How to succeed in presenting topics to your attending and team

Part of your rotation is actually learning your team's personalities and expectations.  After that, you'll have more of an idea what to do.


Likely you'll be asked to present on a topic, and here's what will make you stand out:


Say your topic is something like "skin cancer":


1. Remember you're presenting to physicians with experience and residents who have completed medical school and have clinical experience: Don't read paragraphs from a textbook.


2.  Present a research article on your topic.  Give a little bit of background (it's ok to use some background from a textbook if you're going to be discussing studies), then move onto the article.  It can be something like a revolutionary drug treatment or a change in patient management.  If your team is full of researchers, a basic science article works.  Otherwise, clinical research or highlights from a review article works.


3. Keep it relevant and short.  A bullet outline format works.  If you're on a team with surgeons, look up some surgical management articles.  If you're with a team of pediatricians, look in pediatric journals for example.  


4. Be analytical.  Find studies that evaluate a management strategy or studies that support one protocol over the other, give reasons for the side you support and open up the floor for discussion.


5. You can print out your outline as a hand-out for your team so they have something to write on and have a summary of the multiple studies you discuss.


6. Practice it so you fall within the expected time limit; everyday is busy!


Best of luck, and be confident!