Transcript CC: Episodic Hypoglycemia

Introduction to Jonathon Bloom
Jonathon puts humor and candor about determining in his
4th year of college that he has ADHD. He was the
quintessential busy bee and distracted kid growing up. He
provides information about how he and Dr. Lewis worked to
establish new behaviors and skills, and how taking
medication helps him maintain focus.
Life has its ups and downs—Jonathon shares some of his
with you, including from 1.96 to 3.79 GPA. He urges all who
think they have ADHD to not only be tested/screened, but to
USE your new skills and ALL resources!! That is how is got
to medical school and will graduate next year!
Medical School, ADHD, and Me
Jon Bloom, MS-III, MC, LPS, BSA, DNA
Medschool, ADHD, and Ooh!
look at that shiny thing over
there!
Jon Bloom, MS-III, MC, LPS, BSA, DNA
“Enjoyable and sweet, but …
• …a continual distraction to the other
children.”
• G.A.T.E. and The Bees.
• The addition of home work and “effort”.
• As to B’s and C’s
• Karate, Soccer, and Drums
My Tools to Success
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A tendency for underachieving.
A sloppy dressing habit.
Untamed and uncut hair.
Hyperactivity (from talking to eating).
– 6th Grade Camp
• A hatred towards the follow-through.
• Boredom in class.
• Huge imagination.
Early SDSU
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Easing in to it.
Electrical Engineering s/p Brian Aden.
Full-time at Price Club PK.
Marching Band, Concert Band, and Garage Band.
No social life yields good grades.
– 37 units over the 1st three semesters
– 3.55 Science GPA and 3.78 Others GPA
– Dean’s List twice
• Chem Major s/p Dr. Bennett's Chem105.
Sophomore Blues
• 1 year and 32 units worth of 3.09 GPA
– 2.79 Science and 3.40 Others
• Drum Corps, Marching/Concert Band,
Garage Band and Pizza Kitchen
• Social Outlet?
The Never-ending Junior Year
• Another Rush Victim.
– Joined ZBT in 2nd semester of 3rd year
• Moved into Fraternity House the following
semester.
• Dr. Yuan Lin, CT Surgeon
The Never-ending Junior Year
• The Not-So-Stellar Grades.
– 47 units of 2.12 GPA over 2.5 yrs
– 1.96 Sci GPA (/w 2 U’s)
– 2.45 Others GPA (63% of which was band, singing, and
dance)
• Nearly fired 3 times by supervisor.
• Out of money: problems with rent, car insurance,
and car payment.
• Enter Dr. Lewis, via Ballroom dance
The Key Questions
• Is Medicine really my goal?
• Is my lifestyle/priorities congruent with that
goal?
• What changes need to be made?
• Am I ready for these changes NOW?
Summer 1997
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Working with Dr. Lewis.
Eric’s magic pill.
Disabled Student Services and diagnosis
Counseling and Medications
Z.B.T. to D.S.S. with A.D.H.D.
• A new career as of Semester 10 (Sp’97)
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3.79 GPA over next 5 semesters
3.74 Sci and 3.93 Other GPA
Dean’s List X 3
(4.0 over final 28 units)
• Took Fall of 1999 off for April MCAT
Still the Busy Boy
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ZBT
SDSU Peer Health Educator
GAMMA President
IFC Risk Management Chairman
Collegiate Union for Health Related
Education
• UCSD Hospital Volunteer
Following Through
• Graduation after 8 yrs in May 2000!
• Employment at The Scripps Research
Institute.
• University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Class of 2005!!!
The Joys of Not
Paying Attention
ADHD to Me
• Distractible
• Short attention span, except for intermittent and transient
episodes
• Disorganized
• Poor planner
• Distorted sense of time, unaware of how long it will take to
do something
• Impatient
• Difficulty following or keeping track of directions
• Daydreamer
• Act without considering consequences
• Lack in the social graces
Tactics
• Diagnosis yields insight into strengths and
weaknesses
USE THIS INFORMATION!!!
Tactics
• Optimize the time you receive new information.
– Front and center seats in lecture halls
• Study when you concentrate the best.
– AM provides time constraints and little TV/friends
distractions
• Interact with your texts in a purposeful manner.
– Circle key words and highlight only what you don’t know
• Get to know your faculty.
– Valuable help on difficult subjects; Improves ease of Letters
of Recommendation.
• Make your own tests.
Tactics
• Use the resources available
– Medications and counseling.
– You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
• Structure Good
– Use an organizer.
– Build weekly schedule and be anal with time allocations.
– Manage by structure not by crisis!!!
• Don’t over-extend yourself
– Learn to say “no.”
• Immerse yourself in the goal
– Walls covered in Medical School brochures and important class
information.
CUHRE
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Dr. Lewis.
Structure
Support systems
Opportunities for growth and enrichment.
Opportunities for leadership.
Brings together exciting minds.
Being a part of an exciting student created
organization.
Natural Selection at Work?
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Constantly monitoring the environment.
Can throw self into the chase on a moment’s notice.
Flexible, ready to change strategy quickly.
Creative.
Tireless: capable of sustained drives, though only when “hot on the
trail” of some goal.
Results oriented - acutely aware of whether the goal is getting closer
now.
Independent but productive team member.
Bored with mundane tasks, enjoys new ideas, “the hunt,” being hot on
the trail.
Willing and able to take risks and face danger.
“No time for niceties when there are decisions to be made!”
ADHD in Medicine
• Key members of the health care team
• Strong conceptual background
• Excellence in the dynamic disciplines
– Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Research,
etc…
University of Pittsburgh
PittMed Bio
• Founded in 1887
• Ranked 18th nationally by US News and
World Report
• Ranked 6th in NIH funding
• Average age of first year class is 23
• Mean GPA of 3.67
• Mean MCAT score of 10.7
“You’re not just a number”
• Every application hand read.
• No automatic secondary applications sent to
AMCAS applicants.
• Supportive administration, happy to have us
from interview to graduation.
Minority Affairs Office
• Works with students
from middle school to
medical school
• Offers summer
programs including
Prematriculation
Paula Davis, Director and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs,
Curriculum
• Hybrid of lecture, lab, and small group
learning
• Problem based learning (PBL) in groups of
nine with faculty facilitation
• Coursework begins with a focus on patient’s
lives and communities
• Clinical experience woven throughout first
two years
Early Clinical Exposure
• First Year
– Ambulatory Care
• Second Year
– Clinical Skills Course
• 12 weeks of Adult
History and Physical
Exam
• 6 weeks of Pediatrics
History and Physical
Exam
10 Weeks to Study for the
USMLE Step 1
• Great Passing Rates
• Integrated Case
Studies
– PBL cases to prepare
you for the boards and
wards
Student Diversity
• Non traditional students
– Students range in age from 19-42
• Students from all across the country
– 70% of the class from outside of Pennsylvania
• Backgrounds
– Active student organizations such as SNMA,
APAMSA, LGBTPM, CMDS, etc…
• Talents
Enrichment Opportunities
• Joint Programs
– MD/PhD, MPH, MA Bioethics
• MBA
• Year of research
• Areas of Concentration (AOC)
Ample Goofing Off
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Costal Groove
PalPittations
Technology Committee
Strategy Gaming Club
Table Tennis League
Weekend Nightlife
Professional and Collegiate Sports
Parting Thoughts
• Learn about yourself and take advantage of your
strengths and weaknesses.
• Take advantage of the resources available.
• Immerse yourself in the dream.
• Build a network.
• Go to a medical school where you will be happy.
• You are choosing the school, the school is
choosing you, and you are both looking for the
best fit.
• Website address: www.medschool.pitt.edu