Summary: Episode 13: Steps you can take NOW for balance in your medical career. You decide what's important and implement a plan to keep it that way... ==================================================== Announcements: Dropping a hint about my big project...got a high speed internet connection? Also, for simplicity all CD's will be mailed out during the last week of the month. ==================================================== Podcast topic "If you had it to do all over again, what would you do different?" This is a question I get a lot, in different forms. In fact my new big project I'm coming out with in the next few months is exactly geared toward answering this question - in all it's detail. See, feedback from my podcasting has made me realize that my experience with the premed obstacles you face is fodder for you cannon! I get just as excited with you as I coach students and reawaken their dreams of becoming a physician. The biggest tips I can think of to answer this question with brevity are the following: 1. As an undergrad, write out what my life's priorities are. Establish from the beginning and keep the document handy for editing as time passes. 2. Identify what you are and are NOT willing to sacrifice in persuit of your goals. The "I'll do anything" mentality won't be reliable forever. 3. The first year of medical school and then test weeks will clearly have to be priority during medical school. It's four years, but many students schedule easier months during the last year. 4. Much further down the road, do the same thing when considering which residency specialty interests you. Many people change their minds about this over time so stay flexible as you learn new information. 5. Keep your "Life Priorities List" handy as you investigate your career options. Note: you really don't have to do this until the end of the third year of medical school, when you schedule your electives for the fourth year. Biggest tips for residency: 1. Choose something you are passionate about. 2. If possible, don't make any BIG life changes. Of course, who can really plan these things? There's never a "perfect" time to have a family.. 3. Outline reservations you'll have - that is, things you WON'T compromise clearly identified at the outset. As you progress through residency, which can be all-consuming, an indicator that you may need a career change is when you find yourself compromising your life's priorities. ==================================================== QUICK TIP: Sign up for the next Live Premed Advising Webinar when you enroll for the 7-day email course. Limited number of people available for the Tele-Clinic and I may offer this to you for a short while. QUICK REFERENCE: http://premedicaluniversity.com ==================================================== Charity of the Month for March 2009: Habitat for Humanity will receive all donations made in the upper left hand corner of www.MedicalMastery.com. Charity Mission Statement: Decent Housing For All "Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem – decent housing for all. Today, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities worldwide." "Since its founding in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 300,000 houses with partner families, helping house more than 1.5 million people and becoming a true world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing." ==================================================== Mission Statement: “Medical Mastery seeks to podcast meaning into medical education by combining faith, high-quality lectures, and charity.”
