Every time I walk into a bookstore, I pass Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air and am reminded of a specific anecdote he shared. Kalanithi, …
Category: Student experience
The proper way to die
Certain details in this entry have been omitted or changed to protect the identity of the patient. One of my patients is on the verge of …
How do traumatic childhood experiences affect adults?
During my two years off from medical school, I've been volunteering as a court appointed special advocate for children in the foster care system. And …
Staying engaged with medicine via podcast
One of the challenges I’ve faced in business school has been how to stay engaged with medicine while working in a different environment. I’ve found …
The surgeon will (quickly) see you now
The common critique of surgeons lobbed from their medicine colleagues is the scant amount of time spent with their patients. As the argument goes, surgery …
At Match Day, 70 doctors-to-be embark upon “a tremendously exciting period”
Friday was a big day in the life of 70 soon-to-be graduating Stanford medical students, who found out where they'll be heading for residency. My colleague Tracie …
Beyond practice: Opportunities for physician leadership
Like most pre-meds, I decided to go to medical school because of a desire to take care of patients. That desire remains alive and well …
Why working with kids is a medical student’s ultimate challenge
During the first year of medical school, one of the most nerve-wracking, but exciting, experiences was learning how to interview and examine patients. At that …
Every patient deserves a medical student
Aside from the look of paranoia and confusion on our faces, we medical students can also be identified by our badges, which have "MEDICAL STUDENT" …
Two weeks in China: Lessons on innovating abroad
I recently spent two weeks in Beijing as part of a program at the Stanford Center at Peking University. Led by Robert Chang, MD, a …
Stanford med students hone their storytelling skills under the stars
When Ruth Marks came to Stanford's medical school, she hoped to find a way to share her love of improv with her fellow students and …
Stanford med school alum carves Clinton and Trump jack-o’-lanterns
Five years ago, medical student Raymond Tsai -- described as a "whiz with sharp objects" -- carved a jack-o'-lantern that looked amazingly like the late …
What does it take to coordinate patient care?
As a clinical student, I’ve been a part of dozens of outpatient clinic visits, but several days ago, I witnessed a clinic visit much unlike …
Bringing rasa to the hospital
The room is thick with sweat; we watch the windows cry. The fans seem to be cycling hot air, blowing it back in our faces …
“I feel lighter”: A look at domestic violence in Bangladesh
Nabeela waited for her contraceptive injection with the slack of her sari pulled low over her forehead. The pharmacist, her long braid neatly oiled, dove …
The quietest thing: A reflection on loss
Stanford Medicine Unplugged is a forum for students to chronicle their experiences in medical school. The student-penned entries appear on Scope once a week; the …