PREMEDLIFE
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THE MAGAZINE FOR PREMEDICAL STUDENTS
MARCH/APRIL 2011
FREE COPY
MCAT Winning Strategies Test prep tips and advice for medical school applicants
1 1 20ummerd
S -Me st Pre am Li gr ded! o r P clu In
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Pre-Med Reads
Books every pre-med student should read
Interview Day
Tips on preparing for admission interviews
Especially This Specialty
Emergency Medicine Physician
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CONTENTS
March/April 2011
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FEATURES
8
MCAT Winning Strategies | 12 Test prep tips and advice for one of the most important days for medical school applicants
Pre-Med Reads | 18 Books that are a must-read for any student who is planning for a career in medicine
Admissions Interview Preparation | 24 What students should know about making the right impression during admissions interviews
DEPARTMENTS
70
Ask The Experts | 10 Your questions answered by knowledgeable insiders who give insight about the medical school admissions process
12
School Spotlight| 17 Get a glimpse into what Tufts University School of Medicine has to offer prospective students Especially This Specialty | 29 Find out what being an Emergency Medicine Physician is all about and what it will take to pursue this specialty
IN EVERY ISSUE Newsbites| 8 Recent news & information relevant to students applying to medical school
2011
24 SUMMER PRE-MED PROGRAM LIST There’s still time to apply for summer pre-med programs for 2011 - but deadlines are quickly approaching. Check out our list of programs for pre-med students looking to spend their summer doing something productive.| 30
In The Stacks| 67 Books to inspire you or provide you with advice along your journey to medical school Better Life, Better You| 68 Advice & tips for taking care of yourself to make it through your hectic pre-med life College 101| 70 Here are some things that every student attending college should know about
Want to be featured in PreMedLife Magazine? We’re looking for pre-med students to join the PreMedLife Student Advisory Board. Are you interested in sharing your opinion about what topics matter most to pre-med students? Then join our team. Students selected to be a part of the PreMedLife Advisory Board will be acknowledge in every issue and considered a part of the PreMedLife staff. Sounds interesting? Send an email to info@premedlife.com with your Name, College/University, and year (i.e. Freshman, Sophomore, etc).
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 3
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Find us on Facebook PreMedLife Magazine is published six times per year by Kisho Media, LLC. and copies are provided to selected colleges and universities free of charge. The information in PreMedLife Magazine is believed to be accurate, but in some instances, may represent opinion or judgment. Consult your pre-med advisor with any questions you may have about the medical school admission process and related topics. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs, artwork, and and may not be duplicated or reprinted without express written permission from Kisho Media, LLC. PreMedLife Magazine and Kisho Media, LLC. are not liable for typographical or production errors or the accuracy of information provided by advertisers. PreMedLife Magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising. All inquires may be sent to: Kisho Media, LLC. P.O. Box 7049, New York, NY 10116. Or call (347) 231-6429 or email info@premedlife.com.
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If you're not already on spring break, then you're probably counting down the days, minutes, and seconds until it arrives. For some, the time off is welcomed with opened arms. For others, it's like a tease because they just want to get the semester over with and they would rather have the semester cut short than take a mini-vacation somewhere in the middle. Either way, it's a break. You can't give it back so it would be a good idea to make the best of it. Most students will find it very easy to kick back and relax and become a professional slacker during this time. This is good! Well, that is for those that have worked their butts off during the semester. But for the other, not so productive group of people, spring break just reminds them that they only have a few more weeks to get their acts together. Spring break means different things to different students depending on what they have done up until that time. Similar to the transition that occurs when the season changes from winter to spring, when grass becomes green and flowers start to bloom, spring break is a time for students to give life back to their overworked and stressed lives. Many students reinvigorate their "wilted" energy by flocking to popular destinations around the world, party like there's no tomorrow, and spend time with friends. In the end, whatever you chose to do with your time off make sure give yourself a chance to de-stress and psyche yourself out for finishing up the rest of the semester on a good foot.
Sheema Publisher
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 5
NEWSBITES
>>> Recent news & information relevant to pre-medical students applying to medical school
Hopkins teams up with law school to open medical-law center
CMU postpones new medical school opening Central Michigan University (CMU) will delay the opening of its new medical school for one year, according to a recent announcement made by the school. Originally slated to open its doors in 2012, CMU has made the decision to delay the opening to better prepare for the accrediting process conducted by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in U.S. and Canadian medical schools. School representitives have expressed that taking the extra time will allow the institution to complete the 1,000 page application and fulfill the promise made to their students. “We'll only have one opportunity to open our College of Medicine, and we do not want to move forward faster than we are prepared to do,” said CMU President George E. Ross. “While this is a difficult decision, we strongly believe it is the right decision and will allow us to take maximum advantage of the tremendous opportunity in front of us.” CMU is taking their mission seriously and are determined to stay true to what their goals are which entail creating an education program that designed to help fill the growing need for physicians, with an emphasis on training primary care physicians dedicated to serving the needs of communities in mid- and northern Michigan.
With the new medical school comes a new, $24 million, 60,000 square-foot addition to the existing Health Professionals Building. In addition, CMU has teamed up with two health care facilities to educate its students while addressing improved delivery of health care in mid- and northern Michigan. According to the school’s Web site, students admitted into the medical school will learn from a curriculum designed to prepare them to practice in Michigan – particularly the medically underserved communities in the central and northern areas of the state – when they complete their residency training. In addition to learning the health needs of Michigan residents, students will gain first-hand experience by working with physicians and hospitals throughout the region. CMU will have two campus sites in Mount Pleasant and Saginaw to provide for a better educational experience by fully utilizing the Saginaw partners and their expertise, training programs and facilities. CMU will soon begin recruiting students and expects to welcome its first class in Summer 2013. Since it is recommended that when introducing any new curriculum that the class size be gradually increased over time so, for CMU the first class will be 60 students. For more information about Central Michigan Medical School visit www.cmich.edu.
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The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Baltimore School of Law have teamed up to forge a collaboration designed to educate practitioners and students of medicine and law. The new center is focused on health care reform and other issues that overlap in the medical and legal sectors. "The new center's goal will be to promote more understanding between the two professions," said Frederick Levy, a Hopkins emergency doctor who also holds a law degree and will co-direct the center. "In today's world, doctors and lawyers are used to facing each other in the courtroom. This center will be aimed at shifting some of the focus from the courtroom to the classroom." The center will act as a resource for students at both schools and will aim to help foster a more positive relationship between practicing physicians and lawyers. Officials at both schools believe the center is the first in the nation to educate doctors about the law, developing a set of core competencies in law and medicine for health care providers and introducing the first peer-reviewed journal covering both fields. “There’s no way to practice medicine today effectively without having at least some knowledge of the law,” said Dr. Levy. The Center for Medicine and Law is expected to open July 2010.
NEWSBITES Unique gross anatomy class open to all Indiana University School of Medicine – Northwest (IUSM-NW) is opening its doors once again to students and working professionals, including non-healthcare professionals, with the 2011 session of its International Human Cadaver Prosection Program (IHCPP). The IHCPP is a hands-on medical education program and currently the only one of its kind in the country. The program is designed to provide the opportunity to learn anatomy and radiology by working in the medical school’s gross anatomy laboratory. During the program volunteers work alongside medical students and faculty, practicing physicians and other professionals to ready the body donors for the upcoming gross anatomy classes. Specifically, the physical process of prosection includes the removal of donors’ skin and body fat to expose organs, muscles and other anatomical structures. To prepare them for the IHCPP program, volunteers who are accepted into the program attend three preparatory classes, including an anatomy-research and hands-on clinical session. New for 2011, the program will feature a prosthetics and orthotic limb workshop in which attendees will review a case study analysis of real orthotic and prosthetic patients and gain a hands-on understanding of the anatomical evaluation and casting process. Applicants for the IHCPP need not be medical professional. Prior participants have included pre-med students. For more information about the IHCPP program visit, iusm-nw.medicine.iu.edu.
Learning about medical errors beforehand helps students avoid them later Medical students who observe first-hand how medical errors and near misses happen can be very instructive in preventing mistakes in their future practice, according to a study published in BMJ Quality & Safety. The study, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical School, analyzed a pilot program, run between 2008 and 2009 by Johns Hopkins Medical School and Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Involved in the program were second-, third- and fourth-year medical students who followed and observed physicians and nurses doing daily activities in inpatient and outpatient units. Students witnessed medical errors and close calls in the making and were required to evaluate the events. At the end of each day, students discussed the near misses they had
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observed, and talked about possible ways to avoid them. Researchers found that participating medical students had a far greater understanding of why errors occur and what can be done to prevent them after participating in the program. Specifically, the 108 students who partook in the program reported a three times greater willingness to report medical errors at the end of the study. Students also had a much greater awareness that they themselves were capable of making errors – an understanding that is particularly important in preventing errors. The students were also better able to understand why and how errors happen, and what things contribute to higher risks of errors.
IBM’s super-computer heads to medical school In a cool collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center and the University of Maryland Medical School, IBM Corp.’s supercomputer “Watson”, will begin work on health care analytics research, according to an annoucement made by IBM. Some may remember Watson from the threeday "Jeopardy!" tournament in which the super computer beat two of the show’s best contestants. Well, now “Watson” is moving on to tackle the world’s health care problems. Using Watson’s Deep Question Answering, Natural Language Processing, and Machine
Learning capabilities, the research project is aimed at exploiting these capabilities to possibility aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. If you missed the show, Watson works by processing questions in natural language by analyzing the contexts in which the key words in a question most frequently appear. According to Dr. Herbert Chase, a professor of biomedical informatics who is working on adapting Watson, this same process can apply to medical diagnosis with the aid of a database of medical terms.
NEWSBITES Course helps students learn about medicine through the arts
MEDICAL SCHOOL PIPELINE
Photo Credit: Shanna Taylor, Baylor University
Here’s a list of new medical schools that are being developed in the U.S. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Riverside, California Anticipated Fall 2012
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Through a very unique course being offered at Baylor University students are getting a chance to explore how art influences medicine. During the course, students are challenged with not only trying to “diagnose” people in popular works of art created by Rembrandt and Picasso, they also get the chance to create selfportraits to gain empathy for future patients and design art to be displayed in a clinic. According to the creators, the undergraduate class, called Visual Arts and Healing, explores virtually every way art has a bearing on medicine. “Having students make art increases their creative thinking skills,” said Mindy Nierenberg, a consultant with the Society for the Arts in Healthcare in Washington, D.C. “The way medical students are trained is very linear. You come up with a problem and solu-
Boca Raton, Florida Anticipated Fall 2011
tion. Artists have multiple paths. Thinking outside the box is what’s needed.” The idea of highlighting medical humanities in school curriculum is becoming very popular as a growing number of medical schools are currently developing programs that include literature and medicine, philosophy of medicine, history of medicine and religion and medicine. David Windler, a senior medical humanities major at Baylor who plans to become a physician, said he is impressed by the course’s depth. “I thought it was going to be art therapy from start to finish, but then they starting telling us about visual thinking strategies,” he said. “This can help you see a patient as a person and not a biological specimen. I think it also could be a good way to ground yourself, center yourself, before going on hospital rounds.”
PALM BEACH MEDICAL COLLEGE Palm Beach, Florida Anticipated Fall 2011
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Mount Pleasant, Michigan Anticipated Fall 2012
COOPER MEDICAL SCHOOL OF ROWAN UNIVERSITY Camden, New Jersey Anticipated Fall 2012
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, GREENVILLE
Student
Spotlight ADAM JOHNSON Hometown: Santa Barbara, California Major: Biomedical Sciences After graduating from the University of California in 2008 with a degree in sociology Adam has decided to pursue his dreams of becoming a doctor and is currently fulfilling his pre-med requirements and supplemental classes at Santa Barbara Community College. Want to be featured in our Student Spotlight? Log on to www.premedlife.com and tell us why you should be selected
Greenville, South Carolina Anticipated Fall 2012 W NE
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE North Haven, Connecticut Anticipated Fall 2013 or 2014
CHARLES E. SCHMIDT COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY Boca Raton, Florida Anticipated Fall 2011
UPDATED 12/10
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 9
ASK THE EXPERT
>>> Your questions answered by knowledgeable insiders who give insight about the medical school admissions process
GOT QUESTIONS? Get answers to your important premedical questions with the help of experts and insiders about the process. Our Ask the Expert section connects you with individuals who can answer questions on a wide variety of topics. Send them to info@premedlife.com. Remember, you can also visit your pre-health advisor to ask them any questions as well.
Show Me The Lab heard that working in a Biology lab looks good on your Q| Imedical school application. Is this true? want to be careful about doing something solely because A| You you think it will look good on your application to medical Don’t just work in a lab because you think it will look good on your application
To Go or Not to Go have been out of college for several years and I am in my Q| Iearly thirties, is it too late for me to go to medical school? No, you are not too old to apply to medical school. The 2010
A| entering class had 7% non-traditional students ranging in age
from 27-37. Medical schools are seeking the same thing out of their applicants regardless of their age; strong academic record, good MCAT score, shadowing experience, well rounded, sincere desire to help others, a genuine interest in medicine, etc. There are several post-baccalaureate programs designed just for non-traditional students like yourself. Do an online search for programs that cater to older students who either need medical school prerequisites or need to enhance a GPA.
Making Plan B to several medical schools, but my GPA is Q| Inothavetheapplied greatest. What are my options if I don’t get into any of the schools I applied to? who are not accepted to medical school their first year A| Students applying can apply the following year. Some students choose to continue on with a master's degree or even PhD in their chosen major and apply to medical school later. Numerous careers are open to individuals interested in the health sciences that do not require attending medical school, though some may require additional education above the undergraduate level. Some include nursing, medical technician, physical therapy, social work, dentistry, paramedic, emergency medical technician, alternative medicine, etc. You may also want to explore the option of enrolling in a postbaccalaureate program designed to enhance your credentials.
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school. For one thing, if you’re not enthusiastic about what you’re doing, you won’t perform as well as you could or should. Especially in a research setting, sub-par motivation is readily apparent because it will be reflected, often in subtle ways, in your performance. Your mentor will readily perceive this, and believe that one of the best ways to form a bad impression in a professor’s mind and kill your chances of getting a good letter of recommendation is to work in the lab (or take a course) only because you think it will "look good" on your medical school application. Faculty members want to work with motivated, enthusiastic students who are curious and interested in science and understanding nature. You can volunteer for a professor's research, be employed as a work/study student, work as a student employee, or do a Biology honors project your last year as an undergraduate. And no, having laboratory experience does not mean you have an advantage on your medical school application. Think of the experience in a lab as exploring biomedical research as a possible career.
Major Dilemma am interested in both Biology and Biochemistry as Q| Imajors. Is one major better than the other for getting into medical school? Would I be at an advantage or disadvantage if I choose one over the other? It doesn’t matter which major your decide to pursue. What A| No. matters most, and what many students forget is that you perform well in all of your pre-med courses. Whether you’re a biology major or a biochemistry major, your pre-med courses will be the same. There are also a good amount of students that are non-science majors and as long as they take and perform well in their pre-med course, they’re just as qualified as any science major is as a medical school candidate. As long as you map out an academic plan that fits your interests while at the same time tackles the courses that you’ll need to apply to medical school you’re in good shape. You’ll be torturing yourself if you declare Chemistry as your major just because you think it will make you more attractive to medical school. It’s not the case. Simply put, being a science major simply provides you with a stronger science background, which may or may not make it easier for you to manage your classes once you get accepted into medical school.
The total number of pre-medical students who applied to a U.S. medical school in 2010
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COVER STORY
MCAT
Winning Strategies Tips for medical school applicants preparing for the ultimate test PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (OR SO WE HOPE) To prepare for one of the most important test of your pre-med life you need to practice, practice, practice. One of the best ways to prepare for the MCAT is to tackle as many practice exams as you possibly can. Some experts say that prior to the actual MCAT, students should take at least one exam/week for 12 weeks. Try to make it a part of your schedule to take your practice exam on Saturday mornings. By taking practice tests you’ll begin to acclimate yourself with the test so that when the big day comes you won’t feel so nervous about what you’re about to see. As you take the practice exams, you’ll need to rely on all of the stuff that you learned in your courses and sarcastically asked yourself “when will I ever need to know this?” Well, the time is now. For some, you’ll be glad you actually paid attention in class and for those who thought skipping a class here and there wouldn’t hurt, you’re probably wishing you wouldn’t have blew off that dreaded chem lecture. Taking practice tests not only allows you to get comfortable with the exam and how the exam is structured, it also gives you a chance to get a bit more used to taking such a long exam. Although you’re probably not to enthused about spending you Saturday mornings glued to a chair, you’ll definitely thank yourself later. Even Kobe Bryant doesn't go without practicing because he knows that practicing will increase his chances of winning yet another NBA championship. Commit yourself to 12 weeks of practice exams. The first test you take should be used as a diagnostic tool to see which areas WHAT YOU CAN DO
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you should focus on the most. Once you have identified your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll be able to supplement your usual MCAT prep with additional studying on the areas where you fall short. AAMC's Web site offers an variety of practice exams, made up of actual questions from past MCATs, for $35 a piece, in addition to a free practice test that you can take an unlimited number of times. Also, try to simulate the actual testingday conditions as much as possible. FLASH THOSE FLASH CARDS While flash cards work best for audio and visual learns, they are a great way to study for the MCAT on-the-go. You can use flash cards when you are walking between classes, when you are on the treadmill in the gym, and other times when you have nothing to do. And what’s best - all it will cost you is what you have to pay for the index cards that you buy. Flashcards offer an inexpensive and effective way to review the material that will be on the MCAT. There are many Web sites that have apps that make it incredibly easy to study for the MCAT using your iPod, smartphone, or PDA. There are also Web sites that offer printable flash cards for your studying pleasure, but making your own flash cards is always better. Even if you use these Web site for the content you’ll put on your flash cards, it’s always better to make your own. The actual process of writing the information onto the index cards is all a part of getting you to learn and understand. WHAT YOU CAN DO Create your own flash cards from scratch. Whether you realize it or not, by making your very own set of flash cards will actually also be teaching yourself a thing or two. The process
To prepare for one of the most important test of your pre-med life you need to practice, practice, practice.
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 13
alone of making your own flash cards will put the learning gears into motion. As you start your MCAT preparation your stack of flash cards should be rather large but as the weeks go by, your stack should begin to get smaller and smaller. This will happen because as you begin to master certain flash cards you can remove them from the pile. What should you put on the flash cards you ask? Well, you can start with simple concepts, equations and tons of examples. ME, MYSELF AND I During your preparation, do not get consumed by what other students are doing. Focus on your game plan and the things you need to do to improve your score. There are many students who get caught up with how other students are performing and worry about how other students are doing compared to themselves. While it might be helpful to be a part of a study group from time to time, it is essential that you begin to develop the skills you need to function on your own. When test day comes, what good is it if you are used to working with others to come up with the solution to a problem. This form of studying won’t be any good to you. So while it may be helpful to study with others once in a while, you’ll want to develop your own personal study habits and build them up as much as possible. WHAT YOU CAN DO Put together a schedule that not only incorporates time for studying with others, but also allows you to study by yourself. And stop worrying about how well the next person did on that last Orgo exam. Finding out what grade someone else got is either going to make you depressed because you didn’t come close to doing as well as they did or will give you a cheap boost of confidence because you’ll be able to say that you did better than they did. Try this. Compete with yourself. Do better than you did on your last exam. Stop worrying about how others are performing and start focusing on how you can do better in the future.
MAY THE WEAK BE GREAT Although mentioned before, it cannot be stressed enough that in order to become a better candidate you must identify weak areas and focus on those. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time taking practice tests, the practice tests will give you an idea of what you need to work on. Focus on studying in the areas where you are weak until you see your scores in those areas improve. If you “kinda-sorta” know something then its something that you need to work on. At the time of the test, you want to say that you have mastered some, it not all, of the concepts that are essential to performing well on the MCAT. By being able to identify what you’re good at
and what you need to work on is something that must be done. By doing this, you’ll not only avoid wasting time going over things that you are very well comfortable with, you’ll waste valuable time that could be spent focusing on the areas that you need more help with. WHAT YOU CAN DO As suggested before, the best way to find out what your weaknesses may be is to take a practice test and use it as a diagnostic tool. Once you have gone through the test and have identified which questions you got wrong you might begin to see a pattern. The next thing to do is not get discourage but devise a plan of action and set some goals. You’ll need to supplement your regular studying with additional studying that will focus on your weaknesses. This supplemental studying can range from signing up for tutoring sessions to
and "C" are wrong. Only, and only if you have time, should you return to the questions to make sure "D" is correct. READING IS FUNDAMENTAL It is very important that you do as much reading as possible. This will not only improve your vernacular and increase your vocabulary, but it will also improve your reading speed and comprehension which will help tremendously on the verbal reasoning portion of the exam. One of the best ways to build your vocabulary and understanding of current events is to ready a daily newspaper like The New York Times. Reading will help you broaden your knowledge on many different topics and this will prepare you for a question that perhaps a member of the admissions committee might spring on you at your interview. Start reading now! You’ll be kidding yourself if you think that beginning to read a month or a few weeks before the exam will help you with the exam. Yeah you have a whole lot of reading to do for your courses as it is, but you should also try and get in some non-assigned reading if you can, even if its only for five or ten minutes. When your in the library, pick up a copy of the latest Time magazine or if it’s Tuesday you may want to check out the science section of The New York Times. And besides magazines and newspapers, a good novel is also a good. Even if it has nothing to do with science or medicine, getting caught up in a novel of your choice may help you destress from your busy life as a pre-med student. WHAT YOU CAN DO
cracking opening those textbooks. Either way, you’ll need to make a plan to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Even if you don’t master an area where you are not too strong, being at a better place than where you started is better than nothing. WHEN IN DOUBT While not scientifically proven, many have come to adopt the practice that when in doubt, they choose answer "B" or "C". If you see that time is running out or you find yourself having trouble with a question, a common practice is that one picks either one of these two choices. With that said, in order to do well on the MCAT, you’ll need to use the process of elimination and do some educated guessing. If you have clearly established that choices "A", "B" and "C" are wrong, select "D" and move on. Don't try to go through in your head why "D" is right or triple check why "A", "B"
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BEYOND THE BOOKS There is evidence that has shown that when you are not adequately rested your performance on intellectual tasks is less than optimal. In a study, conducted by Pamela Thatcher, a psychology professor at St. Lawrence University, researchers found that college students who pulled at least one all-nighter each semester actually had lower GPAs than their classmates who spent those nights in bed. With that said, do not underestimate the power of sleep. WHAT YOU CAN DO It’s simple - make sure that you get a good night’s sleep before your big test day. Getting a solid 7-8 hours of sleep should be sufficient to get you ready for one of the most important days of your life. Let’s consider your brain (on test day) heavy machinery and we all know that we really should not operate heavy machinery when drowsy. Seriously though, this piece of advice is just as important if not the most important of all.
SCHOOLSPOTLITE
Get a glimpse into what one medical school in the U.S. has to offer prospective students <<<
TUFTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Boston, Massachusetts According to the school’s Web site, students at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) never have a chance to forget what they learn. With a curriculum that ties all four years together with core courses and extensive clinical examples, students at TUSM have the opportunity to visit essential themes such as evidence-based medicine, genetics, and geriatrics, and broadbased topics such as ethics, professionalism, and communication skills. In their first year curriculum students focus on normal structure and function beginning at the molecular level, progressing through cell and tissue biology, and culminating in gross anatomy in the spring. Then, in the second year students have a chance to take pharmacology and microbiology, and then move to pathological structure and function, ending the year off learning about the organ systems. In addition, students are trained in a clinical setting for both the first and second years of schooling. Through a program called Selectives, first and second year students are exposed to a broad spectrum of disciplines and practice settings to gain an early introduction to clinically-based medicine, research, and other health-related areas.
For their third and fourth years, student days are mainly devoted to the application of topics and concepts they’ve learned and refining of skills in clinical settings. And in an effort to fully prepare its students for optimal performance within clinical settings, new courses, like Introduction to Clinical Reasoning, are continually being introduced. Through a partnership with Maine Medical Center, students who pursue TUSM’s Maine Track attend medical school without an unusual financial hardship. The unique and innovative curriculum is designed to offer clinical training experiences in Maine so that students get the opportunity to be exposed to the aspects of rural practice in Maine, as well as train in a major tertiary medical center. Students who participate in the "Maine Track" spend their first two years primarily on the Boston Campus, with some specific curriculum components done in Maine, and then move to Portland for the entire clerkship period in year three and portions of the monthly rotations in year four. For more information about Tufts University School of Medicine visit www.tufts.edu/med.
quick facts DEGREE(S) OFFERED: MD MD/MBA MD/PhD (MSTP) MD/MPH MD/MA in Int’l Relations
LENGTH OF PROGRAM 4 Years
# OF APPLICATIONS 9,009
# APPLICANTS ENROLLED 200
MEAN MCAT SCORES VR: 10.4 PS: 10.8 BS: 11.0
Student Average GPA 3.6
Student Average Science GPA 3.54
Gender Male - 104 Female - 96
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 17
PREMEDLIFE
B OOKS Every PREMED SHOULD READ
From inspiring stories to what life is like as a doctor, these books share something for anyone pursuing a career in medicine
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PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE |
A
ccording to those who were once pre-meds themselves, there are just some books that should be read by anyone who is heading to medical school and pursuing a career in medicine. Regardless of what you are studying, there are a few books that can be useful for just about any pre-med and may help along the arduous journey of not only getting into medical school, but succeeding as a doctor. Some of these are going to be painfully obvious or may be books that you may not want to read cover to cover, but all are invaluable. The medical school process is a thing onto itself. From application to taking the USLME, the process is like nothing else in the world. Here are some books that can help:
HOW DOCTORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THINK by Jerome Groopman, MD In a book that delves into the process by which doctors synthesize medical information and understand illnesses, Jerome Groopman,MD, the chair of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Experimental Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, lets readers in on how these doctors make decisions and why they sometimes get things wrong. Groopman explores why doctors make the errors they do and shows when and how they can avoid quick judgments, embrace uncertainty, communicate effectively, and utilize other skills that can have a profound impact on the health of the patients they treat. This book not only gives readers a good idea of the practice of medicine in general, but it also shares some interesting medical facts and tells some intriguing stories.
Why you should read this book? Thsi book provides insight into the thought processes that drive clinical problem-solving, a skill that students will undoubtedly need in medical school and throughout their career as a doctor.
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 19
COMPLICATIONS: A SURGEON’S NOTES ON AN IMPERFECT SCIENCE by Atul Gawande, MD While he was a general surgery resident Atul Gawande, MD wrote this collection of essays that explore a range of topics. Seen through his insider eyes, medicine is revealed as an imperfect science, full of “constantly changing knowledge, uncertain information, fallible individuals, and at the same time, lives on the line”. The “moments where medicine actually happens” are a fusion of science and intuition, knowledge and guesswork. Gawande believes that everyone in medicine always needs to face questions of judgment, competence, and decision-making.
Why you should read this book? This book provides a very candid and delicate look inside the world of surgeons. Complications gives readers an empathetic glimpse into the operating room, behind the scrubs, through the eyes of a contemporary surgeon. Gawande’s accounts will leave readers wiser about science and about health care issues.
GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY by Ben Carson, MD Dr. Ben Carson’s story will inspire any pre-med student to hold on to their dreams of becoming a doctor in the face of any adversity. Carson’s moving story tells of a frustrated inner-city kid whose faith in God helped him become director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Growing up in a single-parent home in Detroit, Carson's beginnings were certainly not easy. Signs of Carson’s determination showed as young as the age of 10. While he started out as the "class dummy" in school, Carson’s motivation and dream to become a doctor ultimately won him a full scholarship to the renowned Yale University. Carson is now one of the best neurosurgeons in the nation.
Why you should read this book? This quick and easy ready is great for anyone who is looking for a little motivation. Through his inspiring story, Carson will move readers to believe in themsleves more than they ever have. Carson's prescription of faith, prayer, and hard work are certainly applicable to any student pursuing admission to medical school.
THE HOUSE OF GOD: THE CLASSIC NOVEL OF LIFE AND DEATH IN AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL by Samuel Shem, M.D. This book offers a view as to how people were treated when they went through Med school and residency in the 60's and 70's. It's a slightly over the top journey through what was then a very tough medical apprenticeship. The "dark humor" and "satire" is only that on the surface -- the thing is, most of the situations described are actually true. The book is funny and a great ice breaker when you talk to doctors, since most have read it.
Why you should read this book? This remains an extremely funny, cruel and slightly surrealistic look at medical training which has a lot of lessons for students now. This book provides good humor, lots of basic knowledge on the ways of medical education, as well as gives readers an understanding on the pitfalls of the US medical system.
LIVES OF A CELL: NOTES OF A BIOLOGY WATCHER by Lewis Thomas This is a book of 29 essays originally written for the New England Journal of Medicine. The essays offer the creative and whimsical perspectives of a scientist. Thomas’ description of our bodies as a system of mito-
20 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2011
chondria pursuing their own interests with total disinterest of our consciousness as an entity is startling while, at the same time, it becomes immediately obvious. In short, this book is like an intellectual stroll through the park, something you might have a professor mention in passing, but elaborated.
Why you should read this book? Well, since pre-med students should be getting their dose of journal reading anyway, the fact that this book is a collection of articles published in The New England Journal of Medicine is one reason why its a great read for students. Throughout the book, Thomas reveals extraordinary facts about biology and microbiology that tend to leave the reader in awe. The book is an incredibly interesting read and fast education about cellular biology. A short, refreshing break from a textbook, readers will come out a better student and more educated.
FIRST DO NO HARM by Lisa Belkin This is a book about asking important questions about medical ethics. Belkin examines the cases of several patients in a Houston hospital and the ethical considerations of their doctors. But this book is more than just our empathizing with these patients and learning about their treatments, it's also about finding out how the medical staff deals with all this on a regular basis. In addition, there are fascinating chapters that take us inside the ethics committees that determine the future course of action for these patients, and let us know how the doctors determine when to proceed with procedures that may or may not help, and when the very real problems of hospital finances becomes intertwined with these complicated decisions.
Why you should read this book? This book is an eye-opening account on how some of the ethical choices in medicine must be made, including the all-too necessary financial considerations. Reading this book will give an insider look into the inner workings of a hospital ethics committee.
THE HUMAN SIDE OF MEDICINE: LEARNING WHAT IT'S LIKE BE A PATIENT AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A PHYSICIAN by Laurence Savett, MD TO
Based on more than 30 years of medical practice, teaching, advising, and mentoring medical students and undergraduates, Savett describes the elements of the human side of medicine, the non-technical part. This book is not only for those who are firmly committed to a career in medicine but also for those who are interested but unsure about medicine. In this book Savett shares his experiences in medicine. In this book, as he defines the responsibilities of physicians and their care for patients, Savett provides case histories, posing questions, and provides opinions and answers.
Why you should read this book? For all you future doctors out there, this book will speak to the topic of being able to communicate well with your patients. So hey, why not get a headstart on being the best doctor that you could possibly be.
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24 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE |
admission interview prep The medical school interview will be the most important interview of your pre-med years and is your time to shine. There are many factors that any medical school interviewer may try to evaluate during your interview. Making sure you are prepared will be the first step to having a successful interview.
I
f you’ve received an invitation for a medical school interview, you’ve already won have the battle. Now all that’s left to do is show members of the admissions committee why they would want to have you as part of their school. A composite picture of your record has already been carefully looked at - GPAs, MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, essays - which has given the committee a glimpse of your accomplishments. However, the interview will allow your interviewer to get a sense of who and what you really are about. As easy and simple as we try to make it sound, medical school interviews are a big deal. And although on average, less than one-fourth of all applicants are invited for a personal interview, medical schools will not accept candidates without one. So this alone should tell you how much of a big deal medical school interviews are. Being asked to interview automatically puts you in that school’s group of students who are considered “most competitive” for admis-
sion. Most medical schools typically invite at least three prospective candidates for interviews for each new class opening and only one of these interviewees will be offered a spot in the entering first year class. With that said, you must understand how important this part of the application process is to getting into medical school. No matter how well qualified academically you may be, a poor interview definitely reduces your chance of receiving an acceptance. According to the Dean of Admissions at Stanford University School of Medicine, “Far too many interviewees are unprepared for the interview process”. It is essential that you take these interviews very seriously. So now you know how important the medical school interview, that is if you didn’t already know before. With that said, there is no substitute for preparation. By being well prepared you will walk into that interview a more confident and relaxed person, ready to show the interviewer what you’ve got.
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 25
Mock Interviews > Prepare answers to potential questions
to become a doctor. While you’re not going to possibly know every question that you will be asked during your Make sure you know current events interview, there are a few common questions > It’s very important that you know what’s going that you might be asked. Taking the time to on in the world. And we’re not just talking write down what your answers would be to about health-related issues. Staying up-to-date some of the more common questions asked on national news will be something that you’ll during medical school interviews will put you in really want to have a handle on. Don’t go crazy the right frame of mind. with the idea though. You don’t have to watch As you begin the process don’t just writer your everything or read everything. Tune into CNN answers down. Take a moment to actually inter- once in a while or get into the habit of reading nalize your answers and speak them as you would The New York Times even if its only once a week. answer them during the actual interview. Find the And hey, you can kill two birds with one stone right words and practice the flow of your if you pick up Tuesday’s New York Times response so that you won’t be a deer in headlights because you’ll also be able to read through the when you sit down in front of your interviewer. science section as well. Just giving off the impression that you are > Know why you want to become a doctor “aware” of what’s going on in the world is good Most admission committee members want to enough. You don’t have to be an expert on any know what your motivation is to practice medi- one issue or topic. It just helps to show that cine. So it is very important that you know what you’re not living under a rock. And when it comes to health and science you’re going to say if they just happen to ask you the infamous question: “So, why do you want to news, read or skim articles that are the “hot topbecome a doctor?” If you take the time out now ics” of the health care world including, but not to really think about why you’ve chosen to pursue limited to, health care legislation, health insurance, managed care, and medical legal and ethical a career in medicine, you’ll be thankful. Think about the individuals in your life, issues. It will look good if you’re able to hold a events that have occurred, and other factors in decent conversation about a relevant topic. your life that may have influenced your decision
26 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
Acing your medical school interviews is crucial to getting into medical school. Without question, for most students, the medical school interview can be the most nerve-wracking part of the entire candidate admission process. Mock interviews will give you an opportunity to focus on everything from body language to the accuracy and fluidity of your answers. Your 'mock interviewer' can give you invaluable feedback about areas where you can improve your delivery, can point out idiosyncrasies in your speech or mannerisms which you may wish to eliminate, and can help you hone your answers to concise, informative responses.
> Know what you put on your application
but how you say it will be key to the success of How bad would it look if one of the admission your interview. Although the silence may seem committee members ask you a question about awkward, the first thing that you’ll always want something you put on your application and you to remember is to take a brief pause before you are unsure about what they are asking? That is answer any question. This will allow you time to why it is extremely important that you carefully quickly gather your thoughts so that you don’t examine everything on your application before start rambling. Some candidates may begin going in for your interview. Your interviewers answering a questions the moment the interwill review your file before speaking with you viewer speaks the last word. Not good! It’s okay and jot down notes for possible interview ques- for you to take a second or two to think about tions. Re-familiarize yourself with your grades, what you’re going to say and how you’re going essays and research topics so they will be fresh to say it. in your mind before the interview. As obvious as this may seem, there are many First impressions are everything applicants that don’t look over their application > From the minute you walk through the door to and when it comes time for them to talk about meet the person interviewing you, you will be content that they have on their application, they giving off an impression. And as everybody fumble. So make sure that you review your knows, first impressions are everything. Make application: AMCAS application, personal sure that you are on time and are dressed essay, secondary application, and your non- appropriately. Purchase a professional-looking portfolio case for you to carry all of the docuAMCAS application. ments that you will need. And when you first meet your interviewer make sure that you smile >The art of answering questions It is very important how you answer questions and establish eye contact with them as you during your interview. Not only what you say, exchange a firm handshake.
You should understand that by the time a medical school applicant is offered an interview, the medical schools have basically decided that the applicant appears (on paper) intelligent enough to be a doctor. Over the years, getting into medical school has become increasingly difficult, in part, because of the state of the economy. Why so? Well, competitive candidates who used to target other graduate schools are turning toward medicine because it is one of the more stable fields. As a result, stronger candidates are now pursuing a medical career, making the medical school interview critical. So you have followed a path filled with hours and hours of studying and memorizing equations and definitions, and innumerable lecture sessions as you anticipate applying to medical school. Now, you are closer than ever to your goal, so don’t blow it. Walk into that interview with a boat load of confidence and show them why you should be a part of their medical school. Even if you have to “play the part” it will all be worth it, but don’t overdo it or you may come across as fake.
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ESPECIALLY THIS SPECIALTY
Learn more about various specialties and what it will take to pursue a certain specialty<<<
Becoming an...
Emergency Medicine Physician Emergency Medicine has become competitive over the years. Doctors who specialize in emergency medicine thrive on the relentless pace, the wide variety of patients and cases, and the challenge of making an accurate determination quickly. Emergency medicine is a relatively young specialty, with the oldest residency dating back to 1970. The American Board of Medical Specialties recognized emergency medicine as the nation's 23rd medical specialty in 1979. Physicians in the emergency department take a medical history, examine the patient, decide which tests to order, make a differential diagnosis and determine whether to admit the patient to the hospital or treat him and send him home. Long shifts with heavy case loads of often critically ill patients can make working in the emergency department one of the most stressful jobs in health care. But for doctors who enjoy solving â&#x20AC;&#x153;medical mysteriesâ&#x20AC;? at breakneck pace, emergency medicine can be an exciting and rewarding career.
WHAT DOES AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN DO? Emergency medicine physicians (also known as emergency doctors) work in emergency departments and treat patients with acute illnesses and injuries that require immediate medical attention. They quickly diagnose conditions and provide acute medical care to stabilize patients. They specialize in trauma care, cardiac life support, advanced airway management, and management of other care that can be life-threatening. Emergency medicine doctors often see a large volume of patients, providing the necessary emergency care and arranging for further care or release after effective treatment has concluded. They also often perform emergency surgical procedures when needed.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BECOME AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN?
Emergency medicine is not for those who aren't willing to dedicate at least eleven years of their life studying. Undergraduate - (4 Years) to obtain bachelor's degree Medical School - (4 Years) to obtain a doctor of medicine degree (MD) Residency - (3-4 Years) to qualify to practice emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. They specialize in trauma care, cardiac life support, advanced airway management, and management of other care that can be life-threatening. Emergency medicine doctors must be able to think quickly and remain calm during intensely stressful situations.
As an alternative, you could apply for an accelerated college/medical school program, which can compress the first eight years of school into just six or seven years. Programs also exist combining emergency medicine with either Internal Medicine or Pediatrics.
WHAT
HOURS DO EMERGENCY MEDICINE
PHYSICIANS WORK? In most hospitals, the emergency department operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Emergency medicine physicians typically work in 8, 10 or 12hour shifts, during which they may see dozens of patients who have a wide range of symptoms or injuries. As an emergency medicine physician, hours are long, but schedules are fixed in advance. Shifts may include working weekends, nights and holidays.
WHAT ARE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN?
O
A career as an emergency medicine physician is an excellent choice for individuals with a strong interest in caring for patients suffering from a variety of medical, surgical, and psychiatric emergencies. Emergency Medicine Physicians should have the... Ability to work in fast-paced and stressful environments Ability to make quick decisions and assessments Ability to communicate well and utilize interpersonal skills
WHAT IS THE CAREER OUTLOOK FOR AN
EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN ? The outlook is excellent because of an expected overall 22 percent increase in the number of physicians by the year 2018. Additionally, a shortage in the number of emergency medicine physicians, particularly in rural areas of the country, the position will be recruited heavily.
WHAT DO EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS EARN? As of November 2009, emergency medicine physicians with less than 1 year experience earn average annual salaries between $103,225 and $197,893. Those with 1 to 4 years experience earn average annual salaries up to $201,495.
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 29
2011
PRE-MED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST
PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Arizona Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Summer Students Program
Phoenix, Arizona
June/July 2011
6-Week commitment
Summer Research Fellowship at the University of Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
TBA
TBA
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
Los Angeles, California
June-August 2011
6 Weeks
Seaver Undergraduate Research in Biology at Pepperdine University
Malibu,, California
May 16-August 1, 2011
11 Weeks
30 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
Summer research and academic enrichment geared toward pre-medical students are a great way to strengthen your medical school application. Most students who get accepted to medical school have participated in one or more summer pre-med programs during the course of their undergraduate studies. The following is a list of summer programs available to students aspiring to become doctors. There are various opportunities available in a number of institutions across the US. If you want to participate in academic enrichment programs, test preparation courses, research projects, or hospital internships, check out the following list of opportunities for Summer 2011. Be sure to check individual websites for application deadlines! The list includes opportunities nationwide in several different areas. Among the areas include are: California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and more.
DESCRIPTION
PERKS
A, pro bono, six-week program designed to motivate and inspire students considering a career in medicine. Students attend didactic (designed or intended to teach) lectures and participate in clinical rotations at both the Arizona Heart Institute and Arizona Heart Hospital.
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Phone(602) 200-0437 Email foundation@azheart.com
MARCH 2011
Phone(501) 526-6503
FEBRUARY, 28 2011
Paid summer research fellowships are available for undergraduate students who will be juniors or seniors by the fall semester. Selected students will work on a project relevant to human health in a laboratory of a faculty member at either the University of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, or the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The Biomedical Research fellowships are designed for students with a solid background in science who wish to be part of an ongoing research project, develop their technical skills and are interested in pursuing a research career.
$3200 Stipend Living Allowance
The UCLA SMDEP will serve as a model learning community in which students examine health care issues in medically underserved communities. Through a research project, problem-based learning cases, lectures, clinical experiences, and small-group discussions, students will also improve their learning skills and increase their science knowledge. The program targets educationally and financially disadvantaged community college students.
Meals Stipend Housing
Phone(310) 825-9573 Email uclasmdep@mednet.ucla.edu
MARCH 15, 2011
Summer research program geared specifically to undergraduate students who are interested in pursing a career in biological research, science education, environmental science or biotechnology. Over the summer, students will pursue individual research seminars in one of five research areas students may elect to study.
Stipend Room & Board
jay.brewster@pepperdine.edu
FEBRUARY 14, 2011
Website brin.uams.edu/students2.asp
Website seaver.pepperdine.edu/surb
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 31
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP)
Stanford, California
June 19-August 13, 2011
8 Weeks
UCLA Pre-Medical Enrichment Program (PREP)
Los Angeles, CA
June-July 2011
7 Weeks
UCLA Re-Application Program (RAP)
Los Angeles, California
June-July 2011
11 Months Summer Session 7 Weeks + Academic Session 9 Months
Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Duarte, California
May-July 2011 or June-August 2011
10 Weeks
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience (CURE) Program
Duarte, California
May-August 2011 June-August 2011 June-September 2011
12 Weeks
UCSD Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
San Diego, California
TBA
8 Weeks
32 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Email: ssrpmail@stanford.edu
Program offers undergraduates who want to prepare for and enter Ph.D programs in the sciences an opportunity to work with Stanford's distinguished faculty and work in one of Stanford's state-of-the-art research facilities. Participants will work with a faculty member and a lab mentor to craft a research project. The program culminates with a research symposium, where students present individual talks and posters on their summer projects in front of the faculty, lab mentors, and University administrators.
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website ssrp.stanford.edu
Program designed to provide premedical and predental students from disadvantaged background with a means of strengthening their ability and readiness to study medicine or dentistry. Students will work at a rigorous pace with a highly focused scope to prepare for the MCAT and DAT. Participants will engage in an extensive and lively classroom review of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Verbal Reasoning. Participants are also assigned to observe practicing physicians, dentists, and medical researchers performing the typical functions of their professions.
Travel allowance for eligible participants
Phone(310) 825-3575
Comprehensive, structured re-application program designed to assist students from disadvantaged background who have been unsuccessful in gaining admission to any U.S. medical school. The program begins with an intensive 8-week summer session, focused upon prerequisite science review and MCAT preparation. An individualized academic-year program that consists of a science curriculum will follow.
Stipend (Depending on availability)
Phone(310) 825-3575
Program gives promising students with an interest in research and health science careers practical experience and helps them develop important skills for their futures. Our instructors are world-renowned physicians and scientists who guide students in their research, while helping them develop their critical thinking skills. Weekly seminars allow students to present research findings to their peers, a good primer for what graduate and postdoctoral students do.
$4000 Stipend
Email: psalv@coh.org
Program is designed to engage the scientific curiosity of promising young high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented populations who are interested in cancer research as a career.
$4800 Stipend
Website www.cityofhop.org/education/summer-studentacademy/Pages/CUREprogram.aspx
CONTACT PROGRAM
Program for motivated undergraduate students interested in seeking future training in a combined MD/PhD program. Principle focus is an 8-week research project conducted in the laboratory of a faculty member in the biomedical sciences.
$1600/Month Stipend Housing Travel Allowance
Email: (800) 925-8704
FEBRUARY 2011
MARCH 2011
Website www.medstudent.ucla.edu/prospec tive/?pgID=181
MAY 2011
Website www.medstudent.ucla.edu/prospec tive/?pgID=183
MARCH 2011
Website www.cityofhope.org/education/summer-student-academy/Pages/default.aspx
Website mstp.ucsd.edu/surf/Pages/default.aspx
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 33
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Graduate Experience for Multicultural Students (GEMS) at the University of Colorado - Denver School of Medicine
Denver, Colorado
June - August 2011
10 Weeks
Summer Student Research Fellowship at Hartford Hospital
Hartford, Connecticut
June-August 2011
10 Weeks
Yale University Summer Medical/Dental Education Program (SMDEP) New Haven, Connecticut
June-July 2011
6 Weeks
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation Internship Program
Ridgefield, Connecticut
TBA
TBA
College Enrichment Program (CEP) at the University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
June - July 2011
6 Weeks
College Summer Fellowship Program at UConn School of Medicine
Farmington, Connecticut
TBA
10 Weeks
34 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Selected GEMS interns will enroll in a research internship course, Topics in Biomedical Science and Research. The course will be conducted by distinguished research faculty and will consist of lectures, demonstrations, and laboratory research assignments with a mentor.
$3400 stipend Travel Allowance
(303) 724-6084 Email: GEMS@ucdenver.edu
MARCH 2011
Program offers a unique clinical research opportunity for college students pursuing careers in medicine. Fellowship is designed exclusively for pre-medical students completing either their junior or senior year in college. It offers the student an introduction to research methodology, patient treatment, and ethical issues in medicine as well as exposure to a broad spectrum of health care providers within a large community teaching hospital.
$1500 Award
Program for highly motivated college students who are considering a career in medicine. The Program exposes students to a problem-based learning model of science education that is similar to that used in medical school
Stipend Food Housing Travel Allowance
Website www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicine/departments/GEMS/Pages/default.aspx
Rportal@harthosp.org
FEBRUARY 2011
Website www.harthosp.org/ResidenciesFellowsh ips/default.aspx
(203) 785-7545 Email: Linda.jackson@yale.edu Website www.smdep.org/progsites/yale.htm (202) 798-9988
Research & Development: Throughout the summer, interns will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with top researchers in their field. Medical: Interns within the medical department have the opportunity to assist on both early and late phase clinical trails. Whether the project entails enrolling participants into a clinical trail or measuring and analyzing trail results, interns work with leading doctors and researchers to assure that all Boehringer Ingelheim products meet all requirements set forth by the Food and Drug Administration.
MARCH 1, 2011
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website us.boehringer-ingelheim.com/career/internship
The program addresses the needs of University of Connecticut freshmen and sophomores. The program is designed to provide sound development of scientific and mathematical skills. The program consists of courses in individual programs of study in: Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Calculus, and Physics. The program will consist of 30 hours per week of formal lecture, laboratory, directed study, and clinical experiences addressing the needs of college freshman or sophomores.
$800 Stipend Room & Board
The program is designed to offer undergraduates who are completing their sophomore, or preferably their junior year of college, and plant to purse a career as a MD, DMD, MD/PhD, or DMD/PhD. Once a student is accepted to the program and has selected and found a faculty sponsor in which to do research, the student will meet with the faculty sponsor in June and develop a research protocol and suitable project description. The student will commit approximately 30+ hours per week for the project and will work with the faculty sponsor or his/her designates.
$2500-$3000 Stipend Housing
APRIL 2011
(860) 468-3574 Email: leo.lachut@uconn.edu Website medicine.uchc.edu/prospective
(860) 679-2487 Email: dieli@uchu.edu
FEBRUARY 2011
Website medicine.uchc.edu/prospective/enrichment/collegefellow/index.html
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 35
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Medical/Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at Howard University
Washington, DC
June-July 2011
6 Weeks
Georgetown Summer Medical Institute (GSMI)
Washington, DC
June/July 2011
Varies
STEP-UP/BSURE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Baltimore, Maryland
June - August 2011
8 Weeks
Pre-Medical Summer Enrichment Program (PSEP) at The University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
TBA
6 Weeks
Minority Students Health Careers Motivation Program
Miami, Florida
June-July 2011
7 Weeks
36 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION The program is designed to provide an educational experience of exceptional quality that will strengthen the overall academic preparation of underrepresented minority, disadvantaged, and low-income students who express interest in admission to medical or dental school.
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Stipend Housing Meals
(202) 806-0378 Email: hu_smdep@yahoo.com
MARCH 1, 2011
Website www.smdep.org/progsites/howard.htm Email: gsmi@georgetown.edu
The program, combined with the informative and supportive environment at Georgetown University School of Medicine, will provide preparation and insight for individuals exploring the calling of medicine as a career, and those making-up medical school course.
:
JUNE 2011
Website som.georgetown.edu/prospe ctivestudents/specialprograms/summer
Tuition: $3,862 (5 Credits) for Human Gross Anatomy and Human Physiology; $3,090 (4 Credits) for Medical Histology (Microscopic Anatomy) and Medical Biochemistry. Tuition includes the use of course textbooks and lab fees (for Anatomy). Summer research program for talented students who are dedicated to the advancement of underrepresented groups in the sciences and mathematics. Students selected for this internship will experience state-of-the-art scientific research and are encouraged to consider and pursue biomedical research careers in areas of specific interest to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
$4,000 Stipend Travel Allowance
The program is designed for highly motivated students who are preparing for medical school or physical therapy school. The program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of talented minority and disadvantaged students for admission into medical school and serves as a recruitment tool to USF COM Medicine. The program includes a review of concepts in biology, general and organic chemistry, and physics. Participants will work closely with faculty in areas of reading skills, test taking skills, etc. Participants are also pared with physicians in the local community to have an opportunity to develop an appreciation of the "real world of medicine" through weekly clinical experiences.
$1500 Grant
The program is designed to be a mini first-year medical education experience that exposes participants to classroom instruction in select basic science courses in the medical education curriculum and offers physician-shadowing opportunities. Great attention is placed on identifying and removing any barriers that may prevent a participant from being a competitive medical school applicant. Workshops develop skills for preparing strong admissions and financial aid applications.
$400 Stipend Housing Meals Travel Allowance
(410) 455-2271 Email: sutphin@umbc.edu
FEBRUARY 2011 OR UNTIL THE PROGRAM IS FILLED
Website www.umbc.edu/bsure
(813) 974-4707 Email:pamattoe@health.usf.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website health.usf.edu/medicine/osde/p sep.htm
(305) 284-3187
LATE MARCH 2011
Website www6.miami.edu/provost/oae/ motivationprogram.html
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 37
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Health P.A.S.S. Program
Des Moines, Iowa
July 2011
4 Weeks
Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP at The University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
TBA
TBA
MCAT-DAT Review Summer Workshop at the University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, Kentucky
July-August 2011
4 Weeks
Buck for Brains Summer Research Program at the University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Varies
8 Weeks
Frontier Nursing Service Courier Program
Wendover, Kentucky
TBA
Up to 12 weeks
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland Baltimore, Maryland Frederick, Maryland
mid-May-June 2011
8 Weeks
Summer Internship Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland
June-August 2011
9-10 Weeks
38 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The program is for promising college sophomores and juniors to prepare for and enhance their chances of getting into medical school and other health professions programs. Health P.A.S.S. will provide participants with wellrounded perspectives on what it's like to be a medical school student in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine and surgery, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies. In the program's courses, clinical opportunities and practical exposure, students will gain the confidence that they can achieve a degree and career in any of Des Moines University's four clinical areasand the knowledge they need to get started.
Travel stipend Meals Materials Housing
(800) 240-2767 x 1709
FEBRUARY 2011
Website www.dmu.edu/healthpass
The program provides academic enrichment in chemistry and biology, as well as clinical experiences, medical and dental experiential activities, laboratory experiences, seminars, demonstrations, and clinical site visits.
Housing Meals
(859) 257-1968; Email: ctsnyd0@email.uky.edu
Website www.uky.edu/pimser/programs/peppbrochure.pdf
Free MCAT-DAT review workshop for eligible students
(502) 852-8109; Email klfarm02@louisville.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
(859) 257-6322 Email bguer00@email.uky.edu
APRIL 15, 2011
The program provides undergraduates at the University of Kentucky with hands-on experience in academic research, working alongside "Bucks for Brains" faculty. Students are placed in research settings ranging from plant biochemistry to computer science to American history.
$3500 Stipend
The program provides a type of internship for young women and men who had a desire to go into the medical field. For young women and men who are interested in the healthcare field, the Courier Program provides limited opportunities to shadow healthcare professionals including: family nurse practitioners, physicians, nurse-midwives at FNS rural healthcare centers, at Mary Breckinridge Hospital and Home Health Agency.
$42/week for room and board and for the complete 12 weeks $500.
(606) 672-2317 Email information@frontiernursing.org
The program is designed to provide an independent research experience in biomedical and/or public health research to undergraduate students under the direct mentoring of established Johns Hopkins researchers. During the program interns work one-on-one with faculty on research projects in their field of interest and attend a health science seminar series.
Stipend
cohend@mail.nih.gov
The program provides experience in research laboratories to students of diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented minority students and students from economically disadvantaged and underserved backgrounds. The purpose of this exposure to biomedical and/or public health research is to encourage students to consider careers in science, medicine and public health.
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.research.uky.edu/students/rctf.html
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.frontiernursing.org/Courier/TodayCourier.shtm
MARCH 1, 2011
Website www.jhsph.edu/student_affairs/diversity/DSIPFactSheet.pdf
$3,000 Stipend Housing
Email cwill@jhmi.edu
FEBRUARY 1, 2011
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 39
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
College Summer Enrichment Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts
May-June 2011
4 Weeks
Four Directions Summer Research Program at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
June - August 2011
8 Weeks
Siteman Cancer Center Summer Opportunity Program
St. Louis, Missouri
June - August 2011
10 Weeks
Biomedical Research Apprenticeship Program (BioMed RAP) at Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
TBA
10 Weeks
40 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
A tuition-free four-week residential program for undergraduate sophomores and juniors interested in entering the health professions. The goals of the program are to help participants improve their qualifications and competitive standing for admission to professional, graduate and/or medical school. The program includes enrichment activities to enhance participants' academic and communication skills. Sessions include the professional school application process with emphasis on medical school admissions and financing professional school. Seminars on biomedical research and cultural contemporary health issues are also provided. Additionally, the SEP offers participants the opportunity to interact with medical students, scientists, physicians, and other health care professionals
Stipend Housing Travel Allowance
(508) 856-2707
MARCH 15, 2011
The focus of activity during the summer is participation in a basic science research project. Students are assigned a medical school faculty mentor who will work closely with the student to ensure completion of a project over the 8-week summer period. Additional program goals include: Experience cutting edge research at a leading medical school, understand the medical school application process, exposure to Native American health care issues, integrate Native traditions including talking circles, networking with Native American students and faculty
Travel Allowance Housing Living stipend for food and other necessities
(617) 525-7644 FourDirections@partners.org
Program provides opportunities for undergraduate, pre-med and medical students enrolled at Washington University or other accredited universities to work on cancer research projects during the summer. Opportunities range from basic laboratory research to clinical research to prevention/control and population research.
$3500 Stipend
(314) 454-8439 Email waldhofft@siteman.wustl.edu
As a BioMedRAP/CD-BioRAP participant, students will conduct independent research with outstanding faculty mentors, work in a cutting edge science and technology environment, gain exposure to some of the nation's finest biomedical investigators and an extensive variety of research topics, receive individualized career counseling and develop your career interests, participate in workshops, seminars and journal clubs, build a social network with student peers and faculty, and prepare to apply to the best Ph.D. and M.D. /Ph.D. programs in the United States
Stipend Travel Allowance Housing
Website www.umassmed.edu/outreach/sep.aspx
FEBRUARY 12, 2011
Website www.fdsrp.org
MARCH 1, 2011
Website www.siteman.wustl.edu/internal.aspx?id=254
(314) 362-7963 Biomedrap@msnotes.wustl.edu
JANUARY 31, 2011
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 41
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Premedical Achievement Program (PMAP) at Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
June - July 2011
6 Weeks
Summer MCAT Review Program at Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
May 23 -27 2011
1 Week
University of Nebraska Medical Center Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
Omaha, Nebraska
June - July 2011
8 Weeks
Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program at the Eppley Cancer Research Institute
Newark, New Jersey
TBA
10 Weeks
42 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION The program is an intensive MCAT and medical school admissions preparation program is open to disadvantaged students who will be applying to medical school.
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Stipend may be available for eligible students
Email: MDadmissions@msu.edu (517) 432-6589
MARCH 2011
Website www.mdadmissions.msu.edu (517) 355-2363
The program is designed to help students prepare for the MCAT by building upon their undergraduate learning by helping them to synthesize a stronger overall command of related scientific and biological principles. The program will help students solidify the knowledge and skills students they have already developed in their undergraduate work and show them how to tap the critical thinking skills necessary for success in the MCAT. Instructors explain concept overviews, then provide guided practice through problem sets, followed by close analysis with an eye to understanding MCAT philosophies and mechanics, and while instructors are available outside of class time for consultation, this approach may not be suited to every student's learning style.
MAY 1, 2011
Website lrc.msu.edu/gre/CLIMB.php
Tuition: $800 (includes all materials, pre- and post-testing and follow-up advising). MARCH 1, 2011
The program is designed to identify, recruit, and assist future dentists and doctors through a comprehensive six-week summer experience for talented freshman and sophomores. The overall goal of the program is to provide each scholar the navigation tools necessary to reach their current and future goals. NMC's primary focus on core academics is a springboard for students in their pursuit of a career as a physician or dentist. What makes this program unique is its emphasis on small-group learning. Instruction includes areas, such as health disparities, medical ethics, and public health. Various clinical shadowing experiences will help students build a strong foundation in their chosen discipline as well as potentially spark new passions in the medical and dentistry field.
Meals Travel Assistance Stipend Housing
(800) 701-9665 Email smdep@unmc.edu
Students in the summer program work for 10 weeks doing hands-on cancer research in Eppley Institute laboratories. Students get to try research, learn techniques and new concepts, and work with professional researchers, all while earning a competitive summer salary. Virtually all of our former summer students have been successful in gaining acceptance to graduate and professional schools. Students gain hands-on laboratory experience in cancer research labs, daily interactions with research faculty, staff, and students, weekly seminar program, and present your own research at a poster session.
$4000 Stipend Housing
crgp_info@eppleyits.comundefined
Website www.smdep.org/progsites/nebraska.htm
FEBRUARY 10, 2011
Website http://www.unmc.edu/eppley/summer.htm
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 43
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical and New Jersey Dental Schools Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
Newark, New Jersey
June-July 2011
6 Weeks
Biomedical Careers Program (BCP) at Robert Wood Medical School
Piscataway, New Jersey
June - July 2011
6 Weeks
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
New York, New York
June-July 2011
6 Weeks
Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program at Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering
New York, New York
June - August 2011
10 Weeks
44 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Program serves to advance our institution's core mission of meeting society's current and future health care needs by preparing individuals underrepresented in medicine and dentistry, and doing so while championing cultural competency and humanism in all aspects of education. SMDEP reaffirms our continued commitment to and involvement in pipeline initiatives and will allow our two institutions to attain even greater diversity. SMDEP will also allow us to continue strengthening the academic portfolios of these college students so that they are competitive candidates for medicine and dentistry.
Stipend Housing Meals
(973) 972-3762 anthondd@umdnj.edu
MARCH 1, 2011
Academic enrichment program for undergraduate students interested in careers in the health professions. The program targets undergraduates who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged. BCP offers an intensive six-week summer program to serve students at all stages of undergraduate education. Students take part in a variety of science enrichment and healthcare-oriented activities.
Tuition Free
(732) 235-4558 summerprogram@umdnj.edu
The program provides students seriously interested in applying to medical or dental school with a well-defined, integrated approach to learning, focusing on the basic science curriculum needed to apply to medical or dental school. Students engage in intense labs, learning-skills, and career development courses during the six weeks of the program, while attending weekly clinical rotations and seminars. The program strives to help students enhance and improve their chances of becoming successful applicants and students at the medical/dental schools of their choice.
Meals Travel Assistance Stipend Housing
(212) 305-4157 Email smdep-ps@columbia.edu
The program was established for underrepresented minority and disadvantaged college students who wish to pursue the combined MDPhD degree. Over the summer, students will: Work independently on a research project. Students will present and participate in weekly journal clubs. Participate in a hands-on tour of the Gross Anatomy Lab. Sit for a Mock MCAT exam. Partake in a Lab Techniques Workshop and Clinical Skills Workshop. Participate in Career Development Workshops. Scrub into surgeries at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Give an oral, written and poster presentation of your research in front of your family, friends and colleagues. Have on going mentorship by your "Big Sib" (a current MD-PhD student) as well as weekly meetings with the Program's leadership.
$4300 Stipend Travel expenses
(212) 746-6023 Email mdphd@med.cornell.edu
Website www.smdep.org/progsites/newjersey.htm
MARCH 15, 2011
Website rwjms.umdnj.edu/osap/bcp.html
MARCH 1, 2011
Website www.smdep.org/progsites/columbia.htm
FEBRUARY 1, 2011
www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd/summerprogram
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 45
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Undergraduate Mentorship Program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Bronx, New York
June-July 2011
6 weeks
Montefiore Medical Center's Health Opportunities Program (Monte-HOP)
Bronx, New York
July - August 2011
6 Weeks
Project Asian Health Education and Development (AHEAD)
New York, New York
June - August 2011
8 Weeks
The Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program for Premedical Students at Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, New York
June - August 2011
8 Weeks
Project Healthcare at NYU Langone Medical Center
New York, New York
46 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
June - August 2011
10 Weeks
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION The program will be comprised of a six-hour per week commitment to a shadowing experience with an assigned mentor and fourteen hours per week of lecture attendance. These fourteen hours will be distributed into the following three core curriculum components: six hours clinical didactic, six hours medical informatics, and two hours of MCAT preparation and test taking strategies. Students are also expected to conduct a research project while in the program.
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
$1000 Stipend Transportation Meals
(718) 430-2792 hcoe@einstein.yu.edu
MARCH 2011
(718) 920-4678 cwhittak@montefiore.org
The program is designed to promote, educate, and encourage underserved youth to purse careers within the health fields. Students will gain valuable knowledge and professional skills through interactive workshops, mentorship by physicians, observation of physician-patient interactions, lecture activities and independent learning.
APRIL 2011
Website www.einstein.yu.edu/hcoe
The program is designed to provide training and experience for college students who are interested in pursuing a career in the health care field. The program consists of a practical field placement, seminars and workshops, and participation in the development and completion of a community health project. Students explore various health careers, and gain an understanding of the dynamics of the New York Asian American community and of current health issues impacting the health status of Asian Americans in the United States.
Meals Travel Assistance Stipend Housing
The program is designed to give 25 premedical students deeper insights into the field of medicine, including issues that greatly affect the health of traditionally underserved groups. Through the experiences of laboratory or clinical research, the students learn how one purses a specific research problem under the supervision of a faculty member, thus providing an early education into basic research techniques that could be applicable to any area of medicine.
$140/Week Stipend Housing Travel expenses are paid for students that live some distance from Ne w York
Project Healthcare is an innovative volunteer program for enthusiastic and inspired college and post-baccalaureate students. Created by the Bellevue Hospital Center Emergency Department, PHC allows students an opportunity to experience and observe many different aspects of healthcare. The program is comprised of several weekly rotations which are based in the Emergency Department. It offers the committed student a unique healthcare experience, which is intended to furnish a wealth of knowledge about the numerous options for a career in healthcare.
Website www.einstein.yu.edu/hcoe
FEBRUARY 2011
(212) 379-6988 ext. 619 Website www.cbwchc.org/job/ahead/ahead.html
(212) 746-1057
FEBRUARY 1 2011
Website www.med.cornell.edu/education/programs
(212) 562-3041 Email bellevuepavers@nyumc.org
JANUARY 2011
Website emergency.med.nyu.edu/electives/college-students
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 47
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Scientific Work Program (SSWP) at Franklin Hospital
Valley Stream, New York
TBA
4 weeks
ACCESS Summer Research Program at Cornell University
New York, New York
TBA
10 weeks
AGEP Summer Research Institute (SRI) at SUNY Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York
TBA
10 Weeks
Bronx-Westchester Area Health Education Center
Bronx, New York
May/July 2011
Varies
48 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
The program is designed to help college students decide whether or not a career in medicine is right for them. This renowned program offers students the opportunity to complete a four-week summer internship where they have the chance to observe and ask questions in order to learn more about the medical field. Throughout these four weeks, accepted students rotate through various departments in order to gain a well rounded experience of the hospital. Some of these departments include the operating room, emergency room, radiology, geriatrics, laboratory, psychiatry as well as the rehabilitation unit. Participants also have numerous opportunities to go on rounds with doctors, observe physicians in their private offices and attend hospital conferences. The Access program of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences is a summer internship program that trains underserved college students in the biomedical sciences. Interns gain hands-on experience in a biomedical research laboratory and are encouraged to apply to PhD programs. Selected students are placed in laboratories at the Weill Cornell Medical College under the mentorship of experienced faculty members. n addition to the laboratory experience, students attend lectures and discussions aimed at enhancing their understanding of the current status of biomedical research, the pathways available for entering research careers, and the range of available career opportunities. Students also participate in weekly journal clubs, attend workshops that teach them how to prepare for interviews and seminars, and take part in social activities. The program is an intensive residential research internship program for underrepresented minority undergraduates majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Students will get a unique opportunity to work on independent research projects in cuttingedge laboratories under the direction of Stony Brook University faculty. Health Careers Internship Program (HCIP): This program allows students aspiring toward a career in the health professions the opportunity to work in a health care setting and interact regularly with health professionals. Students must be Junior or Senior in college. Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP): The program provides a six-week summer placement opportunity for junior/senior high school, and freshman/sophomore college students who have expressed an interest in the health field. Students are exposed to a variety of careers in the health fields as well as to health issues affecting their communities.
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
MFalzone@nshs.edu
FEBRUARY 15, 2011
Website www.northshorelij.com/NSLIJ
$3000 Stipend Up to $300 for travel expenses Housing
(212) 746-6565 ffreyre@med.cornell.edu
FEBRUARY 1, 2011
Website weill.cornell.edu/gradschool/summer/index.html
(631) 632-1387 sunyagep@notes.cc.sunysb.edu Website www.stonybrook.edu/agep
$3500 Stipend (631) 632-1387 Round-trip airfare sunyagep@notes.cc.sunysb.edu Housing Meals Website www.stonybrook.edu/agep/undergrad.shtml#sri
(718) 590-1110
FEBRUARY 2011
VARIES
Website www.bwahec.org/programs
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 49
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
MD/PhD Summer Undergraduate Research Program at University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska
TBA
10 Weeks
Summer Program for Future Doctors at East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
TBA
8 Weeks
Science Enrichment Preparation (SEP) Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TBA
8 Weeks
Indians into Medicine Program at the University of North Dakota
50 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
Grand Forks, North Dakota
TBA
6 Weeks
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The program is designed to provide appropriate experience and training to enable students to become competitive for admission to the school's MD/PhD Scholars Program. Benefits of the program include, gaining research training and experience that will make them more competitive for medical school, graduate school, other summer research programs, and MD/PhD program, exploring personal motivation for a career in medicine and biomedical research, meeting the UNMC faculty, participating in a student poster session.
$3000 Stipend
(402) 559-8242 sacox@unmc.edu
MARCH 1, 2011
The program is an intensive, challenging, educational summer program that allows participants to experience the pedagogical style and demands of the medical school curriculum. The Summer Program for Future Doctors is a great opportunity for participants to strengthen their basic science knowledge base, enhance their critical thinking skills, gain a better understanding of the application and admissions process, and exhibit their abilities to successfully handle the academic, social, and emotional demands of medical school.
Housing and Travel Stipend
Website www.unmc.edu/com/summer/9.htm
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ascc/SPFD.cfm
(919) 966-2264
The SEP Program is an honors-level academic enrichment program for disadvantaged undergraduate students (rising sophomores and juniors) who seek admissions into graduate/health professional programs. Students will engage in more than 150 hours of classroom instruction in physics, organic chemistry, human physiology and quantitative skills/biostatistics, attend classes and seminars in reading speed and comprehension, test-taking strategies, essay writing, and interview techniques, visit local health facilities and network with health care professionals, and shadow a working professional in your health field of interest. 2 programs. Pathway at UND: This program is for tribal community college students planning to transfer to UND in health care or pre-health curricula. Pathway courses are taught by University instructors, and are designed to prepare participants for advanced courses in the areas of anatomy, physiology, biology and physics. Pathway also includes a learning skills component to promote successful learning styles and study habits. Pathway students are eligible to apply for one-year tuition waivers at UND. Med Prep at UND: This program is for American Indian college upperclassmen and graduates who are preparing for medical school coursework. The program is divided into two major components: pre-medical students preparing to take or retake the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and students entering medical school.
(252) 744-2500 ascc@mail.ecu.edu
FEBRUARY 15, 2011
Website nchcap.unc.edu/sep.php
Stipend Travel Stipend
(701) 777-3037
APRIL 2011
Website www.med.und.edu/inmed/summerprograms.html
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 51
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
Cleveland, Ohio
June - July 2011
6 Weeks
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Scholars Program
Athens, Ohio
June - July 2011
6 Weeks
MedStarz Program at the University of Toledo College of Medicine
Toldeo, OH
July 2011
1 Week
Research, Observation, Service, and Education (R.O.S.E) Program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mid June - Early August 2011 8-10 Weeks
Chester Summer Scholars Program
Cleveland, Ohio
TBA
Pre-Professional Internship Program at Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
52 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
Cincinnati, Ohio
January 4-7, 2011 January 10-14, 2011 June 6-10, 2011 June 13-17, 2011 July 11-15, 2011 July 18-22, 2011
10 Weeks
1- 2 Weeks
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The program is designed to identify, recruit, and assist in preparing as many highly talented, committed, and hard-working minority and economically disadvantaged students as possible for careers in dentistry and medicine. We hope to imbue our students with the confidence and skills necessary to allow them to return to school better prepared to perform well in more rigorous basic science and math classes.
Meals Travel Assistance Stipend Housing
(216) 368-0529 smdep@case.edu
MARCH 1, 2011
Summer Scholars participants prepare for the challenges and rewards of medical school. Twenty-five applicants are selected each year to participate in this rigorous six-week program designed to give you an intensive and realistic introduction to the first-year curriculum at OU-COM. In addition to traditional medical school curricula taught by medical college faculty, graduate students and upperclass medical students, the program focuses on case-based problem solving and smallgroup/team work.
Room and board Stipend Program materials Round-trip travel expenses
(800) 345-1560 schriner@ohio.edu
The program provides students exposure to medicine and will include experiences that encompass sessions on navigating the medical school application process, introduction to the Problem Based Learning (PBL) model in small group sessions, hands on experience in the gross anatomy lab, clinical lectures on medical topics, diversity and cultural competency exercises, and contact with physicians in the clinical setting.
Housing Travel allowance
(419) 383-4229 medadmissions@utnet.utoledo.edu
The R.O.S.E. program is part internship, part early acceptance to medical school, and part mentorship program. The purpose of the program is to provide stimulating experiences and contact with academic medical faculty for high ability, intellectually curious pre-medical college students.
ROSE students have conditional acceptance to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; $3000 Stipend
(513) 558-5581 ROSEProgram@uc.edu
The program awards 15 collegiate undergraduate students the opportunity to spend the summer in clinical laboratory research at MetroHealth Medical Center. The program is an opportunity for pre-medical and scientifically-oriented students to explore the potential for a career in medical research or academic medicine.
$2000 Stipend Free Parking Supplies and equipment are provided
(216) 778-5940 jmoore@metrohealth.org
The Pre-Professional Internship Program at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM) is designed to provide insight into the many facets of podiatric medicine and the education involved with obtaining the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Degree.
Website www.smdep.org/progsites/casewestern.htm
MARCH 1, 2011
Website www.oucom.ohiou.edu/summerscholars
MARCH 1, 2011
Website www.utoledo.edu/med/md/admissions/medstarz.html
FEBRUARY 15, 2011
Website www.med.uc.edu/rose/index.html
FEBRUARY 2011
Website www.metrohealth.org/body.cfm?id=289
(216) 916-7488 lfranck@ocpm.edu
VARIES
Website www.ocpm.edu/?page=admission-internships
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 53
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Premedical Enrichment Program (SPEP) at the University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
June - July 2011
6 Weeks
Summer Premedical Academic Enrichment Program (SPAEP) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June - July 2011
8 Weeks
Pre-med Enrichment Program at the University of Pennsylvania Health System
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May - August 2011
10 Weeks
Pre-Med Program at St. Mary Healthcare Center
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Begins May 2011
TBA
Summer Pre-Med Program at Doylestown Hospital
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Late-May - August 2011
10 Weeks
54 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
Residential program for 18 college juniors, seniors, and postbaccalaureate premedical students. Students receive intensive exposure to medicine as a career through t ours, speakers, seminars, and shadowing. Students are exposed to the medical school experience and the academic curriculum through a noncredit course in cardiophysiology, extensive interaction with medical students and faculty, and detailed guidance through the medical school application process. Emphasis is on strengthening critical thinking/problem solving skills, increasing selfawareness, and making each participant a competitive medical school applicant.
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
(513) 558-7212 lathel.bryant@uc.edu
MARCH 1, 2011
Website comdo-wcnlb.uc.edu
This program, open to high school graduates and college students, is designed specifically to prepare and support students who wish to pursue careers in the field of medicine. Spend seven weeks in Level I, strengthening your academic skills and learning more about careers in medicine. Or, spend eight weeks immersed and engaged in the work of physician-scientists including laboratory research and MCAT preparation through Level II. Both programs will enhance your skills and knowledge in science, writing and public speaking. You'll discover a challenging and stimulating program in the environment of a major academic medical center.
$1000 Stipend Transportation Housing Meals
(412) 648-8987
The aim of this program is to prepare minority students for careers in academic medicine or other positions of leadership in medicine. Students will be engaged in a program of research, clinical observations, classroom exercises and teaching observations, designed to stimulate their interest in academic medicine. In addition, the students will be engaged in the following: activities pertaining to the medical school application process and medical school admissions; classroom instructions and simulated testing to prepare the students for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
$2500 Stipend
(215) 898-3980 jcraig@mail.med.upenn.edu
This program is for students who have complete their second year of college with a GPA of at least 3.2 in a course of study that qualifies them for medical school entrance.
The program is designed for college students who have complete their junior year and are pursing academic programs leading to medical school. Doylestown Hospital physicians assist with the program, which includes lectures and "hands-on" volunteer work on patient floors and in many departments.
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.medschool.pitt.edu/future/future_03_spaep.asp
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.uphs.upenn.edu/coeomh/premed.html
Conditional acceptance to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; $3000 Stipend
(215) 710-2096 lschonewolf@stmaryhealthcare.org
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.stmaryhealthcare.org/body.cfm?id=132 (215) 354-2204
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.dh.org/body.cfm?id=616
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 55
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Mini-Med Spring Break at Drexel University College of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March/April 2011
Choose from 7 1-week sessions
Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA)
Nashville, Tennessee
June - August 2011
TBA
Oncology Education (POE) Program
Memphis, Tennessee
Mid-June - August 2011
Varies
Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Collegiate Medical Summer Internship Program
Nashville, Tennessee
June 1 - July 30, 2011
8 Weeks
56 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
Participants will experience a medical education as seen through the eyes of 3rd and 4th year medical students during their clinical rotations in the hospital and clinical practices. The experience can enlighten participants about a career in medicine, whether they're about to enter medical school or are just beginning the application process. Participants will accompany the teaching team and 3rd and 4th year medical students on hospital rounds and be part of discussions between physician, patient, and medical students. Throughout the five-day program, participants will also see patients in clinical practice, attend department lectures, or go into the operating room. Participants will have the opportunity to talk with 3rd and 4th year medical students about their experiences preparing for medical school, what their first two years were like and what it's like now that they're out of the classroom and in the hospital.
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
(215) 762-6800 minimed@drexelmed.edu
MARCH 2011
Website www.drexelmed.edu/Home/OtherPrograms/MiniMedSchool
Tuition: $1500 The program offers biomedical research opportunities to undergraduates who want to pursue a career in biomedical sciences. There are two major tracks within the VSSA; the Basic Science Programs for undergraduates interested in careers in research, and the Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program for undergraduates who wish to pursue a career in medicine. Participation in any one of the Summer Science Academy programs is a valuable learning experience that enhances a student's skills and makes him or her more competitive for acceptance to frontline graduate programs.
$2500-$4000 Stipend
The POE program offers a unique opportunity for students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, or public health to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. The POE program provides a short-term training experience (internship) in either laboratory research or clinical research. Students participating in the Pediatric Oncology Education program will receive training in a superb academic environment created by the interaction of committed basic scientists, research-oriented physicians, and postdoctoral fellows.
$4000 Stipend Housing
This program is a summer internship for premedical students in the clinical area of organ transplantation. The internship includes shadowing physicians on rounds in the hospital, observing and assisting in an outpatient/clinic facility, and observing transplant and transplant-related surgical operations.
(615) 343-2573 michelle.grundy@vanderbilt.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website medschool.mc.vanderbilt.edu/ssa/
(901) 595-2488 Suzanne.gronemeyer@stjude.org
FEBRUARY 1, 2011
Website www.stjude.org/poe
(615) 327-8814
FEBRUARY 25, 2011
Website www.dciinc.org/camp/Internship.htm
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 57
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program at Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Mid-June- August 2011
8 Weeks
The University of Texas Dental Branch and Medical School at Houston Houston, Texas Weeks Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
May-June 2011
Health Career Opportunities Program (HCOP) at The University of Houston College of Optometry
Houston, Texas
TBA
6 Weeks
Physiology Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE)
San Antonio, Texas
June 6 - July 29, 2011
8 Weeks
Scholars Program in Organic Chemistry at University of Texas - Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
June - August 1011
10 Weeks
58 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
6
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
The Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program offers the pre-medical student a glimpse of a career in surgery long before they will ever pick up a scalpel for the first time. During the eight weeks, students become familiar with the hospital environment, the operating room, and the lifestyle of a surgeon. They are expected to become an integral part of their surgical teams by participating in rounds, surgery, and conferences.
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
studentprograms@bcm.tmc.edu
JANUARY 15, 2011
Website www.debakeydepartmentofsurgery.org
The program seeks motivated students from a variety of backgrounds including those who are underrepresented or underserved that are interested in pursuing a career in dentistry and medicine, including those who have an interest in serving the underserved. The mission of SMDEP is to assist students in enhancing their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to make them more competitive and to improve their chances of becoming successful applicants to a medical or dental school of their choice. SMDEP scholars will experience academic enrichment in five core areas: microbiology, anatomy and physiology, pre-calculus/calculus, physics, and organic chemistry. Students will have clinical experiences in such areas as emergency medicine, family practice, internal medicine, restorative dentistry, and oral surgery.
Meals Travel Assistance Stipend Housing
(713) 500-4532 Rebecca.L.Lopez@uth.tmc.edu
The program involves specific activities designed to enhance qualifications for entry to the professional program including preparation for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), counseling regarding the admission and application process, academic counseling, time management training, and test-taking/skills.
Financial aid assistance information is given to all students
(713) 743-2047 rboykins@optometry.uh.edu
This research program designed for highly motivated college undergraduate students with a genuine interest in experimental research careers in biomedical science. Undergraduates will have the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in on-going research projects under the direction of a faculty member as well as work with postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.
$3000 Stipend
The goals of the program are to improve college students' performance in organic chemistry and to provide these students with exposure to clinical medicine. The SPOC program will be conducted on the UT Southwestern campus in Dallas and has two components: 1) a 10 week course in Organic Chemistry and 2) clinical preceptorships with practicing physicians at UT Southwestern or in one of our affiliated clinical sites.
$1000 Stipend
MARCH 1, 2010
Website www.smdep.org/progsites/houston.htm
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.opt.uh.edu/students/undergrad/
(210) 567-4324 physiologygrad@uthscsa.edu
MARCH 11, 2011
Website physiology.uthscsa.edu
(214) 648-7517 SPOCPrograms@UTSiuthwestern.edu
JANUARY 2011
Website www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 59
2011 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAM LIST PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Virginia-Nebraska Alliance Summer MCAT Preparatory Program
Richmond, Virginia
TBA
5 Weeks
Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program (IBS-SRP)
Madison, Wisconsin
June - August 2011
10 Weeks
Study and Treatment of Human Disease in Mwandi, Zambia
Mwandi, Zambia
Early July - August 2011
4 Weeks
Physiology Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE)
60 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
San Antonio, Texas
June 6 - July 29, 2011
8 Weeks
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION The program offers a summer MCAT Preparatory Program to students enrolled in Virginia's historically black colleges and universities and other Alliance schools. The program provides students the opportunity to advance their skills through an intensive course.
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
$1500 Stipend Housing Meals
(804) 287-6484 jvaugha2@richmond.edu
APRIL 2011
(608) 262-5267 beasen@wisc.edu
In the program students do independent research projects with faculty mentors for ten weeks in one of seven research areas: Bioenergy Cellular and Molecular Biology Computational Biology & Biostatistics Environmental Biology Neurobiology Plant Development, Breeding and Genetics Virology. These seven disciplinary clusters are intellectually woven together at weekly meetings in an interdisciplinary learning community through evolutionary theory and the research process. In addition to meeting with the interdisciplinary group, students prepare research proposals, final papers, and oral presentations summarizing their work. The summer program in Mwandi, Zambia offers students an opportunity to work or various research & service projects at the United Church of Zambia's mission hospital, primary school or preschool. UCZ's mission hospital compound is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).Immediately following the spring semester, students will travel to Mwandi to conclude their course work which will consist of an independent project and a medical experience at the UCZ hospital compound. Students will spend approximately 3 weeks on-site in Mwandi and will write a final research paper based on their independent project.
Website prehealth.richmond.edu/mcat-preparation/virginia-nebraska-alliance FEBRUARY 2011
Website cbe.wisc.edu/srp-bio/
Housing
vecase@davidson.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.bio.davidson.edu/people/vecase/mwandi/index.html
ELIGIBILITY: Students in good standing Davidson students enrolled in a pre-med spring course This research program designed for highly motivated college undergraduate students with a genuine interest in experimental research careers in biomedical science. Undergraduates will have the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in on-going research projects under the direction of a faculty member as well as work with postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.
$3000 Stipend
vecase@davidson.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
Website www.bio.davidson.edu/people/vecase/mwandi/index.html
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 61
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE
notes on...
NOTETAKING
Being able to take good notes is key to succeeding in college. And for all of those pre-med courses that you will be taking, mastering the art of putting those lectures onto paper is a must. So here are a few helpful abbreviations to make your note-taking life a little bit easier.
Symbol
Meaning
Symbol
Meaning
Symbol
change
cont.
continued
e.g.
for example
therefore
dif ’t
different
i.e.
for instance
decrease
evryt
everything
?d
questioned
increase
infl
influence
?
question
less than or equal to
r.
rate
agnst
against
greater than or equal to
st
something
bet.
between
less than
thru
through
lrg
large
greater than
dev.
development
sm
small
w/
with
expl
explanation
nt
nothing
w/o
without
trad
traditional
prob.
probably
w/i
within
indiv.
individual
sep.
separate
b/c
because
conc.
concentration
sim.
similar
viz.
namely
est.
estimate
approx. approximately
b/f
before
amt.
amount
exclu.
excluding
=
equals
a.a.
amino acid
poss.
possibly
⇐
leads to
max
maximum
ev.th
everything
⇒
results from
min
minimum
import. important
∆ ∴ ↓ ↑ ≤ ≥ < >
Meaning
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 63
GADGETS&GIZMOS
>>>Our pick of cool and unusual items that we thought our readers might be interested in
Recycled Keyboard Frame The perfect way to proudly display your geekery and photos simultaneously, this recycled keyboard frame features a sturdy wood backing and stand, and keys affixed to the front.
`
a
'Dear Mom' Cotton Laundry You can look stylishâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even while carrying your dirty laundry! This screen-printed bag is the perfect size for bringing all of your clothes (as long as you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait too long) to be washed and can even be thrown into the mix with the rest of your belongings.
` 64 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
Smart Smencil These Smencils are scented with peppermint! Studies have shown that peppermint stimulates the brain and improves concentration levels. So now you can have the benefits of peppermint while taking your tests.
GADGETS & GIZMOS| Talk to the Hand Sticky Notes Next time, Talk to The Hand. The hand commands respect, so your message is bound to be noticed. And…you get 300 chances to get your point across.
`
Measuring Tape Toilet Paper Turn your daily toilet bowl creations into an exact science and be truly proud of your number two's.
a a
Erase Your Past Tea Because don't we all have something we'd like to forget? Maybe it’s that Orgo test you just took. Well, it won’t really erase it - but the thought of it is nice. This tea is Organic Oolong tea with lively bits of orange peel.
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 65
Free events and programs across the nation are being offered to premedical students . From MCAT preparation to learning more about the medical school admissions process, students can take advantage of the many upcoming events. For more information about free programs being offered in your area, visit www.princetonreview.com/events.
FREEPREMEDEVENTS
|PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE
MCAT & MEDICAL SCHOOL SEMINAR
STRATEGY SESSION FOR THE MCAT
Get an introduction to med school, the MCAT, and the application process. If getting into medical school keeps you up at night, you should take advantage of this seminar. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the MCAT and demystify the medical school admissions process. At the end of the session, you'll know the MCAT and how to put together an application that will impress any admissions committee.
Ask you know, the MCAT is a computer-based exam. Attend this MCAT free event to learn everything there is to know about the MCAT CBT. You'll meet an expert Princeton Review instructor who will walk you through some questions and teach you some of the company’s proven strategies that you can use on test day.
TESTFEST 2010 FREE PRACTICE TEST Put your skills to the test by taking a free practice exam. Participants also receive a detailed analysis of their results.
PRE-MED JUMPSTART Admissions and MCAT test experts to come together for this free workshop. Find out what you need to know about Medical School Admissions and the strategies you will need for the MCAT.
ANATOMY OF THE MCAT Learn the ins and outs of all the areas of the MCAT. Meet expert instructors who will break down all the areas of the test, what to expect and what you need to know in order to be ready on test day. A team of specialist instructors will dissect the MCAT subject by subject and share strategies designed to improve your score on each section of the exam.
66 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
MCAT & MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS FORUM In this free seminar, students will gain an indepth knowledge of the MCAT and demystify the medical school admissions process. At the end of the session, you'll know the MCAT and how to put together an application that will impress any admissions committee
HYPERLEARNING MCAT CLASS At the Hyperlearning MCAT Free Class, you will experience the most thorough, demanding, and effective MCAT prep course around. An instructor will teach you some of the company’s most effective test-taking strategies and lead you through several MCAT sample problems. To find information about free programs being offered in you area log-on to: www.princetonreview.com/events.
IN THE STACKS
Books we thought that aspiring doctors might be interested in reading<<<
ROTATIONS: THE TWELVE MONTHS OF INTERN LIFE by Robert Marion Is that improper conduct? Was there consent? What does a patient have a right to know? Should I report that? What do we owe the dead and the newly dead? These are just a few of the ethical questions that confront medical trainees daily and yet there is surprisingly little practical guidance available to them. Over 80 actual cases cover the range of possible problems which may be encountered by trainees on the wards, from drug and alcohol abuse, whistleblowing and improper sexual conduct to performing procedures, handling authority, disclosure, blaming, personal responses to patients, and misrepresentation of research. A PIECE OF MY MIND by JAMA, Roxanne K. Young A Piece of My Mind brings together a set of personal essays that first appeared in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) written by physicians, patients, family members, medical students, and others. Their stories offer a unique glimpse into the everyday experiences and relationships that permeate the world of medicine. The authors share their most personal experiences, stories, and observations. From an intern who could not hide her emotions to an alcoholic whose indomitable spirit helped her defy the odds of her progression. WHAT I LEARNED IN MEDICAL SCHOOL: PERSONAL STORIES OF YOUNG DOCTORS by Joycelyn Elders (Foreword), Kevin M. Takakuwa (Editor), Nick Rubashkin (Editor), Karen E. Herzig (Editor) This collection of short personal essays from 22 nontraditional medical school students not only recounts the challenges and delights medical students experience as they go through their training, but it also gives a view of what these students must endure to become doctors-a demanding education process that involves constant stress and very long work hours. WHAT PATIENTS TAUGHT ME: A MEDICAL STUDENT'S JOURNEY by Audrey Young Here’s yet another book for readers who are considering taking on the challenge of going to medical school. Young gives a firsthand depiction of the hardships and rewards that come along with being a med school student. The memoir of her life as a physician in the making delves into the histories of her patients, who are almost all poor and mostly from rural neighborhoods, and tells about their medical dilemmas, personal backgrounds, and socioeconomic plight. Young best describes what defines topics in her personal memoir by saying, “Patients teach things that the wisest and most revered physicians cannot, and their lessons are in this book.”
March/April 2011 | PreMedLife Magazine | 67
BETTERLIFEBETTERYOU
>>> Information on taking care of yourself as a student living a busy life A quick guide to helping you understand how to read the label on your food and beverages
READING NUTRITION LABELS People look at food labels for different reasons. But whatever the reason, many consumers would like to know how to use this information more effectively and easily. The following label-building skills are intended to make it easier for you to use nutrition labels to make quick, informed food choices that contribute to a healthy diet. You should always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise, supplementation or medication program. SERVING SIZE: The first place to start when you look at the Nutrition Facts label is the serving size and the number of servings in the package. Serving sizes are standardized to make it easier to compare similar foods; they are provided in familiar units, such as cups or pieces, followed by the metric amount, e.g., the number of grams. The size of the serving on the food package
influences the number of calories and all the nutrient amounts listed on the top part of the label. Pay attention to the serving size, especially how many servings there are in the food package. Then ask yourself, "How many servings am I consuming"? (e.g., 1/2 serving, 1 serving, or more). CALORIES (AND CALORIES FROM FAT): Calories provide a measure of how much energy you get from a serving of this food. Many Americans consume more calories than they need without meeting recommended intakes for a number of nutrients. The calorie section of the label can help you manage your weight (i.e., gain, lose, or maintain.) Remember: the number of servings you consume determines the number of calories you actually eat (your portion amount).
COLLEGE STUDENTS: Email your fitness questions directly to info@premedlife.com
68 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
PreMedLife Magazine Student Advisory Board LIMIT THESE NUTRIENTS: Look at the top of the nutrient section in the sample label. It shows you some key nutrients that have an impact on your health and separates them into two main groups. The nutrients listed first are the ones Americans generally eat in adequate amounts, or even too much. Eating too much fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, or sodium may increase your risk of certain chronic diseases, like heart disease, some cancers, or high blood pressure. Important: Health experts recommend that you keep your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol as low as possible as part of a nutritionally balanced diet. GET ENOUGH OF THESE NUTRIENTS: Most Americans don't get enough dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron in their diets. Eating enough of these nutrients can improve your health and help reduce the risk of some diseases and conditions. For example, getting enough calcium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis, a condition that results in brittle bones as one ages. Additionally, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grain products that contain dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLCATIONS PreMedLife Magazine is now accepting applications for its Student Advisory Board. This is a great opportunity for you to be the voice of pre-med students nationwide. Deadline: Friday, April 29th, 2011 Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t delay, only a limited number of positions available!
PERCENT DAILY VALUE (%DV): The % Daily Values (%DVs) are based on the Daily Value recommendations for key nutrients but only for a 2,000 calorie daily diet--not 2,500 calories. Most people may not know how many calories they consume in a day. But you can still use the %DV as a frame of reference whether or not you consume more or less than 2,000 calories. The %DV helps you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient. FOOTNOTE Note the * used after the heading "% Daily Value" on the Nutrition Facts label. It refers to the Footnote in the lower part of the nutrition label, which tells you "% DVs are based on a 2,000 calorie diet". This statement must be on all food labels. But the remaining information in the full footnote may not be on the package if the size of the label is too small. When the full footnote does appear, it will always be the same. It doesn't change from product to product, because it shows recommended dietary advice for all Americans--it is not about a specific food product. The Daily Values (DV) for each nutrient listed are based on public health experts' advice. DVs are recommended levels of intakes. DVs in the footnote are based on a 2,000 or 2,500 calorie diet. Note how the DVs for some nutrients change, while others (for cholesterol and sodium) remain the same for both calorie amounts.
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.PREMEDLIFE.COM
COLLEGE101
>>> Helpful advice to manage and deal with life as a college student
Get a Second (or Third) Language Under Your Belt The advantages of knowing more than one language can pay off big time when it comes to your future
A
lthough you may not see the benefit now, if you take the time to learn a second language, you’ll be thanking yourself (or us) later. The world grows more interconnected every day, so it is to your own best interest to take the time to expand your language portfolio. For you as today’s student and tomorrow’s health care professional, you will be led to have much more frequency and consistent contact with people from all across the world. You will be able to understand and communicate better across cultures if you know the language of different cultures. While much of the world already speaks more than one language, you will need to speak a second language to keep up. And as you pursue your dreams of becoming a doctor, the acquisition of multiple languages will become more important as you will soon treat people from all over. As the United States becomes increasingly bilingual, and even multilingual, you should be conversant in more than one language as you move along your path to becoming a doctor. In general there are intellectual, cultural, and social benefits, as well as long
term opportunities for bilingual people in many professional careers. In addition, learning a second language requires the brain to form new neural connections and pathways to assimilate new information. New sounds, new symbols and nuances of meaning are all excellent intellectual activities for the brain. There are numerous benefits of being bilingual such as an improvement in linguistic and meta linguistic abilities, as well as betterment of cognitive flexibility such as divergent thinking, concept formation, verbal abilities and general reasoning. Very often, students who are pursing careers as health care professionals take courses specifically designed for that purpose. Language departments at local universities and colleges often offer Medical Spanish language courses. If you are working in the health care industry, learning Spanish is essential to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients and their family members. Learning how to speak Spanish in medical terms and translating medical terms into everyday language will benefit not only you, but also the patients you will be treating. Medical Spanish is one of the most critical skills to have in
70 | PreMedLife Magazine | March/April 2011
hospitals that serve a community with large numbers of people who speak Spanish as a first language. Some Spanish-speakers don't speak English at all, and nurses and doctors often need to translate medical terms to them in Spanish. Simply put, learning a language other than English may just give you the advantage you need to set you apart from your peers. If you think about it, let’s say that you and another candidate are the same in all ways but one, you know a second language and the other person doesn’t. You automatically have one up on that other person. Medical schools are looking for candidates that are well-rounded individuals and learning and being able to say that you know more than one language will prove just that. Think about including a foreign language course into your course plan over the next few semesters, if your college or university offers such an option. If you do it this way, you won’t have to spend extra money taking an outside course. When it’s all over with you’ll not only be a much more attractive medical school candidate, but you’ll also be able to brag about knowing how to speak another language.
PreMedLife Magazine
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