GEISINGER COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Supporting your medical student
Your loved one is starting medical school at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Medical school is challenging, and your student will need your support. This brochure, created with student input, is designed to help you make sure they’re successful.
The transition to medical school
For most students, medical school is much more demanding than college. They may face challenges such as:
• Adapting to new responsibilities
• Adjusting to new social environments
• Doubting their abilities or if they deserve to attend medical school, often called “impostor syndrome”
Fortunately, with the right support, your loved one can manage this transition.
Congratulations!
Medical students share their wisdom
You and your loved one can benefit from the knowledge gained by students who’ve already transitioned to Geisinger Commonwealth. We asked them about their journey into medical school. Here’s what we learned:
• Almost half the students who responded found the transition difficult, mainly due to changing study habits, stress and imposter syndrome.
• More than half the students said the transition affected their mental health and well-being due to:
» Academic stress
» Isolation
» Difficulty managing priorities, including relationships with friends and family
• Almost all students had to change their study habits to meet the demands of medical school.
Students at other medical schools have similar experiences. And certain circumstances, such as being a first-generation student or balancing family responsibilities, can add extra challenges.
How Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine supports students
We’re committed to your student’s success. We offer a range of resources to help them, including:
• Faculty office hours for academic support
• A Center for Learning Excellence that provides academic advising, peer mentoring, peer tutoring and accessibility support
• A Center for Career Development and Career Pathways Program, which provide mentoring and career planning support
• A Center for Student Wellness that offers a Transitions Program, Wake Up and Learn to promote healthy sleep and Early Alert, which helps students monitor their well-being
• A Center for Student Affairs and Engagement, which organizes student clubs and campus activities
• Physical health services
• Mental health and counseling services
• CARE Team, a group of faculty and staff who help students deal with stress
• First-Generation Committee, providing guidance and resources for first generation students
• Fitness facilities, recreation space, an interfaith meditation and prayer room, and a multicultural space
• Financial counseling
What can you do?
Most importantly, keep in mind that even hard-working, determined students can face difficulties. And struggling doesn’t mean they’re failing. To show your support:
• Understand that students may have to put school above relationships during the transition. Try to be sympathetic if they miss an event with family or friends.
• Keep in contact with your student, even if they haven’t reached out to you. A simple text message or thoughtful gift can help them feel connected to family and friends.
• Send care packages that include items your student loves and finds comfort in, like family and pet photos and a favorite snack.
• Gently remind them to get enough sleep, healthy food, exercise and quiet time.
• Normalize the concept of taking breaks and downtime to recharge.
• Tell them often that you’re proud of them and believe they can succeed.
• Learn about imposter syndrome and listen when they talk about feeling insecure.
• Urge them to seek professional mental health care if needed. Individual therapy and support groups can be helpful.
• Remind them that seeking a tutor or other help doesn’t mean they’re less capable than other students. Advisers can also provide valuable support and guidance.
Working together, we can help your loved one thrive and excel in their medical education.
Appendix A: Glossary of terms
This glossary includes words you’ll likely hear from your student during the next four years. We hope this helps you understand their experience and supports your connection during medical school.
Phase 1: The first 18 months of medical school, when students study things like basic science and develop clinical skills.
Case-based learning (CBL): Teams of about 8 students analyze real patient cases, learning how to apply classroom knowledge to patient care.
Flipped classroom: Students watch videos before class, so they’re ready for classroom discussion.
Imposter syndrome (imposter phenomenon): Feelings of doubt in one’s abilities, feelings of being a fraud or not deserving what one worked for, despite being very capable.
Longitudinal Clinical Experience (LCE): LCE pairs students with Geisinger Primary Care doctors for hands-on learning.
Physician and Patient Centered Care (PPCC): In this course, students learn how to communicate with patients and take good notes.
Standardized patient (SP): This is a person paid to act as a patient to help students learn basic patientcare skills.
STEP 1: USMLE Step 1 is an 8-hours exam that tests students’ science knowledge. It’s the first standardized test required for medical licensure.
United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE): This is a three-step examination that students must pass to be licensed in the United States. The first two exams are typically taken during medical school and results are shared with prospective residency programs. The third exam is usually completed after graduation from medical school. Exams are often referred to as “Step.”
Workshop/Integrated Science Course (ISC): Groups of 3 to 5 students work together to solve questions based on their course material and present their answers in class.
Phase 2: Also called Core Clinical Immersion, this is the third year of medical school. Students learn about multiple disciplines over 13 months. Required rotations at Geisinger Commonwealth include internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology and ambulatory medicine.
Attending physician/preceptor: A fully trained doctor who oversees medical teams, including medical students and residents.
Bridge week: A week of preparation between rotations and clerkships.
Chief/chief resident: A senior resident overseeing other residents and medical students.
EMR: Electronic Medical Record, where patient health information is kept.
Inpatient care: Medical care provided in a hospital.
Intern: A first-year resident.
Outpatient care: Medical care provided outside of hospitals.
Residency: A post-medical school training program (3 to 7 years) where graduates receive specialized training in their chosen medical field. Also known as graduate medical education (GME).
Resident: A post-graduate doctor receiving special training in their chosen medical field.
Rotations/clerkships: Hospital and office-based training periods for students under physician supervision, involving patient care, note-writing and more.
Shelf exam: Formally known as the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) exam, these subject exams (~3 hours) are taken by students at the end of each rotation/ clerkship.
Specialty: A medical field in which a physician specializes, such as pediatrics, surgery, dermatology or psychiatry.
STEP 2: USMLE Step 2 is a 9-hour exam that tests clinical knowledge, including medical treatments, medications and diseases/conditions. Scores are shared with prospective residency programs.
Phase 3: Also known as Career Differentiation and Exploration, this traditional fourth year of medical school covers emergency medicine and critical care medicine. Students can also explore electives over 15 months.
Away rotation: Rotation within the student's intended specialty that allow them to explore programs that interest them.
Match Day: On the third Friday in March, students learn where they've been placed for residency training, often celebrated with family and friends during an envelopeopening ceremony.
The Match: Formally known as the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Students are matched to residency programs.
525 Pine St., Scranton, PA 18509 • geisinger.edu/education Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Geisinger College of Health Sciences • 525 Pine St. • Scranton, PA 18509 Geisinger College of Health Sciences is committed to non-discrimination in all employment and educational opportunities.
