Medical Mnemonist (from MedSchoolCoach)

Chase DiMarco talks to Miguel Molina, the Chief Operating Officer at Medical Joyworks, a physician-led company offering digital products and solutions to the medical sector. Miguel shares insights into the field of medical education and how he plans to improve students' clinical skills with evidence-based case studies, adventure scenarios, reference articles, and moderated discussion boards. [02:40] Clinical Odyssey: Learn Medicine the Fun Way [05:10] How Prognosis Makes Medical Education Interactive and Enjoyable [0 8:55] Why Medical Joyworks Decided to Build a QBank [15:13] The Price Issue When Signing Up to Medical Programs [16:20] The Benefits of Mentorship and Immediate Feedback in Medical Education [23:02] Customizing Medical Education to Students' Learning Styles [25:36] The Future of Medical Education [27:00] Why Medical Joyworks is Yet to Go the Augmented Reality Way [30:56] The Stolen App Game  Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks to Dr. Ben White, a Neuroradiologist with three books and a long-running website (BenWhite.com.) Dr. White shares practical advice for med students gathered from spending over a decade in the MedEd space.  [00:45] Getting to Know Dr. Ben White [05:50] Comparing Medical Books of Today and From 10 Years Ago [09:10] Online Resources for Medical Students [12:00] Curriculum Replacement Platforms [14:40] The Future of Med School is Online [18:30] Why Soft Skills are Essential in Med School [21:50] Extracurricular Activities and Med School Admissions  [26:16] Mental Health and Attitudes in Medicine [28:40] Parting Thoughts Full show notes

Chase DiMarco shares his presentation about FindARotation at InnovatorMD's World Congress 2021. This annual convention is the largest conference where physicians and entrepreneurs connect and offer their ideas on how to change healthcare for the better. Chase talks about why he built FindARotation and how it will change medical education for both students and preceptors.  [01:40] Why Chase started FindARotation [04:06] FindARotation's Mission [05:35] How FindARotation benefits students and preceptors [08:21] Remote Rotations during the COVID-19 Pandemic [09:53] How to Use FindARotation [11:32] Q&A Portion Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks to Camille Roney, an academic coach and teacher at Non-Trad Accelerator for non-traditional students. Camille shares how she raised her GPA from 2.3 to 4.10, practical study tips to increase your productivity, and the power of positive thinking. [01:01] What is a Non-Traditional Student  [02:40] How to Raise your GPA from 2.3 to 4.10  [05:50] Study Tips to Increase Your Productivity [10:02] Effective Speed Reading Tools and Strategies [15:20] Testing and Improving your Memory Skills [16:50] Memory and Mnemonic Techniques  [19:10] The Power of Positive Thinking  Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks to Sam Kavanaugh, winner of the 29th Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. They discuss memory techniques, the similarities between preparing for Jeopardy! and studying medicine, and effective flashcard learning strategies.  [01:28] Getting to Know Sam Kavanaugh  [04:40] Bulking up for Jeopardy! [08:20] Weaving Together Common Threads in Memory Building [13:50] Developing Memory Techniques [17:18] Adding Environmental Stimulus and Difficulty to Study Routines [18:20] How to Learn Faster and Retain More [20:58] Top Tips for Studying and Memory [25:00] Effective Flashcard Learning Strategies Full show notes

In this final installment of the MedEdge Method mini-series, Chase DiMarco talks about self-care, rest, and growth. He dissects the benefits of self-care, why you need to stop procrastinating, and the relationship between rest and growth.  [02:25] Rest and Recuperation [04:34] Self-care in Medicine [07:19] Why Procrastination is a Form of Self Hate [09:05] The Smallest of Increments are Greater than the Greatest of Intentions Full show notes

In part five of the MedEdge Method mini-series, Chase DiMarco talks about board exam success. He dissects the test-taking technique table and breaks down several test answering strategies such as the tie-breaker technique, the post-exam autopsy, and the error monitoring chart.  [04:35] Test-Taking Technique Table  [04:47] Basic Technique [07:17] The Tie-Breaker Technique [09:50] Post-Exam Autopsy [11:22] The Error Monitoring Chart Full show notes

In this fourth installment of the MedEdge Method mini-series, Chase DiMarco talks about self-assessment and exam growth. He talks about studying using the production effect, the benefits of physician mentorship, and post-lecture and post-exam study sessions.  [01:40] Post Lecture and Post Exam Study Sessions [07:23] Studying Using the production Effect [09:15] Improve Academic Performance Using Deliberate Practice [10:33] Benefits of Physician Mentorship [11:28] Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance [13:12] The Growth Equation: Stress + Rest = Growth Full show notes

In this third episode of the MedEdge Method mini-series, Chase DiMarco talks about preparation and studying. He dissects the actual methods and techniques you can use when creating the optimal study space, study technique, and study habits.   [01:50] How to Ergonomically Optimize your Study Space [03:40] How to Focus on Studying Without Getting Distracted [05:12] Creating the Perfect Study Mindset [08:05] The Psychology of Willpower [09:50] The Pomodoro Technique for Medical Students [13:05] Using Activity-Based Costing to Improve your Study Habits [14:07] Achieve your Study Goals Using the WOOP Strategy Full show notes

In this second episode of the MedEdge Method mini-series, Chase DiMarco shares study techniques that can help you learn more effectively. He discusses how including play in studying increases learning and motivation. [02:14] Setting Goals and Making Plans [05:19] Interleaving [06:58] Concrete Examples [08:31] Dual Coding [09:25] Spaced Repetition [10:01] Inquiry-Based Learning [11:58] Experiential Learning [14:04] Incorporate Play Activities [18:08] Key Takeaways [19:17] Homework Exercise Full show notes

In this first episode of the MedEdge Method mini-series, Chase DiMarco talks about finding high yield study resources. He shares a helpful process for how medical students can choose learning materials that best suit their needs. [01:16] What is the Best Resource to Use? [03:43] Set Your Learning Goals [06:18] Awareness of Attention Span [10:16] Find Study Materials Best Suited for You [15:14] Homework Exercise Full show notes

ATOM BOMB: The Memory Palace is the sixth episode in a miniseries on medical mnemonics. In this episode, Chase DiMarco talks about mind palaces and how to create one for your medical studies. By combining all of the previously learned mnemonics into a memory palace, you can recall dense chunks of information with more ease. [01:27] What is a memory palace? [04:02] Creating a memory palace [09:46] Adding visual markers to your mind palace [16:03] Homework Exercise Full show notes

The Story Method is the fifth episode in a miniseries on medical mnemonics. In this episode, Chase DiMarco talks about the journey method's basic structure and the different applications of the technique. The story method ties in all the previously learned mnemonics into a memorable sequence. [02:28] The Journey Method [05:24] Using the Story Method for Medical Topics [08:43] Example of the Journey Method [12:08] Homework Exercise Full show notes

Advanced Mnemonics Creation is the fourth episode in a miniseries on medical mnemonics. In this episode, Chase DiMarco talks about the PAO method and the use of anchor and linking visual markers. These memory devices can be used on their own; but when used together, the combined techniques provide the best results. [02:02] The PAO Method [08:05] Homework Exercise 1 [09:27] Anchor and Linking Markers [13:37] Homework Exercise 2 Full show notes

Creative Study Tactics with Mind Maps is the third episode in a miniseries on medical mnemonics. In this episode, Chase DiMarco talks about mind maps and how its structure and visual elements improve long term retention. [01:13] What is a mind map? [03:47] Example of a mind map [06:18] Color-coded categories [09:49] Visual markers for improved recall [12:22] Homework Exercise Full show notes

Chase DiMarco explores the Peg Memory System for medical education and discusses how to use visual markers to memorize important numbers. [01:37] The origins of the Peg Memory System [02:18] Why you should use the Peg Memory System [03:33] Creating your own Peg System [04:57] How to create visual associations with numbers [07:02] Homework exercise [08:59] Creating a theme for numbers over 10 Full show notes

Start Creating Your Own Visual Mnemonics is the first episode in a miniseries on medical mnemonics. In this episode, Chase DiMarco covers the value of visual markers in mnemonics and memory tactics in general. [01:06] What are visual markers? [02:25] Why you should use visual markers [05:50] How to use visual markers [07:09] What not to do [08:38] Homework exercise Full show notes Questions, comments, concerns? Leave us a voicemail

Chase DiMarco talks about one of the most ignored yet crucial topics in medicine: mental health. He explains why physicians and medical students struggle with mental health, the rise in suicide rates in medicine, and the benefits of having a social network.  [00:50] Mental Health in the Medical World [02:50] The Neuroscience Aspect of Mental Health [04:24] Chronic Stress and the Recency Bias [07:17] The Importance of Having Social Networks [10:40] Positive Effects of Mindful Self-Compassion Comments, questions, concerns? Leave us a voice message Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks about The Power of Atomic Habits, a concept borrowed from two best-selling books, The Power of Habit and Atomic Habits. He dissects how mentality affects habits, the importance of rewarding successful habit adoption, and developing habit-creating skills.  [01:50] The Power of Atomic Habits [06:37] Willpower and Keystone Habits [10:45] Habit Creating Skills [11:55] Habit Stacking and Temptation Bundling [14:10] Rewards and Habit Tracking Comments, questions, concerns? Leave me a message Full show notes

Chase DiMarco shares tips for practicing an evidence-based study technique called interleaving, which can be difficult to apply. 01:28] Interleaving Topics [03:36] Interleaving Materials [04:33] Choosing Study Resources [06:52] Filtering Question Banks [08:19] Stress + Rest = Growth [10:57] Recency Bias [12:14] Repeating the Same Question Bank Comments, questions, concerns? Leave us a voice message. Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks about the science of successful learning and debunks the most common myths we have around it. He shares better learning strategies and insights from “Make It Stick”. [01:48] The Illusion of Knowing [03:09] Interleaving Practice [04:53] Easier isn’t Better [08:13] The Dunning-Kruger Effect [11:58] Apply Different Learning Styles [14:03] Have a Growth Mindset   Full show notes Comments, questions, concerns? Leave us a voice message

Chase DiMarco talks about how you can use deliberate practice to become an expert. This time around, he delves deeper into studies and examples from “Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise” by Dr. K. Anders Ericsson (RIP).   [02:02] Improvement Comes from Practice [04:07] Steps of Deliberate Practice [07:33] Inefficiencies in Medical Education & Practice [12:42] Adaptive Thinking [13:42] There is No Natural Ability [14:28] Identifying Your Weak Points   Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks about flow, the mental state of immersive focus. He draws insights and tips from Mikaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book called “Finding Flow”. Unsurprisingly, attention and curiosity are necessary to get into that zone of concentration.   [00:58] Defining Flow [01:38] How to Reach Flow State [08:06] Learning Requires Undivided Attention [09:33] Develop Curiosity for Greater Enjoyment [13:31] Flow VS Happiness   Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks about task management and prioritization. He shares insights and tips from Brian Tracy’s book called “Eat That Frog”. Learn how to organize your to-do list effectively using these 5 principles.   [01:26] Planning Saves Time [03:30] The Law of Three [05:24] The 80/20 Rule [07:53] The ABCDE Method [11:37] How to Tackle Big Tasks [14:30] The Law of Forced Efficiency [16:45] Summary of Key Points   Leave us a voice message Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks about how medical students can increase their motivation level. He cites several studies that delve into intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and the factors that can influence both.    [03:29] Theories of Motivation [05:58] Intrinsic Motivation vs Extrinsic Motivation [09:48] How to Affect Motivation [11:37] The Role of Self-Concept in Academic Success [12:48] Make the Change You Need   Full show notes

Dr. Joel Ramirez talks about how tutoring can be a valuable resource for medical students studying for the USMLE exams. As someone who personally benefited from tutoring, Dr. Ramirez has a passion for educating and tutoring. MedSchoolCoach provides tutoring for both USMLE board exams (shelf and step), as well as the MCAT.   [02:38] Tutoring for the MCATs Versus Board Exams [04:06] How to Determine if You Need a Tutor [06:37] Pinpointing Weaknesses in a Medical Student [10:00] What to Expect from a Medical School Tutor [13:37] Weighing the Financial Costs of Tutoring [16:46] The Focus of a MedSchoolCoach Tutoring Session [20:54] How Much Tutoring It Takes for a Student to Get a Passing Score   Full show notes

Chase DiMarco talks about 7 habits of highly successful medical students, a concept borrowed from Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He tries to dissect how the book's strategies can be applied to the medical world and explain why habits can make or break your medical journey.   [03:29] Be proactive [04:57] Begin with The End in Mind [06:23] Putting First Things First [07:34] The Win-Win Situation [08:53] Understand Before Understanding [10:30] Synergy [11:57] Sharpening Your Saw   Full show notes

Dr. Paulius Mui, a family medicine resident, discusses Table Rounds, the medical card game he co-created to help medical students learn medical terms and topics.   [02:25] Understanding Table Rounds and How You Can Benefit From it [06:31] Active Learning Through Gamification [11:07] Why Most Games Require Some Foundational Knowledge [12:58] The Future of Games in Medical Education   [19:48] How Games Help in Group Study Settings [24:40] The Things Dr. Mui Could Change if He Could Go Back in Time   Full show notes

Gabe Wyner, author of Fluent Forever, is fluent in 8 languages and has developed multiple strategies for mnemonics-based learning. Today’s episode will cover how to apply those strategies to the medical field.   [2:20] Developing Initial Learning Strategies. [7:10] Implementing Memory Skills: Pre-packaged vs. Personalized Options [10:08] Levels of Processing [16:10] The Importance of the Personal Level of Processing [27:00] Topic Management [37:40] Repetition and Retention

Dr. Amreet Sidhu is a Toronto-born Internal Medicine Resident based in Detroit. He is the creator of Brosencephalon, a comprehensive set of pre-clinical flashcards created for self-study that spread worldwide. Amreet’s cards have evolved into a community-driven project by medical students for medical students. Today’s episode will cover the inspiration behind the creation of Brosencephalon, the most useful aspects of Anki and how to create your own effective flashcards for retention. [3:20] The Inspiration Behind the Creation of Brosencephalon [7:42] Evidence Based Cognitive Learning for Effective Retention [9:59] How COVID-19 is Facilitating Change for Brosencephalon and Learning Programs [13:59] Curricular Design and Application [15:31] Creating Effective and Efficient Flashcards [19:58] The Benefits of Cognitive Effort When Creating Flashcards [23:30] Digital Cards vs. Physical [25:50] Elaborative Interrogation and its Relevance to Flashcards. [30:45] How to Integrate Multiple Learning Strategies [34:19] Using Flashcards for Self-Assessment [37:53] The Need to Update Standard Western Learning Conventions [40:00] Amreet’s Favourite Anki Plugins [41:50] The Use of Mnemonics and Images in Flashcards [43:43] What Would Amreet Change if He Could go Back in Time? Resources Information about Amreet and Brosencephalon can be found here: https://www.brosencephalon.com https://twitter.com/brosencephalon https://www.reddit.com/r/Brosencephalon Anki Plugins Hierarchical Tags Frozen Fields Load Balancer Heat Mapper Websites https://apps.ankiweb.net https://www.reddit.com/r/Anki/ Join the Medical Mnemonist Master Mind Facebook group and find our Blog posts, Podcasts, and other Resources at FreeMedEd.org! Feel free to Email any Questions or Comments.  

Dr. Anthony Metivier is a prolific speaker, bestselling author, and creator of the Magnetic Memory Method. This is his third time guesting on the podcast and joins us today to discuss the Magnetic Memory Method, overcoming obstacles to retention and common memory misconceptions.   [2:15] About Anthony’s TEDx Talk and New Book ‘The Victorious Mind’ [4:13] Memory Palaces: Spatial Mnemonics to Promote Retention [6:45] Overcoming Excuses to Create Memory Technique [7:29] The Magnetic Method: Creating Reliable Retention and Repelling the Unnecessary [11:03] The ‘Bad Memory’ Misconception and How to Conquer it [12:15] The Benefits of Utilizing Memory Techniques Beyond Learning [13:00] Understanding That Fun Should not be a Requirement for Learning [16:08] Building Systems That Require Participation to Reach Your Goals [19:09] Creating Your Goals: Doing Due Diligence to Understand Your Path [22:20] Pre-Planning: Decreasing Cognitive Load by Creating Visual Dictionaries [24:35] Multi-Sensory Dictionary Creation [30:25] Re-visitation Pattern Retention [33:25] Space Repetition vs. Memory Palace Techniques: There is No Universal Tool [36:30] Meditations: Reducing the Self-Referential Inner Narrative

Dr. Ali Abdaal discusses evidence-based study methods for medical students, tips for using medical flashcards, and the role of fun in productivity.   [01:36] Evidence-Based Study Techniques [04:55] Anki and Other Flashcard Apps [06:35] Mnemonics and Memory Palaces [08:27] Tips for Using Flashcards [12:36] Defining Productivity & How to be Productive [14:44] How to Overcome Common Productivity Struggles [16:45] The Role of Fun in Learning & Productivity [21:00] Avoiding the Professional “Conveyor Belt” and Achieving Happiness   Full show notes

Dr. Leila Javidi and Chase DiMarco discuss when students should ask for help and the perks of personalized coaching. [00:34] How Dr. Leila Joined Med School Tutors [03:10] When Should You Get a Tutor? [04:35] Personalized Learning Through Coaching [07:05] How to Sign Up for 1:1 Tutoring at MST [09:43] MST’s Competitive Advantage [13:08] Med School Tutor’s Pricing [15:10] Up and Coming Services from MST   Full Show Notes

Michelle Miller holds a PhD in Cognitive Psychology and is Professor of Psychological Sciences at Northern Arizona University. She also serves as President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow. Additionally, Dr. Miller has published several books and studies on memory and effective learning. Today’s episode will cover principles and techniques for memory effectiveness in the medical field. [3:50] The Emerging Methodology of Teaching Online [4:35] The Core Principles of Memory to Increase Learning Outside of the Classroom [10:30] Factors Involved in Retention [13:30] Techniques for Terminology [18:50] Conceptualizing Context to Shift Memory Modality [22:30] Knowing How and When to Apply Different Techniques for Memory [26:50] Spacing Out Study and Why it is Beneficial for Retention and Recalling [32:35] Reflecting on Techniques That Work for You Resources Information about Dr. Michelle Miller can be found here: https://www.michellemillerphd.com Books Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter Brown Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simmons Websites https://www.retrievalpractice.org https://www.learningscientists.org Join the Medical Mnemonist Master Mind Facebook group and find our Blog posts, Podcasts, and other Resources at FreeMedEd.org! Feel free to Email any Questions or Comments.

Chase DiMarco shares his experience with lucid dreaming, how different strategies work for different people, and how to incorporate it into your learning schedule.   [00:51] Defining Lucid Dreaming [02:48] Using Visuals Within a Dream [04:47] What are Memory Palaces? [06:58] Using Memory Places as Visual Objects During Lucid Dreaming [09:33] The Different Lucid Dreaming Techniques   Full Show Notes

Barry Mapp is a learning instructor that trained under the memory champion and mind map creator, Tony Buzan. He has successfully trained thousands of learners in mind map technique and creation. Today, he is going to help explain how we can use these organization and memory tool in medical school.

Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka is a Harvard physician, program director for anesthesiology at MGH, and an educational researcher with several published articles on the topics of self-directed learning and residency education. Today, we will focus on how to increase study efficiency and utilize evidence-based study practices.

Dr. Saud Siddiqui, founder of SketchyMedical, discusses the effectiveness of several different study techniques and how to improve information recall using the method of loci.   [00:50] Early Beginnings of SketchyMedical [02:55] Using Thematic Scenes for the Memory Palace Technique [07:38] Improving Information Recall Using Different Study Techniques [12:46] Sketchy’s Approach to Step 2 CK & CS Learning [17:13] Dr. Siddiqui’s Experience as Medical Student Entrepreneur [21:46] Additional Tips for Studying & Clinical Rotations   Chase DiMarco talks to Dr. Saud Siddiqui, the CEO and one of the co-founders of SketchyMedical. They discuss the effectiveness of different study techniques and how to improve information recall using the method of loci. Dr. Siddiqui also shares SketchyMedical’s company journey and his experience as a medical student entrepreneur. Founding Story of SketchyMedical SketchyMedical was founded by Dr. Siddiqui and his friends while they were still in medical school. They found it difficult to keep up with school requirements using only traditional study methods. When they tried to incorporate art, humor, and stories into learning, their school performances improved. They shared this new study technique to other friends in medical school. Before Sketchy had an online platform, it started off as a YouTube channel with explainer videos. The videos were received very positively, with users clamoring for more. Dr. Siddiqui and the co-founders decided to continue creating content, which eventually evolved into Sketchy¾the interactive learning platform we all know and love today.   Using Thematic Scenes for the Memory Palace Technique Sketchy’s content prioritizes the key points that students should know. Using the method of loci, also known as the memory palace technique, Sketchy sets up thematic and cohesive scenes. The information is then attached to familiar objects in the scene. Distinct themes are applied to different subject matter. It also helps that they pair words that sound similar to medical terms. For example, they may associate agalactiae – a species of bacterium – to “a galactic baby”. Pop culture references are also included in the content which makes the learning process more fun and memorable. When it comes to Step 2 CK and CS materials, Sketchy focuses on the most crucial information that can tip off diagnoses. In their learning modules, they also utilize the SOAP format. Step 2 materials require more than just memorization. Diagnostic algorithms are more complex. Sketchy is continuously making improvements to its content to optimize learning for clinical knowledge and skills.    How to Improve Information Recall There are two important factors that can help improve memory recall. First, consider the context in which you learn the material. Visual learning has been proven to be much more effective than just reading text. Re-reading the material may give you a false sense of mastery. The truth is, when you’re reading, the brain is not actively retrieving learned information. Second, the application of knowledge also plays a part in improving recall. Using learned information in new ways reinforces your comprehension. Teaching concepts to a friend or drawing a mind map are simple ways of applying what you’ve studied. By doing so, you also identify gaps in your knowledge. To effectively learn and retain information, use a combination of different study techniques. Use questions, space repetition, flashcards, and platforms like Sketchy to cement your knowledge. Concepts and terms will be harder to forget when you take a multifaceted approach to learning. What is it Like to Be a Medical Student Entrepreneur? Being a medical student is already difficult by itself. Pursuing content creation or another venture while in school will be even more challenging. Dedication to your passion project is what will help you push through self-doubt. If he’s not studying, Dr. Siddiqui was using his free time to create content. Eventually, he was able to shift to working solely on Sketchy. Weigh the pros and cons before taking a big leap like Dr. Siddiqui. If you’re not ready to pursue your venture full time, find a way to balance both your project and your studies as a medical student entrepreneur. Additional Tips for Studying & Clinical Rotations At the start of your medical school journey, you will face recurring exams. Try out different study methods to find what works for you early on. Once you begin clinical rotations, make sure to show up prepared as opposed to just learning on the spot. Use this opportunity with patients to apply what you’ve learned. Refresh your memory by reviewing past lessons and modules. Remember: application of knowledge is key to building your expertise. Get in touch with SketchyMedical through their social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To reach out to Dr. Siddiqui, send him a message on Twitter or via e-mail. You can listen to episode 17 of Medical Mnemonist for more tips from Sketchy co-founders Bryan and Arron Lemiuex. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Do check out Read This Before Medical School. 

Chase DiMarco opens up about recent events that lead to personal anxiety and discusses how students can deal with anxiety and depression during COVID.   [01:50] Mental Issues Among Medics [03:50] Finding Ways to Deal with Your Anxiety [04:50] Trigger Events [08:52] Seeking Help [12:50] How Stress Can Affect us as Learners [14:10] The Vicious Cycle That is Anxiety and Depression   The medicine world has often been recognized as a stressful environment that sometimes hurts a medics' performance, physical health, and psychosocial well-being. Throw a global pandemic into the fray, and you'll find that even more medics are falling into a state of either depression or anxiety. Interestingly, medical practitioners are less likely to seek help because of the fear of being stereotyped or judged by their peers.  With the global suicide stats at an all-time high, it's high time we addressed the mental health issues in a COVID-fatigued society. Although Chase has faced bouts of anxiety since his high school, he has managed them with relative ease. However, a recent trigger event made him feel a little overwhelmed with what was happening around him. This trigger event helped him understand that no matter how small the issue you're facing might be, it has the potential to make you feel anxious or depressed. These triggers can come from anywhere, and it won't matter how insignificant they are; the thing to note is that they affect you, and you need to do something about them. We unknowingly struggle with mental issues which means some of us seek help when it's too late. These little anxiety triggers are known to build up and eventually blow up, leading to a spike in negative thoughts crisscrossing through a person's mind. The most important step in the healing process is recognizing that you need help.  While different solutions can work wonders for different people, a couple of resources that worked for Chase might also work for you. With the pandemic restricting people's access to physical help, online platforms such as BetterHelp and TalkSpace are known to offer help via text, chat, or video calls. Chase advises people to try and seek help from neutral parties since close friends and family typically have a bias because of the relationship you have with them.  Learners have the most to lose when it comes to dealing with mental health issues. The fact that depression and anxiety can play havoc with one's memory makes it difficult for learners to ingest new material or answer a patient's questions. The mental issues will also affect your sleep patterns, and the longer you wait before seeking help, the longer it will take before you come back to a state of normalcy. Chase's message for you today is that it might not be you who's battling depression and anxiety, but you might know someone who is. Not everybody has the guts to come out and talk about what's eating them. If you notice somebody acting differently from what you associate them with, be the friend and offer a listening ear, you'll be surprised by how big an impact you can have by just being there. You can also share this episode with them to let them know that they are not alone and that there is help. We live in trying times, and the best way to look out for one another is by being there for one another.  Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! Also, do check out Read This Before Medical School.  National Helpline Psychology Today Therapist Finder Better Help TalkSpace

Discover advanced memory techniques from the experts at Mullen Memory. Chase DiMarco hosts The Medical Mnemonist podcast episode: Advanced Memory Techniques with Mullen Memory.

Dr. Michael Cosimini discusses gamification and games for clinical education. Dr. Cosimini is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, and the author of Empiric, a card game for learning guidelines-based antibiotic selection. [02:08] Challenges of Creating Games for a Clinical Setting [02:56] Gamification Versus Serious Games [07:22] How to Balance Between Entertainment and Education [08:09] Tabletop Games Versus Video Games [12:23] How Medical Students Can Apply Games to Their Learning [13:49] How Empiric Works [20:21] How to Find Out More About Michael & Empiric Gamification Versus Serious Games Many medical instructors already gamify their educational content, for example, by transforming a PowerPoint slide into a game of Jeopardy, giving out stickers for accomplishments, and having a leaderboard in class. An example of gamification in the literature is when surgical residents performing laparoscopic procedures were split into competing groups. The randomly selected students who trained in this gamified setting trained longer and performed better. Dr. Cosimini does support gamification, but he more strongly promotes “serious games” which go beyond gamifying existing educational content, to creating a game for the purpose of education, rather than pure entertainment. For example, the game GridlockED, which resembles Clue, trains players to handle emergency room throughput. Michael’s card game, Empiric for learning antibiotic selection is also a serious game. How to Balance Entertainment and Education in Games To help find the appropriate balance between entertainment and education, Dr. Cosimini emphasizes the importance of testing the outcome of a game, to see what students have actually learnt. As a rule of thumb, be respectful of the player’s time. Do not have a game that is long, unless there is evidence that shows that this contributes to the learning process. Tabletop Games Versus Video Games Dr. Cosimini promotes tabletop games over digital or video games for medical education. He cites a study by Mary Flanagan of Tiltfactor, a game design company. The study compared the iPad and tabletop version of Pox: Save the People, a game about disease spread. With the tabletop version, people tended to interact and work together more, which is important for the social aspect of learning. How Medical Students Can Apply Games to Their Education Creating their own card games might be too involved, and too time-consuming for a medical student. Students can instead use off-the-shelf card games from resources such as East Midlands Emergency Medicine Educational Media, #EM3, which provides games for learning about pediatric EKGs, pediatric dermatology, and pediatric and adult orthopedics. For instructors, Michael recommends MedEd. He of course also recommends his own game Empiric, for learning about antibiotic selection, and his upcoming game about emergency medicine. These games are more helpful for clinical education i.e. for medical students on their clinical rotations, or for residents, and less helpful for first and second year medical students. How Empiric Works Empiric is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Red Book, 2018-2021. Dr. Cosimini includes visual cues — such as color coding — for facts such as the mechanism of delivery and the spectrum of activity, to enable students to memorize facts more quickly. It can be difficult to keep up with the changing facts around antibiotic resistance, and other antibiotic research. Currently, Dr. Cosimini does this by updating the printable card decks online, after the research is updated. Check out Empiric’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and website. The website includes a list of medical and non-medical card games. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Do check out Read This Before Medical School. Like our FreeMedEd Facebook page and find our Medical Micro course, blog posts, and podcasts at FreeMedEd.org! Feel free to email any questions or comments.

Alex Mullen & Cathy Chen of Mullen Memory discuss memory palaces. Chase DiMarco hosts The Medical Mnemonist podcast episode: Memory Palaces basics with Mullen Memory’s Alex Mullen & Cathy Chen. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Do check out Read This Before Medical School.  

Rhett Thomson discusses the importance of understanding material vs rote memorization, the story method, and pre-made versus self-made mnemonics. [00:43] Physeo’s Philosophy of Learning [05:29] PowerPoints Versus Physeo’s Content [12:05] Pre-Made and Self-Made Mnemonics [23:30] Questions to Ask When Studying or Learning [28:44] Rhett’s Thoughts on Step 1 Becoming Pass/Fail [32:10] Patterns of Learning Used By High-Scoring Step 1 Exam Participants [35:54] How to Find Out More About Physeo and Step 1 Success Stories Chase DiMarco talks to Rhett Thompson, a student at the University of Utah Medical School and Cofounder of Physeo, a learning resource which helps medical students to prepare for the USMLE board exams. They discuss the importance of understanding versus only memorizing, the story method, and pre-made versus self-made mnemonics. Physeo’s Philosophy of Learning Physeo was born when Rhett and his friends were approaching their USMLE Step 1 Exam. They realized that they had relied on memorizing facts, without sufficiently understanding how these facts fit into deep and meaningful conceptual frameworks. The original intention was to build a conceptual framework around physiology, which is foundational to medicine. But at the moment, Physeo comprises not only 72 videos on physiology, but 79 videos in total covering other Step 1 topics as well. PowerPoints have been the standard method of information dissemination, within medicine but also more broadly. There are several benefits to PowerPoints — they enable a student to follow along with a lecturer, and they enable notes to be accessible to students after the lecture, reducing anxiety around notetaking. However, PowerPoints are insufficient with regards to helping students to understand and lock in the information that they are given. Physeo focuses on creating a large framework which makes learning and memorization intuitive and effortless. The core of Physeo’s philosophy is that understanding is key. Physeo’s videos walk students through complicated topics tested in the USMLE Step 1 Exam, reimagining them as stories, and using mnemonic devices which are logically coherent and intuitive, rather than a bunch of facts thrown together. Pre-Made and Self-Made Medical Mnemonics Medical students can use various pre-made mnemonics provided by companies like Physeo. However, some argue that self-made mnemonic devices are more effective than those created by someone else. While Rhett agrees that self-made medical mnemonics may stick better, it is difficult to create stories as complex, and yet intuitive as the pre-made ones created by Physeo if you do not have a team of people doing thorough research and refining the mnemonics together. Medicine involves many complex topics, and a mnemonic that is roughly thrown together by an individual person may not stick. Questions to Ask When Learning Although the quality and breadth of Physeo’s visual mnemonics are not achievable by an individual, Rhett provides key questions that students can ask in their own study time, as an effective learning technique. Firstly, ask why or how. To illustrate, in acute inflammation, prostaglandins can cause swelling. Instead of just memorizing this, ask yourself why/how prostaglandins cause swelling. You can then make a connection that is more logical. For example, prostaglandins cause postcapillary venules to become more permeable. This permeability can cause leaking of fluid, which results in edema in the interstitial tissue. You have made a bit of a framework by making this logical connection — taking us to the next question: how does this fit into a bigger framework? Having studied prostaglandins, you might relate this to the larger framework of acute inflammation. So you have connected prostaglandins to swelling and acute inflammation. Taking this further, in a clinical scenario, you might see someone with a swelling, sprained ankle. You know that swelling occurs in acute inflammation. You know that prostaglandins are released in acute inflammation, causing permeable postcapillary venules, and swelling. NSAIDs are prescribed to reduce the number of prostaglandins floating around, and in turn reduce swelling. Explore Physeo as well as Rhett’s podcast Step 1 Success Stories. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Do check out Read This Before Medical School.

Dr. Jill Wener discusses systemic racism, anti-racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the concept of reverse racism. Dr. Wener is the host of the Conscious Anti-Racism podcast.   [01:48] Dr. Wener’s Journey into Anti-racism [08:39] White Supremacy Culture and Systemic Racism [15:27] Racism in Medicine [19:26] Why Reverse Racism Cannot Exist [27:40] Why Black Lives Matter exists [31:16] Internal Versus External Work to Combat Racism [37:19] Resources on Anti-racism   Dr. Jill Wener is the host of the Conscious Anti-Racism podcast and creator of a curriculum with the same name. But I am Not Racist! Dr. Wener began leaning into her discomfort around race after a friend admonished her on the racially privileged perspective of her blog post on the 2016 election. Initially defensive, she knew that if she did implicitly have harmful views on race, she needed to correct them. Just like Dr. Wener, many white people are sometimes defensive about race, and reluctant to agree that they are racist and that they benefit from white supremacy and white privilege. They often cite the hard work that they have invested to achieve success, and how they never use their racial privilege. However, Dr. Wener describes the systemic racism in the US as a “toxic fume soup” in which we are all immersed. White people inevitably benefit from their race, even if they do not intend to do so. To illustrate one of the many ways in which white people unintentionally benefit from the color of their skin, Dr. Wener shares her story of being ticketed for using her cell phone in the car. She describes exiting her vehicle to stretch while waiting, and trying to explain to the officer that she had only taken out her phone to take a picture of an advertisement for a farmer’s market. Once the officer gauged that she was a doctor, he explained that he would not have ticketed her. At the time, Dr. Wener did not count this as an incident of her white privilege. But in hindsight, she knows that if she had acted similarly as a black person, she would have been shot or arrested. She knows a black friend who drives with a stethoscope and his medical ID hanging on his rearview mirror to protect himself from harm. White people can go through life without considering their race very much, whilst black people must always be aware and take precautions to protect themselves. Why Reverse Racism Cannot Exist Young adult author Kimberly Jones, encourages us to consider a game of Monopoly where the game has been fixed against some players i.e. black people. For four hundred rounds, black people have been working for no pay under slavery, not being able to own land or anything. Then, for another fifty rounds, money that black people earned was taken from them (consider Tulsa). Now, imagine that after four hundred and fifty rounds, suddenly, black people are told to just start playing the game as “equals.” The hundreds of rounds of damage has not been undone. Therefore, when special spaces are created for black people, or when special opportunities are given to them, it cannot be considered racism on white people, rather, it is taking the first steps towards equality. Racism is the systemic oppression of the weak by the powerful. Systemically, white people have the power, therefore they cannot be the victims of racism. Relatedly, Black Lives Matter does not imply that other lives do not matter. Rather, the name demonstrates that previously, black lives have not been treated as if they matter, and now we acknowledge that they matter just as much as white lives. Racism in Medicine The boards of most hospitals and the dean’s office of schools, in other words people in power, often lack representation from people of color. In patient care, research has demonstrated that med students think that black people feel less pain. Differential diagnosis methods, which are designed with good intentions, often result in stating the races of people of color, whilst assuming the default race to be white. The treatment of sickle cell patients is often entrenched in distrust and false ideas. Racism is rampant in medicine. As a physician, you can practice anti-racist allyship in medicine by reaching out to the diversity inclusion officer at your hospital to ask if there are projects that you can work on. Do not put the burden of dealing with your racism on black shoulders by asking about what you can do to be less racist. Black people do enough emotional labor simply by dealing with the racism thrown at them daily. Deal with your racial discomfort internally, and become anti-racist by seeking out amply available online resources, podcasts and books to help you out. To get you started, here are some of them: Dr. Wener’s Conscious Anti-Racism course and podcast, White Coats For Black Lives, How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide by Crystal Marie Fleming,  ... But I'm NOT Racist!: Tools for Well-Meaning Whites by Kathy Obear, Allies in Action Virtual Bootcamp, Showing Up for Racial Justice, Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race. Anti-racism resources compilation #1 and compilation #2. Also, do check out our related episode Diversity & A New Social History in Medicine w/ Nicole Washington MD, MPH Check out Dr. Wener’s TransforMD retreat for women physicians. Check out MedSchoolCoach for more information about hiring a tutor, or have a chat with the enrollment team. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Do check out Read This Before Medical School. Sign up for free to join Dr. Erkeda DeRouen (The Prospective Doctor), Sam Smith (MCAT Basics), and Chase DiMarco (1-Minute Preceptor & The Medical Mnemonist) on Behind the Mic LIVE on September 24 as they discuss their journey through medicine, why they began podcasting, their dream guests, and more.

Dr. Megan Sumeracki teaches us about Spacing, Retrieval, Interleaving, Elaboration, Dual-coding, and Concrete Examples. [2:16] The Learning Scientists Podcast & Bi-directional Communication [4:13] The Importance of Learning Research as open-access [5:27] The Six Strategies of Effective Learning from the Institute for Education Sciences (2007?) & The National Council for Teaching Quality Report (2016?) [7:45] A Brief History of Spacing and Retrieval Practice, Ebbinghaus, and Memory Accessibility [9:57] What is Spacing and How do We Use it? [12:17] The Ins and Outs of Retrieval Practice [4:47] Interleaving Your Study Practice (19:10 Taylor and Rore? 2010 blocking v. interleaving) [21:20] Elaborative Interrogation: The How, When, Why, and Where of Your Study Material [24:40] Dual Coding: Combining Visual information with your Learning! [28:05] Concrete Examples: The More the Merrier [32:54] Closing Advice from Dr. Sumeracki: Use These Strategies!!!   Also, you can find Dr. Sumeracki’s books on Amazon, research articles, and some great podcasts by the Learning Scientists on Retrieval for medical residents, and an interview with her sister, Dr. Alyssa Smith.

Dr. Joel Ramirez talks about how tutoring can be a valuable resource for medical students studying for the USMLE exams. As someone who personally benefited from tutoring, Dr. Ramirez has a passion for educating and tutoring. MedSchoolCoach provides tutoring for both USMLE board exams (shelf and step), as well as the MCAT. [02:38] Tutoring for the MCATs Versus Board Exams [04:06] How to Determine if You Need a Tutor [06:37] Pinpointing Weaknesses in a Medical Student [10:00] What to Expect from a Medical School Tutor [13:37] Weighing the Financial Costs of Tutoring [16:46] The Focus of a MedSchoolCoach Tutoring Session [20:54] How Much Tutoring It Takes for a Student to Get a Passing Score   As someone who personally benefited from tutoring, Dr. Ramirez has a passion for educating and tutoring. MedSchoolCoach provides tutoring for both USMLE board exams (shelf and step), as well as the MCAT. Funnily enough, medical students tend to enjoy sitting for board exams more than they did the MCAT, because board exams are more relevant to the medical sciences, as opposed to the MCATs, which involves topics like physics, language and literature. There are two major groups of students who benefit from coaching — students who just want to pass their MCATs or board exams, and students who need a very high score because they want to get into a competitive specialty — for example neurosurgery, or want to go to medical school in a competitive geographical location — for example New York or California. And there are two broad categories of problems that students face: A knowledge or content gap. Insufficient strategy for answering questions. The tutors at MedSchoolCoach will design a personalized coaching/tutoring program for each student to prepare them for their MCATs or board exams. All tutoring is conducted in 1-on-1 sessions. When a medical student or a potential medical student expresses an interest in hiring a tutor through MedSchoolCoach, they must fill out an intake form in which they talk about their academic experiences, learning style, exam schedule etc. Based on this information, they are matched with a tutor. If a student is unsure that they want to commit to long-term tutoring, they can sign up for a package of five to ten hours first, or they can talk to the enrolment team, who can help them to decide if tutoring is the right option. Although Dr. Ramirez works for MedSchoolCoach, he emphasizes that when consulting with potential students, he always tries to share the best option for the student, which may not be tutoring. Many students might be put off by the financial costs of tutoring. Dr. Ramirez argues that if going to medical school in a specific geographical location, or having a specific specialty is paramount to a student’s happiness, then the investment is worth it. When asked about how long it would take for a failing student to reach the passing mark, Dr. Ramirez explains that this really depends on the student’s story. A high-performing medical student who simply has not begun board exam preparation yet, will have a much easier time reaching a passing mark than another medical student who has been studying for the board exam for three months, and is still failing. Check out MedSchoolCoach for more information, or have a chat with the enrollment team. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Do check out Read This Before Medical School.

Dr. Ali Abdaal discusses evidence-based study methods for medical students, tips for using medical flashcards, and the role of fun in productivity. Dr. Abdaal is a FY2 physician in the UK and a successful YouTuber with over a million subscribers. [01:36] Evidence-Based Study Techniques [04:55] Anki and Other Flashcard Apps [06:35] Mnemonics and Memory Palaces [08:27] Tips for Using Flashcards [12:36] Defining Productivity & How to be Productive [14:44] How to Overcome Common Productivity Struggles [16:45] The Role of Fun in Learning & Productivity [21:00] Avoiding the Professional “Conveyor Belt” and Achieving Happiness Dr. Ali Abdaal is co-host of his own podcast Not Overthinking, but in this episode of The Medical Mnemonist, he discusses two evidence-based study techniques used in his medical studies – active recall and spaced repetition. Dr. Abdaal is also a fan of mnemonic devices. As a medical student, he recalls creating silly mnemonics with his friends. For example, to remember the side effects of pyrazinamide, which is a treatment for tuberculosis, he associated it with the Islamic concept of “zina” or premarital sex which is prohibited. Another act that is prohibited in Islam is drinking alcohol, which damages the liver. Therefore, a negative side effect of pyrazinamide is damage to the liver. Using mnemonic devices falls within Ali’s larger belief that having fun is key to productivity. He shares his “productivity equation” which is: Productivity = (Useful Output/Time) x Fun  Another fun and effective study method that he used in medical school was having pomodoro sessions with his friends. A pomodoro session consists of 25 minutes of studying, and then a 5-minute break, repeated over and over again. Although Dr. Abdaal prioritizes fun, he believes that action precedes motivation — a concept that he gleaned from the book, The Motivation Myth by Jeff Haden. Often, people believe that they need the motivation to accomplish something. However, it is more accurate that we get motivation after achieving small milestones in our actions & efforts. Thus, the best productivity tip is to just start. As a mental model for productivity, Dr. Abdaal encourages us to consider the analogy of the pilot, plane and engineer. The pilot plots the course, the plane does the work, and the engineer tweaks and optimizes these processes. Ali believes that we should spend 85% of our time being the pilot – planning our tasks, 10% of our time being the plane – doing our work, and 5% of our time being the engineer – optimizing our productivity, say by learning how to type faster or trying out a new productivity app. With regards to using medical flashcards, Dr. Abdaal leans towards personalized flashcards which condense lots of information, rather than generic sets of flashcards which contain a single fact each. When using a generic set of single-fact flashcards, we might develop the illusion of productivity by rushing through the set, without really learning anything, or rehashing information that we know well already. Instead, we should consider using flashcards specifically for topics which confuse us. And it is likely better if these flashcards integrate different pieces of information, rather than single facts because this is how information exists in real life — within the context of other information. He also shares his fear about falling into the “conveyor belt” of professional life. As medical students, it is easy to keep saying “I will be happy when I get accepted into my residency program” and then later, “I will be happy once my residency is over and I am an attendant.” The cycle could go on and on. Dr. Abdaal even fears that his idea of doing his Step 1 IMG in the U.S. might come from a fear of not having another exam in front of him. He encourages us to ask ourselves the question “What game am I playing, and do I want to be playing this game?” Each of us needs an “economic engine” or a way to make money. However, Dr. Abdaal encourages medical students to get this part of our lives sorted as soon as possible, so that we can focus on doing things that we enjoy. He is glad that his YouTube channel supports him, and if he continues to practice medicine, it will be because he really wants to, not to pay the bills. For those of us looking to build up our own “economic engines”, we should think about what we are good at that provides value, or develop the skills required to provide value. Take a look at Dr. Abdaal’s YouTube channel and his podcast Not Overthinking. Also, check out Creating Visual Mnemonics with Sketchy Medical Drs. Bryan and Aaron Lemieux as well as Visual Mnemonic Generation with Ron Robertson of Picmonic. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Do check out Read This Before Medical School.

Three well known memory experts share tips for integrating memory techniques like memory palace, the story method, and mnemonics flashcards.   [01:27] Defining Memory [02:59] Defining Mnemonics [04:17] Common Misconceptions About Memory [06:56] Comparing and Integrating Memory Techniques [13:40] Remembering & Differentiating Concepts That Are Very Similar [15:24] Remembering Information Outside the Classroom [17:27] Tips for Remembering Names [20:38] Pre-Made vs Self-Made Medical Mnemonics   Chase DiMarco conducts a memory expert panel with a three-time world memory champion, Alex Mullen, multiple US memory record-holder and author, Nelson Dellis, and mnemonics practitioner, trainer, and author Anthony Metivier. They talk about common misconceptions surrounding memory, share tips for comparing and integrating different memory techniques for medical school and for remembering non-academic information, such as people’s names and the layout of a hospital.   People tend to think of memory as a bookshelf from which we can simply retrieve information. However, Alex explains that memory is more like a lens through which we view the world. Everything we encounter is filtered through the lens of memory. The author of the blog Wait, but Why, Tim Urban, describes memory using an analogy: memory is like a tree trunk, the more knowledge you acquire, the more branches you build. This makes it easier to integrate new material, by building on what you already know.   Lots of people also believe that memorization is a fixed ability, or a gift, rather than a skill that can be cultivated. Nelson debunks the concept of a “photographic memory” which does not exist and is not supported by the literature. Rather, memory is a skill that can be improved.   Alex is famously known as a proponent of mnemonics flashcards for medicine, while Anthony is known for his visual memorization techniques, such as memory palaces. However, both of them agree that we should not try to compare and argue for particular memory techniques, as if there is a singular perfect technique. Instead, it is important to consider the type of information that we are memorizing.   In contrasting memory palace and the story method, Nelson agrees that the decision to use a particular method should be contextual. Memory palaces are more robust, while the story method holds the risk that you blank out in the middle and cannot retrieve the remainder of the story. However, using the story method requires little preparation, and is thus more convenient. When you are memorizing something, critically determine whether or not your methods/activities are effective for this information, rather than blindly applying them.   To remember people’s faces, the panelists provide several possible techniques: Remembering parts of the room where you met the person, Remembering their specialty Gauging and remembering their height and weight. Keep business cards, because they can function as “flashcards” of sorts.   For spatial information such as layouts of buildings or cities, it can help to remember landmarks or street names.   While many people recommend writing your own medical mnemonics, studies have shown that ready-made medical mnemonics from sources such as Sketchy can be just as effective.   Check out Nelson’s website, Nelson’s YouTube channel, as well as his books Memory Superpowers and Remember It: The Names of People You Meet, All of Your Passwords, Where You Left Your Keys, and Everything Else You Tend to Forget.   Check out Anthony’s website ‘Magnetic Memory’ and read his book The Victorious Mind.   In addition, check out Alex Mullen’s website 'Mullen Memory' and Alex's Twitter page.   Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Also, do check out Read This Before Medical School.  

Chase DiMarco shares tips for dealing with failure in medical school and healthcare education. Failure can be the beginning rather than the end. [00:20] Why We Need to Talk About Failure [01:30] Feelings Surrounding Failure [03:51] How to Overcome Failure [05:25] Failures Involving Board Exams [06:57] Chase’s Failures [09:01] How Chase Persisted to Convert His Failures into Successes [11:25] Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan (WOOP) Failure is inevitable, but it can be a starting point, rather than an endpoint. Think about your struggles with failure; be they academic, occupational, or social. You can transform these negative associations with failure into opportunities for growth. As Chase puts it: “Failure + Persistence = Success.” When we fail, we are often bombarded with thoughts such as “I cannot believe I did this again,” or “I am just not good enough.” Research indicates that this is not an optimal mindset for your education. So, how do you turn these failures into successes? First, think about whether the failure was actually your fault. For example, if 98% of your class failed a test, perhaps the instructor insufficiently prepared the class for the test. In these situations, do not get trapped in your thoughts. Let it go. However, if you do see a solution that you can implement, then do so. Consider the example of preparing for a board exam. If you realize that you are failing practice tests, then take steps to improve. Practice self-exploration and self-awareness, and reach out to people who can help you. Talk to peers who have gone through the exam, incorporate evidence-based study techniques, or maybe even delay your exam schedule until you are better prepared. Chase himself delayed his graduation date, made excuses about his performance, has been guilty of not implementing proper study techniques, and has often neglected his mental and physical health. The 1-Minute Preceptor podcast and his book Read This Before Medical School are both products of his initial failure. They are also both examples of how a small failure can be the seed for much greater success. Do not just read this post and walk away. Think back on your failure points. What have you done to mitigate your weaknesses? Can you pre-plan for possible failures? If you have neglected physical activity, can you buy some weights to use at home? If you have neglected social interaction, can you join meetups around the city? Be proactive, conscious, and intentional about bettering yourself. One concrete framework for planning for future failures is the Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan (WOOP) framework, which was discussed in Episode 31 of this podcast with Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka. One day, or Day One — you choose. Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Also, do check out Read This Before Medical School.

Chase DiMarco shares tips for practicing an evidence-based study technique called interleaving. Interleaving is tricky to apply because there is no golden rule that is analogous to the 1-1-3-1-1 rule for spaced repetition, for example. Instead, the effectiveness of interleaving depends on various factors such as the topic, the depth at which we are studying and our schedule.    [01:28] Interleaving Topics [03:36] Interleaving Materials [04:33] Choosing Study Resources [06:52] Filtering Question Banks [08:19] Stress + Rest = Growth [10:57] Recency Bias [12:14] Repeating the Same Question Bank   To interleave topics, one method is to ramp up the number of topics and the intensity of study as the week goes forward. For example:   Monday: Anatomy, 80% intensity Tuesday: Pharmacology + Anatomy, 100% intensity Wednesday: Biochemistry + Pharmacology + Anatomy, 100% intensity   This method provides several benefits including overcoming the forgetting curve. We tend to forget materials after three days, if we do not review them. This method allows us to review old topics, whilst still learning new ones. In addition, we can prevent burnout. If we study anatomy for the whole week, for example, we will get very tired.    We can also choose to interleave study materials, in addition to study topics. For example, taking the example schedule above, we might listen to an anatomy lecture on Monday, use an anatomy question bank on Tuesday, and then use flashcards on Wednesday. Using various materials for the same topic will help us to remember it better.    In choosing study resources, Chase reminds us that the evidence for one question bank over another is usually anecdotal — maybe something we read about in a forum. As such, if finances are tight, we should not be afraid to choose a more affordable resource, which is likely just as good. Referencing a forthcoming interview with Dr. Corey Fawcett on the Prospective Doctor podcast, every dollar that we spend on our education can add up to four dollars by the end of repayment. Before purchasing a resource, we should look at our budget and decide if the resource is really worth it.   Two more things to keep in mind: 1. remember to schedule breaks and 2. be aware of recency bias. We tend to schedule 7-day weeks without realizing that a good balance of stress and rest is essential to growth. Secondly, recency bias refers to the tendency to choose an answer to a question because we covered a topic involving that answer very recently. To combat this, we should apply metacognition and ask ourselves why we choose an answer — because it is correct, or because it is recent? Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE! Also, do check out Read This Before Medical School.

Chase DiMarco discusses the six stages of medical learning which you can use to assess your level of knowledge. He also details the best study techniques & methods corresponding to each stage.   [00:23] Motivation for Knowing the Stages of Medical Learning [02:34] Stage 1: Basic Facts & Memorization [04:27] Stage 2: Integrative Basics [6:07] Stage 3: Integrative Flow [7:47] Stage 4: Integrative Clinical [12:07] Stage 5: Mixed Pathologies & Stage 6: Fellowship-Level Knowledge [12:51] Study Techniques to Use at Each Stage   The first stage of medical learning is basic facts and memorization. This stage corresponds to pre-med or to the first few months of medical school. You memorize answers to questions such as ‘what muscle attaches to this bone?’or ‘what cancer marker is seen in pancreatic cancer?’ You do not have the knowledge to synthesize facts or to come up with a treatment plan. At this stage, tools like flashcards are key. The second stage is integrative basics. You learn the symptoms, signs and treatments for different diseases. This is also where you must memorize ‘illness scripts.’ For example, if a young child comes in tugging their ear and crying, they likely have an ear infection. Integrative basics correspond to the end of your second year of medical school, and are often useful in Step 1 board exams. Whilst flashcards are still useful, you also begin to use question banks (QBs) and develop an awareness of the techniques used by question writers. Next, integrative flow, which is often relevant for Step 2 board exams. This is where you comprehend the ‘order of operations’ when it comes to treating a patient. Going beyond illness scripts and basic diagnoses, you ask questions like ‘what is the next step of treatment?’ and ‘what diagnostic should I do to confirm my preliminary diagnosis?’ You should still use flashcards and QBs, but should also incorporate more flowcharts and visual tools like mind maps to understand this ‘order of operations.’ The fourth stage is integrative clinical which goes beyond Step 2 board exam materials, and into actual clinical experience. The materials that you study for the board exam often diverge from actual clinical experience, and this is where you delve deeper into treatment options and real patients. Chase does not focus on the fifth and sixth stages because these go into the realm of residency & fellowship experience. However, all of these stages cultivate your awareness of the constant progression of your knowledge. You should take the time to use rehearsal strategies and you should be wary of ‘recognition memory’ as opposed to true memory. Here are some further resources and communities that you might find helpful:   FreeMedEd Website Sign up for a Free Coaching session with Chase DiMarco, sponsored by Prospective Doctor! You can also join the Med Mnemonist Mastermind FB Group today and learn more about study methods, memory techniques, and MORE!