The blog for Blueprint Medical, supporting your MedEd journey with our exam study planner, tutoring, residency consulting, and advanced boards.
Electrocardiograms (ECGs) are a vital diagnostic tool used to assess the electrical activity of the heart. Despite their importance, ECGs are often among the most dreaded topics to learn in medical school. Many students find ECG interpretation challenging, as it…
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is quite a unique environment in the hospital, one where seconds and minutes can mean the difference between life and death. If you’re on an ICU rotation, it may feel overwhelming. While you can typically…
So, just how long does it take to become a cardiologist? The journey is a long one. But it’s a thrilling and rewarding career path. If you’ve decided cardiology is the field you want to specialize in, congratulations! It not…
Justine Falcone and Patrick Curtin contributed to this post. When under the care of a physician, receiving treatment in the ER, or establishing care with a PCP, most people don’t ask the physician what degree they have. In fact, many non-medical people and…
Have you heard your upper level residents mention the term “fellowship,” but were too nervous to ask what a fellow doctor is? In this post, we explore the world of training that exists after residency: medical fellowships. In short, a…
While undergoing the long hours of study, clerkships, retracting in the OR, and building a stellar resume for residency applications, it’s sometimes difficult to truly understand what it means to be an “attending physician.” Basically, they’re the “big kahuna” of…
As I am about to embark on the final semester of medical school in the midst of residency interviews, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my medical school journey. In many ways, I had no idea what…
While learning physiology, pathology, and pharmacology are a major part of medical school, another equally important aspect is developing your skills in providing compassionate care and working effectively in a team setting. These latter competencies, known as “soft skills,” broadly…
Can You Diagnose This Condition? July A 38-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with an eyelid laceration sustained during a bar fight. The laceration is shown above. She has normal visual acuity, no corneal abrasions noted on fluorescein staining,…
When I was preparing for USMLE Step 1, I distinctly remember my anxiety building as the exam approached. This anxiety, though unpleasant, was met and balanced by another powerful emotion: excitement. I was excited by the prospect of finally putting…