The Work-Life Balance Paradox

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.

How to Rock Your Interview

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.

Tales from the Interview Trail ENT

Tales from the Interview Trail is our newest series of podcasts where we discuss advice, tips, and amusing tidbits from various specialties. To kick it off, Jess and Jenny interview ENT applicant Brian Cervenka, whose interview season was filled with pressure-tests you thought only happened on primetime doctor dramas.

P = MD

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.

How to Choose a Medical Specialty

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.