Med Forum: Recent Episodes
Jessica Mason, MD
Doctors Jess Mason and Jenny Farah discuss the real life ethical dilemmas that happen during medical school, residency, and beyond. How should we deal with this? When should we raise our concerns? Who should we talk to? We discuss.
Emergency medicine residents Jess Mason and Jenny Farah take on the rank list. How should you approach such a big decision?
Jess and Jenny tell you the inside scoop on what happens at residency interview dinners and socials, from a resident perspective.
Original release date 11/15/2015
Many have asked, “What should I do during the summer after 1st year of med school?” Don’t stress, Drs. Jess Mason and Jenny Farah have got you covered.
Original release date 10/26/2015
The idea of “work-life balance” is a feel-good phrase, but what does it really mean and is it possible? Straight shooting advice from your hosts, emergency medicine residents, Jess Mason and Jenny Farah, with guest Dave Mason.
Tips from Drs. Jess Mason & Jenny Farah on making the most fabu 4th year schedule. Learn, laugh, repeat!
Original release date 7/14/2015
Jess Mason breaks down how to ace your ICU rotations. Follow these 3 pointers and you’re gold!
Jess Mason & Jenny Farah cover the common missteps in studying while in medical school. How do you drink from a firehose? Here are some tips.
Original release date 1/24/2015
Jess Mason and Jenny Farah reveal all the advice that helped them match into emergency medicine residency. A must listen for the EM interested folks! A lot of good general advice as well for the residency application process and the match, regardless of specialty choice.
Original release date 4/15/2014
Jess Mason and Jenny Farah give you the low-down on how to do an excellent patient presentation. Few skills are more crucial to your success in clinical rotations. We’ll break it down to build you up!
Original release date 4/6/2014
Jess Mason and Jenny Farah cover how to succeed with standardized patients, or OSCEs (objective structure clinical exams). We all know these medical school training exercises make our stomachs churn. Med students: tune in your earbuds for some advice and laughs!
Music credit: “Fabulous” by Dr. Theopolis (www.drtheopolis.com)
Original release date 4/27/2014
Don’t underestimate the importance of networking! Jess & Jenny give their advice on how to network effectively and appropriately when applying to med school and residency. Take a 22 minute break from studying and let us talk into your earbuds.
Original release date 10/27/2013
Jess Mason interviews the founders of InterviewSeason.com, Alexis Dixon and Stu Schroff, about how their website gets you through this stressful time. A good interview season should be busy — even chaotic at times. But it doesn’t have to be a disorganized mish-mosh. I have no financial ties to InterviewSeason.com. Sharing this resource is from the pure, wholesome goodness of my sinoatrial node.
Original release date 7/27/2013
This is a two-part series on couples matching, or pursuing medical careers as a couple. In these interviews Alexis Dixon and Stu Schroff reveal how they managed to get into med school and residency together. This is part two, which covers how they couples matched into competitive residencies in orthopedic surgery and radiology. So rather than bicker on your next road trip with your sig-other, bring us along and listen to some “sound” advice.
Original release date 7/5/2013
This is a two-part series on couples matching, or pursuing medical careers as a couple. In these interviews with Alexis Dixon and Stu Schroff, they reveal how they managed to get into med school and residency together. This is part one, which covers how they got into med school together. In part two, “Couples Matching into Residency,” we go over the formal couples matching process and how it worked out for them. So share an ear bud with that special someone and listen up!
Original release date 7/5/2013
This is the interview advice no one’s ever told you before. You’re probably falling right into the deep and dank pit of pitfalls and don’t even know it. Jessica Mason and Jenny Farah interview the smart AND funny Dave Mason, our social guru.
Here’s some advice on a goal-oriented approach to planning your away rotations (aka “audition rotations”). Jessica Mason has a simple formula to get yourself well positioned for your residency applications and interviews.
Original release date 4/17/2013
How did Brian Cervenka get a board score that looks more like the weight of an NFL linebacker? Listen and learn. Brought to you by, yours truly, Jess Mason and Jenny Farah.
Original release date 4/17/2013
Jessica Mason interviews Diana, from Chicago Medical School, about the pros and cons of their letter grading system. You’ve heard Jess and Jenny’s take on pass/fail, now let’s hear what a letter graded system is like from a student that’s been experiencing it!
Original release date 3/18/2013
Jess and Jenny interview ENT applicant Brian Cervenka, whose interview season was filled with pressure-tests you thought only happened on primetime doctor dramas.
Original release date 3/9/2013
Jessica Mason and Jenny Farah deliver another impassioned episode about the grading systems used in medical schools. Pass/fail, letter grades, and other options are used by different schools across the country. What’s best? As usual, we’ll tell you some data and then what WE think.
Resources:
UVA School of Medicine website: FAQ for pass/fail grading
Gonnella JS, Erdmann JB, Hojat M. An empirical study of the predictive validity of number grades in medical school using 3 decades of longitudinal data: implications for a grading system. Med Educ. 2004 Apr;38(4):425-34.
Bloodgood RA, Short JG, Jackson JM, Martindale JR. A change to pass/fail grading in the first two years at one medical school results in improved psychological well-being. Acad Med. 2009 May;84(5):655-62.
Spring L, Robillard D, Gehlbach L, Simas TA. Impact of pass/fail grading on medical students’ well-being and academic outcomes. Med Educ. 2011 Sep;45(9):867-77. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.03989.x. Review.
Shimahara E. Should Medical Grades be Standardized? Improving the Resident Selection Process. J Grad Med Educ. 2010 Jun;2(2):297-9. doi:10.4300/JGME-D-09-00098.1.
Wagoner NE, Suriano JR. Program directors’ responses to a survey on variables used to select residents in a time of change. Acad Med. 1999 Jan;74(1):51-8.
Lewis CE, Hiatt JR, Wilkerson L, Tillou A, Parker NH, Hines OJ. Numerical Versus Pass/Fail Scoring on the USMLE: What Do Medical Students and Residents Want and Why? J Grad Med Educ. 2011 Mar;3(1):59-66. doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-10-00121.1.
What are the highest paid and lowest paid specialties in medicine? Jessica Mason and Jenny Farah unload some numbers and statistics on one of the most taboo subjects in medical school. Some of these numbers might surprise you, but the discrepancies between some of these numbers may shock you. Will doctors ever be happy?
Original release date 2/17/2013
References:
Physician Compensation Data: AMGA – American Medical Group Association
http://cejka.force.com/physiciancompensation (accessed 01/2013)
Medscape Physician Compensation Survey 2012
http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2012/public(accessed 01/2013)
Jess & Jenny give their blunt, trusted, perhaps even inspirational advice on how to choose a medical specialty…with a small side order of the house sarcasm. We tackle the biggest and possibly most stressful decision of your life and shine some light on a how to start on a goal-directed path.
Original release date 2/16/2013
Jess & Jenny interview two med students, Johanna and Alex, who each had babies during med school. How did they make it work? We talk about planning, timing, childcare, money, specialty choice, future plans, and more! This is key advice for any med student thinking about if and when to have kids.
Original release date 1/25/2013
References:
1) Cujec B, Oancia T, Bohm C, et al. Career and parenting satisfaction among medical students, residents, and physician teachers at a Canadian medical school. CMAJ. 2000 Mar 7;162(5):637-40.
2) Liebhardt H, Stolz K, Mortl K, et al. Starting a family during medical studies? Results of a pilot study on family friendliness in the study of medicine at the University of Ulm. GMS Z Med Ausbild. 2011;28(1):Doc14.
3) Sectish TC, Rosenberg AR, Pageler NM, et al. Making pediatrics residency programs family friendly: Views along the professional educational continuum. J Pediatr. 2006 Jul;149(1):1-2.
Nick Pokrajac and Virginia Smith-Bronstein drop some knowledge on how they studied for USMLE step 1 and step 2.
Original release date 11/25/2012
What should be your presence on social media sites as a medical student? Jess and Jenny cover how some medical students have gotten into trouble with how they present themselves on the web, and what you should do to protect yourself.
Original release date 11/24/2012
References:
1) Chretien KC, Greysen SR, Chretien JP, Kind T. Online posting of unprofessional content by medical students. JAMA. 2009 Sep 23;302(12):1309-15.
2) Thompson LA, Dawson K, Ferdig R, et al. The intersection of online social networking with medical professionalism. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 July; 23(7): 965-957.
3) ABC Eyewitness local news from Stony Brook: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=7253275
Jess interviews 4th year med students Virginia Smith-Bronstein and Nick Pokrajac about the top 5 things they wish they knew as first year medical students. Take heed of this wise advice.
Original release date 11/2/2012
One of the most frequently asked questions by med students is how to prepare for the USMLE board exams. Rather than just giving you our opinion, or one person’s opinion, we’re going to bring you a series of episodes interviewing different students about their study approach, what worked well, what they would do differently, and their best advice for you. We’re kicking it off with Guy Carmelli — our classmate who increased his Step score by 40 points from step 1 to step 2 (that’s huge!). Listen to find out how he did it.
Original release date: 11/1/2012
Doctors Jess Mason and Jenny Farah give a basic intro to the USMLE exams and when you take them. This episode is geared more towards premeds and 1st and 2nd year med students who are less familiar with the standardized exam purgatory they will inevitably face. Ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is power (and cliches are under-utilized).
Original release date 10/28/2012
Doctors Jess Mason and Jenny Farah hash out the controversy over attending live lectures vs webcasting from home.
Original release date 10/22/2012
Starting 3rd year rotations / clerkships is stressful. Here's some advice to help you get through it and succeed.
Original release date 10/22/2012
What’s this podcast all about? Why should you listen? Check out this brief introduction explaining what you can expect from Med Forum.
Original release date 10/21/2012