Stay in the know!

Staying in the know is important. Keep learning more about what it means to be a physician of color and the issues all physicians face; what they deal with day to day, what hot topic issues they tackle, how they fit into the big healthcare picture. Once you know you will see more clearly how you fit into the picture and what skills you need to work on. Here are a few ways to keep learning.

1. Keep asking physicians and medical students questions.
2. Shadow a doctor or medical student- It's all a matter of asking and how you ask. “Can I shadow you for the day? What you do seems so interesting. I know I can learn many things from you.”
3. Read a good book. There are great books that tackle hot topics in medicine.

Dean Gabriel Garcia’s Book Recommendations
Associate Dean of Admissions, Stanford University School of Medicine.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
by Anne Fadiman
-A popular book found in the curriculum of most medical schools discussing cultural competency and healthcare.

My Own Country
by Abraham Verghese.

The House of God
by Samuel Shem
-A classic novel about life as a resident.

The Scalpel and the Silver Bear : The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing
by Lori Alvord and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt

Waking Up In America: How One Doctor Brings Hope To Those Who Need it Most
By Dr. Pedro Jose Greer, Jr.
-A book about how one doctor gives care to the poor and homeless.

Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes On An Imperfect Science
By Atul Gawane

Gifted Hands: The Story of Ben Carson
By Ben Carson M.D. and Mr. Cecil Murphey
-A story of inner-city youth who became a pediatric neurosurgeon.

New York Times- This is a great resource for good reading. The best writers in the U.S. write for the New York times. You will soon notice that this is the newspaper of choice for doctors and medical students. Check out the weekly science and book section.

Tip: You can read the New York times for free and it can be in emailed to you daily if you sign up for their free service. Click here for the New York Times web site.