Practicing in the exam helped me to prepare much better. Helps enormously to not repeat the same mistakes in real exam. I am more focused.
Mohammed Niazi, MD, Bergenfield, NJ
SEE VIDEO

 

Learned a lot. Very supportive.
Nagaveni Ragothama, MD, Holland, OH
SEE VIDEO
 
Loved it! Examiners were awesome. Told me what my strengths and weaknesses are. Taught me a lot.
Ali Langroodi, MD, Temple, TX
SEE VIDEO
 
Very good. Refreshes your learning. Easily understandable. I will recommend this to other colleagues. Helped me a lot.
Milagros Demandante, MD, Harbor City, CA
SEE VIDEO
 
Intensive and very helpful. Helped me to prepare for all different kinds of cases.
Vijay Maurya, MD, Augusta, GA
SEE VIDEO
 
I would say I may have been maybe 10% prepared, but for now I feel more than 80% confident that I will make it.
Rajesh Kadam, MD, Johnson City, TN
SEE VIDEO
 
If ever I get any chance, there’s no question that I’d ever not refer anybody here. I think probably this is the best place where people can come in and get knowledge and get ready for passing the boards.
Krishan Lassi, MD, Manhattan, KS
SEE VIDEO
 

Faculty & staff were professional, friendly, pleasant and informative.
- Fahmy Ibrahim, MD, Aliso, CA

 

I got better organizational and presentation skills. I am more confident for the real exam now.
- Zulfigar Ahmed, MD, Dewitt, MI

 

The course was very helpful, organized and helps in preparing for the boards. The feedback is excellent!!!
- Ambreen Ahmed, MD, Columbia, MD

 

This experience was very valuable. I learned very practical and valuable skills, most especially organizational skills which was not my strongest. Dr. Krasuski gave wonderful feedback which I will definitely use in my practice. The course coordinators were also very helpful and courteous, the experience was very positive. Thank you…
- Yetunde Johnson, MD

 

So far this has been the best preparatory course I have ever attended. The preparatory material and overall quality are excellent compared to previous courses I have attended. This is the only one that truly motivates and enables me to move on to a “higher plateau”. I would definitely recommend this course to any candidate. Jack is really great!
- Ratko John Sarazin, MD, Pensacola, FL

 

Good direction at what is needed and expected to pass the exam.
- Donald Mayes, MD, Las Vegas, NV

 

Great course!!! I will recommend to all my friends.
- Nasifa Rahman, MD, Collegeville, PA

 

My friends highly recommended this course. I find it very helpful to organize my skills of interviewing patients and presentation. It’s worth the money I spent!!!!
- Nazanin Elahi, MD, Oakland, CA

 

Very well organized, exam centered/focused topics and cases. Practical and informative.
 - Mairaj A. Khan, MD, Cape Girardeau, MO

 

 Dr. Jack from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!
- Jean Dansereau, MD, Paso Robles, CA

 

This course really helped me to organize and format my case presentation. It taught me some excellent interview skills that I will use in my practice as well as the boards. Overall, it dismissed my anxiety to understand what is expected in all parts of the exam and to actively practice these skills.
- Janet Fischer, MD, Cardiff, CA

 

I am impressed by the simplicity and efficiency of your course.  In four days, my information/database in clinical psychiatry became significantly richer.  More importantly, I learned some simple and smart techniques to improve my performance in the test as well as in my clinical practice.  I intend to continue practicing them until they become incorporated in my interviewing and presenting style.  I strongly recommend this course to my colleagues.  For the best results, and if possible, take it during your residency and then repeat it at 3 months and then one week before the test.
 – M. Rafique Shaikh, MD

 

Thank you so much for your course and all the great people working with you.  Your course made all the difference.  I read through the manual as soon as I received it and practiced a board style interview on every new patient admitted to my inpatient unit.  The mental status exam, formulation and rapid psychotherapy review was most helpful for the boards and even more so in my daily clinical practice.  Thanks again!
 – Clyde Glenn, MD

 

I have not taken my oral boards yet. Your course has improved my performance and increased my confidence going into my exam. I have used your materials to prep for my written boards, and I recommend your course highly.
- Cheryl Salary, MD, Dayton OH

 

This is truly time well spent before the exam. It is a great confidence booster!
-Christopher Womack, MD, Glenview IL

 

The course improved my understanding of the psychiatric interview/presentation. Both a clearer overall /global review and also with each specific section.
- Josephine DeGuzman, MD, Moore OK

 

I feel that the course helped me to gain confidence in my evaluation and presentation skills for the exam. I feel that the course has also helped me to become a better military physician.
- Zachary Goral, MD, Tampa FL

 

Attenuated learning at your pace, and in a comfortable , encouraging and friendly environment.
- Grace G. Thomas, MD, Manhattan, KS

 

This is the only course that truly helped me to understand what the board exam is all about and what I needed to do appropriately prepare for it. It is certainly worth the money!
- Ratko Sarazin, MD, Pensacola, FL

 

This course should be a required prerequisite to taking the oral boards for anyone who wants to ensure their success on the exam, and not just leave it up to luck. Dr. Krasuski clarifies exactly what elements are crucial, discusses how to avoid pitfalls, provides a systematic method for improving organization and managing time effectively and makes the whole process fun! You then have the opportunity to practice and refine your skills, while getting the exposure to different interview styles/feedback and watching  how your colleagues perform too. It is all about putting on a certain kind of performance and this course will show you exactly how do it. The staff is unbelievable supportive, which bolstered my confidence and sense of preparedness for this exam. Thank you so much, your help has been invaluable.
 -Naomi Chevalier, MD, Richmond Hill, NY   

 

Excellent course, very well organized, extremely helpful information and has increased my clinical knowledge tremendously. All facility members and staff are very devoted, sincere and cooperative. Bryan and Ramona both helped me a lot during the whole course.
-Syed Qadri, MD, Omaha NE

 

This course is truly very useful, even if you are very skilled at interviewing. It puts you in a specific situation teaches appropriate tactics given the true constraints of the exam and essentially  becomes a review of all the major topics in psychiatry.
-Justin Schoen, MD, Marshfield, WI

 

Very complete.
- Edgar Vizcano, MD, Garden City, KS

 

I was very impressed with Dr. Levin and Dr. Martinez. The most constructive feedback  I’ve had.
-Diana Gpigoreva, MD, Richmond Hills, ON

                                                                                                                                                                       
JACK!!!! You and support team are great!!!! Your presentation explains and breaks down every step in preparing for an exam. I would recommend this course to anybody!!!
-  Jirpesh Patel, MD, Holy Springs, NC

 

The review of the psychotherapies was excellent. The course provides a nice balance between reviewing interview skills and practicing live patient interviews and vignettes. The presentation on how to direct and use data to understand psychological function was extremely helpful. The workshops and manuals present many common weaknesses and pitfalls as well as concrete, straightforward techniques and strategiesto avoid them. The course breaks the interview and presentation to examines into parts and provides systems for organizing them which builds confidence.
-  Rebecca Sherwood, MD, Allegan, MI

 

This has been a very positive experience. It has helped me to organize myself. Great job Jack!!!! Continue to keep it up....
-  Arun Munjal, MD, Smyrna, CA

 

This course can be a benefit to anyone who is palnning to take the oral boards. Not just that it can definitely increase the chances of passing the exam, but it is also teaching skills that most residency forget...
-  Samar Mahood, MD, Westmont, IL

 

This course met all of my goals. I believe I learned more than I expected, mostly from examination point of views. I recommend this course highly to candidates who are struggling with psychiatric board exams written and oral!!!!
-  Shamin Malik, MD, Pine Bluff, AR

 

Beat the boards is one of the best oral board presentations courses I have ever attended. To me it is better than Osler, Harvard and any other course I have attended in the past, Dr. Krasuski knows everyone of us by name, he is very easy going and approachable. The faculty members are great also. I really enjoyed the course!!!!
-  Fazlul Haque, MD, New Hyde Park, NY

 

This course helped me a lot. Not only with the board preparation, but with the anxiety I was having as well….
-  Mirolslaw Walo, MD, Skokie, IL

 

DR. Krasuski is “EXCELLENT” in his presentation skills. Overall, I am satisfied with this course. I felt as Jack is putting his heart into his efforts to prepare all candidates for the Oral Part II ABPN. Now as a candidate, it motivates me to do my best!!!!
-  Shilpa Upadhyay, MD, Old Bridge, NJ

 

I came in dreading this exam, I have been extremely burned out over the years because of it also. I left with a much better understanding of what to expect and also with a plan for organizing my presentation.
-  Clay Paulis, MD, Flandreau, SD

 

This course is excellent. All the faculty members are doing a great job. From my personal experience I would recommend anyone to register as early as you can so you will get all the reading material and take the course at least a month prior to the Board so if you have any areas of weakness in the interview techniques or presentations. You'll have time to practice and improve it...THANKS!!!
-  Olga Rakhlin, MD, Cresshill, NY

 

This was a great experience. I hope I dont have to repeat, but if I do it would be my honor. It is well put together and very helpful. Thank You!!!!
-  Cassandra Simms, MD, Oultewal, TN

 

This is an exceedingly well-organized and hands-on board prep. The home study interview, vignette and DVD's were particularly helpful. Given the ample exposure to patient interviews & vignettes, I am feeling more confident about taking orals. In fact I can't imagine going into part II without this course!!!!
-  Rita Tranquilli, MD, Winfield, IL

 

Examiners are very, very helpful, vignettes cover most of the ends and outs. The option of making it more affordable by setting up a payment arrangement of 3 payments is excellent.
-  Nishita Knexhtel, MD, Reston, VA

 

Hi Jack!!! I really want to thank you & your staff for putting this course together. It's so efficient!!! You are doing a wonderful job of making sure that every candidate gets information, confidence & courage to go through their ABPN exams with minimal anxiety and fear, You have a great way of relaxing people. Keep It Going!!! Great Job!!!!
-  Salmah Wahid, MD, Fredrick, MD

Jack, thank you for helping me in preparing for my oral boards. In my opinion, without your course I would have never passed this exam. The tips you gave and the feedback that you gave to the candidates were very helpful. You and your staff's knowledge about this difficult exam impressed me most. I attended the refresher course and I felt more confident after it. It definitely helped me pass the exam
- Navdeep S. Baath, MD, Fremont, CA

 

A comprehensive review. Highly recommended.
- Thomas Cyriac, MD, Scottsdale, AZ

 

Good Course.
- Ram Ranjit, MD, Wichita, KS

 

This course helped me face many fears and to become a more complete, organized, and sharp clinician.
- Gwen Sorosky MD, Mill Valley, CA

 

I can't say enough good things about the ' Beat The Boards! Course. I have learned so many valuable things they don't teach you in residency! Just knowing the DSM-IV and psych mods is not enough to pass Part 2 of the Boards. From improved note taking techniques, learning to get information from difficult patients, to learning to give a thorough mental status exam, this course is great. Dr. Jack also took the time to talk to me personally about my questions. I felt he was concerned about me and I wasn't just another candidate. Thanks alot Jack.
- Derek Diebler, MD, Anthom, AZ

 

I highly recommend to everyone to take this course. Very useful, not only for the Oral Boards, but also I feel more knowledgeable. I will bring this course to my practice. Thank you Jack and faculty and staff, you are good motivators.
- Marilou Rosas, MD, Beaumont, CA

 

Attending this refresher course was very helpful. Instead of learning new materials and techniques, I found myself mastering my performances and building my confidence. I found my anxiety levels decreased greatly after repeating this course.
- Roukan Jazayerli, MD, Oakbrook Terrace, IL

 

I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your sincere and kind approach towards us. You are so caring, empathetic, kind, sincere, and believe in truly helping us. It was an invaluable course which has enriched my knowledge a great deal and has boosted my morale and confidence.
- Samuel Gadam, MD, Honolulu, HI

 

I was highly impressed by the dedication of the faculty not just in the area of providing the most pertinent information, but also the highly values critique and feedback. Course material is a nice review of 4 years of psychiatry training presented in very easy to read and understandable format. I have not taken my Oral Boards yet, but I have no doubt that this course has enhanced my skills.
- Adel Rabbani, MD, Mobile, AL

 

This course is indeed very helpful for both our boards and clinical practice. The faculty are knowledgeable, helpful, knows how to intellectually stimulate each case. The refresher crystalizes the whole course review!
- Antonio Ong, MD, Escondido, CA

 

This course was recommended to me and I highly recommend this course for other psychiatrists. The techniques learned during this course has made me a better psychiatrist and solidified my knowledge base. Thank you Beat The Boards! staff and faculty!
- Kristie Mitchell, MD, San Antonio, TX

 

I took this course several months ahead of time to get oriented to the Part 2 Board Exam, It was a good experience and very helpful in evaluting my weaknesses. I now have the opportunity to work on this prior to the exam. I plan to take a refresher course later on.
- Shehla Yusaf, MD, Northeville, MI

 

This course actually helped me make a strong guideline of how to address clinical issues and treatment plan which may seem simple in real practice yet an organized format in a few minutes is sometimes very difficult . Excellent outline for the points of focus, how to address, how to present, and attitude towards exam and much much more.....
- Farhana Mansoob, MD, Jersey City, NJ

 

Simply put, this course by you should be taught in every third year residency program.
- Mohammad Jahangiri, MD, Danville,CA

 

This course has greatly impacted my thought process about cases and plans. I appreciate all the time you've invested in developing this program. You've surrounded yourself with a great staff. Thanks
- Mariela Viera, MD, Scottsdale, AZ

 

A great course which is recommended to everyone wanting to pass the Boards.
- Isaac Browne, MD, Wilmington, CA

 

Wonderful training to help perform on the Oral Boards!
- Mona Trivedi, MD, Fremont, CA

 

I will strongly recommend this course to anyone who is thinking of taking Part II of ABPN. This course provides a well organized approach to various Psychiatric issues that will most likely appear in the real exam.
- Ameer Dahar, MD, Visalia,CA

 

Good home study materials.
- Peter Warhol, MD, Peever, SD

 

Very good , intense and useful for the boards and current practice course.
- Marina Obolnikov, MD, San Francisco, CA

 

The course pulls you out and away of the trite and routine habits one develops over the years of psychiatric practice. It's a punch!! It's an eye opener!!
- Altagracia Otero, MD, Fresno, CA

 

Dr. Krasuski you are a good teacher who knows what to stress when taking these exams. You have a good group of support staff. Everyone strives to help all of the students and physicians who came in.
- Sankar Kodidhi, MD, Lee's Summit, MD

 

This course has been the most useful in preparation for the boards. Unfortunately psychiatric training is so clinical that often board preparation is not emphasized. In the past, I have struggled with organization during interviewing, presentations and understanding case formulations. Dr. Krasuski breaks all this down in charts and diagrams making the tasks easier to understand. I wish I was this prepared for the boards during my residency. I would highly recommend this course.
- Mizyl, Damayo, MD, Corbin, KY

 

Dr. Krasuski's energy, enthusiasm, specific focused lectures, and study materials were excellent.
Kim Serravezza MD, Decatur, GA
I cannot thank Dr. Krasuski and his staff enough for arranging this very well organized, extremely informative and beneficial course for all of us. All of the selected patients were very challenging, which helped us to enhance our interviewing skills. I truly appreciate this course and the effort made to make our preparation better for the board exam. The staff is amazingly helpful. Thank you all!
- Syed Qadri, MD, Omaha, NE

 

This course was very helpful and valuable for me because it helped me to find out my weak areas in clinical performance skills.
- Govind Oza, MD, Corona, NY

 

The course improved my interviewing skills and made me think broadly about differential diagnosis and treatment. I will definitely recommend this course to my friends.
- Shameem, Shaik, MD, Coppell, TX

 

The course (Psychiatry Part II) was GREAT!! I usually have a hard time staying awake in a conference that lasts for more than 2 hours, but you did it! I did not want to miss a minute of the long days (up to 11 hours).Great Job! This was definitely worth the money. I highly recommend it even to doctors that already have good interviewing skills.
- Alexandre Taveres MD, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

 

This course helped me learn, practice and gain confidence to be successful in my goals.
- Robina Bokhari, MD, Somerset, KY

 

Throughout this course, I received supportive, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral and systematic desensitization! I came out of this course more confident and feeling more effective as a clinician!
- Anne Taden, MD, Lake Orion, MI

 

I have taken the real exam yet, but I say with guarantee that if one doesn't prepare the way this courses teaches you, the chances of passing are decreased. I am so happy I joined this course!
- Mona Trivedi, MD, Fremont, CA

 

Several of my colleagues recommended this course for board preparation and after attending this course, they were right. Please don't hesitate to apply even if you have never taken the boards before. Apply early and use the manual. It will help in your practice as well.
- Aliya Bakr, MD, Union City, CA

 

An extremely helpful course that I feel has increased my chances of passing the boards by 100%!!
- Barbara Roth, MD, Lincoln, NE

 

Before coming to this course, I did not think that it would be very helpful. As I progressed throughout the course, I reevaluated myself and found that I had learned a lot in terms of the exam. I also learned better preparation and practice techniques for Psychiatry.
- Fayyaz Ahmad, MD, Chandler, AZ

 

Great Course! I feel prepared and I know what areas I need to work on. I feel more confident and less anxious about the exam.
- Connie Lane, MD, Los Angeles, CA

 

I always struggled with time management and presenting an organized treatment plan. This course has taught me something that my residency could not teach me.
- Samai Mahmood, MD, Westmont, IL

 

I recommend the course to everyone.It helped me pass the first time! The highly rigorous structure of this course plus the rich exposure to different case scenarios is what you need to pass the exam.I recommend to do the videos before the course and be familiar with them.My interview went smoothly,my examiners were tough but without the course,I would probably have mumbled answers, look less confident and likely would have failed miserably. The course is tough,no time to joke,it is very intense and expensive but Dr Martinez and all other doctors were very encouraging and boosted my self-confidence.Furthermore,the course helped me do my psychiatric evaluations faster and in general, I think I have become a more sensitive and better physician. Thank you so much to Dr Jack,Ramona,Scott and all the staff for their support and hard work.
- St.Victor, MD, Glen Oaks, NY

 

(They) developed a way to teach the more abstract and elusive concepts in psychiatry. This was matched by a method to pass the exam confidently. These lessons in psychodynamic and psychopharmacology treatments will no doubt improve my ability to care for patients for many years. I learned more than I did during my residency and I wish I had taken this course back then.
- Suzanne Ashman, MD, Woodlane Hills,CA

 

First of all, I would like to thank you all for the wonderful job you're doing. It has truly been a wonderful journey. Beat the boards is truly the way to beat the boards. It is structured to desensitize you from all the anxiety associated with the exam. It also guided me to organize myself in such a way to face every possible situation that I might face in my daily practice...and IT'S OK... I highly recommend this course to every one, and I'm very grateful for all the help I received.
- Reda Bendaoud, MD, Temple City, CA

 

I could not have passed the Psychiatry Oral Boards without the help of the Beat the Boards Course. I found the course especially helpful for the new vignette section, which is not taught well in most residency programs (neither was the old video exam). Dr. Krasuski's course allowed me to easily pass this part of the exam. You may ( or may not) be able to learn how to pass the live patient interview with the aid of colleagues or your former residency program, but the Beat the Boards Course is a must for the new vignette examination.
- Michael Rack, MD, Jackson, MS

 

This course is great. Jack teaches you exactly what you need to know to pass the boards, it's as simple as that. Make sure to listen to the CD's before you goto othe lectures, then you're almost guaranteed to pass!
- Farid Singh, MD, St. Louis Park, MN

 

I think Beat the Board is the best course that I could have taken & it helped me a lot in passing my board . I got my skills polished at Beat the Board & I felt confident that I could do it. Dr Krausaski is great & extemely helpful. I already recomended a friend of mine for the course who will be attending it in Jan .Thanks a lot again .
- Sumera Dadeem, MD, Springfield, VA

 

Although I passed the written exam on first attempt I was unsuccessful in passing the oral exam 11 years ago, failing the series. I met Dr. Depala at a dinner meeting over two years ago and was encouraged to reconsider another attempt at becoming board certified. He had explained that he was involved with an oral review course that would help me address problems I encountered on prior attempts. I again passed the written and began to look into taking the review course. Although I had to bear the expense on my own, I felt I was going to get my money's worth based on the guarantee they offered and the amount of coursework I would receive prior to actually attending the course. It turned out to be the best decision I could have made and Dr. Depala was true to his word. Not only did I become board certified, I also feel I became an even better clinician with some changes in my interviewing style. Some aspects I found most helpful were: Jack's use of the wedge format learning to separate the past from the current history. Instead of waiting to cover issues of alcohol, drugs suicide, homicide , hallucinations later in my interview I covered it in my history of present illness. I learned I could condense my review of systems while still covering 10-15 different disease categories. The changes in organization and presentation, along with the emphasis on showing true empathy and working with challenging clients made the difference. In my work experience my interviews covered the details required for medicare audits but these changes made the difference in passing the test. I took the course more than once and signed on for extra live interviews. Their faculty was all dedicated to the goal of ensuring our success and I felt that each time I took the course I discovered new facets that I would have overlooked had I only had the initial 4 day course. I don't feel I could have passed the test without the course.
 - Miles O'Hanlon, MD, Manitowoc, WI

 

Even though people have complimented me to be a good resident and a good psychiatrist in the making, I am certain after my experience with the Boards that Residency does not prepare you for the Boards. In taking this course, I realized what I needed to do to pass the boards, and thankfully passed on my first attempt. Beat The Boards is a meticulously-designed, tastefully delivered course that will not only help you dispel the mystery of the Psychiatry Boards, but will undoubtedly make you a better psychiatrist in the process (you won't be able to help treating your patients better after taking this course!) This course has been imperative and central to my success in the Oral Boards, and I recommend it whole-heartedly
- Himanshu Agrawal, MD, Minneapolis, MN

 

I wanted to let you know I am now a Board Certified Psychiatrist! Taking your course was a wonderful catalyst to make this happen! The attention to detail you provided made it easy to pinpoint my weak areas. I focused on that area during the critical month just before the exam. That made all the difference. Another point you made that helped me immensely was realizing the exam was not about my anxiety, but about taking care of a patient, (my patient) in front of two other psychiatrists. That is what I do all the time, I am good at that, so focusing on the patient and not on me definitely was a must. I felt the exam to be a positive experience. I thought the examiners were obliging. Had I needed to repeat the exam, I would have been much more relaxed with that knowledge. Thank you and your team so much for all your sincere help! I will recommend your course without reservation.
- Olga Youniss, MD, Phoenix, MD

 

I am glad that I took the' Blue tower' course. I have learned things from this course which I have not learned from my residency. Dr Jack Krasuski is a very hard worker and sincere , who really wants the candidate to pass the board not just for money. I don't think any other course offers that much written materials.I recommend this course to all the candidate to be a good and competent psychiatrist. Thanks to all of you who is organizing the course.
- Syeda Kabir, MD, Folsom, CA

 

I can't say enough about the Beat the Boards Part II Psychiatry Boards review course. I know that I would not have passed these boards without this course. However, it was so much more than just a board review course. I learned new skills, and how to integrate all that I have learned in residency in a way that will benefit me for the rest of my career. I come from a highly rated psychiatry residency program, but I think that this course taught me what I wished I would have learned in residency. I would highly recommend the course based upon how fundamentally valuable it is, even if I was the kind of person who could easily pass oral exams. Any important factor in this course is that all of the faculty are extremely knowledgeable, are exceptionally kind, have a finely-tuned grasp of what the board examiners are expecting, have incredible skill at identifying how you can improve, and are genuinely dedicated to providing any extremely high caliber educational experience. I could go on and on. In short, I am forever grateful to this organization, they have served as powerful role models, and the course taught me fundamentally critical skills that my own (highly respected) residency program did not, but should have.
- Lisa Miller, MD, Houston, TX

 

I am so thankful to whoever referred me to this course. Not only (has) it helped me pass the oral boards in first attempt, it also has made me more organized and thorough in my everday evaluation of patients. As intensive training focusing on interviewing format that leads to adequate diagnostic formulation and treatment planning helped me the most. I also found vignette training at Blue Tower very helpful. I attribute my success largely to this program and highly recommend it to others.
- Renu M.Anupindi, MD, TX

 

Great course, great instructors, excellent feedback.
- Rashmi Deshmukh, MD, Fremont, CA

 

Being an attending for many years caused me to develop shortcuts in my interviews This course redirected me to the proper way of psychiatric interview history taking.
- Irshaad Shaffeeullah, MD, Queens, NY

 

It has definitely made me a better psychiatrist at interviewing my patients --- let's hope I pass my boards!!!!!
- Neelu Gill, MD, Decorah, IA

 

This course was very effective in making me used to the format. It laid it all out in a way that makes sense and it hit all anxiety so it's not a mystery anymore. I still have alot to cover, but it helped make clear where I need to focus, that gives more peace of mind and makes my time management more objective. Thanks for your sincere desire to help.
- Olga Youniss, MD, Phoenix, MD

 

I'm so greatful to this course. It has given me the tools to work on my performance, knowledge and skills on interviewing psychiatric patients. I'm a very organized person, but this course has helped me learn mental organization. Thank you, Jack
- Margarita Lema, MD, Chico, CA

 

You made me panic! Which is great because I feel motivated to study and improve. Because of the mock exams now I know my weaknesses and what I need to study. Your staff has helped catch me as I fell apart and started the re-building process which I hope will be complete by the real exam.
- Shaad Swim, MD, Booneville, IA

 

I came and i have improved my interviewing and presenting skills. My knowledge for the exam is also updated.
- Julie Trinh, MD, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

Thank you Beat The Boards for such a great course.
- Nadeem Sumera, MD, Springfield, VA

 

This course was excellent. It helped in my interview skills and decreased my anxiety. Dr Baum was outstanding. Thank you.
- Maria Coica, MD, Hummestown, PA

 

This course served as a good boot camp in preparation for the oral board exam. It helped me to learn the components necessary to approach the exam.
- Daniel Dickerson, MD, Long Beach, CA

 

It was a great opportunity for me, not only to prepare for my oral boards but also to improve myself as a psychiatrist and to apply what I learned with my patients.
- Sherif Aziz, MD, Sterling Heights, MI

 

This course provides ideas on how to become more organized in assessments and presentations. This helps decrease the anxiety inherent in the examination process.
 - Rebecca Wysoske, MD, Omaha, NE

 

This course gave me a clear sense as to the expectations from the board and enhances your preparation and approach to this test. Highly recommended!
 - Thomas Cyriac, MD, Scotsdale, AZ

 

The home study materials were thorough and relevant and of great help. The exposure to the anxiety of testing helped to acclamate to the exam experience. Of great help was the practice of organizing the information from a 30 minute interview into a chronological, comprehensive presentation. This practice was a tremendous confidence builder. The use of a timer and the outline of recommended time inferals to present each portion of history, Dx, treatment plan helped organize me and add to my confidence.
- Joseph Mullen, MD, Ellicott City, MD

 

I strongly recommend my colleagues and friends to take this course. By taking this course I learned how to interview and present a case in an organized fashion. I am very improved about the questions and answers after interviewing which is the most difficult part. It is highly motivative to watch others interview and learn from their strengths.
- Rehana Haque, MD

 

I think this course is not only helpful as board prep, but also in my practice. It's been a very good experience.
- Teresa Raras, MD, Ripon, CA

 

If you value consultation from experts in your clinical practice then you will value the consultation provided by Dr Krasuski in the unique area of preparing for the oral boards.
- Mark Fischer, MD, Sycamore, IL

 

It was truely a program that provided pittfalls that we may experience in our work. The teaching technique will enhance our future clinical commitments.
- Kahnaz Khari, MD, Anchorage, AK

Very useful course for both exam preparation and clinical practice. Recommend it very highly to everyone preparing for their oral boards.
- Sanjeen Kamat, MD, St Louis, MO

 

If I ever pass my psychiatry oral boards, it will be due to Dr Krasuski's course. Each time I take the course, I improve. The feedback provided by the mock examiners is excellent.
- Michael Rack, MD, Jackson, MS

 

I feel more knowledgeable and confident after taking this course. Only regret I have is that why I did not take this course before.
- Sunil Rangwani, MD, Alma, MI

 

Highly recommend beat the boards!, very well organized. Verbal. practical, and efficient teaching. Excellent family. Time and money well spent.
- A. Affany, MD, New Town, CT

 

I was very nervous about the upcomng board, but taking this course and learning the method Jack teaches was great! It made me relaxed and confident. I would definitely recommend this course.
- Abdi Tinwalla, MD, Glendale Heights, IL

 

The course has been a great deal of help to me. It helped me to find out my mistakes and sharpen my knowledge. It also helped to organize my knowledge for presentation for the exam and knowing expectations of me. It will be much easier to continue my preparations for the exam. Thanks alot.
- Svetlana Kotin, MD, Yorkton, SK, Canada

 

Your course stands alone. It's extremely helpful in helping me to become a better psychiatrist--not to mention that i am confident this course will have prepared me well for the exam.
- Lisa Miller, MD, Houston, TX

 

Practical, real world course, comprehensive and thorough. Dr Krasuski and faculty team were extremely helpful. Very accessible, knowledgeable, and encouraging. Very intense but Dr Jack's upbeat personality and great sense of humor kept us working/learning at a fast pace while feeling genuinely supportive and encouraged.
- Pamela Hetherington, MD, New Haven, CT

 

It was an excellent course and I solute Dr. Jacks passion, enthusiasm and heartful will to guide the candidates. I learned my weak points and learned alot from observing and listening to the critiques on other candidates This course helped me to boost the energy in the right direction and practice in the right way. I re-learned how much empathy can play a role even in this short interview process and alliance. Sincerely Nadeem Akhtar, North Carolina
- Nadeem Akhtar, MD, Kernersville, NC

 

Yes I did Pass! Thank you Dr. Krasuski! Just before the exam I requested you to email me the info on religious and cultural issues, and sure enough I had a clinical vignette dealing with that. I had a very difficult, cognitively impaired patient, and probably the main reason I did not panic was the preparation during the review course. It almost felt like boot-camp at the time, but it was worth it.I consider the help from the course invaluable and am spreading the news and encouraging my colleagues to attend it. Thanks again! Vesela T. Tzoneva, MD
- Vesela T. Tzoneva, MD, Shreveport, LA

 

Hello to all at Blue Tower, It feels great to have the Boards completely out of your way. I did have a wonderful experiece at the course . It was very helpful to use some additonal mock interviews and get feedback, which Ramona and the team were great in organizing. We had exceptionally long days and so did the entire crew and want to Thank you all very much for you ongoing support and encouragement. The Newsletter was so great in the sense it kept me on my toes and reminding me to pay attention to crucial topics. Special thanks to Jack for reminding me to think of the big picture rather than be bogged down by the exam, I guess I never thought of it that way and it helped tremendously hearing it from you. I am sure if I have friends or collegues, who need help, I will gladly refer them your way. Beena
- Beena Anantharaman, MD, Pittsburg, PA

 

I took Beat the Boards! course in April '07 and the course was very helpful in terms of understanding the important issues related to the exam. This course provided me with a realistic example of how the exam would be. And after taking the course, I was very familiar with the concepts and format of the exam. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone who is planning to take ABPN exam. Thanks once again to everyone at Beat the Boards!
- Nighat Parveen, MD, Novi, MI

 

I would highly recommend the Beat The Boards! Course. It took the mystery out of the oral boards and gave me the structure and skills to pass. Getting through the course helped reduce my anxiety come test time and I found the practice vignettes more challanging than the actual test. The practice helped me to be able to pick out my talking points on diagnosis, treatment, and mental status exam. It helped me have my biopsychosocial formulation down and be able to talk briefly about therapies I would recommend specific to the patient I had. It really takes DOING and talking aloud to practice. Thanks Jack! Richard Shuey MD
- Richard Shuey, MD, Seymour, TN

 

The course is well organized geared toward the new exam format and the study materials are great,personally for me the course is very helpful, I learn new ways to approach difficult patient and to conduct an interview for rare cases such as homosexual and transgender, HIV and military personnel patients. I like the organization and the staff during the course are very helpful, I have attended prep course before but nothing like the Blue Tower, I felt very sorry that I hadn't attended the course after completing my residency in psychiatry. I strongly recommend the course for any candidate who want to pass his Board EXAM. Faisal Awadelkarim,MD
- Faisal Awadelkarim, MD, Fairfax, VA

 

Hi Jack: I passed my oral board from the first attempt in June. Jack, your course was the best course. you are very competent and your main goal to help us pass this difficult exam. I went to the life course in May. it was very extensive review and focused on how to pass the exam even with difficult patients. your technique and your advice about passing this exam depend on how we interview and present the case not depend on having difficult pt or not. i remembered this advice after 5 minutes from the interview of a difficult patient and it was very helpful advice. also the vignette part of the course was excellent and very helpful. Jack, i recommend your course to any candidate wants to pass his exam from first attempt. I recommend also continue having MOCK oral after the course because it is very helpful. Sincerely, Dr.Suzy Ebrahem,MD ABPN Board Certified Psychiatrist
- Suzy Ebrahem, MD, Albany, NY

 

Dear Jack, I did your course and it helped me pass my boards( in 1st attempt). I personally think this is the best course for the oral exams, as it not only decreases your anxiety, desensitizes you to the vignettes, but also prepares you really well to be JUST GOOD PSYCHIatrists. It has helped me improve my patient satisfaction so much, that I am getting good evaluations from them also Sofia Rohan, MD
- Sofia Rohan, MD, Centreville, VA

 

Not only did this course help me learn the very basics of an empathic and comprehensive interview, but it also gave me the ability to pick up on subtle clues about the patient's psychopathology. Overall it helped me become a better and effective clinician. Last but not least, it helped me pass the boards in Indianapolis. Akbar Shinwari, MD
- Akbar Shinwari, MD Richmond, IN

 

Hi Ms Ramona, I want to thank the organizers of the Beat the Boards Course for making my first attempt at the Part 2 Oral Boards a success. I was impressed by the organization, the enthusiasm of all the staff, Dr Jack's devotion to this cause-both 'on the court'-that is during the course at Chicago, and 'off the court'-that is the teleconferencing, the e-mails, the CDs, which I listened to over and over again. I am glad that I had the opportunity to be interviewed, and to watch other candidates interviewed during the course, by the outstanding faculty that Dr Jack had brought together. I will be interested in the Child Boards prep for my part 1 Child Boards, which I intend to take next year. Once again, thank you so much.
- Christianah Y Ogunlesi, MD, Eau Claire, WI

 

Beat the Boards was terrific! Dr. Krasuski and his staff are extremely competent. I learned how to organize my interview and presentation, especially the dreaded formulation, keep my composure, and always be true to my instincts. And I passed! Thank you Beat the Boards!
- Emma Laskin, MD, Great Neck, NY

 

Dr. Jack was empathic in addressing anxiety that can pose a huge deterrent in passing the orals. I bid adieu to pre-testing jitters and worries in recalling Dr. Jack's Mickey Mouse voice imitation to cancel out these negatively-charged cognitions. Everthing else started clicking... As a visual learner, his lectures on psychotherapy were easily retrieved,i.e, modules on Dialectical BT, CBT etc and all his lightning reviews that were highlighted in a very concise manner that can easily be captured for those last minute attendees who signed up a week before the course like me. So don't fret, this course works as Dr. Jack truly motivates one to succeed. To be one, be with one.
- Caroline Tan, MD, Chantilly, VA

 

The Beat the Boards live course was organized, disciplined, and motivational! Dr. Krasuski's review of the clinical skills, knowledge base, comprehensive case conceptualizations and presentation strategies necessary for success with the oral boards was accurate and consistent with my experience in taking the live exam in New York City. I passed the part II exam on my first try. More importantly, (and unexpectedly) since completing the course, I have become a more effective and confident interviewer in my everyday clinical practice. The best parts of the course are the opportunity to take multiple mock live interviews with various faculty that provide accurate and valuable feedback. And although it is possible to do this without taking a course, the fact that you are being examined by people who don't know anything about your clinical expertise or training background is extremely positive, unbiased, and truly simulates the actual examination. There is also intense practice with the vignette section, which I don't think I would have been able to study as well on my own. I had practiced so many mock vignettes with various clinical issues and questions that by the time I sat for the oral boards the vignettes seemed straightforward and I was organized and succint in answering the questions. Thank you all!
- Azin Bekhrad, MD, Columbia, MD

 

Following things from Beat the Boards helped me pass the ABPN II this year. 1. The psychotherapy lectures in a.m. by Dr. Jack Krasuski 2. The vignette exercises by the faculty 3. Observing multiple mock boards and vignette practices 4. Psychotherapy lectures helped me most
- Junnun Choudhry, MD, Little Neck, NY

 

Dear Dr. Jack, I passed my oral exam recently. Happy to inform the news to you, I am glad it is over. I am glad I took your course 1 month before the exam. The course help me to prepare good for the case vignettes which was the main reason I think I passed in my oral exam. I recommend strongly for anyone to take the course and prepare well for the case vignettes because that is in our control. The live interview and the examiners are not in our control. I think what helped me to pass the exam was doing good in the case vignettes. Your newsletters are so helpful; and I have been learning allot of things for my practice also they helped me a lot with the exam, thank you very much for simplifying all the therapy notes which were easy to learn and able to say few words about the therapy in my live interview and vignettes. Being in the bootcamp for 3 days and watching everyone go through the process and putting myself in spot light in front of a bunch of docs made me less anxious in the real exam. My examiners in your course Dr. Pechter and Dr. Marvin gave me very good feedback about my strength and weakness, which helped a lot where to practice after that training. I am so glad that I have attended the course, even though it is expensive it is worth to take it and get rid of the exam so I don’t have to take it again. i am planning to take the child psychiatry boards too, you might end up seeing me again! thank you for all your effort and help.
- Lakshmi Doniparthy, Lumberton, NC

 

I am writing to tell you that I was at your beat the board course in Adult psychiatry orals which took place at Chicago in March29th to April 1st and to inform you that I was able to beat the board through the course. This is possible only with your help and the effective training I got from your faculty members. I am most grateful for repeatedly telling me that I should not lay too much emphasis on negative little stuffs and so I was able to walk to the exam room with confidence . Thank you and all your staffs who were very supportive and courteous.
- Titus Okunlola, MD, Springfield Gardens, NY

 

Your course helped me better organize my presentation and identify the areas of weakness that I had to work on. The fact that you can stay in touch with the course director through his weekly newsletter and email, even after the course is over, is unique and invaluable. I felt that everybody at Beat The Boards course was invested and really wanted us to... Beat The Boards and I did, on my first attempt. Thank you. I am recommending already your course.
- Daniela Ganescu, MD, Edison, NJ

 

I will like to express my gratitude to Jack. Dr. Krasuski is a very good teacher, great clinician. His approach to teaching was superb and I was very confident going for my board. I was polished in my presentation. I am glad I made a wise decision to take the board course .Now I am board certified.
- Eric Semeko, MD, Charlotte, NC

 

Beat the Board's Team: I am very grateful for the guidance during my preparation for the Psychiatric Board part II. I just passed my part II exam in New York, in my first try. Part of my success has to be credited to the Beat the Board Course. Not only has the course prepared me to take this challenging exam but also to be a better psychiatrist. Dr. Jack' s daily email updates were crucial in my preparation. I highly recommended this course to all my colleges.
- Ana Rojas, MD, Veazie ME

 

Beat the Boards! was extremely valuable in helping to pass the boards. The course is very well run and regardless of the outcome on the boards I learned a great deal not covered anywhere else in my training. Jack goes out of his way to provide motivation and inspiration that stays with you during the test. The live course covers many types of cases which does the best to prepare you for anything which is likely to happen on your board exam. The entire staff is first rate. My advice to anyone planning to take the oral boards is to take this course and follow through with the exam no matter how anxious you may feel or self doubt you may have. Jack will get you through. Gratefully,
- Anthony Capozzi, MD. Warwick, NY

 

Blue Tower course for BOARDS is unique in so many ways. Coaching is extraordinary, Faculty is very much involved and environment is friendly. They are keen to teach, clarify gray areas of Psychiatry and reinforce the facts / doubts of Psychiatry. Blue Tower played a major role in my recent passing of the Boards. I recommend everyone to try this course.
- Francis Rathinapandian, MD, Floral Park, NY

 

Beat The Boards! woke me up, gave me an insight into what the exam would be like,reduced my anxiety increased my clinical knowlegde, it was a wonderful learning experience!
- Abiola Babalakin, MD, Yardley, PA

 

The course is great and helped me to pass the exam. I prepared only 15 days this time. The course and your audio and video supplements are great not only improved myself and also made me pass the exam. Thanks for your help, Sailaja Valiveti.
- Sailaja Valiveti, MD, Paramus NJ

 

Beat the Boards! helped me to build the confidence that I needed to successfully pass my psychiatry oral boards. The course helped me to identify my areas of weakness so that I could focus on improving my knowledge base and performance techniques. The lessons I learned from Beat the Boards! not only helped me to ace the boards, but have improved my daily practice. I highly recommend this course to any psychiatrist who is preparing for the oral boards. Nicole Taylor, MD Board Certified Psychiatrist High point, NC
- Nicole Taylor, MD, High Point, NC

 

Jack, I passed! It is hard to believe, I now join the legions in thanking you for your help. I am glad its over but am also glad that I worked hard at it. Your assistance was invaluable, both technically and motivationally. I really didn't think that I would be able to handle the panic and was really quite skeptical about the testing process. But your techniques really worked for me. Please feel free to use my name for testimonials or contact me for any other help. Also, your staff is really wonderful! Thanks again,
- Sudha Bakshi, MD, Penfield, NY

 

Firstly, i think the vignette portion of the course is particularly very strong, in that the course offers a wide variety of possible patient management problems, which consists also of quite difficult vignettes, more difficult than those i experienced at the boards. I believe the experience of tackling the different cases builds a solid structure, besides the educative portion of it, and hence under situations of high stress like the Boards, one is still able to be organized and perform appreciably well. I particularly felt it was a key factor in my exam success. The live case portion of the course was also useful, not just the interview/question and answer portion , but the very first session about handling difficult patients. Lastly, the manuals were god sent, especially the portion about psychodynamic themes, the diffferent psychotherapies, and also ways of taking notes, which i strictly adhered to, during the exam. Despite having trained in the UK, and having attended a number of courses in the past, i felt this course was the most geared to passing an exam of this nature.
- Adegboyega Oyemade, MD, Hamden, CT

 

I was deeply impressed with such an organized board course offered by Dr. Krasuski. It surely is the most helpful tool to pass the oral boards and for any psychiatrist at present.
- N. Mirza, MD, Poplar Bluff, MO

 

Very good course and we can receive CME credit for taking it too.
 - T. Shan, MD, Chicago, IL

 

I did find this course very helpful in identifying my weak points.
- Brilliant, MD, Vernon Hills, IL

 

The oral board exam is truly a performance. I found Dr. Krasuski's note taking method to be invaluable in helping me organize data in an easily accessible format that helped me improve my presentations and organize my interview so I wouldn't forget to address important areas brought up by the patient.
- Julie Zude, MD, Lexington, KY

 

I have taken my exams twice and was unsure why I did not pass. Coming to your course was an eye opener. It showed me places where I was/am very deficient and it showed me my strengths also. I am glad I came and would definitely refer your course to my collegues.
- O. Ajayi, MD, Bensalem, PA

 

Excellent and very well organized. Helped me polish me interviewing skills. Also, helped me obtain the skills i need to pass the board exams but will help me in my clinical practice as well. Thank you.
- Atiq, MD, Centerville, OH

Very practical. Very much worth taking this course.
- Begum, MD, Birmingham, AL

 

This course boosted my confidence and really helped my performance skills in preparing for the oral board.
- S. Stanford, MD, Cincinnati, OH

 

I have done other board reviews. I feel that my blue tower experience was so much better. Dr. Krasuski has been more than willing to answer every question. I have learned a lot from this review. I will do some more mock orals prior to the boards. And I will pass my boards with the help of this review course. (ed. Note: This participant did in fact pass his boards.)
- Claban Baraca, MD, Dubuque, IA

 

The Intensive Diagnostic Interviewing [Beat the Boards!] course is an invaluable course. The course is very well organized. Because of the organization, a lot of the material is covered in a short period of time, without any stress, and without any loss of time for the course participants. The teaching methods of the interviewing skills are superb.
Apart from the experience I gained through case presentations, I had the opportunity to learn from observation of patients with different diagnoses being interviewed by psychiatrists with different styles and the examinees being examined by examiners with different backgrounds and different methods of examination.

This reduced my anxiety level and increased my interest and motivation to pursue the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

I see this course as not just of help to prepare for the APBN exam but of great help to my daily practice of psychiatry. Thanks to Dr. Jack Krasuski and his team, I see improvement in my interview skills which,
- Anasuya Raman, MD, Wyoming

 

An effective and fun way to prepare for the boards with the camaraderie of colleagues!
- Karen Brenneman, MD, San Mateo, CA

 

 Krasuski, From my experience in taking other courses, and in speaking to others who have also taken courses, the Blue Tower Institute's course is among the best. The heart and care you place on the individuals taking your course certainly stands out. Thanks.
- Dan Martinez, MD, Chicago, IL

 

Dear Jack, I was just notified that I passed the Part II examination. I owe this in no small part to what I learned during your fine course. I found the structure of the lectures clarifying, and the mock exams were very much a realistic experience when I compare them to the actual exam. I had a great time and I also felt that my fellow course takers were supportive and critical to the learning experience. Hats off to your endeavor. I think it will serve future examinees well!
- Michael Eis, MD, PhD, Milwaukee, WI

 

During the course, I got helpful feedback on case formulation, prognosis, nature & course of psychiatric syndromes. Feel more comfortable dismissing Axis II pathology, psychological conflicts. Good tips on interviewing style, developing rapport with patient.
- Kirti Saxena, MD, Palo Alto, CA

 

Passing the boards takes preparation that goes beyond studying the DSM-IV, and is distinctly different than seeing new patients at work everyday. Organization, poise, and showmanship are critically important when showing the examiners that you are a passing candidate. These skills can't be honed without practice in an appropriate setting. This can be an expensive and time-consuming proposition, so it was important for me to choose a program that was progressively rigorous, simulated the exam as closely as possible, and was time-efficient. Blue Tower provided all of that, and was actually fun. I passed on the 1st try, and in my case, the Blue Tower examiners were tougher than the actual board examiners.
- Kara Ditto, MD, Richmond, VA

 

Overall a positive experience. The staff were caring, supportive and encouraging. I like the never say die attitude that they try to instill. Also, the didactic material is made easy to remember and user friendly.

Jack was exceptionally friendly, supportive and nurturing. Also, he is an excellent teacher and role model.

I would highly recommend the course to others.

- Robert S. Randolph, MD, Somerset, NJ

 

I have attended other board presentations before but out of all of them I prefer this one. It’s more like a teaching learning club. Very enjoyable. I made friends and it was a very nice staff.
-  Erlinda Gagan, MD, Brooklyn, NY

 

Written material was outstanding as were the AV materials.
-  Edward Rodriguez, MD, Ann Harbor, MI