Many aspiring doctors spend too much time on medical textbooks and scientific concepts that they tend to forget one of the most important qualities that every doctor must possess: people skills. Your job as a doctor is not limited to making diagnoses, administering medications, or performing operations. The medical profession expects you to be more than a healer. To do your job better, you also need to assume teaching and counseling duties. Here is why interpersonal skills or people skills are important in the medical profession.
Better doctor-patient relationship
If there is one thing you should gain from your patient, it has to be trust. Your patient’s trust is very important because it will help you do your job better. Patients, in general, prefer having friendly and approachable doctors. They find it easier to explain their situation or forward their questions if their doctors show actual congeniality and genuine sincerity. If you want to get a full scoop of your patient’s feelings and concerns, then be approachable and amicable enough to be entrusted with secrets.
Healthier working environment
Exceptional people skills are also needed to develop and maintain good working relationships with the other staff members of the hospital. Remember that doctors cannot work alone. You need nurses to administer IV fluids, hematologists to perform blood tests, and radiologists to operate X-ray machines. For non-doctor medical practitioners, there are only two kinds of doctors: doctors we love and doctors we love to hate. “Doctors to love to hate” reassign all their work and blame all their mistakes to other people, while “doctors we love” make polite requests and give flattering compliments for every job well done. Treat your colleagues as your equal. The lack of an M.D. after their surnames doesn’t make you any better than them just because you have that title. Learn how to properly interact with the other hospital staff members and be the doctor that everybody loves.
Successfully performing a bypass operation or perfectly stitching a surgical suture is not enough to save a patient’s life. Real saving starts after the critical medical procedure. You need to convince your patient to commit to a healthy lifestyle. The fastest way to recovery, after all, is the patient’s willingness to heal.
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Not all medical graduates pursue a career in medical practice. Turning away from emergency rooms and laboratory testings, however, doesn’t mean that you have to throw away everything that you learned during your four years in medical school. You can still use your medical education in a non-hospital setting. Here are some alternative career options for medical graduates like you.
Genetic counseling
If genetics was your favorite subject in medical school, then you should probably consider a career in genetic counseling. Genetic counseling is a health profession that involves the provision of medical information and emotional support to families with histories of genetic disorders. Your job as a genetic counselor is a mix of doctor duties and social work: you investigate a family’s hereditary background and analyze genetic patterns to help them understand the risks of genetic disorders and implications of birth defects.
Important courses: genetics, biology, psychology, and public health
Medical examiner
Do you enjoy watching CSI more than House, M.D.? If you do, then put your medical education to good use by becoming a medical examiner like Al Robbins. Your job as a medical examiner is like your typical activity in gross anatomy class: you cut up cadavers. The only difference between the two, aside from getting paid lots of money, is that medical examination requires you to determine the person’s cause of death. Your role is very essential in forensic science because it will be the main focus of the investigation.
Important courses: physiology, anatomy, pathology, and biochemistry
People develop dreams of becoming of doctors because they wish to do good in this world by saving other people’s lives. Wearing a scrub suit, however, is not the only way to do that. You can still touch other people’s lives by applying the knowledge you gained in medical school to counsel people and giving expert advice to different organizations and companies. So, if you feel like traditional medical practice is not for you, then don’t worry. You can still save lives.
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All-nighters are unavoidable in medical school. With overwhelming medical school work given in very limited time, you have no other choice but to pull an all-nighter. Many medical students even consider it as a “rite of passage” to the medical world. Losing hours of sleep to get work done is not the healthiest thing to do, but sometimes it is the only option you have. Here are some tips to help you cope with medical school all-nighters.
Limit sugar and caffeine intake
Coffee, chocolate, soda, candy, and energy drinks are very popular during all-nighters because they will keep you up all night long. Intake of sugary food and caffeinated beverages, however, affects your concentration – a definite no-no during test day. Instead of having sweets and caffeine for midnight snacks, stack up on protein-rich food like cheese and sandwiches. Eating protein-rich food helps in improving metabolism, developing immunities, and boosting brain power.
Find time to get more sleep
All-nighters are supposed to last the whole night through, but try to find some time to sneak even an hour-long nap. Because most all-nighters are spent in the company of classmates, ask one of your classmates to cover for you while you doze off into la-la land. Sleep deprivation is hazardous not only to your grades but also to your health. Not getting enough sleep alters your concentration, affects your decision-making skills, and even strains your mood. What benefits will you get from an all-nighter if you’re too sleepy to function the next day?
Do not pull an all-nighter every chance you get because doing so is very dangerous to your health. It will affect your Circadian rhythms, your sleeping habits, and even your short-term memory. To avoid all-nighters, always focus during classes and never succumb to procrastination. Recent studies also show that medical students who frequently pull all-nighters are more vulnerable to getting low GPAs. Sleep deprivation, after all, prevents you from reaching your full academic potential. Still want to pull an all-nighter?
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Thanks to Dr. McDreamy, surgical drama Grey’s Anatomy is currently one of the most-watched television shows in the US. Aside from the tangled love lives of the main characters, another source of confusion among the non-medical viewers of the show has to do with the differing titles of the doctors. Why is George still called an “intern” while Meredith and the gang are already “residents?” What makes “attendings” any different from other doctors? Why does everybody call Dr. Webber “chief”? To help you understand the indication of each title, here is a glossary of common hospital staff terms.
Medical interns
First-year residents fresh from medical school graduation are called medical interns. Because the results of their medical exams are yet to be released during the start of internship, medical interns are not yet licensed to practice medicine. To gain hands-on medical experience, however, medical interns are allowed to scrub in for some surgical procedures.
Medical residents
If they manage to pass their medical boards and intern exams, medical interns will move on to be medical residents (thus the explanation why George remains an intern). Medical residents are doctors who legally practice medicine under the supervision of attending physicians. Aside from practicing medicine, medical residents also perform teaching and supervisory duties to medical interns.
Attending physicians
Doctors who have finished training for their medical specializations are called attending physicians. As the “doctors in charge” in their respective sub-departments, attending physicians are ultimately responsible not only for the medical care of their patients but also the clinical performance of their residents. In teaching hospitals, attending physicians are required to teach interns and train residents to become better medical practitioners.
Chief attending
Every institution needs a boss. In a hospital, the big boss is the chief attending. The chief attending is an attending physician who is responsible for the overall organization of the entire hospital department. In the surgical department at Seattle Grace Hospital, that responsibility is given to Dr. Richard Webber.
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“What are the qualities of successful doctors?” is the question that both practicing medical doctors and medical students want to be answered. Of course, you are curious. After all, you want to be a successful doctor too. So, what makes them successful? Is it their excellent choice of medical schools? Their outstanding grades? To give you some tips on how to be a great physician someday, here are some of the qualities of successful doctors:
Successful doctors are excellent communicators
Social interaction is both inevitable and important in medical practice. Case in point: Dr. Cristina Yang of Grey’s Anatomy. Dr. Yang graduated received top honors from Stanford Medical School and got her PhD from Berkeley. She is a walking medical textbook with excellent surgical skills. So, what’s missing? People skills. Dr. Yang is not comfortable with communicating with her patients or good at delivering terrible news. You need to find a balance between medical aptitude and social skills to be a successful doctor. Patients are people too, and they need to be taken care of with enough sensitivity.
Successful doctors are keen observers
Great things, they say, come in small packages, and this still holds true when it comes to diseases and disorders. Malaria starts with a tiny mosquito bite. Cancer begins with a small malignant tumor. An eye for detail is very important in medical practice because it will help you in easily identifying the cause of an illness or the problem of a patient. A keen observation will help you save a person’s life. In medical practice, you have to stay curious and alert 100% of the time before things get worse. If you wish to have a successful career in medicine, then you should start practicing that Sherlock Holmes vigilance.
Successful doctor are time management experts
Yes, time management is very important in medical practice. Time management, however, doesn’t start with medical residency. It should start during medical school. Practicing excellent time management skills during medical school not only helps you study all your lessons well but it also helps you get more sleep. Organizing your daily activities into a tight schedule is very effective in fighting procrastination and laziness. If your schedule for studying biochemistry is from 8:00 to 10:30 pm only, then you must understand pyruvate oxidation by 10:30 pm. And if your schedule indicates that you need to be asleep from 12:00 midnight to 5:00 am, then you better be in bed once midnight strikes.
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Marriage and medical school work are two of the toughest things to manage. Both need your full attention and 100% dedication. So, what happens when you find yourself in a situation where you have to fulfill duties as a student and as a wife and mother? Can you survive medical school and save your marriage at the same time?
Juggling spousal responsibilities and medical school work
If you are a woman, juggling marriage and medical school will be extra hard for you. As a wife, you are expected not only to take care of your husband but also to take care of your household. You have to cook dinner, wash dishes, sweep floors, and buy groceries while studying for pharmacology or neuroanatomy. If you can afford it, then get some household help. It may cost you money, but it will also lessen your chores and increase your sleep hours. By taking your mind off household chores, you are also able to focus more on your studies.
Balancing marriage, medical school work, and parenting
What is more difficult than juggling marriage and medical school? Parenting duties. It takes a lot of willpower to succeed in maintaining your marriage, passing your subjects, and raising your child at the same time. It is difficult, yes, but it is still very possible to excel in both roles. All you need is excellent time management skill. Organize a daily schedule of your activities. During your time off medical school, spend some quality time with your spouse and your child. It doesn’t matter if you visit a park or stay at home, what’s important is that you enjoy your time together.
If you are yet to be parents, then wait until graduation or residency before having children. This is not to say that a baby will ruin your chances of finishing medical school. A baby is always a blessing, but it will also make things more challenging for you. Parenting is a serious obligation that needs 100% attention and commitment. It will be thrice as hard to survive the stress of medical school and overcome the pressure of parenting. Don’t try to be a superhero. Do things one step at a time.
Marriage is not always a disadvantage to medical students. Knowing that somebody at home is waiting for you is enough inspiration to help you do well in your tests and examinations. Besides, a warm and sweet “welcomed home” from your wonderful and supportive partner after a stressful day in medical school is all you need to stay happy.
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Majority of the students who apply to and get accepted in medical school are science majors. They spend their college years studying vertebrate anatomy and organic chemistry to prepare themselves for medical school. So, what if you took up journalism or political science in college only to find out that a career in medicine is your true calling? Can you still get into medical school?
Yes, you still can. Yes, you can get into medical school because having a science major in college has never been a requirement, but you still need to accomplish certain medical school prerequisites to qualify for admissions. Before filling up that medical school application form, make sure that you get passing marks in the required science courses for medical school.
Science courses required in medical school
Although a science major is not necessary to get into medical school, you are still required to take up science courses to qualify for enrollment. The required science courses include biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. In most medical schools, applicants are also required to take up basic psychology units to qualify for enrollment. Basic psychology is a good preparation for medical psychology, especially if you are interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry. Non-science courses like English, humanities, and social sciences are also needed.
Personal statement tips for non-science majors
When it comes to academic background, science majors have an advantage over non-science majors like you. Science majors have more experience in dissection and other laboratory work and in naming organic compounds. To increase your chances of getting accepted in the medical school of your choice, you have to submit a well-written personal statement. Personal statement is a written appeal to the admission evaluators that explains why you are worthy of a slot in medical school. Your goal in writing your personal statement for medical school is to convince the admission evaluators that your non-science major is essential to medical practice. Take time to reflect on the things you learned while you were in college and try to associate them with medical practice.
Although it is not required to get you into medical school, science major is still the preferred pre-medical degree by most medical schools. But if you already finished history or fine arts, don’t give up just yet. Besides, hard work and determination are all you need to succeed in medical school.
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Have you decided on a medical specialization yet? If not, then you should start checking your options now. Selecting a medical specialization, just like writing sample medical school personal statements, needs a lot of careful planning and evaluation. One of the things that you have to consider in your selection is the tightness of competition. Medical practice, after all, is not only about helping other people survive but also helping yourself survive. To help you make your choice, here are some of the most competitive medical specializations according to most people.
Neurosurgery
It may look easy for Dr. McDreamy, but neurosurgery is actually one of the toughest specializations in the medical world. There is absolutely no room for mistakes in neurosurgery because the nervous system is the control unit of a person’s entirety, so damaging one part of the brain can ultiately harm the whole person. Even the slightest mistake in neurosurgical operations may lead to paralysis, coma, psychosis, brain damage, or death. Despite the risks associated with it, neurosurgery still remains as a favorite medical specialization among aspiring doctors. Many doctors are drawn toward neurosurgery because it is both challenging and exciting. The human brain is so powerful and delicate that every successful neurosurgical operation seems like a medical breakthrough.
Dermatology
In a world where people are obsessed with physical beauty, it comes as no surprise that competition in dermatology is very tight. Skin care services, despite their being expensive, remain very popular because people want to look good all the time. Dermatology, however, is not limited to wart removal or skin whitening services. It also involves the treatment of skin diseases such as impetigo, dermatitis, acne, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, eczema, and melanoma. Because of its wide scope of potential patients, dermatology is still one of the most sought-after medical specializations today. Dermatology appeals to many medical practitioners because it involves a wide variety of medical procedures and a huge amount of salary.
Competition in neurosurgery and dermatology is tight, but it doesn’t mean that you have to cross them out of your list. If you think you can handle the insertion of electrode in people’s brain or the removal of tissue from people’s eyelids, then go for it. After all, you did mention in your sample medical school personal statements that you will do whatever it takes to succeed in the world of medicine.
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After coping with stress in medical school and adapting to the pressure of medical residency, doctors must face yet another tough challenge in their medical career: the selection of medical specializations. Here are some of the most popular medical specializations:
* Plastic surgery
One of the most popular specializations in the world of medical practice is plastic surgery, but what most medical students do not understand is that plastic surgery is one of the toughest medical specializations to excel in. The reconstruction of physical deformities and enhancement of physical assets are not as easy as creating incisions or making stitches on a patient’s body. Plastic surgery is always coupled with a lot of risks, which usually include paralysis and death.
Cause of popularity: Aside from the expensive rates involved in surgical procedures, surgery owes it popularity to people’s undeniable obsession with physical beauty.
* Pediatrics
Because cute little kids are so hard to resist, more and more medical students are making their way toward pediatrics. The job of pediatricians goes beyond asking for deep breaths and checking for possible infections. Pediatricians provide medical care not only for children’s physical health but also for children’s mental condition and social wellness. They also give tips and guidelines on how to avoid chronic diseases and maintain proper nutrition.
Cause of popularity: Aside from having adorable children as patients, pediatrics owes its popularity to the fact that most parents will pay large amounts of money just to ensure their child’s safety.
* Obstetrics and gynecology
Probably the most popular medical specialization among female doctors is obstetrics and gynecology. This medical specialization remains close to every female doctor’s heart because it focuses on parts of the anatomy that are found only in women. Obstetrics and gynecology deals with the provision of medical care for the reproductive health of both pregnant and non-pregnant patients.
Cause of popularity: Aside from the challenge and excitement of administering births, the fact that women get pregnant and give birth every single day assure these medical practitioners of a stable practice.
The cultural popularity, as well as the amount of salary involved, should never be the basis for selecting a medical specialization. Medical practitioners should choose a medical specialization in which they feel most useful in. Those interested in treating skin diseases should pursue dermatology, while those who are interested in treating heart diseases should go for cardiology. The selection of medical specialization must always be based on passion because that is the only way doctors can do their job effectively.
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Student-teacher ratio is the number of teachers with respect to the number of students in a given academic institution. To ensure the effective conveyance of knowledge from teacher to students, the preferred student-teacher ratio is between 10:1 and 15:1. Here are some examples of medical schools with low student-teacher ratio:
Washington University School of Medicine
An example of a medical school having low student-teacher ratio is Washington University School of Medicine. Only a limited number of students are admitted to this St. Louis, Missouri medical school because the administration wishes to preserve the quality of its graduates. Washington University School of Medicine, by limiting its annual enrollees, is able to provide equal opportunities and quality education to each medical student.
Harvard Medical School
With over 10,000 faculty members to educate its medical students, Harvard Medical School has one of the lowest student-teacher ratios in the country. To preserve the school’s academic excellence, the Harvard faculty sees to it that each medical student is given enough attention and education to become a great medical practitioner. Harvard Medical School, aside from having a low student-teacher ratio, is also the current number one medical school in the country according to many experts.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Like Washington University and Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine maintains a low student-teacher ratio to ensure the proper education of its students. Johns Hopkins medical school started the “Hopkins Model” of teaching, which is a combination of basic science education and intensive clinical mentoring.
Top medical schools have low student-teacher ratios
Most medical schools with low student-teacher ratios also do well in overall top medical school rankings. Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Washington University School of Medicine all managed to secure top 5 spots in the 2008 list. One of the main reasons for this is that the teachers find it easier to teach in an intimate setting than a crowded room. Learning, after all, is easier when you share a classroom with ten more students than a lecture hall that can accommodate almost a hundred people.
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