For privacy concerns: Although I freely reveal personal things about myself and about my life I’m always cognizant of privacy issues, and I respect a person’s/patient’s right to privacy. If I have any hesitation to write about someone else for any reason, I choose not to write about it at all. All names and identifying characteristics have been altered or deleted in order to protect confidentiality and conform to HIPAA guidelines. 28 year-old Steve may be 33-year old Rachel. These details are rarely the focus of my blogs. So remember (once again) that any names mentioned are either already public or they have been changed as well as the descriptions of environments.
For medical information:Welcome to the information age. There’s knowledge at your fingertips—and you can even play “self-diagnose” by visiting one of the many health websites on the Web. But please, for your safety and well-being, check with your doctor and confirm your diagnosis. One of the things that e-health websites can’t provide you with is experience; remember, just because you have the symptoms associated with diabetes doesn’t mean you have diabetes. You could just be dehydrated.
And just so we’re clear, read “A Missionary Doc in the Making” in the same light. Please refrain from using medical related things mentioned on this blog as medical advice. Please…please, visit your doctor for factual and reliable advice. (Source)
Hi Doctajay
I understand why you would want to keep certain aspects of your medical journey private but I was wondering how one would go about seeking permission to read the hidden blog posts, unless they are truly for your own personal logging.
Please respond to my email if there is a way.
Take care and God Bless
Hey Molly. Initially I was providing passwords, but after realizing how unpredictable the match process can be, I decided to keep all future posts about my interviews private until I match. I hope you understand.
I totally understand. I will patiently wait until after you match to see more of your blog.
Hi Dr. Jay,
I have a question for you. I was looking up some information about the University of Maryland School of Medicine and I randomly came across your blog. I see that you went to Loma Linda University for Medical School. I have been accepted to both LLU and University of Maryland for med school but im having hard time making a decision. I’ve been in adventist schooling all my life so going to Maryland will be a big change for me. I was wondering what your experience has been when you compare your time at Loma Linda with your time at Hopkins, which is not an adventist institution.
God Bless!
Hi Tammy, like you I was accepted to both, and I ultimately chose LLU. UMD is an amazing school with a lot of opportunities, but in my likely biased opinion I think LLU is better. The #1 reason is mission; while you can do mission work with UMD, it doesn’t hold a candle to the opportunities available at LLU. They pay for you to go all across the world and you are constantly surrounded by attendings and various physicians who are past missionaries who can guide you. #2 is their teaching method. LLU while not a household name on the east coast trains you to be an excellent clinician…truly. We beat out all of the other California schools in our standardized physican exam test every year for the past 12 years. Not just that but you learn how to incorporate God into your medical practice which you won’t get else where. # 3…you are in freaking california, so you can go to the beach and ski all on the same day. No where else is the terrain so unique. I’m in Baltimore now and trust me, you won’t be doing either here. Both are great, and again its a matter of prayer, but I certainly believe God’s hand is on LLU and yo u will be more well rounded coming from LLU.
Hello Dr. Jay,
I really appreciate you putting in the time to share your experiences with us. I’m a prospective student looking to go to LLU. However, my freshman year of college was abysmal. I went through so much, but God has continued to bless me and show me that I’m on the right path. I’ve just graduated and I’m looking to apply this coming cycle. How do you stay steadfast in your faith? Oftentimes, I get scared and forget what God has done for me and how far he has brought me. How do I remain strong and bold?
Hi Kofi, I apologize for such a late response. As you can probably see through out reading my blog, despite the many many times God proved to me that He was watching over me and caring for me, through every obstacle and through every test, when the next big obstacle arrived, I still doubted him. I am ashamed to say this was the truth for me. Its only now that I am in my early 30s that I am starting to break that cycle of disbelief. The first step for me was to remember that all because God was with me, that did not mean I wouldn’t face obstacles. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble
. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Second I started to make a point of writing in a separate journal all the times God delivered me from a huge test or trial. Then when the new trial or test arose, rather than fretting and doubting, I would refer to the journal. I called it my book of Deuteronomy. This helped me to remember God’s deeds for me in the past, even though I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel for my current test.
The journey to becoming a physician is long and hard; it shapes your character and makes you more resilient if you let it. Or it can break you down if you let it. I encourage you to keep a solid support group of God-fearing people who can prop you up even when your own walk with God falters as it often will during your training process. And of course I will always be available as a resource if you have any further questions.