Category: Medicine
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Epinephrine response
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Let’s examine a clinical scenario involving a 73-year-old man who experiences hypotension during surgery following bowel perforation repair. Can you identify the potential mechanisms leading to his decreased response to repeated doses of epinephrine despite minimal intraoperative blood loss? Reflect on the pharmacological principles at play, including receptor desensitization and…
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A Quick Reference Guide to Female Reproductive Health Disorders
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Reproductive health is essential to our overall well-being. However, many of us avoid discussing it due to stigma, cultural beliefs, fear of judgment, lack of information, privacy concerns, or anxiety about medical treatment (because no one wants to hear bad news). It’s vital to circumvent these communication barriers and foster…
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How to Fill Out Your Match Application
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The Match is a pivotal part of every medical student’s journey. Through this application process, fourth-year medical students and international medical graduates (IMGs) apply to their desired specialties and eagerly wait to find out whether they will begin a residency in July. As a medical student, you’ll often hear about…
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USMLE® Step 2 Question of the Day: Neck pain
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Today, let’s focus on the case of a 36-year-old woman who presents to the emergency department after a motor vehicle collision, exhibiting significant neck pain and symptoms suggestive of cervical spine injury. Can you identify the common mechanisms of injury associated with fractures of the axis (C2) and discuss the…
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Prostate nodule
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Today, we’re looking into prostate cancer, specifically exploring the most common sites of metastasis and their anatomical relevance. Can you identify these locations and discuss the underlying reasons for their prevalence? Reflect on the anatomical pathways and structures involved in the spread of this disease. Strengthen your grasp of this…
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The Best Resolutions for Healthcare Students in 2025
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Welcome, future clinicians and caregivers, to 2025! While it may seem old-fashioned, setting resolutions is more than just making a list to forget by the end of January. It’s about sculpting your path to becoming the best version of yourself, both personally and professionally, while setting the stage for a…
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USMLE® Step 2 Question of the Day: Leg pain
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Get ready for USMLE Step 2 CK with a question focusing on necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI). Can you describe and interpret the diagnostic workup for an adult presenting with an NSTI and identify the key diagnostic features that differentiate between NSTI, possible NSTI, and non-NSTI? Enhance your clinical skills…
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Pancreatitis
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Today, let’s focus on USMLE Step 1, with a question on acute pancreatitis. Can you recommend the appropriate diagnostic investigations, interpret the findings to establish a diagnosis, and describe the essential treatment options? Are you able to recall and recognize the clinical features and complications associated with this condition? Sharpen…
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USMLE® Step 2 Question of the Day: Serum potassium
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Prepare for your USMLE Step 2 CK with a question focusing on hypokalemia in adults. Can you formulate and prioritize a differential diagnosis for a patient presenting with hypokalemia, and identify the additional tests needed to confirm your diagnoses? Enhance your clinical reasoning skills with this important assessment. A 26-year-old…
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How to Collaborate with Your Psychiatry Attending
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Welcome to your new psychiatry clerkship! To help you thrive during your clinical rotations, we’re sharing practical, hands-on advice from experienced medical professionals to help you make the most of your psychiatry rotation. We’ve compiled a quick psychiatry clerkship guide to help you seamlessly navigate your psychiatry rotation. The Fundamentals of…
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Cardiac catheterization
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Prepare for your USMLE Step 1 with a question focusing on Eisenmenger syndrome. Can you summarize the pathophysiology of this condition and recognize its key clinical features? Sharpen your understanding of this critical cardiovascular topic! A 25-year-old man is referred to a cardiologist for evaluation for intermittent cyanosis and exercise…
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USMLE® Step 2 Question of the Day: Ear pain
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Just in time with a new USMLE® Step 2 CK Question of the Day! Today’s case involves a 3-year-old boy with ear pain in his right ear along with a cough and nasal congestion. The patient is on high-dose amoxicillin and acetaminophen, but returns 48 hours later for reassessment. What’s the…
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Viral hepatitis
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Prepare for the USMLE Step 1 exam with this detailed question about a 28-year-old woman experiencing severe abdominal pain and jaundice after returning from a trip to Southeast Asia. What family of viruses causes patchy necrosis of the liver? Test your knowledge and deepen your understanding of viral infections. A…
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Dispelling Disability Myths: Helpful Insights for Aspiring Healthcare Professionals
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According to the CDC, approximately one in four US adults will experience a disability at some point in their lives. Despite how common disability is, people with disabilities face ongoing misconceptions and biases that contribute to existing disparities in healthcare access and quality. It’s crucial to address and dispel these…
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USMLE® Step 2 Question of the Day: LARC
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Prepare for your USMLE Step 2 CK with a question focusing on obtaining and interpreting the elements of a focused history for a patient presenting for permanent contraception (sterilization).A 23-year-old woman, gravida 0, presents to the office to discuss contraception. She does not want children and does not desire to…
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Understanding Substance Use Disorder: A helpful guide for health professionals
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Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a health condition involving a patient’s uncontrolled use of a substance, such as alcohol, drugs, and medications, that affects an individual’s daily life by impairing their physical and mental health, along with social functioning. There are about 20 million people in the US (approximately 6% of the total…
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Histologic analysis
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Prepare for the USMLE Step 1 exam with this detailed question about a 57-year-old woman with malaise and intermittent fevers over the past several weeks. Can you correctly identify which of the following findings is most likely to be demonstrated on histologic analysis? A 57-year-old woman presents to her primary care…
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A Quick Reference Guide to Male Reproductive Health Disorders
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Despite the importance of reproductive health in relation to overall well-being, many people avoid discussing it due to stigma, cultural norms, fear of judgment, lack of awareness, privacy concerns, and apprehension about medical intervention. Yet several reproductive health conditions significantly impact not only a male patient’s physical health but also…
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Top Ten Health Conditions That Are Easily Misdiagnosed
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An accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of medicine and the basis for any treatment. Nonetheless, a misdiagnosis can happen to any clinician due to a variety of issues, including overlapping symptoms or referencing an incomplete medical history. Let’s look at a quick case study to consider the challenges and potential…
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A Quick Mental Health Treatment Guide for Clinicians: Classic Psychotherapies
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When contemplating the concept of psychotherapy, it’s not uncommon to conjure up images of a grand office space adorned with an extravagant leather sofa, where a patient reclines while reflecting on past childhood experiences. While this depiction may be prevalent in pop culture, it’s essential to recognize that psychotherapy includes…
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Pathogen test
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Prepare for your USMLE Step 1 exam with this question focused on identifying pathogens in immunocompromised patients. Understand the presentation and diagnostic features of Cryptococcus neoformans and other pathogens in similar settings. A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department due to confusion and altered mental status. His friend,…
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Social Determinants of Health: Social and Community Context
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To date, we’ve explored a full range of social determinants of health (SDOH) in our blog series, including how our access to quality healthcare affects our overall well-being, the effect our neighborhoods and built environments have on our physical and mental health, how our ability to access an equitable and quality education transforms our lives and experiences, as…
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How to Collaborate Effectively with Your Attending: Pediatrics Edition
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Welcome to Pediatrics! Get ready; there’s a wealth of information to be learned, from well-child checks to acute care visits to managing patients with chronic illnesses and inpatient management on the floor or in the ICU. Fear not! We’re here to give you tips and tricks on shining, no matter…
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The Mindful Health Professional: Techniques for Effectively Communicating with Patients
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The healthcare environment is often fast-paced and high-pressure. Effective communication is the cornerstone of not only patient interactions but overall treatment outcomes. The skill and art of mindful communication is a critical aspect of patient-centered care. It can transform a routine patient interaction into a meaningful exchange that builds trust…
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Understanding Personality Disorders: A helpful guide for health professionals
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Our personalities are an integral part of who we are. They impact how we interact with others, our moods and behaviors, and how we respond to everyday events and crises. At some point, you’ve probably taken a quiz to learn more about your personality and how it shapes you. However,…
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Understanding PTSD: A helpful guide for health professionals
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Approximately 6% of US adults develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during their lifetime. A sometimes debilitating mental health condition that develops after someone has experienced or witnessed a terrifying, dangerous, or shocking event, PTSD symptoms generally persist for more than one month and include reliving the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the experience, and…
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A Quick Reference Guide to Common Conditions Related to Sexual Health: Bacterial Infections
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Sexual health includes the respect, protection, and fulfillment of sexual rights, along with ensuring we’re free of disease. It’s a vital part of our overall well-being, including not only our physical health but also our emotional, mental, and social health with respect to our sexuality and reproductive system. Our patient’s…
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How to Empower Nurses to Lead the Way in Global Healthcare
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In a global world where we’re more interconnected than ever, it’s essential to examine the role of nurses in healthcare leadership. From information technology, international travel, social media, and migration patterns to international crises, pandemics, wars, poverty, and climate change, the role that nurses play in global healthcare is critical. While…
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USMLE® Step 2 Question of the Day: HIV positive
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Explore a crucial aspect of HIV management with this scenario-based USMLE Step 2 CK question. Learn about recommended screening tests for newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients. A 32-year-old biologically female patient presents to the primary care office for an initial visit after learning she is HIV-positive from a screening test. The patient does…
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USMLE® Step 1 Question of the Day: Antidepressants
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This USMLE Step 1 Question of the Day involves a 36-year-old patient for evaluation of treatment-resistant depression. None of their previous medications helped improved their symptoms. Based on the findings, identify the most likely diagnosis. A 36-year-old presents to their outpatient provider for evaluation of treatment-resistant depression. They have previously…