BOARD REVIEW I CHEVON BROOKS, M.D. October 19, 2009

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PEDIATRIC GEN PEDS BOARD EXAM? Basic certification and licensure(competency)  Tasks, thought processes, decisions that are actually part of quality medical practice  Higher order thinking rather than simple factual recall (problem solving, clinical decision making)  Competency based (bread and butter, less attn to cutting edge)

WHERE DO I START?  Content specification  Registration, deadlines, test blueprint  Policies and procedures  You need a permanent state medical license which must be submitted in order to sit

GA medical license Georgia composite medical board- medicalboard.georgia.gov  Application- online or paper  Cost: $400  USMLE transcript-contact FSMB (online or paper)-$50  Need to pass Step 3 prior to application  US grads- need 1 year of residency completed  Intl grads- need 3 years of residency completed

2010 General Pediatrics Registration and Examination Dates Date of Administration: October 18, 2010 Written examination held in various cities throughout the United States Registration TypeRegistration Dates New Applicant - Regular December 1, February 25, 2010 (3:00 pm EST) New Applicant - Late (late fee required) February 26, May 6, 2010 (3:00 pm EDT) Re-Registrant - Regular February 16, May 6, 2010 (3:00 pm EDT) Re-Registrant - Late (late fee required) May 7, May 27, 2010 (3:00 pm EDT)

2010 General Pediatrics Registration and Examination Dates Date of Administration: October 18, 2010 Written examination held in various cities throughout the United States General Pediatrics Fees General Pediatrics fees are charged to your credit card (Visa/MasterCard) at the time you submit your online application. The fees, which include the non-refundable processing fee are listed below: Registration Type2010 Calendar Year Fees Regular Registration$2, Late Registration$2, Late Fee$305.00

What is the test format? Once per year- October Multiple choice, single best answer- 5 responses Majority case scenarios 5-10% include graphics or illustrations 2 sessions, 3.5 hrs/each separated by lunch min/question Minimum pass 72% +/ % each year

WHERE DO I START? Learning style Nelson’s PREP Pediatrics in Review Zitelli’s Atlas of pediatric physical diagnosis Content specifications Medstudy Cleveland Clinic Live board review courses or taped Laughing your Way through the Pediatric boards

WHEN SHOULD I START PREPARING? YESTERDAY!  Don’t panic, you should start now.

WHEN SHOULD I PREPARE? EVERY DAY!  Start a study plan where you have dedicated time every day.  Remember, your patients help you study On call- review the pathologies you admit and on other teams. Read around your cases!

OK, BREATHE… Anxiety reducing  Positive affirmation  Positive visions  Breathing  Meditation  Exercise  Preparation- started my board prep Sept 2007 THIS IS A MARATHON, NOT A RACE!

My refrigerator- be specific!

Study techniques Learning style Do what works for you   preferences which are a part of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator  structured specifically to improve learning and teaching; our preferences for taking information into the brain and communicating them "outside".  Preferences are not strengths

PRE- READING STRATEGIES Strategies to activate your prior knowledge:

Brainstorming:  Examine the title of the selection you are about to read  List all the information that comes to mind about this title  Use these pieces of information to recall and understand the material  Use this knowledge to reframe or reorder what you know, or to note what you disagree with, for further research Group discussions:  group discussions in and out of class will help you to discover what you bring to your reading, what your fellow students bring, as well as shared experiences If you find they have new background information, ask for more information from them Concept or mind mapping:  type of brainstorming where you place the title/subject as the main idea, then develop a "mind map" around it.

Pre-questions: Often chapters in texts provide organizing questions. write out a series of questions you expect to be answered when reading: Definition What is....? Where does... fit? What group does... belong to? Characteristics How would I describe...? What does... look like? What are its parts? Examples What is a good example of...? What are similar examples that share attributes but differ in some way? Experience What experience have I had with....? What can I imagine about...?

Visual Aids  Pictures and other visual material can activate your prior knowledge.  Use the Internet to search for pictures related to your title/topic to give you visual images of what you are about to read. Advance Organizers  Relate new reading material to something you already know, to your background or experiences.

Study techniques SQ3R- survey, question, read, recite, review 

KWL: This strategy consists of three steps for students to use with expository text: What do I Know? What do I Want to learn? What did I Learn? A good strategy for group discussions Develop a three column poster with each question in a column and list out responses.

Board review curriculum Different organ system/ topic area Q1-2 months 1 st 10 min- 10 question quiz Resident led topic review with faculty facilitation and faculty led reviews  Specific portion of content specifications  Method of delivery-ANY! Be creative; this does not have to be a lecture! Games, pictures, mind maps, etc.

Devise a plan and make yourself accountable (obtain help from advisor/attendings)  Revise your study plan for on call/post call, study more when you have weekends off/lighter duty rotations Use your ITE to make your study plan Read material, then do questions Least knowledgeable subjects 1st “The journey of one thousand miles begins with one step.” –Lao Tzu