Interesting. I did marginal on step 1 and step 2 CK (failed ck the first time), but thought CS was probably the easiest test I had ever taken since undergrad school. I mean it seemed like a joke, just something NBME did to make some extra money from med students. I really cannot imagine anyone failing it - so I have to admit, if what you tell us is true (AOA, etc etc) is true, then I am amazed.
After I took it (I am an IMG) I told many of my classmates to get boards for wards and study for a day or so, practice with a family member. Our student body president the year before I took it told me she read boards for wards and then practiced with a stuffed bear. She is in her last year of residency. As far as I know nobody in my class failed cs - it just seems like such a cakewalk : the cases are very obvious, and other than that you need to smile, demonstrate basic politeness and thoughtfulness, and enunciate well.
Anyway, several thoughts come to mind. First is something I was taught yeaers ago, and was reitered by a doctor I did a pain management rotation with. He is one of the smartest people I know - from Switzerland (he is a FMG), first did a surgery residency - did not like that so then he did a anesthesiology residency - did not like that, and then did a pain fellowship and likes that. He said something to the effect that its a shame that the medical education process is so heavily weighted on memorizing things from books (like the Krebs cycle) - when it ought to be more about developing people skills. Many students when they get to medical school are very good at memorizing junk, and spend alot of time in the books - but are also good candidates for the reality TV show BEAUTY AND THE GEEK, just a wee bit awkward with people.
William Osler knew this. For those of you who do not recognize the name, he was the doctor who started the first residency programs, and the tradition of having medical students shadow doctors in a hospital - believing that patient interaction was more important than spending hours in a lecture hall. He said something to the effect of ; a medical student who does not study texts is like a sailor who does not have a map but a medical student who does not treat patients is like a sailor who never sets to sea. He recognized the important ingredient in medical training was interacting with people in a real way. Kind of like Bruce Lee who said martial artists who train but never get in real fights are like swimmers who only practice swimming on dry land.
Secondly, I am not sure medical school trains doctors to be very warm and fuzzy(except maybe pedes). It is a frequent comment from just plain ol' people I have spoken with is that the MD's they meet are rude, arrogant, and cold. I think, as far as personality goes, a good profession to emulate are : waitresses (a good one who gets tipped well knows how to establish rapport quickly).
The businesses I owned for years was a service oriented business that dealt with the general public. I took numerous courses that taught establishing common ground, negotiating, and basically manipulating their emotions - creating a sense of "we" instead of "me and you". I sold my last business 3 years ago, and still get occassional calls from customers who just want my opinion. Right now as I wait for residency, my job is nothing but managing average people all day long - and from my evaluations and comments I am well liked and successful - I recently got a sterling letter of recommendation from a district level manager. The courses helped me immensely - because more naturally I am a prick. Maybe it was all the years I worked as security in a bar before owning my own businesses that made me a prick - where I got to deal with the public by knocking them out - no, honestly I was a prick way before that. I love the internet because I can be myself (a prick), a privilege I am denied in my day to day life.
Its very hard for me to deal with the "general" public, because I often don't like them. But the techniques I learned in the seminars has made a huge difference in being able to make people "think" I like them - and that makes them want to do business with me.
Being an IMG/FMG I cannot say for certain, but I really don't think AMGs learn well how to be warm and fuzzy. I see my brother,graduated from one of the most competitive USA schools, well known surgeon,has invented procedures, president of a major medical association, dept chair at a major US medical school - and often struggles with sympathy for patients (as opposed to empathy). He has a bad temper (just like I do) which he has displayed at work too often (which I don't - even as a bouncer in a bar I learned not to show anger, becuase it warns people a beating is coming, you lose your element of surprise) - he never punches anyone out, its just the verbal wounds he creates with patients and staff.
While most MD's are not that bad, at the same time, I have only met two (one was a recent Med/Ped grad who was my primary care for a year before leaving, and the other was a DO who was my primary care 10 years ago) that I would chose as my doctor - most doctors I have are ones I am basically stuck with because of insurance. I have met a huge number I hate, and like many of my friends consider them rude, arrogant, jerks who I would not associate with if it was not for my insurance carrier essentially forcing me too. If insurance reimbursement continues to decline it may be that doctors have to develop more of the attitude like McDonalds in which the idea is to serve the customer, and not : treat their disease, give some orders, act the know-it-all big shot, and get paid big bucks.
Wow, that was alot to write. After all that I guess I just have to say : damn dude, how the heck can you fail such an easy test!!! hahahahahahahaha.
