An interview with a recent board passer
Gotta check this out before PLE!
Hello! I’d like to start today’s newsletter by sending THANKS to all our new subscribers! You guys rock!!
I bet you found me on Twitter. If not, here’s my account: Road to White Coat and don’t forget to follow or say Hi!
For this issue, I’d like to introduce Dr. JM Villanueva, who recently passed the Physician Licensure Exam (PLE). I met Dr. Villanueva when I was moonlighting in a private hospital close to my home.
He was one of the reliable, devoted, and sharp nurses I met while working as an emergency room resident physician. You’ll appreciate working with these types of nurses because you get that feeling of being a team where they know how to position themselves in every situation.
Fast forward to the present, he is now a colleague. Knowing his work ethic and characteristics, I’m not surprised he finished medical school in no time. With his quick-wittedness, brilliant mind and tenacity, I’m pretty sure his patients are acquiring the best care they can get!
Today, we are lucky to have him answer a few questions to pick his brain about Physician Licensure Exam (PLE) and to give future examinees some tips.
Q&A with Dr. JM Villanueva
Road to White Coat (RTWC): Among the subjects in PLE, which is the hardest for you and why?
Dr. Villanueva: Biochemistry. I didn't study enough for it, and my retention on topics I never really liked is pretty poor.
Anyone here who’s having a tough time on Biochemistry as well? Check out this playlist on Biochemistry and Genetics: YouTube. Hope it helps!
RTWC: What do you attribute to your success?
Dr. Villanueva: Definitely, my passion for medicine. My child-like wonder never really went away from learning new things or making much sense out of a concept I previously had a shallow understanding of.
RTWC: Could you mention ONE bad decision in studying for the boards?
Dr. Villanueva: Attempting to memorize. Studying for short-term memory retention never really works for me. But I still attempted to do it thus the unnecessary stress.
I know how hard it is to do it. But we somehow need it for exams. So, here’s a method you can use: Memorization through visualization (click to watch the video)
RTWC: Please share a tip or advice for those who will take PLE soon.
Dr. Villanueva: The preparation for the boards starts from the moment you decide to enter medical school. The attitude and motivation toward the profession define how well you will do in the licensure examinations.
If you are still in your 1st year, start grinding now. Start making your mnemonics now. Start reading a book chapter two to three times now.
Oooh! I can sense the pressure! How about taking a break and finding out how to speed read? Watch Tim Ferriss’s 9-minute explanatory video.
RTWC: Thank you so much, doc! Do you want to promote your service/s?
Dr. Villanueva: I conduct AHA & HSI courses (BLS, ACLS, PALS) through Emergency Medical Institute Training Center & The Resuscitation Group. For inquiries, please ring the contact number below. Thank you :)
✆ 09157336028
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