Contributing Writer
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Samuel is a medical student at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island class of 2027. In 2021 he graduated from Macalester College with a Bachelor of Arts in neuroscience. He enjoys playing tennis, running and traveling in his free time. After graduating medical school, Sam would like to pursue a career in neurology.
It was just like any other screening visit and I had already organized the clinical trial documents in preparation for the patient’s arrival. The moment that the electronic medical record refreshed to show that our 9 a.m. patient arrived, I knew it was my cue. I brought the patient back to the exam room and told him that the doctor would be with him soon. The patient, EM, a man in his 70s, was here …
The purpose of this piece is not to assign blame, nor is it to debate the inciting event for the current state of the people in Gaza. Instead, I hope to inspire you, the reader, to set aside any political differences and to lean into your role as both a human and patient advocate. I urge you to speak up in support of our colleagues overseas, who are treating and operating under the threat of death; for history will not judge our silence kindly.
The stress of juggling multiple projects, some of which held little interest, seemed to overshadow their summer which should have been devoted to personal and professional development. In addition, I began to question if some of them would attempt to take shortcuts in their research.
A physician’s two favorite words: diet and exercise. Patients are constantly told that lifestyle interventions are the most important modifiable risk factors to prevent chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension.
In light of obesity’s concerning prevalence and economic burden, it becomes imperative that we equip future health care providers with the knowledge and skills essential for effective obesity management. However, despite the numerous consequences of obesity on both individuals and society, medical students are often found to be inadequately prepared to discuss weight management with patients.
The gentle breeze of the summer evening embraces my hometown of Suwon, Korea. Holding my hand, my grandma takes small, deliberate steps forward. Two months into my fourth year of medical school, I am back home for a short break before beginning the residency application process.
During my three weeks working in the pediatric dialysis unit and the post-kidney transplant unit, I noticed a troublesome trend. The whiter and younger pediatric patients were resting comfortably in the post-transplant unit with their new surgically placed kidney being meticulously taken care of. The darker and older pediatric patients spent countless, mindless hours attached to a dialysis machine with little hope for a new kidney after years of being on the waitlist.
In disease and in health, our bodies tell stories. But more often than not, these stories are left unheard and unseen. A meaningful method for illuminating untold stories is through traditional/classical dance forms. Dance especially is a space for knowledge and roles to be authentically represented. For marginalized communities in particular, traditional dance has for centuries been a medium for creative expression and healing despite how circumstances and society have complicated their access to care.
In a time when we began medical school online during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of our preclinical medical education was lecture-based. This meant my experiences at the free health clinics affiliated with our institution were more valuable than ever in introducing me to patient care.
In the modern era, image is everything. Our evaluations from both preceptors and peers can drastically change our life trajectory and this is far more true in the realm of medicine.
As a Muslim living in a city with a hot and humid climate, I can attest that when it’s time to break my fast, water is the only thing on my mind. Drinking water seems to immediately quench my thirst. But does this mean that the water is absorbed from my stomach into the bloodstream at the exact moment of consumption?
As a medical student, finding a research mentor can be a challenging task. However, with careful planning and communication, building a productive and mutually beneficial mentor-mentee relationship is possible.
Contributing Writer
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Chiamaka (Amaka) Okorie is a fourth year medical student at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH, class of 2024. In 2016, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology, after migrating from Nigeria. As an Albert Schweitzer fellow, she is currently working on developing a healthcare "accompaniment" program for refugees who are being welcomed to the Upper Valley. She has also been involved in scholarly work, including creating cell models of Darier's disease through CRISPR Gene editing. After graduating medical school, Amaka would like to pursue a career in dermatology.
