Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jonathan Carnino, MS1

Leave a reply

Age: 24
Hometown: Foxboro, MA
Undergrad: Boston University, Human Physiology

During your undergraduate studies, did you focus at all on involving yourself in research? If so, can you describe how you found out about the research opportunity, what getting the research position required, and what your responsibilities were for your research position?

I started research my summer entering junior year of college. Boston University (BU) has a website for PI’s to post opportunities on and I basically just emailed 5-10 of them all at once. I ended up only hearing back from 1 or 2 of them, and started working in a basic science lab that summer. I was fortunate to get funding from BU to support me through the summer. Then when that program ended, by PI ended up hiring me and paying me to stay. I ended up working their part-time junior year, full-time during the summer going into senior year, and again part-time senior year. Having longitudinal research was really critical to becoming efficient and being able to take on many responsibilities in the lab. After being trained on various basic lab techniques my first summer (RT-PCR, animal handling, Western Blot, cell culture, etc.), I was able to take on my own projects and eventually publish those results.

Looking back on your research experience during your undergraduate studies,  what do you think makes for a great research mentor or PI?

A great PI is one who is willing to give a student responsibility and who publishes very often. When seeking out PI’s, it’s always good to 1) check their yearly publication count, 2) see how often undergrads/med students are put on their papers, 3) see if they have NIH funding. If you find a PI with all 3, they’re likely a great person to get in touch with. Some PI’s also tend to give undergrad students just one experimental technique to do for other’s projects. For example you could get trained in PCR and just do PCR experiments every week for other researchers in your group. It will be difficult to run your own project, become skilled in other techniques, and gain independence if this is the case.

In a research position, what do you think is important for someone to do to help build a strong rapport with your PI/research mentor?

Never say no. Always take on any work your PI offers you. Even if you don’t necessarily know how to do what they’re asking, it can never hurt to say something along the lines of, “I don’t have any experience in this, but I’m willing to learn and take this on if you’d like”. If you repeatedly do this you’ll end up being the go-to person for your PI and learn a lot in the process. Don’t be afraid to fail or mess up either, it’s just part of the process.

How much do you think your research experience played a role into getting into medical school? Would you recommend all pre-medical students try and get involved with research?

Research was definitely a strong component of my application but surprisingly it didn’t come up too often in my medical school interviews. Most questions were focused on my clinical experience and/or impact I made on the community during school. I guess I’ll never know exactly how big of an impact it made. Regardless though, research is important during medical school especially if you are pursuing a competitive specialty. If you enter medical school with strong experience, it will be a lot easier to jump right into a project once you start school. Most students will need some time to adjust and figure out how research works, while you are able to hit the ground running. Therefore I’d definitely recommend students get involved in some capacity during undergrad or their gap year(s).

In medical school, when did you decide to involve yourself in research and what led you to make this decision? Looking back, would you have gotten involved in research at a different time? Earlier? Later?

I got involved in research about half-way through undergrad. In retrospect, I think this was a good time or I could have even got started a little later. It takes some time to get comfortable in undergrad and be able to add more to your plate. Overall, your grades matter more than having research experience at this stage. If you’re doing well in classes and find you have added free time, definitely get started in research or other application-building activities as soon as possible. But don’t be afraid to hold off on starting research later if you’re still focusing on acing your classes!

What types of research projects do you think are most suitable for medical students to complete on a realistic timeframe? Alternatively, can you describe one or some of the major research project that you are involved in and what your role is?

As a medical student, I think clinical research is the best area to get involved in. It’s much less time consuming and the pace is a lot more flexible. Basic research requires weekly commitment for months and even years to get results that are worth publishing. As a med student, it’s very difficult to find that amount of time to commit consistently. I find I can be very flexible working on my clinical research projects. For example, it’s no problem at all if I take an entire week off of doing anything research-related while preparing for exams, then cram extra work in on my project the weekend after an exam.

 If you are unsure about what specialty you are going to apply to, how would you approach getting involved in research?

I would just pursue research in anything that sounds exciting to you. When people ask you about your research, they’re more interested in seeing if you have a passion for pursuing it, no matter what area it’s in. Research-oriented medical students will become efficient and motivated researchers in residency too, that’s the trend they are looking for. I’d also look for a PI who will let you run your own project, being a first-author and the main person taking a project from start to finish holds a lot more weight than just helping out on smaller tasks.

If someone is unable to get a publication out of a research project, how else can you derive value from a research experience?

Very few people are able to publish their first research project. Your first project may be a real learning experience for you and you’ll likely make a few mistakes along the way. Over time, you’ll apply these lessons and become more efficient on the next projects you take on.

Do you have advice for medical students about how to balance class-related responsibilities (preparing for tests, etc.) and research?

I live off my google calendar. At the start of the week schedule in everything you need to get done, including classes, studying, research, and exercise. If you have it all planned out and follow your calendar, you’ll find it’s not too difficult to balance it all. Becoming a planner definitely will help you out in balancing all of these commitments.

Ana Khatia, MS2

Leave a reply

From Los Angeles, CA
UCLA, B.S. in Psychology

What does your typical day of medical school look like?

I wake up around 7:30AM and get started by 8AM. Most mornings I start by doing Anki. I do new cards first, take a short break and then work through all the reviews that are due. After I take a lunch break I start working on the new material. During first year I watched my schools lectures since that’s what we were being tested. But as an MS2 I will strictly be using outside resources. Depending on the theme we are in, I finish somewhere around 5-7PM, at which point I try to work out or do something not related to medical school in order to recharge for the next morning. If I am working on research then I try to get a paragraph or so written before I walk away from my computer for the day.

How do your classes and lectures compare to those at your undergraduate institution?

UCLA had a quarter system in which we went through materials fairly quickly, but it still does not compare to medical school. The amount of information being covered is immense and we do it at record speed. Not all lectures are a full hour like they were back at undergrad, but there is definitely a lot more material being coved. Classes so far have been completely online, which I enjoy since I can watch them on my own time. Instructors are nice but there are definitely few topic that I have had to look up on my own to either review the background information on or help me understand better what was being taught. Compared to undergrad the instructors at AMC have been a lot easier to get in touch with. Many of them are willing to get on the zoom call with you right away and work with you/ help you understand whatever topics might be confusing, which I have found to be really helpful.

How has your approach to learning and/or studying changed since you were an undergrad?

I definitely had more free time in undergrad and even while doing psychology and pre-med I would often wait till the last week before the finals to really sit down and study. I never had any issues with that approach while at UCLA and often earned high grades. In medical school I do my very best to study every single day. There is no waiting till the week of the exam to study. It would be impossible to pass any of the exams if that was the approach I took. Nowadays I prioritize doing work daily and trying to retain what I learned yesterday as I tackle new material the next day.

How would you describe the student culture at your school? Are there special events or activities that you consider very representative of the culture at your institution? What influence has this culture had on your experience in medical school thus far?

Everyone at AMC is very friendly and willing to help out. Starting from upperclassmen to my own classmates. Everyone shares resources and is willing to give you guidance on how to be successful in the upcoming theme. The students at AMC very much have the “we are all in this together” mentality. I feel very lucky to attend a medical school were we support each other and celebrate each others accomplishments.

Can you give us a brief description of the area surrounding your school and the things you do for fun? What are some things you like and dislike about the city/town you are located in as a student?

Coming from Los Angeles to move to a smaller city like Albany was quite a bit of an adjustment for me. I am used to a city where there is always something to do where as Albany is much smaller and there are just a handful of bars that everyone frequents, meaning that its almost guaranteed that you will run into the people you know from school while you are out. Albany is in a great location if you are willing to drive a bit. You can visit Boston, NYC etc. There are A LOT of places to hike at which are beautiful. There are lakes, places to go skiing/snowboarding. You can go apple picking in fall. Spring is absolutely beautiful here although…I wont lie…Winters can be quite brutal and dark. If you are an outdoorsy person you will enjoy living in upstate NY. If you are looking for bars and clubs, then Albany will probably not be the place for you (although you can always take a train down to NYC).

What would you consider strengths of your medical school?

A strength of AMC is how much support your peers and faculty are willing to provide you with. I had some family emergencies during my first year of medical school and the school was extremely understanding and accommodating, making sure I had time to be with my family without falling behind. At the end of the day it means the world to me to know that I am supported and my well being is prioritized by my school

What resources have been most useful to you in self-learning medical school material or in expanding on material taught in class? Can you briefly describe how you have incorporated them into your learning routine?

For first year I used a lot of Ninja Nerd. I would skim the power point for my schools lecture to see what material would be covered and then watch his videos, paying extra attention to parts that overlapped with my schools material. It helped me gain a better understanding of multiple topics that were being taught. BNB and First Aid were also helpful although they give a bit too much information for a first year med student.

How much/well have you been able to develop clinical skills alongside your classroom work first and second year? What does your institution do to help you develop clinical skills before the clinical years?

We have a longitudinal theme in clinical skill which has been the most helpful in developing clinical skills. I will also say that physicians that I have shadowed at AMC are very hands-on when it comes to first and second year medical students and they encourage you to be involved in patient interactions.

What is one thing you would do differently if you could go back to your undergraduate years or the time between undergrad and medical school?

I am inclined to say that I wish I had studied more or studied better in undergrad, but looking back I know I gave it my best at the time. I also tried really hard to spend time with my friends when I was living in LA. Regardless of the “mistakes” I might have made in my approach then it still got me where I am today and I am proud of that. My only true regret right now is the fact that I moved so far away from my family. I wish I had considered that more when picking a school to attend.

Given the number of obstacles we face en route to a career in medicine, everyone at some point feels doubtful of themselves. How has this affected you and what has helped you persevere through these sorts of feelings?

There are days when I still feel doubtful of myself, and if I get too caught up in those feelings it might even interfere with what I had planned to do that day. During such times I try to remind myself how far I have come in my journey so far and that I am here for a reason. My loved ones and my classmates also play a huge role in helping me overcome these feelings since we are so supportive of each other.

How do you maintain your mental health while balancing school, work, family, and other social obligations?

Working out a schedule that works for me has been a huge help in maintaining my mental health. Planning out the week ahead and setting timelines for myself allows me to not feel overwhelmed and take things one day at a time. On there I try to schedule time to call my family, work out etc. It’s unfortunate that I have to plan these activities for myself but otherwise I feel I would solely focus on how much I have to study and never leave the house.

Does your medical school provide access to lecture recordings/podcasts?

Given that all our lectures are online we definitely have access to the recordings.

How are your pre-clinical and clinical course work graded? (Pass/Fail, Honors, etc.)

First two years are P/F where passing grade is broken down into Excellent with Honors, Excellent, Good, etc. Although I believe the school is switching to simply P/F in the upcoming year.

Abraham Cheloff, MS2

Leave a reply


Brandeis University, Biology, Neuroscience, Chemical Biology, Legal Studies, B.S./M.S.
From the Greater Boston Area, Massachusetts

What does your typical day of medical school look like?

As our preclinical curriculum lasts only 14 months, I am currently in my core clerkship year, also called the Principal Clinical Experience, or PCE. Each day can vary by clerkship and what service I am on at the time. For inpatient weeks I tend to get to the hospital around 6am to pre round on my patients before rounding, which can last until noon. After a lunch talk, afternoons are spent writing notes, calling consults, and coordinating with the rest of the care team. Outpatient clinics start around 8:30am or 9am, and generally involved quick chart review, initiating a patient encounter, and presenting to your attending.

In the preclinical year, we use a flipped classroom with Case-Based Collaborative Learning (CBCL) in class structure. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday we are in the classroom 8am-12:30pm, with the afternoons off for class prep and other commitments (see the next question for more information). Wednesday are spent at our clinical site, working in a longitudinal primary care clinic, and practicing history taking and physical exams on inpatients.

How do your classes and lectures compare to those at your undergraduate institution?

The preclinical curriculum at HMS is pretty unique as we use the flipped classroom/CBCL structure mentioned above. The night before class you spend some amount of time learning the basics of information for the subject matter, primarily through videos and annotated handouts created for the course, along with a few textbook readings. In class, cases with both basic science and clinical questions are worked through in groups of 4 before being further discussed in the big group (a big group refers to one Harvard “society” equivalent to around 40 students). There are faculty members present to help organize the discussion and ensure that the teaching points are thoroughly discussed.

How has your approach to learning and/or studying changed since you were an undergrad?

I don’t think it has changed as much as I expected. I’ve always been someone who is a very activate class participant that reviews lecture notes after class, and I think that has worked well for me in our preclinical courses. As I continue through my clinical year, the biggest change I’ve found is becoming more efficient in my studying, as there is limited time outside of clinical duties to eat, sleep, complete daily tasks, and study as much as one would like. Limiting distractions like facebook has been most helpful to me so far.

How would you describe the student culture at your school? Are there special events or activities that you consider very representative of the culture at your institution? What influence has this culture had on your experience in medical school thus far?

As HMS has a full pass/fail curriculum in both the pre-clinical and core clerkship years (M1/M2) and no internal/external ranking or AOA membership in any year, we have what I find to be a collaborative learning environment that allows friendships to blossom outside of the classroom. The first year is filled with opportunities to get to know each other outside of the classroom, with the two most well-known being the class music video and FABRIC, a yearly multicultural class-show put on for Revisit weekend. The entire class comes together and puts together some really amazing work, while continuing our studies and clinical responsibilities.

What would you consider strengths of your medical school?

The passion of the educators here, both preclinical and clinical, has really struck me. Whether is was extra support, mentorship, or research and other extracurricular opportunities, there are so many faculty who love working with students. The number of possibilities at HMS truly feels endless, and the faculty support only makes those possibilities even more attainable.

How much/well have you been able to develop clinical skills alongside your classroom work first and second year? What does your institution do to help you develop clinical skills before the clinical years?

Entering my clinical year (as previously described in my M2 year) I felt extremely prepared clinically. In the first year each Wednesday was dedicated to clinical skills with a mix of working in a longitudinal primary care clinic, practicing history and physical exam skills on inpatients, and round-robins where patients with specific conditions come and allow us to examine them. There are also extracurricular opportunities, such as working at our student-faculty clinic that allow additional clinical time in the first year if desired.

Given the number of obstacles we face en route to a career in medicine, everyone at some point feels doubtful of themselves. How has this affected you and what has helped you persevere through these sorts of feelings?

Imposter syndrome is extremely pervasive in medical school given the number of amazing and intelligent colleagues and faculty that I get to work with each day. However, for each instance in which someone else has an answer, there are going to be just as many times when you will be the one in a place to help others. Never forgetting what your strengths are and what you bring to the table really helps in those moments where it feels like everyone else is bringing more than you. Of course, it is hard to be constantly reminding ourselves of this, but fortunately I have an amazing partner and friends who lift me up in those times, and I hope that I am able to act as that same support for others.

How do you maintain your mental health while balancing school, work, family, and other social obligations?

In the first year, having classes 8am-12:30pm four days a week allowed for plenty of schedule flexibility to complete appointments and other commitments that need to occur during business hours. This relieved a lot of stress, and made the balance of medical school much more seamless. Even in the core clinical year we have dedicated “flex” time in each rotation that is a certain number of afternoons off in order to complete those need to do tasks.