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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