Board exams can feel like the end of the world, with examiners hoping that you fail and questions designed to trip you up! This is not the reality, and today we talk to Drs. Aaron Figueroa, Rishad Shaikh, and Joe Ivory about how to manage the fear of board exams so that you can put your best foot forward. Tune in to hear all about the board exam training course that Aaron, Rishad, and Joe have developed, and why it's so different from the rest. We hear from each of these surgeons about their experiences of their own exams, and their advice on how to stay calm and play the game. Aaron, Rishad, Joe and I discuss the best pieces of advice we were given leading up to our exams, and the advice that each of us passes on to young surgeons now. Find out why most examiners actually want you to do well, and the general rule on when it’s okay to say “I don’t know”. So, if your board exams are approaching and you’re feeling overwhelmed, this is the episode for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

Where you can learn zygomatic and pterygoid implants with Arshyad Sharafi.
Welcome to Drs. Aaron Figueroa, Rishad Shaikh, and Joe Ivory: where they trained and how they met.
How their oral board review course came to be.
The breakdown of the format of the course, and what makes it different from the others out there.
Why it’s so important to prepare for the oral aspect of the board exams and the need for speedy responses.
Benefits of the oral board exam.
Why it can be a positive to get to the level of questions where the answer is “I don’t know”.
Cutting your losses in lower-level questions.
Understanding that the examiners are not your enemy.
Joe and Rishad’s experiences of their board exams and the lessons they learned.
What helped each of these Drs in their oral exams: presentation practice, organized answers, broad experience, repetition, and the right mentors.
Why Joe advises residents to appreciate their residency.
Understanding the game and playing the system to your favor when you get asked Zebras.
Why failing is not the end of the world.
The benefits of having practicing surgeons on the board.
Rapid-fire questions and answers: the non-warm and fuzzy book recommendations, the healthy hobbies that help with surgery, favorite forceps, and more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Aaron Figueroa Phone — 800-777-8442

Dr. Rishad Shaikh Phone — 636-875-1277

Dr. Joe Ivory Phone — 314-822-6725

Drs Figueroa, Shaikh, and Ivory Email — stlboardreview@gmail.com

St. Louis Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Review Course Website — stlomfsreview.com

Every Day Oral Surgery Podcast with Drs. Reti, Findlay, and Tentido: benefits of doing full scope fellowship (in St. Louis) — podcasts.apple.com

Oral Board Review for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Study Guide for the Oral Boards — www.amazon.com/Oral-Board-Review-Maxillofacial-Surgery-ebook

4MInstitude — https://4minstitute.com/product/zygomatic-implants-from-a-to-z-with-cadaver-lab-copy/

When Breath Becomes Air — www.amazon.com/When-Breath-Becomes-Paul-Kalanithi

The Gulag Archipelago — www.amazon.com/Gulag-Archipelago-Three-set-volumes

Dr. Grant St

Living as a King with Rabbi Chaim and Rebbetzin Cohen