Studying for Step 2: A thank-you to my parents

I want to say a special thank you to Mom and Dad.

Before driving up to UC Davis for my externship, I spent a couple weeks studying for the USMLE Step 2 at their house. I'm pretty sure that I wasn't the most pleasant person to be around during those two weeks, but they put up with me anyways, and they did so much to help me get through all the studying.

They set aside a designated study area and respected my need for a quiet study environment. My dad found an empty room at his office that served as an alternate place to study when I got tired of studying at home. My mom was home most of the time, and we chatted or played a quick game of Parcheesi in between question sets or when I needed a short break. We went to the movies together and played pool together in the evenings when it was time to relax. Plus, my mom fed me! Except for all the studying, I had a wonderful time visiting with my parents.

They have already done so much to support me in medical school, and I want them (and everyone else, apparently) to know how much I appreciate everything they do to help me.

In short, my parents are wonderful. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Externship at Davis

I have neglected to mention on this blog a major development in my medical education. During fourth year, it is common for students to do clinical rotations at different medical schools. These away rotations are called externships; they serve as a sort of month-long interview for residency, allowing both the student and the program to check each other out before or during the interview season.

I applied for an externship at the University of California Davis in their combined medicine/psychiatry department, and that's where I am right now. In fact, today was my first day! I am looking forward to this coming month to gain first-hand experience in this combined field.

How are medicine and psychiatry combined in practice? What do my attendings' careers look like? What sorts of careers do the medicine/psychiatry residents hope to forge for themselves? Do I want to spend the extra time and money for this dual training, or can I achieve my career goals through another training route?

This coming month promises to be very informative.

Escape

After taking the MCAT, I escaped to China. After taking the USMLE Step 1, I escaped to the Utah National Parks. Now that I just finished taking the USMLE Step 2, both Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills, I am escaping up the California coast. I love California!