Unboxing & review of the new MACBOOK AIR (M1 chip)

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image/video of the day:

If you prefer a VIDEO version summarizing my review below, here it is!

Introduction

I had an itch to scratch [I wanted to start editing videos!], which led to binging on YouTube videos about the new Macbook Air/Pro with the M1 chip, which led to purchasing the new Apple Macbook Air with the M1 chip [I was actually so impatient that I walked 2 miles to Best Buy to purchase my new Macbook Air rather than wait for shipping from Amazon]. This was an unnecessary purchase and one that was done after being inundated with ads about just how incredible this new M1 Apple chip is. Yes, I fell for the marketing. But in my defense, my trusty Lenovo Yoga [this is the most updated Yoga 740] was approaching its 3rd birthday and I was getting frustrated with the lack of free Windows software for video editing. I wanted to try out YouTube as a new medium to share tips, advice, thoughts, and ideas and there did not seem to be a good way to edit the footage. Nor were there tons of tutorials available for more complex software. So, here we are.

[/excuses]

Anyway, I go through my unboxing and review of the product in my video above. I also break it down in my blog post below.

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Practical tips for your Zoom interview

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Clearly, I’m too cool for Zoom [/sarcasm].

The COVID19 pandemic quickly pushed us into living in an era of Zoom, FaceTime, Teams, GoToMeeting, Skype… etc, etc video conferences. Suddenly, we are all masters at learning where the “mute” button is and how to find and use the “hand raise” function. Even little kids are learning that the “mute” button is an important way to maintain civility and order in the virtual classroom. It’s a weird time we live in.

A new mantra to live by, eh?
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How to excel during your anesthesia sub-I/audition/elective/away rotation

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

One of the 3 cities I did an away rotation in!

What is the value in a sub-I/away rotation in anesthesiology?

This is a question I’m frequently asked: What is the point of an away rotation? Every year, medical students match into anesthesiology residency programs without ever having done an away rotation. Many have read on SDN forums that doing away rotations could actually be detrimental to a student’s candidacy. Away rotations are expensive. Scheduling is a headache. Based on this information, it would appear that away rotations are not worth the hassle.

I beg to differ. Every individual will have to decide for her- or himself whether the investment in an away rotation is worth it. There will be some individuals where an away rotation would be detrimental to their candidacy. Either way, if you’re interested in learning more about the nitty-gritty considerations surrounding these rotations and some of my personal tips for excelling during either an anesthesiology sub-internship/audition/elective rotation at your home program or as a visiting medical student, keep reading.

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How to study for the ABA [American Board of Anesthesiology] ADVANCED exam

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

My usual study setup – I cannot study at home for the life of me [having food, a couch, a bed and a television in close proximity makes it impossible for me to focus].

[Updated 9/2022 with updated TrueLearn discount ($25 off!)]

Introduction

For those of you at the beginning of your residency trying to plan for future exams, please start with my guide to studying for the ITE and my entry on studying for the ABA BASIC exam, first. Then make your way back here when you’re a CA3.

If you’re a CA3 or a graduate about to take the ABA ADVANCED exam, you’re in the right place.

Some basics about the ADVANCED exam

After graduating from residency, you’ll take the ADVANCED Exam. It focuses on clinical aspects of anesthetic practice and emphasizes subspecialty-based practice and advanced clinical issues. We’ll assign you an exam date after you register and can only change your assignment for religious observance, military commitments and medical accommodations.

https://theaba.org/staged%20exams.html
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How to interview like a boss

Amanda Xi
The photo I took on my interview day at Massachusetts General Hospital, circa 2014. I’m still in awe that I work at this incredible institution!

In life, career advancement is typically tied to being able to compile a resume, personal statement or letter of intent, and an interview. For many medical trainees, residency interviews are the first real “job” interview. While medical school also employs an interview process, it is a very different flavor of interview. The tips offered below can be readily applied to almost any kind of interview… but they’re most applicable to residency.

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Tips for applying to residency

Amanda Xi
My ERAS photo circa 2014. Oh to be young and naive again!

Hello, friends! It has been a while since I’ve posted here. While I could make all kinds of excuses about graduating residency, starting critical care fellowship immediately after, and managing a couple of leadership positions in national organizations… you don’t want to hear about that. What likely brought you to this page was the title – and the fact that you are a medical student aspiring to be successful in the residency match.

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How to study for the ABA [American Board of Anesthesiology] BASIC exam

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Caption: Legit all of the resources I used to study for the BASIC. Admittedly, I didn’t finish all of the things here, but I only advocate/recommend products I’ve purchased and used myself.

[Updated 9/2022 with TrueLearn discount for $25 off!]

Introduction

First and foremost, check out my original article on all of the resources for the in-training exam (ITE) and BASIC exam. If you opened that entry and immediately thought, TL;DR… or you only care about how to study for the BASIC exam, this is the entry for you.

Some basics about the BASIC

From the ABA:

The BASIC Examination, the first in the series of exams, will be offered to residents at the end of their CA-1 year. It focuses on the scientific basis of clinical anesthetic practice and will concentrate on content areas such as pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, anesthesia equipment and monitoring.

https://theaba.org/staged%20exams.html
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Behind the drape [reflections on starting anesthesia training & tips for success]

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

As my Transitional Year internship progressed, my anxiety about starting my first year in clinical anesthesia increased exponentially. By June, I was frantically searching the depths of the internet for resources [e.g. how does one DO anesthesia!? what IS anesthesia?] to prepare for the mysteries that lie behind the drapes. At the end of my internship, I felt comfortable entering senna/colace orders, the periodic ABG [arterial blood gas] stick, and pontificating about my differential diagnosis in a SOAP [subjective, objective, assessment, plan] note, but the thought of being able to safely anesthetize a patient for surgery made me nauseous. I also started second-guessing my decision to pursue anesthesiology; during my TY year, I thoroughly enjoyed my inpatient medicine months and was prepared to switch to medicine if I didn’t end up liking anesthesia. Looking back, I can see now that I would have been happy doing a medicine residency, but I’m definitely happier and overall more satisfied in the field of anesthesiology.

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7 tips for strong letters of recommendation [college, premedical, residency & fellowship]

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

I’ve seen this view a few too many times in the last 4 months with my ACGME TYRC & AMWA commitments overlapping with the fellowship interview trail!

The last four months have been extraordinarily draining. I think the combination of being in the ICU in January [which is a bittersweet experience for me; on one hand, I love taking care of critically ill patients but on the other hand, the hours were long and the daylight hours were short], using all of my off days for either ACGME commitments, fellowship interviews, or AMWA103 planning made it difficult to stay balanced.

Cue the burnout.

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How to study for the ITE, BASIC, and anesthesia

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

My bookshelf. Just kidding. This is our MGH Anesthesia Library bookshelf. Note how clean the Harrison’s binding is…
An updated, detailed version of many things in this post in VIDEO form! And I share my ITE scores, too…

[Entry Last Updated 9/2022 w/new TrueLearn discount code for $25 off!]

It’s that time of year when new residents are roaming hospitals across the country. As a result, I’ve received an influx of emails, texts and in-person requests for advice on how to study as an anesthesia resident. There are plenty of posts on the SDN Anesthesia forum as well as blog entries from my esteemed colleagues [e.g. Rishi Kumar, AnesthesiaHub]. However, this time last year when I was looking for real advice and guidance on how to study for daily clinical practice knowledge, the ITE and BASIC, I didn’t find anything satisfying online. Scrolling through SDN and asking my colleagues led me to recognize that like the USMLE Step 1, there are a plethora of resources but only a fraction of the amount of time necessary to really digest it all. Eventually, I just committed to a plan and sort of stuck with it – this entry attempts to explain that plan and some resources I thought were helpful.

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