BLOGS

Hello there! Each one of us has our own story to tell about our journey through medical school and US Medical licensing exams (USMLE). This uniquely long journey is punctuated with many emotions, trials and by life itself that just happens to unfold on its own timeline, alongside our carefully thought out study timetable. In this book I share some lessons I learnt along the way, a few insights I wish somebody had told me when I started the journey for USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK. I share with you some powerful words of wisdom and work ethics that kept me going even though I felt like I was stepping out the boat and walking on water. Remember to keep looking to the Light ahead and keep moving forward one step at a time. One day you will step into the light at the end of this dark tunnel, so that you can be a light to others!

My personal journey on the USMLE front is no different from any one of you, except that the challenges might have been different from what you are facing today. I was in the middle of doing a PhD, my second doctoral degree, facing my candidacy exam where I had to defend my hypothesis, which if I did not pass would have led to the dismissal from the program as per policy. Added to this, the icing on the cake was that I just kept postponing my exams, while stocking up every new edition of First Aid for the USMLE STEP 1 each year hoping to get it done that year. Being an Indian IMG (international medical graduate) living in a foreign country (USA) with no family support, completely in charge of an elementary school kid as a single parent did not help either. That was not the way I envisioned my USMLE STEP 1 journey to be. But I learned not to give up, to believe in God, not to cave into depression and dejection and not to let go of my dreams because a 4th grader reminded me “Mom you wanted to be a doctor because you wanted to help people”. When you persist, consistently putting in a little bit of effort towards your goal, crawl even if you can’t walk the journey, you may even pass it after several years with a 93 percentile, like I did. Well, I can tell you it wasn’t easy but a group of online friends in a forum kept my morales up and pushed me to keep going. This is the support and motivation I want to give you through my book ‘STEPS TO VICTORY FOR USMLE’, 101 daily inspirations for the Medical Student. Use this book as a daily motivation when you get started each day with a full cup of coffee and confidence. You may glimpse through any page when you feel low in spirit or when you want to learn tips and insights to improve on your USMLE practice test scores!

Every time I meet and counsel a student in the past 15+ years, I remember my journey and I can immediately connect to their struggle not only academically but to the ‘suddenly’s of life itself. For most medical students this is a long, arduous and solitary journey that determines the rest of your career as a doctor, which the folks in your world do not understand for the most part. For most of the journey, you are alone buried under your books, question banks and flash cards. This book is for that ‘One moment’ when you lift your head up to see the world around you, breathe some fresh air, dream about the ocean and shoot an expresso of confidence before you bury yourself into the books again.

One thought,

One tip,

One dose of positive thinking,

One incantation,

One promise,

One vital strategy

that makes you choose the right answer on the USMLE exam versus the wrong one, which changes the trajectory of your entire prep for USMLE, which makes you believe in yourself more when no one else is cheering you on - that is what this book offers. Saving time and money from repeat attempts could be a bonus! The goal of this book is to help you pass the USMLE the first time!

ONE PAGE A DAY = ONE STEP CLOSER TO YOUR VICTORY!

It is my privilege to coauthor this book with my son, Dr. Rohit Vinay, who has provided great insights in the book from a perspective of a student undergoing the same journey as you are in the current day and age, facing distractions from social media, cell phones, isolation from peers and friends, not to mention the plethora of unwanted information on the internet, just busy being busy but not productive, which hinders you from achieving your dreams. I still hold dear in my heart what one of my students mentioned, ‘Dr. June, your counseling has changed my life’. I hope that Rohit and I have the same impact on you and your USMLE journey as well.

Keep shining at your best,

Dr. Mary June MBBS, PhD.

Director & Founder, Target USMLE LLC

First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CS (Coauthor, 3rd edition)

Target USMLE Clinical Skills Handbook (Author)

Clinical Skills Review Course (Online)

To get your free copy of STEPS TO VICTORY FOR USMLE - 101 Daily Motivations for the Medical Student E BOOK please send an email to support@targetusmle.com with the subject "VICTORY". Share this blog page on social media so your friends can get a free copy as well while the offer is still open (24.99 USD value). We plan to give away the first 101 copies to some hardworking students and doctors striving to pass the USMLE, so that they can shine at their best during their USMLE journey. The book can be pre ordered and will be available for purchase on Feb 24th, 2024 at leading book stores

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Hello there! Each one of us have our own story to tell about our journey through medical school and USMLE licensing exams. This uniquely long journey is punctuated with many emotions, trials and by life itself that just happens to unfold in its own timeline. In this book I share some lessons I learned along the way, a few insights I wish somebody had told me when I started the USMLE journey and some powerful words and work ethics that kept me going even though I felt like I was stepping out the boat and walking on water. Remember to keep looking to the Light ahead and keep moving forward one step at a time. One day you will step into the light at the end of this dark tunnel, so that you can be a light to others!

With the recent announcement of the much awaited Pathway 6 Mini-CEX instructions, , IMGs (International medical students)/graduates who do not qualify for Pathway 1-5 or have failed Step 2 CS are yet again thrown into the dilemma of an unknown territory by ECFMG.

USMLE Step 2 CS was suspended on 13 March, 2020 due to Covid -19 outbreak as a precautionary step to protect the health of examinees and test center staff which was later extended to 18 months. Recently USMLE has uploaded a Step 2 CS Update 19 Nov 2020 on a podcast on their website - an interview with David Johnson, Chief assessment Officer, Federation of State Medical Boards, Dr. Chris Feddock, Executive Director for CS Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC) which administers the USMLE STEP 2 CS. The following is a salient gist of their conversation.

STEP 2 CS GOING ONLINE VIA TELEHEALTH MODEL

Obviously, COVID-19 has been a scary and rocky road for most of us health care professionals. When ECFMG announced the possibility of writing the USMLE STEP 2 CS exam via telehealth model many thought what else can make us less free(er) from the panic?

Step 2 CS Schedule 2020 When should I schedule my exam? Where should I write my exam? How am I going to get dates? These are question that pop into our heads when we plan to take step 2 CS. Well now this is the major questions we ask ourselves amidst of the corona virus pandemic affecting the whole world. This corona virus spread has affected our exams, travelling and day to day life, but mostly it affected our future plans.

Before you begin browsing the internet for CS courses these are 4 things you should know. 1. Know that Step 2 CS cannot be mastered in 3 or 4 or 5 days course. The course can download all the information but YOU got to get ready by a) knowing what is the right method i.e one that gets you a ICE, SEP & CIS PASS b) practicing with SPs c) get used to analyzing the DDs under time pressure d) finally to be able to pull it off by typing patient note ( that gets an ICE pass)

Most students fail Step 2 CS because they dont take the time to understand what this exam is about and how to ace it confidently. A step 2 CS fail can keep you from getting a residency interview. Knowing the truth can set you free!

Assessment for Step 2 CS is essential before you go for the pricy exam. It can help you from failing and re spending the exam fee again! We can help. Schedule your appointment now to assess if you are ready

- Dr. Mary June

1. This exam is VERY EASY to PASS but VERY EASY to FAIL as well. I have had exceptionally bright students with good medical knowledge and acumen fail it more than once! So know your cards before you play the game. It ruins your chances at interviews for residency if you have an attempt or two. Not to mention its expensive one too. 2. The CS exam is a unique exam where exam taking STRATEGIES UNDER TIME PRESSURE is more important than actually preparing on the content of the exam. You need to have an ORGANIZED MIND to execute flawlessly...