Category: MBBS

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MBBS NEET

MBBS Survival Guide

First Year – Embrace the frustration

I remember the day I knew I was getting admission into a medical college. I was overjoyed and overwhelmed. I couldn’t wait for the professional course to start and finally wear that apron.It was my dream since I had first thought of being a doctor.

First of all, congratulations, you made it! Cracking JEE/PMT was tough, but you somehow made it, and now you are here, so welcome to the medical college.

Being done with the intro lets come to why I am writing this topic. A few years back, I was in the same spot as you, but it took me some time to figure out things about the college all by myself, and being a science guy, it was slightly tricky for me to adjust at first to the fast pace college lectures.

If I have to be brutally honest, then I have bad news for you. You will have to work twice/thrice as hard that of your JEE preparation here to pass. There will be sleepless nights, and 1st semester will be challenging, but with the help of this little guide, I guess you will do just fine as I decided to hence in short, write how your 1st-year M.B., B.S. will be, how you will have to study and which books you can use.

Mainly in a medical college, newbies are afraid of being ragged. However, don’t worry, most colleges have powerful anti-ragging committees, and you should have proper protection against any menacing behavior. You won’t be ragged! At least physically.

However, if your seniors try to talk to you, ask your name, rank, or hometown, don’t be shy and run away. To get people talking, most seniors try to devise funny games and weird tasks. Be a sport and play along. These moments will strengthen your bond with them, and believe me; you are going to require their help, A LOT! They can advise you on which books to use, which lectures to attend, and even what clothes to wear on the day of vivas! Being a chicken will only keep you from these words of the gurus!

You are coming to academic affairs. You won’t deal with any patients this year, apart from those asking you for directions for some room.

As you may already know, you have three non-clinical subjects for your first year:

1. Anatomy
2. Physiology
3. Biochemistry

Anatomy is the study of the masterpiece. The intricate structure of the human body. In physiology, you will learn how this creation works fascinating wonders. The body processes. While Biochemistry will tell you how the tiny non-living magician molecules interact to sustain this miracle of life. (you know the Glycolysis pathway and Krebs’ cycle, right?) 

Now coming to the examination system. You will have two main semester exam one, usually in January, and another around the end of May. After passing these two exams, you will have to sit for the First Professional MBBS exam conducted by the university, which happens around the end of July a month after your second-semester exam. Apart from these big exams, you will have part completions and items throughout the year as self-assessment tests.

M.B.,B.S. is, in fact, a course of 4.5 + 1 (compulsory internship) years.

1st year – is of practically only 8 – 9 months

2nd year – is of 1 year

3rd year – is of 2 years (Don’t ask me why they call it a year then)

Now coming to the books, you will you throughout this course, and coming to books, I should mention our college’s “Cheap Store,” which has all the books and that too at a discounted price. Else you can always rely on Amazon or Flipkart to get you the best deal.

Anatomy

Anatomy is the largest and most extensive of the three, requiring intense hard work and sincere efforts. The first fear that every medical student faces is the fear of new long words; for that, you will need a dictionary, and Dorland is the best medical dictionary.

Coming to the books, and here I want to give you guys a little tip. Use one foreign author review book first to have a good grasp of the subject. Then use the Indian author book to have a good grasp of the questions asked in the exam. This will make you have a solid understanding of the subject as well as you will be able to do good in the exams. So I am going to divide the list of books under two headings for all the three subjects:

Foreign Review Authors for Anatomy:

*1. Gray’s Anatomy Student Edition – My personal favorite as this serves both the function of an Atlas(a book with many pictures) and concisely has all the essential clinically relevant points written down.

2. Clinical Anatomy by Systems (Snell) – Some people highly suggest this book.

Indian Authors for Anatomy:

1. Human Anatomy (By AKD) – commonly used by West Bengal students

*2. B.D. Chaurasia’s Human Anatomy

Well, the list goes on and on, but what I can suggest is that whatever book(series) you use for studying anatomy, stick to that don’t try to study SUPEX from both AKD as well as BDC that will just ruin things for you. Instead, what you can do is do SUPEX first from BDC and then just read the clinical correlates and X-rays from some other book, but don’t try to read the whole chapter from both!

3. High Yield Gross Anatomy – Another excellent book for revision before the exams!

Another small tip is that don’t waste much time taking pictures of corpses instead practice regularly with your friends the structures shown the previous day it is more useful than H.D. videos of the teacher showing structures.

*are the must-have books!

Physiology

Well, you will love this subject as it is the only subject that makes proper sense and giving it a little time each day will bring you fruitful results, but you will need concepts to ace physiology and to do that your primary selection of book should be perfect!

Foreign Review Authors for Physiology:

1. Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology

*2. Guyton’s Textbook of Medical Physiology

*3. BRS Physiology (by Linda S Costanzo)

It would help if you bought Guyton which is better than Ganong, but my personal favorite is BRS Physiology where they provide all the facts from each chapter in a nutshell, and it’s concise, so after buying Guyton or Ganong but BRS

Indian Authors for Physiology:

1. Principles of Physiology (By Debasish Pramanik) – commonly used by West Bengal students

*2. Essentials of Medical Physiology – Sembulingam

Well all of you would need “D.P.” before the exam to prepare for semesters but if you have bought something else then that will work too, but still I suggest you get a “D.P.” and do all the topics from it.

*are the must-have books!

Biochemistry

The subject which you will ignore for most of the year is Biochemistry and since you will only study this before the exam so your choice of books should be right to aid you before the exam.

Foreign Review Authors for Biochemistry:

*1. Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry – This is the religious textbook of biochemistry, you study this you understand biochemistry, no other book is better than this!

2. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry – Although you will hear many recommending this book, it’s pretty much useless at our level. It’s a book for post-graduate biochem students. Don’t buy it.

Indian Authors for Biochemistry:

1. Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students (by Vasudevan)

*2. Biochemistry (by Satyanarayana)

Everyone recommends you buy Vasudevan but belive me, Satyanarayana nails it by being to the point and precise, and it’s just invaluable to those who won’t touch this subject throughout the year but will only sit with biochem when it comes to the exam!

Second Year – Taste of Medicine

While surviving the first year is a herculean task. Second-year, especially 3rd semester, should be used to its maximum potential. 

In the video, I discuss in detail the resources to use, and the ones to avoid.

While you think of relaxing after your first year is over. This is the ideal time to put the pedal to the metal. While many of your peers will be go clubbing on almost every weekend, unless you use your time wisely this year, you won’t be able to shine during your post-graduate examinations.

Free video resource which I suggest you use – https://onlinemeded.org/spa/basic-sciences

Books which I recommend:

Pathology: Big Robbins (Reference); Goljan (Reading); Pathoma (Revision/Reading)

Pharmacology: Katzung (Reference); Lippincott (Reading); Kaplan Lecture Notes (any edition) (Revision/Reading)

Microbiology: Clinical microbiology made ridiculously simple (best resource)

Immunology: Levinson

Link to my 2nd MBBS Resource (specific to colleges in West Bengal/ you may find something useful here) – https://mega.nz/folder/W8YGHSoC#SAkWW3ZN0KEXnbvw9C9o_w/folder/ftg3jA6S

Final Year (MBBS Part 1 and 2) – Why is my hair falling out?

The final year is considered one of the cruelest years in MBBS. I clubbed part 1 and part 2 during my prep and would ask you to do the same. While these two are treated as sperate years, unless and until you start reading about medicine and the other final year subjects from Day 1 of Part 1, you won’t be able to keep up with the college or your over-achieving peers. Below listed are the resources which I had used to ace my final year examinations.

Free Video Resources:

OnlinemedED – https://onlinemeded.org

Paul Bolin’s Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyaG5WliXdoVSC-yh5iDk8Q

Books which I recommend:

ENT: Dhingra 

EYE: Khurana, Sure Success Ophthalmology (practical)

Community Medicine: Park (reference), Maiti (exam prep)

FMT: Ask your seniors!

Medicine: Harissons (Reference); Step up to Medicine (Reading); Matthews (Revision/Reading)

Surgery: Pestana’s surgery notes (best resource), Bailey and Love (reference), SRB (exam prep) 

Gynae and Obs: DC Dutta (ref), Aftab sir’s book (reading), Exam prep manual (Bhojani – reading)

Pediatrics: Ghai (reference + reading)

Link to my Final MBBS Resource (may be specific to colleges in West Bengal) – 

https://mega.nz/folder/W8YGHSoC#SAkWW3ZN0KEXnbvw9C9o_w

Well, with this Gyan, I would like to conclude this post. I hope this helps you in some way, and also, feel free to contact me in the Youtube comment section/ Facebook messenger/ Instagram/ Twitter or comment here if you need help with anything.

About the author – Dr. Arjun Chatterjee

“ I want to thank Dr. Rohit Nathani for allowing me to write this article for his blog. I have made a few videos on my YouTube Channel going over the highlights from this post, which I will be attaching to the article. Hopefully, you’ll find this helpful.

I completed my MBBS and internship from Calcutta National Medical College. Having taken all steps and done my clinical electives, I plan to apply for residency in the United States of America (Match 2021). Right now, I am working as a Research Trainee in the Dept of GI at Mayo Clinic, my research interest being pancreatic cancer.”

Ask the author your questions using the comments section below.

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MBBS Resources

MBBS Anatomy Resources

When you enter medical school, the first encounter you will probably have with any subject is with anatomy. The terms used in anatomy may seem like a whole different language to you. With the right MBBS Anatomy resources you can make sure you do well on this subject.

The Anatomy resources below are classified according to whether you will be using it as a guidebook or as an exam aid to help you write answers on the exam.

Guidebooks

Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, International Edition

For may years this has been the best book if you really want to get a good understanding of human anatomy. Everything in the book is explained in a very easy language so it is a great resource if you want to build strong basics.

Although it may be helpful for MCQs, do not try to use this book to find answers to write on your test. This book is only meant for you to really understand the subject.

You may also consider buying the students edition if you are looking for a more concise version of the book.

Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy

Reading anatomy without understanding how the structures in the body are really placed is a waste of your time. This book is an absolute must have if you want to get a realistic idea of the structures you are reading about.

The illustrations are very detailed and well labelled. Each part has been drawn separately. You can also find illustrations for the blood/nerve supply for every part.

It is a good idea to keep this book handy and refer to the images of the topic relevant to what you are reading.

Exam Books

Human Anatomy by BD Chaurasia

This is the go to book when you are looking for answers to write on your exam.

The information is classified in a manner that it becomes easy to use the information to write answers. A lot of the book is written in the form of points to help you remember.

Pay careful attention to the diagrams. These become especially important when you are writing answers on your test.

Pro tip: Draw diagrams for extra marks! Even a simple line diagram that is appropriately labelled will do the job.

Again, it is a good idea to keep the Netter’s Atlas of Anatomy with you while you are reading.

If you have any questions use the comments section below. Want to write a post for The Indian Medical Student? Contact us at theindianmedicalstudent@gmail.com

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MBBS Post Graduation

The Complete Guide to MPH in the USA

What is an MPH?

An MPH, or Master’s in Public Health, is a graduate degree lasting generally for two years, out of which one year is purely academic, while the second year is practicum, or internship. A comparable degree is an MSPH, or a Master’s of Science in Public Health.

Why pursue an MPH degree?

If you’re interested in a career in public health or want public health research to be a part of your career, an MPH degree will give you a solid foundation. It involves learning aspects of epidemiology, biostatistics and global health program management. People are likely to work in multinational public health organisations like WHO and UNICEF after an MPH degree.

What are the minimum qualifications necessary to apply for an MPH?     

Most institutes need a bachelor’s degree before you can apply. Some schools, including Harvard, need an MD degree before you can apply. Furthermore, some public health work experience is appreciated, but not always necessary.

What exams do you need to give?

You will need to give the GRE to apply to any college in the USA. If you have given the USMLE Step 1, you may get a GRE waiver in SOME colleges. You will also need a minimum score of 100 in the TOEFL, or band 7 in the IELTS, to qualify for admission.

What is the application process like?

Most application deadlines fall between December and January. It is advisable to have all your documents prepared and ready at least 4 weeks before the deadline, because processing times in the US can vary between 10 – 30 days. You can apply for an MPH or an MSPH while doing your internship. Apply for the Fall term of the year you are expected to graduate. The main documents that you will need are:

  1. Application
  2. Transcripts
  3. Three letters of recommendation
  4. GRE scores
  5. TOEFL scores
  6. CV
  7. Statement of Purpose

Almost all applications are through the SOPHAS website www.sophas.org. You will need to create a profile and add all the programs you want to apply to on it. Don’t forget to read the FAQ section to ease the application process.

Do I need to send the documents to each college I apply to?

  1. The applications should be done online on SOPHAS.
  2. The transcripts need to be sent for WES evaluation.
  3. The letters of recommendations will need to be uploaded directly by your referrers on the SOPHAS website through their accounts.
  4. GRE scores need to be sent to each institution’s GRE code online.
  5. TOEFL scores need to be sent directly to SOPHAS.
  6. You should upload your CV in your main SOPHAS application.
  7. The SOP should be uploaded on SOPHAS for each college separately.

What is WES evaluation?

It is the process of evaluating your transcripts and converting them to grades and credits that US colleges will understand. You will need to create an account on www.wes.org, pay the fees and acquire a WES number. Then the university that conferred your degree will have to send, by courier, a copy of all your verified transcripts in a sealed and stamped envelope to the WES office in New York. PLEASE KEEP ATLEAST TWO MONTHS TIME FOR THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO TAKE PLACE.

What are supplemental applications?

Some US states require a separate state specific application on its own application website. These applications generally do not require payment, nor do they need any additional documents.

When should I start expecting responses?

You may start getting responses 4 weeks after your application. You will receive emails within a week if your application is incomplete, or if they need any additional documents.

Where can I find more information?

The SOPHAS website has an informative FAQ section that will help guide you. You should also browse the websites of each college that you are thinking of applying to to understand program competencies and requirements.

This article has been written by Dr. Spruha Kurlekar who is an intern at Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, India. To ask questions to the author, use the comments section below.

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MBBS

5 things I learnt about Medical School in India after joining MBBS

Medical School in India

We have with us today Akarsh Agrawal sharing with us some of the things he learned after joining Medical School in India. These are first had life experiences and problems every medical student in India faces.

1. Choosing the right medical college

After my NEET-UG result, I did an extensive research before selecting the right college for me, by consulting seniors and visiting the shortlisted colleges with my dad.

Based on my experience, if you have are confused in selecting a college then following points must be kept in mind while choosing one:

Reputation

Don’t go for the rankings published online, they are highly misleading, rather seek for personal recommendations from students and teachers. Analysis of previous year trends gives good insights.

Academics and extra co-corriculars

Ask the students of that college to know more about the same. Do try visiting the colleges before you select one.

MONEY

Yes you read it right money! It is infact one of the prime factors to keep in mind. Look out for college fees and don’t forget to compare the rural service bond.

Distance from home and location

Choose a place close to home. You’ll soon realize what it feels like to go home after the “MBBS Hostel Life”

Advantages in Post Graduation

Yes that sounds a little too far, but it’s the post graduation that matters the most. Know about stuff like the domicile and availability of a pg coaching etc.



2. You don’t have to be perfect in Medical School!

I have realized that the biggest myth about getting into a medical college is the idea that you have to be perfect.

You need to do well but you don’t have to be the best. Don’t be intimidated being surrounded by a lot of smart people. Don’t compare yourself with others.

Remember that your only competition is with your own self.

Be persistent in your studies, but it is okay sometimes to miss your studying hours and enjoy a movie or hang out with your friends. ” Don’t just sacrifice anything because you don’t have time for it”

3. Pursuing hobbies

I think it’s necessary to look forward pursuing your hobbies, be it playing a sport, an instrument or photography and painting etc.

My recreation has been playing badminton and outings with friends. Medical college is a lot more than simply studying and gaining a degree, so I try to learn about myself and other people and hopefully build myself into someone who is capable of being a good doctor.



4. Trying Different Study Methods

My old studying methods seemed no longer serving me in med school. So I tried different study habits and asked around to see what other people are doing.

Know yourself and how you study the best. Be willing to adjust as necessary. Find a study buddy or a study group to keep yourself going.

5. How to Stay Motivated

With long college hours, specially in the first year, frequent and arduous exams and of course competition, such is the life of an MBBS student that it does brings you down to knees.

At such times I find it fine to take a break and put your mind off to doing something else. I also remind myself how and why did I begin.

I think it in this way that there are still lakhs of students competing to be where we are today. At the end, a quote which I read about medical profession which I find to be very true.

“Yes it’s tough, it’s meant to be tough, if it wasn’t so then everybody could be able to do it, tough is what it makes it great”

Akarsh Agrawal is a second year medical student at BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad. Apart from being great at studies, he can be seeing playing badminton on college campus. He also enjoys reading and writing. To interact with the author, use the comments section below!

Share your experience!

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Internship MBBS

Being part of a medical disaster response team – MBBS Internship Experience

“Quick! Grab your stuff and report to the casualty. There is an emergency! STAT!” (I don’t know for some reason everything has to be stat during MBBS internship)

It was my last day at the peripheral health center where I was posted for 15 days as part of my MBBS internship. I was eager to leave early when I got this call in the ward at around 11 am.

So, I reached to the casualty, stat. It looked like just another routine casualty day. Sad prank to play on an innocent intern I thought. I asked the casualty officer what the emergency was? He looked as clueless as the rest of them.



No one seemed to know what was going on. Just then a nurse came out of nowhere and handed me a huge box of what appeared to be medical supplies. Gloves, dressing material, and what not. All crammed into one cardboard box.

“Take this outside! There is an ambulance waiting!” I could feel the adrenaline pump. Yet I managed to ask her what is going on? She said there has been a fire at a godown nearby and the hospital got a distress call. Nothing more.

So I went out. Ambulance at the hospital gate. Engine running. I got in and saw a team of doctors already there. In no time the nurse I met in the casualty came in and off we went!

Sirens blaring, we were traveling at super speed on the traffic-filled roads of Mumbai. We were breaking every damn signal that came on the way. I felt pretty badass!

On the way, everyone, as clueless as me was trying to figure out what was wrong. We constantly kept looking out of the window trying to look for a cloud of smoke. Nothing.

Just then, the ambulance turned left and we entered a gate. The driver announced that we have reached. Wait, what? I don’t see people running around.

It was a bright sunny day with scorching heat. We took a good look around. There were 2 fire brigades with the officials all lined up in a neat row. There was also another ambulance from another hospital. We got off to have a better look. Still confused.

“Udhar Jaake sign karo, mock drill tha!” Said one of the firefighters. Really? I mean like REALLY? I wanted to set the place of fire myself at that point in time.

We reported to the official there who noted down the time. We were there exactly one hour after the first phone call they had made to the hospital. (In our defense, we were there within 20 minutes from when we were told by the hospital.)



Anyway, we started heading back to the ambulance, a little disheartened that we were the last ones to arrive. But then, the gates opened again. We heard the sirens approaching. To our delight, it was the police! We had a nice laugh about how the cops are the last ones to arrive at the spot.

On the way back I began thinking. This was actually pretty cool. I mean, things are actually being done in this country. We keep blaming our government for their poor services and lethargy to do things. I think it is time we also appreciate the good things that they do and encourage them.

I felt ecstatic on the way back. As the ambulance cruised slowly through the traffic, following the traffic signals this time, I felt like I was part of something really cool. One hell of the last day I must say!

Share your story

We would like to hear similar stories from you too. Share with us your story and your story could feature on our website for the medical student community all over the country. Contribute here.

This article has been contributed by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is an intern at Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai. Comment below if you would like to interact.   

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MBBS

MBBS Hostel Life – Everything you need to know.

As a medical student it is very likely that you will be staying in the hostel at some point in your life. The objective of this article is to familiarize you with MBBS hostel life in India.

Knowing what to expect at the hostel and familiarizing your self with the MBBS hostel life will make the home to hostel life transition much smoother for you. (If you haven’t yet checked out our article on Things you MUST know before starting medical school in India, you should read that first.)

Many of you might have to leave your homes to set foot in a different city. And even though it might be tough settling in a new city, once you get used to the MBBS Hostel life, you will cherish it all your life.

So here’s what you should know.

 

Choose your roommates wisely

Your room mates are going to stick around for at least a year if not more. A non cooperative room mate can make your MBBS hostel life hell.

Try sticking to birds of your own feather, so that you are privy to your comfort zone.

But don’t hesitate to try to be friends with whom you think you can never be friends. You never know what wild or nerdy side they can bring out in you.

 

Single room or sharing?

If your college allows for single rooms, opting for that can be a good option, well, because you’re the king there, live as clean or as dirty as you want.




But, if you are a people’s person and ready to put up with dramas and aren’t an overtly dramatic person yourself, you can opt for multiple roommates. They say, the more, the merrier. There’s no hard and fast rule. This is your personal choice.

 

Am I going to be ragged/ roasted?

Ragging is absolutely absent in most of the medical colleges in India today. However some hostels still have “ragging” in an very mild form which involves introduction sessions. These sessions are only a way to build rapport and get to know your batch mates and seniors (and start love lives with the newly arrived juniors of course.)

A friendly introduction session involves you introducing yourself to your seniors and batch mates. It is a good idea to attend these gatherings and get to know each other.

Be open to new experiences as they come to you in your MBBS hostel life as they will shape your personality

Note: Remember. If you are uncomfortable in a particular situation, leave! If anything seems to be getting physical or out of limits, leave! You do not have to stay there. Ragging is a punishable offence in India. Also, there is an anti-ragging helpline available on http://www.antiragging.in/

Is MBBS hostel life all about studying?

Being a medical student in India does have it’s fair share of study hour requirements. That doesn’t mean that it becomes the sole purpose of your life.

MBBS hostel life gives you ample time to work for your dreams other than being a doctor.

Want to be fit? Hit the gym, go cycle, run marathons. Want to dance? join some classes, shake a leg. Want to try music? Go for those guitar classes you always wished to go. Develop talents and hobbies, they go a long way in shaping your personality.

In the end, you won’t remember which chapter you studied or skipped, but these talents will surely make you stand out.

MBBS Hostel life is all about sharing

Sharing your cosmetics, your clothes, your food, your shoes (please don’t share undergarments and trimmers, that level of love is obnoxious).

The good part about this is you learn to live in less and also develop cordial relationships because ‘sharing is caring’ right?

What’s the food like in an MBBS hostel in India?

You have various food options, each of which is worse than the other. Well, this really depends on where you are doing your MBBS in India.MBBS Hostel Life Food

General consensus – the food sucks at hospital canteens in most places! especially if you are used to eating home food aka “maa ke haath ka khaana” (you may be laughing now, but you will crave this soon!

You can opt for a tiffin service (“dabba”) once you get to know the ins and outs of the city where you go.

And there is always the option of eating out and wasting all your money and fitness on it. Well, not really, you will end up sleeping in the best of moods after getting good food that is different from the daily routine (of course apart from the good mood you will also get a bigger belly and zero money at the end of the month, but you’ll learn to live with that, right?)

Learn how to manage being broke temporarily, another big lesson you will learn.

Don’t forget to explore the city when you’re living the MBBS hostel life.

Travel unknown streets, visit weird places, try different cuisines, you don’t know what fun you might be getting into and maybe create some wonderful (or painful) memories along the way. But in the end, you’ll enjoy it all.



Hostel politics? (Yes! that exists)

Try to live peacefully, but that is easier said than done, 5.5 years is a long time. You will be a party to multiple fights, there will be a lot of politics, but eventually with time, everything gets figured out.

You will find out who are your true friends during these times. It’s your Rachel-Monica moment, ‘Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’ll love it’

Welcome To The Real World! It Sucks! You’re Gonna Love It GIF from Friends GIFs

To conclude…

Go out there, live it, make your own stories and then tell people and I can assure you when you come to visit your college back when you have a reunion, you’ll look at your hostel, maybe even visit your rooms and with tears of happiness say, “MBBS hostel days were the best days of my life.”

 

-Dr. Saad Ahmed

(The Indian Medical Student Team)

Tag all your hostel buddies. Do share your MBBS Hostel life experiences with us in the comments section below.

Have an article you would like to post? Visit our Contribute page.

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Categories
General MBBS

How to do Clinical Research as a Medical Student

Now that you have made up your mind to try clinical research, let’s get started! (Still confused? – check out our article on Why you should do clinical research as a Medical Student)

Warning: Doing clinical research as a medical student is not an easy feat. There are going to be times when you are tired of the process. The paperwork, the permissions, and procedures will drive you crazy. Also, there is bio statistics ahead!! Enter at your own risk! Kidding! It is not all that bad, and it’s worth the grind. So let’s get started.

Think about your interests

If you already have a topic in mind that you want to research about, congratulations! You are one step ahead. If you haven’t thought of anything yet, no problem, go to the next step.

Find a guide (Most important)

Finding an appropriate and interested guide is probably the most crucial step. So, choose wisely. Find out the names of the faculty members who are involved with research and have a large number of publications each year. Whether you have a topic in mind or not, approach this guide.

  • Introduce yourself and tell them why you want to do clinical research.
  • Be upfront. If it is for your CV, tell them!
  • If you haven’t thought of a topic yourself, ask your guide if they have something in mind.
  • Joining in existing research is always a good option because it gives you the confidence of doing something on your own.
  • Sort out the authorship from the very start. If you need to be the “first author” on the paper, let them know at the very start – Before you start any work.

Once you have all the details worked out with the guide, they will guide you through the rest of the process. That’s why this is the most critical step.



Steps in doing a research project

 

1.Drafting a protocol

The protocol is an outline if the research that you want to do. It includes an introduction, objectives, inclusion/ exclusion criteria, etc.

 

2.Obtaining Ethics approval

Having an approval of your protocol from an ethics committee adds much value to your research. Most big institutions have an independent ethics committee. Ask your guide.

 

3.Data collection

Once you have ethics approval, you can begin with the data collection. This step is a tiresome and tedious process but should be done meticulously to easy the further steps.

 

4.Analysis

Here’s where the bio statistics kicks in! Hate stats? Don’t worry. You can always outsource a bio statistician. However, we recommend doing it on your own because you gain experience. Learn the basic tests and formula of bio stats. These can be easily found on Microsoft Excel. Use software for your bio stats. Do not go stone age with a paper and calculator! You won’t finish it in this lifetime.

 

 

5.Writing

Now that you have all the stuff that you need, you can begin writing your paper. Go through already published papers. You can find a whole bunch of them on PubMed. See the general pattern in which papers are written and pay attention to the language used.

Keep it easy. Keep it simple.



 

How do I Present?

There are many conferences both national and international. Google conferences and you will find a list. Look for the ones that accept articles from medical students. Presenting your research before sending it to a journal is always a good idea because you are presenting it to your colleagues. Their criticism and questions only help your research better and more complete.

 

How do I Publish?

As always, ASK YOUR GUIDE. Guides are experienced and know which journals will accept which type of research. You can also do an independent Google search and find journals online. Publishing in international journals is always better.

Be ready to have your research rejected by a few journals until it is finally accepted. Remember, it is part of the process.

 

The road from starting any research to finally getting it published is difficult. There is no denying that fact. However, seeing your name on the published manuscript and having people citing the article gives you a sense of accomplishment. A sense of accomplishment that you may not even get from clinical medicine, because your research may be the deciding factor in guidelines regarding patient care in the future.

Through your research journey as a medical student, we urge you to stay as true to your protocol as possible. Do NOT try to manipulate/ forge results as they will only decrease your credibility as a researcher. The joy you get from being true to your research is in fact true joy!

This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is an intern at Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India. He has been actively engaged in clinical research with publications as well as international presentations. You can ask him any questions related to clinical research in the comments section below.

We would love to know your research stories or experiences about conferences you have presented at. Head to our contribute page and stand a chance to get your post featured on our website!

 

Categories
General MBBS

Clinical Research for Medical Students

Most of us join medical school thinking that we will be great clinicians and save lives. The picture that comes to your head is that of a doctor vigorously administering CPR or a surgeon doing a complicated surgery. Although these dramatic thoughts give us the adrenaline rush, there are also a lot of other ways in which you can help and improve patient care. Clinical research is one of these things. Moreover, while you will rarely ever get a chance to perform a CPR or even wash up for surgery, as a medical student, you definitely can partake in clinical research.

What is clinical research?

Wikipedia introduces clinical research as:

Clinical research is a branch of healthcare science that determines the safety and effectiveness (efficacy) of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use. These may be used for prevention, treatment, diagnosis or for relieving symptoms of a disease. Clinical research is different from clinical practice. In clinical practice established treatments are followed, while in clinical research evidence is collected to establish a newer/improved treatment guideline.

Simply put, clinical research helps you to find answers to the most fundamental questions in medicine.



Why should I do clinical research?

Now, most of us will ask this question. Why should I get involved in clinical research when this is not a requirement during medical school? Why should I overburden myself with more stuff? I already must prepare for entrance test and pass exams! Well, below are a few reasons that may make you think differently.

 

CV/ Resume

The number 1 reason why most medical students think about doing research is to have something on their CV. Be it for your residency application abroad or a job interview, (published) research makes your CV stand out from the rest of the herd. Doing research shows that you are passionate about this subject and are willing to go that extra step even when it is not expected out of you.

 

Curiosity

This should ideally be the number 1 reason medical students get into research. Curiosity. A burning desire to know why something is the way it is. Medical research helps you find answers and challenge the most basic “facts” in medicine.

Prepping for the future

Doing research in your Undergraduate will help you gain experience and make you aware of the technicalities and the elaborate process which is involved in a research. This experience will make your path easier for the future research you will have to do compulsorily as a part of your postgraduate training in India.

Also, you never know what might interest you and research can become a part of your career, considering that India needs to start inculcating the value of research in its future generations of medical students.

 

Prestige

Having research papers in your name is something highly prestigious. We’re not saying any research, rather “quality” research that has meaningful use in patient care. When you research a particular field for long enough, you become one of the pioneers in the field. You become an authority on that topic because research makes you thorough with the subject.

 

An opportunity to present your research to the world

When you conduct research, you can apply to various conferences that are related to your topic of research. There are more and more conferences for medical students across the world. Yes! You can present your work both nationally as well as internationally. These conferences broaden your vision as a medical student. They give you the opportunity to interact with and be critiqued by colleagues from different backgrounds. Talk about networking and personal development!



 

Scholarships

There are several government and private scholarship opportunities available for medical students who conduct research. The government encourages research because when you do quality work, you become your country’s pride.

 

 

Are these reasons convincing enough? Are you considering giving it a shot? “But I have never done anything like this before? I don’t even know the R of research!”

Don’t worry! we have an entire article on how you can research as a medical student. Check out our article on How to do clinical research as a Medical Student for a step-by-step guide.

This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is an intern at Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India. He has been actively engaged in clinical research with publications as well as international presentations. You can ask him any questions related to clinical research in the comments section below.

We would love to know your research stories or experiences about the conferences you have presented at. Head to our contribute page and stand a chance to get your post featured on our website!

 

Categories
MBBS Pre Med

MBBS in India – Things you MUST know before starting Medical School in India

What is MBBS in India like? How is the life of a medical student in India? What books should I read? What about the hostel? What….? Wait, Hold it right there! We have answers to most of your questions.

 

What does MBBS stand for / What is MBBS?

MBBS which stands for Medicinae Baccalaureus (Bachelor of Medicine), Baccalaureus Surgery is the basic undergraduate degree needed to practice allopathic medicine in India.

9 semesters, 1 year of internship, 5.5 years and 19 subjects!

MBBS in India is divided into 9 teaching semesters or 4.5 years, followed by a compulsory rotatory internship of 1 year, making it a total of 5.5 years. In these 5.5 years, you’re expected to know 19, yes 19 subjects! So, onto the next question.

 

Subjects covered in MBBS in India.

MBBS in India requires you to master 19 subjects, as mentioned before. (Well, I guess mastery over here means “atleast know the important stuff”)

  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology
  • Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
  • Community Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • ENT or Otorhinolaryngology
  • General Medicine
  • Dermatology
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgery
  • Anesthesia
  • Radiology
  • Orthopedics
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics

Exhausting list, isn’t it? It is a long and arduous journey and one that requires tremendous patience and positivity. But the good thing is that these subjects are divided over four and a half long years.

 

What is the distribution of subjects in MBBS in India?

Year 1 (1 year long/2 semesters): Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry

Year 2 (1.5 years long/3 semesters): Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine.

Year 3 (1 year long/2 semesters): Community Medicine, Ophthalmology, ENT

Year 4 (1 year long/2 semesters): Medicine and allied (Dermatology, Psychiatry), Surgery and allied (Anesthesia, Radiology, Orthopedics), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics.

 

Where to study from?

Each of these subjects have multiple ‘standard’ textbooks to read from. As long as 5.5 years seem right now, when you have to read these subjects, you’ll wish you had double the time.

Though it is very difficult for us to tell you what to study from where, here are a few guidelines.

Reference book

MBBS in India : Standard Textbook

This is a book intended to be consulted for information on specific matters.

These books generally have a lot of in depth information about topics and even if they’re great for understanding, it may not always be possible to completely or even necessary read the subject from these books.

For example: Gray’s Anatomy for Anatomy, Guyton for Physiology, Harrison for Medicine, Love and Bailey for Surgery.

That being said, there are a few students who stick to these books and are even able to formulate answers based off information in these.

We recommend you give it a shot, see how much time it takes you to read it and if you’re able to retain it well enough to write long answers during exams.

However, these are the books you should definitely turn to if you have any doubts regarding basic concepts. They are relatively expensive and can be used from the college library.

Go-To Textbook

As the name suggests, these are the books students generally rely on for exams and a concise overview of the subject. They are not very detailed, but have most points that help you understand the basic of the topic.

Also, it is easier to formulate answers from these books. We suggest you right down important points from reference books into these go-to textbooks so that every time you revise, you are only referring your go-to book

Apart from these, different subjects will have supplementary books, like an atlas for anatomy or various clinical textbooks for the clinical subjects.

How is the hostel life in Indian Medical Colleges?

For many of you this is going to be a new experience. But, something you should definitely try. Think of it like being on the sets of 3 idiots. Got an idea? If not, check out our article on MBBS Hostel Life to get a clearer picture.

When will I start seeing patients?

That’s why you want to become a doctor right? Seeing patients? You’ll see plenty of patients ( think of them as your greatest teachers) through this long journey.

Besides the classroom teaching, you will be expected to attend clinical postings daily, from 3rd semester onward (that is, start of 2nd year) in the hospital associated with your medical school.

Here, you will interact with patients and learn the practical aspects of medicine like history taking and physical examination. Bedside medicine as a concept is slowly becoming extinct, but any good doctor will be able to tell you that the patient and his physical examination can give you clues to the diagnosis about 80-90% of the time.

Use this time wisely and try to interact with as many patients as possible.

Present cases to your senior residents and teachers and get their feedback about how you could do better. It is great practice and the more you do it, the better you’ll be at it. Learn the vernacular language and remember to introduce yourself and what you are going to do. Always follow basic ethics.

Remember, the patient and their comfort is paramount. Even if it is for the sake of ‘learning’ it is unacceptable to make the patient feel uncomfortable at any point.

Most of these postings will have some sort of an exam at the end of the posting the marks of which contributes towards your internal assessment.



And how about Internship?

If you thought the difficult part was over, think again. Internship is a compulsory 1 year period where you are required to rotate in the various clinical departments and work as part of the treating team.

As interns, you are expected to examine patients independently and perform procedures like blood draws, insertion of catheters and prescription of basic medications (Under a guide).

It is truly an enriching experience and if performed sincerely can help you experience first-hand the nuances of the various fields of medicine and thus help you make an informed choice if you do decide to pursue a postgraduate course.

 

Okay this is too much info. Is this grind worth it?

Well, we’re gonna be honest with you.

If you don’t curse yourself for doing MBBS in India and dream about alternate careers every few weeks, you’re probably not doing MBBS right.

It is frustrating, especially when you see all your other friends graduate, start jobs, go abroad and do fancy things and just lead happier lives in general.

You will miss out on a lot of friend hang outs, family functions, important birthdays and anniversaries. Your friends will call you boring and you will lose touch with a lot of your non medico friends.

You will hear and maybe even witness doctors getting beaten up and question why you’re even putting in all this hard work. Guess what? This is just the beginning. (Want to know how to safeguard yourself? Check out our article The [Ultimate] Survival Guide for Violence against Doctors)

After completing MBBS in India you’ve to get into a post graduate course (which is an altogether different battle) and then maybe pursue a superspeciality. That’s at least another 6 years more.

Is it worth it? We say – absolutely!

All said and done, being a doctor is one of the most noble professions and the respect that you garner in the society with that two letter prefix of Dr. is beyond comparable.

“The stethoscope is the most expensive jewelry, for it costs you your youth.”

This is one of the few jobs in the world that can give you a sense of fulfillment, that you’re actually doing something to alleviate human suffering and make this world a better place. It is long, but it teaches you that we are meant to be students for life.

After all this, you still won’t know everything, and that is perfectly okay! What matters is your will to keep learning from your mistakes and be open to new information.

You may lose a few friends, but you will make new and long lasting friendships. (Want a little sneak peek into what your F.I.R.E.N.D.S will be like? Find out in the MBBS version of FRIENDS) It is going to be a fun journey, good luck and welcome aboard.

As new medical students, we welcome you to The Indian Medical Student Family.

This website is made by medical students, for medical students. You will find everything related to MBBS in India and much more here.

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