Dear Niels,
I just wanted to let you know that I passed my Written Board Exam after taking your course using Big Blue and attending the tutorial in Chicago back in April. I took the exam for ABA credit the first time after finishing residency in a top program. I figured it would be no sweat passing the Written exam. When I received my results in Sept. 1999, I was in disbelief that I only scored a 59% correct. That would have been OK to me if 59% correct was passing, but it was not. That year a 63% correct or better was needed to pass the exam. Since I had never failed an exam in all of medical school or residency and did well with my USMLE, I wasn't sure what I needed to do to pass the exam.
A colleague of mine told me about your course. She said if you study the Big Blue syllabus at least 3-4 times and attend the tutorial that I should kick you know what on the exam. She said it would be a lot of hard work, but that the course focuses on what's important for the exam (key words) and gives you a very focused preparation. I proceeded to order Big Blue (well worth the money). I felt that the material in the syllabus was very thorough and helped me understand the basic physiology, anatomy and pharmacology so crucial to the practice of anesthesia (as well as passing the Boards) that had escaped me prior. I went through Big Blue 5 times including making 42 pages of my own notes for review 2 weeks before the exam. I also later ordered both the OR companion and the Ranger Blue and found them very helpful. I used Baby Blue in the OR a lot and the Ranger Blue was very useful for my commute time. I think I just about memorized those tapes but they really helped me on exam day. I attended the tutorial in Chicago in April (also worth the money) and was scoring an average of 62% on the exams. That truly helped me focus on my weaker areas and motivated me more with my studying which I increased from 1/2 hour a day to 1 hour a day plus weekends and call. The hard work paid off. I scored a 79% correct this time. I couldn't believe the 20% increase! I felt confident by the time I took the exam, and was even more confident while I was actually taking the exam. . . However, I never thought I could improve that much. I highly recommend your course to the residents that I teach and work with each day. I tell them if they are willing to work hard, they will succeed. I'm ordering Big Red today to start my preparation for the Oral (it's never to early). I look forward to working with you again and plan on taking the Oral tutorial in March 2001. Thanks.
P.S. You're welcome to use my e-mail as a testimony if you don't mind just using my initials.
J., L.A., M.D.
Dear Dr. Jensen,
I finally made it!! From a previous in-training score of 52%, I scored 72% with the help
of your program. When I first attended your course in May, I was scoring a dismal 55% but
I followed your advice and worked very, very hard with Big Blue. I attended your course
again in June. By this time, I was scoring 60% and getting more and more confident. I
continued my hard work and added Baby Blue to the game for use in the OR. In July, I
passed with 72%. Thanks so much!!
GB, M.D.
Niels,
I'm 45 and over this last year I've had to add insulin to my daily regimen. Besides this,
I've just recently been diagnosed with glaucoma. I can't read much more than 45 minutes to
an hour before my vision is really blurry. It takes me a lot of time to cover material.
On top of this, I have a 16-year-old son with severe congenital brain encephalopathy with
learning disabilities, as well as a 12-year-old daughter with dyslexia. They are an
inspiration to me. They never quit. They always keep trying. How can I do anything less?
I've only known about you and for about 3 months, but I really feel that it has allowed me
to have the central focus you speak about so frequently . . .
I'm not where I want to be, but I have hope! You asked about my "competitive advantage".
Just this: the Lord does not give us challenges He won't help us solve!
Dr. G.
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 21:24:02 -0400
To: njensen@anesthesiologyboards.com
Subject: YAHOO
Dear Niels,
I passed the Written! I didn't expect it to be such an emotional experience. Last year on
the inservice exam I got a 47. On the exam this year I passed with a 66.
I'm in a fellowship at Children's Hospital in Boston right now. On Monday, before I received
the results, one of my attendings mentioned that no fellow at Children's had ever FAILED the
Written Boards. With my past performance, I knew nothing short of a miracle would keep me from
being the first fellow to break the record. It wasn't a huge margin above the required 63,
but I passed. I wanted to thank you for putting the body of knowledge I needed to know into
a format that helped me understand anesthesia. For the first time, concepts began to make
sense where before, I wasn't able to distill the important concepts out of text chapters. I
also appreciated being able to participate in your review courses. I know I wouldn't have
passed without your help.
We had a mock oral with all the fellows on Tuesday morning. I was terrible and there were
plenty of witnesses. I have a lot of improvement to make. My fellowship ends July 31. I
think it might be best to take the September Oral rather than April. If you have a suggestion
about which time would be in my best interest, please feel free to respond.
Again, thank you with all my heart.
Ranger C.
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 19:39:07 EDT
To: njensen@anesthesiologyboards.com
Subject: Rangers
Hello Dr. Jensen,
It is with great satisfaction than I send you this message. The ABA states that I have met
their standards; I have many questions regarding this, none of which I will bore you with
here. I have a little story to tell you. When I first attempted the ABA examination I knew
I would fail, but I studied daily anyway. I went to a review conference and a review
course, neither of which had any plan, structure, or direction. At any rate, I met what
would now be a fellow Ranger at the review conference and on the plane ride home. Needless
to say, we met again the second time we attempted the exam at the test center. At this time
we got to talk a little more and both did not make it the second time. We started after our
second failure to meet the ABA standard. My fellow Ranger had been to your course for the
second attempt and I had been to another well known course. He told me about your Board
strategies and they sounded very good, so I bought Big Blue and got to work. I went through
Big Blue three times in about six months from January to July. My fellow Ranger and I called
each other for moral support and to further our game plan. We both attended the Dallas
"review" in April and the Chicago "Final Prep" in July. We shared a room and studied before
the course in the morning and after the course in the evening at both courses. By now this
had become serious business. We attended all the test sessions and explanations. Needless
to say, like Victorious Warriors we called each other with our good news and like kids with
a new toy discussed our victory and all we had been through.
I leave you with a quote from: Swami Vivekananda "Without steady devotion to the guru and
unflinching patience and perseverance nothing can be achieved."
Ranger S.
Date: 12 June
To: njensen@anesthesiologyboards.com
Subject: Oral and Written Boards
Dear Niels:
A story for you...a true one about a Ranger a few months ago. She was studying in her
apartment when she heard sirens coming down the street. She went out on her balcony and
watched. They stopped at her building and started spraying her building with firehoses.
She went out into the hallway to find it filled with smoke. She got very nervous. What
should she do? Should she jump out? She was only on the second floor, it would be easy.
She looked around to see if she had time to take something with her...smoke now coming in
her apartment. She sees her family pictures, maybe her medical school diploma, maybe some
other heirloom that was entrusted to her by her family...She leapt over the balcony to the
grass and the firemen hustled her across the street. She made it out safe with the shirt on
her back and her Big Blue. What dedication!
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 12:11:20 -0500
To: njensen@anesthesiologyboards.com
Subject: victory
Dear Niels:
Victory was realized in the summer campaign! I could not have done it without you and
the help from my angels and saints. As I indicated to you in Chicago back in July, I am
sending you the prayer I said daily before I sat down with Big Blue this past spring/summer.
You may want to keep your course nondenominational, but I have noticed certain references in
your quotes to God, angels, and prayer. Well, I don't think you can underestimate the power
of prayer, and how one's spiritual strength can be of great assistance in getting through this
process. In your references to war and battle in the preparation for this exam, perhaps the
ultimate warrior pitted against the most feared and evil enemy should be included in your
writings. Therefore the prayer to St. Michael, the most awesome foe of the devil, is
appropriate. I am sure that some of your Rangers may agree that analogizing the ABA to Satan,
may not be taking it to far!
PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL
Saint Michael, the Archangel,
Defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the
Wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him,
We humbly pray and do thou,
O Prince of Heavenly Host,
By the power of God,
Thrust into hell Satan and
All evil spirits who
Wander through the world
Seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
I ordered all your materials for the Oral today on your phone line. See you in Chicago in
January. Your loyal Ranger R.
Niels, this exam is personal! I've been out of training for 12 years and during the last
year of residency I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and had radical surgery and
chemotherapy. I failed the exam as a CA III Resident. I have an incredibly busy practice,
during the first 8 to 10 years I averaged about 200 cases/ month. That fact, along with a
prognosis of a 5-year survival of only 50% made passing the exam less important. However,
I've changed my thinking due to the fact that I may be the only chief resident of Jim Arens
never to pass the exam!! That is not acceptable to me! My practice is less busy now...
~120cases/month...but I don't have as much time as I need to due to small children. I haven't
put in a lot of time with Big Blue...I may not pass this year (my 2nd try)...
Niels, I can assure you that sometime I will pass this damn exam. It is a personal vendetta
for me! The Board will not succeed in beating me. I will eventually prevail!
I am going to continue my assault on the Board until I achieve closure on this issue!
Dr. C.-Chicago Platoon
To: "njensen@anesthesiologyboards.com"
Subject: Ranger report
Success! After two lousy scores of 53 and 57, I scored 68 this time. The difference? Big
Blue--without question. Previously, I studied Baby Miller and Faust. This time I used Big
Blue exclusively and got through it 4 times. I also attended your tutorials in Chicago in
April and the Final PREP in July. Interestingly enough, my score on the practice tests in
July correlated almost exactly to what scored on Boards. Thanks for everything. Now that
we've successfully defended our homes let's attack our enemy where he lives and forever end
his ability to wage war against us. Please forward Big Red and the dates for the next Oral
courses.
Dr. BC
To: Niels Jensen
Subject: Board Update
Dr. Jensen,
Thanks to BIG BLUE, the review course, hours of work, divine intervention and a little luck,
I am happy to report that the Beast is vanquished. I was able to increase my score by 20%
from my CA-3 year to this year. As you may have guessed, I have been a shameless advocate
for Big Blue and your course.
Please send me information on your planned and upcoming Oral Board review courses. I am
planning to order Big Red very soon. Please send information about the Ranger Red cases and
tapes as well.
To: njensen@anesthesiologyboards.com
Subject: Oral Boards
Dear Coach,
Another victory to report! After last minute preparation in Chicago at the Final PREP, I
scored 78%--a 22% improvement. Actually, I was shooting for 85% and just may have reached
it but was distracted a bit by looking for a new job.
There is no doubt in my mind that Big Blue three times and the Final Prep did the trick.
Without these, it would have been a lot closer and my confidence level going in would not have
been so high. Honestly, I was a little nervous, but once we started I saw that it was somewhat
easier than the Final PREP. I relaxed and had some fun. We talked on the phone about the pros
and cons of waiting for the Final PREP or going to the earlier course. Doing both certainly
proved correct for me. See you on the beach--for Orals next Spring.
Dear Coach:
After sixteen tries, thousands of dollars spent, years of shame for not having passed the
boards, I received notice two days ago that I passed the written exam . . . I know that
I was able to pass this year because of Big Blue and the course in Chicago. I was sick
of all of the study materials . . .but I was immediately motivated by Big Blue. I couldn't
believe how focused I was and would sometimes concentrate for three hours straight without
a break . . . I went through Big Blue 5 times. The course was also extremely helpful as
it focused me on weak areas and was a very efficient way to review information. . . The
question-answer format beats the lecture format hands down.
I cannot tell you what it means to me personally . . . to pass this test. . . To give you
an idea of how long this has hung over my head, my daughter was 10 when I started this.
She is now 26. I will never again have months of every year ruined by constant and
ineffectual study, "vacations" to useless courses when I should have been with my family,
listening to the "elite" of anesthesia giving the same canned, useless speech. Board
certification is finally within my grasp! Thanks for the focus and guidance.
Dr. J.-Chicago Platoon
Dear Niels:
I will never give up till I have this piece of paper ("Diploma of ABA"), so I can burn it!
Ten years of my life I have lost to work and study, with so little time spent for me.
The emotional and financial investment I have made is much too great to walk away now.
My competitive advantage is that I have regained the will to win, a stubborn "pitbull"
attitude. Who are these people from the mighty Boards? Why have I given them so much
power? I have overcome language barriers, breast cancer, chemotherpahy, but not the
Boards! How can that be?
The "coming together" at the course has suddenly put it all in perspective. I like very
much the concept of a Ranger. I now see the power I have squandered, how my self-esteem
has faltered, how self-doubt has blurred my vision. All for a foe planted in my mind by a
group of self-anointed rulers!
Now they are exposed! I am free of their shackles! I am no longer their hostage! So I've
decided to put this in better perspective. At the same time, and I want you to know, I
won't quit until hell freezes over.
|
