About the Author

Dylan Eiger, MD/PhD Candidate

In 2016, Dylan Eiger graduated Cum Laude from Duke University with a BS in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry. Matriculated in the MD/PhD Duke Medical Scientist Training Program in 2016, Dylan achieved honors in all clinical rotations and was accepted into Alpha Omega Alpha. He recently completed his PhD in Biochemistry in early 2022.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Pediatrics Clerkships

Female doctor using a stethoscope on a teddy bear to engage a young girl and her mother during a pediatric check-up in a medical office.

822 Views

Pediatrics clerkships are crucial in medical education. They offer students hands-on experience caring for infants, children, and adolescents. As you will hear time and time again, children are not mini-adults! They have their own dedicated speciality for a reason. While pediatrics rotations are rewarding and offer unique learning opportunities, they...

Practical Clinical Competence During Clerkships

A group of medical students on clinical clerkships examining x-rays.

911 Views

Clinical rotations, or clerkships, are crucial in medical education, bridging classroom knowledge to real-world patient care settings. During clerkships, medical students have the opportunity to develop and refine essential clinical skills under the guidance of experienced healthcare professionals. While much can be learned in the classroom, it's not until you...

Crafting a Personalized Study Routine in Medical School

A calendar with a stethoscope sitting on top of it signifying the study routine of a medical school student.

1075 Views

Entering medical school is an exciting milestone in every aspiring physician's journey. However, the transition from undergraduate studies to the rigorous demands of medical education can be daunting. In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve into the essential aspects of creating an effective study routine for medical school, also...

Clinical Clerkships and Your Specialty Decision

A group of medical school students on their clinical clerkship.

1275 Views

Selecting a desired medical specialty marks a pivotal moment in a medical student's career. However, the process is intricate and evolves with factors throughout your academic journey. One of, if not the most important, contributors to this decision-making process is the exposure gained during clinical clerkships in medical school. In...

Shelf Exam Performance and Its Impact on Residency

A group of medical school students taking their shelf exam.

6544 Views

In the journey to residency, medical students' shelf exam performance holds significant weight in applications. Shelf exams, designed to assess students' knowledge and clinical reasoning in specific core clerkships, can play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of a medical student's academic capabilities. In this article, we explore the...

Mastering Patient Presentations During Clinical Clerkships

A medical student presenting a patient on her clinical clerkship.

2457 Views

Clinical clerkships represent your transition from the classroom to the front lines of patient care. Central to this experience is the art and science of patient presentations—a skill that not only communicates the patient's condition but also reflects your depth of knowledge, critical thinking, and ability to collaborate with the...

Balancing Research Responsibilities and Clinical Rotations

Medical School students participating in a research opportunity during their clinical rotations.

1203 Views

Your journey through medical school is marked by crucial milestones, and arguably the most pivotal phase is your time spent in the hospital and clinic. These hands-on experiences in different healthcare settings provide a bridge between classroom knowledge and practical application. However, integrating research into clinical rotations enhances the educational...

How to Prepare for Residency Match Day

An excited residency applicant learning that she matched for residency.

1782 Views

The day you have been waiting for has finally arrived! You have spent years training to become a doctor. And in just a few days or weeks, you will learn on Match Day where you will spend the next few years of your life as a practicing physician in residency....

Preparing for the USMLE Step 1 as a Pass/Fail Exam

A medical school student holding a notebook and looking at a laptop while preparing for the USMLE Step 1 as a pass/fail exam.

1693 Views

The time has come for you to prepare for the USMLE Step 1! This can be an exciting but also nerve-racking time. However, with the recent change that the USMLE Step 1 is now a purely pass/fail examination. You can find respite in knowing that all you have to do...

COMLEX to USMLE Conversion: Insights for Osteopathic Medical Students

An Osteopathic DO medical school student taking the USMLE Step 2 exam.

35627 Views

Students who have taken the COMLEX Level 1 may wonder how they can use this score to predict their USMLE Step 1 score. While the administrators of the COMLEX are currently developing a study plan for the development of a valid and reliable conversion formula of

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