Palawan Republik

Once Again

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Z Joya

I am finally done with my interview. A month or two from now, I would be moving to a new state and start formal training in a specialty which is so daunting for someone with an inane imagination. But I am thrilled, nonetheless. About 3 years ago, I started preparing for the USMLE- the US medical licensure exam. Quoting from the site, “The USMLE assesses a physician’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles, and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills, that are important in health and disease and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care.” Step 1 was so difficult especially the biochemistry part. Since I was working full-time, I studied during my breaks until 1 in the morning. As recommended, I used First Aid for step 1 and USMLE world software. The UWorld material was a gem and an awesome supplement to First Aid. I got 216/89% which was really average, but I was happy to have finished the first exam. I googled for pathology slides and radiographs including MRIs and CTs. Overall, I would say that USMLE step 1 determines your mood and strategy for the succeeding exams.
With the result of the first test, I studied harder for step 2 Clinical Knowledge. I used Kaplan Notes especially Internal Medicine after reading from USMLE forums that the bulk of the questions will that be of IM. USMLE World step 2 CK was the best material I’ve used. It prepared me for the format of questions and how to analyze it. I like clinicals so I would say that CK was easier compared to Step 1. Both step 1 and 2 Ck lasted for a day. The 8-hour exam was divided into blocks of 7 with 45 minutes of break. I took 15 minutes break after the first three blocks (3 hours),5 minutes break after the next hour. By lunch time, I gave myself 15 minutes to eat and 5 minutes of break for every block thereafter. It was freaking hard! For the second exam, I got 244/99%. Amen!
Step 2 is divided into CK, the clinical knowledge part, computer-based, and Clinical Skills. For the CS, I flew to LA testing center in El Segundo. I studied First Aid for CS and practiced over Skype with other doctors. Clinical Skills was an 8-hour exam, but more expensive ($1200-1600) compared to Step 1 ($800-900) and Step 2 CK($800-900).Twelve patients were assigned to rooms simulating a private clinic or an emergency room. We had 15 minutes for each patient. Eight minutes for history, 3-4 minutes for physical exam and the remaining 5 minutes for giving the diagnosis, counseling the patient. After that, we had to input everything into a computer. Tough, yes, but thankfully I passed. Grueling experience since the patients were really hard to deal with. I could not remember the ordeal, but the shakes that hit the hotel that day was indescribable. I thought that I was spinning after the exam until someone said that there’s an earthquake going on. You got to love California. Awesome. I stayed on my bed and waited until the earth “relaxed”.
I applied to hospitals on the East Coast after getting my ECFMG certification. Yes, 126 hospitals, mostly IM, but I did not get any invitation. Rejected. For that year alone, I spent about $20,000 for the exams and plane tickets. I was depressed and decided to take a break on my father’s farm. I planted organic tomatoes, trees and corn. I swam, cried, and tried to accept what happened to me. I told myself to study for the last exam, Step 3, which is only taken during residency training, so that if I ever decided to quit, I would not have any regrets in life when I grow old.
I passed step 3 but the scores were not stellar. A 216/91%. Step 3 was the toughest for me. Two days of 8-hour exam. I think most of my neurons short-circuited the first day. Same format, same style of taking breaks for me, but the questions were harder since it required hospital experience in managing patients. The ER and office simulation part was pretty easy, but the first 1 1/2 day was brutal. I studied UWorld and Kaplan notes from CK. All of these exams I studied by myself. I couldn’t afford the Kaplan lectures or tutorials so it was a no-brainer to study alone. Grateful for my friends in San Francisco for putting up with me during my stay there. They cooked food for me and encouraged me to push harder. It was an awesome experience. Right after I left the examination center in San Bruno, I felt a sense of completion. A release from 3 years of listless nights. Finally, I can quit- NOT!
Through my friends, I was able to observe in Washington D.C and Florida. I love D.C. Great place to be. Anyway, since we can only apply once a year for training, and it was about September that time, I decided to give it one more try. With the observership, LORs, step 3 and polished resume, I applied again. One hundred hospitals divided to IM, Peds, FM, Psych and OB-GYne. By God’s grace I got 5 IVs from New York, MD and DC. The first time I received the invite, I got teary-eyed. All I thought was that it was a joke of sort. But it was there, the e-mail, with the words getting blurry because of the tears. I prayed and thanked God.
The interview part was history for me. There were awesome program directors and not-so-awesome ones. Discrimination, contacts, gender issues, you name it, it was there. Subtle, but it was palpable. I was offered a spot during my first interview. The PD was cool enough to let me finish the rest of my IVs. Before I left for home, I signed the contract and now, here I am.
I am pretty intimidated by the tasks ahead. There will be less time for me to do the things I’m doing these days. But I believe that God granted my prayer for that small chance to prove that I still want to serve Him through this ministry. I wanted to be a Pastor when I was young, but my father told me that being a doctor is another way to save souls. Please pray for me that I would be God’s channel of blessings for those people in need.
To God Be The Glory!

We sang this song today at church:)