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People around the world show remarkable similarity in their daily eating habits: meals start off healthy in the morning, but get progressively worse throughout the day – until by nightfall we’re deep into junk food territory. Just take a look at these images from mobile startup Massive Health. I just downloaded this app and it’s very interesting.
The Matilda Effect in Science -
A new study from Social Studies of Science (published by SAGE) reveals that when men chair committees that select scientific awards recipients, males win the awards more than 95% of the time. This new study also reports that while in the past two decades women have begun to win more awards for their scientific achievements, compared to men, they win more service and teaching awards and fewer prestigious scholarly awards than would be expected based on their representation in the nomination pool.
Wow the career aspirations are interesting yet not surprising. Even within the field of medicine, the “lifestyle-oriented” specialties have become more enticing, and hence more competitive.
Kids Today vs. Kids in 1982
An interesting infographic (this is an excerpt, full version is here) for many reasons, including smoking, safe sex and graduation rate stats. But pay special attention to that “career aspirations” section there.
We’ve got some work to do yet, science fans. The importance of STEM jobs in our economy is only growing. We can’t let a generation slip away.
(via PR Daily)
Benefits of yogurt (in mice): Less weight gain and bigger testicles -
I feel like yogurt companies might start advertising this study’s outcomes.
Can a Hospital Say, "Only Thin Doctors Can Work Here"? -
Interesting ethics article especially in light of news of the “Fat Forecast” that by 2013, 42% of the US population may be obese.
Miko, my 20+ year-old dog. (Taken with instagram)
Grenadian food at Dekalb market! (Taken with instagram)
Washington Square Park on this cold spring night. (Taken with instagram)
Last day of medical school and paper #7 published!
Doctor and Patient: Reinventing the 3rd Year of Medical School -
For nearly a century, the third year of medical school has been a pivotal point in training, a crucial step in the development of professional skills and attitudes toward patients. Recently, however, the tradition of monthlong “rotations” – a speed-dating introduction to the major disciplines of medicine and the issues patients face – has come under fire. During their third year, medical students are under constant pressure to perform for an ever-changing group of senior physicians, who in turn must evaluate the students based on brief interactions. Sailing through as many as six disciplines in just under a year, students have opportunities for only transient relationships, garnering mere snapshots of their patients’ illnesses and lives. Not surprisingly, studies have shown that these experiences result in “ethical erosion.” Students’ sense of empathy and bedside manner deteriorate, and many begin to refer to their patients not as people but as diseases, that dehumanizing shorthand of the wards.
This is an important issue. During my third year, at times it felt like I was speed-dating through some of my core rotations. Some rotations like Ob/Gyn, Pediatrics and Psych were only 6 weeks long, Family Medicine was only 4 weeks and Surgery and internal medicine were each 12 weeks. These short-lived experiences can really determine what field you end up choosing. Among my friends, it varied greatly with each hospital. For example, Ob/Gyn at one hospital really deterred most of my friends, including myself, from considering a career in the field. Whereas in a more “friendly,” positively involving program, more people chose that field. With USMLE Step 2 CS and CK hanging over you and preparing your ERAS application at the end of third year, these rotations can make or break what you apply in if you haven’t quite found your niche yet.
Harvard Medical School-Cambridge Integrated Clerkship, which assigns every third-year medical student to a “panel” of up to 100 patients to care for over the course of the year, seems like an interesting concept. I would imagine that following a patient for the course of an entire pregnancy or throughout the course of their disease, would be humanizing and inspiring. But I would worry about what you might miss out on. Part of balancing many patients with multiple diseases, is learning the tenuous balancing act that you will have to practice in your future career. Plus, for me, the more exposure to different illnesses, the better and more confident I became at handling the work-up. Part of this involved learning more about their specific disease or conditionn,which ultimately helps in reviewing for boards as well. I feel very lucky that in my internal medicine rotation and sub-I, I was empowered to manage my patient’s care from admission to discharge (overseen by my resident and attending, of course). While the patient turnover was pretty quick, it was challenging to learn the balancing act. However, I felt that I was able to have more than adequate interaction with my patients. But it certainly wasn’t like this in every rotation. In general, my advice would be to make it a goal to really get to know your patient well, beyond just their disease. Third year is the time to really discover where you might see yourself in the grand scheme of medicine, and help you decide how you want to spend your fourth year electives. It’s a time to learn, connect with patients, get a sense of responsibilities of being a doctor, and hopefully, a time to continue to be inspired along the way.
I love this Sophia Blackall subway poster. It really captures all the unique characters you find on any given ride on the subway. Yes, I’ve had some horrible experiences on the subway with now 5 flashers/exhibitionist and 1 frotter. But the subway is unlike any other place with its mix of people, smells and sounds, unique to the fabric of NYC.
(Source: sophieblackall.blogspot.com)
Bacon donuts with dulce de leche and coffee ice cream… Better than birthday cake! (Taken with instagram)
Awesome!
(via librarianista)
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