how often?

<p>How often in med school, do students have to do presentations? I heard that it’s everyday that students have to do some sort of presentation. I am not that good with presentations, but I can handle it.</p>

<p>Depends what you mean by presentations...</p>

<p>Third and fourth year, and even earlier with your preceptor in 1st and 2nd, you'll present patients after you've completed your History and Physical...</p>

<p>Typical arrangement is you will round your patients first in the morning, as well as take care of any new admits. You'll proceed with taking the history and doing a physical exam if necessary for all the patients you are taking care of. You'll then go through and present your pt to your resident which is basically describing what you saw, what you did, any results, and then what you think the diagnosis is and why, and what you plan to do about it. Your resident then will ask you questions, did you do this test etc., which is called "pimping" M3's. You'll then go into together, the resident checking to see if you missed anything, and you'll both work on the pt together. The process then repeats with you and your resident getting pimped by the cheif resident or the attending.</p>

<p>So really these are presentations, but it's not like you have time to set up a powerpoint, or do them in front of 50 people.</p>

<p>Depending on the medical school, first and second years may have presentations, but they are likely clinical, and you'll be plenty prepared for them.</p>

<p>Thanks for replying. So, you are saying that there is only one person, the resident, we have to present to. There won't be more than one resident? I don't think it will be the same way in every med school.</p>

<p>In the clinical setting, it will be the resident, that you have to present to on your own. Rounds with chief resident or attendings may also require you to present the patient, and so there will be more people around. This may vary slightly from rotation to rotation, but for the most part be fairly consistent from hospital to hospital. </p>

<p>For you're pre-clinic years, the number of presentations will vary from school to school based on curriculum. Some problem based learning curriculums may require constant presentations to your small group about what you learned. But not all med schools are on such a curriculum or even utilize parts of that curriculum in there programs (though a lot do have case sessions in this format, even if they are in more traditional model of teaching)</p>

<p>Overall, though, I think you are worrying about this too much. Presenting a patient is not that difficult and not like a presentation you do in HS or in undergrad. Your trying to quickly and precisely explain the important parts of the history and physical, not everything you found out about the patient. And you aren't graded on them.</p>