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Practice the Hippocratic Oath Before Medical School

By U.S. News & World Report

All physicians take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to fulfill their duty to their patients. And many prospective medical students look forward to the day they take this oath and become physicians. But students don’t need to wait until they graduate to start living out the Hippocratic Oath.

In fact, they will benefit from practicing the oath now. Civility, emotion and soft skills are essential to medicine and medical school.

[Read about the five key characteristics of successful medical school applicants.]

If you aren’t aware, these could fall to the wayside when you become a physician and are consumed with taking care of patients. Here are three key ways you can start practicing the Hippocratic Oath before you even begin medical school.

— “I will not be ashamed to say ‘I don’t know'”

When physicians take the Hippocratic Oath, they swear that they will admit when they do not know the answer. Routinely, I consult other specialists about a patient’s care. In doing so, I am calling for their expertise and offer that I don’t know the answer.

Hubris in medicine can easily result in harm to or even death of the patient. The expectation is that you do not know all of the answers but that you will ask the right questions when you’re uncertain — and that includes saying “I don’t know.” These three words make space for learning and humility, as well as for showing respect for the gravity of your responsibility.

As a prospective medical student, you can begin living out this part of the Hippocratic Oath both in college and eventually in medical school by engaging with teacher’s assistants or professors during office hours and asking questions. This exemplifies a thirst for knowledge and is great practice for both medical school and your future medical career.

During your medical school interviews, anticipate receiving at least one question that you simply won’t know the answer to. Instead of allowing this to be a source of anxiety, pounce on this learning opportunity.

State “I don’t know” with confidence and then pivot to “however , I have experienced …” to detail a situation that is similar and to which you can draw a parallel . This situation could be from volunteer projects, work, college or travels.

You can also ask about recommended reading for future study. Then thank the interviewer for pointing out a new area for you to explore.

You will encounter many uncomfortable situations in medicine. Think about your medical school interview as preparation for embracing discomfort and simultaneously demonstrating an openness to learning.

— ” I will … gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.”

Your ability to share knowledge is a habit you must hone, since teaching will run throughout your medical career — not to mention, you will swear to teaching others once you become a physician. For example, fourth-year medical students share knowledge with third-year students; interns teach medical students; residents and fellows impart knowledge to students; and attendings teach colleagues as well as all those previously mentioned.

Volunteering for a local literacy program, an English as a second language program or at a primary or secondary school are excellent opportunities to practice explaining, clarifying and listening. This is not simply looking for experiences to create a competitive application — mentorship and tutoring in their many forms spread knowledge.

[Learn five ways medical schools aim to teach the doctors of tomorrow.]

— “I will remember … that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.”

As a physician, you will swear to treat your patients with respect — respect for their privacy and respect for them as human beings. Your every interaction with patients, staff and colleagues requires mutual respect and consideration to create an optimal environment for health.

The same applies during medical school. Uncivil behavior begets more uncivil behavior and can add to the stress of medical school.

Civility starts long before medical school. Use your everyday interactions — particularly during stressful situations — to practice civil behavior.

Be more conscious of how you speak and interact with people in all walks of life. Use an on-campus job at the bookstore or dining hall as a learning lab, since people are routinely short on time and sometimes patience. Developing the ability to respond to uncivil behavior with compassionate behavior is an achievable skill that aids patient safety and quality of care.

[Discover six signs of a compassionate medical school.]

Beyond practicing this skill, you’ll also want to make sure you choose a medical school that is also teaching and leading with respect. There is an inherent power imbalance in medical training, accompanied by the feeling of constantly being critiqued; however, rudeness is not part and parcel of hierarchy. Good leaders can provide even negative feedback without belittling the subordinate.

While visiting medical schools or during interview day, ask current students about the culture of the school, especially during clinical rotations. Inquire about hierarchy and how entrenched it is at the institution.

Uncivil behavior can be a marker of heavy workload or poor support, hierarchy or culture. But exploring this aspect can serve as another factor to help you find a school that is the best fit and that will help equip you to be the best physician.

More from U.S. News

5 Ways to Develop Strong Clinical Experiences for Medical School

Medical Schools Teach Value of Patient-Physician Relationships

Undergrad Courses to Take for MCAT Success

Practice the Hippocratic Oath Before Medical School originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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