foremost, use your spare time to educate yourself on your patients. You can learn a lot from the things in front of you! This is especially important for contextualizing what you learn from your studying.
2. Books, books, books! Whether it be Blueprints, Case Files, or something different, I highly encourage you to utilize physical review books while you are studying on the wards. It makes it evident that you are focused on the rotation and using your free time to prepare yourself.
3. Review your Anki cards of your missed UWorld questions (see above).
4. Read, or reread, your OnlineMedEd Whiteboard Notes.

Because of this schedule, I was able to efficiently build my knowledge and subsequently apply it in real time when I hit the wards. I did not have to waste time combing through several informational resources to find what was succinctly wrapped up in a single OnlineMedEd Acquire Video. With this extra time, I was able to do the things that I enjoyed outside of medicine - workout, play with my dog, hit the beach, etc. Additionally, I felt well-equipped with knowledge on my rotations. This allowed me to be confident in my abilities and able to help my patients.

Parting Words of Advice

1. Find what works for you. Be mindful that what works for your peer may not be what jives with your own brain or schedule - and that is okay! Make changes as you see fit, but make sure to include review materials (OnlineMedEd is perfect for this!) and practice questions.
2. Don't forget that you are more than a medical student. Continue to do the things that you love outside of medicine, whatever that may be. While medicine will become an important part of your life, it is not your entire life.
3. Mental health matters, especially as a healthcare provider. While the field of medicine is extremely rewarding, countless studies have shown that our field harbors a high rate of anxiety/depression and burnout. Be kind to yourself and reach out when you need help. OnlineMedEd's new ClubMedEd has a bunch of great, free resources for mindfulness and mental health.