Uncommon Student MD?

Uncommon Student MD was started as a community and resource for, well... uncommon student doctors.

We're medical student's and residents who are exploring options. There are a lot of possibilities out there, just ask all of the docs over at Freelance MD.

Every part of Uncommon Student MD is developed with the mindset that we want to provide clear options to physicians and empower them to make their own choices and take intelligent, direct action. We think that providing the information and resources that medschool students and residents need to design and enjoy their medical career is good for the public, good for the practice of medicine, and good for doctors. If you're a medical student or resident, we invite you to join us and see what we can uncover... Oh, and do us a solid by liking us on Facebook.

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The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Not Go To Medical School... And The Single Reason You Should

There used to be a different post here.

There used to be an entire list on why you should not go to medical school; the top 10 reasons you should not go to medical school and one reason that you should. If you want to reason the other side of the story go to this article, "The Top Ten Reasons You Should Go To Medical School And The Single Best Reason Not To."

The post talked about reasons for not going to medschool; of losing friends, spending the best years of your life as an underpaid, overworked, and sleep deprived slave, and then found the one reason — and only one — to go to medical school.

But, after a number of emails with the author and revisions that included removing parts of the posts, and an update at the bottom of the post asking for all comments to be added to the authors site, the author has had a change of heart and asked for the entire post to be removed and so we've complied with that request.

Now we are not generally in the business of trying to step on people's toes, and we try to be respectful of everyone's wishes and we certainly want to provide as much value as we can to all of the sites that we link to. However in this case it seems a little onerous (and somewhat unethical) to delete everyone's thoughtful comments along with the original post. So, we decided to just remove the post in its entirety and change the discussion slightly.

Of course what are the things we noticed was that most peoples thoughts did not agree with the basic tenets of the original post; that there are at least 10 reasons why you shouldn't go to medical school or become a physician and only one reason that you should.

In fact, while there are a couple of people that agree that medical school and becoming a physician is a challenging career path, many of the comments voice the opinion that medicine had a lot to offer in exchange for the shortcomings of the current health care system.

Here is an example:

There are very few professions that meet people from all walks of life that confide in you very personal issues and want to know your opinion just because you "are a doctor". A job where you get to be on your feet rather than stuck behind a desk all day staring at a computer or on the phone and for the most part get to have educated, intelligent, and interesting people as your co-workers. As a doctor let me assure you - none of us are starving. – Gut Girl

Of course, opinions all vary and there are any number of physicians I know that would gladly hang up their stethoscope if they could replace their income, but so would a lot of people with other jobs.

This site's only real purpose is the uncover the ways that medical schools students (and physicians) can leverage their skills, training, and degree and help them to craft a lifestyle that is both rewarding and fulfilling. If that's clinical practice while you start a business on the side, or forgoing clinical practice altogether, fine. There's a puzzle-piece that everyone needs, and it's usually NOT just doing what everyone else does.

You can read the opinions of others below. Some of them are leaning towards the combative side. Let's keep it civil.

Physicians & Lifestyle Design

By Greg Bledsoe MD MPH

Over on Freelance MD, I've posted a couple of articles about taking responsibility for yourself and "building your own ship" , and we've also gone through a few common reasons why physicians aren't the best at career modification.

In this post, I'd like to spend a little time introducing you to the idea of "lifestyle design," something that has become a bit of a buzz-phrase in the business world but as far as I can tell hasn't penetrated the world of medicine just yet (for a lot of reasons).

I'll begin with a personal story...

When I jumped off the academic track in 2006, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do as a career but I knew I wanted something unique.  My idea was to design a career that was flexible, fun, adventurous, and meaningful, all the while paying my bills and being a responsible spouse and parent.  Simple, huh?

I spent months thinking about how to do this as a physician.  I searched websites and blogs.  I spoke with mentors and colleagues.  I read the literature, all to no avail.  There seemed to be no conversation about a career like this in medicine.  I mean, there were a few articles about volunteer opportunities or non-traditional careers, but nothing really like what I was trying to create.  

What I found, though, was that while the medical community was silent about how to develop a very non-traditional and interesting career, the business world had already awakened to the idea.  Within the world of business, the idea of becoming a "free agent" and overhauling your career through "lifestyle design" was beginning to pick up steam. 

Around this time I picked up a copy of the book Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink.  I'm not sure how I found this book, but it became a sort of manifesto for me.  In this book, Dan explains how more and more individuals were escaping their cubicles to become independent free-lancers and living their lives with increasing flexibility and empowerment.  It was a great read and it hit me at a very important time.  Through this book I realized that I was not alone in my desire for more autonomy, and that a lot of workers who had already yanked themselves off the grid were thriving.  I was hooked.

The second book I read was a book that has become a bit of a cult classic already, Timothy Ferriss' text, The 4-Hour Workweek .  This book is a basic introduction to how Tim built a stream of residual income and then used his extra time and money to explore his interests and live a more interesting life.  It was Tim's book that introduced me to the term "lifestyle design," and while the phrase might seem a bit hokey, it's a very powerful concept.  Basically, what Tim discusses in his book is the idea that it is possible to live an incredible life if you prioritize correctly, live frugally, and develop your entrepreneurial side.  Some have criticized the book recently, explaining that no productive person-- not even Tim Ferriss himself-- really only works four hours a week-- but I would argue that that's not really the point.  The catchy title sells books, but it's the mindset Tim describes that is the reason why the book is an important introduction for individuals who feel helplessly caught in a hamster wheel at work.  Tim's point is that you can-- through ingenuity and hard work-- leap off the hamster wheel and into something much better.

So how does all this apply to physicians?

Well, when you have a career discussion with most physicians, it often boils down to whether or not that individual wants to continue practicing clinical medicine or go into a nonclinical job.  There's nothing wrong with either, mind you, and I have friends who have great careers in each; however, for me and for many other physicians, I suspect, this approach is just too simplistic.

The fact is, I like clinical medicine.  I've spent a of of time getting good at what I do and I'd like to continue to be able to help people by providing good clinical care to patients who need it.  I also like many aspects of the nonclinical opportunities available to physicians-- things like consulting, writing, medical device development, and many other niches really appeal to me.

My main question is not whether I want to practice clinical medicine or jump into a nonclinical career, it's how do I design my life to be able to practice medicine, participate in the nonclinical activities I enjoy, and still have the flexibility to pursue life outside of medicine?  Discussions about clinical versus nonclinical are at their core too reductionistic for most modern physicians.  What most modern physicians really need to be having are overarching discussions about how to design a lifestyle that incorporates the multiple facets of their career interests and also does not overlook the ultimate (and most likely unspoken) goals they have for their lives. This is a much deeper conversation, but one that is desperately needed today in this time of significant upheaval in our healthcare system.

So where do you begin if you're a physician and you are interested in exploring this idea of "lifestyle design?"

Well, don't go to the career advice section of your specialty journal and certainly don't go to the HR person at your hospital or academic institution.  

In my opinion, you should begin by checking out the conversations going on in other fields.  There are some incredible websites built around some really creative and interesting people who are living fascinating lives and teaching others how to do the same.  Check out the following as a starting point:

• The Blog of Tim Ferriss: Experiments in Lifestyle Design
• The Art of Non-Conformity Blog
• Thrilling Heroics with Cody McKibben
• The Blog of Corbett Barr

Once you immerse yourself in this culture you begin to see possibilities that you never would have realized before.  What's more, as a physician there are even more possibilities available to you than for the typical person, if only you'll step out and take a little risk.

Over the last few years this idea of lifestyle design has been a focal point of my thinking when it comes to career moves and ultimate goals.  I've invested a lot of time, cash, and sweat into learning how to build a unique career, and my hope with ExpedMed is that we can use this website as a vehicle to help other physicians, just like you, succeed in designing a lifestyle and career they truly enjoy. 

As a medical school student, you can begin by using Uncommon Student MD to become familiar with all of the ways that you can leverage your medical degree and choose a lifestyle as a physician that you find most rewarding.

About: Dr. Greg Bledsoe is has founded a number of startups including ExpedMed, the Medical Fusion Conference and Freelance MD.

The Most Practical Illustrative Guide to Medical Student Conduct Ever Created

If you want to have half the medical school skills that I possess... You will take these lessons to heart.

It's the holiday season and while many of you medical students and me wannabees out there are sitting on your fat keisters and losing your competitive edge. I have been doing research on how to be even more awesome at medical school (it may not be possible for me because I've already reached the pinnacle of greatness... twice). My search was turning up very little in the way of advice that is actually superior to something my giant brain has already conceived, but then I ran across this little gem. It's nothing I don't already do, but the drawings are great for memorization purposes.

It is such a perfectly distilled set of practical medical student skills that I might have cried while reading it if I was prone to such pansy things as crying. If you do not read this twice, momorize it, and put into practice ever skill it espouses... you are a cad and a fool! You should also check out the website from wence it came. I  do not personally approve of all the techniques that are illustrated on the site, but at least Dr. Fizzy McFizz actually created a website and wrote the book "A Cartoon Guide To Becoming a Doctor". Looks great on her CV and will only serve to propel her to a new level of personal greatness (even if that level will always be directly below the level I have already acheived in medical school). If you have any tips as sweet as these (hardly likely) that I could use to launch myself to further greatness, leave a comment above.

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Dr. Toby Bond & The Future Of Private Primary Care

Using the EMR to Minimize Stress in the Office

This past month I have had the pleasure of rotating with a visionary internist who is leading the way into the new era of American primary care. In a time when many independent physicians are closing down, Dr. Bond is just getting started, opening his doors in the college town of Athens, Georgia in 2010. If you're a student interested in someday going out on your own, you should find his business model encouraging and his managemet tips helpful.

Dr. Bond, while considering himself an "old fashioned family practice", has done a number of things very differently. "We've embraced the technology," says Dr. Bond. "By opening our doors in 2010, I was aware of the future of the electronic medical record. We invested heavily in a system that would work for us, and designed the office to be paperless from the ground up." By accomplishing a modern office, he is now years ahead of offices who are laboring to transfer established paper charts to their EMR. And trust me, this makes a world of difference in job satisfaction. "I'm done with the note when I leave the room. There's no stack of charts at the end of a long day."

When discussing why his office runs so smoothly, Dr. Bond gives credit to his staff. "Hire a strong office staff, train them well and compensate them accordingly." The office staff is indeed very impressive. They are well-trained to work as a unit. Each member of the team plays a vital role in the workflow of building the initial electronic chart, scanning records, scheduling specialist visits, drawing labs and recording phone notes. And at the end of the day, it is all available at the click of a button.

In marketing his practice, he targets those patients who will appreciate the technology. "We have an online patient portal, so we market to those who might appreciate the access." By using targeted advertising such as the nearby University of Georgia athletic events, his practice is well attended by young university-associated patients.

The electronic record is more than a note--it has major implications in billing, which is tracked by Dr. Bond directly. "Previously practices would be months behind in billing, often resulting in a large number of write-offs on labs and procedures." By combining the practice's electronic system with some knowledge of how notes are related to billing criteria, Dr. Bond is able to stay organized and on top of the current records. The use of computers to simplify the complex billing process will be what allows future independent physicians to keep their doors open.

The final product of a clever business model? A smooth work day, healthy patients, organized records and a much happier physician. "Medicine is a hard job no matter what specialty you're in," says Dr. Bond, "but it is much more enjoyable when you have time to spend practicing medicine rather than worrying about documentation." Seems to me that the small-town doc isn't going anywhere after all.

For more information you can visit Dr. Bond's website at www.drtobybond.com

Interview: Zubin Damania MD (ZDoggMD)

Interview with hard-rhymin rapper and Stanford hospitalist Zubin Damania MD (ZDogg MD) Slightly funnier than pacebo.

Did you ever wonder what kind of doctor you were going to be when you grew up? A hard-rapping stand up comic hospitalist with a penchant for drafting lyrics like, "I remembered she's demented with a nasty case of C.diff", and "I got one glove like Michael Jackson, but it's made of latex and it's your prostate I'm waxin'!" or calling Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz 'Sucker MDs' might not be it.

But that's exactly what Zubin Damania MD is doing... and it's working.

Zubin started out as a mullet-wearing, Costco card carrying rockabilly and ended up (so far) working as a hospitalist at Stanford and making video satire with his pediatrician buddy Dr. Harry on ZDoggMD.com (winner of the MedGadget Best New Weblog of 2010) as well as writing for Freelance MD. You can read all of Zubin's posts on Freelance MD here.

In this interview, Zubin discusses where he started and puts his current practice as well as his passion for combining entertainment and patient education in clear perspective.

ZDogg MD Video: Doctors Today

Interview with ZDoggMD

Part 1: Where did you come from?

In this video: oranges, UC Berkeley, UCSF, Stanford, Costco, physician parents, residency, Gastroenterology, feculent smelling burp juice, working for someone else, hospitalist, comedy, UCSF graduation speech, slightly funnier than placebo, youtube.

Part 2: Why are you doing what you're doing?

In this video: passion, entrepreneurship, opportunity, preventing ulcer disease, safe sex, physician burnout, testicular self exam, megalomania.

Part 3: What advice would you give to medstudents?

In this video: medical school advice, who you are, niches in medicine, pressure, jerks and homeless patients, kids, purpose and passion, picking a specialty, residency, real doctors, friends and rectums, vasovagal party jokes.

Part 4: What mistakes have you made and learned from?

In this video: Mistakes, lifeinthefastlane.com, Mike Cadogan, wasting time, making money, cynicism, jerks, doctors and credibility, Osamacare, targeting your audience, standup comedy, hearing aids and dying onstage.

Techcrunch Interview (includes Hemorrhoid rap!)

In this video from Techcrunch Rhymes and Medicine: Hemorrhoid rap, Snoop Dog, Tony Hsieh, Zappos, Delivering Happiness, educating, Youtube, unprofessional behavior, a human face on medicine, internet patients and Google, medical technology, iPad, medicines culture of unhappiness.

Like this interview with ZDoggMD? Leave your thoughs in the comments below.

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The Healthcare Future We Have To Look Forward Too. Unless...

BE INFORMED: Health care reform does not have to be as scary as it sounds. Ron Paul, laying down the truf!

It is my humble and correct opinion that every person interested in any way in being involved in a medical profession should have at least a general understanding of the politics behind the healthcare system. I know there are alot of persons out there that "don't like to get involved in politics," or are of the opinion that they "are going to be a doctor not a politician" or are just apathetic about such issues as the broken healthcare system and what is being done about it. The truth is that all these excuses are sheer and utter crap, because the fact remains that if you are earning a living in medicine, or ever plan to, this will be THE central issue influencing your future career for the worse... or hopefully the better.

It will influence how much you work, what you get paid, what sort of torture you will need to put yourself through to get certified and how much that will cost, what sorts of treatments you will be reembursed for, and LITERALLY every aspect of your career the super healthcare person you plan to be. Heck, I think that any person planning on getting sick EVER should know where this country is headed in terms of who runs what in medicine and why. So at the very least if you don't watch this video: either because you hate Ron Paul's guts (can't imagine why any rational or informed person would), or you are too busy watching people slip and fall on youtube, do me a favor and inform yourself someway... somehow.

There is alot of political arm waving about how this big behemouth called corporate healthcare got derailed and advice about what needs to be done to forklift it back on said tracks. Most of this arm waving is being done by career politicians who know very little about actually providing healthcare to people. An odd and sad paradox indeed. This puts presidential candidate Ron Paul in a unique position. In case you didn't know, Ron Paul had a private practice in the 60s and 70s as an OB/Gyn that walked his talk. He didn't accept medicare of medicade and instead would provide medical care at little or no cost to those who needed it but couldn't pay. After which he has served as a member of Congress and written several books. He has a unique perspective on the history and future of healthcare in this nation and is probably one of the few politicians truley qualified to speak with authority on the issue.

Regardless of your political persuation... bes listen up... this guy KNOWS the profession of which he speaks. Viva La revolucion!