WOO HOO!!!!

[Eaglesfan27]

I just returned from taking my latest in a long line of exams. This exam was my speciality certification exam to become board certified (actually it was part 1, part 2 is the oral portion that can only be taken after passing part 1.) This wasn't the most important exam I've ever taken, but it was the most expensive exam I've ever taken. Perhaps as a result, I studied for close to one thousand hours for this exam over the past six months. It feels so good to be done studying. It feels even better because I think that I did really well today on the exam! :)

I can't wait to start having recreational reading time again.

[Fonzie]

Congratulations! I shall revel vicariously in your joy, as I'm about to begin experiencing the pain of studying for my licensing exam. I am not exactly thrilled to be doing so.

You lucky dog, you! :)

[Arles]

Well done! For that recreational reading, I have some exam manuals if you like ;)

[MizzouRah]

Great job, EF!!


Todd

[WSUCougar]

Great news, and well done!

[FrogMan]

rock on! Good show doc! :)

FM

[Flasch186]

congrats

[digamma]

Congrats!

[Eaglesfan27]

I just wimped out on the celebration.. Adrenaline only lasts so long.. I think I'll be asleep by 10:00. I don't feel so bad as my friends who also took the test were exhausted too. We had a nice dinner anyway ;) Friday, we will go out and celebrate some more when we are rested.

Thanks everyone.. I'm still euphoric and quite happy :)

[Pyser]

congrats EF. welcome back to some free time.

[Vince]

Congratulations!

[mtaystl03]

Congratulations!

[albionmoonlight]

Where can you possibly go to celebrate in New Orleans . . .:)

Congrats.

[duckman]

Congrats!

[lurker]

Congratulations! I just took an exam on Tuesday that I studied several hundred hours for, but I can't relax because I won't know if I passed until January (one of the actuarial exams, only like 30% of math nerds pass), and I have to do this twice a year for several more years. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be totally done with exams, though!

[Eaglesfan27]

Well, I'm not totally done with exams.. If I passed this exam I have to take an oral board with a live patient and 2 examiners watching me interview the patient and then I immediately have to give a 30 minute case forumulation of the patient (after the patient leaves the room) However, that is not as stressful as I can control what we talk about to an extent. Also, this is my adult psychiatry boards, and I will have to take my child psychiatry boards in a few years. However, it still feels great as I know I'm not going to do any more studying for at least several months :)

Btw, I can and have been practicing without this certification, but this will enable me to get compensated at higher rates. Also, this is an indication to my patients that I have been certified as a psychiatrist as opposed to just a general practitioner. Anyway, thanks everyone :)

[Eaglesfan27]

Dola -

Congrats on completeing your exam Lurker. I also find out my results in January. Hopefully, we will both be posting good news at the time. :)

[lurker]

For some stupid reason I read your first post as "my last in a long line of exams", referring to years of college, med school, boards, etc. I hope I read my test questions more carefully!

[Eaglesfan27]

Unfortunately, there never will be a last exam. Even after I pass the rest of my boards, I will have to take a recertification exam every 10 years. However, I hear that it is fairly easy, and its primary purpose to wean out the old demented doctors that want to keep working for some reason.

In any case, I find my reading skills are impaired today too. So you aren't alone in that hope.

[Philliesfan980]

Congrats, all of that hard work finally pays off!

As for me, I'm nearing the end of my 6 month CPA prep, with all my exams this month.

Congrats again and play video games/FOF guilt free again!

[Eaglesfan27]

Today has been such a great birthday up to this point. Last night I was on call, and had the rare night of call for this one particular institution that is usually very busy where I didn't get a single page all night. Then, this morning, my boss gave me off for my birthday. Then, I got some really good news from my mom about something in her personal life. I got awesome presents from my wife: An official McNabb jersey, X-Men and X-Men 2 collectors DVD's, a few good CD's. Had a great morning/early afternoon with my wife.

So, why am I posting in this thread?

Well, about 45 minutes ago I get a call from one of my fellow test takers and a friend. She tells me Happy Birthday and then tells me she passed her boards! She received her results yesterday. She then proceeds to tell me several other mutual friends all received theirs today and they all passed! Great! She tells me to go check my mail. I decide to do so, as I'm very excited to see my results. This entails getting dressed decently and going to the mailroom of the hospital since I live on their grounds and all of my mail goes through there. One of my neighbors on the grounds got her results yesterday (and passed.)

So, my heart is pounding as I walk into the hospital and take the elevator up to the mail room. I open my mailbox, and see.. NOTHING. There is nothing in my mailbox except for 2 pieces of junk mail. I'm pretty certain that I didn't miss this in the pile of yesterday's mail. I run back here, and go upstairs to my office and don't see it in the pile.

So, I go to their website and it says that all grades were mailed out on the 30th, and to call them ONLY if you haven't received your score by the 14th of January. I now find myself wandering what this means. Do they mail the failing grades out in a seperate batch? Did I fail? Or is it just our hospital's messed up mailroom that managed to get my neighbor's to her, but misplaced mine. Or did the US mail somehow delay it.

Anyway, I'm trying not to let this ruin a great day. I'm trying not to let it distract me from enjoying the game tonight, but it is very frustrating. I thought venting here might help.

[WSUCougar]

Hey, hang in there. A million possibilities, and life goes on either way. Enjoy the great birthday and take a deep breath about the test results. Let tomorrow take care of itself.

And feel free to vent away!

[sterlingice]

No big deal. I'm pretty sure there's no correlation between slow mail and results on test. Granted, this is one of those situations where no matter how many people tell you to "calm down", it's not really possible.

SI

[MizzouRah]

Happy Birthday!!

Now relax and watch Oklahoma kick some butt! :)


Todd

[Eaglesfan27]

Nope. I'm going to watch the Trojans kick some butt! Fight on! That was an amazing catch by Bird. I'm now totally into the game :)

[temley06]

Don't worry about, I know you know how rapid medical board and licensing agencies work. It took IN 8 weeks to process my permanent license, I am sure you passed.

;)

[temley06]

And you pitched a no-hitter! That is tough to beat. That happened to 1 guy during my general surgery years. That night was legendary.

[Eaglesfan27]

Yeah, the no-hitter was great! :)

It only happens about 2-3 nights/year where I was moonlighting. I got one of the nights last year too.

It took me about 8 weeks to get my permanent license back in the day too. As far as my DEA #, don't even get me started. They lost my paperwork 3 times after cashing my check! It took over 6 months for me to finally get my #.

[temley06]

Yeah, the no-hitter was great! :)

It only happens about 2-3 nights/year where I was moonlighting. I got one of the nights last year too.

It took me about 8 weeks to get my permanent license back in the day too. As far as my DEA #, don't even get me started. They lost my paperwork 3 times after cashing my check! It took over 6 months for me to finally get my #.

Nice, they never fail to get your money.

:D

[temley06]

I did pitch a one hitter once, it was great until 4am when a GSW to the chest broke up my nice night in rapid fashion. However, as you can guess, it did not last very long.

[Crapshoot]

(part 2 is the oral portion that can only be taken after passing part 1.) .
I can't believe 30 posts went by without someone coming up with something here.. :D

[Eaglesfan27]

The annoyance continues as my mail is barren of any test results.

I decided to call the board to see if they will tell me anything even though they say not to call until the 14th. Hopefully, I either get it in the mail tomorrow or they call me and let me know.

[Eaglesfan27]

I had given up this arriving in the mail and went to my mailbox today with no expectations of the results arriving. As a result, this was the first day where my heartbeat didn't accelerate upon walking into the hospital to head to the mailroom. Imagine my surprise when I went to my mailbox, and saw an envelope that had to be the results right on top of my pile of mail.

First a bit of background. I passed all 3 of my licensing exams, the United States Medical Licensing Exam, without any significant problems on my first attempt. However, I never did particularly well on them. I just did average on them.

This test had me worried because it was so expensive (over 1500 dollars for part 1) and because this was directly related to my speciality. I've heard insurance companies using these scores to help determine reimbursement rates. I've also heard of lawyers using these scores in various ways.

Worrying me further, is that I had to pass both the psychiatry and neurology part of this board independantly of each other. Neurology has always been my weakest area of expertise. I almost failed neuroanatomy, and I have never been good at remembering neuronal pathways.

That is why I studied so much for this test. Well, I opened the envelope, and I saw my results after flipping through several pages. I needed at least a 70% in each section to pass. I had a 97% on the psychiatry section and a 95% on the neurology section!!! I've never almost aced a licensing exam like this. I'm on top of the world right now, and just wanted to let my friends know :) (I hope this didn't come off as bragging.)

[JeeberD]

Congrats, bud! :)

[Fonzie]

Congratulations! Now go out and celebrate by destroying some of your own neuronal pathways! :)

[Franklinnoble]

That kicks ass, dude! Well done!

[Subby]

That is such great news! Congratulations to you!

I am reminded of some Tom Petty right now, but I will spare you ;)

[WSUCougar]

Fan-freakin'-tastic!

[CraigSca]

Excellent news, Eaglesfan! Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Congrats!

[FrogMan]

That is why I studied so much for this test. Well, I opened the envelope, and I saw my results after flipping through several pages. I needed at least a 70% in each section to pass. I had a 97% on the psychiatry section and a 95% on the neurology section!!! I've never almost aced a licensing exam like this. I'm on top of the world right now, and just wanted to let my friends know :) (I hope this didn't come off as bragging.)
My friend, you would have all the rights in the world to brag, these are amazing scores!!!

Congratulations!!!

FM

[temley06]

well done.

[oliegirl]

CONGRATULATIONS!

Now go have celebratory sex with your wife who no doubt suffered during all those months of studying!!! ;)

[MizzouRah]

I'm happy for you EF!!!


Todd

[Eaglesfan27]

Thanks all. I'm on call tonight. Unfortunately, that means I can't follow Fonzie's celebrations suggestions. However, I will certainly follow all of the other suggestions.

Now, I'm trying to track down plane tickets and a good hotel in Kansas City. As part of my pass letter, the board notified me that they automatically scheduled Part 2 (the oral portion of the exam.) This is less taxing from a studying standpoint, but more challenging in that it is a 30 minute interview with a live patient. During those 30 minutes, I am expected to do a complete psychiatric interview. I'm then given 2 minutes to "collect my thoughts." Then, I get grilled by 2 examiners (who are in the room the whole time looking over my shoulder as I interview the patient.) On a second or third day, I have to watch a 30 minute video tape of a psychiatric interview and dissect it with the examiners. The test will be June 10-12th. Really, there isn't much book studying I can do, but I can practice a lot. For the pleasure of taking this test, I have to mail them a check for over 1700 dollars by the end of the month.

Anyway, I'm rambling but I'm really quite excited. What I'm going to need from my friends on the board is suggestions for relaxing things to do in Kansas City. This will be my first time there. I'll want to avoid places where I'm going to see my hundreds of fellow test takers. This part of the test is going to be anxiety provoking, and I don't want their anxiety feeding into my own. So, I'll probably start a thread when the test time is closer, but I will need suggestions for a few nights of relaxation in KC. I'll probably fly in on the 9th and might stay until the 13th.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'd say you can brag your m.f.'ing ass off with those scores.
Congratulations.

[GrantDawg]

Great job, EF. Big time scores!

[condors]

good job! i got nothing for the kc area though

[Passacaglia]

Congrats!!!

[sterlingice]

Congrats! Hmm... I just woke up so I don't really have any good ideas about KC right now other than the stock suggestion of walking around The Plaza and shopping.

Unfortunately the Royals are on a west coast swing at the time so no dice there. If anyone gets a chance to come to KC, that is a wonderful park to watch baseball in and should be first on the list of things to do. It may be 30 years old, but it's a beautiful park.

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

Congrats! Hmm... I just woke up so I don't really have any good ideas about KC right now other than the stock suggestion of walking around The Plaza and shopping.

Unfortunately the Royals are on a west coast swing at the time so no dice there. If anyone gets a chance to come to KC, that is a wonderful park to watch baseball in and should be first on the list of things to do. It may be 30 years old, but it's a beautiful park.

SIDarn. One of my goals is to eventually watch Baseball in every major league city, and I was really looking forward to catching a Royals game. Too bad that they are out of town the whole time.

[sterlingice]

Actually, that's one of the things I've always wanted to do, too. I'm at, uh, 4 so I'm not making much progress (Kaufman, Wrigley, Metrodome, Astrodome).

The Royals games around that are the 5th and 14th but they're on the road all the days between.

SI

[Lorena]

What I'm going to need from my friends on the board is suggestions for relaxing things to do in Kansas City. This will be my first time there. I'll want to avoid places where I'm going to see my hundreds of fellow test takers. This part of the test is going to be anxiety provoking, and I don't want their anxiety feeding into my own. So, I'll probably start a thread when the test time is closer, but I will need suggestions for a few nights of relaxation in KC. I'll probably fly in on the 9th and might stay until the 13th.

As far as KC is concerned, I don't know the area at all. But to relax, Antmeister suggests getting a massage... that'll do the trick. I suggest maybe mediating or listening to some Natural Sounds CD's while goin' to sleep.

BTW, big congrats! That's freaking AWESOME! Looking forward to your June post.

[sterlingice]

Oh, if you like baseball, the Negro League Museum is in KC. It shares a building with the American Jazz Museum. I want to say it's under $20 to get in and very cool, if you're into museum-y stuff. The Negro League Museum reminds me of a smaller version of the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but, of course, just about the Negro Leagues. Very cool when I went there about 3 years ago. I didn't know much about Jazz so the other museum was very cool, too.

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

Oh, if you like baseball, the Negro League Museum is in KC. It shares a building with the American Jazz Museum. I want to say it's under $20 to get in and very cool, if you're into museum-y stuff. The Negro League Museum reminds me of a smaller version of the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but, of course, just about the Negro Leagues. Very cool when I went there about 3 years ago. I didn't know much about Jazz so the other museum was very cool, too.

SI
Thanks to all for the congrats. Thank you for this tip. I would enjoy checking out both of these museums, and will put them on my "To Do" list.

[JeeberD]

Actually, that's one of the things I've always wanted to do, too. I'm at, uh, 4 so I'm not making much progress (Kaufman, Wrigley, Metrodome, Astrodome).

The Royals games around that are the 5th and 14th but they're on the road all the days between.

SI


I'm stuck at two (Coors Field and The Juicebox), well three if you count Mile High when the Rockies were playing there.

I really want to make it out to Boston and catch a game at Fenway before too long...

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm stuck at two (Coors Field and The Juicebox), well three if you count Mile High when the Rockies were playing there.

I really want to make it out to Boston and catch a game at Fenway before too long...
I really want to make it to Fenway too before too long.

I've been to Veterans Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Camden Yards, Candlestick Park, and the Toronto Skydome.

Edited to add: I went to plenty of games at Chavez Ravine when I was at USC.


I have plenty more that I need to go see in the upcoming years :)