Prepare with the best before you take the test—CHEST Board Review faculty are chest medicine experts dedicated to helping you succeed on the exam. Through live instruction and personalized feedback, faculty will give you research-based tools to prepare for boards and expand your clinical knowledge.
Pediatric Pulmonary Board Review Chair, Ajanta Patel, MD, MPH, will guide you through board exam preparation. Get to know Dr. Patel before the course begins, August 12-15, 2022.
Ajanta Patel, MD, MPH
Ajanta Patel, MD, MPH
Ajanta Patel, MD, MPH
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Dr. Patel: I see patients at a technology-dependent clinic at a pediatric hospital in Chicago. Prior to that, I was an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Chicago, where I also did my residency and fellowship. I attended medical school at the Emory University School of Medicine, and I also have my Master of Public Health from Emory.
I'm board certified in pediatric pulmonology, board certified in quality improvement through the American Board of Medical Quality, and certified in quality improvement through Intermountain Healthcare.
What is your teaching philosophy for the board review course?
Dr. Patel: When I teach, I like to start by explaining concepts in a simple way. If I need to add more information, I’ll layer that on. But I think the best way to learn something new is to learn it in its simplest form and then tack on additional information once you’re grounded in the basics. That allows learners to build upon a base of knowledge. That's my personal philosophy for learning something new, and I think it's a good philosophy for teaching, as well.
I also like to use real-world analogies. I do this clinically when I’m talking to patients and parents. I try to explain concepts using things that people are already familiar with, like food, cooking tools, or household items. I think analogies make things easier to digest and understand, which helps learners feel more confident with the information.
How have your experiences throughout your career influenced your teaching methods?
Dr. Patel: My experiences have given me a sense of perspective and balance when it comes to the board exam. It’s helped me remember, “I need to embrace this exam and pass it, but it doesn’t have to define everything about me.”
In the same way, this exam does not define you. It’s a challenge, and as physicians, we have all sorts of challenges that we’re presented with. The board exam is just one more in a series of challenges you will encounter. You will get through it, and then you will go on to live your best life.
Join Dr. Patel at the Pediatric Pulmonary Board Review course, August 12-15, 2022. Before you start studying, set yourself up for success with our expert-based blogs on board exam study tips and identifying knowledge gaps.