by Yasmin Bains COM 2020
“Burnout” has unfortunately become a popular buzzword within the medical community. I didn’t realize how real this problem was until I encountered it myself before starting medical school. When I decided to change careers and pursue medicine, I felt assured that years of working in a high stress environment with var
ious start-ups had prepared me adequately to deal with the challenges that lay ahead.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Hiroe Hu is a student in Touro University California’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“Know the big picture.” Despite its simplicity, this was one of the best pieces of advice that I ever received in medical school (thank you, Dr. Lin!). Over the past year, this has become my mantra that served me well in both my academic and personal life.
My study strategy almost always involves the “big picture sandwich.” First, I listen to lecture or watch YouTube videos to grasp the summary of the material. My second pass would be a more in-depth look into the materials: reading the slides, referencing textbooks, memorizing facts, and taking notes to put the knowledge into my own words.
No sooner did we post an item about a free speed reading tool than we found out the program had helped a current Touro student!
Christina Choy is a first-year student in the College of Pharmacy, class of 2020.
Legentas was very helpful at introducing me to speed reading. I had always thought that I read quite quickly, however after starting the program I realized that I was reading inefficiently.
This program offers various eye gymnastics exercises and trains you to increase your visual span, as well as read in a rhythm that allows for better retention. Before I started Legentas, I was reading 204 words per minute. By lesson three, I was reading at 334 words per minute!
Mey and her feathered friend, Nova.
We asked recent MPH alum Mey Saephan some questions about her time here at Touro — What did you find helpful? What did you find not helpful? What do you wish you knew before starting? — and this is what she had to say!
Public health is a broad field. Graduating with an MPH enables to you help people and hone in your skillset. Here are a few tips for how to be successful while you are here at Touro, finding your career path.
Megan McCaleb is the Joint MSPAS/MPH program 2016 Alumni & Class President
Megan and friend.
PA school requires a whole new set of study tools from your tool belt. Maybe you thought you had finally figured out what worked for you in undergrad, or while completing another master’s program. Don’t freak out, but welcome back to the beginning.
The pace is faster, the materials are more difficult, and the standards are higher. It’s okay, have your moment of freakout. But then take a step back and try and understand what Touro will help you become: Bigger, better, faster, stronger — wait wait wait . . . that’s Kanye, retract that! In all honesty, though, at the end of this program you will be faster. A faster thinker, a quicker test taker, someone whose synapses are firing and connecting more rapidly than the med students’ standing next to you on rotations.
A few tips from fellow D.O. students on how to relax and reorganize yourself during the summer before the school year starts up again.
From Naveetha Nandakumar, College of Medicine 2019, 2nd year student:
We asked Jonathan Lai, the COP Academic Tutoring & Academic Services Coordinator, “What do you recommend to students in regards to studying and tutoring?” His tips:
During my high school days, studying meant sitting in a room by yourself and staring at a book until you memorized all of the words or steps to solve a problem. In college and pharmacy school, this approach was less than forgiving. Through studying in groups, I came to realize that I learn best by teaching material to my fellow peers.
Maren Hackbusch, PA-C, MPH is an alumna in the Touro University California’s MSPAS/MPH Program.
We asked Maren to reflect back to her time here at Touro and to answer a few questions such as: What worked for you? What didn’t? What do you wish you knew now before you started? Any tips to recommend to the incoming class? Or to those going on rotations?
Pre-“Professional” School:
The pace of learning here at TUC is intense, which can sometimes be overwhelming even for those who have excelled at previous levels of education. We regularly ask students who are at the top of their class to tell us what study strategies they use to keep up.
Walid Aljayosi is a student in Touro University California’s College of Pharmacy.
In my time as a Touro student, I have slowly gotten better and more efficient at using my time to study wisely. When I first began school, I was all about spending entire days in the library toiling away and struggling to get all the information down. Humans were simply not meant to take in information this way.
Ashley Vanderbosch is a student in Touro University California’s MSPAS/MPH program.
The pace of learning here at TUC is intense, which can sometimes be overwhelming even for those who have excelled at previous levels of education. We regularly ask students who are at the top of their class to tell us what study strategies they use to keep up. Here are Ashley’s top tips:
