Family Medicine

Applying to residency is an important and exciting milestone in your medical school journey! It represents the culmination of your educational experience as you start the transition from student to physician and begin the process of securing your dream residency program.  You understandably may have questions about this process, including one on the minds of read more…

Call shifts are a hallmark of residency and an important hurdle to conquer prior to becoming an attending. If you’re approaching your first call shift soon, you’ve probably racked your brain wondering: how do I survive a 24-hour shift? Caring for hospitalized patients, making important medical decisions, and answering questions from nurses, patients, and families read more…

For physicians, continuing education is essential. By reading journal articles, networking with colleagues, and seeing how things are done at different places, your skill set widens, new knowledge gets put into practice, and as a result, you have better patient outcomes. To illustrate the importance of lifelong learning, I’m going to discuss a few examples read more…

Starting residency is an exciting time! During this time, some specialties may require you to do a modified intern year before continuing to your “advanced” residency. This specifically applies to applicants going into anesthesiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), radiation oncology, radiology including interventional radiology (IR), and in some cases, urology and read more…

Knowledge is power. Give back to your patients and enhance your quality of care by learning about some of the world’s most pressing issues. Check out the Rosh Review Quiz for a Cause assessments, free in your Boost Box! What is Quiz for a Cause? Quiz for a Cause is an ongoing series of free read more…

It’s been just over two years of homeownership for me, and a multitude of contractors have suddenly entered my life. I’ve developed an entourage, including an electrician, a drywall team, insulators, plumbers, landscapers, and many more. Naturally, I have to put my trust in the contractor if I’m going to write them a check for read more…

Effective communication and interpersonal skills are necessary for a well-functioning medical team. As a practicing or aspiring physician, it is your duty to set an example in proper communication for your team members.  Whether you’re a resident learning clinical duties or an attending physician, these strategies are sure to improve communication among your medical team. read more…

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post sharing that I didn’t match into residency the first time. After a year of difficult soul searching, research, and self-improvement, I finally reached my goal of starting a general surgery residency program. Today, I’m in my fourth month of surgical residency and I want to share read more…

Every year as residency comes to an end, many decide between doing a fellowship or starting practice as an attending. It’s an individualized decision that hinges on professional goals and personal circumstances. The roles fellows and attendings serve are different in structure and purpose. If you’re approaching a similar decision, and are wondering “What is read more…

According to the Maslach Burnout Inventory, there are three specific components in assessing burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of a sense of personal accomplishment. About 40% of medical students, residents, and attending physicians experience these symptoms of burnout. Considering the prevalence of burnout among medical professionals, how do you avoid burning out in read more…

According to research at Stanford School of Medicine, instrumental music can help you absorb and interpret new information, boost your mood, and improve motivation. While studying, music can serve as consistent and predictable background noise, helping to drown out unpredictable sounds or disturbances that may otherwise divert your attention. When studying for your upcoming board exam, read more…

The internet medical education space is full of great guides on how to excel at different points along the medical journey. You’ll find plenty of material on excelling as a medical student, being a fantastic intern, and smoothing the transition to fellowship and/or attending-hood. But like a middle child, the junior resident can be forgotten. read more…

The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) certification exam is a rigorous assessment that plays a pivotal role in certifying physicians in the field of family medicine. This comprehensive examination evaluates the knowledge, skills, and competence of aspiring family medicine practitioners, ensuring they meet the required standards set by the ABFM. The exam is designed read more…

Reaching the point in your medical training when you are ready to take your licensing exams or so-called “boards,” is the culmination of a long but fulfilling journey. These tests are intended to be thorough assessments of new physicians to make sure they are ready to independently care for patients. Preparing for your licensing exam read more…

The Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment (FMCLA), now simply called Longitudinal Assessment, is an alternative way for family physicians to maintain their board certification requirements in lieu of the 300-question one-day exam. The FMCLA offers a flexible alternative to the traditional recertification exam family medicine doctors need to take every 10 years, and it allows read more…

Every day, customers ask us the same question in several variations: What is the best family medicine board review? Why is your Qbank the top family medicine board exam review? How do Blueprint/Rosh Review’s family medicine Qbanks compare vs TrueLearn, NEJM Knowledge+ (now part of AMBOSS), UWorld, BoardVitals…? We understand the importance of the question. read more…

According to The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), “obesity is the most prevalent chronic disease in our society. Yet, many physicians are not trained in how to manage it. [ABOM] certifies physicians looking to bridge this gap.” Understanding obesity medicine is important for physicians practicing in all specialties. For those preparing for the ABOM certification exam, a read more…

Researching the best ABFM board review methods and exam details can be overwhelming. Rather than doing the time-intensive search yourself, you’ll find the answers to common questions here. This post will help clarify what types of board review options exist, which one(s) are right for you, and what you need to know to prepare for read more…

As a physician, I’ve had my fair share of moments that remind me why I do what I do. In these moments, I can’t help but remember everything I was taught regarding empathy in medicine. “Put yourself in your patient’s position,” I hear the mentors telling me from my medical school classes a decade ago. read more…

Medical school is long and expensive, with little (if any) time to earn money. Residency may not offer much more free time, but it’s still exciting to earn a paycheck instead of paying tuition. Your resident salary, typically adjusted for local cost of living, should cover housing, food, and limited entertainment. If you happen to read more…