USMLE Step 1 Score Estimator

A group of folks (including some engineers) got together to create this website tool to help future medical students gauge how they are doing during their Step 1 preparation.  
 

This tool provides an estimated USMLE Step 1 score based on several commonly used test preparation measures. 


The estimated score is based on mathematical regression models derived from data gleaned from all available resources, including academic journal publications, other websites, USMLE forums, and (most importantly) anonymous score submissions.


Find more information here:
http://www.medfriends.org/step1_estimator/index.htm

FREE Android Apps for Medical Students

There are some cool (FREE) Android apps available at Amazon, below are some of my favorites...

PubMed Abstracts  

PubMed is a service of the National Library of Medicine, featuring over 19 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles dating back to the 1950s. PubMed Abstracts features a streamlined interface that makes searching these articles a snap. Save time by accessing previous searches, and bookmark specific articles for later reference. You can even view PDF files of the original articles.

Human Body Facts

You have microscopic creatures lurking in your eyelashes. Now that I have your attention, isn't the human body fascinating? With the Human Body Facts app, you can tap through flashcards of interesting facts about the human body and get to know yourself a little better.

Star the facts you find the most interesting for later reflection. Share interesting tidbits with your friends via SMS or e-mail. For instance, if your friends don't know that the human brain feels like a ripe avocado, maybe they should.  

Prognosis: Your Diagnosis

Want to get the gist of a clinical case study in 2-3 minutes? Prognosis : Your Diagnosis lets you investigate, deduce and diagnose complex clinical cases within minutes with a fun, interactive cartoon-style narrative. Prognosis : Your Diagnosis is specially designed for doctors, medical students and nurses and each case helps individuals learn and recall two or three key clinical points that can be applied in practice.

Modeled after real life patients and based on current management guidelines, the content has been checked by a panel of expert medical experts. Follow each case through five separate steps: History, Examine, Investigate, Manage, and Finish. Use your best judgment to select relevant investigations and proper management options, receive and evaluation when the case is complete. New cases are added each week on Saturdays.

More Step 1 Resource Reviews!

Here is a link to a pdf created by Wayne State w/ more suggested resources -- GOOD LUCK!!!

Check out this site by USMLE Advice as well- lots of good tips. 

How to Compete in the Residency Match Program: Book Reviews

The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match

 What is inside?
* Who are the decision-makers and what do they care about? Chapter 2 summarizes the data, specific to each field, on the relative importance of USMLE scores, AOA status, number of honors grades, research experience, and other criteria.
* One study of recommendation letters found that key information, such as interpersonal communication skills and cognitive knowledge, was often lacking. What can you do to help your letter writers write the best possible letter?
* A survey of program directors was performed to determine the most important aspects of a personal statement.
* In one study, 1/3 of applicants were actually ranked lower following the interview. Another study found that 14% of interviews resulted in unranked applicants. What can you do to avoid common interview pitfalls?
* Do you know your competition? NRMP data from 2007 indicate that in competitive fields such as dermatology, orthopedic surgery, ENT, and radiation oncology, over 90% of applicants had participated in research.
* Should you do an audition elective? How important is it? How can you excel during the elective?
* What are the three most important criteria used to select IMG applicants? What are the least important? In one study, 93% of decision-makers felt that letters of recommendation from non-U.S. faculty were worthless.

Reviews:

• "One of the biggest challenges that residency applicants face is the confusing array of contradictory information from different sources. In this book, the authors do a wonderful job of addressing many myths and rumors that exist out there. They don't merely provide their opinions, but instead provide hard data -- the results of surveys and studies, as well as direct quotes from important decision makers such as residency program directors." 
• "I especially liked the information provided for writing the personal statement, CV, and ERAS. Learning how program directors view the details provided to them in these documents challenged me to present my professional background effectively."
• "This book is very useful but probably not worth the price. Also, the book is written by an internal medicine attending at Baylor who has been deeply involved in interviewing and the selection committee. The problem is that much of the information is geared towards the ideal candidate i.e. those who probably don't need to read this book."

From Medical School to Residency: How to Compete Successfully in the Residency Match Program 

What is inside?

This book gives the student all he/she needs to know to successfully match in a residency program in 2000 and beyond. 

It is the only guide that fully covers the electronic application and match process, complete with lots of screen shots. 

This manual will also address questions students should ask and strategies for successful matching. 

 Reviews:

• "It has a chapter on special situations, but be aware that coverage for international graduates is very brief"
• "It also doesn't cover a lot about choosing a specialty (I thought Anita Taylor's book on how to choose a medical specialty was best for that)."
• "Although coverage of some topics (such as for international graduates) was brief, its conciseness was a strong point when I didn't have a lot of time to read"

Free Kaplan USMLE Books for Step 1, 2, &3!!!

[This offer is now EXPIRED]
Amazon is currently offering a promotion for free Kaplan Medical USMLE books for Step 1, 2, and 3 available on Kindle.  Here are the links to some offerings:

ENJOY!!!!!

Medical Mnemonics

This sampling of medical mnemonics comes courtesy of Vesalius, a specializing in the development of graphical communications for organizations in the medical and surgical communities.

Here are a few...and more can be found here.

Enterocutaneous fistula: FRIEND
F foreign body
R radiation
I inflammation/infection
E epithelialization
N neoplasm
D distal obstruction

Non-parathyroid hypercalcemia: CHIMPANZEES
C cancer (met. breast, lung, kidney, bone; leukemia, lymphoma)
H hyperparathyroidism
I iatrogenic (meds: thiazide, lithium, danazol), immobility
M multiple myeloma
P Paget’s
A alkali (milk)
N neoplasm, ectopic parathormone (small cell lung, hypernephroma)
Z Zollinger Ellison
E excess D, endocrine (hypo/hyperathyroid, Addisons)
E excess A
S sarcoid (Tb, histoplasmosis)
(benign familial hypocalcuric hypercalcemia)
(low albumin: get ionized Ca++)

Pancreatitis causes: I GET SMASHED
I idiopathic
G gallstones
E ethanol
T trauma (surgery)
S steroids
M mumps
A autoimmune
S scorpion bites
H hyperlipidemia/-calcemia, hypothermia
E ERCP
D drugs (azothioprine, thiazides)

Adrenal hormones: salt, sugar, sex
Glomerulosa: mineralocorticoids (salt)
Fasciculata: glucocotricoids (sugar)
Reticularis: androgens (sex)

First Aid 2001 Kindle Edition: pre-order now available

First Aid is the #1 medical review book for usmle step 1.  You can now pre-order the 2011 kindle edition has become available on Amazon for January.