Pmsa magazine issue 1, spring 2015

Pulse Issue 1; Spring 2015

Premed interviews, surival tips,

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Welcome to the inaugural edition of Pulse, a magazine for undergraduates interested in healthcare careers. The magazine has been brought to you by the Pre-medical Students association at The University of Chicago.

1 Letter From the Editor

Hear what our editor has to say about the magazine and being pre-med at UChicago.

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2 Committee Bios

Read what our magazine committee members have to say about themselves, their interests and plans.

3 Academic Resources

Find out more about the academic resources you can take advantage of.

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Career Resources

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Double the Trouble

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Out of the Box

Learn about the resources Career Advcancement and UCIHP ofers!

Undergrads talk about managing time while double majoring as a pre-med at UChicago.

Read how UChicago undergrads and Pritzker students have combined their non-scientific academic majors with an interest in healthcare

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7 Visit us at our facebook page, Pre-Medical Students Association: https://www.facebook.com/ uchicagopmsa?fref=ts.

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and website: http://pmsa.uchicago.edu

Letter From the Editor Hello everyone!

I’m Akila, a current third-year in the College majoring in Biology, and possibly minoring in Physics. I'm broadly interested in nucle-

Committee Bios

ar physics, bioengineering and novel therapeutic approaches using these techniques, especially in the treatment of cancer and neural diseases. As an international student from Dhaka, Bangladesh, I also enjoy reading and engaging in discussions on global health and education policy, socially responsible startups, telemedicine, and how these intersect in the increasingly connected world we live in.

Apart from academics, I also try to engage with these interests through my co-curricular activities, whether as an outreach coordinator working in CPS schools with the Society for Women in Physics (SWIP) or as a marketing manager advertising the largest

Shilpa Mantri

celebration of science on campus, Sciencepalooza, with Phoenix

Syeda Akila Ally

Class of 2016

Biology. In my free time (do we even have free time as UChicago students?) I also enjoy singing with my South Asian fusion a capella group, Chicago Aag. I’ve also increasingly dipped my toes into

the activities and consequences of working with nonprofits in resource lacking areas through my involvement with MEDLIFE and Jumpstart. As a corps member of Jumpstart, an Americorp subsidy, we work in select low-income CPS (Chicago Public School) preschools in the South Side to improve childhood language, vocabulary and social skills. As a board member of MEDLIFE at UChicago, I enjoy coordinating quarterly fundraisers for our parent organization while at the same time participating in weekly discussions with college students about the ethics and role of voluntourism, international NGOs’ and the global health industry.

As you can probably tell, with this unfocused range of interests I had quite a lot of trouble choosing classes and declaring a minor or major. It was on one such frustrated morning after hours of online research that I emailed Stephanie Grach, then President of PMSA, asking if she would be willing to let me work on and launch a magazine for undergraduates interested in healthcare.

And, she said yes!

If you have had the opportunity to interact with Stephanie before she graduated, you will know that this is typical of her - she is extremely supportive of new initiatives! However, none of us predicted how incredibly gruelling the process of getting this magazine together would be. But here we are - after almost a year long search for committee members, brainstorming sessions and late nights fiddling with InDesign at Crerar, we present our first issue. We hope the magazine will serve as a platform for undergraduates to share more about their path to healthcare careers and an invaluable resource, whether you are a first-year learning more on combining your non-science major with pre-medical requirements or a fourth year looking into post-bac programs or gap year opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in the magazine! We hope the next few pages will be informational, interesting and fun to read - please let us know your comments and ideas through PMSA's facebook group or page!

--Akila

Class of 2018

Preethi Raju

Class of 2018

When she immigrated to the U.S. during first grade, Preethi didn't know how to read. She set out on a mission decipher the hieroglyphs of English and harness the power of language. Now, in addition to being an avid bookworm, she loves to write, design, and create. Preethi is currently a first Economics and Biology first year at the University of Chicago. She is also a founder of a health education nonprofit called PIMed, University Merit Scholar, Dougan Scholar at the Booth School of Business, Clinical Excellence Scholar, and Premedical Student Association Board Member. In her free time, she loves to run, dance, and (badly) (attempt to) sing.

Check out her website here: http:// preethi-raju.strikingly.com/.

Joyce Chang

Class of 2018

My name is Joyce Chang, and I am currently a first year interested in studying Biology, specifically Neuroscience. I am from the Bay Area in sunny California, and although I do miss the beaches and the nice sunny days tremendously, I have really enjoyed exploring this new city (and I’d have to say, I think I handled my first Chicago winter pretty well). Apart from PMSA, I do the long and triple jump on the Track & Field team here and love going out to play IM’s with my house. I am also involved with Alpha Phi Omega and enjoy engaging with the community through service.

Shilpa Mantri is a first-year undergraduate student from Los Angeles, California. She is currently a Biology major and aspires to be a doctor one day. In taking a gap year before her first year, Shilpa decided to become pre-med after her internship at a biomedical device startup based in Silicon Valley, where she worked in the Research and Development department.

On campus, she is also involved with volunteering in the ER at The University of Chicago Hospital and dancing in two South Asian dance teams, Apsara (Indian Classical Dance) and Bhangra (which competes nationwide). With previous journalism experience, Shilpa hopes to combine her passion for writing and interest in medicine as an editor of the Magazine.

Academic Resources

"UChicago is the school where fun goes to die."

"All that goes down is your GPA." Although UChicago is notorious for grade deflation and difficult classes, it's not impossible to do well here.

In fact, the university offers many resources you should definitely take advantage of, from CORE tutors to the Collaborative Learning in Chemistry program.

CORE Tutors The College Core Tutor Program is a peer-based tutoring program for undergraduate students. You can drop in without an appointment to ask questions about chemistry, economics, math, statistics, computer science, physics, and biology. Tutors are graduate students—most former Teaching Assistants—or College upperclassmen. The one caveat is that tutors will help explain concepts but will not help with problem sets.

When and where is this?

You can find tutors between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. in the North Reading Room of the Arley D. Cathey Learning Center Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings starting the Sunday of second week in fall, winter, and spring quarters, excluding holidays and breaks.

BY: PREETHI RAJU '18

What subjects can I get help in?

How helpful is it, really?

Tutors are expected to help with the following priority courses: • Biology (Core and A, B, and C Tracks) • Comp. Sci. (105-6, 121-122, 151152) • Economics (198, 199, 200s Core) • Chemistry (General and Organic Chemistry, inc. Honors) • Statistics (200, 220, 224, 234) • Humanities (essay revising)

I've heard from students essay revising was helpful, with more mixed reviews for other subjects. Note that tutors do have limits. For example, computer science tutors will help students write code but not debug. I recommend going to professors and TAs more than to the Harper tutors, but the Harper tutors are a good fallback. Just be warned- Harper tutors are first-come, first-serve for priority subjects, so structure your drop-ins wisely during midterms or finals!

During periods of low demand, they will help with advanced courses.

Harper Library

Harper Library

TA's Classroom

TAs Most classes have teacher’s assistants, who are often first-year graduate students paid to assist in classes.

TA’s are especially useful for large lecture classes such as in general chemistry, since they are extremely available to meet with and answer questions about material covered or (in humanities classes) about papers you’re writing. Moreover, TA’s hold discussion sections (prevalent in the sciences) that may or may not be mandatory for students, usually to review material or discuss how laboratory assignments should be conducted.

Many people find TA’s invaluable to surviving the course, from completing problem sets to humanities papers.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR TA. My TA's helped me survive classes and gave me invaluable life advice.

They are generally pretty cool people.

CLiC Upperclassmen guide small groups of students in optional, limited enrollment weekly workshops.

Team Leaders coach students as they work collaboratively in small groups on new problem sets (NOT the assigned ones). This zero-credit course is graded Pass/Fail based on the student’s level of attendance.

I’ve heard mixed reviews from students. One first-year described CLiC as somewhat helpful for the first quarter of general chemistry, but regretting giving up Sunday afternoons to attend the program. CLiC

students generally do perform better than other students, though whether it is due to the program or more so to their own diligence is debatable.

Spots fill up quickly, so do sign up early if interested. However, make sure you can make most of the sessions- this course is graded only based on attendance!

Kent Classroom

ASAP Program The Academic Study Skills Assessment Program (ASAP) assists students with improving academic performance through coaching and quarterly workshops. The College periodically e-mails students about time and location. Past workshops for College students included time management, reading skills, and note taking.

I’ve been to two workshops. It’s nice to hear from others on strategies to coping with academic problems. Be warned that you won’t walk away from these sessions with the golden answers to your prob-

lems, however- these are general sessions designed to foster good habits.

other students’ questions being answered will probably help you on the test.

Counselors and Professors If you’re struggling in a class, make sure to talk to your professor or academic counselor before third week’s add/drop period closes.

Avoid taking classes you’re not prepared for or can’t put in a reasonable amount of effort to succeed in. Lastly, your professor is an amazing academic resource. Religiously attend office hours, especially before midterms. Professors may hand out hints or tips freely during these sessions, and hearing

In the end...

There are many academic resources at UChicago to help you succeed. It’s definitely possible to get a good grade in a class if you’re prepared to put in the effort. Just make sure to ask for help early and be proactive. That means no waiting till the night before to do your HUM paper, or cramming ten minutes before an exam. Make sure to sleep, find good study spots without many distractions, and manage your time wisely.

Mansueto Library

Career Resouces

BY: JOYCE CHANG '18

UChicago Careers in Health Professions (UCIHP) provides College students with resources and support to develop a customized portfolio of knowledge, skill sets, and experiences required for advanced study or employment in health and medicine. As early as their first year, pre-health students are advised on how to assess their strengths, hone their interests, and identify appropriate course work, research, internships, and clinical opportunities.

Fourth-year pre-medical student Anya Krok has been using UCIHP since her first year and describes her experiences with them. “I used UCIHP for advice on academics, as well as advice on pre-med things. Navigating the medical school application process is very confusing (and quite stressful), and UCIHP has always been very helpful in explaining what to do and how to best approach things,” says Anya.

The UCIHP team works closely with pre-health students to ensure they are prepared for both the application and job search processes. UCIHP frequently partners with other campus offices, including the University Community Service Center, Study Abroad, and the Office of the Dean of Students in the College to provide advising tailored to each student's interests and strengths.

Upon reflecting on her pathway for considering a health career, Anya explains, “I entered this school and was very interested in research, and then decided that I also wanted to pursue a career in the health professions. UCIHP helped lead me to resources (such as the Pritzker MSTP Admissions) that helped me decide to pursue a dual MD/PhD degree.”

UCIHP's Health Policy Trek participants at The Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C.

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dvisor's ote

Joni Krapec

Senior Program Director UChicago Careers in Health Professions krapec@uchicago.edu UChicago Careers in Health Professions is a comprehensive, four-year pre-professional program that provides College students and young alumni with the resources and support to develop an individualized portfolio of knowledge, experiences, and competencies required for advanced study in health and medicine. UChicago Careers in Health Professions supports students interested in an a full range of health professions, including allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medicine, public health (MPH), dental (DDS and DMD), podiatric (DPM) practice, veterinary medicine (DVM), pharmacy (Pharm.D), and health services research (PhD). We also advise students and young alumni with an interest in nonclinical career paths in health and medicine, including health care consulting, health policy, and health care administration, to name a few.

We encourage you to sign up for our email list by logging into your Chicago Career Connection account. In the Profile section, edit your Academic Profile to include the UCIHP email list. Through this list we send out regular announcements regarding upcoming programming, events on and around campus, volunteer opportunities, and summer internships.

The Resource Center of our website contains a number of resources designed to help you navigate the pre-health landscape, including: • Curricular Guidelines • 4-year Pathway for Considering a Clinical Health Career • Using AdviseStream (to make an appointment with us) • Summer Research Opportunities • Gap Year Opportunities

Double

the trouble?

Pre-med and thinking about double majoring?

Worried that you don't have the time?

Here is what current pre-med, double major students, Swathi Krishnan '15 and Andy Rapoport '16 have to say about this topic...

BY: SHILPA MANTRI '18

Q:

What is your double major?

Q:

How would double majoring help in your medical career?

Swathi: The Bio major is obvious-

Swathi: Biological Science (B.S.) and Anthropology (B.A.) Andy: Biological Science (B.S.) and Public Policy (B.A.)

Q:

(and discovered that I really didn’t enjoy it all that much) and attended seminars and discussions on healthcare inequities: health literacy, disparities in research funding for sickle cell anemia, global health, and the ACA (to name just a few). We heard from UChicago doctors who were passionate not just about developing relationships with their individual patients, and helping those patients medically in a very tangible way, but also about “big-picture” infrastructural and ethical issues that they would not feel comfortable leaving unapproached.

It was primarily as a result of this summer experience that I decided to work toward developing a strong biological background while also taking classes in policy-oriented disciplines in order to understand healthcare provision from other perspectives.

Why are you double majoring?

Swathi: I was pretty set on the

Swathi Krishnan '15

Andy Rapoport '16

Bio major coming into college. I was already really considering starting on the pre-med track, so I started the AP 5 sequence my first year. At the end of my first year, I realized that having started the bio major early with the AP 5 sequence, I had a lot of room to play with the rest of my classes. If I were to only finish the Core and the Bio requirements, I could have easily graduated in three years. I realized that I had other in-

terests that I wanted to explore, so after exploring the College Catalog, I found that a lot of the classes and sub-fields that fell under the Anthropology major really fascinated me.

These would be topics that I would probably never have a chance to explore after UChicago.

Andy: When I entered UChicago my first year, I was convinced that I

wanted to major strictly in Biology or Biochemistry; medicine was a career path I was considering but in no way definitively, and public health was not a topic that I knew much about.

Then, during the summer, I was granted the opportunity to participate in UCIHP’s Katen Scholars program during which time I conducted molecular biology research full-time

ly useful in completing your medical school course requirements, as well as preparing you for the type of subjects that are necessary for the MCAT. Through my Anthropology classes, I’ve had the chance to really explore the idea of cross-cultural experiences in a variety of different contexts, including that of medicine.

I’ve learnt how different points-ofview can be put into dialogue, especially when those differences arise from cultural, ethnic, or religious considerations. As a physician, it is extremely important in knowing how to communicate with a large variety of people, including patients, nurses, and other doctors. I do believe that with an Anthropological background, learning how to communicate with people who might not always agree with you is a valuable skill that I have gained.

Andy: By double majoring in Bio and Pub Pol, I’m still able to take several upper-level Biology classes, while also being able to take sociology, economics, politics, and statistics courses. The Public Policy sequence courses (for everybody in the major) invoke concepts from education, immigration, and environmental policy, as well as many other topics. By choosing a health policy specialization, I am afforded a more complete understanding of healthcare decision-making by providers and insurance companies, as well as patients and their families.

Q:

Do you think it is manageable to double major as a pre-med?

Swathi: I really do think it is manageable, especially if you plan well early-on. Having decided to double major at the end of my first year, I had mapped a four-year schedule ensuring that I would be able to complete all my Core, Biology, and Anthropology requirements in four years, and still have some fun on the side!

Andy: I didn’t take my first Public Policy course until the spring of my second year, called "Urban Health."

It helped that I took AP5 my first year, but that’s in no way required.

I’ll (fingers-crossed) be able to graduate with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Public Policy, taking a few quarters with less than four classes.

I guess I can only speak directly toward the Pub Pol/Bio combo, though I do know people with lots of other cool combos (Bio and Spanish, Pub Pol and HIPS, etc.), in saying that it’s totally attainable.

Q:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of double majoring as a pre-med?

Pre-Med Requirements You can choose any major, as long as the following requirements are fulfilled: • 3 quarters of calculus (recommended) • 3 quarters of physics • 3 quarters of general chemistry • 3 quarters of organic chemistry (one quarter may be biochemistry) • 3 quarters of biology with a laboratory • 3 quarters of humanities

Swathi: The biggest advantage of double-majoring as a pre-med is the opportunity to take classes in fields that you might not get to explore after college. The pre-med career path is a long, and narrowly focused road, so I think it’s definitely worthwhile to try some new things before you set into stone a career path. It might allow you to discover new passions and interests that you would not necessarily though to explore. That being said, it can be a little overwhelming to be taking that many classes and still have time to focus on other experiences that are important for someone considering a medical career—shadowing, research, volunteer work, leadership. The key really is to really understand your priorities and what you want to get out of your undergraduate experience here at UChicago. This university has a lot to offer which I really encourage all students to take advantage of, but balance is still the key.

Andy: Double-majoring does mean that you have less room to take upper-level Biology courses, as well as courses in “random” other areas in which you are interested, but it also means that you get to work toward a tangible end-goal that demonstrates you’re excited about a concentrated set of topics other than just the pre-medical requirements.

Out of the Box

curriculum allows us a lot of time doing fun things outside of class. We even have a term called “35 percenting” which means not studying certain things because they are not important and you can pass (get a 65%) without knowing them! Even some professors are fine with this!

Interested in a healthcare career, but confused on how to apply your nonscientific pursuits in healthcare? Hear what Anna Tropnikova, a third-year DOVA major and Aamir Hussain an MS1 student at Pritzker have to say...

BY: SYEDA AKILA ALLY '16 took AP US Government in high school and became involved with Model United Nations. I went to Georgetown because of its strong political science program and location in DC. I also picked up a Theology minor because I became interested in studying religion and interfaith dialogue.

Why did you chose a career in healthcare?

Aamir Hussain '18 What did you major in as an undergraduate? Why did you decide on this major?

I majored in Government at Georgetown University. This course of study had been my intention ever since I

I came into college seriously thinking about pre-law, but I decided to take some pre-med courses just in case. I became certain about being pre-med when I took an Emergency Medical Technician course through the university and began working as an EMT-B on the school’s ambulance service. I loved the thrill of being the first health provider on a scene, and I enjoyed being able to make a tangible difference while working as a team. I de-

cided to stay as a Government major because I was passionate about it, but I took the additional pre-med courses as well.

What extracurriculars were you involved in as an undergrad?

I dabbled in a lot of clubs as an undergrad; eventually my main one became the Interfaith Council. I became really passionate about promoting interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and cooperation on campus, and Georgetown was really supportive of my efforts because it is a Jesuit school with the largest campus ministry in the nation. I was also very involved with the South Asian Society, and performed every year in Rangila, Georgetown’s big South Asian cultural show. Finally, I worked as an EMT for 3 years (as I mentioned before).

Are you still continuing those at med school? Tell us more about your extracurricular experience as a medical student.

Fortunately,

Pritzker’s

pass/fail

I’ve kept up the interfaith work, and I won a $5000 grant to create a Spirituality and Medicine Interest Group. We hold lectures every few weeks on intersections between religion and healthcare. In fact, one reason I chose U of C for med school was because of their strong research in this area.

I am part of the med school a capella group “Say Aahh” (lol), as well as the Emergency Medicine Interest Group and the American Medical Association chapter at U of C. It’s actually great to be part of SASA because I get to break out of the med student bubble and make friends with people in other parts of U of C.

How has your major translated into useful skills during medical school? How do you think your major help you in your later medical career?

What are you majoring in? Why did you decide on this major?

I’m a DOVA major (Department of Visual Art). I’ve enjoyed creating artwork for as long as I can remember, and I continue to retain the inexorable need to, well, create; to make things using my hands, eyes, and that part of the self that doesn’t think rationally and logically, but feels its way around blindly in the dark. Perhaps this is intuition, maybe it’s a “soul” if you believe in such a thing, or perhaps it is just emotion completely abstracted from wellorganized and tangible thoughts.

Yes, my Government major gave me a great background in health policy, something that is extremely complicated, yet important to understand.

We are required to do research at U of C, and I’m hoping to use my experience in political science to study aspects of the healthcare system that could be improved. In addition, my Theology minor gave me a great introduction to ethics and various hot topics in healthcare such as reproductive health and end-of-life care.

What are the prons and cons of majoring outside the sciences?

For someone interested in a non-traditional path to med school, but not entirely sure, how would you recommend them to reconcile it?

I completely recommend majoring outside the sciences, even to people who like science. This is because you will be studying science for your entire life, and college is the only time where you can learn about whatever you want. You can relate mostly anything to the healthcare field, and you will get a unique perspective that hard science majors may not have. At U of

C, you all have an advantage because the Core gives you a background in a variety of fields.

However, it’s important to make sure you actually LIKE the sciences that relate to medicine. Honestly, the intro science classes like physics are not at all indicative of med school, so base your decision off of anatomy, physiology, or something like that. If you really don’t like them, don’t force yourself into medicine.

Any thoughts or words of advice on the med school application process, MCAT's, etc.

Nothing specific, but definitely consider taking a year or two off after college. This will give you a break from school, and often allow you to get realworld experience before plunging back into studying. Also, don’t stress out too much about your MCAT score. As long as you are in the general range for a med school (they post their 25-75th percentile), you can still get in. A lot of people don’t even shoot for the highly competitive schools because they think they’re not qualified; if you’re on the fence, you might as well go for it! I thought I wouldn’t get into U of C and it still happened.

I do not think that investigating the emotional side of humanity is in some way inferior to a STEM disciple; hence, I’m proud to say that I’m majoring in Visual Arts. I initially was convinced that I was going to be a DOVA/Biochemistry double major with an emphasis in Russian (you can imagine my stress in trying to accomplish this), but as a third year, I’ve finally learned my lessons - that I am not a superhuman, that I need sleep, and that trying to tackle too many bears at once will get you eaten.

Anna Tropnikova '16 Department of Visual Arts

Why are you interested in healthcare?

Healthcare is this beautiful synergy of science and the humanities, in a way that’s unparalleled in just about any other field. The most exciting thing is the applicability of the scientific knowledge you gain to the improvement of others’ quality of life. It’s a dynamic field where every day brings the learning of something new, and where the people who do best are able to bring their intellect and compassion together to truly make a difference. I want to optimize my own skill sets to yield the highest positive impact on the lives of the others.

What are you involved in on campus? How do they relate to your major, or healthcare?

Two things that relate best to my major are my board position on PreMedical Students Association (Publicist) and my job at Logan Media Center/Hack Arts Lab. The former is self-explanatory; the latter involves a personal journey to discover the various forms of art making (esp. the novel, digital forms) by assisting fellow students with 3D printing and laser-cutting, as well as working with Adobe products.

I’m an Alpha Phi Omega brother (though currently inactive), which is a community service co-ed fraternity on campus, and a research assistant at the Institute for Molecular Engineering, where I investigate the structure and properties of novel, polymer-based materials, many of them with a focus on eventual application in healthcare.

The largest portion of my extracurricular time, however, goes to MEDLIFE. My role as Mobile Clinics Chair keeps me busy with recruiting/guiding and reimbursing fellow UChicago students in trips to Latin America (soon, hopefully

teract with their cause and come back from an expedition - they see firsthand how NGO work functions abroad, and their discourse changes from a distanced (emotionally) and theoretical rhetoric of “I’m making a difference because…” to “These are the issues! This is what needs to be done! I helped a little, but what the people still desperately need is…” and so on. This is probably the most rewarding thing I do.

How do you think your major help you in medical school and medical career?

Absolutely! Especially if I have it my dream way and become a plastic surgeon. I’m interested in reconstructive surgery - particularly of the face and hands. I believe that this is the place where I’ll most easily find a home as a doctor, and I’ve heard many stories about medical students who aspired to be plastic surgeons and were brilliant intellectually, but continued to lack a certain finesse required to re-position a person’s features, and ended up needing to change their specialization. An artistic eye is a must in this ultra-competitive field.

What are the pros or cons of majoring outside the sciences? For someone interested in a non-traditional path to med school, but not entirely sure, how would you recommend them to reconcile it?

I can always get the ball rolling in conversation! People studying in either the Arts or the STEM fields often have a slight resentment towards the other side, so the question I get most from fellow undergrads is “Why??” I’m always happy to explain why both are equally important (in very different ways) in a well-functioning society.

Thankfully, this doesn’t at all apply to my interactions with superiors.

UCIHP has been very supportive and nurturing of my passion for the arts - every advisor has commended me on doing something unorthodox and already standing out in front of a crowd of identical-looking candidates with traditional majors, similar GPAs and test scores. The emphasis in medical school admissions gravitates more and more towards the “non-traditional” path, so the recruiters see that the applicant has stepped outside the bounds of a neat laboratory and has interacted humanly with the people whose lives they will be potentially in charge of.

So this is how the “non-traditional” path is reconciled. Biology, chemistry, physics, etc. you’ll repeat again in medical school - thus, undergraduate studies are actually the best place for one to discover and explore their passions, commit yourself fully to them, and be ready to integrate the skills you learn into healthcare.

Anything else you'd like to share about yourself?

This summer I’m excited to intern with UChicago’s Summer Links, and expand my knowledge of NGO and non-profits beyond my work with with MEDLIFE, locally! I’ve concentrated a lot on communities abroad; it’s about time I focused on problems steps away from where I study, and expand beyond doing occasional community service. I also plan to take a gap year or two! That way I can utilize the time remaining in my undergrad education, and then I’ll devote 100% of my time to the MCAT and school applications.

So many bears.

Aknowledgements Stephanie Grach A.B. 2014 President of PMSA 2013-2014

Teresa Chen A. B 2015 President of PMSA 2014-2015

Joni Krapec Senior Program Director UChicago Careers in Health Professions (UCIHP)

Andy Rapoport, College '16 Swathi Krishnan, College '15 Aamir Hussain, Pritzker '16 Anna Tropnikova, College '16 Fandi Meng, College '16 and PMSA Board 2014-2015!

Make sure to share the magazine link with your friends!

Email us with your questions and comments at akilaally@uchicago.edu or share them on our Facebook page or group: Pre-medical Students Association at UChicago

Look out for our 2nd issue on Fall 2015!