Health Digest 2

Every Summer After: Everything We Know About the TV Adaptation of the Hit Romance Novel

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 20:36:06 +0000

Prive Video didn't keep BookTok waiting for updates on the cast.

WNBA All-Star Weekend: The 8 Best, Most Hilarious Moments You May Not Have Seen on TV

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 19:02:21 +0000

Everyone say thank you to the Stud Budz, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman.

‘Guava Glazed Nails’ Combines Three of the Most Popular Mani Trends

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Vanessa Hudgens is a fan.

The 9 Most Idyllic The Summer I Turned Pretty Filming Locations From the Hit Series

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000

You can visit some of these beautiful sites and recreate the romcom magic.

WNBA All-Star Game 2025: Everyone to Know on Team Clark and Team Collier

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 22:30:00 +0000

From A'Ja Wilson to Paige Bueckers, this game is stacked with star vets and rookies.

Charli XCX Marries 1975 Drummer George Daniel In a Bridal Minidress

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 18:32:10 +0000

The Brat singer was seen posing for photos in a stunning wedding dress.

Colorful '80s Sneakers Are Making a Comeback in Summer 2025

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0000

They're fun. They're versatile. And they're exactly what our closets need right now.

Opal Nails Are the Mermaid-Inspired Summer Mani We're Obsessing Over

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Selena Gomez is a fan.

WNBA Star Sabrina Ionescu Promises to Split 3-Point Contest Prize Money With Rookie Sonia Citron

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 14:30:00 +0000

Sportsmanship at its finest.

WNBA All-Star Weekend 2025: All the Best Red Carpet Looks

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 19:44:10 +0000

I'm sorry, orange carpet.

Women’s Basketball Is a Cultural Supernova, But What Comes Next Is Even Bigger

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 19:43:58 +0000

We’re meeting fans where they are—with a message that matters.

14 Best Summer Wedding Guest Dresses 2025, Vetted by Style Pros

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:55:26 +0000

Those RSVPs await.

43 Flower-Tattoo Ideas You’ll Want Forever

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:44:02 +0000

There’s beautiful symbolism behind all of them.

9 Best Cuticle Oils and Creams We Tested for Damaged Nails 2025

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:38:26 +0000

Thousands of reviewers swear by these nourishing formulas.

The Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Affair Is the Perfect Micro-Drama for Right Now

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:37:33 +0000

The internet is reeling over the alleged cheating scandal.

“Love Is Blind” Season Nine: Everything You Need to Know About the Denver Pods

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:19:46 +0000

Mark your calendars!

31 Best Jewelry Brands for Every Budget, Trend, and Style 2025

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:57:22 +0000

J.Lo, Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez—they’re all fans too.

12 Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:38:20 +0000

Kiss shine goodbye!

Zarna Garg Was a Stay-at-Home Mom. Now She’s a Comedy Superstar

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:30:00 +0000

The comedian opens up to Glamour about her new Hulu special and how she’s turned her comedy career into a family operation.

My Backstreet Boys Sphere Review Shows the Healing Power of Nostalgia

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:48:11 +0000

Twenty-five years after the release of the Backstreet Boys’ second album, Millennium—now considered a cultural landmark to both pop fans and critics—I relived my Y2K childhood at their Las Vegas residency. I found nostalgia but also immense healing.

Collagen Co. Review 2025: My Skin Is Glowy and Nails Are Stronger

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:39:49 +0000

I have a new favorite routine for my mornings and evenings.

WNBA All-Star Weekend 2025: How to Watch and Everything Else You Need to Know

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:46:03 +0000

Believe it or not, festivities kick off on July 17.

Polka-Dot Nails Are This Summer’s Favorite Fashion-Inspired Manicure Trend

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:41:42 +0000

Borrowing from the biggest print of the season.

Supergirl Starring Milly Alcock: Cast, Release Date, and Latest News

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:58:26 +0000

Fans got their first glimpse of Supergirl in Superman—and now the countdown is on until Supergirl premieres.

8 Best Vitamin C Cleansers 2025, According to Dermatologists

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:28:56 +0000

Brighter skin is only a wash away.

Lola Tung Took the Wrong-Shoe Theory to Trendy Extremes With Her Boho Summer Look

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:25:28 +0000

She paired her lacy headpiece with the most unexpected sneaker boots.

Wearing a Dress Over Skinny Jeans Is the Easiest Way to Jump on the Boho Trend This Summer

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:17:06 +0000

The Y2K retro trend has somehow become the most modern thing you could wear right now.

42 Best Summer Dresses 2025, According to Fashion Pros

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:28:14 +0000

Pants? See you never.

55 Goddess Braids Hairstyles Perfect for Summer 2025

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:11:55 +0000

Low-maintenance and cute? Count us in.

Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson: A Complete Relationship Timeline

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:33:59 +0000

“I’ve never dated somebody so kind,” the rapper said of her new man.

The Awkward – But Important – Questions You Should Be Asking Your Female Patients

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:31:29 +0000

By the Alliance for Advancing Women’s Health

When is the last time you asked a patient about her sex life? Not simply if she were sexually active or trying to get pregnant, but whether she is satisfied with her sex life or has concerns about her sexual functioning. If the answer is, “I don’t remember,” you may be missing important insight into your patients’ health as well as an opportunity to improve her overall quality of life and well-being.

In fact, the authors of a recent paper published in the Journal of Women’s Health propose that sexual health, by which they mean healthy sexual functioning, should be considered a vital sign for overall health. Despite its centrality to a woman’s well-being, the authors assert, sexual health is too often overlooked by healthcare providers.

Surveys of both women and healthcare providers confirm this: in one survey of women, 73% of respondents said their primary care providers asked about sexual health only a few times or almost never,[i] and a survey of OB/GYNs found that only 40% routinely asked about sexual concerns and only 29% asked about sexual satisfaction.[ii] Even though healthcare providers have reported feeling a responsibility to discuss sexual health with their patients,[iii] many healthcare providers may not feel they have the time or resources to address such a sensitive subject with their patients.

Another key issue the authors raise is most healthcare providers receive limited formal training on sexual health. Despite the growth in sexual medicine over the past few decades, training lags behind the science and clinical knowledge in the field. In fact, time devoted to teaching sexual health and function in medical schools has decreased.[iv] Additionally, sexual medicine objectives are included in only a few residency programs, and those that do include them define them broadly.[v]

Limited training means healthcare providers are less aware of the guidelines and tools available to help them screen patients for common sexual health conditions like hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), the most common female sexual dysfunction. Healthcare providers may also be unaware of educational resources for patients and/or feel they don’t have any therapeutic options to treat sexual health conditions, making them less likely to raise the topic with patients. After all, if you don’t have any solutions to offer, why raise the question?

The paper’s authors acknowledge there are numerous, complex barriers to improving women’s sexual health, but propose that a necessary first step is to foster more open and informed conversations about sexual health between women and their health care providers. They recommend healthcare provider training should combine basic information about female sexual health with best practices for counseling patients on sexual health. For example, these best practices include:

Legitimizing the importance of assessing sexual function and normalizing the discussion by including questions about sexual health as part of the routine medical history. For example, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests using the Brief Sexual Symptom Checklist for Women, which asks whether women are satisfied with their sexual function and if not, what problem is most bothersome, how long it has lasted, and if they would like to discuss it with their healthcare provider.
Using open-ended questions during conversations about sexual concerns rather than yes/no questions, which may hinder a woman from elaborating about her concerns or accurately describing her symptoms
Beginning conversations on sexual health without any assumptions about sexual activity, sexual orientation, relationship status or any other topics that could make the patient feel judged
Using plain language, props and/or illustrative aids, and describing sexual anatomy and physiology in simple terms
Providing credible and accurate educational information and resources to women

The ultimate goal, as the authors describe it, is for healthcare providers to have the competency and confidence “to initiate a direct and concise conversation about sexual health in a space that ensures privacy and comfort.” Healthcare providers’ ability and willingness to do so is a critical first step to achieving better sexual health outcomes for women. For more information on how to have these conversations and for additional resources please visit the the Alliance for Advancing Women’s Health (AAWH), a new collaborative initiative that’s working to improve clinical interaction by elevating awareness and advancing healthcare provider education and training.

[i] Fairchild PS, Haefner JK, Berger MB. Talk about sex: Sexual history-taking preferences among urogynecology patients and general gynecology controls. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2016;22:297–302.[ii] Sobecki JN, Curlin FA, Rasinski KA, Lindau ST. What we don’t talk about when we don’t talk about sex: Results of a national survey of U.S. obstetrician/gynecologists. J Sex Med 2012;9:1285–1294.

[iii] Hoekstra T, Lesman-Leegte I, Couperus MF, Sanderman R, Jaarsma T. What keeps nurses from the sexual counseling of patients with heart failure? Heart Lung 2012;41:492–499.

[iv] Shindel AW, Baazeem A, Eardley I, Coleman E. Sexual health in undergraduate medical education: Existing and future needs and platforms. J Sex Med2016;13:1013–1026.

[v] Andrews WC. Approaches to taking a sexual history. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2000;9 Suppl 1:S21–S24.

Med School Apps and Interviews: You’ve Got This!

Sat, 30 Mar 2019 19:22:34 +0000

Med School Apps and Interviews: You’ve Got This!

Written by: Krupa George

Edited by: Alexandra Alvarez and Kendyl Naugle

Happy Spring! If you’re in the midst of the medical school application process, this time might be a little nerve-wracking. You may be waiting for interviews, currently interviewing, or waiting for decisions. Maybe applications are looming in your future. Whatever step in the application process you’re on, here are some lessons and reflections from my time as an applicant!

Application Tips:

Apply early!
Application cycles are rolling, which means that the earlier you apply, the greater chance you have of being invited to interview! Timelines vary depending on your application system (for instance, in Texas, we have the TMDSAS and that timeline is a little earlier than AMCAS). Make sure to go to your application website and read all their FAQ’s to learn more about these dates and deadlines. As for letters of recommendation, ask early! This gives your letter writers plenty of time to reflect and write a letter that paints you in the best possible light. And, of course, always remember to send them a thank you gift American Academy of Pediatrics: Colleen A. Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP
Photo courtesy of AAP

As President, Dr. Kraft’s platform revolves around empowering pediatricians in the community. She hopes to do this by disseminating new scientific knowledge from the AAP throughout the community, and implementing it in pediatric practices. She is also an advocate for supporting early intervention programs such as the Head Start National Center on Health through education and training on childhood health issues.

American College of Physicians: Ana María López, MD, MPH, MACP

Photo courtesy of ACP

In leading this national organization of internists, Dr. Lopez’s professional interests include cancer prevention, integrative oncology, innovations in healthcare, and issues in women’s health. She is also interested in advancing equity in health, demonstrated through her recent role as Associate Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusion at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center.

American Medical Association: Barbara L. McAneny, MD

Photo courtesy of AMA

Dr. McAneny’s platforms focus on the three strategic arcs of the AMA: addressing the barriers restricting patient care, redesigning medical training in the digital age, and decreasing the burden of chronic disease. In doing so, she hopes to lead the AMA in increasing the accessibility of the healthcare system, encouraging physicians to be effective practitioners and lifelong learners, and improving the health of the country as a whole.

American Psychological Association: Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD, ABPP

Photo Courtesy of the APA

Dr. Daniel’s platforms focus on advancing the ‘Citizen Psychologist’ identity, an initiative that seeks to spread awareness and increase the involvement of psychologists in their lesser-known roles that include public service, volunteerism, board membership and other community service. She is committed to ensuring that psychologists are at the table when formulating policies and programs in every sector.

National Medical Association: Niva Lubin-Johnson, MD, FACP

Photo courtesy of the NMA

Dr. Lubin-Johnson is committed to advocating for comprehensive healthcare for all. A member and leader of other national medical organizations as well, she works to improve representation and the success of women and persons of color in medicine. She is the first woman president in the history of the NMA to also have served as Speaker of the House Delegates and Chair of the Board of Trustees.

National Hispanic Medical Association: Elena V. Rios, MD, MSPH, FACP

Photo courtesy of the NHMA

President and CEO Dr. Rios works to improve the health of Hispanic populations across the United States and serves as a representative of the Hispanic physician community at both local and national levels. She directs education and research activities through her role as president of NHMA’s National Hispanic Health Foundation and serves on the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, Campaign Against Obesity, New York Academy of Medicine, and more.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, PhD

Photo courtesy of AACAP

Dr. Wagner specializes in pharmacological treatment of mood disorders in children and adolescents. As President, she aims to increase awareness of and screening for depression in these populations. She has served in multiple other organizations including the National Advisory Mental Health Council of the National Institutes of Health and the American Association of Directors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

American Academy of Dermatology: Suzanne Olbricht, MD

Photo courtesy of the AAD

As President of the AAD and its sister organization, the American Academy of Dermatology Association, Dr. Olbricht aims to embrace the changing worlds of science, technology, culture, and medicine to advocate for patients. She has been involved with other organizations such as the New England Dermatology Society, the Women’s Dermatology Society, and the American College of Mohs Surgery.

American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists: Lisa M. Hollier, MD, MPH

Photo courtesy of ACOG

Dr. Hollier’s interests lie in working with underserved populations and improving the health of women across the United States through advocacy in health policy. Her strategic initiatives at ACOG focus on reducing preventable maternal mortality. Before becoming President of the organization, she served on ACOG’s many committees and Presidential Task Forces and Work Groups, and represented ACOG within the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

American College of Rheumatology: Paula Marchetta, MD, MBA

Photo courtesy of AHA

As AHA CEO since 2008 and as a member of the AHA team in a variety of national, regional and local positions since 1986, Nancy Brown is leading the Association in fulfilling its mission: to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Emboldened by that mission, Nancy Brown strives to improve patient care, accelerate drug discovery, influence health policies, ensure equitable health for all, empower consumers, and innovate new health solutions at the intersection of science and technology in the US and globally.

American Osteopathic Association: Adrienne White-Faines, MPA, FACHE

Photo courtesy of AOA

CEO Adrienne White-Faines leads the AOA’s strategic agenda, supporting the organization’s physician and student members by promoting public health and advancing research. The AOA provides specialty board certification, continuing medical education and accreditation for osteopathic medical schools. She is also involved with various national nonprofit organizations, and in 2015 was named an outstanding “Business Leader of Color” by Chicago United, a civic engagement group promoting business diversity and inclusion in the Chicago region.

American Society of Addiction Medicine: Kelly J. Clark, MD, MBA, DFAPA, DFASAM

Photo courtesy of ASAM

ASAM President Dr. Clark is board certified in addiction medicine and psychiatry. She has focused her career on issues of addictive disease, evidence-informed behavioral health care, and payment reform, having a broad base of experience in the clinical, policy, payment, and pharmaceutical sectors. Dr. Clark founded Addiction Crisis Solutions to assist stakeholders in transforming addiction care to evidence-based, cost-effective practice. Dr. Clark has provided expertise about the opioid crisis to the US FDA, SAMHSA, DOJ, the Office of Comptroller General, and more, as well as to numerous provider and payer organizations.

American Society of Anesthesiologists: Linda J. Mason, M.D., FASA

Photo courtesy of ASA

Dr. Mason, director of pediatric anesthesiology at Loma Linda University Medical Center and professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics at Loma Linda University, is president of the ASA. Key issues of focus for Dr. Mason are patient safety, health policy and addressing drug shortages and the nation’s opioid crisis. She has held leadership roles in numerous state and national professional organizations as well as visiting professorships during her career. Dr. Mason is committed to improving anesthesiology education and patient care.

American Thoracic Society: Polly Parsons, MD, ATSF

Photo courtesy of ATS

ATS President Dr. Parsons is Professor of Medicine and department Chair at the University of Vermont. Throughout her time with the American Thoracic Society, she has served on various committees and task forces, and was recently awarded the ATS Assembly on Critical Care 9th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Her research, education, and patient care interests revolve around acute lung injury and critical illness.

Endocrine Society: Susan J. Mandel, MD, MPH

Photo courtesy of the Endocrine Society

In addition to directing the Endocrine fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Endocrine Society President Dr. Mandel oversees a clinical practice specializing in thyroid neoplasia, with research interests that include using sonography to assess patients with thyroid nodules and cancer as well as thyroid disease during pregnancy. Her clinical work has been recognized with the Penn Duhring Clinical Specialist award, as has her mentorship by educator awards from professional medical associations such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Past and future medical association presidents who are women also include:
- Michelle S. Gittler, MD, FAAPMR, president-elect, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Sandra L. Weber, MD, FACP, president-elect, The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
- Stephanie M. Levine, MD, FCCP, president-elect, American College of Chest Physicians
- Stephanie Zaza, MD, MPH, FACPM, president-elect, American College of Preventive Medicine
- Beryl Benacerraf, MD, FAIUM, immediate past-president, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
- Barbara Vickrey, MD, MPH, past-president, American Neurological Association
The post Women Leaders: Paving the Way in Organized Medicine appeared first on American Medical Women's Association.

Why I Am Excited for the Medical Women’s International Association Conference

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 14:57:14 +0000

by Chung San Tse, MD

It is hard to imagine being a female physician a century ago.

In 1914, the electrocardiograph (EKG) was introduced to the United States. In 1922, insulin was first used to treat diabetes. In 1928, penicillin was discovered in London and it was not until 1942 that it was used to treat infections in humans.

Founded in 1919, the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) is one of the oldest professional international non-governmental organization (NGO) representing medical women from around the world. The first meeting was held in New York with 140 guests from 16 nations. At that time, only four countries had medical women associations — United States, England, India, and Japan — as many countries barred women from studying medicine…

READ FULL OP-ED at DOXIMITY

The post Why I Am Excited for the Medical Women’s International Association Conference appeared first on American Medical Women's Association.

Dr. Lila Wallis: Armchair Research at 98 Years

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 14:40:24 +0000

This past January Dr. Laurel Waters and I had the good fortune and opportunity to visit Dr. Lila Wallis, AMWA Past President and a pioneer in women’s health. Remember how you learned how to perform your first pelvic exam on trained subjects in medical school? That was a program started by Dr. Wallis to ensure that physicians would learn how to perform these exams properly to minimize discomfort for the woman patient. Dr. Wallis would go on to become a trailblazer in women’s health, co-authoring one of the leading resources, Textbook on Women’s Health.

In 1998, AMWA established the Lila A. Wallis Women’s Health Award. Past recipients have included women’s health trailblazers in their own right — Dr. Patricia P. Barry, Dr. Sheila Blume, Dr. Janine Clayton, Dr. Florence Haseltine, Dr. Wendy Klein, Dr. Donald Lindberg, Dr. Susan M. Love, Dr. Saralyn Mark, Dr. Nawal Nour, Dr. Patricia J. Numann, Dr. Janet Rose Osuch, Dr. Natalie Rasgon, Dr. Gloria Elizabeth Sarto, Dr. Adaline Satterthwaite, Dr. Vicki L. Seltzer, Dr. Nada Stotland, and Dr. Norma Jo Waxman. The 2019 recipient is Dr. Susan Kornstein, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Women’s Health, and Executive Director, VCU Institute for Women’s Health.

In her 9^th decade of life, Dr. Wallis remains as sharp as ever, continuing what she coins “armchair research” in her advocacy of women’s health. We reminisced with her on a sunny afternoon in Southern California and also connected by FaceTime with Dr. Satty Keswani, another long-time AMWA leader.

Here is a message from Dr. Wallis to future generations of AMWA leaders —

March 12, 2019

My Dear Colleagues,

I am Lila A. Wallis M.D. MACP, AMWA President in 1988 – 89.

On June 21, I will be 98 years old.

Our numbers are increasing.

What will happen if we put them to work? If we use our knowledge, skills and imagination to come up with ideas on better health for everyone? To increase the number and status of women physicians? To improve women’s health? To improve children’s health? To build enduring peace?

Get into your “armchair research” chair.

Put on your “thinking caps”!!!!

And send your ideas to ExecutiveDirector@amwa-doc.org.

With warm regards,

Dr. Lila Wallis

The post Dr. Lila Wallis: Armchair Research at 98 Years appeared first on American Medical Women's Association.

Self Love During the Month of Love

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 02:17:51 +0000

Self Love During the Month of Love

Written by: Nora Galoustian

Edited by: Tatyana Brisard

Taking in a deep and slow inhale, I hold my breath for as long as I can. With every exhale, I make the conscious effort to allow any negativity and frustration to leave my body. I repeat this for a few minutes, sitting carefully poised on the floor of my bedroom with my eyes shut. What do you do to ground yourself?

As a pre-medical student, it is rather easy to get caught up with comparing yourself to classmates and being overly critical of yourself. With the rampant glorification of unhealthy habits in pre-medical culture such as sleep deprivation, excessive coffee consumption, and overexertion, many of my peers and I feel guilty when engaging in fun activities rather than studying. “It’s odd, ever since I have been home from school this winter break, I am constantly anxious that I’m forgetting to do something and feel like I need to study for something!” exclaimed one of my close friends, despite not having any coursework assigned over break. From the constant pressure from some students to know about your grades to the students who brag about how “easy” the exam was and that they barely studied, it is hard to know where to place yourself in the wide spectrum of what composes the pre-medical student population.

Indeed, many individuals do indulge in the aforementioned unhealthy habits— too often, students are falling asleep on their books and walking to class with bags underneath their eyes. However, the sobering reality is that research studies show this unhealthy behavior of sleep deprivation is not only poor for your health but it also inhibits your academic achievement. While the constant pressure to succeed and the competitive nature of how final grades are determined in classrooms can be overwhelming, it is important to take care of yourself and to love yourself!

This may seem like an obvious statement at a glance, but the deep self-reflection of how this type of environment may influence your mental, spiritual, and physical health is critical. The truth is, everyone has their own individual strengths and weaknesses, and comparing yourself to others puts you in a toxic mindset that will set you up for failure. Instead of comparing yourself to others, help empower those around you by spreading the love. The shift in mentality from overworking yourself to focusing on transforming yourself through an optimistic mindset can elicit life-changing habits. I wanted to share the ways in which I learned to manage stress and love myself. While the path to self-discovery and healing was a difficult one for me, learning to leverage my inner strength to permeate a healthy mindset into my everyday lifestyle truly helped me overcome many difficulties I was facing (both academically and with life satisfaction). However, it is important to know that this is a constant process and lifestyle, not a temporary habit change until reaching a “final destination”. I understand that this is an extremely personal topic, but AMWA hopes that this can help someone out there reading!

Ways to Love Yourself

Build your confidence. Build the self, your self. Discover new parts of yourself you have never seen before. Spiritually, physically, and mentally transform.
Your mind and body are your temple. Treat them sacredly.
You are your own source. Seek support from within yourself, and find the strength from within yourself. It is easy to instinctively go to others, and while this is healthy to do so to an extent, it is also important to learn how to be there for yourself.
Change takes time, and understanding a concept fully takes time. Take a deep breath and continue on. You will get the results you’re longing for eventually.
Give yourself 5 positive affirmations for the next day before you go to bed. This will help you sleep with eager and positive thoughts in mind.
Give yourself 5 positive affirmations every morning before you start your day, especially before big exams or important events. This helps you build your confidence and feel great about the brilliant day you’re about to have!
When things don’t go according to plan, find your escape. This could be any activity, from exercising and meditation to coloring books and unwinding in a hot bath. This too shall pass. Find ways that you can improve for next time, and try again!

Self Development and Stress Management

If you tend to overwork yourself, don’t feel guilty to also have fun! It is a perfectly human thing to do— you really won’t be that much more productive staying home those 3-4 hours studying when you’re that mentally exhausted anyways.
Do not freak out when something you haven’t seen before is on your exam. You got this! The professor gave you this question because the tools to learning how to tackle this problem were given to you. Take your time with the question, and try not to immediately panic when you see questions like this because it will inhibit your ability to think critically and solve the problem.
Participate in random acts of kindness to your loved ones, roommates, and even strangers! The world is a beautiful place full of billions of people, and it feels good to help make it a little better for someone by doing something small.
Mindset is everything; believe in your mental abilities, and you are more than halfway there!

Check back soon for our next blog post and if any of you have suggestions for future posts or any topics that you want to see written about, then make sure to email externalrelations@amwa-premed.org!

The post Self Love During the Month of Love appeared first on American Medical Women's Association.

AMWA Leaders Meet With Surgeon General VADM Jerome Adams

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 10:39:35 +0000

AMWA Leaders Dr. Connie Newman, Dr. Roberta Gebhard, Dr. Kim Templeton, and Dr. Eliza Chin met with Surgeon General VADM Jerome Adams to discuss the Surgeon General’s work on the opioid epidemic and AMWA’s interest in that area with respect to opioid use in women. AMWA will work to disseminate information and educational resources put out by the Surgeon General’s office on this important public health crisis.

L-R: Dr. Eliza Chin, Dr. Roberta Gebhard, VADM Jerome Adams, Connie Newman

What to Expect When You’re Expecting Your MCAT Day

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 02:32:50 +0000

What to Expect When You’re Expecting Your MCAT Day

Written & Edited by: Taylor Goss

My alarm goes off at 5:30 am. It is officially the scariest day of my life: MCAT Day. I had gone to bed around 10 o’clock the night before but I still wanted to go back to sleep. But today was not the day to hit snooze. I got up and put on my pre-planned MCAT clothes. I had been practicing in similar clothes to what I wanted to wear to test day, down to my socks. Nothing was going to throw me off today. I had previously read internet recommendations for test day meals and had settled on oatmeal (for slow burning carbs) and blueberries (for antioxidants). After reviewing my formula sheet one last time, I had nothing left to do to procrastinate leaving for the testing center.

The Pre-Test Wait

My testing location was about thirty minutes from my apartment and for the whole ride there I listened to Apple Music’s “Inspiration Essentials” playlist. I understood when I reached my destination why everyone suggests that you visit the testing site beforehand to make sure you are acquainted with the buildings. I drove around for a few minutes before parking and deciding, “This must be the building because a lot of other cars are turning into this parking lot.” This theory was confirmed when I noticed a girl crouched on the sidewalk outside furiously flipping through a spiral notebook. I had left my phone in the center console of my car so I was relying on my memory to tell me which suite I was heading for. Was it 460 or 406?

I opened the door to the Prometric suite and found myself standing in front of a desk with an older woman asking for my ID. She looked back and forth between my driver’s license picture and my face and checked me in on the computer. I was handed a small piece of green construction paper with the number 5 on it and told to put everything in a locker except my ID and that piece of paper. While I was reading the laminated sheet of test center rules, I noticed that the girl checking in after me was told to remove her ring since it was not a wedding or engagement ring. I looked down at my hand and panicked over the thought of taking off my grandmother’s Irish Claddagh ring – luckily no one asked me to, probably because it was small and didn’t have any large stones. After stuffing my bag into locker number 23 (my lucky number), I headed to the bathroom while I still had the chance and when I returned I was told that if I was ready I could have a seat in a small lobby area where they would do security screenings.

I sat and waited for my number to be called. There were two testing rooms – green and orange – and a check-in desk for each. I watched as those before me went through the process. It went something like this: pull your pants up past your ankles, roll your sleeves up, turn your pockets inside-out, take off any necklaces or large earrings, and shake out any jacket hoods. Then they waved a metal detector wand over you and you were cleared and told to sit down until the woman at the computer was ready for you. The girl being checked in before me had handed her ID over and I noticed that it was not a Florida drivers license. When the woman asked her what her birthday was, I thought that maybe it was an international ID because all American government issued ID cards would have a birthday. I was taken aback at first because the girl appeared to not know her birthday. “October 10-I mean 28.” Afterwards, I realized that she was probably thinking about 10 for October and was just nervous checking in.

I was called up to the desk where I was again compared to my driver’s license picture. Apparently, I still looked like myself with a baggy t-shirt, no makeup, and my hair up in a bun because she then scanned the front and back of it into the computer. I was asked to confirm my phone number and given my ID back. She slid two yellow booklets (they were more like one long sheet of paper folded in half than booklets) of paper towards me and told me to make sure there were four pages – there was. I was then told that they were going to be taking the fingerprints of both my index fingers. It was similar to setting the Touch ID on your iPhone: put your finger down, pick it up, repeat three times. The woman grabbed a small plastic chip and velcroed it to my locker key tag. The tag was yellow meaning that my “access restrictions” were food, drink, and medicine only. I then looked into a small video chat camera and my picture was taken in case there were any questions about my exam later, they could show who had shown up that day. A binder was slid towards me and I signed in to the testing room for the first time. It was 7:22 am. She examined my signature as if I might have just handed her a counterfeit hundred dollar bill.

The Next Seven and A Half Hours of My Life

The test center employee opened the door to a room lined with four rows of computers surrounded by little cubicles – I would estimate at most 24 stations total. She told me to stand up against the wall just inside the door while she walked to my computer to get it ready. After a few seconds, she waved me over to computer number eight and I settled into my home for the day. There were over-the-ear headphones to my left in case I decided I needed them. I looked to the computer screen to see the examinee agreement was staring back at me. I took a deep breath and clicked through the agreement – I had read it at least three times by that time. Following the agreement is an optional ten-minute tutorial to familiarize you with the MCAT user interface but with six practice tests under my belt, I felt pretty familiar. Instead, I used this time to jot down as much of my formula sheet that I could remember – things like positive and negative amino acids, convex and concave lenses, hemoglobin curves, Michaelis-Menten inhibition graphs, and of course some physics and general chemistry equations.

Before the first section began, my name and face appeared on the screen informing me that by clicking “NEXT” I was confirming that I was the person on the screen. A brief description of the Chemistry and Physical Foundations of Biological Sciences appeared and then my MCAT began. The Chem/Phys section is 59 questions over a 95 minute period and as you will see during practice tests, it consists of rotating two to three passages with five to six stand-alone (sometimes called discrete) questions. I took my time and filled up an entire sheet of scratch paper, trying not to second guess myself as I went. At one point, the entire screen went blank and I panicked; staring at it for a while deciding what I should do. I gently jiggled the mouse and the screen reloaded to much relief. Finishing with about three minutes left, the first section of my MCAT was complete.

I started my first ten-minute break, which as per my testing plan consisted of a granola bar, a few swigs of water, and stretching. Normally, my plan did not call for a bathroom break until lunchtime but I felt as though I had to go and I certainly did not want to be stuck in the exam room with a full bladder for the next 90 minutes. When I returned, I had a minute or two left according to my timekeeping, so I did a few downward dog stretches and went to sign back in. My sign out and sign in times were nine-minutes apart so I quickly rushed back to my seat to find a screen saying “Your time is up.” I am not sure exactly what would have happened if I was gone for too much longer but today was not the day to find out.

I began the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section. This is the only section that is fully passage based and contains 53 questions over the course of 90 minutes. I was pleased with the passages that I got and I finished with around eight minutes left. I was so glad to start my 30-minute lunch break. Like all other aspects of my MCAT Day, my lunch was very planned out: six saltine crackers, a slice of cheddar cheese, and a container of raspberries. I am fairly certain that I had developed a stomach ulcer during the course of my MCAT studying so I wanted to keep my lunch very light. I was worried that a sandwich might make me tired; since my favorite sandwich meat is turkey. I drank a decent amount of water and made my way to the restrooms again. It was during this time that I overheard the front desk employee asking other students if the girl that had just left for the bathroom had her phone out. No one knew so she ran out the door after her and odd looks were exchanged between those of us sitting in the lobby. The woman shortly returned but with no indication of what had happened in the hall. After some standard touch-your-toes stretching, I checked back in with about nine minutes left.

With the second half of the test done, I blew out a big breath and began the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems. Like the Chem/Phys section, the Bio/Biochem section is 95 minutes with 59 questions in a similar pattern of passages and stand-alone questions. I started to feel a little tired during this section but I pulled it together and finished with around 13 minutes left.

Time for my last break. When I would take practice tests at home, I wouldn’t really take this break except for standing up and stretching but with the whole process of signing in and out of the test room, I figured I might as well have some apple slices to try to wake me up. While I was sitting in the lobby eating my apple slices, the woman at the front desk asked me if I was taking the MCAT. When I said yes, she said I wasn’t allowed to have my bag sitting out at my feet. I had to take what I wanted out of it and put it back in the locker. I quickly obliged. For the fourth time that day, I felt like I had to go to the bathroom but decided it was just nerves and that I would finish the last section fairly quickly.

I signed in for the last time and started on the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. This section’s formatting was identical to the first and third. I had a few eccentric passages but overall enjoyed the section. While I was on question 58, the pop-up came up saying that I had thirty minutes left. I had basically finished the section in two-thirds the time allotted. Although I hadn’t done this on the other sections for fear of second-guessing my answers, I decided to review the questions I had marked. I changed one answer and still finished with about twenty minutes left. I stared at the review screen for a few seconds before hitting submit.

Don’t get me wrong, it definitely felt real but it still kind of felt no different from my practice tests until the final screen came up with a five-minute countdown clock. This screen has two options: “send my test to be scored” or “void my exam.” I check for my exam to be scored and stared at the words. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. I clicked submit. Finally was an optional twelve question “Satisfaction Survey” – as if anyone is satisfied after taking the MCAT. I clicked through and filled it out, making sure to mention my technical issues during the first section. The final screen was prefaced with: PLEASE RETAIN FOR YOUR RECORDS. I looked around wondering how on earth I was supposed to do that. I shrugged and hit next. When the Prometric logo came up on the screen, I felt as though it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be over already, could it?

I walked out of the testing room and waited to sign out. There was a girl checking out before me. She was not taking the MCAT because the employee printed out a page and told her Congratulations – she must have passed. When it was my turn, I signed the binder one last time. The time was 2:06 pm. I handed over my scrap papers and my two number two pencils while she began printing something out for me. For an irrational moment I thought she was going to hand me my scores. Instead, she embossed it with the company seal, initialed, and dated it before handing it to me. It was the “Retain for your records” page. We exchanged pleasantries and I turned to gather my things out of my locker. I left the key in the lock and walked out the door feeling like I was missing something. It felt too normal to just walk out of the building with a very mundane “Have a nice day” after having just taken the most important test of my life to date. But that is exactly what happened. Now we wait…

Please note that this account is solely based on my own experience in order to help future examinees mentally prepare for their MCAT Day. For official MCAT information, please consult the AAMC website.

This post first appeared on momentsinmed.com

How to WIN as a Premed this WINter Break

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 03:34:20 +0000

How to WIN as a Premed this WINter Break

Written by: Alexandra Alvarez

Edited by: Lara Rostomian

The end of this semester/quarter is just around the corner, which means you are just a few weeks (or days) away from finals and some very well-deserved time off! However, for some of us, this long time off leaves us unsure of what we can do over winter break as Premeds. Well, AMWA has got you covered with suggestions on how you can spend your winter break!

Make Summer Plans:

Gaining valuable exposure to the field of medicine is important for showing admissions committees that you have thought about why this is the right career for you, and summer is a great time to work on gaining some of these experiences. Most summer programs have deadlines during the winter, so it is never too early to start researching and applying for summer positions at labs, clinical settings, hospitals, etc. During your downtime at home, in between spending time with friends and families, go onto your school’s career center website and check out the listings they have there. You could also research online for programs in areas you are interested in spending your summer. Having this time off from classes can be super beneficial because you can spend more time making your applications the best that they could be without having to worry about midterms, homework, and finals!

Learn about the Application Process:

If you are applying to medical school in 2019, now is a good time to start thinking about your application timeline as well as the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Winter break is a great time to start familiarizing yourself with the AMCAS website for information, resources, and tutorials that aid in the application process. Other websites also offer great resources and information on the medical school application process, we recommend The Official Guide to Medical School Admissions.

Start Studying for the MCAT:

If you are taking your MCAT exam in January you have probably already started studying and are already planning to study over the break. However, if you are planning to take the MCAT later in the year, winter break is a great time to start making a study plan. Many websites offer tips on getting started as well as offer various resources for MCAT prep. AMWA also offers many membership benefits for MCAT prep, so be sure to familiarize yourself with those before committing an organization for your MCAT prep. Use this time to reflect on your study habits to develop a personalized study plan based on your preferences, schedule, and learning style.

Volunteer/Shadow:

Whether you are going home for the holidays or staying in your school’s area, there are lots of opportunities to get involved in your community. It is important to remember that wherever you choose to volunteer, it does not have to fit the Premed “checklist”. You can volunteer wherever you feel is most valuable and meaningful to you, whether that be at clinics, homeless shelters, tutoring centers, food banks, hospitals, senior homes, etc. Wherever you are spending your break, look into places to volunteer in the area and contact people to see if you can set up a volunteering opportunity. Aside from volunteering, this long winter break is a great opportunity to gain some shadowing experience! You can look into hospitals, clinics, etc. around you and see if there are any physicians who you can shadow over the break. Not only will you be gaining experience, but you will also be learning so much more about the field!

Relax and Recharge:

As Premeds, we often feel like we consistently need to be doing something and that we cannot take breaks. Remember though, you just got through a busy and likely intense semester/quarter. Feel like you need a break? That is COMPLETELY FINE, you deserve it! Taking a step back to spend time with family members and friends that you may not have seen in a long time is more than okay. Sleep in, relax your mind and your body, catch up on a TV show, spend time at home with loved ones, or go out and explore; do whatever is going to help you recharge and relax in preparation for the New Year and also for a new semester/quarter. Learning how to find a balance in your mental health and academic/professional life is an essential skill that will help you be successful not only now but through the rest of your Premed/Prehealth journey.

“Let us choose for ourselves our path in life, and let us try to strew that path with flowers.”-Emilie du Châtelet, mathematician, physicist, and author

No matter what you choose to do with your winter break, AMWA wishes you all a safe and amazing winter break. Good Luck with Finals and be sure to check back soon for our next blog post and if any of you have suggestions for future posts or any topics that you want to see written about, then make sure to email externalrelations@amwa-premed.org!

Open Letter to the Friends and Family of Dr. Tamara O’Neal

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 21:34:34 +0000

Dear Family and Friends of Dr. Tamara O’Neal,

“Domestic and Gun Violence: The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)”

American Medical Women’s Association, AMWA extends our deepest condolences to friends and family for the murder of Dr. Tamara O’neal, an emergency room doctor. As details of this unfortunate tragedy surface, we learn from social media and NBCChicago, about a young African American doctor who is remembered by loved ones as “a sweetheart”, a doctor who “had a heart of gold”, “one of the most persistent and resilient individuals I’ve ever met”. “She was loved and admired”. In this tragedy Chicago police Samuel Jimenez, a pharmaceutical assistant and the gunman reported to be Dr. O’Neal ex-fiancé Juan Lopez also lost their lives.

Domestic and gun violence are significant public health issues that haunt our hearts and peace, they have to be addressed to protect our families and neighborhoods, we must work together to tackle these significant public health crises. The face of domestic violence is ugly, scary, and it affects all regardless of their education and socioeconomic status, culture, religion, and other demographic characteristics. To deal with the problem of gun and domestic violence we need to support physicians to promote gun safety and screen for domestic violence within their practices, ensure all learners have a safe learning environment, advocate for teaching our patients’ about domestic violence, gun safety, firearm injury prevention and promoting funding for research. AMWA is working nationally to decrease the burden of domestic and gun violence. According to the 2010 CDC National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), 25% of women in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner and another study quotes that 1 in 3 female murder victims are killed by intimate partners (1,2). To break this cycle of abuse health care providers, families, friends, and communities have to recognize, report, and support domestic violence survivors. AMWA extends our deepest sympathy to the friends and loved ones affected by this tragedy. In these moments of silence and prayers for those lost, we call for increased support for the medical community and funding resources necessary to appropriately study the issue of domestic and gun violence.

Sima. I. Patel, MD AMWA Advocacy Committee

Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, FACP, FAMWA Co-Chair AMWA Advocacy Committee

Reference:

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Based on data from the national intimate partner and sexual violence survey (nisvs): 2010-2012 state report.
Bridges, F.S., Tatum, K. M., & Kunselman, J.C. (2008). Domestic violence statutes and rates of intimate partner and family homicide: A research note. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 19(1), 117-130.

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Fri, 04 Mar 2016 04:44:38 +0000