Blog Archives

Finding – and Redefining – Balance: It’s Not about Better Multitasking

This time of year, when residency and medical school interview processes are revving up, many of us feel overwhelmed. Here’s a brief but thoughtful piece I’ve saved over the years; it’s about balance. As you consider your future career choices, it’s worth thinking about issues the author covers like clarifying what brings you joy, considering your goals while understanding they will change, and defining balance for yourself.

In this day and age, one can choose a traditionally tough specialty but work in a practice setting that allows for some autonomy and flexibility. But you need to know what you want, and you need to give yourself the room to explore those goals in order to guide yourself in the right direction.

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Burnout and Does the Patient Always Come First?

Although written somewhat tongue-in cheek, “A Totally Novel Concept: The Patient Comes Second” – sent to me by an emergency medicine colleague – is worth a quick read. Considering the huge problem with physician burnout, putting the patient second sometimes is an interesting intellectual exercise.

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Guidance for Medical School and Residency: A New Publication

There’s a new publication out from the medical publishing company Wolter Kluwer called After Rounds that has some good information and guidance for medical school and residency. (Full disclosure: I am an invited writer for the site.). There is a breadth of topics from Coping with Homesickness to How to Get Published in a Medical Journal to a Day in the Life of a Resident. The articles are short, streamlined pieces. Browse the newsletter and check out my February piece on Setting the Right Goals for Medical School

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New Year's Resolution: Ten Ways to Improve your Medical School Application

It’s the beginning of the year and, thus, a great time for pre-meds to redouble their efforts toward their medical school goals. As always, I recommend a very focused approach that allows you to do more of what you want and less of what you don’t. Think research will help your candidacy but don’t like being in the lab? Consider public health or clinical investigations. Think volunteerism will bolster your application but don’t like being one of a crowd in a group project? Start your own social justice initiative. 

There are definitely necessary elements to any robust medical school candidacy (clinical experience, strong grades), but being a pre-med can also be fun, mind-broadening, and career-affirming.

Here is an article that will give you direction but also leeway to be a happy applicant – not just a strong one. 

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: