Be ready to jump right in to
rounds, Monday
clinic. Not much of an orientation.
How was the driving and parking?
garage
How bad were the on call hours?
Not bad at all. Every 5th night,
only until
9pm. Sometimes no one paged you, sometimes it was VERY busy.
What were your weekday hours?
7am-check your pts. 8:30-10:30 is
rounds.
Clinic is twice a week, 12-5 but usually you cut out at 3 for 3-5
lectures. CLOSING rounds at 5,
leave 6-6:30. Very little time off during the day, sometimes Tues/Thurs
afternoon is free. Lectures
were a couple times a week, not too exciting.
What were your weekend hours?
You have to do 1 morning rounds
every
weekend. Only a couple hours (9-11)
What should we know about the attendings and residents?
Dr
Kotagal and Dr
Fenton are both very nice guys, and they teach really well. The pimping is
very mellow and
tolerable. Resident Subramanian is also an ok teacher, not too hard on
you.
Did you learn any new procedures or skills?
Very good at neuro
exams now.
Can sort of read EEGs. Saw one lumbar puncture. Lots of looking up labs
and reading CTs and
MRIs.
What books were useful for the shelf exam?
Required one was ok. Keep taking PreTests, also.
How was your shelf exam?
7
Did you have enough time to study for it?
Didn't feel like there
was. Got home
by 7, bed by 11, not much time for anything else. Whine whine whine.
What pearls of wisdom should an incoming student ABSOLUTELY know?
Don't refuse an attending if he suggests you present a case in the morn
"if you want".
How would you rate the stress level?
tolerable
Are you now more or less interested in this specialty as a career?
More
Any other comments?
DO IT if you like peds. But you don't get to
see ANY adult
stuff (stroke, coma), much of which is on the shelf exam. Still, Glennon
is very fun, and I saw a
LOT of hardcore diseases and cases. Very interesting stuff over there and
a lot more diverse than
just being on the stroke team at SLU.
