Dr. Ona's Books Now Available on Amazon.com!

Tips for Thriving on the Internal Medicine Wards by Mel Ona, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., M.A.                                                                                                              Why be an average and ordinary medical student when you can be exceptional and outstanding? This book is full of valuable and immediately applicable tips and strategies to help you excel during your medical school clinical rotations and electives. Don't settle for mediocrity and merely survive during your clinical years--rather, you can strive for excellence and thrive on the wards! This book will be your guide along the way.

"Hey, I Can See My Abs!" by Mel Ona, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., M.A. You already know what to do to get into great shape - eat right, move more, and supplement smart for life. "Hey, I Can See My Abs!" shows you: - How a fat, frustrated, out-of-shape, ordinary guy went from flab to abs without following fad diets! - A proven success formula for getting and staying motivated on your fitness program (and life goals too). - Supplements for obtaining best fitness results - Actual transformation photos that show month-to-month physique changes. - Incredible resources for changing your body, improving your health, and enhancing your life!                                                                                                                                   If you've ever wanted to see your abs by following a healthful weight loss plan, then look no further than Mel Ona's FAD-FREE fitness books and programs.

Book Reviews for Tips for Thriving on the Internal Medicine Wards:

As a third year medical student currently rotating in Internal Medicine, I find Dr. Ona's collection of "Tips" as an exceptional guideline for any rotation experience. These tips not only guide you on how to get the best out of your clinical experience, but also on how to become a better physician. During our transition into a clinical setting most of us probably read/heard a great majority of these tips already, but admit it!! too often do we get lost in our rigorous daily schedule that we fail to follow these guidelines set before us. At some point we find ourselves caught up in a repetitive pattern consisting of rounds, meetings, lectures, case write-ups and of course progress notes, that we all too often forget to even ask a simple question such as "is there anything I can do for you" to our patients. Use this book as not only a source of guideline on how to get an "A" in the rotation but as a REMINDER of what is expected of you to become a successful medical student, physician, and professional.  As a medical student many of us are eager to get ahead of ourselves, but don't forget the fundamentals and expectations set before us. Take a step back, pull out Dr. Ona's book (yes it fits perfectly in your whitecoat) and take a moment to reevaluate yourself and strive to be the best future medical doctor you can be.  -JD

Highly recommend this book for any 3rd year medical students who want to shine in their rotation. The book is really concise and down to the point. It's a super quick read and fits in the white coat pocket. Dr. Ona's insights are very useful in the medicine ward. Good luck!  -TW

This is a great, quick and easy read for 3rd year medical students, or those students who are starting their medical school clerkships for the first time. Although it's written tailored more specifically for the medicine clerkship, I think this book would be useful for any type of rotation. Staring rotations isvery scary to most medical students, because we have no idea what to expect, but Dr. Ona's book prepares you by providing great tips about what is expected from a medical student,what makes us look bad/good, how we should behave towards our superiors and peers, and how to maximize our learning experience on the wards. I would highly recommend this book to all medical students, and to read it before starting or earlier on during your clerkships.  -HR

This book by Dr. Ona will help every third year medical student excel in the medicine clerkship. It is very easy to read and hits major points that are essential in helping student's achieve success! I highly reccommend this book!!!  -RK

Dr. Mel Ona's book "Tips for Thriving on the Internal Medical Wards" is the newest addition to his list of published books and it features advice based on his own experience as a medical student that helped him to his current success in Internal Medicine. I found the book to be a good and easy read and it gave great tips and reminders on how we should conduct ourselves on the medical floors. Along with reading the book, I also had the pleasure to work with Dr. Ona and it was refreshing to see that he puts each of the tips he writes about into his daily routine. By doing so, his professionalism and enthusiasm for medicine has helped him become one of the most liked and respected medical residents at the hospital. Thanks for the tips Dr. Ona!  -TK

This book was highly recommended by an attending during one of my rotations at Hopkins. A must read by any medical student, it gives valuable advice on how to be a great student and invaluable tips to reaching your goals during your clinical years. Great book!  -IM

"Tips to Thriving on the Internal Medical Wards" by Dr. Mel Ona is one of those essential books that you'd like to keep on you for quick reminders and tips. It was an easy read, I finished it in one sitting in about 20-30min. Its one of those books that although some tips may be obvious, it does good to serve us daily reminders about how to push ourselves and do the best that we can so that it helps to pave the road ahead of us. There are also tips in there that you may have never thought of, things that are simple and can be done on a daily basis but you miss out on these opportunities because no one has ever told you. If you're looking for a quick read on tips or suggestions on how to do well in your rotations, this is it. I love how its pocket sized so it fits into my white coat and its light and with all the papers we carry around, the size and weight of this book really helps! I'd give it 5 stars out of 5 and would recommend it to any medical student. For $10.99, its a good buy!  -IW

Great, quick read that is to the point. I only wish I had it 5 weeks ago when I started my medicine rotation!! Thanks for your pearls, Dr. Ona!!  -JA

I think this book is a great warm up to starting the clerkships, and MUST be read. Some things may seem like obvious things but easily forgotten when things get hectic. This book cuts right to the facts!  -PD

Dr. Mel Ona has put together some great advice for medical students looking to succeed during their clerkships. The book is an easy read and is full of information students new to the wards will need. I would highly recommend this book to any medical student! -VJ

An essential part of being a successful student-physician is not just knowing the right answers during "pimping" rounds, but to understand the logistics and the involvement within the hospital, its staff and, most importantly, the patient. It goes without saying that this book provides just that and many other advice us students need in order to excel thoroughly during clerkship years that should seem like common sense, but most often it's easily forgotten. This recommended short read will remind you of why you chose this field as well as help renew the fundamentals of being a well-rounded student to ultimately, a respected physician.  -DL

The book is full of common sense pearls!  -EM

This book by Dr Ona is a very great tool to have as a medical student. Dr Ona puts together great tips to help succeed during your rotations. I find the tips very helpful. As a 3rd year medical student starting clinical rotations, it can be very overwhelming and sometimes you don't know what to. This book gives little tips that make the "stress" of the rotation a lot easier to deal with. One thing i love about the book is the size. Its small enough to fit in you white coat pocket so you can carry it around with you all day. This is an excellent book and i will recommend it to all my friends. -KI

Quick read before starting clerkships and is full of good every day advice for getting through any rotation. Would recommend to any 3rd year medical student.  -VM

The transition from second to third year is a particularly hectic and confusing one. This book is a great, quick read which helps in forming the kind of mindset one should have when starting rotations. It is full of advice and ideas which help us to make the most of our clinical experience and be the most competent students we can be. I would recommend any student getting ready to enter clinical rotations to read it before starting.  -JH

This is a great quick read for all new 3rd year students with valuable tips to give you that edge to stand out and set a great impression with your residents and attendings. It provides some excellent practical advise on how to enhance your learning experience from sources other than your textbooks! This book provides quick tips on how to learn from your residents and how to use the resources available to you. I would definitely recommend it to my friends!  -SS

This is a very quick read and has some excellent tips on how to excel on the internal medicine clerkship (as well as your other cores). Some of the recommendations may seem common sense, but to see them in writing provides an extra motivation to do your best. Sometimes it's easy to get lost in the shuffle, especially on medicine, but with this book, you can remind yourself how to make the most of your rotation and maximize your education and future as a physician.  -JP

As a medical student just finishing up my third year I can honestly say that the transition from the books and lectures to the hospitals and patients is at times quite confusing. It is great to have someone, a close friend perhaps, who can show you the ins and outs of the game early on and lead you onto the right path. This book can be this friend for you.  Dr. Ona talks from his own experience, which is very valuable. It is a very easy read, and it fits into your white coat pocket so that you can always have it with you during your rotations! This is definitely a must-have for any medical student starting clinical rotations. -AB

Dr. Mel Ona's "Thriving on the Internal Medicine Wards" is a must have book before you start clinical rotations. Going from lectures and studying all day to being in the hospital and having an active role in your patient's care is a big adjustment for any medical student. This book has helpful hints and tips to ease the transition. Dr. Ona's book provides advice on how to present your patient, how to impress your resident and attendings and so much more. This book has valuable, honest advice that has helped me "thrive" in my own rotations.  -MC

This book is a great source of "what to do" when you get to your internal medicine clerkship. As a medical student, I found it gave me the background understanding to hit the ground running. -CM

This book was written by Dr. Mel Ona to enable students to be confident and effective during their medicine rotation. The book provides the guidance we need as 3rd year medical students in order to become great physicians, care providers, and most importantly successful students. Dr. Ona provides hints and clues that will develop our student-patient relationships, our clinical expertise, our writing skills, and many other essentials that help us evolve and adapt to the demands of internal medicine.  -MY

Dr. Ona's book provides the essential clinical pearls that are useful for doing well on the internal medicine rotation. Even though some of the tips may seem very obvious, many people tend to overlook them as they progress through rotations, for example number 113. A must have before starting ANY rotation.  -NO

Internal Medicine was my first rotation during my third year. Like many third year students that have just started their clinical rotations, it is a very confusing and complicated process. Especially when one has to start with what I consider to be the toughest rotation. I had no idea what was going on for the first week and did not know how to behave and interact not only with the patients, but also with the residents, the attendings, and the nurses. This book helped me a lot during this confusion. It is a quick reference full of helpful tips on how to behave properly in order to survive this difficult rotation. In addition, it does not only apply to the IM rotation. The core principles that I have learned from this book have helped me in other rotations as well. It is well written and a very quick read. I highly recommend this book for those that want to do well and get the most out of their IM rotations.  -FC

Great book!!! So helpful in helping you stand out and Excel in your Internal Medicine Rotation! I highly Recommend this book, not just for Internal Medicine, but for other Rotations as well! Great Work, Dr. Ona!!!  -LS

In "Tips for Thriving on the Internal Medicine Wards," Dr. Ona shares invaluable guidance for medical students starting clinical rotations that cannot be learned in medical school lectures. I think the most difficult transition in medical school is between second and third year, between reading books in a classroom and actually applying this knowledge to patients. This is a great book to provide a basis for all clinical rotations, not just Internal Medicine. I had the great opportunity as a medical student to have Dr. Ona as my supervising Resident. He has truly applied all these tips to his everyday practice as a teacher, student, friend, motivator, mentor, team player, and leader. Now as a Resident myself, I still use these tips every day to be a better physician.  -KF

This is a quick and simple guide for not only the internal medicine clerkship, but all clerkships. These tips are useful as a medical student and can serve as a reminder for those in residency too.  -AD

This book has lots of pointers which are useful and important to keep in mind not only for an IM rotation, but any clerkship.  -SS

I had the privilege of working with Dr. Ona at Lutheran Medical Center at Brooklyn NY where he is doing his residency. One of the most nicest, sincere person you will ever meet. This book is a good quick read for any medical student, but I do have to admit, some of the advice is common sense, and some not so much, so it is definitely worth the money to get this book if you really want to excel in your rotation. I feel this book will work for any rotation, not just IM, and the advice can go beyond your clerkship and into residency as well. Highly recommended!  -JY

This book has great tips. If you follow the advice in this book you will be respected by not only your patients, but your peers as well. A great book to read especially prior to starting your 3rd year clerkship. Do everything in this book and you will truly shine.  -RN

All medical students starting their clinical clerkships should get this book! It is full of pearls that are not taught in medical school, however, very useful while on the wards. They can be applied not only to internal medicine, but most of other specialties as well. I wish it was available when I was a 3rd year medical student staring my clinical rotations.  -KK

Dr. Ona's book is a concise collection of all the things you wish you would have known going into third year (useful information not only for IM). As a soon to be 4th year medical student, I know all to well the sense of excitement and trepidation we experience as we transition from basic sciences to clerkship. It is often difficult to judge what is expected of you, where your boundaries are, and how you should appropriately interact among the hierarchy you're thrown into. No matter how extensive your basic science knowledge and clinical skills are, daily patient interaction in an inpatient setting and hospital protocol are things that are often learned by trial and error. This book will put you a step ahead of everyone else in all regards. If you put these tips into practice not only will your patients receive the standard of care they deserve, you'll look like an old pro your first day!  -ML

Dr. Ona has written an excellent guide that every second year medical student should pick up! Great resource for third year rotation.  -OS

Changing Bodies - Transforming Lives (eBook) Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Do you remember what your life was like ten years ago? How about five years ago or even two years back? I find it astonishing that many of us have only vague recollections of our lives from just one year ago. We say that life is too short and that life is a gift. How is it then that we take this precious gift for granted? Dealing with quotas at work, deadlines in school, various commitments, and responsibilities in our personal lives, we let time slip away. We often fail to do what it takes to reach our goals, attain good health, and enhance our relationships. Certainly we are greater than our shortcomings. This book gives you a start toward improving the quality of your life. It contains the A.C.H.I.E.V.E.™ principles that you can use to attain optimal health and build lifelong success. On one level, this book explains the principles and specific plan that I used to transform my own physique. I am certain that if you follow these principles and plan with passion and discipline, you can change your own body, too. However, building the body of your dreams is only one step. This book can also serve you on a deeper level. The principles described have a much wider application. Use them to improve your relationships, build financial "health," create spiritual strength, and enhance your mental health and emotional well- being, as you achieve fulfillment and balance. So, what motivated me to make positive, lasting changes in my life? For a long time, my state of health was far from optimal. I was frustrated, fat, and physically exhausted. Stressful events and life challenges overwhelmed me. My personal relationships suffered. My energy levels were at an all-time low. I was not living a balanced life eating excessively and neglecting exercise. Frankly, it seemed easier to forget my problems by sitting around rather than proactively dealing with them. Ultimately, the price I paid was a poor self- image and unhealthy body. The turning point came when I reached my personal pain threshold and declared, "Enough is enough!" and I finally decided to change my attitude, actions, and habits – all important components to a life change. By following success strategies, which I call the A.C.H.I.E.V.E.™ principles, and a precise nutrition, training, and supplement plan, I was able to lose fat, build muscle, and dramatically change my body and transform my life. The program was simple but not easy. It was difficult and challenging, yet it has inspired me for the long run because it was during these tough times that I grew stronger and persevered. With a spark of determination, I stretched beyond my own perceived limitations and accomplished what many people consider extraordinary results. I learned the value of setting goals and taking focused action and learning from my coaches along the way. This system helped me develop a new attitude, new body, and new life. I did not receive prizes, money, or fame, but I sincerely and passionately believe that I "won" higher levels of fitness and functional vitality. Today I wake up with more energy and vigor. Throughout the day I feel stronger and in control. I feel like a winner! I gained not only a better physique but also a new outlook on life. And if I can do it, then you can too. Today is your metaphorical "before photo". Right now, your "after photo" of your best body and ideal life is within your grasp. You are a living and breathing miracle. You were placed on this planet with awesome potential and many innate blessings. As each day passes, you will undoubtedly experience defining moments in your quest to attain your best body. I challenge you to capture and record these moments on a consistent basis and rejoice in your limitless potential for excellence in all that you do. The difference between those who succeed and those who do not has nothing to do with genetics, ability, or circumstance. Those who fail in life always seem to make excuses and selfishly seek to take from others, rather than give of themselves to help others. On the other hand, those who succeed at the highest levels are the ones who find the inner strength and supportive resources to persevere despite crushing odds or massive crises. They feel fulfilled and fortunate throughout the process and they care for and find value in others. I am convinced that my A.C.H.I.E.V.E.™ principles can help you fulfill your dreams. It contains some of the most important things I have learned from some of the most important people in my life: family, mentors, coaches, and friends. As long as you consistently apply these principles in your daily life, you can and will achieve your goals. My personal mission is to live a fulfilling life. This means developing a deeper sense of gratitude for my talents and helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. I believe that improving our physical, mental, emotional, financial, social, and spiritual lives is completely within our control. Recognizing our unlimited potential is the first step. Tapping this potential to create positive, lasting change is one of the main challenges in life. My A.C.H.I.E.V.E.™ principles can help you do this. They contain some of the most important things I have learned from family, friends, and mentors. I invite you to apply the A.C.H.I.E.V.E.™ principles in your life consistently each day. You will not only attain your health, fitness, and life goals, but also inspire many others to dream, believe, and achieve successful lives. DREAM! BELIEVE! ACHIEVE! Mel Ona, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., M.A. $19.99

 Mel Ona, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., M.A. Copyright 2011-2012