Yes You Can! By Thomas Wiley, MD
Posted by oralboards on July 18, 2009
Are you stressed out about the Board of Radiology oral board exam? Are you buried under a sea of radiology textbooks with no idea where to start your studies? Are you tired of calling your friends for answers, only to be left with more questions? You tried radiology review courses, radiology teaching files and radiology review textbooks, but you were dismayed and overwhelmed by the endless amount of radiology information and material. You are not alone. Find the right tools here to pass the american board of radiology diagnostic radiology oral board examination in Louisville with less stress!The typical radiology resident goals for the radiology oral board exam include knowing everything about every subject in radiology, getting every question right on the american board of radiology oral examination, and passing the oral board without any stress or anxiety. Most residents believe that any subject in radiology is possible on the examination, and that possible examination scenarios cannot be predicted. Therefore, all radiology subjects must be studied thoroughly. No time is devoted to stress and anxiety management. Instead, the resident devotes as much time as possible to studying radiology images and x-rays. The goal of knowing everything in radiology is noble, but ultimately impossible for most. Fortunately, the vast majority of residents will learn enough to pass anyway.
5 Keys to Success to Radiology Oral Board Exam Success |
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| 1. Learn to manage anxiety. Anxiety is very high at the radiology oral board examination. Those who learn to manage their anxiety will excel, while those who do not will stumble 2. Be Average. Since the vast majority of board exam applicants pass, you are better off striving to be average. The average candidate passes. At the end of the day, you have a better chance of passing if the examiner remembers little about you. In my opinion, the more you differ from the norm in appearance, style, or personality, the greater chance that you may fall to one side of the bell curve. 3. Learn to Follow the Hints of the Board Examiner. Examiners only lead the candidate to a conclusion for two reasons. Usually they are trying to help you come to the correct conclusion. Occasionally they may be trying to see if you will choose to do something dangerous to the patient. When the examiner is leading you, ask yourself if following the lead would be dangerous to the patient. If not, follow the lead! If it would be dangerous, express your concern over patient safety. Do not argue with the examiner. Just state your safety concerns.4. Develop a Methodical Approach to Radiologic Image Evaluation. Those who do not develop a systematic approach to image interpretation will panic when the abnormality is not quickly apparent. The resultant anxiety could be difficult to overcome. In addition, sometimes more than one abnormality is present on the image. If you only talk about the first abnormality (satisfaction of search) you may not open your eyes to the other clues available. I like to use the geographic approach from outer to inner. Some people prefer an organ based approach. Use whatever works for you, but make sure that you make this a routine habit. You will not be able to do it at the oral board exam in a panic if you have not developed this as a subconscious habit.5. Develop a Methodical Approach to Differential Diagnosis (Interpretation). Similarly, if the answer is not readily apparent, many oral board candidates will panic. Successful candidates use a methodical approach to find categories of disease which could result in the findings. The systematic approach will reduce anxiety and panic. This approach only works if it is well practiced and routine. I personally like the CITMAN mnemonic. It is short and simple. Moreover, it covers most of the types of disease processes you will see.
More comprehensive differential diagnosis approaches exist, but I believe simple is better. |
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