Anarcha Westcott & J. Marion Sims, "The Father of Modern Gynecology"

Anarcha Westcott (1828 - ???) was an enslaved African woman who was forced to undergo a series of painful surgical procedures at the hands of J. Marion Sims. He was attempting to devise a surgical method of treating vesicovaginal fistulas and rectovaginal fistulas. Very little is known about Anarcha but we do know that Sims performed 30 experimental surgeries on her before closing her fistula. She was given no anesthesia because the science of the day said that Black bodies did not feel pain. She did, however, receive opium after the surgical procedure and some writings suggest that she may have been addicted to the substance.

History went on to remember Sims as the “Father of Modern Gynecology” while Anarcha has been largely forgotten in the hallowed halls of the nation’s medical schools and other health professions training programs.

Remember Anarcha and the countless other Black women who endured the horrors that J Marion Sims inflicted on their bodies so that women today can have access to gynecological treatments.

#blackhistorymonth2020 #jmarionsims #medicalethics

Dr. Ernest Everett Just

Dr. Ernest Everett Just (1883-1941) was a pioneering biologist whose early work led to many of the precepts that we understand today in the fields of embryology, marine biology, and cytology. He was one of the first American biologists to understand the importance of the surface of the cell membrane to the proper development of organisms. Dr. Just authored two books and over 70 peer reviewed papers. He also was instrumental in the founding of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. at Howard University on November 17, 1911. Dr. Just earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago where he specialized in experimental embryology.

“We feel the beauty of nature because we are part of nature and because we know that however much in our separate domains we abstract from the unity of nature, this unity remains. Although we may deal with particulars, we return finally to the whole pattern woven out of these.” —Ernest Everett Just

#Blackhistorymonth #BlackmeninSTEM #Blackmaninawhitecoat

The MMI, or Multiple Mini Interview: What to expect

Tomorrow, I interview with University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) and I’ll be exposed to the MMI, or multiple mini-interview, format. This will be new for me and I am not 100% sure regarding what to expect.

From what I understand, the MMI was developed at McMaster University School of Medicine and in its traditional format, students rotate through six to 10 interview stations that each have a different question. The questions may assess critical thinking, compassion, ethical competency, cultural humility, teamwork, analytical ability, current events, role play, etc. My take is that medical schools who use this format for the interviews are looking at whether or not the student fits the culture of the school.

UIWSOM required that we sign a non-disclosure agreement so I can’t discuss the exact format of the MMI or the questions that will be asked. But from what I can tell, there will be six to 10 stations, each lasting 5 to 8 minutes in length. Overall, the day is supposed to last for about two hours and the stations are supposed to be conversational in nature. It seems to me that the MMI will give students more of an opportunity to shine as opposed to the traditional one-on-one interviews. For example, if you bombed one station, you have the ability to redeem yourself on the next. You also have the opportunity to show your depth and breadth of knowledge over various topics. Ultimately, I think that MMI may give you the chance to show that you are a well-rounded individual.

How have I been preparing for the MMI? Even though UIWSOM has students sign a non-disclosure agreement, I saw on Student Doctor Network, on the UIWSOM Interview Feedback page, that students have discussed the interview experience. I reviewed some of those questions and then I reviewed this MMI Blog that I found on BeMo. It has 200 MMI questions that cover various topics. Finally, I reviewed the Student Doctor Network thread, "Top 8 Strategies to Prepare for and ACE your MMI." The site has some reasonable tips. Obviously, I have no idea of what topics may show up on my UIWSOM interview, but I think that the practice has allowed me to get familiar with a variety of topics. I timed myself to ensure that all of my answers were two to three minutes in length.

I guess I am prepared. Or something like that. I’ll be back to share how the day went along with my perspectives, those that I can share anyway, on the interview!