The fruits of modern civilization – the towering skyscrapers we inhabit, the cars we drive, the rich and diverse foods we consume – are all reflections of a society that has shifted its backbone from agriculture to manufacturing, from rustic villages to sprawling metropolises. However, the marvel of industrialization is tainted with a deadly irony: the same fossil fuels that have ignited the fires of human progress have also filled our atmosphere with a noxious cocktail of pollutants, casting a shadow over the health and longevity of all living organisms. This is the bitter reality of air poll ..read more

As we teeter on the precipice of planetary health, we grapple with a daunting realization – humanity’s future hinges precariously on the well-being of our home, Earth. We’ve crossed a line, breaching multiple planetary boundaries, the safety barriers of our existence. We’ve inflicted irreversible damage on our atmosphere, ecosystems, and biodiversity, crossing a threshold that pushes us into uncharted territory. The interconnectedness of our actions has revealed itself in climate change, biodiversity loss, and the omnipresent specter of pollution. The Intersection of Human Health and Environme ..read more

Take Your Medical Education into Your Own Hands with Bricks Create With Bricks Create for Students, you now have the power to build and share epic learning experiences. Being a medical student is challenging as you work to soak up everything you can about medical education from morning to night. It’s crucial to have practical tools that make the most of your time, maximize your learning potential, and set you up for future success. This is where Bricks Create for Students comes in. Our intuitive authoring system allows students like you to take your education and future into your own hands, co ..read more

In 2022, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) made a monumental change – the Step 1 exam became a pass-fail test. They stated that this shift was intended to benefit medical students and facilitate broader, system-wide changes to improve your transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education. Suddenly, your score on Step 1 wouldn’t determine if you’d land your desired residency. But the steep decline in passing scores shows preparation may have changed substantially. 2022 USMLE Step 1 Overview The USMLE recently released its full report on the 2022 performance data ..read more

First Aid® 2023 Content is Live in Rx We know it’s a big deal when the latest edition of First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 hits bookstands. You and your classmates want the latest and greatest study tips, and they’re more important than ever as the landscape of medical school continues to change. And, as you know, USMLE-Rx is turbocharged First Aid content.  We are delighted to announce that USMLE-Rx has been updated so that you can correlate your study activities with the 2023 edition of First Aid for the USMLE Step 1. What This Means for You You can now change your First Aid year in U ..read more

New Year, Upgraded Study Planner Medical students, it’s time to celebrate! The free Rx Study Planner from USMLE-Rx has received a major update and is now better than ever. With the new features and resources added to the platform, preparing for the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 became much more manageable. One of the most significant changes to the Rx Study Planner is the addition of free study schedules for medical students using First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 (2023 Edition) and the new 11th edition of First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK. These schedules are designed to help you stay on track with yo ..read more

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2023 Has Arrived! It is always exciting when the new edition of First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 hits the stands, and this year is no exception. The thirty-third edition has been revamped with fully-updated study advice now that Step 1 has gone pass/fail. First Aid continues to be used by every medical student because there is no resource like it–it covers every topic you’re likely to encounter on the Step 1 exam. Students say, “if you’re studying for Step 1, you GOTTA have First Aid.” It is revised yearly to ensure that the content reflects the latest exam. What’s ..read more

By Michael A. Spinner The VINDICATE Mnemonic for Differential Diagnosis As a third-year medical student on the wards, one of the most important skills to develop is learning how to generate a thorough differential diagnosis for a wide variety of clinical problems. The correct diagnosis is not always clear-cut, and it is thus essential to consider alternative diagnoses that could account for a patient’s clinical presentation. Your differential will then directly guide your diagnostic work-up, ultimately helping you to hone in on the correct diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment pla ..read more

Help Us Improve First Aid There is a reason that First Aid has been a must-have resource for USMLE prep for over 30 years. We continually solicit feedback from students like you to ensure that it stays relevant and updated. Now that the USMLE Step 1 has moved to a Pass/Fail grading system, we want to ensure we understand how this change impacts how medical students prepare for the exam. Take The Survey We invite you to click on this link and answer a few questions about the Step 1 exam. The survey should only take a couple of minutes, and everyone who completes the survey will be entered ..read more

By Richard A. Giovane, MD The First Week of Medical School “Beep Beep Beep” went the alarm on my phone. It was 7 AM and the weather in Grenada looked like a perfect summer day, although it was January and my body had not adjusted from the Canadian winter just yet. My roommate and I woke up, grabbed a quick bite, and got ready for our first day of medical school. My feelings were mixed: anticipation and excitement coupled with homesickness and the constant feeling of “What did I get myself into?” My stomach churned. The morning passed quickly with good conversation among our newly made friends ..read more