Web 2.0 and Medicine

hat do you know that can be shared with others? I think each one of us has something special to teach to others. No matter what type of formal instruction you have. All of us are an invaluable source of ideas. In our daily life, at the school, at the hospital, in the clinics, or at home, we all play an important role. Do not be afraid of express yourself. It takes time at the beginning but then it is really easy. Sometimes we do not transmit what we know because we think that is not important. I always remember this story about José Saramago, a Literature Nobel Laureate, when he received the prize, he gave thanks to the two wiser people he ever met: his grandparents who did not know how to write or how to read. So next time you have an idea: share it. Web 2.0 is about that: "spread of ideas", your ideas. An amazing site I found on internet with tones of videos is TED. You will find here really amazing thinkers of different fields, not only medicine. Watch this video: Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes. You will find more at TED.

eb 2.0 and Medicine is an amazing combination. It is something that has lot of potential in our field. But Medicine and Web 2.0 - or Health 2.0 - are not only about information and technologies. It is about values that we can put on practice. Solidarity and collaboration with no interest. It is a big idea. From my point of view, they can only generate more well being for more people, and sometimes for ourselves. Last months I was working on my personal statement. It was not easy to put all my ideas in just one page. Now this work is done. But I know lot of International Medical Graduates (IMG) each year have the same problem, trying to write something good about themselves. That is why I made this post, to share some templates and guidelines that where really helpful to me. If you know about more templates or guidelines to write a personal statement, please leave your comment and the link to these resources.

am almost 2 years in the United States. I am an applicant for the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates(ECFMG). This is a country with people from all around the world. During the time I took for my preparation to pass the USMLE steps 1 and 2, I had the chance to meet people from Middle East. What I like about their culture, among many different things, is the fact that they are like a big family. They help each other while they are here. I write about that because this principle of collaboration in a group is really important to understand what the Web 2.0 can allow you to do. Before to come here I did not have a personal computer, neither free access to internet at any time. Now with both of them I can access lot of information I could not before. Today, I want to collaborate sharing some links that all international medical graduates, who wants to do their residency in the United States of America, will like. These are links to pages that contain videos of how to make physical examinations, how to have a clinical encounter with a patient in different situations. You do not need a password or to pay in order to watch the videos, you just have to make click. By watching these videos you are not breaking any law. These videos were made to help people in the medical field. So use them. I made this blog with this purpose, to share the information I can access with others, but I realize that to give the information is not enough, people must play an active role in their self-education, so if you want other links related with medicine, you can email me. If you want more material to prepare for the USMLE just check out Ebay search for "usmle videos" and watch out what you find. Or maybe you can try to use programs like emule, if you have never use programs like these before you will be amazed. Finally, if you are asking yourself why am I doing that? why do I share this information? what do I want in exchange for the information I give with my blog? the answer is simple: NOTHING, just because. I hope in the future a culture of sharing with no interest will born.