Age 28
From New York City, New York
B.S. Biology from Stony Brook University
What does your typical day of medical school look like?
Monday: An exam in the afternoon, followed by lunch with friends. After that, I study until about 7 to 8 pm at school before calling it a day. T
Tuesday: I attend an OMM lecture from 9-10 am, followed by Behavioral Science class from 12-1 pm, and an OMM lab from 1-3 pm. After that, I study at the library until 10 pm.
Wednesday: I have Clinical Science classes from 9-12 pm and then usually study until 10 pm.
Thursday: I work on my studies from 11-5 pm and then continue studying until 10 pm.
Friday: I attend Medsim from 8-2 pm, and then study until 10 pm. Saturday and Sunday are usually days off, with just a bit of studying, unless it’s near an exam, in which case they become full study days. It seems like a lot of studying, but honestly, there are also times where I just talk with friends or watch YouTube videos to unwind.
Are there unique aspects to the curriculum at your medical school or niches that your medical school has emphasized with respect to medical education?
OMM has really helped me improve my palpation skills and has made me more comfortable using my sense of touch. While there are both pros and cons to OMM, and some topics make me question its effectiveness, I believe that the ability to palpate and solidify my anatomy knowledge is a real advantage.
What clubs and organizations (both academic and non-academic) are you a part of? Additionally, are there any organizations or club events (even if you aren’t a part of them) that you think are unique to your school?
I am part of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons student organization as its vice president and the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association student organization as its treasurer. One of the events that I find really helpful and unique is the biannual health fair that Touro puts on in Harlem, where all the student organizations participate. APAMSA also hosts Project Heal, where we teach high school students about hepatitis B. Another distinctive event/program at Touro is Medachieve, where high school students come in on a weekly basis and are taught and mentored by medical students.
Can you give us a brief description of the area surrounding your school? What are some of the more common things you or your classmates have done in the surrounding area during your free time for fun?
There are plenty of restaurants around Harlem where my friends and I go during our free time. We have also caught a number of movies in the movie theater, which is just a block away. Additionally, there are multiple gyms and a rock climbing place near the school that we often visit for recreation.Some people end up going to medical school very close to where they grew up, whereas others move to a completely new place.
Depending on your personal experience, can you describe how the location of your medical school relative to your family/support system/home base has affected your experience?
I grew up in New York City, and I consider myself lucky to still live with my family, who are a big part of my support system. Being able to come home to a home-cooked meal and having someone to talk to (my brother is also in med school as a first-year) has been a tremendous support during my medical school experience.
How would you describe the social scene outside of medical school?
The social scene outside of medical school is less frequent now, but during the first year, after exams, we used to go out to eat or go out for drinks. It almost without fail ended with us at K-town for karaoke.How has your medical school facilitated physical and mental well-being?
To expand on this question… Do you think your program has prioritized the well-being of its students? Do you have access to a gym or other ways of exercising? Do you have access to mental health resources?
Touro has been supportive of our physical and mental well-being. The program has prioritized student well-being, and we have access to a gym and other ways of exercising. Moreover, we have access to mental health resources to ensure we can address any challenges or stress that may arise during our medical education.
How has your medical school helped you connect with mentors, and how have these mentors helped you?
Each student gets an upperclassman as a mentor the minute they begin their first year, as well as a faculty advisor. These mentors have been instrumental in providing guidance, support, and advice throughout my journey in medical school.
During your first and second year of medical school, what exposure to clinical medicine have you had? Are there unique experiences during the pre-clinical years that expose medical students to patient interaction?
During the first and second year of medical school, we have had some exposure to clinical medicine, including interactions with patients through unique experiences integrated into the pre-clinical curriculum.
What would you say has been the most difficult part of medical school? An alternative question… What do you think has been the biggest sacrifice you have made in going to medical school?
The most difficult part about medical school was dealing with the sheer amount of material and learning to accept that it is impossible to know everything and be perfect at everything. Initially, the volume of material was overwhelming, but with time, I adapted and learned to focus on doing my best rather than striving for perfection.
If you could go back in time to the beginning of your undergraduate years, what advice would you give yourself?
I would tell myself to participate in more clubs and socialize more during my undergraduate years.
How are your pre-clinical courses graded? Are video lectures available? Either live or for review?
Pre-clinical courses are graded on a z-score scale based on the averages and standard deviation of the previous three years. Video lectures are available, and we have both live classes and recorded lectures for review.