THE ULTIMATE MEDICAL GIFT GUIDE

How is it already the holidays? I feel like I just started intern year! I've had six months of intern year under my belt and with that time, I've come to find some really useful gadgets and items that have made my life easier and wanted to share with everyone just in time for the holiday season. If you're having trouble finding a gift for the medical professional in your life, look below for some ideas!

GUEST BLOG: THE HIGHEST OF HIGHS AND LOWEST OF LOWS, A MS4 PERSPECTIVE AFTER FAILING TO MATCH

*The Highest of Highs and Lowest of Lows*

A 4^th year Medical Students Perspective after Failing to Match

*Trigger warning: suicidal thoughts*

Before I get started with writing, I just wanted it to be known that I was asked by a dear friend and colleague to write this for her blog. Full disclosure: writing has never been a gift of mine, but what follows is coming from a place of honesty and truthfulness. I hope someone out there can learn from my experience and mistakes. And for those of us that felt the devastation and heart break that I felt on that day, hopefully you know you are not alone.

Match Day is synonymous with a celebration for most medical students from the moment we enter medical school. It is the day you learn where you get to pick up and move to next in the chapter of learning the art and science of practicing medicine. It is what people have spent many nights dreaming about for countless years − when all the hard work, sleepless nights, exorbitant amounts of stress all go away because it paid off. The sacrifices of missed family vacations, weddings, birthdays, parties all makes a little bit of sense for that moment in time. Well, what happens when that day goes from what is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of your medical career to one of the worst days of your life in the blink of an eye?

Making Myself 100% For the Transition to Residency [MERCK MANUAL STUDENT STORIES]

Finally. Residency.

I have to be completely honest when I say that I never actually expected this day to come. I had a countdown on my watch for graduation and I remember when the days were in the triple digits. Having graduated this past weekend, I am so thankful and grateful for the opportunity to continue my education into residency. Knowing that the next five years of residency will be tough, I decided to spend the last couple of free months making myself, “100% for Residency.” What exactly does that mean? It means that I want to make sure that I’m the best version of myself going into intern year whether it be mentally, physically, or emotionally. Here are the ways I am doing that:

The Best Tools for a General Surgery Away Rotation [Merck Manual Student Stories]

Hello guys! Now that I have matched into a general surgery residency, I feel like I can discuss all of the great tools that contributed to successful away rotations in general surgery. I believe the biggest tool that you can possess is a great work ethic because many of these surgical away rotations are grueling. Residents and attendings may expect you to be an acting intern, rounding and presenting patients, studying for OR cases, performing techniques, and working the same number of hours as residents. The following tools can also add to your experience, so continue reading for some of my favorite things on my away rotations!

YANGSWEARABOUTS MATCH SERIES: GENERAL SURGERY

Hi guys! I was invited by one of my favorite Instagrammers/Bloggers, YangsWearAbouts, to write for her Match Series! This series features fourth-year medical students who successfully match into their respective specialties. Since the beginning of its conception last year, I've always dreamed about writing for this series. To decrease the repetitiveness, my journey through the residency application process is summarized in this piece! Follow the link below for my general surgery residency application process!

Click here for the ups and downs of my general surgery residency application!

My Match Experience: Why I Chose General Surgery [Merck Manual Student Stories]

It’s been about three weeks since I found out that I matched into my number one general surgery program and I am still on an absolute high. There were so many moments in medical school where I kept asking myself, “Is this going to be worth it someday?” For all of you still questioning this, IT IS SO WORTH IT.

You question a lot when you apply to medical school. You question a lot when you’re studying for your first set of boards. You question yourself on what specialty you’ll ultimately choose. You question yourself more times than you can count during the residency application process.

Continued on Merck Manuals Student Stories!

A PREFACE TO MY MATCH POST: THE APPLICATION AND MATCH PROCESS

Hi guys! Long time no blog. As I was writing my biggest blog post about matching, I realized that I never provided background information about the match process. Many of you guys are premed or in the early years of medical school and I remember being completely oblivious to the residency process. To be completely honest, it was a learning process even up until Match day! This post serves as a guide to the process of medical school up until the beginning of residency. *Note: all of my posts will be from a DO medical student point of view. My MD student counterparts experience similar circumstances.

My Match Experience: The Moment I Matched [MERCK MANUAL STUDENT STORIES]

Honestly, where do I even begin this post? The moment I found out I matched was honestly such a blur. The hours that followed were a blur. Honestly, I think I’m finally coming down from all of the excitement and it’s been nearly a week!

Continued on Merck Manuals Student Stories!

How I’m Making the Best of My Last Rotations [Merck Manual Student Stories]

It completely boggles my mind that I have roughly four months until I graduate! I recently completed all of my audition rotations and have several interviews left before I submit my residency rank list. So, where exactly does that leave me now? Isn’t this the time when fourth years experience “senioritis” and do “easy” rotations?

Continued on Merck Manual Student Stories!

FOURTH YEAR UPDATE: FIVE MONTHS TO GO

Hi guys! Long time no post on this blog! I've been writing for Merck Manuals Med Student Stories so head on over there for my latest musings.

I wanted to do a special post here because my life has slowed down quite drastically as 2017 said its last goodbyes. I feel like I've grown so much over the last six months and I wanted to keep you guys updated on where my life is now in medical school.