Learning doesn’t stop with your graceful exit from medical school. Medical practice, in itself, is a continuous learning process. To help new doctors learn more about the professional practice of medicine, medical experts began setting up teaching hospitals. Teaching hospitals are medical institutions that focus not only on providing medical care to patients but also on providing clinical training to interns. To give you an idea on which teaching hospitals to consider, here are some of the best teaching hospitals in the USA.
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital is responsible for the birth and development of popular medical specialties such as neurosurgery, pediatrics, endocrinology, and urology. Other medical breakthroughs such as the discovery of restriction enzymes, the identification of the three polio virus types, and the operation of the first blue baby have been all made in Johns Hopkins Hospital. To preserve and continue its legacy in the world of medicine and health care, Johns Hopkins Hospital invests in the proper training and education of its medical practitioners. A proof of its success? Eighteen consecutive years of recognition as the best medical institution and teaching hospital in the USA.
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Joining Johns Hopkins Hospital in the list of top medical institutions and best teaching hospitals in the USA is Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Canter. Aside from getting recognition for its overall medical services and programs, the teaching hospital also gained praises for its outstanding medical specialties. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is also known for its low mortality data, advanced medical technology, and brilliant medical practitioners. The secret to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center’s success? Its effective clinical education and training program not only for its interns but also for other medical residents.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Experience, they say, is the best teacher, and that saying is evidenced by the success of Massachusetts General Hospital. The teaching hospital, aside from being one of the best, is also one of the oldest medical institutions in the USA. The medical staff from Massachusetts General Hospital, through its affiliation with Harvard Medical School, is dedicated to finding new ways to improve medical clinical practice and develop medical innovation. The annual budget for their hospital-based research program is over US$400 million, the biggest in the USA.
Photo Credit : Ben+Sam
Got a study group invitation lately? Well, if you did, then you should say yes right away. Joining study group sessions is not only a great opportunity to meet potential partners, but it is also a good chance to improve your study habits and academic perforamce. And in the stress-filled world of medical school, study group sessions might just be your key to survival.
No room for procrastination
The worst enemy of studying is procrastination. Recurring thoughts of “I still have time” and “maybe tomorrow” will most likely direct you toward a movie theater instead of a library. There is no room for procrastination in a study group. In study group sessions, you study not only for yourself but also for the entire study group. If you put off your reading assignments or teaching duties, then the other members of your study group will also lag behind their medical school work. Be responsible and considerate. Many people are counting on you.
Enough collection of ideas
Study group sessions involve lots of discussions. You will be assigned one topic per session and you will be in-charge of explaining it to the rest of the study group. After your teaching duty, however, there will be a group discussion where each member will give his or her comments or ideas about the previously discussed topic. When you study alone, your ideas are only limited to what your brain can generate. In study group sessions, however, you also learn about the thoughts and ideas of your colleagues. Two heads are better than one, they say, and a gathering of bright minds in one room will generate enough ideas to complete a textbook. Besides, you will have more ideas on what to expect on your next test!
More chances for self-improvement
The benefits of joining study group sessions go beyond good grades and new friends. Frequently speaking before a small study group helps build your confidence and develop your interpersonal skills – qualities that every doctor must need. Getting used to listening to other people’s explanations or ideas is also an effective way to improve your attention span and recall ability. Exchanging ideas and comparing notes with your fellow study group members is actually a good preparation for your medical career. They allow you to enhance your critical thinking and problem solving skills by assessing not only your ideas but also your colleagues’.
Photo Credit : San Jose Library
