R.I.P. USMLE

As I made my way to the testing center last week, I wanted to suppress the anxiety with a few tunes. With Queen's "We Are the Champions" blaring, I couldn't think of a better song to get me pumped for one of the most important exams I would ever take. The feeling was short lived when AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" revealed the truth of the situation. All I could do was laugh.



USMLE

Nerves on edge and adrenaline pumping, I finally settled into the exam. Question after question I tried to stay focused and not second guess myself. The barrage of random scenarios and cases certainly kept me on my toes trying not to blur them together. Surprisingly, time went quickly and it was time to call it quits for the day. Unsettled and unsure about my success, I walked away feeling accomplished in taking an exam that few get to experience. And now to wait for the results of all my efforts.

It wasn't until I started celebrating that I realized how keyed up I was for that exam. I lost my appetite and spent the next few days ill as I caught up on some much needed relaxation. Unfortunately, I still have one more exam to face. Fighting off the post-exam-information-dumping-session is difficult to avoid especially when your brain is lacking adequate nutrition. Now somewhat recovered, I am back in the saddle for another week of review to finally put this second year of medical school behind me. Despite feeling champion-like on occasion, I think it would do me good to avoid the highway to hell.


Board Prep Question of the Week

A 24-year-old male with a history of Sickle Cell disease presents to your office complaining of pain in his arms and legs of 12 hours duration. Laboratory tests identify that this patient is experiencing an ‘aplastic crisis.’ PCR tests demonstrate infection by a single stranded small DNA virus. This virus may also cause which of the following syndromes:

A. Burkitt’s Lymphoma
B. Erythema Infectiosum
C. Molluscum Contagiosum
D. Smallpox
E. Yellow Fever

Answer & Explanation