Vikas Bhushan and Tao Le Bring You: First Aid For USMLE Step 1

Updated 2015-12-06

First Aid is a concise guide for preparing for the USMLE Step 1 examination. Having recently taken a National Board Exam (which is very similar), let me tell you: this book is invaluable. If you are just starting med school, browse through this book as you go through your classes. Take notes in it as you see fit. By the end of your preclinical education, you will have a great summary of all the key points from the first two years!

Seriously, it sounds like the standard "Be a good student" (like "Study hard" or something) that no one really does, but this is my one big regret from my years in preclinical courses. I really wish I had started taking notes in First Aid from day one instead of procrastinating and only starting with 2 months before my board exam. Don't be dumb like me!

Rev 2020-02-28

Atul Gawande: The Man Behind "Complications"

Updated 2015-12-06

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone reading this is having a happy holiday.

As you may have noticed from the quote on the sidebar, like many students, I am a fan of Atul Gawande. For those of you who haven't read this book Complications, it is a great book describing the life of a surgical resident. However, even if that isn't your field of interest, the book is still an engaging read with a sober look at the harsh realities and present state of medicine and medical education. If you're interested in the book, check this out:

If you've already read the book, or just want your Christmas present, well.. here it is: Slate articles written by Gawande before he got big. They're still quite interesting, even if a bit dated. Enjoy!

Update: Gawande has also been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1998. Many of Gawande's New Yorker articles form the source material for his books.

Rev 20200228

Practice USMLE Step 1 Questions

Sorry I have been MIA. I have had 3 straight weeks of finals. Anyway, at the end of my exams, I had to take a nationalized board exam, similar to the USMLE Step 1 exam. Some of you might be facing similar exams. A good resource for practice questions is the USMLE site itself. On this site, there are 2 sets of practice questions of 150 q's each. Some of the questions repeat, but it is good practice in order to get a sense of the type of questions, and how questions are answered using a Computer-based exam. Good luck!