My First Day on the Job as a Psychiatry Resident

Today was my first clinical workday as a psychiatry resident! I have spent YEARS waiting for this day to arrive, and it was just as great as I hoped. As a new psychiatry resident at Penn, I’m starting my residency in the same hospital where I discovered my love of psychiatry a little over a year ago. The Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Philadelphia will always have a special place in my heart, and I’m excited to serve the veterans there for the next month or so during my first block of residency. Heading into this new chapter, one…

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Recap of SNMA AMEC 2019: Mecca of Black Excellence in Medicine

This year, the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) showed out at the Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC)! SNMA is a student group comprised of black medical students across the United States. Students at Howard and Meharry medical schools started this student group in 1964 “to nurture and support the academic enrichment of its medical student members, but also to serve communities in a very real and proactive way.” (snma.org) The AMEC 2019 conference theme was The Call for Excellence: Improving the Future of Medicine through Leadership, Service, and Activism. The conference consisted of a variety of workshops and panel discussions to help…

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Why You Don’t Need to be a “Premed Major” to Go to Medical School

The Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) statistics show that roughly 70% of medical school applicants choose to study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) majors in college. Though STEM majors represent the vast majority of majors chosen by pre-medical students, it is by no means a requirement that premeds study your typical premed majors to gain admission into medical school. In fact, for many medical school-bound undergraduates, a non-STEM major is likely the better option for you to ensure that you maximize your time and educational resources in college.  WHY CONSIDER A Non-traditional premed MAJOR? Benefits of a non-tradition premed…

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Premed Corner: Unfiltered Premed Advice from a Psychiatry Intern

Navigating life as a pre-medical student can be tough. There are so many options for doing premed life the “right way” that it can be hard to find what’s right for you. As my time in medical school winds down, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the journey that has gotten me to this point, just a couple of months away from starting psychiatry residency. In this series, I will provide premed advice related to some of the aspects of the premed journey that I think I offer unique insights on. There are SO MANY premed blogs out there that…

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Tips for Managing Pre-Match Day Anxiety

Dear MD Class of 2019, Match Day 2019 is now just a few days away. For some of us, this week will be full of intense excitement. For others, feelings of anxiety and worry will predominate. Before Match Day comes on Friday, March 15th, there’s one more hurdle for us to get over – we find out on Monday, March 11th whether or not we’ve matched into a residency program. If you’ve matched, you’ll probably let out a huge sigh of relief. If you are unmatched, worry, stress, anxiety, and panic may ensue as you process the results and meet…

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