April 2, 2014 /

Eosinophilic esophagitis may be a topic that falls into the Gastroenterology and Hepatology section of the ABIM syllabus. But given that it’s becoming more common due to the parallel increasing incidence of allergic disease and asthma, it’s a diagnosis that …
Continue reading



December 10, 2013 /

A long-term study of patients with stinging insect anaphylaxis   Stinging insect hypersensitivity reactions, including stings from yellow jackets, honeybees, paper wasps, hornets, and fire ants, are one of the most common causes of anaphylaxis. Life-threatening reactions occur in 0.8% …
Continue reading



August 8, 2013 /

We know it’s crunch time for your ABIM exam prep. However, we all need a moment to stretch and refresh our minds before returning to the books/Knowmedge questions. The post below by our allergy/immunology fellow Dr. Charles Feng is perfect …
Continue reading



July 5, 2013 /

As you’ve learned during your studies for the ABIM certification test, a primary concern during a blood transfusion is an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. The following post examines one possible solution to preventing such an error.   Bar codes are …
Continue reading



June 6, 2013 /

The score breakdown arrived in the mail a few weeks later. The breakdown listed the number of questions in each section (cards, heme-onc, etc.) I answered correctly, followed by the percentile compared to other test-takers. Surprisingly, I did the best …
Continue reading



May 30, 2013 /

It’s disconcerting and a little sad when I realize that some of my most memorable moments of the past year involve the ABIM test. But October 4, 2012 was a fateful day for me and internal medicine docs all across …
Continue reading



May 22, 2013 /

I’ve always wondered who actually writes the questions that end up on the ABIM exam. In my mind, I picture a Voldemort-like character leading a group of similarly dark souls, cackling each time they come up with a particularly tricky …
Continue reading



May 13, 2013 /

For full disclosure, I am a decidedly average test taker. My test-taking career peaked on my SATs in high school, and my percentile ranks on subsequent standardized tests have gone down in inverse relation with my ascent in the medical …
Continue reading



April 29, 2013 /

If you are reading this, then congratulations. You have finished, or are about to finish, internal medicine residency.   To get to this point, you have successfully passed the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 2 …
Continue reading