Basic Sciences
Basic sciences are two years of courses for medical school which include: Anatomy & Physiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM), Mind, Brain and Behavior (Psychology), Biostatistics, Immunology, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Pathology.
In our school, the first two semesters take the following classes: Anatomy, Physiology, ICM, Biostatistics, Biochemistry and Cell Biology. The last two semesters take Immunology, Microbiology, Biostatistics, ICM, Mind, Brain, and Behavior , Pharmacology and Pathology. We have different med numbers depending on the semester: Med 1, Med 2, Med 3, Med 4, and Med 5.
Meds 1 and 3 had morning lecture with labs in the afternoon while Meds 2 and 4 had afternoon class with labs in the morning.
Med 5 students are those taking the Kaplan class (now Becker review after 2016) for the CBSE and USMLE Step 1 Exam. A new policy was placed during my Med 5 where this semester is graded with 50% participation and the other 50% included 2 Kaplan exams as well as the CBSE exam. Those who failed the CBSE and the semester would have to repeat Med 5.
Each semester had 3 exams with multiple choice questions from each subject randomized into one exam. Anatomy labs exams were usually 1 week before the big exams and also were multiple choice on an ipad. Besides these exams, we also had ICM/OSCE/CS exams which included 2 rooms where you were required to perform complete history taking and a physical exam with knowledge questions administered by the proctor at the end.
Our school policy allowed Med 4 students who passed the CBSE (which was a part of our Med 4 grades) with a 72 or higher to either skip Med 5 (but take an additional elective later on) or continue to Med 5, take the Kaplan course, retake NBME comp and score over a 72. Our school requires us to pass the CBSE before being able to register and take the USMLE Step 1 exam (maximum 2 months after passing comp).
We must take and pass the USMLE Step 1 before being able to start clinical rotations.
ABOUT
Me
Kandria Ledesma, MD
Emergency Medicine resident
NJ -> Antigua -> NY -> CA
Medicine, Running, Birds, Plants, Food, Dinos
These are my resources, tips, and tricks (T/T) for each of the Basic Science Courses that helped me. I also became a Medical Scholar during my 2 years of Basic Sciences and TA'd/Tutored a few subjects which really helped solidify my knowledge
*As a disclaimer, I'm not saying this will 100% work for you since everyone learns things differently, but these are merely other resources you can use to incorporate into your current study schedule!
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Anatomy
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Resources: Lippincott's Illustrated Q&A, Gray's Anatomy, High Yield Gross Anatomy, Netter's Flashcards (really good for Head and Neck)
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T/T: Anatomy TAs hold sessions as well as mock lab exams and I suggest going to them for review
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Physiology
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Resources: BRS Physiology by Costanzo, Guyton and Hall, Kaplan videos
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T/T: Review, review, review! Draw things out if you don't understand it and even go to your professor's office hours for clarification. I also suggest attending TA and tutoring sessions.
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Biostatistics
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Resources: UWorld Biostatistics Subject Review,Youtube videos , Lecture powerpoints
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T/T: Constantly review the material, do questions and memorize the formulas
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Cell Biology
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Resources: BRS Cell Biology Q&A, Reinforcement slides, Protein folding practice questions
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T/T: Review the lecture slides and do as many questions as possible, watch videos to see the bigger picture, and draw things out
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ICM
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Resources: Bate's Guide to PE and History Taking, Oxford Handbook to Clinical Medicine, GeekyMedics
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T/T: Watching videos for certain maneuvers and then practice with a partner, practice history taking with a partner as well
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Pathology
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Resources: Rubin's Pathology Q&A, Rapid Review Pathology by Goljan (with the audio), Pathoma, Robbin's Review of Pathology Q&A
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T/T: Print out Pathoma so you can write on it while watching the videos and continue to review the photos, make a powerpoint or flashcard set with histology slides
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Pharmacology
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Resources: Basic and Clinical Pharmacology Board Review, Sketchy Pharm, Kaplan videos
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T/T: I used a lot of mnemonics for pharmacology (especially with the antimicrobials!)
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Microbiology
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Resources: Sketchy Micro, Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology Q&A, Kaplan QBank or Lecture Note questions
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T/T: Print out each photo for Sketchy Micro and list what each symbol mean while you watch the video (then review)
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Immunology
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Resources: Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology Q&A, Kaplan QBank or Lecture Note questions, Lecture powerpoints (we were taught really well)
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T/T: Primarily used lecture notes and used the Q&A and Kaplan for additional questions and explanations if I needed reinforcement
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MBM
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Resources: Introductory Textbook to Psychiatry, Kaplan Lecture Notes, Lecture powerpoints
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T/T: Write down the diseases as well as the criteria from the DSM-5 and review them
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