[Applause] how many times a day did you take out
how many times a day did you take out
how many times a day did you take out your phone to Google something that you
your phone to Google something that you
your phone to Google something that you vaguely remember it’s always some very
vaguely remember it’s always some very
vaguely remember it’s always some very small consequential facts to you at that
small consequential facts to you at that
small consequential facts to you at that moment and it’s embedded at the back of
moment and it’s embedded at the back of
moment and it’s embedded at the back of your brain now I checked my browsing
your brain now I checked my browsing
your brain now I checked my browsing history and on the average workday I
history and on the average workday I
history and on the average workday I Google about 60 factoids a day so I
Google about 60 factoids a day so I
Google about 60 factoids a day so I might sound a little excessive and I
might sound a little excessive and I
might sound a little excessive and I might seem a little anxiety prone or I
might seem a little anxiety prone or I
might seem a little anxiety prone or I might just be a medical student I’m a
might just be a medical student I’m a
might just be a medical student I’m a third-year at Baylor College of Medicine
third-year at Baylor College of Medicine
third-year at Baylor College of Medicine and throughout the years of our training
and throughout the years of our training
and throughout the years of our training we continuously commit these small but
we continuously commit these small but
we continuously commit these small but very consequential fast to memory in
very consequential fast to memory in
very consequential fast to memory in diagrams like these every single label
diagrams like these every single label
diagrams like these every single label and connection counts because well every
and connection counts because well every
and connection counts because well every single one of them can cause disease
single one of them can cause disease
single one of them can cause disease every single one of them can be a threat
every single one of them can be a threat
every single one of them can be a threat to the health of a patient and this one
to the health of a patient and this one
to the health of a patient and this one is a scientifically accurate diagram of
is a scientifically accurate diagram of
is a scientifically accurate diagram of what my brain looks like sometimes so
what my brain looks like sometimes so
what my brain looks like sometimes so how do you remember all these you can
how do you remember all these you can
how do you remember all these you can always try crash cards that’s the first
always try crash cards that’s the first
always try crash cards that’s the first method we usually turn to it’s pretty
method we usually turn to it’s pretty
method we usually turn to it’s pretty simple a straight board it gets the job
simple a straight board it gets the job
simple a straight board it gets the job done most of the time and it just
done most of the time and it just
done most of the time and it just becomes a giant game of patching right
becomes a giant game of patching right
becomes a giant game of patching right but flash cards are the definition of
but flash cards are the definition of
but flash cards are the definition of two-dimensional right you flip from one
two-dimensional right you flip from one
two-dimensional right you flip from one side to the other side and information
side to the other side and information
side to the other side and information can be three or four or five dimensions
can be three or four or five dimensions
can be three or four or five dimensions really information can have if you think
really information can have if you think
really information can have if you think about it as many dimensions as it wants
about it as many dimensions as it wants
about it as many dimensions as it wants so there have to be better ways to
so there have to be better ways to
so there have to be better ways to remember this one alternative that I’m
remember this one alternative that I’m
remember this one alternative that I’m sure many of you are is not device so
here are two examples the one of course
here are two examples the one of course on the left
on the left
on the left we’re preferable because it’s shorter
we’re preferable because it’s shorter
we’re preferable because it’s shorter and features a free animal and the one
and features a free animal and the one
and features a free animal and the one on the right a little more wordy and
on the right a little more wordy and
on the right a little more wordy and roundabouts but you know whatever helps
roundabouts but you know whatever helps
roundabouts but you know whatever helps right another idea that we have is a
right another idea that we have is a
right another idea that we have is a common Association so this is when you
common Association so this is when you
common Association so this is when you associate something that you’re trying
associate something that you’re trying
associate something that you’re trying to learn what’s something that you
to learn what’s something that you
to learn what’s something that you already know by heart for example here
already know by heart for example here
already know by heart for example here you can connect the normal cardiac
you can connect the normal cardiac
you can connect the normal cardiac pressures with the values of a nickel a
pressures with the values of a nickel a
pressures with the values of a nickel a quarter and a dime but these methods
quarter and a dime but these methods
quarter and a dime but these methods still are limited by how little
still are limited by how little
still are limited by how little information you can really compress into
information you can really compress into
information you can really compress into each memory hook or each snippet and if
each memory hook or each snippet and if
each memory hook or each snippet and if the problem with flashcards like we said
the problem with flashcards like we said
the problem with flashcards like we said was that they were very two-dimensional
was that they were very two-dimensional
was that they were very two-dimensional and why don’t we try something a little
and why don’t we try something a little
and why don’t we try something a little more 3d
more 3d
more 3d it’d be something like these diagrams or
it’d be something like these diagrams or
it’d be something like these diagrams or flowcharts right so on one hand you can
flowcharts right so on one hand you can
flowcharts right so on one hand you can go through and make flashcards for every
go through and make flashcards for every
go through and make flashcards for every single one of these connections and
single one of these connections and
single one of these connections and memorize by brute force or you can learn
memorize by brute force or you can learn
memorize by brute force or you can learn the system it’s a lot more compressible
the system it’s a lot more compressible
the system it’s a lot more compressible that way so I’m sure you’re all thinking
that way so I’m sure you’re all thinking
that way so I’m sure you’re all thinking wow I would love to spend that time
wow I would love to spend that time
wow I would love to spend that time memorizing those tidbits of information
memorizing those tidbits of information
memorizing those tidbits of information what can I sign up for my school what
what can I sign up for my school what
what can I sign up for my school what four plus years of memorizing day in and
four plus years of memorizing day in and
four plus years of memorizing day in and day out can get exhausting and so many
day out can get exhausting and so many
day out can get exhausting and so many times during the last three I kept
times during the last three I kept
times during the last three I kept saying to myself what am I doing here
saying to myself what am I doing here
saying to myself what am I doing here what are we accomplishing really what’s
what are we accomplishing really what’s
what are we accomplishing really what’s our goal and for a good one and a half
our goal and for a good one and a half
our goal and for a good one and a half years I really didn’t have any good
years I really didn’t have any good
years I really didn’t have any good answer it was then that we started
answer it was then that we started
answer it was then that we started clinical rotations and this is a chance
clinical rotations and this is a chance
clinical rotations and this is a chance for us to compress all those flashcards
for us to compress all those flashcards
for us to compress all those flashcards the mnemonics the diagrams and to real
the mnemonics the diagrams and to real
the mnemonics the diagrams and to real patients and real diseases more
patients and real diseases more
patients and real diseases more imporantly you stick all the theoretical
imporantly you stick all the theoretical
imporantly you stick all the theoretical medicine
medicine
medicine of pace and that’s really invaluable
it was those cases those narratives that
it was those cases those narratives that I witnessed that really made the medical
I witnessed that really made the medical
I witnessed that really made the medical knowledge more memorable and in those
knowledge more memorable and in those
knowledge more memorable and in those cases that we wrote up or presented
cases that we wrote up or presented
cases that we wrote up or presented I remember those details exactly from
I remember those details exactly from
I remember those details exactly from their presenting signs and symptoms
their presenting signs and symptoms
their presenting signs and symptoms their diagnosis and treatment and after
their diagnosis and treatment and after
their diagnosis and treatment and after seeing series of patients we can
seeing series of patients we can
seeing series of patients we can identify trends and identify healthcare
identify trends and identify healthcare
identify trends and identify healthcare issues for example at our flagship
issues for example at our flagship
issues for example at our flagship County Hospital
County Hospital
County Hospital we often see the lack of access that
we often see the lack of access that
we often see the lack of access that many populations still unfortunately
many populations still unfortunately
many populations still unfortunately face immigrants refugees the homeless
face immigrants refugees the homeless
face immigrants refugees the homeless the uninsured and this is important
the uninsured and this is important
the uninsured and this is important because I believe that it is also our
because I believe that it is also our
because I believe that it is also our responsibility to be on the lookout for
responsibility to be on the lookout for
responsibility to be on the lookout for wide-ranging health care issues and not
wide-ranging health care issues and not
wide-ranging health care issues and not just to care for the patient who happens
just to care for the patient who happens
just to care for the patient who happens to be directly in front of us at that
to be directly in front of us at that
to be directly in front of us at that time so I got into the habit of writing
time so I got into the habit of writing
time so I got into the habit of writing these out when I saw them I really just
these out when I saw them I really just
these out when I saw them I really just wanted to tell their stories and try to
wanted to tell their stories and try to
wanted to tell their stories and try to cast light on those issues I hand and by
cast light on those issues I hand and by
cast light on those issues I hand and by narrating them the facts became a lot
narrating them the facts became a lot
narrating them the facts became a lot easier to remember so there’s a lot of
easier to remember so there’s a lot of
easier to remember so there’s a lot of room for creativity here luckily
room for creativity here luckily
room for creativity here luckily nowadays there are so many methods
nowadays there are so many methods
nowadays there are so many methods through which to tell our stories right
through which to tell our stories right
through which to tell our stories right so you can write and we can prevent and
so you can write and we can prevent and
so you can write and we can prevent and we can create in so myriad ways we’re in
we can create in so myriad ways we’re in
we can create in so myriad ways we’re in an age where really the sky’s our limit
an age where really the sky’s our limit
an age where really the sky’s our limit advocacy telling those stories and
advocacy telling those stories and
advocacy telling those stories and trying to make them heard is what really
trying to make them heard is what really
trying to make them heard is what really made those facts stick with me and so I
made those facts stick with me and so I
made those facts stick with me and so I believe that this is the best method to
believe that this is the best method to
believe that this is the best method to remember and this applies no matter what
remember and this applies no matter what
remember and this applies no matter what feels you’re in right always uncover
feels you’re in right always uncover
feels you’re in right always uncover those issues
those issues
those issues that are most important to you and
that are most important to you and
that are most important to you and narrate them and we all have it in us
narrate them and we all have it in us
narrate them and we all have it in us because if you think about it we all
because if you think about it we all
because if you think about it we all witness things that no one else sees and
witness things that no one else sees and
witness things that no one else sees and it’s easy to narrate when those
it’s easy to narrate when those
it’s easy to narrate when those narratives are handed to us and not only
narratives are handed to us and not only
narratives are handed to us and not only do we eat well attention where attention
do we eat well attention where attention
do we eat well attention where attention is due we look at the added benefit of
is due we look at the added benefit of
is due we look at the added benefit of having the facts stuck in our memory
having the facts stuck in our memory
having the facts stuck in our memory without the painful memorization of
without the painful memorization of
without the painful memorization of looking back and forth through
looking back and forth through
looking back and forth through flashcards but let’s take this back to
flashcards but let’s take this back to
flashcards but let’s take this back to the goal that we started with which was
the goal that we started with which was
the goal that we started with which was memorization sometimes those narratives
memorization sometimes those narratives
memorization sometimes those narratives aren’t just handed to us sometimes we
aren’t just handed to us sometimes we
aren’t just handed to us sometimes we have to make our own and not only can
have to make our own and not only can
have to make our own and not only can those techniques help us in the advocacy
those techniques help us in the advocacy
those techniques help us in the advocacy of important issues I think that they
of important issues I think that they
of important issues I think that they can also help us with the plain
can also help us with the plain
can also help us with the plain memorization of hard facts very mundane
memorization of hard facts very mundane
memorization of hard facts very mundane items so let’s take an example with
items so let’s take an example with
items so let’s take an example with something that I think is pretty
something that I think is pretty
something that I think is pretty commonplace a grocery list let’s say
commonplace a grocery list let’s say
commonplace a grocery list let’s say that you promised your hungry friends
that you promised your hungry friends
that you promised your hungry friends that you were gonna make them hamburgers
that you were gonna make them hamburgers
that you were gonna make them hamburgers because you were trying to be a nice
because you were trying to be a nice
because you were trying to be a nice person
person
person and you put this off a little bit so you
and you put this off a little bit so you
and you put this off a little bit so you only have strip for one all right time
only have strip for one all right time
only have strip for one all right time for one trips to the grocery store so
for one trips to the grocery store so
for one trips to the grocery store so you can’t forget anything so you have
you can’t forget anything so you have
you can’t forget anything so you have our essential hamburger supplies and
our essential hamburger supplies and
our essential hamburger supplies and some random items throw in all right
some random items throw in all right
some random items throw in all right let’s start with a mnemonic we look at
let’s start with a mnemonic we look at
let’s start with a mnemonic we look at the first list the essential items that
the first list the essential items that
the first list the essential items that we talked about you can see that we can
we talked about you can see that we can
we talked about you can see that we can take a mnemonic chop with some of them
take a mnemonic chop with some of them
take a mnemonic chop with some of them right or cheese hamburger patties onions
right or cheese hamburger patties onions
right or cheese hamburger patties onions and pickles and chop of course reminds
and pickles and chop of course reminds
and pickles and chop of course reminds me of cooking so it ties into the theme
me of cooking so it ties into the theme
me of cooking so it ties into the theme making better memory hook that leaves us
making better memory hook that leaves us
making better memory hook that leaves us with three more items on our essential
now we can take a shortcut and just say
now we can take a shortcut and just say our chef is making a BLT in in there but
our chef is making a BLT in in there but
our chef is making a BLT in in there but the purpose of demonstration let’s add a
the purpose of demonstration let’s add a
the purpose of demonstration let’s add a little more narrative in other words
little more narrative in other words
little more narrative in other words more action like a process now it looks
more action like a process now it looks
more action like a process now it looks like a chef it’s having up some
like a chef it’s having up some
like a chef it’s having up some vegetables you know maybe like what you
vegetables you know maybe like what you
vegetables you know maybe like what you would use to make a casserole and from
would use to make a casserole and from
would use to make a casserole and from what I understand they’re making
what I understand they’re making
what I understand they’re making casseroles that are simple because you
casseroles that are simple because you
casseroles that are simple because you left up and do all the work so all you
left up and do all the work so all you
left up and do all the work so all you have to do is bake it and time it and
have to do is bake it and time it and
have to do is bake it and time it and leave it that right so easy and L which
leave it that right so easy and L which
leave it that right so easy and L which is on tomatoes and Liz that creates a
is on tomatoes and Liz that creates a
is on tomatoes and Liz that creates a process and more of a story within all
process and more of a story within all
process and more of a story within all right that leaves us with only the four
right that leaves us with only the four
right that leaves us with only the four random items I talked about so let’s get
random items I talked about so let’s get
random items I talked about so let’s get rid of gummy bears by making our your de
rid of gummy bears by making our your de
rid of gummy bears by making our your de Fora headless chef a bear and I know
Fora headless chef a bear and I know
Fora headless chef a bear and I know that gummy bears are pretty essential to
that gummy bears are pretty essential to
that gummy bears are pretty essential to my diet so you know I want to Center
my diet so you know I want to Center
my diet so you know I want to Center that is the narrative that leaves us
that is the narrative that leaves us
that is the narrative that leaves us with only three more to account for well
with only three more to account for well
with only three more to account for well let’s think about this logically since
let’s think about this logically since
let’s think about this logically since we’ve been obviously doing that all
we’ve been obviously doing that all
we’ve been obviously doing that all along it looks like our chef is maybe a
along it looks like our chef is maybe a
along it looks like our chef is maybe a grizzly bear so it makes sense that
grizzly bear so it makes sense that
grizzly bear so it makes sense that maybe he’s making this casserole for the
maybe he’s making this casserole for the
maybe he’s making this casserole for the Grizzlies State Fair
and I really like this one because the
and I really like this one because the mnemonic actually sounds like the words
mnemonic actually sounds like the words
mnemonic actually sounds like the words but it’s ghost and pork because Lee
but it’s ghost and pork because Lee
but it’s ghost and pork because Lee sounds like great with the jira sound
sounds like great with the jira sound
sounds like great with the jira sound state sounds with kind of sounds like
state sounds with kind of sounds like
state sounds with kind of sounds like sea salt it’s strong as some cheese
sea salt it’s strong as some cheese
sea salt it’s strong as some cheese sounds and fair of course both one
sounds and fair of course both one
sounds and fair of course both one syllable words start with F and Edwin R
syllable words start with F and Edwin R
syllable words start with F and Edwin R so we have our school story of our
so we have our school story of our
so we have our school story of our gummybear chef who’s talking
gummybear chef who’s talking
gummybear chef who’s talking chopped any for cheese hamburger patties
chopped any for cheese hamburger patties
chopped any for cheese hamburger patties onions and pickles and making a
onions and pickles and making a
onions and pickles and making a casserole which she will bake in time
casserole which she will bake in time
casserole which she will bake in time and leave or on tomatoes and lettuce to
and leave or on tomatoes and lettuce to
and leave or on tomatoes and lettuce to bring to the grisly State Fair for
bring to the grisly State Fair for
bring to the grisly State Fair for grapes sea salt and flour well I
grapes sea salt and flour well I
grapes sea salt and flour well I wouldn’t really recommend doing this
wouldn’t really recommend doing this
wouldn’t really recommend doing this with all of your grocery list for the
with all of your grocery list for the
with all of your grocery list for the handy things that you really need to
handy things that you really need to
handy things that you really need to memorize on the go
memorize on the go
memorize on the go I believe that narrative techniques can
I believe that narrative techniques can
I believe that narrative techniques can really help so let’s go back to the
really help so let’s go back to the
really help so let’s go back to the bottom line whatever you do and wherever
bottom line whatever you do and wherever
bottom line whatever you do and wherever you are take those important issues the
you are take those important issues the
you are take those important issues the things that really matters you can
things that really matters you can
things that really matters you can create a narrative to remember them and
create a narrative to remember them and
create a narrative to remember them and if it’s an issue of importance then tell
if it’s an issue of importance then tell
if it’s an issue of importance then tell others about it you should advocate for
others about it you should advocate for
others about it you should advocate for it and I think that will find that
it and I think that will find that
it and I think that will find that memorization of the facts will then
memorization of the facts will then
memorization of the facts will then become the easy part
become the easy part
become the easy part [Applause]
”
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