So I didn't get to take my diagnostic test last Thursday as I got called into work. I worked through the weekend, and finally had a chance to take the test on Monday, December 30th. I scored a 23, with verbal reasoning my highest score. My goal is a 36, and a "competitive" score for medical schools is a 31. According to Kaplan, I need to put in a lot of hours of practice. But then I already figured on that. I need a refresher in most of my science. It's amazing how I learn it then promptly let it go after a test...and now have to relearn it (though it's always faster the second time)!
In addition, I picked up a book, When Doctors Don't Listen, but Leana Wen, M.D., and Joshuya Kosowsky, M.D. This is a fantastic, must-read book! I read most of it in one night. It echoed a lot of the reasons I wanted to become a doctor in the first place. They discuss the lost art of listening to a patient's narrative. They don't agree everything should be "cookbook" medicine where everyone who mentions a hot button topic (like "chest pain") should automatically get every test for a heart attack. Especially if the person went in saying they think it's because they lifted to much and it feel more like the pecs than deeper in the chest. So many doctors get tunnel vision instead of considering the potential diagnoses and working on one or two. So many people leave their doc's offices know what they don't have, but not what they DO have. This book gives patients tools to help get their doctors to listen while the authors are also talking to doctors to get them to start listening as well. While all the science we have is fantastic and needed, we also need to get back to the master clinicians who know how to get the patients' stories and ultimately get at least a working diagnoses.
In addition to reading, I'm also starting to put together my request letters for letters of recommendation from my professors. Med school applications open up in May, and I need to have the letters ready by then. I want to make sure my teachers have time to write up a good one for me. :)
The new year is starting off busy. Hopefully it'll be productive and positive as well!
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