Okay, this is about to be a long post. Obviously, a lot goes into planning your 4th year of med school. Especially if your school is like mine and basically gives us complete control of the planning process. I had to plan each rotation myself, including finding preceptors/institutions, applying through VSAS/VSLO, establishing affiliation agreements, and…
Flashcards for boards: SketchyMicro & SketchyPharm Anki decks
These are complete SketchyMicro and SketchyPharm Anki decks that I made while I was studying for USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1! I found that Anki was the best way for me to memorize all of the SketchyMedical sketches. I still remember them all and use this knowledge in my clinical rotations. I’m telling you, Anki =…
Studying for boards: USMLE Step 1 + COMLEX Level 1
I have put off writing this post about my USMLE Step 1 & COMLEX Level 1 study strategies for a couple reasons: (1) I wanted to wait until I got my scores back to know whether or not my advice was credible and (2) I do NOT want this post to be about comparison. I…
Exploring Banff National Park
After sitting at desk for months studying for two different 8-hour-long board exams, I was ready to get outside, fill my lungs with fresh air, hike through the beautiful mountains, and soak in allll the sun! So I packed my bags and flew to Banff, Alberta, Canada with two of my best friends! I take my…
OMS Day of Wellness
In advance of National OMS Day of Wellness on February 16, 2018, I wanted to share a video that some of my dearest friends put together for this year’s OMS Day of Wellness. As part of the Mentality Initiative to Nurture Doctors (MIND) at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM), our goal is to promote…
Change your mind, change the world
So you want to change the world? First, you have to change your thoughts. I planted some sunflowers for my parents a bit ago, and my mother recently sent me the pictures below. They’re just about to bloom! To think that so much intricate beauty can come from a tiny seed. We’re a lot like…
Gluten-free Carrot Apple Raisin Muffins
{gluten-free, dairy-free} These dairy-free and gluten-free carrot muffins are packed with nutrients. They can also be made vegan if you sub the eggs for flax eggs and use the agave option! They come out super moist – perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or mid-day snack. Ingredients 2 eggs 1/4 cup olive oil 1/3 cup very ripe banana,…
Chocolate Protein Pillow Cookies
{gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, protein-packed} I honestly have no idea why I called these ‘Pillow Cookies’… but the puffy, crackle-y look of these protein cookies make me think of warm, chocolate pillows so well, Pillow Cookies it is. I of course used dairy-free chocolate chips, but if you aren’t dairy-free or vegan, you can definitely use…
Women + Osteopathic Medicine
Y’all. PBS just launched a documentary all about women and osteopathic medicine. How cool is this?! If you aren’t aware of history of osteopathic medicine, this is the perfect overview. Even just the trailer (embedded below) provides a great synopsis on how women and minorities were a huge part in the founding of the osteopathic medical profession. “The…
Osteopathic medicine: from the eyes of Amanda
“I think you should go for M.D. because it will be hard for you to be taken seriously if you become a D.O.” Something like that can be hard to hear when you’ve spent 4.5 years trying to get good grades, build up your resume, and take an entrance exam (multiple times) in hopes of…
