Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2
Dear Class of 2013,
Academics
’09-’10 Calendar…………………………………………........ 17
Curriculum…………………………………………..... 18
Grades and Evaluations......................................... 18
Adjustments............................................................ 25
Study Tips............................................................... 32
Electives, Podcast, Research................................. 37
First Year
Fall Quarter................................................... 39
Winter Quarter.............................................. 46
Spring Quarter............................................... 52
Second Year
Fall Quarter.................................................... 58
Winter Quarter............................................... 64
Spring Quarter............................................... 70
Third Year............................................................... 76
Fourth Year............................................................ 87
Advising…................................................................ 96
SOS!....................................................................... 98
Student Services
Financial Aid......................................................... 113
Computing............................................................. 114
Housing................................................................. 116
Healthcare
SHIP Insurance..................................................... 118
Student Health Services........................................ 119
Psychological Services.......................................... 121
4
Dentistry................................................................. 121
Recreation/Athletics
Gyms.................................................................... 122
Intramurals............................................................ 123
Surfing………………………………………………….. 124
Social Life
San Diego Neighborhoods.................................... 127
Restaurants........................................................... 129
Coffee shops and Cafés........................................ 139
Eateries on Campus………………………………….. 143
Entertainment........................................................ 144
Concert Venues……………………………………… 147
Travel to Mexico……………………………………… 150
Parking
http://parking.ucsd.edu
Parking & Transportation Office 534-4223
For students who drive to campus, the university recommends that you
park in lots P703, P704 and P705. The UCSD Regents Shuttle brings
drivers from these lots to stops at the main campus close to the School
of Medicine.
Parking lot P604, adjacent to the School of Pharmacy building, has “B”
permit parking, but typically fills up by 8 AM daily.
Occasional use permits allow you to park for any 10 days in a 4 month
period. “S” permits allow you to park in the lots on campus marked with
a yellow S for students. The more expensive “B” permit allows parking
in all “S” and “B” lots plus the advantage of parking in many different
places all around campus. Even though both “S” and “B” permits let
you park close to the medical school, there are no “S” permit spaces
near the medical school. The Gilman parking structure is usually full by
8am on weekdays and it is definitely a gamble, especially on exam
days. Most medical students will park in the “Pit” (Lot P604) where
there are only “B” parking spaces available. So unless you are willing to
show up at 7 o’clock a.m. each morning, it is your best bet to invest in a
“B” parking permit. If you live at Warren hall, the “B” permit will also
make your parking endeavors there less stressful.
Note: After 4:30pm, with any valid permit, you can park in “A”, “B”, “S”,
and metered spaces (with no fee). Campus parking is also free on
University-designated holidays and weekends.
Roadside assistance
If you ever find yourself stranded because you locked yourself out of
your car, you have a dead battery, a flat tire, or out of gas; you can get
free roadside assistance if you are on or near the UCSD campus.
Simply use the yellow emergency phone in any UCSD parking lot to
contact the UCSD Police Department. The police will send a member of
the UCSD Motorist Assistance Program and they provide this service to
all students and faculty members free of charge. Know your car’s license
plate number, make, model, color and the number of the parking lot you
are in when you call. They can only assist you with lockouts if you have
non-power door locks. Even if your problem is not one of the above, they
can help you call a tow truck.
Parking tips
1. Do not try to park at the VA MEDICAL CENTER and walk to class to
avoid paying for a campus permit. VA parking is at a premium at all
times, and the VA Police will ticket you the first time they see you
park at the VA and walk to campus. The second time, they tow you
away, and it will cost you to get your car back. If you are a part-time
employee of the VA or are involved in a research project with
someone at the VA, you may be able to obtain a temporary parking
sticker. Have your supervisor talk to the Security Office (1st floor VA,
Room 1615).
2. If you drive a borrowed car without a campus permit, do not park it
in a permit lot with a note on the window. They won’t buy it. Parking
enforcement brings strange glee to the draconian parking cops
whose sole purpose of existence is to give people tickets. Get a
temporary permit from the Parking Office right away. If you should
ever get a grossly unfair ticket, take it THE SAME DAY to the
Parking Office and talk to them. Waiting until the next day makes it
impossible to change or reverse the ticket without going to court.
3. Many students park on the streets near La Jolla Village Drive or on
Gilman Drive and walk to school. This is easy at eight in the morning,
but all the spaces are gone by nine. Don’t park at the El Torito, they
don’t tow cars everyday, but when they do, it costs well over $100 to
get your car back.
4. Do not erase days on a carpool or occasional use permit. If you are
caught (and yes people get caught) it is a $300+ fine.
The only time you must not fail is the last time you try.
8
Alternative Transportation
Transportation Alternatives Office 534-4235
Bicycle tips
1. Register your bike ($6.00) with the Pedal Club at the Bicycle
Enforcement Office (Building 504, behind the UCSD Police Station).
2. Lock your bike, through both wheels, to something that is unlikely to
be carried away.
3. Got a flat tire or need supplies? Use the student-run, nonprofit Bike
Shop (UCSD Bike Shop 858-534-4279) in the Student Center. It is
cheap and convenient. You’ll find tools, air, and bike accessories
there. A popular parking alternative is the bike permit, where you
plan on biking to school every day, but 10 days during the quarter
you can park your car. This permit is free!
The San Diego Trolley System has 3 lines that take you anywhere from
Old Town to the TJ border in San Ysidro. The Coaster will get you
between Downtown and Oceanside <sdcommute.com>.
San Diego has one international airport, the San Diego Lindberg Field
Airport <san.org>, for all of your flying needs. The next closest airport is
in Orange County, the Santa Ana John Wayne airport, which is about 70
miles away from La Jolla. If you are going home for Thanksgiving and/or
Winter breaks, UCSD provides students with free transportation between
the school and the San Diego International Airport. The Holiday Airport
Shuttle can pick up and drop off. Advance reservations are required but
can be made online via TritonLink.
Textbooks
Required textbooks and syllabi are available at the UCSD bookstore, and
most of them are put on reserve at the Biomedical Library. Before
running out to buy every textbook for each class — wait for classes to
begin and assess the need for them first. They tend to be very
expensive, non-refundable, and the bookstore doesn’t buy them back!
The Tutorial Office has a lending library with many books that can be
borrowed for free. However, the policy is on a first come, first served
basis. Big Sibs are great sources for both books and advice on which
ones are actually worth while to have. There are usually sales throughout
the year by the third or fourth years so it would be much cheaper to buy
the books from them. There are even books that are given out for free.
Sometimes, syllabi are not available until the middle of the first week of
classes. But no need to freak out, that just means no one else has the
syllabi as well. Finally, you may not want to part with your pre-med books
so soon, especially if you were a biology major. Many students
generally spend most of their study time with syllabi, class notes
and approved practice exams rather than textbooks. Another
extrememly useful resource is the Study Aids made by OESS and
posted on the forum.
Editor’s Picks: The editors have noticed that most students think the
following books are excellent buys [for its relevant course].
Like all campus bookstores, you can charge bookstore stuff to your
student account with your ID card. If you use a credit card for
purchases, beware that they always check ID. Unfortunately, the
bookstore does not usually offer refunds on medical text books, so
check before you purchase!
The bookstore carries all of the required materials for pre-clinical classes
in ample supply, but if you want to order books online, try AMSA/Barnes
and Noble Online Bookstore. You can save 10% on every purchase
even if you aren’t a member and get free shipping. Visit:
<www.bn.com/amsa>. Of course, this requires you to plan ahead so
your books will actually arrive on time for the course.
Medical Instruments
First year, you will need to purchase a few key medical instruments.
They will be required for the Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM)
course given spring quarter, but don’t wait until spring quarter to think
about buying your equipment. Even though you don’t need the
instruments until then, it would be wise to buy them in the fall, when they
are on sale at the Bookstore. During orientation, representatives from
different companies come to the medical school to show you their
products. This is a good time to compare the different instruments to see
12
“Wait, I'm a doctor I should probably know that.” – J.D.
which ones you like. If you plan to do a preceptorship, get involved in
extracurricular activities, or electives (e.g., the Free Clinic), you will put
the instruments to good use before ICM third quarter. At the minimum
you will want to buy:
1. Stethoscope
2. Otoscope/opthalmoscope
3. Neurology kit
However, be on the look out for fourth years who might be selling their
instruments on the med portal at a discount price – though these deals
are few and far between. Other alternatives include AMSA at <http://
steeles.com/amsa> or you could even check out Ebay as they are known
to have pretty good deals on kits if you aren’t looking for the name brand.
Purchasing a blood pressure cuff is optional, but most students end up
getting one. It helps to have it in free clinic. For those who plan on
seeing pediatric patients as well, buying the set of pressure cuffs might
be a good investment. But otherwise, just the normal-sized cuff is more
than sufficient. For the otoscope/opthalmoscope, unless you are
planning on making tons of trips abroad, most people opt for the lighter
version where you charge the instrument instead of using batteries.
Like most other things, there is a price range for the medical instruments.
When deciding which specific instrument to purchase, you should ask a
lot of questions of doctors, Big Sibs, friends, and family. Then, go to the
bookstore where you can test each one out and do more research. Pick
the instrument that feels best and is easiest for you to use. Remember:
Medical equipment sales are FINAL, so plan carefully. Do you really
need that pre-owned rectal thermometer?
Once you buy your equipment, you should put your name on it. All
instruments look alike! If you misplace something, a nametag or a few
well-placed stickers will help distinguish it from others and might even
keep it from walking away. Put your name on your books, too. At least
one person is guaranteed to lose their copy of Netter’s atlas in the
anatomy lab.
To realize how short life is, you must live a long time.
13
Computers/PDA
UCSD School of Medicine expects all students to have a LAPTOP
computer, a printer, and Internet access. Both Apple and PC computers
are acceptable. Last year, UCSD experimented with online
examinations for the OP and POP finals. These exams require
Windows, so if you have an Apple, beware. There’s wireless internet
connection everywhere on campus; and in many of the lecture halls,
there are electric outlets to keep the laptops charged throughout the day.
Many students will want to purchase a PDA for medical school. Although
a good investment, you will not really need a PDA until you begin your
rotations in the third year. If you have been following the trends of
electronics, you know that if you wait a month, you can buy something
that’s faster, with more capabilities for cheaper, so if you are not in a
hurry to procure a PDA, then wait until after finishing second year before
starting to think of purchasing one.
Libraries
UCSD has several libraries. The two most relevant for you are the
Biomedical & Medical Center Libraries <biomed.ucsd.edu>.
¾ Biomedical Library (BML): (858) 534-1201
¾ Medical Center Library (MCL, in Hillcrest) - (619) 543-6520
Student Lounge
This year the student lounge will be in a new temporary location while
the old lounge is torn down to make way for super cool new facilities.
The temporary lounge contains a lending library, a piano, big screen TV,
2 foosball tables, and a computer work station. The kitchen also has a
fridge, 2 microwaves, a toaster oven, for which many students use to
store and/or heat up lunch. Student groups can reserve cupboard space
to store supplies, and the lounge can be reserved to host meetings or
parties. To reserve the lounge, check with the front desk in the OSA. By
the beginning of the school year, your student ID will be activated to
open the Student Lounge. Please do NOT prop the lounge door open as
it activates an alarm that calls the police after 1 minute. No one wants
this to happen so please, please, keep the doors locked at all times!
Also, what you learned in kindergarten still applies: put things back
where you found them and clean up your own mess. No one likes to
clean up after someone else, and the lounge is much more enjoyable
when everyone pitches in to take care of it.
15
“Every man is born as many men and dies as a single one.” – Martin Heidegger
Office Depot
4428 Convoy Street, San Diego CA 92111, (858)569-9971
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Staples
8657 Villa La Jolla Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, (858) 909-0253
Hours: Mon-Fri 7a-9p, Sat/Sun 10a-6p
9420 Scranton Rd, Mira Mesa, CA 92121, (858)623-0048
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm
1650 Garnet Ave., San Diego, CA 92109, (858)490-1700
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Walmart
4840 Shawline Street, San Diego, CA 92111, (858)268-2885
Costco
4605 Morena Boulevard, San Diego, California 92117, (858)270-2960
Trader Joe’s
8657 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, (858)546-8629
[In the La Jolla Village Square Shopping Center, Villa La Jolla Drive at
Nobel]
Henry’s Marketplace
3358 Governor Dr., San Diego, CA 92122, (858)457-5006
The closest DMV office is in Clairemont, off Balboa Ave. intersecting with
Genessee Ave. Address: 4375 Derrick Dr., San Diego, CA 92117,
Phone: (800) 777-0133
Banks
It might be a good idea to start a bank account if you didn’t do so at
another earlier point in life. UCSD SOM financial aid office has
convenient direct deposit service that can automatically deposit your loan
amount into your bank account once the loan is disbursed at beginning
of each quarter.
People with money are the first to say the best things in life are free.
17
18
Academics
Academic Calendar
First Year
FALL QUARTER, 2009
Quarter Begins (Orientation
Week)..........................................................................Monday, August 31
Labor Day................................................................Monday, September 7
Major-block Instruction Begins...............................Tuesday, September 8
Veteran’s Day Holiday.......................................... Tuesday, November 11
Major-block Instruction Ends....................................Friday, November 25
Thanksgiving Holiday........................ Thursday-Friday, November 26-27
Mini-block Instruction/Quarter Begins .................Monday, November 30
Mini-block Instruction/Quarter Ends ........................Friday, December 18
WINTER QUARTER, 2010
Quarter/Instruction Begins........................................... Monday, January 4
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.................................Monday, January 18
President's Day Holiday ...........................................Monday, February 15
Quarter/Instruction Ends................................................. Friday, March 19
SPRING QUARTER, 2010
Quarter/Instruction Begins ...........................................Monday, March 29
Memorial Day Observance..............................................Monday, May 31
Quarter/Instruction Ends ....................................................Friday, June 11
Second Year
FALL QUARTER, 2009
Mini-block Instruction/Quarter Begins ...................Tuesday, September 8
Mini-block Instruction Ends.....................................Friday, September 25
Major-block Instruction/Quarter Begins ...............Monday, September 28
Veteran’s Day Holiday.......................................... Tuesday, November 11
Thanksgiving Holiday........................ Thursday-Friday, November 26-27
Major-block Instruction/Quarter Ends .....................Friday, December 18
WINTER QUARTER, 2010
Quarter/Instruction Begins.......................................... Monday, January 4
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday................................Monday, January 18
President's Day Holiday ..........................................Monday, February 15
Quarter/Instruction Ends................................................ Friday, March 19
SPRING QUARTER, 2010
Quarter/Instruction Begins ..........................................Monday, March 29
Quarter/Instruction Ends ...................................................Friday, May 28
Memorial Day Observance..............................................Monday, May 31
May 29 - June 26 USMLE Step 1
“Time is not a thing, thus nothing which is, and yet it remains constant in its passing away without
being something temporal like the beings in time.” – Martin Heidegger
19
Curriculum
The ride lasts four years at UCSD, as with every other medical school.
One thing we do differently, though, is to take Human Anatomy during
the second year. The second special curricular feature here is the
Independent Study Project (ISP), which involves research overseen by a
committee of faculty preceptors. The ISP could be scientific research,
methodology in medical teaching or patient care, community service or
leadership, or even a Focused Clinical Multidisciplinary ISP (FCM-ISP).
For more information about the ISP or FCM-ISP, be sure to visit the ISP
handbook under the Class Info Tab in the Web Portal.
The first two (preclinical) years will be spent mostly in lecture halls
learning the basic sciences from a lot of different lecturers. In addition to
taking the core science courses, you will have opportunities to get
involved with patients through the Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)
course, Clinical Correlates lectures, and through various electives
including preceptorships and the Free Clinic. You will receive most of
your clinical training in the third and fourth years as you rotate through
the various clerkships at the UCSD Medical Centers (La Jolla’s
“Thornton” and Hillcrest’s “the U”), Scripps Mercy, Veterans
Administration (“the VA”), Balboa Naval (“Navy”), Children’s hospitals,
and many outpatient clinics throughout San Diego County.
The UCSD School of Medicine (SOM) web page at this site is a good
resource for general information: <http://som.ucsd.edu/>
The “For Our Students” website is more student-oriented and holds a
sizeable repository of web-based curricular resources:
<http://meded-portal.ucsd.edu/login.html>
Grading: First year, fall quarter core courses will be graded Pass/Fail. All
core courses thereafter are graded Honors/Pass/ Fail. Honors grades
Only the person who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat.
20
are awarded to approximately the top 15% (sometimes 10-20%) of
students. Not all classes offer honors grades. For example, preclinical
electives are graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.
“P,” for pass, is the minimum acceptable grade for each class. It is the
grade that the great majority of students receive (and are enormously
happy about). You will hear the wise phrase “P = MD” many times.
UCSD also has a grade called “Y,” which is a provisionally unsatisfactory
grade. One can get a “Y” on a midterm OR the course. A “Y” on a
midterm may be given to the students (usually about one or two, but
possibly up to seven or eight) whose grades are close to failing. These
students are notified and offered additional help by the Educational
Support Services and professors. Often a student who receives a “Y” on
a midterm exam will improve with a little extra help and pass the class.
Nevertheless, it’s always best to have a good safety margin.
Scores: Your score and a class distribution will be posted after each
examination on your private Web Portal login page. In courses with
small-group discussions, your small-group facilitator will write a personal
evaluation of your performance, based on both attendance and
participation. These core course evaluations are summarized and
sometimes quoted in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation
(MSPE). You are free to read through these evaluations, which will be
placed in your file at the OSA. Pre-clinical courses that will contribute to
the personal evaluation include CBB, all terms of SBS, and Human
Anatomy.
There are usually a few students who wind up taking OP, Pharmacology,
CBB components, or some of the other exams again at the end of the
summer. If you pass the exam in the summer (and the Educational
Support Services staff will do everything in its power to make this
happen), you will get a “P” in the course. The point is that you’ve
mastered the material you need to know to become a good doctor. The
Standing and Promotions Committee (SPC) reviews the progress of all
students, and a detailed description can be found in the Advisor and
Student Handbook. For a quick reference, please refer to the SPC
Cheat Sheet on the next few pages. Bottom line for most people: if you
think you might be in trouble, academically or personally, seek out
help from people (friends, big sibs, classmates, tutors, professors, OSA
advisors, religious guides, lawyers, the psychic friends network, etc.)
EARLY. This will save you much stress later.
Clinical evaluation: During your clinical years, the clerkship directors will
write narrative evaluations of you and examine your competency by
written tests. The final written examinations in the core clerkships are
known as “shelf exams.” These clinical evaluations are some of the most
important components of your Medical Student Performance Evaluation
(MSPE), which is the centerpiece of your application for internships and
residencies.
Evaluation file: Along with your entire academic file, your evaluation file
is available to you at any time, and you should check it periodically by
asking for it in the OSA. In particular, if you know that a preceptor or a
professor in an elective course wrote a narrative evaluation, you should
be able to find it there. It’s helpful to confirm its arrival, especially if your
evaluation is a good one! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask
the OSA staff. They know almost everything, or at least can direct you to
someone who does.
When money talks, nobody pays much attention to the grammar.
22
“What if you find yourself in a room full of riches, having everything you want does it feel alright?
What if you looked again, see the love that’s around you, isn’t it a better place for your heart to
live?” – Tak Matsumoto
24
ACADEMIC PROBATION
Academic probation is a trial period during which a student may have the
opportunity to remediate his/her unsatisfactory performance. The SPC
will inform the student, in writing, when he/she is placed on academic
probation; in this notice, the student will be made aware that his/her
continuance in the School of Medicine may be in jeopardy.
REVIEW HEARING
There are some instances when a student may be asked to meet with
the committee. An in-depth evaluation of the issue will be conducted,
and the student will meet with the SPC to discuss their case. Any in-
depth evaluation of a student's performance must be carried out with the
full knowledge of both the student and the student's advisor. The
possible results of this meeting include the SPC placing a student on a
Leave of Absence and/or Academic Probation, requiring an extended
schedule in the curriculum, or dismissing them from the SOM.
Hearing Results
After meeting with the student and his/her advisor, and following
appropriate deliberations, the SPC may take any of the following courses
of action:
• Leave of Absence - The SPC may place the student on
involuntary leave of absence, if, in the opinion of a majority of
the committee (or not less than six affirmative votes), such a
leave is in the student's best interest.
• Extended Academic Schedule - The SPC may require a student
to extend his/her schedule for completing the curriculum.
Failure of a pre-clinical course following attempts to satisfy the
course requirements normally results in a one year extension in
the student's progress through the curriculum.
• Dismissal - The SPC may elect to dismiss the student from the
SOM. Any recommendation for the student's dismissal will be
based upon the evidence presented at the hearings. A student is
subject to dismissal from the School of Medicine under the
circumstances listed below:
- The receipt of two F grades in SOM core courses.
- Continued marginal or unsatisfactory performance in the
curriculum while on academic probation.
- Placement on academic probation a second time.
- Based on findings of academic dishonesty (major
offense) following an in-depth evaluation by SPC
-
Appeal of Hearing Results
A student who has been dismissed from the School of Medicine may
appeal the dismissal to the Dean of the School of Medicine. Appeals to
the Dean of the School of Medicine must be made in writing within 60
days of the decision to dismiss.
“As you go through life, you've got to see the valleys as well as the peaks.” – Neil Young
26
Adjustments
Many people need to adjust their lifestyles, not to mention their study
habits, when they come to medical school. Here are true-life stories from
a humanities major, a science major, a parent, and a recovering slacker.
All have succeeded in medical school. You can, too!
Humanities major
“Science? Well, I took a couple of Bio courses...”
Hey, I know you. You don’t recognize me as one of your own kind, I
know, but give me a chance. When people hear your obscure non-
science major, you get a hesitant “Well, I guess you could be a
teacher...” or maybe you inspire the incredulous “What are you going to
do with that?!” Am I right? And you thoroughly enjoy the shock on their
faces when you respond, “Go to medical school!”
But now you’re worried. You are the lone non-science major, striking out
into the unknown land of Biochemists, Physiologists, and the occasional
Physicist, fear and trembling in your heart and a disarming yet utterly
false smile upon your face.
I want to let you in on The Secret: You have incredible powers! These
powers endow you with the awe-inspiring ability to see The Big Picture.
Techie: Oh my, another DNA pol zeta. Why didn’t they teach us about
zeta in undergrad? I thought I knew them all! What if there are others
they haven’t told us about? What do they do? How will I ever learn them
all?!
Fuzzy (that’s me): Hmmm. Seems there’s a lot of DNA pols, and they all
do different things so that everything gets done when it needs to be.
Pretty nifty.
“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” – Popular Mechanics, 1949
27
See what I mean? You’re going to be just fine. You’ll see The Big
Picture. You’ll learn the Details, just because you can, but you’ll know
how they all work together to make something greater than their parts.
Lovely, isn’t it, that those of us with Big Picture Vision get to appreciate
Synergy so much more often than the others can?
Science major
“I’m not an overachiever, I just crush a lot of tests.”
On the good side, you’ll spend less time with fundamental building blocks
of a subject than your comrades from the humanities - at first. As you
move into the more clinically relevant areas of the preclinical curriculum
(which begins to happen by the end of first year, and doesn’t get into full
swing until well into second year), everyone will find himself or herself on
a level playing field.
“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein
28
no life, nor should it take more than a few hours a day. Be good to
yourself, and enjoy that sunny San Diego weather and the beautiful
people on the beach.
Getting married
“Communication is the key.”
The pros of being married in med school are that all those singles will
think you are mature and everyone recognizes your time commitments.
Although it’s hard to balance spending time with your spouse and
spending time socializing with classmates, I find that there are plenty of
time for both family and study. As medical school is tough from time to
time, it’s nice to have someone at home with perspective and provide
support. It’s wonderful to have a “down-to-earth” and non-medically
oriented encouragement only a few feet away. Also, you can always use
the excuse that “I’m married” to get out of parties, but of course the con
of marriage is that you miss out on a lot of these social activities as well.
The clichéd advice that makes marriage during medical school work out
is that you have to make sure to constantly communicate with your
spouse about what’s going on with your studies. The more that your
spouse knows about what’s going on in med school, the easier it will be
for him/her to understand the time commitment required and your need
for support. Also, make sure that you set aside a good hour or so each
night to spend time with your better half.
Recovering slacker
“Rude Awakening for the Smarty-Pants”
That’s right, you’re a medical student. I know, I know, it’s pretty hard to
believe you made it here. One minute you’re doing a keg-stand and
dancing until the wee hours of the morning, and the next you’re knee
deep in the Krebs cycle. You managed to breeze through college with
straight A’s solely by the parenchyma of your frontal cortex and you’re
pretty sure you’ll do the same at UCSD.
I’m here to tell you, it’s definitely not going to be that easy! Medical
school is a humbling experience, especially for slackers like us. Let me
give you some advice. I know you won’t listen to a single thing I say (I
wouldn’t have when I was in your position), but as parents around the
globe chide, “One day, you’ll understand.” First things first: If you end up
failing an exam or a class, don’t let it get you down. Believe it or not,
things will work out. You are going to have to work hard to succeed, not
only by learning all the material everyone else is studying, but also by
having to go through a change of lifestyle. You must constantly remind
30
I’m not paranoid but I know that you all think I am.
yourself why you came here in the first place. Why the heck do you want
to be a doctor? Write the reasons down and look at it every now and
again to remind yourself why you are diligently working toward your goal
of graduating from medical school.
Okay, now what you need is something called a “work ethic.” Step one:
Remember all those nerds in college with 15 different clicky colored
pens, 8 Hi-Liters, sticky tabs, and 3-ring binders large enough to hold the
entire contents of the Library of Congress in 8 pt. font? You are now one
of them. I suggest systematic desensitization by watching “Revenge of
the Nerds.” Hint: Make friends with the guys at Office Depot and they’ll
let you know when the new shipments of flashcards arrive or even tell
you about the “special” Hi-Liters on aisle 5.
Crazy as this might sound, you will learn to dedicate hours of each day to
the task of reading the same minutiae over and over until a good portion
of the syllabus finally sticks inside your sleep-deprived, caffeine-wired
brain. Rinse and repeat for the next two years. It’s called memorization
and it doesn’t play well with the slacker’s motto: “Oh, I’ll just figure it out
during the exam.” You cannot “figure out” on what chromosome the
gene responsible for von Recklinghausen’s is (the long arm of
chromosome 17).
In medical school, you must become a machine. Fill your radiator with
antifreeze, gun the engines, ignore the toxic fumes spilling out of your
tailpipe, and hold on for the ride.
Being older
“Damn, I’m a geezer.”
“I’m 35 years old and haven’t been in school for over 10 years!” “I would
be at least 8 years older than most in my class; can I relate to the other
students? Would I make friends?”
The answer is YES! UCSD, like many other med schools across the
nation, has an average entering age that is on the rise (about 25 now).
As long as you don’t think you are too mature for the standard med
school antics, you will do fine. As for studying: you might have taken
some time off before medical school to experience life, and it might seem
difficult to get back into studying mode. Academically, you might feel to
be at a disadvantage, but rest assured that after the first quarter, the
playing field is leveled and if you keep your motivation and perspective in
place, you will do just fine. The advantage to being “old” is that you have
31
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” – Mark Twain
gained wisdom from the past experiences, which really shine through in
the stories you share and the “maturity” you convey. Furthermore, you
will be more focused on studying than most other students.
Truthfully speaking, no one cares how old you are, if anything, they are
intrigued by all the things you know.
In addition, the OSA is very supportive and has made the experience for
GLBT students at UCSD to be a tremendously positive one. Locally,
there are also several GLBT groups outside of school in San Diego, so
finding great places to hang out and have fun is not a problem either.
With so many students, friends, faculty providing support, resources, and
friendship, being GLBT is definitely not one of the worrisome issues in
medical school.
32
“Keep your eyees on the stars, and
d your feet on the ground.” – Theoddore Roosevelt
a. You won’t know if you are going to need tutorial help unless you keep
up with the material and deal with confusing subjects as you encounter
them. If you do need tutorial help it is best NOT to wait until the week of
the exam to schedule an appointment.
b. Time-consuming problems always pop up at the worst time (e.g.
needing to repair your car). If you have been keeping up with school,
then you won’t go into a panic attack if disaster strikes the week of the
exam.
2. Study with a buddy (or several). Remember that two heads are better
than one. While a few brave souls choose to study alone on a regular
basis, group studying is an excellent way to learn more in a shorter
amount of time, and you get the latest gossip in the class. Be flexible
with your groups. In other words, it is a good idea to have a variety of
people with whom you can study. Diversity of ideas will help you learn
the material better. The other benefits are numerous:
3. Know your schedule well. If you don’t have an organizer, get one!
Make a weekly schedule and a monthly schedule so you can plan in
advance for the weeks where you have a paper and two tests! Make
your life easier by using the online schedule under the Calendar tab of
the Web Portal at <http://meded-portal.ucsd.edu>
35
Few men have the natural strength to honor a friend’s success without envy.
4. While studying for your first and second year courses, it is a good
idea to buy a few board review books and study with these as you go
along. One of the all-time favorite board review books is First Aid for the
USMLE Step 1. Knowing First Aid by heart will put you well on the way to
passing. It is suggested that you simultaneously study for your classes
while incorporating a little board studying so that you can get an early
feel for how the boards tests various subjects. Also, over the last few
years the USMLE has become very clinical with nearly 80% of questions
being clinical vignettes. So make sure you supplement your studying with
clinical cases, like the ones found in Underground Clinical Vignettes.
Don’t forget to include reading MRIs, X-rays, Histology and Pathology
slides in the list of things to study.
5. Don’t put off memorizing material until the night before the exam.
Save the minutia for the night before, but memorize all the concepts and
the important details as you’re studying along. Exams tend to focus on
concepts more than random details.
7. Divide your studying into a series of short tasks. Don’t wait until you
have 2 or 3 hours to study. Use small bits of time while your clothes are
drying or a bit of your lunch for active studying tasks.
GOAL: Use your lecture notes to make a complete but rough draft of all
the material you need to know. From these notes make final draft
summary sheets that include charts, diagrams, and pictures, with only
the information you think is necessary to memorize.
Why do it?! Thinking about the lecture material during the lecture will
help you learn it and retain it longer. Passive learning is inefficient
learning, so you want to make lectures as much an active learning
experience as possible. Additionally, by putting some energy into taking
notes you will be saving yourself time later.
Why do it?! Fixing notes will help you create summaries more efficiently
and will also serve as a great reference for the rest of the course. You
will waste less time looking for things, and spend more time learning
them if you master this step.
Why do it?! The more details you know, the more confident you will feel
on exam day (and probably the better you will do on the exam).
Final notes
1. Some courses offer old exams. You should definitely take advantage
of them, as well as practice exams from the OESS. The best way to
integrate them into your studying is to use them as practice problems
while you are creating summaries and studying. DO NOT SAVE THEM
FOR THE END! That can only lead to panic.
1. “I always get it down to 2 answers and then always choose the wrong
one.”
Two different processes often contribute to this:
a. We unconsciously equate effort with accuracy. For example, if it
takes 30 seconds to justify one answer, and 5 minutes to justify
another, we tend to erroneously pick the answer that took longer to
justify.
b. We are too subjective and want to pick answers that “sound” right.
If you can justify one answer with an equation, it’s probably right, even
though another answer may “look” or “feel” right.
TT = definitely true
T = probably true
? = one you are really not sure of
F = probably false
FF = definitely false
Think about each answer, but don’t change the original “truth” value.
You should only change it when you recall an equation or relationship
you suddenly remembered.
Better to remain silent and thought to be a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
40
Electives
You will discover that there are many electives to choose from each
quarter. Some elective courses are not offered each term, and their
schedule does change from one year to the next so don’t assume that
one you want to take will be on the next schedule. Check the Elective
Bulletin under the Resource Information link on the Web Portal for a list
of classes and requirements.
In the fall, the Emergency Elective is very popular, along with Free Clinic
and Politics of Medicine. The Doc Electives are easy units (1 unit per
presentation) that take up one lunch hour meetings and one afternoon
where you go and teach kids about various health topics like tobacco or
nutrition.
“The aim of scientific work is truth. While we internally recognise something as true, we judge, and
while we utter judgements, we assert.” – Gottlob Frege
41
Podcast
Two years ago, some amazing classmates of 2010 convinced the faculty
to podcast the lectures. The purpose of podcast is not so that you can
skip class, but to reinforce what you’ve heard in lecture and to fill in the
gaps of information you’ve missed. The podcast is completely student-
run, and unfortunately, not all courses and/or professors will let us
podcast their lectures. Nevertheless, having podcast has been of
enormous help to our studies.
Summer Research
If you are interested in doing research over the summer after your first
year, you have several options for stipends to help you afford to stay in
San Diego. Many students do research in labs with faculty and receive
the NIH or MSTAR program grant for the summer. In addition to this
great opportunity, you can also begin an ISP out of the project.
Applications for the summer research grants and work study are
completed in winter quarter and were due last year around end of
March/beginning of April. This sneaks up quickly on you when in the
depths of the winter quarter so it is a good idea to get started as soon as
possible (i.e. when the idea hits you!). Ask professors early so you will
be on time for the deadlines. And remember IRB Human Subjects
approval for new projects often takes 3+ months, so definitely start early.
FIRST YEAR
FALL QUARTER
Congratulations, you’re an MSI!
Thought you had seen the Krebs cycle for the last time on the MCAT?
Wrong. The course materials here are detailed, and demanding. During
the past year, Drs. Taylor, Dennis, and Jennings have worked hard to
improve BHD and their effort really paid off. The class handouts are
extremely well organized and pay special attention to those disease lists
- they’re great study guides. As for books, the Voet text is a solid adjunct,
but many people find the Lippincott’s Illustrated Review of Biochemistry
to have more succinct, intuitive explanations, while another good book is
the Lehninger Biochemistry book. None of these books are required
though, as the notes are excellent, and all test questions come from the
lecture notes. For Dr. Dennis’s lectures, know everything on the handout
cover sheets cold, paying special attention to the clinical information. If
there is a class this quarter worth making flashcards for, this is it.
Drawing out the pathways on your own is also helpful. As for Dr.
Taylor’s lectures, just be sure that you have the pathways down, paying
special attention to the commonalities or running themes that she will
point out throughout her lectures. As for Dr. Jennings’s lectures, the
class may seem to present a huge volume of detail but she wants you to
come away with the basics covered in the summary of each lecture.
Hopefully, BHD pulls together many of the loose ends of the other
classes, leaving you with a more complete understanding of concepts
covered in other sections. The exams are multiple choice and not
cumulative, and each one mostly covers one section presented by one
professor.
Willpower is eating just one salted peanut.
44
Cellular Basis of Molecular Disease (CMBD)
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: 3, non-cumulative
¾ Tips to success: Use the lecture handouts to study, especially pay attention
to the figures!
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: None
CMBD is headed by Drs. Spector and Farquar, but there are quite a few
guest lecturers who will give lectures in their area of expertise. There
was almost a different lecturer for every class meeting, and their quality
ranges on a spectrum. In the past, students were provided with great
(colored!) handouts with lots of illustrations and most professors stick
closely to the order of the syllabus. Again, you may find Lippincott’s
Illustrated Review of Biochemistry to be very helpful. Exams in this class
are multiple choice and again, not cumulative. However, some questions
tend to be detail-oriented, while others are more application-based,
making these exams more challenging than initially expected.
Unfortunately, many students put CMBD on the back burner while
working on other classes and scramble the night before the exam to
cram enough to pass. April Apperson from the tutorial office makes
excellent organizational materials to assist you in learning the details and
are definitely worth getting (this is true for all first year courses – keep
checking the web portal for her handouts and practice exams).
This has been the hardest course of the CBB block for some students
due to the sheer volume and complexity of information. You have a
lecture at the start that covers the entire course in 50 minutes. Don’t be
scared. You aren’t responsible for this lecture on the first exam; it is just
showing you what you will know by the end. Dr. Baird teaches the
course, complete with personally-crafted/sung immuno songs, which are
an entertaining way of learning the material. Be sure to attend lecture as
lecture notes tend to be dense and not very self-explanatory; mostly,
they consist of PowerPoint slides of replications of textbook figures.
This class is stressful if you’ve never seen immunology before, but not so
bad if you can tell the difference between T and B cells. The textbook is
highly recommended if this is your first time studying this subject. In
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato
45
addition, Dr. Baird teaches Path in 2nd year and the textbook will come in
handy then too. You do have to know all the cytokines, but Dr. Baird is
the best CBB exam writer and he tends to like big picture quesions. The
final exam IS cumulative and is much harder than people expect. In
subsequent years, you probably will use the stuff from this segment of
CBB more than the material from other segments. Mastering
immunology now will have payoffs in later courses, particularly Histology,
Hematology, and Pathology. Thus, even though there are only two
afternoons of IMM, you should learn this course’s material well.
CBB Lab
Every once in a while, there is a required lab session to incorporate
lecture material with some hands-on experience. Lab is low-stress and
no outside work is necessary if you make use of in-class time. These
labs are part of CBB and not to be confused with the elective lab course
offered first quarter for students who want to review and/or learn about
certain laboratory techniques which meets once a week for a few hours.
The lab elective can be taken as an alternative to reading workshop.
Reading Workshop
Almost everyone takes this section of CBB instead of the lab elective.
There are usually 10 different groups – a few are excellent, a few are
horrendous, many fall in between. The groups are based on different
topics and meet once a week for the major block portion of the quarter.
Students do two presentations on journal articles, usually one with
another student in the group and another one alone. If you want to know
which groups are good, talk to your big sib as Reading Workshop tends
to offer most of the same groups each year. A key item is that your
reading group facilitator WILL SUBMIT A WRITTEN EVALUATION of
your work, so don’t blow off your presentation, and ask questions!
“To explode a myth is accordingly not to deny the facts but to re-allocate them.” – Gilbert Ryle
46
Social & Behavioral Sciences:
The doctor/patient relationship (SBS-I)
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: 1 final (multiple choice + short response), 1 group leader
discussion paper, 2 hospital visit papers
¾ Tips to success: Pay attention to the fact lists when studying for final.
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: None
SBS-I is the first class to expose you to real, live patients as well as a
general introduction to UCSD’s fine teaching hospitals. You will spend
three of your Saturday mornings wearing a little white coat and driving
around to the city’s hospitals to interview patients. One of the many
goals of this course is to learn patient-interviewing techniques. At this
stage of your medical education, this means being personable and
considerate to patients while achieving a level of comfort in their
presence. In this role, you will begin to develop your patient-interviewing
and communication skills. Besides these three hospital visits (which may
include a highly-recommended hospice visit), you will have lectures and
small group discussions on medical ethics, death and dying, human
sexuality, and cross-cultural issues. The hospice visits were the best part
of this course according to several students.
More effort goes into the small-group discussions and papers (fairly
easy, but you have to do them) than studying. Some of the facilitators
leading the small groups are fascinating and worth getting to know. They
might even be convinced to provide munchies or hold class outdoors on
nice days. There is no course text, and you will be provided with a
syllabus, while all of the required readings will be on E-reserve. There is
a multiple-choice final exam, which can be more difficult than students
anticipate. Make sure you learn any testable details and feel confident
answering short essay questions about the material. Many students
complain about the “fluffy” nature of the course, but be forewarned:
material covered in this course WILL appear on the boards.
“Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.” – Jimi Hendrix
47
MINI-BLOCK
First year mini-block occurs between the Thanksgiving and Winter
breaks. You will take two courses here: Genetics (the last component of
CBB) and Principles of Pharmacology (POP). It’s a two week section
with only 2 classes, but don’t let it throw you off your guard. Do NOT get
behind! The POP exam in Mini-block factors into your winter POP score,
so score well in it!
Human Genetics
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: 1
¾ Tips to success: Do LOTS of practice problems.
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: Maybe the required text: Genetics in Medicine
In the Fall POP Mini-Course, you will begin by studying the principles of
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In addition, you will learn
about ion channels, smooth muscle, and the autonomic nervous system.
Be sure to master the autonomic nervous system, because this material
is the foundation for Winter POP and also comes up in many other
courses, including Organ Physiology (OP). There will be several
professors for this section, just keep up with the information and don’t fall
behind. Know how to do the various calculations in pharmacokinetics as
well as those that pertain to dose-response curves. Do as many practice
problems as you can! Flash cards work well for this course throughout its
entirety, especially in Winter and Spring POP.
Many students run into trouble on the Mini-Course exam because they
run out of time. SOM policy doesn’t allow you to use your own calculator.
If you are worried about using an unfamiliar calculator, you can go to the
Tutorial Program office prior to the exam to try out the calculators that
will be provided for you. If you are really inclined, the calculators
provided are Texas Instrument TI-30XAs.
The supplementary texts for POP throughout first year are Katzung and
Goodman and Gilman. Katzung is relatively inexpensive and fairly
portable (a useful feature if you study away from home), yet Goodman
and Gilman is expensive, though Goodman and Gilman is a good
reference and will be constantly cited during your first two years (plus it
will look good in your future office bookshelf). If you like review books,
Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology is well written, concise,
and worth the low cost. Note that the Mini-Course POP is officially a
component of the Winter POP course. The exam at the end of the Mini-
Course is considered a midterm and is included in the grade given at the
end of Winter POP.
"One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small. And the ones that mother gives you don't
do anything at all. Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall." – Grace Slick
49
FIRST YEAR
WINTER QUARTER
Needless to say, this quarter will be more challenging so don’t wait until
the first weekend to get started studying. The courses take off rapidly
and keep on flying at top speed until you take your last final. You only
have about two weeks to learn each section of Organ Physiology, except
cardio where you have four weeks, before each exam, so many of you
will be studying non-stop.
Winter POP
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: 2 (1 midterm, 1 final)
¾ Tips to success: Memorize the drugs, its mechanism of action, and side
effects. Make flashcards and go over them whenever you have time.
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: Syllabus
Historically, the POP faculty never releases previous exams but the
Tutorial Program’s practice quizzes can help you gauge the level of
detail you’ll find on exam day. This course is Honors/Pass/Fail (Honors is
usually top 15%). The final exam is cumulative for winter quarter
only, but your score on the Mini-Course exam is combined with your
scores on the Winter POP mid-term and final to determine your grade.
Last year the final was computerized, and the questions were done in the
same way as the USMLE step 1 pharmacology section, to help prepare
you for testing in the USMLE fashion. They may or may not do this
again.
“Give me a lever long enough, and I shall move the world.” – Archimedes
50
Organ Physiology (OP)
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: 4 (3 midterms: cardio midterm has lecture and CBL
components, 1 final: approximately half GI midterm material, half all other
organ system material)
¾ Tips to success: Gain a firm grasp of the concepts. Keep up by studying a
little bit each night will have great payoffs.
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: Respiratory: Essentials of Respiratory Physiology
Cardio: Syllabus
Renal: Syllabus really…
GI: Gastrointestinal Physiology, which is free
online via AccessMedicine
In the next ten weeks, you’ll learn everything there is to know about
Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Renal, and Gastrointestinal Physiology.
Each organ system is covered separately in two-week sections, except
cardio, which takes up 4 weeks. The separation is so that you won’t
confuse stomach juices with blood pressure; the drawback, however, is
that spending seven or eight days at the beach may mean that you have
no idea how the heart works (i.e., it is difficult to play catch-up). OP
combines all of those detail-type things from CBB with big concepts (e.g.,
the heart is a pump).
Beware: this integration will require some modification in the study style
of many people! If you think you might be having trouble or just want to
get input on how you study and whether it is likely to be effective, talk to
Dr. Laiken or April in the Office of Educational Supporting Services. The
key to OP is to know the concepts, be able to apply them to the big
picture, and know the minutia as well. OP is one of the most difficult
classes at UCSD SOM. Thus, make sure to study for this course – A
LOT! Ask for help BEFORE you run into trouble. This course is also
graded Honor/Pass/Fail.
Respiratory
Dr. Frank Powell, a respiratory physiologist, is the coordinator of the
entire OP course, while Dr. John B. West (i.e., practically the most
famous respiratory physiologist ever) teaches the majority of the
respiratory lectures. Dr. West’s text serves as the only “handout” for his
lectures.
Cardiovascular
Cardio was headed up by Dr. Kirk Knowlton last year and is taught by
multiple physicians. There is a textbook, but it may not be a worthwhile
purchase as the syllabus is quite detailed and studying from it is
sufficient to doing well on the exam. All of the information you need to
know will be in the syllabus and the notes you take (or your class
notetaker). Cardio offers your first opportunity for Case-Based Learning
(CBL) in small groups that are structured to allow students to teach each
other cardiac physiology. This can be frustrating (what the heck do we
know anyway?), but most students enjoy the experience. Don’t be
surprised when you have to know lecture material ahead of the schedule
for CBL (i.e. before it is covered in lecture).
Cardio is the longest section, has two exams, one of lecture, which is
multiple choice, another one for CBL, which is free response. For the
CBL test, know the Wigger’s Diagram and Pressure-Volume curves cold.
Also, the more lecture hours a professor gives, the more questions
he/she will have on the exam. The lab sections and clinical correlates are
considered supplemental and are designed to augment our learning.
Thus, save studying for these after you’ve mastered the “core” materials.
“There can be things that are happening that are quote, phenomenal, but there's always a scientific
answer to it.” – Damon Lindelof
52
Renal
Renal physiology is taught solely by the Renal Wrangler, Dr. Scott
Thomson. Dr. Thomson loves physics and teaches from a physics
perspective. Hence, this section may feel especially difficult for those
who don’t think “the same way” as Dr. Thomson. If the material is
conceptually difficult for you, it might be a good idea to buy the textbook,
but it is not necessary as long as you study the syllabus. The practice
problems and small group “cases” are tantamount to establishing an
understanding of how the many details fit within the larger concepts.
Remember the equations and directions of ion transport for the exam.
Know all sections of the nephron like it’s your best friend, those numbers
Dr. Thomson gives in the nephron chart - take them seriously to
understand the big concept! The exam is fair, and does test mainly on
the big picture, so don’t drown in the details! Dr. Thomson has been
known to include some questions on his exam that can only be answered
by attending lecture, so it may be worthwhile making the effort for 8am.
Gastrointestinal
GI Physiology is considered by most students to be the most
straightforward. It is headed by Dr. Kim Barnett. Because of the faculty’s
research interests, there is a great deal of emphasis on bilirubin in the
lectures, but the tests fairly cover all of the materials. The textbook is
recommended because it is written by Dr. Barrett. (The text is free
online via AccessMedicine.) But the practice questions at the end of
each chapter do not reflect well what will be tested; some say that these
problems are much easier than the ones on the final.
“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
53
There is a tendency to ignore GI OP as final exams approach; however,
it is important to stay caught up because much information is presented
in the last few days. Small group “cases” are a superb resource for
comprehending the application of the physiology, it’s almost like a study
guide for the exams.
“Gotta keep faith that your path will change, gotta keep faith that your luck will change tomorrow”
– Tim Booth
54
Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM-I)
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: None really, but 2 OSCEs
¾ Tips to success: What you put in is what you get out of ICM.
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: None required
”I’ve been brought back to life so many times I don’t know what’s real.” – Finn Andrews (of The
Veils)
55
FIRST YEAR
SPRING QUARTER
Many students say that Spring quarter is not as difficult as Winter quarter
but you will be busier because there are double the number of courses
you are taking. Unfortunately, this quarter isn’t as coordinated between
the courses as it could be. Because there is a test each week starting
with the second week of school, you will mostly likely feel constantly
behind and are playing catch-up to prepare for the upcoming week’s
midterm.
POP
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: 2 (1 midterm, 1 final)
¾ Tips to success: Make flashcards. Don’t toss POP aside too much!
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: Syllabus
In Spring POP, you will cover drugs that affect the CNS, such as
antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, alcohol, and
anticonvulsants. Dr. Joan Heller-Brown teaches much of this quarter
along with several other expert lecturers. Even though not a lot of hours
is devoted to POP this quarter, be sure not to toss this material aside to
study for Neuro and ERM. What you learn here is very important! This
quarter is all about the side effects and nuances that make up the
differences between the drugs in each class. Spring POP has a mid-term
and a cumulative final, which covered a fair amount of midterm material
as well as the last portion of the course last year. It is also
Honors/Pass/Fail.
This is a favorite among UCSD SOM students because the course is well
organized. Most of the credit for this goes to Dr. Kritchevsky, who has
received the Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching so many times that
he is no longer eligible for the honor.
Class Time: Dr. Kritchevsky himself gives many of the lectures in BN.
There are also many guest lecturers who speak on topics in their fields of
“What a peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call thought – David Hume
56
specialty. Although there are a large number of lecture hours scheduled
for this class, they are worth your time as Dr. K is a seasoned and
organized lecturer. There are also clinical correlations and
demonstrations incorporated into class, and split-brain studies are quite
interesting. Pre-reading the syllabus is REALLY useful in this course.
As the syllabus is easy to follow and clearly written, pre-reading will help
you learn the lecture material and you won’t have to search through the
pages to say on track.
If you don’t like to attend lecture, there are still two sessions which you
must ABSOLUTELY attend each week if you want to do well in the
course: the weekly review and the clinical problem-solving sessions,
which both take place Friday afternoons and stress the highest-yield
concepts. Dr. K highlights the most important weekly lecture material in a
two-hour session and after the review, students break up into small
groups to discuss clinical cases (outlined in the syllabus) in an hour-long
session with knowledgeable TAs. These cases help students think
through clinical problems more than is usually required during the basic
science-oriented pre-clinical years, and are great ways to begin to learn
how to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life clinical situations. Note
that attendance and participation in the clinical problem-solving sessions
earns you 10 points every week (90 points total). Use these sessions to
understand the important concepts presented, which will definitely be
tested later in the midterms and final.
Labs: For those of you who can’t contain yourselves until anatomy next
year, you will get a taste of neuroanatomy this spring. (The topics
covered this quarter in BN will be skipped next year in anatomy.) The lab
segment of BN is hands-on but does not involve dissections – you will
look at slides and specimens of real human brain and spinal cord, MRIs.
At the beginning of the course, you will choose a group of 4-5 students
with whom you like to work and will then proceed through material, to a
large extent, at your own pace. Dr. K. and his team of residents and
support staff are always on hand to answer questions. The lab sessions
are particularly helpful for understanding the pictures and diagrams from
lecture.
There are also Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) sessions that guide
students through anatomy and vasculature of the nervous system via
computer models and images. These CAL labs can be completed on
your own time if you get the program, Brain Storm, installed on your
personal computer from EdCom. Most students skip the scheduled CAL
sessions, but if you want help, Dr. K makes himself available for
questions during that time. The Brain Storm program is a good way to
reinforce and to test yourself on what you’ve learned in both lecture and
anatomy lab.
“The logical objections which might be raised to the statement ‘consciousness is a process in the
brain’ are no greater than the logical objections which might be raised to the statement ‘lightning is
a motion of electric charges’.” – J.J.C. Smart
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Exams: This course consists of 3 lecture-based midterms and a
cumulative final that includes both a lecture and a lab component given
on the same day. Lecture midterms are one hour, short exams written by
Dr. K. They are made up of 20 multiple-choice questions while the final
has 40 questions. The midterms are each given after every two or three
weeks of material, so it is important to keep up with the material. The
comprehensive final lecture exam is similar in format and difficulty to the
midterm exams. Of the 40 questions, about half are dedicated to the last
two to three weeks of material and the other half cover material from the
entire quarter. The cumulative lab exam is somewhat different than the
lecture exams since it is a practicum and is written by Dr. Marchand, the
behind-the-scenes lab coordinator. During the exam, you will walk
between different lab stations and identify specimens and slides.
Although lab sessions themselves are casual, studying for the lab exam
should not be taken lightly. It is not only about identifying anatomical
structures but also about recalling function. The lab exam is probably
considered the most difficult exam in BN, so make sure that you can not
only recognize structures and histology but to also understand what
symptoms various anatomical lesions will cause.
The syllabus includes 99.9% of material that will show up on exams, and
you can safely skip most of the “small font” notes. It is also not
necessary to scrounge for old
exams for BN. In the syllabus,
there is a “Self Assessment
Exam” at the end of each
lecture, comprised of old exam
questions, though note that
some of the questions cover
small font material that will not
appear on exams. When you
are studying for any of these
exams, get cozy with the
Review Notes in the back of
the syllabus and think, “Where
is the lesion?” and you cannot
go wrong. For the lab exam,
revisit the slides and
specimens and your manual
near exam time because you
cannot and will not remember
everything you’ve looked at
earlier.
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“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others,
are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” – Douglas Adams
Books: The syllabus for this class is comprehensive; no outside
neurology text is necessary to learn what you need to know. The
syllabus is also thought to be a useful guide for the wards (where you will
run into Dr. K. again), so try to keep it in order and hold on to it. Aside
from the syllabus, there is a lab manual you must buy for the anatomy
lab section. Also, at least one anatomy atlas is needed by each lab
group. The “required” atlas, Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy (black,
approx $65) is NOT a good choice as nearly all of the neuro plates have
been removed from this book. Also, many second years recommend
Grant’s atlas for anatomy second year, so you may not find Netter’s as
useful next year either. A better (and cheaper!) bet is Netter’s Concise
Neuroanatomy, or similar book with all neuro plates.
ERM is taught by Dr. Glass, along with many other professors. The
class is divided into 3 sections and you start off with Metabolism, which
includes topics such as diabetes, obesity, and thermogenesis.
Metabolism is followed by Endocrinology, where you will learn everything
about hormones, from the structure and production of hormones like
TSH to the pertinent diseases concerning these various hormones. The
quarter ends with Reproduction, which mainly deals with the female
aspects of reproduction more than the male. Even though not as much
class time is devoted to ERM as is to Neurology, it is a great idea to
learn it well this quarter. Keep in mind that ERM material is used a lot in
clinical medicine (there are many diabetic patients out there!).
The ERM syllabus is the only required text for the course and recent
revisions have made it quite decent. However, some lecturer’s notes are
more complete than others. If you have never taken an endocrinology
class, it may be helpful to buy one of the recommended texts for the
class so you have a reference to go to while studying. Cecil’s Textbook
of Medicine is a great resource and is also free online from
AccessMedicine (many of the professors authored the ERM related
chapters) as well as the Board Review Series: Physiology. The latter has
good tables and is concise in hitting the highlights. As with many of the
other courses, it may be helpful to work through the BRS book or other
board reviews while studying for exams because this will give you a feel
for how the USMLE tests endocrinology topics.
Lecture: Attendance is important because the professors (especially Dr.
Olefsky) sometimes give information that is not in the syllabus but will be
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“My car and my adding machine understand nothing: they are not in that line of business.” – John
Searle
on the test. After a major overhaul of the syllabus in 2007, at least half of
the slides were cut from the handouts. However, many of these omitted
slides are still included in lectures and the professors (especially Dr.
Olefsky, diabetes) sometimes give information that is not in the syllabus,
but WILL be on the test. Also, many of the figures in the syllabus are
important and only the lecture, and not the syllabus notes, can help in
understanding them. Therefore, it is important to be prepared and ready
for lecture, or when in need, supplement what you’ve missed in lecture
with the class note-taker’s excellent notes.
Small Group: Small group discussions will concern highly testable cases
relevant to the lectures. Attendance counts towards your grade. These
Problem Based Learning help you learn the material and contain material
covered by the exams. Even though the cases may seem trivial, try to
get as much out of the PBLs as possible.
SBS II is quite different from the SBS of the first quarter — it is much
more factually oriented. The topics covered in this quarter’s course are
favorites on the USMLE Step I board exam. Make sure you understand
the different developmental theories (Erickson, Piaget, etc). You may
want to think about getting the High-Yield Behavioral Science or the BRS
Social and Behavioral Sciences book to make sure you understand the
high-yield material of the course.
The course consists of lectures and small group discussions. Each week
of the course covers a different time period in human development. The
syllabus is sometimes very detailed and sometimes incomplete (i.e.
many bullet points) so take notes during lecture to catch the lecture’s
main points. There is an official text for the course; the readings are
concise, but the book is probably not worth your money as each week
your group members are supposed to summarize the readings. If you
must have one, buy a used copy from a second year, or split a new copy
with friends. A good study strategy is to cooperate with your small group
so that each person summarizes the reading material for a particular
week.
The final last year was not difficult. The class is graded H/P/F. In order
to get honors, attend the lectures, participate meaningfully in small
group, and do well on both the midterm and final. To get honors, you
must get in the top two standard deviations on both the midterm and the
final, as well as be recommended for honors by your group facilitator.
This is another course where comments from your group facilitator will
be sent to Student Affairs and may have summaries or quotes appear in
your MSPE.
ICM-II
Quick Facts:
¾ Number of exams: None
¾ Tips to success: Practice the physical exam skills on as many people as
possible to master them.
¾ Textbook “must-haves”: Guide to Physical Examination and History
Taking
SECOND YEAR
FALL MINI-BLOCK
The second-year mini-block starts at the beginning of second year. This
schedule allows the Hematology faculty to attend a conference in
December.
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Hit the ball over the fence and you can take your time going around the bases.
Hematology
Class time: The bulk of the learning occurs during the small group
sessions, in which students review brief hematology cases and slides
(e.g. of peripheral blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, or biopsies).
The majority of learning takes place in these sessions, so go to them!
Make sure you go over MedPics and/or other resources for Kodak
chromes of blood smears. The course has a required paperback
textbook, which is excellent. However, the course is taught in less than
three weeks, so the amount of reading may seem enormous. Therefore,
keep up with the reading and the cases, as there will most likely be a
midterm after only five days of class. Besides the midterm, there is also
a cumulative final exam. Know the class note taker’s notes and the small
group case information for the exams. The exam will require you to
identify images and pathological slides, so memorizing pathologic RBC
morphology and reviewing MedPics are very helpful.
Study resources: The syllabus is concise, but the format and depth for
each lecture are not uniform. This makes the syllabus not as user
friendly as a reference for the boards. Other options come recommended
by some former MSIIs instead of the assigned textbook: Blackwell’s
Underground Clinical Vignettes - Pathophysiology Vol. 2: USMLE Step 1
and BRS Pathology. The MedPics computer program, developed by
UCSD Med’s Learning Resources Center, has an invaluable Hematology
section, which has all the relevant slides for your viewing pleasure.
Answer the practice questions in the syllabus; they’re very high yield for
the exam.
The faculty is a great source of additional help and will inspire you to
think clinically, to synthesize the material, and to understand the disease
processes involved. Overall, the course is very clinically relevant,
interesting, and well taught. You will use this information repeatedly.
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” – Winston Churchill
Testing is broken down into a laboratory exam and a lecture exam for
each section of the course: Thorax, Abdomen/Pelvic, Extremities, and
Head & Neck. The lab exam is simply identification of structures, and is
best prepared for by attending the labs and studying from the sheet of
structures tested in the past (frequently known as the “frequency list” –
look at the webportal from last year’s class). The lecture exam is thought
of as the most difficult part of the course. Simply put, everything is fair
game for the exam. Students are expected to have a textbook. Don’t
think you can get away without one in this class, even if you didn’t buy
one all of first year. Read it and memorize just about everything in it.
The required textbook, Baby Moore, is excellent (though a little dense
and long at times). Know the dissector inside out (especially the
diagrams and the important relationships). It will give you a virtual tour
on the relationship and organization between different organs, important
structures, and the procedures for lab dissection. The textbooks will
focus more on the clinical and biological aspect of the anatomical parts,
which is the emphasis for the lecture portion of the exam.
The most difficult aspect of this course is the management of time. The
existence of studying materials is overwhelming, so it is important to find
the methods, tools, and studying habit that will work for you in a
reasonable amount of time. Some people will read the books from cover
to cover, while some will focus on the “clinical pearls” (AKA “blue boxes”)
and diagram in the dissector and textbooks. There’s no single right way
to study for this course. Anatomy is basically a course of new
vocabularies, and your goal is to know what they do, and where they are.
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Practical Points: Obtain some “lab” copies of the Dissector and Netter’s
Atlas, so that cadaver juice doesn’t soak your snuggleable study copies
of these books. All students need to get their hands on some scrubs: ask
big sibs about inheriting theirs. To keep what you’re wearing nice, a few
students buy plastic disposable aprons: Smart and Final on Clairemont
Mesa Blvd. has these at a dime apiece. The 2008-2009 Course Chair,
Dr. Whitehead, recommends: “Practice exams are given before the real
exams, and these are important to take to see what the real thing will be
like. Students who want reassurance that they are on the right track in
their learning should check their depth of understanding with the TAs. If
you are having any difficulty, GET HELP from the TAs and the faculty —
the earlier in the course the better! All are approachable and will work
with you, even after hours, to help you succeed.”
Epidemiology/Biostatistics
Epidemiology has improved dramatically over the
last couple of years. It currently has small group sessions, many new
textbooks, and a syllabus. The lectures start off being very interesting
and somewhat useful, but the material becomes dry and mathematical
toward the end. The Epidemiology textbook is extremely helpful and
contains most of the information presented in lecture in a nice, easy-to-
read format. The problems at the end of each section are highly
recommended for checking your learning. Do them if you want to do well.
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The Evidence-Based Medicine book is completely useless; don’t waste
your money. The Biostatistics book is helpful and a good read. It makes
a dry topic very comprehensible and memorable but is definitely not
necessary.
“Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.” – Frank Tyger
Histology
Histology is a great basis for and introduction to pathology. It goes well
beyond familiarizing the student with microscopic techniques to teach the
more important recognition of tissue and function. The entire faculty is
quite approachable, so use their encyclopedic knowledge to aid your
learning. Histology is best learned actively; ask questions from the
faculty whenever possible. It is especially helpful to pick their brains for
the features unique to particular slides. You should know key structures
that distinguish tissues and be able to tie together structure and function.
Gross identification of slides, by holding them up to the light, is key. On
a test, you should go for the gross ID before even looking at either the
microscope or the corresponding question. The test questions, all
multiple choice, are usually paired: identify a specimen, then recall the
mechanism of its function.
ICM-III
During fall and Winter Quarters, you
move to doing histories and physicals
on actual patients. It is very exciting
and a lot of work. During the fall
quarter, you perform focused
elements of the physical exam on
actual patients in groups of four-five
students under direct preceptor
supervision. These sessions are time
consuming, but are excellent at
building clinical skills and preparing
you for third year. Dr. Goldberg has an online guide to the history and
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physical exam, which is very helpful for asking the right questions and
writing the most comprehensive history. Believe me, the faculty want
these reports to be complete. In addition to doing the required write-ups,
“The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.” – Stephen King
you must perform various physical exams on patients. Badger (nicely!)
your preceptors to show you how to do portions of the physical exam
(you’ll need to hone your technique). Use the time these quarters to
sharpen and polish your skills in doing a physical exam and taking short
histories.
The syllabus is again mediocre but has a glossary in the middle, which is
extremely high-yield, both for the course and the rest of your life. As with
the other SBS courses, your enjoyment of the course is highly dependent
on the students in your group and how good your facilitator is. There
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seems to be more information in this quarter of SBS, so keep on top of
things for the final.
“Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the
rules and play from your heart.” – Anonymous
This course is graded H/P/F. Honors usually go to students who took
classes on this topic as undergraduates. However, with some pre-
reading and lecture attendance, you may be able to show your facilitator
that you are knowledgeable about the material. Please note that your
facilitator has to recommend you for an honor, regardless how well you
do in the final. So it is important to participate in the small group session.
SECOND YEAR
WINTER QUARTER
Winter and spring quarters behave uncannily like one big semester.
Human Disease is the one course to which you’ll devote much of your
time. ICM continues about the same, but SBS has a psychopathological
flavor.
Human Disease
HD is composed of Microbiology, Pathology, and Medical Therapeutics,
and is lecture-based. The syllabus is excellent and totally
comprehensive. This is the quarter when you diagnose yourself with
everything from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (especially you young
Doogie Howser types) to a zoonosis. Winter and spring quarters make
up the final grade, but you need to pass each class separately. The tests
are multiple choice and not cumulative (exception: micro). Try to balance
studying for the boards, keeping up with classes, and staying healthy!
Pathology
Pathology will be your comprehensive introduction to every single
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disease! This clinically relevant course is what you have been waiting for
since CBB. Overall, the pathophysiology and pathogenesis are fantastic,
but sometimes the actual pathology (mostly histological changes)
becomes tedious. Do not get behind and cram for this course. As a
physician, you MUST know this material in order to be competent.
“Happiness does not lie in happiness, but in the achievement of it.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky
The 2003-2004 Co-Course Chair, Dr. Baird, notes: Remember, if you
eventually want to be able to think like a doctor and even be a doctor,
you need to know what a doctor knows.
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” – Carl Jung
The second block of Pathology is all about the heart and lungs. Get
ready for some serious memorization. Dr. Bloor is the main pathology
lecturer; Dr. “Bishop” Maisel reigns supreme over the heart lectures, and
the dynamic duo of Drs. West and Wagner take on most of the
pathophysiology of the lung. Although Dr. Bloor’s lectures can be a bit
dry, he meticulously lists all of the pathology in both the lectures and the
syllabus. Appreciate these lists while you have them, because other
pathologists are not as thorough. Unfortunately, you need to memorize
Bloor’s lists and spit them back out on the exam. Dr. Maisel’s lectures
are not to be missed, simply because of their entertainment value. He
brings food, plays movies and music, and dresses in costume. Who
knows what else he might do next year? With all of this fun taking up
precious class time, however, he covers the necessary material with
lightning speed. His syllabus is fantastic and covers everything that will
be on the test (and more). Be sure to study the arrhythmia lecture
because it is guaranteed to be on the exam, but otherwise his test
questions are very straightforward. Know those rhythm strips.
Remember how confusing the Respiratory test questions were in OP?
Well, not much has changed, so be prepared. During this section, there
are small group discussions, which are very useful in understanding the
pathophysiology of the diseases. Not only do these discussions help with
the course, but they solidify all of the basic physiology as well.
Just remember that pathology is what we need to know for the boards
and wards. Good luck on both!
Microbiology
Micro, like Pathology, is another course that spans both winter and
spring quarters, which together look suspiciously like a big fat semester.
Micro will take you through the world of the microorganism and
coincidentally the realm of the “micro-factoid.” It is important to begin this
course with the expectation that you will be expected to master an
overwhelming amount of detail. This is simply the nature of the subject
matter. Fortunately, Bridget Quinn (a former Micro tutor) has produced
an excellent, comprehensive syllabus that is now used as the course
syllabus. It contains every piece of information you need to do in as
palatable form websites of interest for each disease. Check out the links
to her old websites online for lab practice questions!!
The course begins with the study of bacteria, which along with an
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introduction to the mechanisms of antibiotic function and a quick section
on fungi, occupies all of winter quarter. Spring quarter begins with
parasitology and then moves to virology, but there are also many
lectures geared towards clinical syndromes and the finer points of the
antibiotics. Antibiotics are important to master early. Students in the
past have found it very difficult to cram it all in at the end.
“Support bacteria. They’re the only culture some people have.” – Anonymous
The cumulative nature of the course is limited not just to the antibiotics.
In general, the course progresses from lectures about specific organisms
(e.g. Neisseria meningitidis) to those about specific syndromes that can
be caused by any number of organisms (e.g. Meningitis). This can be
confusing for many students, so it is important early on in your studying
to keep track of what diseases a certain bug can cause. Conversely,
your ultimate goal should be rattling off a differential diagnosis of
organisms when presented with a clinical syndrome. Also, although the
clinical aspects of disease are not emphasized in the course, it will
definitely serve you well on the boards to learn each bug’s clinical
presentation. Keep your Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple
handy; this book also has excellent framework and mnemonics.
In summary, the best advice for Micro is to figure out how you can best
learn and memorize the material, then do that early. Whether you prefer
lecture notes, readings, lectures, tutorial reviews, making your own
“organism charts,” or actually seeing the bugs in lab, figure out how
you’re going to learn the details, and then do not get behind. Many
students have found that making charts is a good way to keep a running
log of all the organisms. In addition, it is extremely useful to spend some
“One sometimes finds what one is not looking for.” – Alexander Fleming
time figuring out what characteristics are shared among organisms.
Many exam questions will require you to differentiate whether a given
characteristic is present in one organism, another, both, or neither. If
you don’t anticipate these questions, they can drive you crazy! You are
expected to know the details so you inevitably must spend time
memorizing. The biggest mistake that students make for the first exam is
thinking, “That couldn’t be important.” It might not be important for life,
but it will be on the exam (and step I). You must know every single fact
that is in Bridget’s notes if you want to perform well on the exams. Sound
like a lot of work? The truth: it is. Work hard, stay on top of the material,
and you’ll make it!
Although this year’s chair is Dr. David Wyles, here’s what the 2001-2002
Microbiology Course Chair, Dr. Oxman, responded: Medical Microbiology
is a challenge. The number of infectious agents causing human diseases
is large and growing, and travel by people, animals and vectors brings
exotic diseases to our doorstep. Today’s “micofactoid” is likely to be the
key to tomorrow’s epidemic. Who would have thought that a doctor in
New York would need to know anything about West Nile virus? The
Micro course is cumulative – what counts is your ultimate understanding
of the subject - your ability to diagnose, treat and prevent infectious
diseases. The laboratory exercises demonstrate medically relevant
properties of important organisms, and participation is mandatory. In the
lectures, faculty with a working knowledge of their subject do their best to
distill the material for you – to distinguish fact from “factoid.” Attending
the lectures is really worth the time and effort.
Medical Therapeutics
Medical Therapeutics consists of disease-focused pharmacology
interspersed throughout the Pathology course. Dr. Paul Insel gives most
of the lectures. The Medical Therapeutics material is similar in spirit to
Pathology’s, and is tested at the same time. Study for it as you would
study for Path.
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“Don't become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin.” – Ivan
Pavlov
SBS-IV: Psychopathology
SBS IV is given winter quarter of second year. It is one of the best and
most interesting ones offered by UCSD. The lectures for this course are
all exceptional and highly recommended. They include video clips of
patient interviews that illustrate the symptoms of psychopathological
diseases. Hence, the lectures are very interesting and help clarify some
of the confusing aspects of psychopathology. Some of the video clips
also may appear on the exam. This course also provides a good review
of some of the psychoactive drugs you learned about in POP first year.
The reviews of the textbook for SBS-IV are quite lukewarm: some people
liked it, others didn’t. The book is a “required text” for third-year clerkship
so you may want to invest in it early if you have extra cash. You may
want to invest in the BRS Behavioral. You may even want to read them
concurrently for the course. The Psychiatry: a Current Clinical Strategies
medical book by Hahn, Reist, and Albers (green pocket book) was said
to be helpful by some students, and the behavioral science and
psychiatry segments of First Aid may help you learn the information while
studying for Step 1 concurrently.
Preparing for the final exam is rather straightforward. The best way to
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prepare is to read the class notes and, more importantly, to do the
practice test questions on the course’s website. These questions are
extremely high-yield, and although only a few repeat, the concepts are
tested over and over again. There are a lot of questions on the website
so make sure you have time to go over all of them before the exam. On
the exam there are usually 10 questions on video clips of patient
interviews, most of which are NOT previously shown in lecture. They
tend to be the hardest questions on the exam. The best way to prepare
for them is to read the lecture notes or, even better, attend lecture.
“To prevent disease, you may have to change how you live.” – Brian Carter
Course chair Dr. Lohr is a very approachable, great teacher. He is very
open to ideas that will help enhance his course. Grading for this course
is H/P/F. The best way to get honors is
to be very familiar with the DSM-IV
criteria for whatever disease the course
discusses each week and to be able to
come up with, and distinguish between,
differential diagnoses of patients
interviewed each week. Of course, do
a good job on your write-ups and have
a good patient interview. Also, you need
to do well on the final exam. As with
other SBS courses, comments from
evaluators go to your file and may
appear in your MSPE.
ICM-IV
This quarter, you begin to do complete histories and physicals all by
yourself. While intimidating at first, most students find that that their
clinical skills and confidence skyrocket during this experience. Get your
preceptor to observe you doing physical exams. If you know a physician
you’d like to work with have him or her call the ICM coordinator to
request you and your partner.
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SECOND YEAR
SPRING QUARTER
Keep on truckin’! You’re almost there! Recently, the spring quarter has
been slightly consolidated (mainly by eliminating days off) to give
students two extra weeks to study for the boards after the conclusion of
the quarter. This quarter adds a course in Laboratory Medicine.
“The truth is not for all men, but only for those who seek it.” – Ayn Rand
Human Disease
HD continues from winter quarter: more Pathology, Microbiology, and
Medical Therapeutics!
Microbiology
Micro continues from winter quarter. Spring begins with parasitology and
then moves to virology, but there also are many lectures geared towards
clinical syndromes and the finer points of the antibiotics. The big
challenge here is to integrate everything, as the final examination is
cumulative across winter and spring quarters. Otherwise, the approach
remains the same as in the winter quarter.
Pathology
(Pathology continues from winter quarter) Renal and GI Pathology are
the topics of the third block of the Pathology course. If you found renal
physiology difficult, the renal pathophysiology will probably prove more
elusive as well. The big topics are Na+ and K+ disturbances, as well as
acid-base status. Diseases and tumors of the kidney are not as heavily
emphasized, but they are also much more students straightforward.
Laboratory Medicine
Lab Medicine is perhaps one of the most clinically useful classes for third
year when you leave Garren auditorium to hit the wards. This class
assimilates all the useful lab tests that you will order — next year — in
order to diagnose and monitor various diseases. LM is roughly organized
by organ system. It parallels the pathology course (that you are taking
concurrently) well, and its syllabus (free of charge!) is very
straightforward.
All that you need to do well in the class is in the syllabus. A “pass” grade
is based on accruing a certain number of points out of the total, and the
honors grade is given to the shining stars that score greater than 92%.
This class can easily be honored, so most people who wait until the night
before the test to study for this class end up kicking themselves for not
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keeping up and trying to do well. Heed this warning because many of
you will pour your energy into pathology and microbiology and neglect
this 3-hour-perweek class, and as a result every year there are a few
people who fail the course and have to postpone their 3rd year rotations
to retake the course.
LM’s midterm and final tests consist of written and practical parts. The
practical component involves looking at pictures of test results or clinical
vignettes and interpreting the findings. You will have to memorize the
normal lab values for the most common labs. You do need to know
formulas and how to use them. These tests are detail-oriented so don’t
settle for just knowing the concepts. Otherwise, this class is enjoyable,
and every MS-III will tell you to pay attention to this class because what
you didn’t learn comes back to haunt you during third year!
“While you are experimenting, do not remain content with the surface of things.” – Ivan Pavlov
ICM-V
ICM-V will give you subspecialty lectures and preceptorships in
pediatrics, dermatology, and reproductive medicine, but requires no
more H&P writing.
USMLE Step I
You’ll take this mother of all exams during June after your second year.
Simply put, it covers everything you learned during the first two years of
medical school. Start studying early! Buy First Aid for the USMLE Step I
as soon as possible and learn along the way.
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Tips for the Boards
Scheduling: Picking your test date is the first step in your boards
preparation. Some students prefer to take it early and have 2 weeks of
vacation while others will put it off to the bitter end. Whatever you do,
keep in mind that the earlier you call to schedule your date, the more
likely it is you will get the date you want. If you later decide you want to
change your date, you should call ASAP to change it because as the test
approaches all the testing slots will fill and you will not be able to move
your date earlier or later. A fee will be applied if you change the date too
close to your scheduled test date.
The most highly recommended review book for Step1 is (you guessed it)
First Aid (FA) for the USMLE Step1. While this book does not have
everything that you need to know, it is extremely high-yield, and it is
definitely worth your time to know every syllable of First Aid. Also try the
NBME site and purchase a 200-question assessment, this is very high
yield.
When Test Day Draws Near: A few days before your exam you should
drive to the site so that you know exactly where you are going the day of
your exam. Doing a test run allows you to scope out the parking
situation, decide whether you should bring or buy lunch, depending on
what is around, and you’ll know about how long it will take you to drive
there. At the site they will provide you with very small lockers to place
your personal belongings in, so leave your backpack in the car. They
only allow you to bring your eyeglasses and a jacket (no hats) into the
testing room. At some of the sites they also provide earplugs, but you
can use your own.
79
THIRD YEAR
The third year of medical school is entirely different from the first two
years. Besides being the first clinical year in medical school, it is
probably the most crucial, because residency programs will review your
third-year faculty evaluations closely.
Reach for the moon- even if you miss you’ll be among the stars.
2. Equipment
Most likely you will not need to buy any additional medical equipment,
you will simply need to decide what to bring each day. At the minimum,
most students carry with them a stethoscope, tuning fork, penlight and
reflex hammer. Additional items will vary depending on what rotation you
are on.
3. Pocket Guides
There is a sea of pocket guides to choose from for each rotation. In
order not to go bankrupt buying all of them it is a good idea to find a few
friends and trade around your guides when you switch rotations.
4. Professional Attire
If you went to school everyday in jeans and a t-shirt, then it might be a
good idea to start shopping for some professional clothes before
rotations begin. As a general rule, women should not wear any blouse
that is too low-cut or shows your midriff. Skirt lengths vary, but it is a
good idea to err on the conservative side. For men it would be wise to
invest in a few pairs of slacks, button down shirts, and ties. A good rule
of thumb for both sexes is to always be the “best dressed” person on
your team.
Tips:
1. Before your third year starts, read the pocketbook How to be a Truly
Excellent Junior Medical Student by Robert J. Lederman. This book is
full of excellent advice, and it has many abbreviations that will commonly
be used on the wards. Another great book is First Aid for the Wards,
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which has a great primer for before every clerkship you will be on.
2. Follow your patient to important studies. Med student Jane Doe had
the bright idea of following her patient (that was having lower right
quadrant abdominal pain to her CT scan) and was amazed to find that
the radiologist was more than willing to answer questions and explain
what findings made the diagnosis of appendicitis more likely in this
patient. Moral of the story...if you have time, then go watch studies that
are done on your patient...you can learn a lot.
Never put off until tomorrow anything you can get someone else to do for you today.
4. Definitely Buy a Maxwell Guide
Use the blank pages in your Maxwell Guide to record door codes and
computer passwords (you will have several by the end of third year and
remembering them all is impossible!)
Clerkships
The third year begins at the end of June. You will have taken the USMLE
step 1 at the end of your second year. Late in winter quarter, a
computerized scheduling process decides who gets which clerkships
when, based on your preferences (likely you will get one of your
preference but not all – this will be a theme, so don’t get frustrated – in
the end it doesn’t matter whatsoever). If you don’t get what you want, it is
possible to swap with someone else. In any case, the required clinical
clerkships are Surgery (two months), elective (one month), Pediatrics
(two months), Neurology (one month), Reproductive Medicine (aka
OB/Gyn) (six weeks), Psychiatry (six weeks), Internal Medicine (three
months), and Primary Care (throughout the year). Peds (P) and Neuro
(N) are combined into one quarter as N-P-P, P-N-P, or P-P-N. Psych (P)
and Repro Med (Rm) are combined in one quarter as Rm-P or P-Rm.
The clerkship in Primary Care operates throughout the entire year, one
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afternoon every week you will go to a clinic, with monthly breaks from
clinic for monthly seminars on campus.
Tips:
1. Preparing for the CPA and CPX exams. As you have probably heard
these are exams where you interact with “standardized patients” and
have 15-20 minutes to take a history, perform a FOCUSED physical
exam, and discuss your findings with the patient. These patients will
have common problems (things discussed in your primary care
seminars) and the point is NOT to come up with the diagnosis, but to
form a good differential diagnosis and communicate EFFECTIVELY with
the patient. The best way to prepare for this exam is to get together with
a friend and practice- one of you plays “doctor” the other plays the
patient. The patient should think of a common primary care ailment (i.e.
migraine headache, chest pain, shoulder pain, etc) and the “doctor”
should take a history, perform a focused physical exam and explain the
findings to the patient.
“The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases is that there are physicians for the body and
physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated.” - Plato
A good book that has many practice cases is: Mastering the Objective
Structured Clinical Examination and the Clinical Skills Assessment by Jo-
Ann Reteguiz. The CPX exam is a requirement for graduation and is a
harder version of the USMLE Step 2 CS (clinical skills), which is
supposed to ensure that you will be a competent and compassionate
physician. A few people fail this test every year (you just have to take a
re-take exam—no big deal), but truly if you have been doing fine on the
wards and primary care clinic, you will do great.
Please realize that one of the most frustrating things to ALL medical
students is the scheduling of our rotations. You often will not know when
your days off are or any other details until the first day of your clerkship,
which makes planning for weddings or other important events VERY
83
difficult. Let the clerkship coordinators know early if you have any must
attend events. Note that you will be asked to be flexible with your
schedule, but other people will be demanding of your time in an inflexible
manner, which may be hard to reconcile at times.
Hospitals
You will be spending most of your time on the wards in one of several
UCSD teaching hospitals. These include the UCSD Medical Centers
(Thornton and Hillcrest – AKA The U), Veterans Administration Medical
Center, Balboa Naval Hospital, Scripps Mercy, and Children’s Hospital.
Different clerkships vary widely in terms of expectations, but your plans
should include being “on-call” with the intern or resident every fifth (q5)
night. Being on-call will usually involve sleeping over in the hospital on
these nights. Some people find it a nice change to move to Hillcrest
between 2nd and 3rd years to be closer to 4/6 of the hospitals above, with
better night life, restaurants, and cheaper housing.
“It is a mathematical fact that fifty percent of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class.”
Pimping
The third year can sometimes be difficult in that you are just learning
your way around the hospital, but you will also be susceptible to
“information pimping.” That means anyone (doctors, nurses, janitors) can
ask you anything about everything and expect an answer. That’s when
all that seemingly “irrelevant” memorizing you did during your first two
years of medical school comes in handy. Just remember that you are still
new at being a clinician: you will make mistakes, but you will learn from
them. Malignant pimping can happen and it is NOT appropriate, this is
when you are asked questions with the purpose of debasing,
embarrassing, or belittling you publicly. If this happens to you, TALK TO
ONE OF THE DEANS
OR THE CLERKSHIP
DIRECTOR! More often
you will get questions
that challenge you to
think through the
answers and come learn
by a somewhat altered
Socratic method.
Taxi Policy
After a “call night”, if you
feel too tired to drive
home, you may call a
taxi. Turn in the receipt
to the Student Affairs
84
Office and you will be reimbursed.
After seeing the patient on your own, doing a focused physical and
making a mental plan, you should present your case prior to doing any
documentation to the attending. The attending may wish to see the
patient with you and the attending may have some questions for you. If
the attending asks you about a question that should have been asked,
do not lie. After the attending has made any adjustments to your plan,
you go back in and see the patient and execute that plan. You then go
and see the next patient. All documentation should be reserved until the
end of the clinic. Generally, outpatient clinics are Mon. – Fri. with all
weekends off.
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The Inpatient Experience
The inpatient experience is much different than anything you may be
familiar with. You generally work 6-7 days a week and will take call every
4-6 days. You will start your day anywhere between 4-8am and will end
anywhere between 4-10pm.
Pre-Rounding: This is where you arrive at the hospital and check on all
of your patients before the attending and resident have had a chance to
check on them (usually 6am). Your duties at this time include checking
on how the patient feels, doing a quick physical exam, checking any
medicines, lines, or drains that have been hooked up, asking the nurse
how everything went last night, and then looking up any new labs and
radiology reports. You prepare this into an eventual note.
Attending Rounds: The whole team rounds yet again with the attending
and the case is presented exactly the same way (usually around 10-
11am). This is where you can make most of your impact on the
attending. The attending will usually give some lecture at the end.
Call: Call can be overnight or not (usually ending at 10pm or when you
finish up with your last patient. You are generally allowed to go home
early the next day (12:00p) but this does not apply to medical students all
of the time. Generally, as the individual on call for the service, you have
3 responsibilities:
Kindness is a hard thing to give away. It keeps coming back to the giver.
1. Help manage all of the floor patients in the off-hours if there is no
“night-float”
2. Consult on or Admit patients from the ER
3. Take consults from other services.
Admissions: During a call night, the ER will call your resident with an
admission. The admission will be briefly verbalized to the admitting
resident. The resident will then assign that admission to an intern and
medical student. Your job basically is to go downstairs to the ER and do
a complete history and physical. You may wish to go check on the ER
note to see what history and physical findings they had elicited and then
check on any orders that were made to see what the patient has already
had done. There are probably already labs and radiology studies done
as well. Once this is all done and you have a chance, you should present
your case to the intern and then help the intern write some admission
orders. Your patient will then be upstairs for your round the next morning.
1. Turn your cell phone off, put your pager to vibrate (you don’t want
these to go off during a surgery while you are scrubbed and sterile).
2. Read about the type of case you are scrubbed in on.
3. Never let your hands go below the plane of the operating field.
4. Don’t touch your face/mask/hair.
5. Never grab anything off the Mayo stand unless the scrub nurse or
attending tells you to.
6. It’s great to be assertive when there is a receptive attending staffing
the case. When the attending is a grouch, assertiveness will just get
you kicked out of the OR.
7. You will make a huge impression on the residents if, on the first
couple cases you scrub in on, you learn how to prep patients for
surgery and clean up afterwards. Prepping patients is something that
the residents hate and if you do it, you will make them very happy.
“A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.” – Fr. Jerome Cummings
1. Narrative Evaluation:
a. Work Hard: Attendings and residents look highly upon the
medical student that takes the initiative to look up all of the data on their
patient, run errands, pick up new patients, and anything that isn’t really
fun.
b. Know Your Patient: Attendings that expect you to know every
detail on your patient are being silly. Knowing the trends in specific
values, important physical findings, historical tidbits, and previous
treatments are important.
c. Attitude is Everything: Talk to some MS-IV’s about this. NO
ONE wants to work with a jerk.
d. Show Interest: This doesn’t mean, “Ask questions to the
attending that you already know the answer to so that you look good
when the attending asks something about that to you.” Attendings and
residents know that game. This means genuinely trying to learn as much
as you can, doing procedures when offered, and staying to help with
something when asked.
e. Presentations are Important: Attending rounds and
presentations of patients are some of the only times that you have
contact with them. Therefore, it is important to have everything
87
together and available so that you can deliver it in a concise and
logical format.
2. Written Paper: Some clerkships (mainly psych) may have you write a
paper about a specific topic in that branch of medicine.
3. Oral Presentation: Either using Powerpoint or a 1-page handout with
takehome points these are sometimes subjectively integrated into your
evaluation.
4. Oral Exam: During the Surgery clerkship, you will have an oral exam
given by three faculty about different aspects of surgery.
5. NBME “Shelf” Exam: A 100 question, multiple choice exam on the
subject in that clerkship. This material is usually found in multiple review
books that are fairly well known. Various examples include: First Aid,
Blueprints, PreTest, Case Files, etc. Generally a 60%+ is passing and a
80-85%+ score will put you in the range for “Honors”. It is a combination
of all of the aforementioned factors that you are evaluated on. A great
written exam will not make up for poor clinical performance and vice
versa. A listing of each clerkship and the specific requirements is listed
on the webportal website under the MS-III tab.
“If you hear hoof beats, look for horses, not zebras.”
PROS:
1. Faculty will know your face get to know you as a person.
2. You can perform very well and add strength to your application.
3. You can effectively evaluate the program. An interview is only an
incomplete look at a program.
4. You get to know the residents better, and vice versa.
5. You may find out you love the program, or conversely, hate it.
CONS:
1. You already may have a stellar application and there is a chance
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that your performance didn’t live up to your application.
2. The 4th year is the last time that you are going to be able to do many
aspects of medicine. Why do 5 sub-internships in Internal Medicine when
you can try radiology, emergency medicine, anesthesia, etc.
3. It costs some $$$$$ and takes a lot of time to set these up.
UCSD will also want several items in order to effectively credit you:
1. Written evaluation from the staff at the end of the clerkship.
2. Faculty sponsor and course equivalent at UCSD in order to credit
your experience. (eg. inpatient pediatrics elective faculty at UCSD to
sign for the same elective at Mass General.)
“Don’t stop doing the things you enjoy (working out, socializing, or sleeping). Just learn to manage
your time and money.”
Third Year Grades
At the end of every rotation you will take a standardized exam called the
“Shelf Exam.” Your evaluations of your performance on the wards and
your shelf score will determine your grade (i.e. Honors, Near Honors,
Excellent, Very Good...). Each rotation will have a slightly different
formula for weighing your clinical evaluations (based on your
presentations of patients, your ability to problem solve, your
interpersonal skills and professionalism, etc) and your shelf. However,
DO NOT think that a really good clinical evaluation will make up for poor
performance on the shelf. In general, if you want to do very well on your
rotations, and earn honors, you MUST do VERY WELL on your shelf
exam.
Shelf format:
The shelf is a standardized test in which you are given roughly 2 hours to
answer about 100 questions. Many students find that the hardest part of
taking the shelf is completing it in the time allotted, so move fast. In
general, the questions are usually fairly straightforward, so if you read a
89
question you know, mark you answer and move on quickly to save some
time for more difficult questions. The majority of the test is standard
multiple choice questions with extended matching questions at the end
(reminiscent of USMLE 1), with a few pictures thrown in for good
measure. Most likely you will find the Shelf exams challenging, but the
more you prepare, the better your score will be.
Review Books:
In general, the “Case Files” series is money for nearly every rotation in
the sense that it gives great case based presentations and thoughtful
commentary and teaching points. “Blueprints” is concise and hits most of
the high points—though some thought it too basic, plus it has some
review questions in the back (however, these review questions are
definitely easier than the Shelf questions). “Pretest” series and any
“clinical vignette” type books also come recommended by previous third
“It is easy to get a thousand prescriptions but hard to get one single remedy.” – Chinese proverb
years in as much as they give you questions from which to study, albeit
not of the same format (shorter question stems and more factoid nit-
picky than the shelf exams). When it comes to your Surgery rotation get
Surgery Recall, its good for wards pimping, pre-case preparation, and
the shelf. If possible, commit this book to memory, and then read it
again- it is that useful. MKSAP is a great source for shelf-style questions
for Medicine rotation, OB-GYN rotation coordinator emails out a link to
online questions that are very shelf-like, and Peds rotation has you do
CLIPP cases online which are helpful with shelf studying. In order to not
spend a small fortune on books you should trade books with friends
(make sure to write your name in you book if you want it back because
by the end of your rotations you are bound to forget who has your
books), or take advantage of the new UCSD SOM Lending Library.
Another resource is the online clinical reference library, (accessed
though the BML) “Up To Date.” Also DON’T miss book sales put on by
the class above you- you can pick up a lot of books cheaply and often
students organizing the sale will give advice on which books are ‘high
yield’ to buy.
90
Making the Most Out of Rounds:
If you want to get the most out of rounds then make an effort to follow
(from a distance) patients that are not yours. This way when the team is
going over patients that are not yours you 1) won’t fall asleep, 2) will
learn how to manage many more diseases than if you only pay attention
to what is said about your patients. Keep in mind that your FIRST priority
is staying on top of your patients If your patients are all you can handle,
then don’t sweat following other patients, but if you have a little spare
time, then pay attention to the
other patients on the service as
well. Just don’t follow anyone
else’s patients so closely that
you step on an intern, or fellow
medical students’ toes.
Whether you think you can or think you can’t you are right.
FOURTH YEAR
Clerkships
During your fourth year, you will continue to do clerkships either at the
hospital or with private physicians who are on the faculty. You can do
clerkships in any specialty you like, provided you meet some general
requirements outlined in the Advisor and Student Handbook. Fourth year
is a good opportunity to learn about subspecialties such as Dermatology,
91
Radiology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine,
rd
among others. Alternatively, you can do another rotation in a 3 year
clerkships to gain deeper experience before starting your residency.
Tip: If you want to do away clerkships you should apply EARLY. Most
away rotations require you to have proof of vaccinations (often in the
form of titers that you will have to go to student health and have drawn)
and you may have to submit a letter of recommendation. The OSA can
provide you with a letter saying that your school will cover you for
Liability and Health Insurance while you are rotating at another
institution. In general, look into what you will need as soon as you
decide that you want to do an away rotation.
People are judged by what they finish- not by what they start.
is given at test centers around the country, the closest being in Los
Angeles lasts all day and tests basic exam skills on several standardized
patients. The exam is expensive ($1000) and requires early registration
to secure a test spot in Los Angeles. Not doing so may require a flight
out of California. Despite this the exam is generally considered relatively
easy and only rarely does a UCSD student not pass. Most students are
prepared with minimal studying because they’ve already completed the
more thorough CPX exam, which the state of California requires medical
students to pass in order to demonstrate basic exam skill competency.
The CPX is administered in early July before most students sign up for
Step II CS.
Independent Study Project (ISP)
During your fourth year, you may use two months of your time enrolled to
work on your ISP if you have not finished it. You MUST complete your
ISP in order to graduate. Be sure to submit all ISP proposal material by
May 1 of your third year, or you will not be able to advance to begin your
fourth year. One thing that makes fourth year a lot easier is finishing the
ISP before the fourth year so that you won’t have it hanging over your
92
head. Many students are able to relax and travel during the spring before
graduation if they complete their ISP early on.
Residency Interviews
The fourth year is flexible because it is the time for applying to residency
programs and going to interviews. Most students fill out their applications
during the summer and at the beginning of the fall of their fourth year.
Interviews can begin in the fall around October or November, though
peak interview season is generally in December and January. Most of
the teaching hospitals are on the Match program. In this program,
students order their top-choice picks of schools they have interviewed at,
and the hospitals likewise rank their candidates in order. A computer
takes all this information and tries to make the best match that can
satisfy both the student and the hospital, with preference to the students’
choices. On Match Day, in March, students learn where they will be
residents.
Residency Application
The application is now all electronic in the regular Match. You will get
93
some information in the 3rd year about the ERAS application service
which can be located at <aamc.org> and then you can start your
application as early as August of your 4th year. However, many of these
components should be sought after earlier than such a time period. The
following section will be written with an emphasis on the item in the
application packet, when and how you should go about obtaining it and
then its relative importance in the application.
Common Application Form (CAF): This form is filled out when you
register for the ERAS application. It basically has your personal and
school information. It also contains many aspects of your CV which will
include your extracurricular activities, work experience, publications,
honors, awards, and interests. This form is reflective of your experience
during undergraduate, graduate, and medical education. It should be
written without errors and well worded. This item should be written as
soon as you have time to do it (August- September). It is a moderately
important piece in the application.
USMLE Step I: In the ERAS application, you will release scores for your
USMLE Step I at the time of certification of application. The scoring of
the USMLE Step I is bizarre to say the least. There are 2 scores: a 3-
“The past is now part of the future, the present well out of hand” – Ian Curtis
digit score and a 2-digit score. There are varying opinions on what a
good score is, but some generalizations include:
Some residency programs will utilize a “cut-off” for interview invites. This
“cut-off” varies from program to program. Since most other medical
schools do not require the Step II to be completed until the end of the
year, most residency programs will only have a copy of the USMLE Step
I. Therefore, this piece in the application process is critically important.
94
If you have an excellent USMLE Step I score, then you may wish to
delay taking your USMLE Step II as late as possible. With a poor Step I
score, Step II CK is critically important.
USMLE Step II Clinical Skills (CS): Again, there is an option to release
your Step II Clinical Skills scores during the ERAS application. This test
is an 8 hour test that costs approximately $1,000 and consists of 12
patient encounters. The patients are standardized patients played by
actors and actresses, and there are multiple different clinical scenarios
which may include a routine visit, phone calls, mother and child, specific
complaints, emergent complaints, social and psychiatric problems, and
so forth. The scoring of this exam is based on how personable you are,
English proficiency, communication skills, ability to do a focused history
and physical, information sharing, ability to write a SOAP note, and
appropriate treatment plans. You will either receive a PASS or a FAIL
and breakdown of the scoring on why you failed. This test is generally
done in the beginning to middle of your 4th year. Generally, residency
“The best thing you’ve got going for you is individuality” – Richard Thompson
programs don’t care about this piece of information unless you didn’t
pass it. Therefore, this piece is not important.
Letters of Recommendation: Generally, most residency programs require
3 letters of recommendation. Some specialties ask for two letters from
the specialty which you are applying to. Some programs will allow for
more than three letters and some will not. This can all be researched
closer to fourth year as it varies tremendously between programs and
specialties. You are generally given the opportunity to waive your right to
see the letters and this is a good idea as it will make your letters seem
stronger. Letters of recommendation are generally obtained during the
4th year local and away - in the field you are choosing to apply in. Other
letters are written by faculty during the 3rd year of medical school or
during an unrelated sub-internship. Even more, letters can be written by
faculty in which you did research with. When picking faculty for letters of
recommendation, you should try and:
¾ Pick at least 1 from the specialty you are applying into, possibly 2
depending on the field you are applying into.
¾ Get letters from faculty who know you well, but all other things being
equal, people who are known within their field are better.
95
After picking faculty and printing out cover sheets in ERAS, you should
supply those letter writers with a copy of your academic file, including an
updated CV,a copy of your board scores, and a personal statement once
you have it. You should also schedule a meeting with your letter writers
ahead of time to talk about your decision to apply into a given field. This
will allow your letter writer to compose a more meaningful and more
powerful letter. The letters of recommendation should be sought after as
soon as you feel a faculty knows you well and likes you enough to write a
strong letter of recommendation. While your application will not be fully
developed until the 4th year, getting faculty to agree to write a letter
during the 3rd year would be a great idea. Generally, the summer of your
4th year is when letters are primarily sought. The turn-around time for a
letter varies, but should be within a month or so. Most of the time, if a
letter is late, it is because of multiple other letters and multiple faculty
commitments. A friendly reminder could serve you well. Depending on
the specialty, familiar names and old colleagues, can be a powerful
advocate for you. While all letters of recommendation are
overwhelmingly positive, these letters are scrutinized for “key language.”
Therefore, this piece of the application is moderately important.
Personal Statement: The personal statement is a statement about
yourself, your interest in your specialty, and any special activities or
situations that may distinguish yourself from other applicants. Generally,
it should be no more than one page 500 words. It should be
grammatically correct and proofread for grammar and spelling mistakes.
It should also be proofread for content by a faculty in the department in
which you are applying. The personal statement should be started in the
summer of your 4th year and should be finished before applications are
due to be complete, Nov 1. Since you need to certify to be invited to
interview and you cannot edit the personal statement or add it after you
have certified,
“Have more things than school to work on and feel proud about—little weekend trips.”
Clinical Grades Includes your grade (Fail, Pass, High Pass, Near
Honors, Honors) and a long narrative evaluation about your performance
during the clerkship. Clerkships included in the MSPE include Pediatrics,
Neurology, Surgery, Medicine, Reproductive Medicine and Psychiatry.
While a trend in academic excellence is important, excelling in areas of
medicine that are related to your specialty are very important.
Additionally, unlike sub-internships, only a small percentage of students
will achieve a grade of “honors”, which most residency committees
realize. They take clinical grades very seriously in their decision making.
Therefore, excellence during these courses is critically important.
“An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it
out?” – Rene Descartes
excellent performance during your home sub-internship is critically
important.
Transcripts: You will release your transcripts which will provide objective
proof of your MSPE and your CAF. Therefore, this piece of information is
merely a formality and not important.
Interviews
Interviews will start to roll in soon after you have certified your application
via the ERAS website, Scheduling interviews is arduous and expensive,
so budget accordingly and schedule your courses accordingly. Details
are beyond the scope of this section. However, the interview experience
will be detailed in this section. The amount of interviews you should do
depends on the competitiveness of the program you are applying into,
the number of spots available in the country, and the competitiveness of
your application. You can speak to your advisor on an individual basis for
advice. Generally, if a program interviews 10 people for each spot, then
they are banking that 10% of people will match there. To maximize your
percentage of matching, you should thus apply to greater than 10
programs. Once an interview is scheduled, you should try and schedule
other interviews during the same time period if they are close to each
other. You should look online early for flight costs. There are several
carriers that offer very cheap flights, but on a limited coverage area.
Southwest Airlines <southwest.com> provides excellent service to most
major cities. JetBlue Airways <jetblue.com> provides cheap service
coast-to-coast and to the bay area, as does Virgin America. There are
several sites that provide comparisons of multiple carriers including
Expedia <expedia.com>, Travelocity <travelocity.com>, Kayak
<kayak.com>, and Side Step <sidestep.com>. For housing, most
programs will provide a list of residents that are hosting and UCSD has a
list of alumni in various major metropolitan areas that have agreed to
host students. (See Alumni Office for information). The interview day
usually consists of a presentation by the program director about the
program and benefits. This is accompanied by breakfast of some sort.
Then 2-5 interviews by residents, nurses, faculty or a combination
thereof are completed. This is followed by a lunch and tour of the
campus. There is sometimes a debriefing session held at the end.
“Your history acts as your gravity.” – Joseph Arthur
The interviews serve two purposes: The faculty has already decided that
you were academically qualified for their program otherwise they would
not have invited you. Therefore, they serve to answer two questions:
1. Who is this person? Can I work with this person for X years?
2. Will this person thrive at program X?
The other purpose of these interviews is for you to have your concerns
answered. These concerns can be multiple and will vary depending on
the specialty in which you are applying. Some examples of concerns that
you may wish to bring up either during or outside of the interview include:
Since the interview is your time to probe the program, try and make use
of it by gathering as much information as you can. Beware however, that
by the time that interview 10 rolls around, you may already know all of
the questions that are generally asked of you and you may know all of
the answers that are given to questions posed by you. Unless you make
a total ass out of yourself or you come across as a total arrogant jerk, the
interview will usually help you. Since the interview is more about
matching personalities and professional interests, and since everyone
who receives an interview is deemed to be academically qualified, this is
likely the most important determinant of match. The other things on the
application earn you the interview, but the interview determines where
you match.
1. Rank only programs that you have interviewed at and you would be
willing to go to.
2. Rank programs in the order in which you prefer them.
“People think I'm a miserable sod but it's only because I get asked such bloody miserable
questions.” – Nick Cave
Make sure you really like your #1, 2 and 3 because at UCSD, you have a
very good chance of getting just that. There are questions that arise as to
what factors you should consider when ranking a program. Some of the
factors that may come up are:
Prestige, Faculty, Competitiveness, Vacation Time, Location, salary,
Quality of Residents, Pathology Seen, Patient population, Quality of Off-
Service Rotations, OR Time, Academic Advancement, Research, and
Flexibility.
The following are serious questions you should consider when ranking:
¾ Will I thrive (academically & clinically) at this residency program?
¾ Will I be able to pursue my career at this program? (Fellowship?
Academic vs Community? Practice Location?)
¾ Will I thrive outside of the residency program? (Social life, significant
other, family, environment, friends, etc.)
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After you have completed your rank list with NRMP and have certified it,
you are not allowed to back and change it.
Match Day
In mid-March, everyone who participated in the regular Match will meet
for a formal ceremony. 2 days prior to that ceremony, individuals that
DID NOT MATCH will be called by the Office of Student Affairs. These
individuals will work with the Office of Student Affairs, be given a list of all
programs with PGY-I positions that DID NOT FILL, and start calling
programs to secure a spot for the next year. This process is known as
“The Scramble”. After these individuals have called and either secured a
spot or found alternative plans for the next year, they will attend the
regular match ceremony with all of their classmates. At the ceremony,
there will be an envelope for each person. Inside that envelope is a
listing of your PGY-I location and any residency training thereafter. It is a
joyous occasion and marks the completion of a long and arduous training
process.
Graduation Requirements
For satisfactory completion of the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree at
the University of California at San Diego, the following must be met
before June of the year of graduation. Note that there is no requirement
for residency application or placement at the end of medical school.
“A wise man should so write that wise men only should be able to commend him.” –
Thomas Hobbes
¾ Passing score on the CPX.
¾ Passing score on the USMLE Step II CK.
¾ Passing grade on the USMLE Step II CS.
¾ Submission and acceptance of the Independent Study Project by
April of the MS-IV year.
¾ Completion of the California Family Practice Requirement (may
be done in 3rd or 4th year).
¾ Completion of 6 months of direct patient care during the MS-IV
year. Of these, the following conditions must be met:
o One Inpatient Direct Patient Care month
o One Primary Care Direct Patient Care month
o One Outpatient Direct Patient Care month
¾ Completion of 9 months of active enrollment at UCSD during the
MS-IV year, 6 months of which should be direct patient care.
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¾ There may be no more than 3 months of vacation.
¾ There may be no more than 2 months of ISP-related research.
¾ Completion of Principles to Practice.
Big Sib
Big Sibs are the wonderful and amazingly talented MS-IIs who have
successfully survived their first year at UCSD. Since they have been
here a year, they can give you a heads-up with what you need to know
for each course. If you’re lucky, they’ll put goodies in your box on exam
days. Many will also let you borrow old notes, books, flashcards, and
other things they don’t want to have in their closet. They can also give
you practical advice, such as what not to order at Club Med, and where
the hippest scenes in town are located.
OSA Advisor
Your OSA advisor is conveniently located in the OSA. Your advisor can
help you plan your curriculum and answer many academic-related
questions. Often students talk to them about non-academic problems, or
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just gripe about their current significant other. You can make an
appointment to see your advisor anytime during the year. There are a
few times (fall quarter of your first year, winter quarter of your second
year) when they will have scheduled meetings with students to go over
their academic progress and to plan “trivial” things such as Board and
clerkship scheduling. During your meeting with your OSA Advisor you
can review course evaluations and other contents of your file. You can
also discuss anything else you wish, for example:
¾ Preclinical elective course requirements
¾ Grades/grade appeals
¾ ISP and FCM-ISP
¾ Leaves of absence and deceleration
¾ Help with academic difficulties
¾ Other SOM policies and requirements
During the Clinical years, your OSA advisor can provide some help with
planning 3rd and 4th year’s schedule, the MSPE, and CPX:
Deans
Even though Dr. Kelly is the Associate Dean of Admissions and Student
Affairs and Dr. Moutier is the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, you can
also go to them to get help with any difficulties you may be encountering.
You can make an appointment to see them or you can find them at
various events throughout the year. Dr. Kelly and Dr. Moutier can help
you with many problems, both academic and otherwise.
Faculty Mentor
The faculty mentor can assist you with your career and academic plans,
academic difficulty, give research and ISP contacts, and help with
Sometimes we all have a bad day, but when that bad day turns into a
personal crisis it is best to seek help quickly!
Academic difficulty
See your advisor in the Office of Student Affairs first. Your advisor can
help you find more resources for specific problems that you are facing.
While meeting with your advisor you may want to explore how you might
learn to study more effectively or how you might resolve personal issues
that are distracting you from medical school. Don’t wait until you’re
thinking of petitioning to have your elective hours waived, taking a leave
of absence, or decelerating. Ask for help early! You can also read more
about these options in the Advisor and Student Handbook.
“Get tutorial help early. Y-ing or failing a class is the last thing you want to do, but not the end of
the world if it happens.”
The OESS offers a wide range of services to help improve your
academic performance. Tutorial assistance is available in the major core
courses in the first year. For the second year, reviews for the USMLE
are offered. In the first year courses, group reviews are normally
scheduled throughout each quarter and will emphasize the more difficult
topics. Individual assistance is also available. Just make an appointment
with the appropriate Tutorial Program staff member if you feel that you
need additional help. This is the first place you should go if you
happen to find yourself below the pass line.
Financial difficulty
The Vice Dean for Medical Education, Dr. Savoia, has an emergency
fund that she can loan you money from if you have tried other options
that have failed. The emergency fund consists of donations from Dr.
Savoia, friends, and alumni. You should pay back the loan at your
earliest convenience and consider making a contribution to the fund
when able.
If you think that your financial aid is insufficient, write down where all
your money is going (you could be surprised!), and go talk to the people
in the financial aid office, located in the Evergreen Building across from
the Pharmacy Building.
Personal difficulty
Medical school can be a rewarding yet stressful place. Sometimes the
stress can become too much for one person to bear alone, so it is a good
idea to see your OSA advisor and/or a specialist if you are encountering
difficulty. Please note that all of these services are confidential.
“Inevitably, when reviewing your notes for a test, the most important ones will be illegible.”
2. Ask your OSA advisor or Dr. Kelly and Dr. Moutier for help with any
difficulties you might be facing. They can help you find resources or give
you a referral to see a psychiatrist.
Emergency
If something goes wrong and you need help immediately — say, you spill
a hazardous fungus in an MDL and don’t know what to do, contact:
Dr. Kelly @ (858) 525-5334 (cell)
Dr. Moutier @ (858) 692-2570 (cell)
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OR call Student Affairs @ (858) 543-3700
Of course, in the case of theft, violence, fire, or serious injury, calling 911
or 534-HELP on the UCSD campus will get you police, ambulance, and
firefighting aid.
“When you're chewing on life's gristle, don't grumble; give a whistle, and this'll help things turn out
for the best. And…always look on the bright side of life.” – Eric Idle
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If you are interested in creating a new student group, you need to make
a constitution. You can consult Ramon Aldecoa and the Student and
Advisor Handbook for more details. Student groups are advised to post
their events on the official UCSD School of Medicine Events Calendar—
this way groups can prevent overlap between already scheduled
activities. If you have any questions, talk to the front desk at the OSA.
Student Government
The Student Government at the UCSD School of Medicine, in its current
format, was established to improve the level of communication,
representation, and involvement of medical students at all levels of the
Medical School. To fulfill these ends, the government charter includes
three kinds of positions: Council positions, Representative positions, and
Committee positions.
History
The seeds for the current student government were planted in the spring
of 2000, when a group of fourth year students approached first year
students and suggested that a better government structure be created.
“Science is the knowledge of consequences, and the dependence of one fact upon another” –
Thomas Hobbes
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That summer, a handful of concerned students gathered in the MDL, to
create a charter constitution for a new student government. The current
student government structure was created to establish accountability and
representation with consensus, if not of the whole class, then at least of
those involved in the student government. Representatives are, hence,
never left in the dark as to what the class opinion is, and have the
support of their fellow students.
Representatives take pride in their roles and serve students well at the
committee meetings they attend. Also, the new system allows students
to work together and coordinate their efforts on issues concerning
multiple committees (e.g. the CCC rep and the ICM rep working together
to get elements of ICM into first quarter of medical school). Most
importantly though, this type of government helps foster an environment
in which communication between the faculty/administrators and students
can blossom.
Council Positions
There are five Council positions: President, Director of Fiscal & Social
Affairs, Director of Academic Affairs, Director of Professional Affairs, and
Director of Admissions & Public Outreach. Each position has a unique
task in the overall success of the student government, but generally, they
are the core group that ensures goals are set, striven toward, and met.
They are intimately in contact with the Representatives, the
administration, and the medical student body. Generally, these positions
require more time commitment than Representative positions. To hold
any of these positions, you need to be in good academic standing.
Representative Positions
While Representative positions are relatively less time consuming, they
are an instrumental part of the Student Government—these positions are
the essential conduits through which students are represented in all
aspects of our school, UCSD as a whole, and even our community.
There are plenty of varied and equally significant positions available.
Individuals may, if they choose, hold a Rep. and Council position (or
multiple Rep. positions) simultaneously. This is, of course, if they are
elected into these positions and can feasibly handle the time-
commitments involved (remember, we do have medical classes as well).
“The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus
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happy.” – Albert Camus
h. Biomedical Library Student Liaison
Points of consideration
The Student Government at UCSD SOM is a chance for medical
students to learn leadership like they may have never experienced
before. For many, this is the first arena where they will be interacting with
medical professionals and administrators and discussing, in some cases,
very serious topics regarding student life and the school as a whole. Just
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“The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue.” – Baruch Spinoza
as exciting is the chance to help improve our school, and help your
colleagues. However, it should be made clear that the Student
Government is a true commitment not to be taken lightly. Every effort
should be made to attend meetings, not only to pass on information to
classmates, but also to represent students in committee meetings, where
student opinion is often highly revered. If you cannot make the meetings,
simply find someone to substitute for you, making sure that they are up
to speed with the agenda of the meeting. By running for a student
representative position, you will be taking on a very challenging and
rewarding responsibility.
MS-I Elections
MS-I Elections are held during the mini-block at the end of the fall
quarter. Interim positions are available early in the fall quarter; these
individuals serve as the Fall Quarter Representatives for their class until
there is ample time for students to meet each other and make an
informed decision during elections later in mini-block. For more
information, a copy of the Student Government Charter that includes a
description of the individual positions (and their responsibilities) is
available online at: <meded.ucsd.edu/e-boards>.
Student Services
The following is a summary of many of the services provided to UCSD
students in and around campus. While for some we include just the
basic information, for others, there are valuable tips that may help you
better use these services. Reading this section may be a good idea even
if you don’t think you need anything right now; it will help you know what
is available when you later need these services.
Computing - EdCom
The Educational Computing Office is located on the second floor of the
MTF (Rm. 265). The computers can be used for the usual: checking e-
mail, typing papers, surfing the web, and using medical software for
classes like histology and neurology. They have PC’s, CD-ROM’s, Zip
drives, VCRs and a variety of A-V equipment. All computers have full
internet access. The EdCom also has various study aids to help
supplement what you are learning in class, such as topic-specific CD-
ROMS, audiotapes, videotapes, microfiche, slides and multimedia
programs. They also offer classes and individual instruction to help you
with your computing needs. You will receive a $25 copy credit card
applied to your UCSD student ID at the beginning of your 1st year which
is good for 250 copies and then must be recharged (with your own
money). Printing was free in the past, but rampant abuse of the privilege
forced the SOM to move to a 3rd party printing provider which charges
10 cents per page.
Duplicating Services
Several duplicating services are available on campus. Photocopiers are
available at the libraries on campus as well as at Imprints in the Price
Center. The closest photocopiers to the medical school are in the
Biomedical Library.
http://imprints.ucsd.edu
Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:00am-4:30pm (at Price Center)
University Center Quick Copy, Bldg # 201 (858) 534-7050
Check Cashing
The Cashier’s Office, located in the Student Services Building, will cash
personal checks up to $50 for a $0.25 charge. Students can also cash
checks at the Bookstore. A student I.D. with a valid fee sticker must be
presented for all check cashing.
Post Office
Mail Services is located in the Campus Services Complex (CSC),
Building A. Mail Services provides service to the main campus and all off
campus locations with one to four times a day delivery and pickup of
mail. The Student Mail Services is also located in CSC, Bldg. A.
(858) 824-0850
Roommate list
If you are interested in being on a list that graduate student residents use
to choose a roommate, then you should go to the housing office of the
complex of interest. For example, if you want to move into Mesa, then
you can put yourself on the Mesa Roommate List by going to the Mesa
Apartment Office (in the Mesa Apartments Complex). This is a great
way to significantly shorten your housing wait time; if you move in with
someone who is living at Mesa, then when this person moves out (and
assuming you have lived there more than six months) you will become
the primary lease holder. This means that you can now choose a
roommate to move in with you.
Off-campus Housing
Off-Campus Housing is a rental referral and housing information
resource center for students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University of
California. This office receives and maintains up-to-date available rentals
from people in the community within the areas surrounding campus.
Registered students can access the listings at the web site:
<offcampushousing.ucsd.edu> & through StudentLink at:
<studentlink.ucsd.edu> You will need your student ID number to access
lists on the off-campus housing site. Off-Campus Housing is located in
the old student center. Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm, (858) 534-3670.
Legal services
The Office of Student Legal Services is located in the Student Services
Building. An attorney will advise students on all types of legal problems,
such as domestic, landlord/tenant, wills, contracts, personal injury,
criminal, traffic, insurance, and even information regarding the “Good
Samaritan Law.” Call them to make an appointment for a consultation.
Appointments can be made from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays (534-
4374). On weekends and at night, the Campus EDNA Office will refer
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“The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing.” – Dizzy Dean, explaining how he felt after
being hit on the head by a ball in the 1934 World Series
legal emergencies to the legal services office for immediate help. Of
special note to medical students: most violations charged against
medical students will not impede their getting licensed later on.
Religious matters
There is an active Religious Affairs Office that maintains liaison with
representatives of just about every conceivable spiritual denomination.
They are located behind the Price Center by the police station.
Student co-ops
Several co-op facilities run by students offer a variety of services at
reasonable prices. These include the Food Co-op (858) 546-8339,
Groundwork Books (858) 452-9625, General Store (858) 534-3932, and
a Computer Science Co-op located in the Old Student Center. Other co-
ops include the Farm Co-op, and the Recycle Co-op (glass and
aluminum only) located southeast of the Geisel Library.
Healthcare
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is a comprehensive health
insurance plan available to all medical students. This plan includes a
Preferred Provider Network. Written referral from a primary care SHS
provider is required. Enrollment in SHIP is mandatory for graduate,
medical, and foreign students unless proof of other healthcare is
demonstrated. If this applies to you, ask for a waiver at the OSA or
download the waiver from www.studentlink.ucsd.edu. Waiver of SHIP
enrollment requires approval of the SHS Insurance Representative after
review of proof of existing comparable insurance.
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“If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.” – Johnny Carson
SHIP premiums are assessed and paid with registration fees. Spring
SHIP coverage continues automatically through the summer. Students
enrolled in SHIP also benefit from discounts on any services provided by
the SHS Optometry Clinic. This includes exams, glasses, lenses,
sunglasses, and sports eyewear. Eye exams are $16. Brand name
prescription copay will be $25.00 per prescription (each refill also).
Prices might have changed since we last checked.*
Warning for students who are married, cohabitating and/or have children:
it is expensive ($730* per quarter) to enroll your significant other or
child(ren) ($435* per quarter) onto SHIP. Unfortunately, advice from the
insurance representative regarding finding a health plan for family is,
“Look elsewhere for a reasonably priced plan”. Some UCSD and CA
state resources for families are available at the insurance office.
Emergency: 911
Information: (858) 534-3300
Appointments: (858) 534-8089
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“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
Cancellations: (858) 534-1770
Woman’s Clinic:(858) 534-2669
Health Education: (858) 534-2419
Pharmacy: (858) 534-2135
Insurance: (858) 534-2123
Vision Clinic: (858) 534-2602
Administration: (858) 534-6834
Medical Records: (858) 534-2139
Psychological: (858) 534-3755
Email: studenthealth@ucsd.edu
Web Page: ucsd.edu/shs
Women’s Clinic
The Student Health Services women’s clinic provides a complete range
of gynecological services including annual exams, pap smears, birth
control, STD treatment, pregnancy testing and counseling.
Travel Clinic
The international travel clinic can help you protect your health before,
during and after foreign travel. Travel consultation with medical
professionals is included, but you need to schedule your first visit six to
eight weeks before your departure. However, if you need emergency
care 100 miles outside of the Student Health Services or abroad, you will
need to pay for your emergency room visit upfront and then file a claim
with the insurance company upon return. Therefore, it is important to
have a credit card or access to a significant amount of cash when you
travel. It is also a must to take your insurance information with you when
you travel, so that if an expensive medical situation that you cannot
handle financially occurs, you can contact your insurance company and
have arrangements made to pay for your services. Generally, the
reimbursement rate will be 90% or 80%. There will be 100%
reimbursement, after any applicable deductibles, if you need to go to the
hospital emergency room for an accident or medical emergency.
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“Each life makes its own imitation of immortality.” – Stephen King
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you are seeking psychiatric or counseling help, make sure to read the
SOS!!! Section of this guide first! At Psychological and Counseling
Services, a staff of psychologists, a social worker, and a consulting
psychiatrist provides assistance to students who may be experiencing
academic, psychological, marital, family or vocational problems. Groups
focusing on issues such as stress management, test taking anxiety,
sexuality, procrastination, ethnicity, assertiveness, and social skills
building are formed throughout the year. Up to eight visits with the
exception of specialized testing are available at no charge to students
who have paid their student registration fees (and all visits are
confidential.)
The Central Office is located at 190 Galbraith Hall. For further details or
to make an appointment, call (858) 534-3755 or view the web site at
http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/psychserv/
Emergencies
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, put this guide down
and dial 911 on the nearest phone. Otherwise, if you are on the La Jolla
campus and have SHIP, then go to Thornton Hospital (from Genesee
Avenue, take Voigt Drive and follow the signs).
Dentistry
Plan on seeing a dentist in the San Diego area on a regular basis now
that you attend UCSD — do you really want to drive back to Eureka to
get your teeth cleaned? Keep in mind that when seeing a dentist for the
first time you must get a complete exam by the dentist before you can
have a cleaning. Be sure to make your dental appointment at least one
month in advance to assure there is space for you.
It is also a very good idea to read the SHIP brochure on dental coverage.
The health insurance section states that cleanings are covered once
every six months, and x-rays are covered once every 6 months. The plan
pays 80% for prophylactic services (exams and cleaning only: this is a
dental plan) and only 50% for fillings and surgery. Since one filling can
cost about $150-250, and since you will pay 50%, it is a smart and thrifty
idea to stay on top of your cleanings (and flossing, and brushing) so that
you don’t need to get any fillings. There is a $50 dental deductible.
You can go to any dentist (in or out of San Diego) and SHIP will cover it,
Recreation
<http://recreation.ucsd.edu>
UCSD has 3 athletic facilities: RIMAC, Canyon View, and the Main Gym.
Recreation privileges for the school year are included in the price of your
registration fees, but during the summer you will have to pay about $90
to use the facilities. Be sure to bring your student ID for access into
these facilities. They will swipe your card to confirm that you’ve paid
your registration fees. A word of caution: do not borrow someone’s ID to
get into any of the gyms - this carries a stiff penalty.
RIMAC
RIMAC (534-4037) is not a leftover hamburger. But if you eat too many
of those, you might want to visit the giant state-of-the-art athletic facility
on campus, just north of Geisel Library. The 180,000 square foot building
offers many recreational opportunities; including racquetball, squash,
“Success always occurs in private, and failure in full view.” – Murphy’s Laws
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weight training, dance, basketball, volleyball, and badminton. There are
also multipurpose workout rooms for aerobics and martial arts and a big
arena for special events. Be sure to bring a towel with you every time
you go to use the weight room. Be prepared to attend an orientation tour
abd sign an online waiver the first time you go.
Canyon View
Canyon View is a smaller athletic facility. It is open fewer hours than
RIMAC and is less spacious. On the other hand, it’s convenient for
those who live in the Warren Single Graduate Apartments. The weight
room is less crowded than RIMAC’s, there are two Olympic sized pools,
and it has a climbing wall.
Main Gym
Main Gym is a good-sized recreation facility, but it is older than RIMAC.
It is located on campus near North Torrey Pine Road and La Jolla
Shores, which makes it an easy walk from the SOM campus during a 2
hour lunch. There is also an Olympic-sized swimming pool (the Nat),
aerobics rooms, and tennis courts located adjacent to the gym. You may
have to sign an online waiver your first time.
Intramurals (IMs)
If you enjoyed doing sports in high school or undergrad and want to
continue, then intramurals are a great way to stay involved in team
sports, as well as to get to know your fellow medical students better!
There is a large intramural program at UCSD that offers a wide variety of
sports each quarter. Basketball, soccer, softball, football, volleyball,
tennis, ultimate Frisbee, inner tube water polo, and floor hockey are a
few. The SOM has a strong tradition in innertube water polo, basketball,
volleyball, and soccer, so the bar has been set! Also look for some
pickup hoops games on the Mesa or Warren courts, or just in the gym.
To find out the details on how to sign-up a team, you should pick up a
UCSD Recreation magazine, which is published quarterly. The cost is
about $45 per team. The Recreation magazine is also useful if you are
interested in taking dance lessons, swimming lessons, or going on an
“outback adventure”, as it contains every piece of information you need
to know to plan your recreation activities. Many copies are always
available at RIMAC or you can find the information online at
www.recreation.ucsd.edu.
“So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being.” – Franz
Kafka
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Rec Classes and Master Training Programs
Ever want to learn how to swim, surf, or scuba dive? Underwater basket
weaving? Yoga, Latin dance, ballroom dancing or hip-hop? Ever want to
learn how to weight lift the right way and get totally cut, or even join
some sports clubs? How about some martial arts like kendo, aikido, judo
or karate…even krav maga? A Rec class or Masters sports team is a
great way to keep fit and active! Find the schedule online at
www.recreation.ucsd.edu. Sign up at RIMAC, online, or via mail
(apparently people still do that).
Outback Adventures
Outback Adventures, (858) 534-0684, rents out all sorts of outdoor
equipment for the camper, hiker, kayaker, skier, and rock climber within
you yearning to be free. They rent out virtually everything you might need
for outdoor sports or camping. The equipment is decent, and you can’t
ask for better rental prices. For example, skis go for about $20/wk.
Catalogs of available equipment and prices can be found in the UCSD
Recreation magazine available on campus or at RIMAC. Or, find prices
and information on the web at http://recreation.ucsd.edu/outback.html.
Surfing
So you have finally made it to sunny San Diego, land of the surfer. Being
that you are here, and will be here for a good 4+ years, you start
thinking…I should learn to surf, too! There is plenty of time to learn, and
for those of you veterans, there is plenty of time to get your fill, despite
the rigors of med school. It makes the most sense to split this section up
into information for those that are just getting started and then also for
the seasoned surfers that likely came to UCSD for the waves.
“Don’t put your life on hold for medical school. Med school is like a good training for juggling your
future career and personal life.”
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I. Surfing for Beginners:
A. Best beaches to learn:
Some places are naturally better suited to learning the art of surfing. For
the benefit of those more seasoned in the sport, as well as your own
benefit and personal safety, it is a REALLY good idea if you stick to
these areas until you know that you have what it takes to venture to the
more exciting breaks.
Some great places to start are:
1. La Jolla Shores (right down the hill from school) - A stone's thrown
from UCSD's campus, La Jolla Shores is blessed with
inviting, gentle tumblers that are kind to beginner surfers. There
are surfboard and wetsuit rental stores up the street (on Avenida de la
Playa).
2.Tourmaline in Pacific Beach (at the end of Tourmaline street in north
PB)
3. Del Mar: There are countless peaks scattered between 4th and15th
streets, that allow gentle entry and long rides to refine your ocean
posturing.
When you’re sure you are ready to buy a board, CHECK COSTCO
FIRST. Costco sold amazing, fun foam boards this year for a steal at
$99. If Costco isn’t selling foam boards, then check Craigslist/local surf
shops (see “Surf Shops” section below) for foam boards. If you have
your heart set on a traditional board (epoxy or fiberglass), then bring
someone experienced with you, if possible. Used boards are the way to
go, as long as you look from head to tail and inspect for insults from
waves past. Any accredited surf shop has a used board section. If a
board seems too good (i.e. cheap) to be true, it probably is. Buying a
used glass board off of Craigslist can be a gamble, as many of these are
very dinged and need major repairs (time consuming and pricey).
“And slowly I’ve come to realize it’s all as it should be.” – David Sylvian
130
If you do ding your board, ding repair kits can be bought for under $20,
or if you don't feel comfortable with your carpentry, make a trip to Joe
Roper's, the best ding repair shop in town (1460 Morena Blvd. in San
Diego, CA).
Length: Look for a board 2-3 feet taller than you. Girls, 8’ boards are
generally good. Guys, 9’.
C. Buying a wetsuit
The best locale to buy wetsuits is the Trestles Surf Outlet in San
Clemente. While it is a half hour drive from UCSD, it is well worth it as
they have brand new wetsuits at half the price. How do they do it? It is
Rip Curl owned and operated, and it is the place they send their surplus
suits from the year before. So, you may be a year outdated in the water,
but your wallet will say Mahalo. As for fit, your wetsuit needs to be snug
when it is dry, because it will loosen up when you get wet. Most
importantly ask questions at the shop and you’ll figure out the rest. I
mean shoot, you made it to med school didn’t you?
Social Life
Believe it or not, the basic sciences and the biomedical library do not
provide all the kicks a student needs. Luckily, San Diego offers a variety
of locales to keep most people entertained. Don't forget to enjoy San
Diego's biannual Restaurant Week, when the top restaurants in the area
feature fixed menus priced at $30 and $40 for three courses. Enjoy!
Pacific Beach
The full Pacific Beach experience correlates well with a famous saying
about the 1960s: if you can remember it, you weren’t there. Garnet
Avenue hosts numerous bars that cater primarily to impoverished,
undergraduate college students from UCSD and SDSU (especially on
Thursday nights). At bars like Longboards Bar & Grill, The Tavern,
Down Under, Second Wind, Plum Crazy, PB Bar & Grill, PlanB, and
Moondoggie’s, casual attire, copious alcohol, and drunken
communications students abound. PB Bar and Grill and Moondoggies
merit priority for their expansive outdoor patios.
“Everything starts somewhere, although many physicists disagree.” – Terry Pratchett
132
Hillcrest
Hillcrest is certainly the alternative choice for nights out on the town. This
part of San Diego offers the best restaurants at the best prices and
atmospheres. It is a safe neighborhood to walk around day and night and
check out the wacky shops on University. This area is peppered with
coffee shops and restaurants. If for nothing else, Hillcrest deserves a
mention for its sushi restaurants, most notably Ono Sushi and Nami. See
the “Restaurants” section for other great eatery listings. It’s a good idea
to get acquainted with the Hillcrest area, as you’ll be spending a lot of
time here in third and fourth year; it’s the home of the “U” (UCSD
Hospital) and Balboa Naval Hospital.
The Gaslamp
This charming area of downtown San Diego was named so because of
the traditional gas-lit lamps that still decorate the streets. It
encompasses 12 square blocks of densely packed establishments,
bounded by 4th St, 7th St, Broadway, and Market. The Gaslamp (as
most people affectionately call it) has no shortage of sidewalk dining at
restaurants offering sushi, Continental (e.g. Croce’s), French (e.g. La
Provence), and Middle Eastern cuisine (e.g. Bandar). However,
traditional, family-owned Italian restaurants dominate the landscape.
Bars and clubs are just as variegated as the restaurants. Maloney’s and
Buffalo Joe’s offer casual, middle-class Americana entertainment, while
The Bitter End takes this same theme to more elegant levels (get there
before 10pm to avoid a horrendous line and dress slightly upscale to be
able to enjoy the upstairs bar). The Ivy, Hard Rock, On Broadway, etc
offer elegant clubs with dance music.
A trip to the Gaslamp district need not include a bar, club, or restaurant.
Most patrons are content simply walking the streets, enjoying the
crowds, and sitting down for a relaxing cup of coffee (Café Bassam is
ideal, Fumari a close second). Of course, if you’re a baseball fan, you’ll
have to check the newly opened Petco Park, home of the SD Padres.
Contraindications to frequenting the Downtown area include horrendous
parking. Arrive earlier in the evening for free street parking, or carpool
and pay $5-$20 in lots. Another option is parking at the Horton Plaza
mall, which has free parking for a couple hours with validation (i.e. buy a
cup of coffee at the Starbucks). For baseball games, park at the Old
Town Trolley Station and take the trolley ($2.50 for a round trip ticket).
Convoy Street
San Diego doesn’t have a dedicated Chinatown, but Convoy Street is the
most popular hangout for Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.
On Convoy, there are plenty of great food, karaoke, trendy Asian-interest
nightclubs, and late night ramen and boba shops. Check out Tajima for
midnight ramen; stop by TapEx, Green Tea House, or Tea-N-More for
nearly 24 hour boba; Or try Min Shok Chon for a great Korean bar.
American
Bud’s Louisiana Food Shoppe $
2034 Kettner Blvd., #12 (619) 239-4210
Have a craving for crawfish? Then Bud’s Louisiana Food Shoppe is
where you want to be. This restaurant also makes nearly every type of
fried or blackened seafood imaginable. Both the prices and portions are
reasonable.
Croutons $
8707 Villa La Jolla Dr. #2B (858) 909-0960
A salad, sandwich, soup restaurant ideal for healthy eating. They have
pretty fresh salads and good combos. If you present UCSD ID, there’s a
discount.
Hodad’s $
5010 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach (619) 224-4623
Hodad’s is popular for great burgers. Both the atmosphere and service is
good, but the line is long and the wait for food is lengthy as well. But all
is worth it for their yummy, huge burgers and fries.
“Pretending that we live doesn't make us alive.” – Serj Tankian
134
Lamont Street Grill $$$$
4445 Lamont St (858) 270-3060
Lamont Street Grill is a nice restaurant in Pacific Beach that is classy
enough for a date. The online reviews are saying great things and rating
this restaurant high.
Phil’s BBQ $$
3750 Sports Arena Blvd (619) 688-0559
A MUST while in San Diego! Phil’s has awesome ribs and good BBQ in
general. But the establishment is crowded and the wait is hectic and
long, so it’s better to consider phoning in the order and take-out.
Chinese
168 Restaurant $
7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd (858) 268-1168
168 is located inside 99 Ranch Market, and serve Taiwanese cuisine and
the typical Taiwan snacks such as oyster pancake and stinky tofu. The
service is fast and the restaurant is open until mid-night.
Mandarin House $$
6765 La Jolla Blvd (858) 454-2555
Reminds us of 1970s nostalgic American Chinese – think “A Christmas
Story” when they go to get Chinese turkey. Food is delicious and fresh
though.
China Max $$
4698 Convoy Street (858) 650-3333
China Max has superior dim-sum and Cantonese cuisine in San Diego in
general. The dim-sum is not pushed on a cart but order from the menu,
which ensures its freshness and contributes to why it is the best in the
area. Although a little expensive, the authentic food is definitely worth its
price.
Emerald Restaurant $$
3709 Convoy Street, Ste 101 (858) 565-6888
Emerald has a big selection of dishes for dim-sum, and it is served on
the typical pushing cart. Their Cantonese cuisine is also quite authentic
“Don’t you know the first law of physics? Anything that's fun costs at least eight dollars." – Eric
Cartman
135
as well. In addition, their Peking duck is served the same way that you’d
get in China. The only major drawback to the restaurant is its parking.
French
Cafe Chloe $$$
721 9th Ave #1 (619) 232-3242
The nicely decorated French Café serves good, light meals. The
portions are small while the bill is not.
Maitre’D $$$$
5523 La Jolla Blvd (858) 456-2111
Rumor has it that one of the chefs here worked for European royalty.
Traditional French and Pacific Rim cuisine.
Greek/Moroccan
Apollonia $$$
8650 Genesee Ave Ste 106 (619) 455-1535
Although the service lacks a little, Aesop’s offers good Greek cuisine at a
decent price. The restaurant’s decorations are also nice.
Café Athena $$
1846 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-1140
Arguably the best Greek in San Diego, Café Athena is an excellent
restaurant serving great food. The service is friendly and prices are
reasonable. Athena’s is a sister joint of Apollonia, but Athena’s is better.
“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” – Alan
Turing
136
Marrakesh $$$
634 Pearl St (858) 454-2500
This Moroccan restaurant in La Jolla is very beautiful inside and they
have colorful fabric everywhere. If you go for dinner, you might get belly
dancers too. Unfortunately, the food isn’t so great.
Indian
Bombay $$$
3960 5th Ave (619) 298-3155
The newer location of Bombay takes the restaurant up a notch in terms
of décor. It still has the same yummy food for the same price. The only
drawback is the service, though.
Punjabi Tandoor $
9235 Activity Rd (858) 695-0956
A hole-in-the wall place in the midst of an industrial area, this restaurant
serves surprisingly good cuisine. No frills, but definitely tasty.
Italian
Mamma Mia $$
1932 Balboa Ave. (858) 272-2702
Run by Italians, don't be surprised if you are kissed at the door! Food is
great quality, restaurant is a converted houses with a fun atmosphere.
Il Fornaio $$$
1555 Camino Del Mar (619) 437-4911
Il Fornaio is an upscale Italian restaurant overlooking the beach with an
excellent bakery. They really have fresh bread and the best Italian food.
Rafaela’s $$
5119 Cass St (858) 272-0466
Inexpensive Italian food served in the outdoor patio of a converted
house. Bring your own wine or beer; there’s no corking fee.
“Is the chemical aftertaste the reason why people eat hot dogs, or is it some kind of bonus?” – Neil
Gaiman
137
Café Milano $$$
711 Pearl Street (La Jolla) (858) 454-3806
Chef Pasquale makes everything himself at this amazing restaurant. He
ran a restaurant in NYC’s Little Italy for years, and now we are blessed
with his talents. Try the meatballs. Delicious!
Korean
Convoy Tofu House $$
4229 Convoy St (858)279-3430
This Korean tofu restaurant is probably the best one in the area. They
offer mostly tofu stew pots, in addition to other typical Korean dishes
such as bulgogi (thin grilled beef), bibimbap (mixed vegetables on rice),
ddeokbokki (spicy chewy rice cake).
Sushi/Japanese
Tajima Japanese Noodle House $-$$
4681 Convoy Street (858) 576-7244
Good ramen and other dishes including tonkatsu (breaded, fried pork
over rice) and okonomiyaki (savory pancake). Thursday through
Saturday, they serve ramen until 3am!
Kayaba $
4240 Kearny Mesa Rd (858) 569-6699
Before shopping for Japanese groceries in Mitsuwa, stop here for lunch.
They serve a variety of dishes from udon to curry. Also try Santouka
next door for ramen.
Zenbu $$$$
7660 Fay Ave Suite 1 (858)454-4540
If you are willing to spend big $$ on sushi, this is the place to go.
Unbelievably fresh fish (the owner catches some of it himself that day!)
and a cool atmosphere. Next door is the hip Zenbu lounge, where (after
8 PM Thurs – Sat) you can drink at the bar or eat sushi on couches while
listening to a DJ.
“Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it.” – Lewis Carroll
138
Aloha Sushi $$-$$$
7731 Fay Ave. (858) 551-5000
Delicious sushi and Hawaiian grill plates, this place is awesome. They
have a great happy hour (4:30 – 6:30 PM weekdays). Also have a $24
all-you-can eat. The atmosphere is excellent, too – cute outdoor and
trendy indoor dining. A must try!!
Ra $$$
474 Broadway (Downtown) (619) 321-0021
Open ‘til 1A on Thursdays and 2 AM on Friday and Saturday, this trendy
downtown sushi bar is a great place to go before hitting up the downtown
scene. Super loud music make it near impossible to do much talking, so
don’t go here on a first date (unless not talking is the goal).
Masuo’s $$
145 S Highway 101 (Solana Beach) (858) 481-6363
This place is worth the drive! About 15 minutes north of La Jolla,
Masuo’s is a local favorite. Delicious, creative rolls – try the Hawaii 5-0 or
the Monkey Stick.
Station Sushi $$
125 N Highway 101 (Solana Beach) (858) 481-9880
5752 La Jolla Blvd (858) 551-0410
Station is a favorite local hangout for the trendy younger crowd. Good
sushi, fun atmosphere, and great service. Beware when ordering; the
rolls are notoriously big!
Edo Sushi $$
8895 Towne Center Drive #100a (858) 457-4455
Don’t let the location fool you – this place has pretty good sushi and a
cool interior, all conveniently close to campus (behind the Sears side of
the UTC mall).
Mexican
El Cuervo $
110 W Washington St (619) 295-9713
Good, cheap fast Mexican food. Truly excellent border-style food for $4-
6 per order.
Fidel's $
607 Valley Ave (858) 755-5292
DELICIOUS – this place is a local secret. Plates run about $9-13.
Traditional Mexican restaurant with excellent food.
Su Casa $$$
6738 La Jolla Blvd (858) 454-0369
Delicious traditional Mexican food, but pricey. Great margaritas (beware,
they come in GIANT glasses) and seafood entrees.
Alfonso’s $$$
1251 Prospect St (858) 454-2232
Food isn’t as good as Su Casa, but fun bar on weekends.
Las Olas
2655 Highway 101 (Cardiff, north of Solana Beach) $-$$
Decent Mexican food, and you can’t beat the location. Right on the
beach in Cardiff. Yogi’s is a popular bar next door with big crowds and
music on weekends.
Gringo’s $$-$$$
4474 Mission Blvd (858) 490-2877
Good margaritas, decent food, but pricey. Nice atmosphere with cheap
valet parking (= major plus in PB on weekends).
Persian
Alborz Restaurant $$
2672 Del Mar Heights Road, Del Mar (858)792-2233
The kebabas here aren't as good as Bandar, but you can always come
for Kaleh Pacheh on Sunday and Saturday mornings.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato
140
Balboa International Market $
5907 Balboa Ave. (858) 277-3600
If you ever feel like eating some Kababs, but don't want to spend too
much money, Balboa's the place. You can get Koobideh for $5 and
Chicken for $6. While the food gets ready, you can do your grocery
shopping too.
Pizza
Winesteals $$
1243 University Ave. (619) 295-1188.
2970 Truxton Rd. (619) 221-1959.
Features great thin crust pizza, amazing cheese boards, and a wonderful
selection of wine from all over. Great for groups.
Leucadia Pizzeria $
7748 Regents Rd Ste 303 (858) 597-2222
Leucadia Pizzeria is a decent Italian restaurant. The food is pretty good
and they serve free warm yummy garlic bread, which is fresh and warm
from the oven, crunchy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside.
The portions are enormous and the service is friendly. Their monthly
specials are good deals.
Bronx Pizza $
111 Washington St (619) 291-3341
New York-style pizza, which is quite cheesy with lots of garlic. It's cheap
though, about $2.50 per slice, and they are big slices too.
“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does
what he wants to do.” – Bob Dylan
141
Pizza Port $
135 N Highway 101 (858) 481-7332
Best pizza in town with a nice mix of pesto and tomato sauce for the
pies. Fun hang out on weekends! Their microbrewery serves some
decent beer as well.
Russian
Pomegranate $$
2302 El Cajon Blvd (619)297-4007
A festive Russian/Georgian restaurant, Pomegranate has friendly service
that makes the dining experience there memorable. The use of garlic
makes all the dishes extremely tasty.
Seafood
Oceanaire Seafood Room $$$$
400 J St. (619) 858-2277.
For all the Food Network Top Chef fans out there, Brian Malarkey still
reigns in the Oceanaire kitchen. A great Restaurant Week selection,
almost for the $15 crab cake alone.
Spanish
Costa Brava $$$
1653 Garnet Ave. (858) 273-1218
Costa Brava is a beautiful restaurant serving authentic Spanish tapas
recommended by Spanish natives. The food is fresh and delicious.
142
“Most things I worry about never happen anyway.” – Tom Petty
Turquoise $$$
873 Turquoise St (858) 488-4200
A European-themed bar with great drinks and live music. Great
atmosphere for some nice tapas and sangria.
Thai
Spices Thai Café $$
3810 Valley Centre Drive (858) 259-0889
Its lunch specials are huge portions for about $8. Be warned, though,
because a 10 on the spicy scale can supposedly kill you; even the
toughest spice-lovers can only do a six or seven. The Thai Ice Tea is
also top notch.
Taste of Thai $$
527 University Ave (619) 291-7525
Taste of Thai is an ordinary Thai restaurant with the standard dishes.
There is usually a wait and the atmosphere is a bit loud.
Vietnamese
Pho Cow Cali Express $
9170 Mira Mesa Blvd. (858) 271-8341
Delicious, cheap pho that comes out of the kitchen at incredible speed.
Try this hot, hearty noodle soup if you aren’t familiar with it, but the rice
platters are good as well.
Pho T Cali $
7351 Clairemont Mesa Blvd (858) 565-6997
Another solid pho place with a big screen TV that plays random things
from basketball games to 80s music videos.
Other Eateries
There are certain foods that especially attract medical students. We love
breakfast, coffee, dessert, and more – especially when the price is right.
143
“People think that if you have a huge appetite, then you'll be better at it. But actually, it's how you
confront the food that is brought to you. You have to be mentally and psychologically prepared.” –
Takeru Kobayashi
Breakfast
Big Kitchen 3003 Grape St. (619) 234-5789
Big portions with lots of vegetarian options. Food is decent, but the staff
are some of the most entertaining I've come across.
Brockton Villa 1235 Coast Blvd (858) 454-7393
Popular brunch with a beautiful view of La Jolla Cove.
Broken Yolk 1851 Garnet Ave (858) 270-9655
Cheap breakfast, huge portions- have a breakfast steak at the Broken
Yolk, coupled with hash browns, an egg, and two pieces of toast for
under $8. Crowded on weekend mornings.
The Cottage 7702 Fay Ave (858) 454-8409
Harry’s Coffee Shop 7545 Girard Ave (858) 454-7381
Excellent food for when you crave an all-American breakfast. Try the
pancakes or eggs benedict.
Hob Nob Hill 2271 1st St. (619) 239-8176
Listed in "Gourmet" magazine as one of America's greatest hometown
cafes. Great baked goods in addition to their breakfast selection.
Kono's Café 704 Garnet Ave (858) 483-1669
The best deal in town for massive breakfast burritos with an oceanfront
view!
Mission Coffee Cup 1109 Wall St (858) 454-2819
Great selection. Decent service. Lots of vegetarian options.
Parkhouse Eatery 4574 Park Blvd. (619) 295-7275
Old house converted into a restaurant, unique take on breakfast food,
and huge portions.
The Steakhouse at Azul La Jolla 1250 Prospect St. (858) 454-9616
A pricey steakhouse, but Sunday brunch is a bargain at ~$15 for an
entree with a mimosa or other drink. Great place to impress on a date or
to take the parents.
On Campus Cafés
Art of Espresso: An outstanding coffee and pastry cart located outside
Mandeville Hall, near the old student center and the UCSD shuttle stop.
Lots of drink options including teas and Vietnamese iced coffee.
Scripps Library Deck: Located to the right of the entrance to Scripps
library. La Jolla Shores Dr just below the bridge across Expedition Pkwy
(coming from Torrey Pines) walk down the steps from Shores toward the
ocean. Fabulous ocean view, crashing waves, overlooks Scipps pier,
sunny, comfortable plastic lawn chairs, reasonable sized wooden tables,
big trees, great coffee.
Café Ventanas: (Roosevelt College food court) Lofted ceiling, large
open space, wood rafters, walls completely made of glass, gorgeous
building, no oceanview, tables are big and plentiful, but it smells like a
dining hall, sushi is available but not terribly good, food a bit overpriced.
Oceanview Terrace: Roosevelt College south of RIMAC gym.
The Grove: tucked inside the old student center. Adjoins art center,
added bonus: watch people blow glass with your coffee. Milkshakes,
smoothies, pastries, bagels also available, wide range of
espresso/cappuccino/latte concoctions.
Earl’s: (Warren College) Open everyday until 1am during the school
year. Usually busy, noisy, packed with undergrads. Small convenience
145
“A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes that he has got the
biggest piece.” – Paul Gauguin
store items available, microwaved foods, soft drinks, smoothies, muffins.
Earl’s has a few small tables and some couches.
Che Café: Scholars Scene Drive, between UCSD SOM and CLICS.
Salk Institute Café: Torrey Pines Rd north, left on Salk Watch hang
gliders and paragliders float by from one of the areas most notable
architectural highlights, spectacular views, small array of benches and
tables overlook the ocean/cliff view at the end of the ever flowing river /
waterfall at the center of the Salk, surprisingly quality food, cafeteria is at
the back left lower level, no access after business hours.
Dessert
Babycakes 3766 5th Ave. (619) 296-4173
Delicious cupcakes, from pomegranate to hazelnut. They also serve
wine, and on Tuesday evenings, purchase a glass of wine and get a free
cupcake! Bonus for studying: free wi-fi.
The Cookie Lady 7596 Fay Ave. (858) 456-1640
The most amazing cupcakes, cookies you've ever had. On the pricier
side, but it's worth it. If you order one of their delicious sandwiches you
can sample cookies while you wait for it. They also have espresso drinks
and coffee and some nice little patio tables.
th
Extraordinary Desserts 2929 5 Ave. (619) 294-213.
Rumors floating around claim that this is the single biggest reason some
med school applicants familiar with the area choose UCSD over other
schools! Well, perhaps not, but nothing will disappoint. Try their
sandwiches and variety of cheeses as well!
Gelateria Frizzante 1025 Prospect St #130 (858) 454-5798
Gelato Vero 3753 India St. (619) 295-9269
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop (619) 234-2449
Yogurt World 4646 Convoy St Ste 113 (858) 268-1688
The set-up is a self-serve, buffet-style where you grab a styrofoam cup
and fill it up with flavors of your choosing. Your concoction choices
include Asian tart flavors like mango and pineapple in addition to the
typical vanilla, chocolate, and berry flavors. When you are done with the
your mix-and-match, you can add toppings, which not only include the
typical sprinkles and candy pieces but also fresh fruit and jellies. You
pay by the ounce (tip: get a sample cup from the cashier and try the
flavors at the beginning).
“You can't put off being young until you retire.” – Philip Larkin
El Torito $
8910 Villa La Jolla Drive (858) 453-4115
With discounted offerings from 4-8pm Monday-Friday, El Torito is the
place to go for a ridiculously cheap dinner. With taquitos for under $3
and large combo platters for under $6, this is definitely easy on your
wallet.
Campus Cuisine
This year we will offer a new service for lunch on campus. Campus
Cuisine is a company that contracts with local restaurants to deliver
meals to students on campus. The service is completely online allowing
students to pre-order lunch to be delivered on Friday’s. Student’s may
create an account online and have the option to pre-pay or pay as they
go. Menu options will vary, but could include Rubio’s or Fin’s Mexican
Food, Daphne’s Greek, and/or Yummy Maki Yummy Box (sushi and
Japanese food). All meals will be delivered to the OSA where students
will be able to pick them up.
http://www.campuscuisine.net/campus/cuisine.nsf/doclu/home
Coffee Cart
“Nature didn’t make us perfect, so she did the next best thing; she made us blind to our faults.”
149
Entertainment
Aquariums
SeaWorld: tickets purchased during non-peak months often have special
deals
UCSD-Birch Aquarium: kid-friendly, outdoor tidepool area.
Seals and sea lions at the Children's Pool in La Jolla 850 Coast
Boulevard: If you want to enjoy San Diego marine life but don't feel like
spending money on a ticket to Sea World or the aquarium, this is a great.
Amusement parks
Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth is right here in Southern
California. To get to Disneyland, take the 5 North to Orange County and
watch for the signs. It's really hard to miss. Go early, because there is
never enough time to do everything. It's as wonderful as it has always
been.
Knott's Berry Farm: Knott's started out as a berry farm and they still sell
a lot of fruit preserves. Their park in Orange County has some fun rides
and a Peanuts theme. Take the 5 North until you see signs. Around
Halloween it becomes Knott’s Scary Farm. This is only at night and will
sell out, so call the park about a month in advance to get tickets.
Raging Waters: Huge (44-acre) water park with lots and lots of water
slides, raft rides and rapids. Sunscreen is very useful here.
Universal Studios: Lots of interesting attractions, like a simulated
earthquake and cool old movie sets and props. Just outside the theme
park's gates is the Universal CityWalk, which is a glitzy, though unique,
shopping center with some rather nice restaurants, and a movie theater.
Bowling
Kearny Mesa Bowl: 7585 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, (858) 279-1501
East Village Tavern and Bowl: 930 Market Street (619) 677-BOWL
Trendy urban bowling, just 4 blocks from the bars in the Gaslamp
downtown.
“I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it.”
– Walt Disney
150
Ice Skating
UTC: 4545 La Jolla Village Dr (858) 452-9110, located next to the food
court in the mall
San Diego Ice Arena: 11048 Ice Skate Pl., (858) 530-1825
Hiking
Torrey Pines State Reserve: 12600 N Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla
Sunset Cliffs: 1253 Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach
The La Jolla Caves: 1325 Cave St, La Jolla. Hike to a sea cave through
an underground tunnel. There is a $4 admission fee.
Iron Mountain (Poway) – a 6-mile hike round trip. Don’t go if it’s hot out
– this place cooks. A true hike though, unlike the other places listed.
Movie Theaters
UCSD Price Center Theater: This on-campus theater shows
blockbuster movies Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for only $3 (and
sometimes for free). To see what is showing, check out the schedules
posted online at: http://theuniversitycenters.ucsd.edu/events/movies.html
Landmark La Jolla Village: smaller theater that mainly shows
independent films
AMC La Jolla Village: closest mainstream theater to the SOM campus,
student discounts with ID
Edwards Mira Mesa: large theater with stadium seats
Museums
Balboa Park: the largest urban cultural park in the country. Balboa Park
features beautiful Spanish architecture, at least 15 museums and the
world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego: 700 Prospect St, La Jolla,
(858) 454-3541
Zoos
The San Diego Zoo became famous for creating natural habitats for
animals in "cageless" exhibits. The San Diego Wild Animal Park takes
this concept a step further with free-range enclosures that can be viewed
by tram and safari ride.
Nightlife
Casual/Moderately casual
Basic (410 10th Ave 619-531-8869)
Bondi (333 5th Ave 619-342-0212)
Authentic Australian bar which will bring back memories for all of you
who have visited Sydney’s Cargo bar (same architect). Only Aussie beer
served here, and almost all employees are Australian. Best fried
calamari in town!
Jimmy O’s (225 W 15th St Del Mar 858-350-3735)
An SOM favorite. Small bar, but good music, fun crowd, and just a few
steps away from the beach.
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“I loved history because to me, history was like watching a movie.” – Quentin Tarantino
En Fuego (1342 Camino Del Mar 858-792-6551)
Super fun place to start the night. Gorgeous outdoor 2 story bar with
decent food and a fun Taco Tuesday. Walk to Jimmy O’s around the
corner after for dancing.
Porter’s Pub: on campus pub that has often been the site of many post-
exam gatherings
The Shack: (La Jolla, 858-454-5280)
CHEAP drink specials, pool tables, super casual (as in you can go in
your PJ’s if you so desire)
PB Bar and Grill (Pacific Beach, 858-272-1242)
RT’s Longboards (Pacific Beach, 858-270-4030)
Less crazy “Taco Tuesday” than other PB spots
Typhoon Saloon (Pacific Beach, 858-373-3474)
Silver Fox: popular dive bar (Pacific Beach, 858-270-1343)
The Lamplighter: (Hillcrest, 619-298-3624) Dive bar with the best
karaoke. Thursday nights are fun and less crowded
The Field Irish Pub (Downtown, 619-232-9840)
Clubs/Upscale
Sweetwater Saloon at the Hardrock (207 5th Ave 619-764-6925)
One of the newest “clubs” downtown, this place is just a giant bar with
dance music. Roof deck is fun but not as nice as Ivy. In the summer they
have their own version of Vegas’ famous pool party “Rehab” on
Sundays, here called “Intervention.” Cover $20, line enormous
Envy at the Ivy Hotel (600 F St 619-844-2055)
Like Vegas in San Diego, this club is fairly new and thus still popular.
Rooftop bar is really nice. Best night is Saturday (though Thursday and
Friday are decent too) but get there by 8:30 or you will wait in line for
hours. $20 cover
Stingaree (454 6th Ave 619-544-9500)
Named after the nickname for the district in the old days, Stingaree is a
multi-level club. Music is not so great, and the crowd has gotten a little
weird since most people go to the newer clubs. However, easier to get
into than other places. $20 cover
On Broadway (615 Broadway, San Diego 619-231-0011)
Biggest club in San Diego; many rooms with different types of music. $20
cover, but free if you put yourself on the list at http://obec.tv/
Bitter End (707 Fifth Avenue, San Diego 619-338-9300)
This bar is fun, but not worth the cover. Three levels – a bar, a lounge,
and a dance room.
Onyx Room/THIN: Live Jazz Tuesdays (852 5th Ave, Gaslamp 619-
235-6699)
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“Even when I get hay-fever I find I may sneeze but I don't really mind. As long as I'm in love with
the summertime” – Neil Hannon (of The Divine Comedy)
153
Concert Venues
4th and B (345 B Street 619-231-4343)
<http://www.4thandb.com/>
4th and B is a club setting, featuring an eclectic mix of bands, typically more on
the independent, smaller act side. Seats 1,000 people.
“When you're around someone good, your own standards are raised.” – Ritchie Blackmore
157
Travel to Mexico
About 45 minutes south on I-5 you can cross the border into Mexico.
Shopping/bartering in Tijuana is fun and inexpensive, and the legendary
lobster of Puerto Nuevo is something that shouldn’t be missed. For the
more intrepid, Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada (about an hour and a half
into Mexico) is a lot of fun, and San Felipe offers the best beach-
camping/off-roading south of Pismo beach. Finding people who speak
English is not usually a problem, and American money is gladly
accepted.
Tijuana (“TJ”), located at the border, is only 45 minutes down I-5. Though
you can drive into TJ, for trips near the border, many people prefer to
park in pay lots on the U.S. side and walk into Tijuana. The walk to the
main drag, Avenida Revolucíon, takes about fifteen minutes, or you can
take a cab (pay no more than $5 for two to six people to go from the
border to the Jai-Alai palace). If you choose to drive, be aware that
Mexican law requires that you buy inexpensive Mexican insurance for
your car (about $15/day). Your regular U.S. car insurance does not cover
you if you drive in Mexico. However, keep in mind that if you get in an
accident in Mexico, regardless of whether you have insurance (or
whether you think the accident was your fault), you can expect to go
through confusing and expensive legal proceedings. There is also an
entrenched legal principle that “the American is always at fault,” so drive
at your own risk. Be careful and drive slowly (California cars are more
prone to getting speeding tickets). Despite these words of caution,
almost all of the Mexicans you will meet will be the most friendly and
charming people ever.
If you find TJ a little seedy, a slightly longer but scenic drive to Ensenada
will take you more inland where the prices of things are cheaper and a bit
more authentic and quiet. Once under way, you will find the toll roads to
be quite good, the libre (free) roads less so. Road signs are in Spanish! If
you aren’t sure what they mean, GET AN EXPLANATION OF THEM.
Note that the wait to pass through U.S. customs on your return
averages 45 minutes and can be up to 4 hours.
“Men become old when their hurt becomes need, but time is a lover and your time is young.” – Joe
Henry
Mexican law
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General: Under no circumstances, do anything that could possibly,
remotely, get you into Mexican jail. You DO NOT want to be in a
Mexican jail. A person may be held in jail up to 72 hours without a charge
being filed. The Mexican judicial system does not presume innocence
until proven guilty. Bail exists, but is usually not granted to non-Mexican
citizens. The US Government cannot even get people out of the jails
there.
Don’t play around: do what the federales say. Remember, they carry
guns.
No one under the age of 17 can legally enter Mexico unless they are
accompanied by a parent or guardian. Using false IDs can lead to time
spent in jail.
Many people have been arrested and have had to pay hefty fines for
urinating or spitting in public. Both are illegal.
Each visitor may take back across the border up to $400.00 worth of
goods duty-free, 1 liter of alcoholic beverage, 100 cigars and 200
cigarettes every 30 days. Fruits, veggies, and other perishables are not
permitted across the border.
“I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort where we overlap.” –
Ani DiFranco
Auto Safety
159
When a car accident takes place, the driver at fault must pay damages
before being released from custody. An accident is a felony in Mexico. It
is essential to obtain auto insurance that is valid in Mexico before
crossing the border.
Follow all traffic signals and posted signs when driving or walking.
Speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour, not miles per hour.
Park in well lit, highly visible areas. Ample parking can be found in the
city in metered areas or various parking lots scattered around Avenida
Revolucion and adjacent streets. Cars parked on side streets may be
vandalized or stolen.
It is safer to stay in the main tourist district of TJ. This is located in the
Avenida Revolucion area.
Obtain a tourist permit if you plan to stay in Mexico for more than 72
hours or go farther than 150 miles south of the border. Present a
passport or photo ID at the port of entry and request a card.
Carry your health insurance policy number and policy name with you at
all times when traveling. Review your policy before departure so you are
clear about coverage and restrictions.
When in Trouble
The American consul staff can assist you with legal and other problems.
If you are arrested, state your citizenship and ask to speak to the
American consul. Remember to keep your ID with you at all times.
Ask to speak to the chief of police if you have any questions about the
propriety of your contact with a law officer. Note the badge number and
the police patrol car at the time of your encounter with the authorities.
Pay any fines at the police station. DO NOT attempt to pay an officer
directly. Bribery is illegal and law enforcement officials are not
authorized to take money to clear infractions.
“I've always spent more time with a smile on my face than not.” – Robert Smith
161
Q: What happens to you and your transcript if you get a borderline pass
‘Y’ in a class?”
A: See the Advisor and Student Handbook and ask your OSA advisor for
the official answer.
Q: Who are those unfamiliar faces that you didn’t see during Orientation
in your 1st year classes?
A: The second year pharmacy students do most of the first year courses
with the medical students. There are 60 pharmacy students who will
also be intermingled in small groups and labs with your class.
Q: How do you honor all of your classes and get into a good residency
program and have a distinguished career?
A: Work hard and pray for a miracle.
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Acknowledgments & Contributors
Thanks to Keiko Amano, Angela Asemoto, Vanda Farahmand, Amy
Huang, Ian Neel, Perrie Pardee, Tiffany Prugpichailers, and all the
countless people who have added to and edited this guide in the years
before us. Special thanks to Keiko Amano for the amazing cover artwork
and Holden Groves for the very cool picture of Dr. Kritchevsky. We’d also
like to thank the OSA staff and the anonymous students of the classes of
‘06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, and ‘12 who offered their comments regarding
courses and the medical school experience. Many thanks to everyone
else who’ve helped out and whose names we’ve forgot to mention.
NOTES
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