May 15, 2025 • 17 mins
Host: Kathleen Spinazzola
Guest: Dr. Jon Kalmey, Dean of Preclinical Education, Professor of Anatomy, and Director of Lecture Discussion Pathway
Kathleen is joined by Dr. Jon Kalmey, Dean of Preclinical Education, Professor of Anatomy, and Director of Lecture Discussion Pathway, and they discuss the qualities of successful medical students: growth mindset, grit, resilience, self-discipline, and threat mitigation. Growth mindset emphasizes continuous learning and adaptability. Grit and resilience help students persevere through tough times. Self-discipline, particularly mindful self-discipline, is crucial for long-term study and career goals. Threat mitigation involves managing personal and medical challenges to avoid burnout. Dr. Kalmey stresses the importance of balancing academic and personal life to ensure long-term success in medical school and beyond.
Listen In!
Thanks for listening to this episode of LECOM Presents: Heroes In Training
________
Please visit LECOM.edu for to learn more about the educational opportunities available at our institution.
Guest: Dr. Jon Kalmey, Dean of Preclinical Education, Professor of Anatomy, and Director of Lecture Discussion Pathway
Kathleen is joined by Dr. Jon Kalmey, Dean of Preclinical Education, Professor of Anatomy, and Director of Lecture Discussion Pathway, and they discuss the qualities of successful medical students: growth mindset, grit, resilience, self-discipline, and threat mitigation. Growth mindset emphasizes continuous learning and adaptability. Grit and resilience help students persevere through tough times. Self-discipline, particularly mindful self-discipline, is crucial for long-term study and career goals. Threat mitigation involves managing personal and medical challenges to avoid burnout. Dr. Kalmey stresses the importance of balancing academic and personal life to ensure long-term success in medical school and beyond.
Listen In!
Thanks for listening to this episode of LECOM Presents: Heroes In Training
________
Please visit LECOM.edu for to learn more about the educational opportunities available at our institution.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to lee KOM presents Heroes in Training. The
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as lee KOM,
has been providing training to heroes all across the globe
since nineteen ninety three. This podcast gives you an insider
look at the stories of triumph and hope from both
(00:22):
former students and faculty, helping you decide if lee KOM
is the right choice for your higher education. Let's start
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Hi everyone, thanks for joining us today. My name is
Kathleen Spinzola and I'll be your host today. I'm with
doctor John Calmey, our Dean of pre Clinical Education here
at LEECOM and professor of Anatomy.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Thanks for being here today.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Thank you Kathleen for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Doctor Calmy, tell us how long you've been with lee COM.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
First, Wow, this is my twenty first year here at
lee KAH.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I imagine with that many years of dedication to the
LEECOM students, you have many insights to share into what
makes a successful student.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yes, definitely. You know, over the time we've seen things
successful and unsuccessful, so you know we have an idea
of what can make a student more successful that we
share with them when they're here, but also when they interview,
they have questions about those facets.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
We have a lot of medical school applicants ask us
what qualities you see in a student that is successful?
What are the things that are sort of the recipe
for success that you've seen in students over the.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Years, Right, And you know it's good they're asking those
questions because what makes someone successful in medical school will
make them successful in their residency afterwards and as a
practicing physician when they're out in the real workforce. So
it's a great thing to get wrap their minds around
while they're in medical school and hone that skill because
it's going to prepare them for their entire career.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Right, Can you elaborate a little bit on some of
these qual I understand that you haven't broken have them
broken down into several that sort.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Of stand out?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Sure? Sure, So we talk mainly about five things with
students growth mindset, grit, resilience, self discipline, and then threatned mitigation.
So we talk about those things individually, but they all
work together in concert to make someone the most successful
they can be.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Tell us a little bit about what growth mindset means
to the medical student.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Sure, So growth mindset speaks to a student that comes
in with the mindset that they can get better. So
they've done well in undergrad school, they've gotten into medical school,
they have to keep growing and that growth mindset really
sets them up for a lifelong learning vocation, which they've
chosen with medicine. So as a medical student, they have
(02:55):
to continue to learn to make themselves better. They have
to have that growth mindset to take on new study strategies,
for instance, to ask for help when they need help.
And those skills are also beneficial when they're a resident
and when they're a practicing physician. So someone with a
fixed mindset, which is the opposite of a growth mindset,
(03:17):
will come into medical school saying, Okay, I've done everything.
I've gotten into medical school and I can't learn anymore.
And they're not open to changing their study practices if
that becomes necessary. They're not open to accepting advice or
they won't ask for advice, and they sort of just
stagnate where they are and we don't want to see that.
(03:41):
It's certainly better for them to have that growth mindset
throughout their career, including medical school, to allow them to
reach the next level. Certainly every student that comes to
us has been highly successful or they wouldn't have gotten
into medical school. But the skills that they studied with
an undergrad and the time management skills they had there
may not get them to be as successful medical school
(04:04):
to the same level they had in undergrad So the
student's got to be open to accepting our advice on
best study strategies or trying new study strategies, and also
other time management skills that can get them to the
next level.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
It sounds a bit like when you talk about being
a lifelong learner, Am I right?
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Correct?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah, you just need to be open to constantly growing
and taking new information.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
That's exactly right. So you know, as a medical student,
you're going to be getting feedback and advice from your faculty.
As a resident, you're going to be getting feedback and
advice from your residency director. When you're a practicing physician,
maybe from your partners or your colleagues in the same practice,
And you've got to be able to accept that advice
and grow from it. And that is also something that
(04:51):
a growth mindset will set them up for.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
And now I know one of the other things that
you speak about is grit correct? Tell us about what
that means for a medical student.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Sure, so grit is sort of the power or the
strength to get through tough times. So getting through a
tough course, if it's let's say, abio chemistry course, if
it's tough for a student, getting the grit to get
through study move on to the other side of that course.
It is easier to have grit if you have a
dedication and a passion for what you're doing. So someone
(05:25):
comes into medical school and they have a passion to
be a physician, they have that goal in mind of
what the light is at the end of the tunnel,
it'll be easier for them to demonstrate that grit or
that strength to get through the tough days.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And along with that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Resilience is another thing you speak of, that sort of
partners with grit and way that is about getting through
the tough times.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
But then how you come out of the tough times.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Exactly right, So when you think of grit, it's sort
of just the power to get through the tough thing, right,
the tough event, Let's say if it's a biochemistry course,
for instance. But resilience is getting through that activity. The
biochemistry course, for instance, but then being stronger on the
other side of the adversity or the challenge, whatever it is.
(06:13):
So the resilience allows the student, you know, the training physician,
to bounce back from a tough adverse event, but to
learn from it and be stronger on the other side.
So you know, certainly grit and resilience go together, and
grit alone is good, but it's not as good as
if you have resilience to bounce back and learn from
(06:36):
that experience so that the next time you face an
adverse condition you can tackle it even easier.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Right, And you want to come out on the other
side better and stronger exactly, sort of battered and defeated,
I suppose.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Right, right.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
And resilience obviously is something you know as a resident
and as a practicing physician. You know when you have
difficult patient cases. Certainly you know you have a patient
who passes away, those things you're going to need resilience for.
So building that skill during medical school is going to
be very important.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
First, I would think, right.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Are you seeking to enter or elevate your career in
an industry that protects the health and wellness of our communities.
If so, Leecom will help prepare you for that journey.
Lecome offers three innovative and fully accredited master's degree programs
and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration program. Through its School
of Health Services Administration. You can specialize in public health,
(07:31):
biomedical ethics, or health Services Administration. Students are prepared to
solve complex problems through a dynamic online learning platform taught
by an outstanding faculty of industry experts. The programs are flexible.
Courses are available twenty four to seven, so you can
work on your studies anytime. Email Shsa at lecom dot
(07:53):
edu to begin your journey of discovery. That's sh Sa
at lecom dot edu. Class As are now forming at leecom.
We know realness and are teaching the business of healthcare.
This message brought to you by Leecom, a nonprofit organization.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Let's talk about self discipline, and I know you make
the distinction. Not to just be self discipline isn't enough,
but it needs to be mindful self discipline for the
medical student.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Can you tell us some more about that? Sure?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Right? So, all the things we've talked to up to
this point, you need self discipline to enact them, and
so self discipline obviously talks about, you know, having the
diligence to study day in and day out, if you will,
as a medical student, to put in the long hours
of study. And then mindful self discipline, as you mentioned,
(08:45):
is not just blind self discipline where Okay, I'm going
to do all these hours and not really know why
you're doing it. The mindful self discipline talks about having
in mind why you're putting in the long hours. So
you're being self disciplined because as you have a goal
at the end of your career, at the end of
your education, to be a physician. So again it's keeping
(09:06):
that goal in mind so that when you do the
hard work right you're studying let's say eight hours a day,
you know why you're doing it. You're doing it for
a reason, and you're aware of that reason so that
you know it's going to pay off at the end.
So students who get into medical school and they have
that internal motivation, you know, they'll have stronger grit resilience.
(09:29):
Self discipline will come easier because they know why they're
doing it. I'm doing it because they want to be
a great physician, et cetera. If someone is in medical school.
Maybe for another reason. Let's say a student is here
because their parents want them to be a physician. It's
going to be tough, I would think for that student
to have internal motivation. Okay, I'm doing this for mom
and dad, but you know I'm not internally motivated to
(09:51):
do this. The grit, the resilience of self discipline is
going to be much harder to muster up to get
through medical school.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I can't myself, could not imagine trying to get through
it if you weren't one hundred percent passionate and committed
to it, because it's it's hard under the best of circumstances.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Definitely. Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
So the final quality that I know you've distinguished is
threat mitigation, right, right, And this is a really interesting
concept that I think a lot of people don't. It
never occurs to them. And I guess that by definition
is what it is, right that that should expected event
in your life that sort of detours you or sidetracks.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
You, right, And you know, we could we could discuss
that several different parts of threat mitigation. One of the
things that I talk about with interviewees when they're here
is what's the biggest thing that could ruin your medical
school career that you haven't considered yet. And you know
that many of them have thought about, Okay, I'm going
to have to study longer hours, i am going to
have to do maybe a different study strategy in medical school,
(10:55):
but they usually have not thought about the other people
in their lives and their bit If you will, you know, siblings, parents,
significant others, et cetera. Those people, if you're going to
stay connected with them, they're going to take time out
of the medical student's day, right and we don't want
them to be disconnected. We want them to be connected
(11:16):
with their family and friends and significant others, but they're
going to have to do it in an economic way
where they're not spending too much time with that. So
we've seen students who their mother calls them several hours
a night on the phone every night, and that's usually
too much time for that student to invest being connected
(11:38):
to the mother to allow them enough time to study.
We've seen students with spouses who've go back home at
night and watch Netflix for three hours at night and
so every night. So you know, those things are not
necessarily compatible with academic success, is what we've seen. So
my advice to them is have a conversation with people
(12:00):
in your lives significant others, parents, et cetera. And just
set some boundaries and say, Okay, mom and dad, I'll
call you every Sunday, we'll talk, but after that it
don't call me unless there's an emergency. Something along those lines.
Where you feel connected, you feel supported, They feel connected
to you still, but it's not at the expense of
(12:20):
time that you really need to be successful in medical school.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
The other thing if we talk about other areas of
threat mitigation, is if someone has a medical condition and they,
let's say, move to Pennsylvania from another state, all of
their medical support is probably in that prior state. So
when they move to Erie, Pennsylvania to go to medical school,
(12:45):
you know, the best advice is for them to set
up care in the region they're going to be in.
So if that physical condition needs monitored, if it's a
chronic condition, they have some medical support locally. Right If
it's something with a prescription, some prescriptions you can't get
across state lines. Oh so, if we have an Ohio
student who needs a prescription refilled and they're living in Pennsylvania,
(13:08):
some of the medications cannot be prescribed across state lines
because the laws don't allow that person to prescribe in
the other state, so they you know, threat mitigation. That's
one of the things they should think about is so
they're ready when they get into medical school where they're
geographically located, to be supported medically while they're here as well,
because that's another time sink where if they have to
(13:30):
travel back to Ohio every weekend to see their doctor. Yeah,
that's not an ideal situation.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Practical, it sounds like you have to really structure. You
know that you're going into school, so your time will
be structured, and you structure your study time, but you
have to structure every aspect of your life to be successful.
It sounds like what you're saying that things that you
never you don't think you have to structure your time
with your family or outside of classes, but you actually do.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Correct like you're saying, yeah, you know, that's certainly it
comes up, and that's why we you know, over the
twenty one years I've been here and I've seen that happen, and.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
So you know, those are the things. Once you see
it once or twice, you're thinking, oh my, we need
to advise students to not get into this problem. So
that's where we're coming from. And certainly, as you said,
you know, structuring everything is the ideal situation. Most students
don't think that way, you know, when they do get
into medical school, but we do advise them on different
(14:31):
strategies for success that could involve all areas of their life, right,
medical care, parents, siblings, et cetera. Plus yeah, exactly, because
you know, medical schools is somewhat all consuming for them.
If they're going to do their best and to have
all those other parts of their life smooth, it makes
(14:55):
it much easier for them to succeed in medical school.
If the other parts of the life are chaotic, it's
not going to make their medical schools journey as successful.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Right, And to your point earlier about not just in school,
but when they go into residency, when they have a
career and beyond, it's all about sort of balancing and
making the structure and time for the people you love
and the things that make you happy so you don't
burn out, but also things that you have to.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Do right exactly, And you know, that's that reminds me
of another thing. Whenever we talk to students about time management. Obviously,
they have to study, right, they have to prepare weekly
for the academics. But you know, we also advise them
don't burn out, right, and not burn out. Our advice
to them is, in your study schedule for that week,
(15:42):
put in something that decompresses you. Put in something that
re energizes your batteries so that you're ready to go
the next week. Right, and schedule it. Don't say schedule
it so you don't overlook it. Right, don't just study
happen all day every day. You need to take a break.
You need to have something to rejuvenate yourself.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Well, I can't thank you enough for your time today.
These are amazing insights. And I think it seems like,
you know, to the average person, that's a lot.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
It's definitely a lot. And you know, but we want everyone,
every student weeks have to be successful. We'll support them
as much as we can to be successful. That's our
job number one here, and so giving them that, you know,
advice from other things we've seen go wrong, right, hopefully
can help them be more successful from day one, right, right.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
And I know you and the faculty are so committed
to getting every step of the way with the students
and not. You know, no one has to feel like
they're lost at see correct if they're.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Struggling, right yeah, I mean that's what faculty are here for,
to help the students. That's our biggest job here.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Definitely, thanks again, doctor Kelmy. I enjoyed.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Thank you. We'll see you all right,
You're listening to lee KOM presents Heroes in Training. The
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as lee KOM,
has been providing training to heroes all across the globe
since nineteen ninety three. This podcast gives you an insider
look at the stories of triumph and hope from both
(00:22):
former students and faculty, helping you decide if lee KOM
is the right choice for your higher education. Let's start
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Hi everyone, thanks for joining us today. My name is
Kathleen Spinzola and I'll be your host today. I'm with
doctor John Calmey, our Dean of pre Clinical Education here
at LEECOM and professor of Anatomy.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Thanks for being here today.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Thank you Kathleen for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Doctor Calmy, tell us how long you've been with lee COM.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
First, Wow, this is my twenty first year here at
lee KAH.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I imagine with that many years of dedication to the
LEECOM students, you have many insights to share into what
makes a successful student.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yes, definitely. You know, over the time we've seen things
successful and unsuccessful, so you know we have an idea
of what can make a student more successful that we
share with them when they're here, but also when they interview,
they have questions about those facets.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
We have a lot of medical school applicants ask us
what qualities you see in a student that is successful?
What are the things that are sort of the recipe
for success that you've seen in students over the.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Years, Right, And you know it's good they're asking those
questions because what makes someone successful in medical school will
make them successful in their residency afterwards and as a
practicing physician when they're out in the real workforce. So
it's a great thing to get wrap their minds around
while they're in medical school and hone that skill because
it's going to prepare them for their entire career.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Right, Can you elaborate a little bit on some of
these qual I understand that you haven't broken have them
broken down into several that sort.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Of stand out?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Sure? Sure, So we talk mainly about five things with
students growth mindset, grit, resilience, self discipline, and then threatned mitigation.
So we talk about those things individually, but they all
work together in concert to make someone the most successful
they can be.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Tell us a little bit about what growth mindset means
to the medical student.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Sure, So growth mindset speaks to a student that comes
in with the mindset that they can get better. So
they've done well in undergrad school, they've gotten into medical school,
they have to keep growing and that growth mindset really
sets them up for a lifelong learning vocation, which they've
chosen with medicine. So as a medical student, they have
(02:55):
to continue to learn to make themselves better. They have
to have that growth mindset to take on new study strategies,
for instance, to ask for help when they need help.
And those skills are also beneficial when they're a resident
and when they're a practicing physician. So someone with a
fixed mindset, which is the opposite of a growth mindset,
(03:17):
will come into medical school saying, Okay, I've done everything.
I've gotten into medical school and I can't learn anymore.
And they're not open to changing their study practices if
that becomes necessary. They're not open to accepting advice or
they won't ask for advice, and they sort of just
stagnate where they are and we don't want to see that.
(03:41):
It's certainly better for them to have that growth mindset
throughout their career, including medical school, to allow them to
reach the next level. Certainly every student that comes to
us has been highly successful or they wouldn't have gotten
into medical school. But the skills that they studied with
an undergrad and the time management skills they had there
may not get them to be as successful medical school
(04:04):
to the same level they had in undergrad So the
student's got to be open to accepting our advice on
best study strategies or trying new study strategies, and also
other time management skills that can get them to the
next level.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
It sounds a bit like when you talk about being
a lifelong learner, Am I right?
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Correct?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah, you just need to be open to constantly growing
and taking new information.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
That's exactly right. So you know, as a medical student,
you're going to be getting feedback and advice from your faculty.
As a resident, you're going to be getting feedback and
advice from your residency director. When you're a practicing physician,
maybe from your partners or your colleagues in the same practice,
And you've got to be able to accept that advice
and grow from it. And that is also something that
(04:51):
a growth mindset will set them up for.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
And now I know one of the other things that
you speak about is grit correct? Tell us about what
that means for a medical student.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Sure, so grit is sort of the power or the
strength to get through tough times. So getting through a
tough course, if it's let's say, abio chemistry course, if
it's tough for a student, getting the grit to get
through study move on to the other side of that course.
It is easier to have grit if you have a
dedication and a passion for what you're doing. So someone
(05:25):
comes into medical school and they have a passion to
be a physician, they have that goal in mind of
what the light is at the end of the tunnel,
it'll be easier for them to demonstrate that grit or
that strength to get through the tough days.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And along with that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Resilience is another thing you speak of, that sort of
partners with grit and way that is about getting through
the tough times.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
But then how you come out of the tough times.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Exactly right, So when you think of grit, it's sort
of just the power to get through the tough thing, right,
the tough event, Let's say if it's a biochemistry course,
for instance. But resilience is getting through that activity. The
biochemistry course, for instance, but then being stronger on the
other side of the adversity or the challenge, whatever it is.
(06:13):
So the resilience allows the student, you know, the training physician,
to bounce back from a tough adverse event, but to
learn from it and be stronger on the other side.
So you know, certainly grit and resilience go together, and
grit alone is good, but it's not as good as
if you have resilience to bounce back and learn from
(06:36):
that experience so that the next time you face an
adverse condition you can tackle it even easier.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Right, And you want to come out on the other
side better and stronger exactly, sort of battered and defeated,
I suppose.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Right, right.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
And resilience obviously is something you know as a resident
and as a practicing physician. You know when you have
difficult patient cases. Certainly you know you have a patient
who passes away, those things you're going to need resilience for.
So building that skill during medical school is going to
be very important.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
First, I would think, right.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Are you seeking to enter or elevate your career in
an industry that protects the health and wellness of our communities.
If so, Leecom will help prepare you for that journey.
Lecome offers three innovative and fully accredited master's degree programs
and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration program. Through its School
of Health Services Administration. You can specialize in public health,
(07:31):
biomedical ethics, or health Services Administration. Students are prepared to
solve complex problems through a dynamic online learning platform taught
by an outstanding faculty of industry experts. The programs are flexible.
Courses are available twenty four to seven, so you can
work on your studies anytime. Email Shsa at lecom dot
(07:53):
edu to begin your journey of discovery. That's sh Sa
at lecom dot edu. Class As are now forming at leecom.
We know realness and are teaching the business of healthcare.
This message brought to you by Leecom, a nonprofit organization.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Let's talk about self discipline, and I know you make
the distinction. Not to just be self discipline isn't enough,
but it needs to be mindful self discipline for the
medical student.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Can you tell us some more about that? Sure?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Right? So, all the things we've talked to up to
this point, you need self discipline to enact them, and
so self discipline obviously talks about, you know, having the
diligence to study day in and day out, if you will,
as a medical student, to put in the long hours
of study. And then mindful self discipline, as you mentioned,
(08:45):
is not just blind self discipline where Okay, I'm going
to do all these hours and not really know why
you're doing it. The mindful self discipline talks about having
in mind why you're putting in the long hours. So
you're being self disciplined because as you have a goal
at the end of your career, at the end of
your education, to be a physician. So again it's keeping
(09:06):
that goal in mind so that when you do the
hard work right you're studying let's say eight hours a day,
you know why you're doing it. You're doing it for
a reason, and you're aware of that reason so that
you know it's going to pay off at the end.
So students who get into medical school and they have
that internal motivation, you know, they'll have stronger grit resilience.
(09:29):
Self discipline will come easier because they know why they're
doing it. I'm doing it because they want to be
a great physician, et cetera. If someone is in medical school.
Maybe for another reason. Let's say a student is here
because their parents want them to be a physician. It's
going to be tough, I would think for that student
to have internal motivation. Okay, I'm doing this for mom
and dad, but you know I'm not internally motivated to
(09:51):
do this. The grit, the resilience of self discipline is
going to be much harder to muster up to get
through medical school.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I can't myself, could not imagine trying to get through
it if you weren't one hundred percent passionate and committed
to it, because it's it's hard under the best of circumstances.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Definitely. Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
So the final quality that I know you've distinguished is
threat mitigation, right, right, And this is a really interesting
concept that I think a lot of people don't. It
never occurs to them. And I guess that by definition
is what it is, right that that should expected event
in your life that sort of detours you or sidetracks.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
You, right, And you know, we could we could discuss
that several different parts of threat mitigation. One of the
things that I talk about with interviewees when they're here
is what's the biggest thing that could ruin your medical
school career that you haven't considered yet. And you know
that many of them have thought about, Okay, I'm going
to have to study longer hours, i am going to
have to do maybe a different study strategy in medical school,
(10:55):
but they usually have not thought about the other people
in their lives and their bit If you will, you know, siblings, parents,
significant others, et cetera. Those people, if you're going to
stay connected with them, they're going to take time out
of the medical student's day, right and we don't want
them to be disconnected. We want them to be connected
(11:16):
with their family and friends and significant others, but they're
going to have to do it in an economic way
where they're not spending too much time with that. So
we've seen students who their mother calls them several hours
a night on the phone every night, and that's usually
too much time for that student to invest being connected
(11:38):
to the mother to allow them enough time to study.
We've seen students with spouses who've go back home at
night and watch Netflix for three hours at night and
so every night. So you know, those things are not
necessarily compatible with academic success, is what we've seen. So
my advice to them is have a conversation with people
(12:00):
in your lives significant others, parents, et cetera. And just
set some boundaries and say, Okay, mom and dad, I'll
call you every Sunday, we'll talk, but after that it
don't call me unless there's an emergency. Something along those lines.
Where you feel connected, you feel supported, They feel connected
to you still, but it's not at the expense of
(12:20):
time that you really need to be successful in medical school.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
The other thing if we talk about other areas of
threat mitigation, is if someone has a medical condition and they,
let's say, move to Pennsylvania from another state, all of
their medical support is probably in that prior state. So
when they move to Erie, Pennsylvania to go to medical school,
(12:45):
you know, the best advice is for them to set
up care in the region they're going to be in.
So if that physical condition needs monitored, if it's a
chronic condition, they have some medical support locally. Right If
it's something with a prescription, some prescriptions you can't get
across state lines. Oh so, if we have an Ohio
student who needs a prescription refilled and they're living in Pennsylvania,
(13:08):
some of the medications cannot be prescribed across state lines
because the laws don't allow that person to prescribe in
the other state, so they you know, threat mitigation. That's
one of the things they should think about is so
they're ready when they get into medical school where they're
geographically located, to be supported medically while they're here as well,
because that's another time sink where if they have to
(13:30):
travel back to Ohio every weekend to see their doctor. Yeah,
that's not an ideal situation.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Practical, it sounds like you have to really structure. You
know that you're going into school, so your time will
be structured, and you structure your study time, but you
have to structure every aspect of your life to be successful.
It sounds like what you're saying that things that you
never you don't think you have to structure your time
with your family or outside of classes, but you actually do.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Correct like you're saying, yeah, you know, that's certainly it
comes up, and that's why we you know, over the
twenty one years I've been here and I've seen that happen, and.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
So you know, those are the things. Once you see
it once or twice, you're thinking, oh my, we need
to advise students to not get into this problem. So
that's where we're coming from. And certainly, as you said,
you know, structuring everything is the ideal situation. Most students
don't think that way, you know, when they do get
into medical school, but we do advise them on different
(14:31):
strategies for success that could involve all areas of their life, right,
medical care, parents, siblings, et cetera. Plus yeah, exactly, because
you know, medical schools is somewhat all consuming for them.
If they're going to do their best and to have
all those other parts of their life smooth, it makes
(14:55):
it much easier for them to succeed in medical school.
If the other parts of the life are chaotic, it's
not going to make their medical schools journey as successful.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Right, And to your point earlier about not just in school,
but when they go into residency, when they have a
career and beyond, it's all about sort of balancing and
making the structure and time for the people you love
and the things that make you happy so you don't
burn out, but also things that you have to.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Do right exactly, And you know, that's that reminds me
of another thing. Whenever we talk to students about time management. Obviously,
they have to study, right, they have to prepare weekly
for the academics. But you know, we also advise them
don't burn out, right, and not burn out. Our advice
to them is, in your study schedule for that week,
(15:42):
put in something that decompresses you. Put in something that
re energizes your batteries so that you're ready to go
the next week. Right, and schedule it. Don't say schedule
it so you don't overlook it. Right, don't just study
happen all day every day. You need to take a break.
You need to have something to rejuvenate yourself.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Well, I can't thank you enough for your time today.
These are amazing insights. And I think it seems like,
you know, to the average person, that's a lot.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
It's definitely a lot. And you know, but we want everyone,
every student weeks have to be successful. We'll support them
as much as we can to be successful. That's our
job number one here, and so giving them that, you know,
advice from other things we've seen go wrong, right, hopefully
can help them be more successful from day one, right, right.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
And I know you and the faculty are so committed
to getting every step of the way with the students
and not. You know, no one has to feel like
they're lost at see correct if they're.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Struggling, right yeah, I mean that's what faculty are here for,
to help the students. That's our biggest job here.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Definitely, thanks again, doctor Kelmy. I enjoyed.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Thank you. We'll see you all right,
Popular Podcasts
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.