PREMEDLIFE THE MAGAZINE FOR PREMEDICAL STUDENTS
THE NEW PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN The most common complains about being a primary-care physician and how changes could make things better
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
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5 Must-Have Extracurriculars
Activities Every Admissions Committee Wants to See
School Spotlite Stanford University School of Medicine
3 1 0 2Summeedr
List PreM m a r Progcluded! n I S AGE P 2 3
How to Connect with Your Medical School Interviewer Advice on Standing Out From Other Applicants
New change to MCAT starts in 2013 p.10|Survey finds debt worries med students most p.11
PreMedLife Magazine
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CONTENTS
November/December 2012
www.premedlife.com
22
26
FEATURES The New Primary Care | 14 A look at the most common complains about being a primary care physician and how changes could begin to attract more students to the sector
How to Connect with Your Medical School Interviewer| 22 Advice on how to stand out from other applicants by connecting with your medical school interviewer
5 Must-Have Extracurriculars| 26 Find out which extracurricular activities every medical school admissions committee wants to see
DEPARTMENTS School Spotlite| 63 Stanford University School of Medicine is changing how their medical students are learning
20
Especially This Specialty | 65 Find out what a urologist does and what it takes to become one
IN EVERY ISSUE Newsbites| 8 Relevant news & information for students applying to medical school The Goods| 66 Check out our picks for this issue. From a special pen to help you get stuff done to funky packing tape
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In The Stacks|69 Books to inspire you or provide you with advice along your journey to medical school THE GOODS - Check out this Get Crap Done pen which you can use as a reminder to stop procrastinating
p.66
Better Life, Better You| 72 Advice and tips for taking care of yourself to make it through your hectic pre-med life
IN THIS ISSUE
‘LIKE’ US
PreMedLife magazine provides a host of features, everything from getting into medical school to tips for acing the MCAT. Visit our facebook page often to get online exclusive articles covering topics that pre-med students care about most.
Facebook.com/PreMedLife
3 Must-Have Tips for Getting into Medical School | 20 Doctor writes about his new book and what he thinks it takes to get into medical school
2013 Summer Programs for Pre-Meds| 30
Over 30 pages of summer programs for pre-med students. From research internships to MCAT prep classes, programs are available in California, Florida, New York, and many more locations.
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 3
publisher from the
PREMEDLIFE the lifestyle magazine for premedical students www.premedlife.com
Publisher/CEO | Sheema Prince Executive Director/COO | Jonathan Pearson EVP, Operations | Monique Terc Executive Editor | Njeri McKenzie
Creative Commons/Flickr by CollegeDegrees360
Managing Editor | Monica Lee Digital Editor | Donald Gibbons Contributing Writers | Dr. Chad Rudnick Production Coordinator | Shawn Klein Social Media Manager | Tammy Li Editorial Intern | Samuel Montes
WHAT KIND OF PRE-MED ARE
YOUWHENNOONE ISWATCHING? Each year, thousands of individuals apply to medical school in hopes that they'll get the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of becoming a doctor. But how many of these individuals have really put in what it takes to gain admission to medical school? Driven by pure determination and passion, there are those individuals who, when no one is watching, spends time plugging away at extra problems, makes the decision to sacrifice free time for study time, and goes that extra mile, not only day after day, but year after year. The popular adage, "champions are made when no one is watching," goes for successful pre-meds too! Individuals who work hard (or are just incredibly smart) to get through tough pre-requisite courses and spend months studying for the MCAT know that their hard work will pay off in the end. Nowadays, the super-competitive pre-med culture has students often getting caught up with how their peers are performing. So, today, I want to send a shout out to the pre-meds who are working their butts off to gain admission to medical school even when no one is watching them - completing unassigned problems, checking out an issue of Scientific American or the Tuesday edition of The New York Times - not doing something because they were told to do it or because one of their peers are doing it. A lot can be said for a pre-med who doesn't talk a lot about what they're doing but just does it! Their chance to showcase their passion for wanting to become a doctor and one day practice medicine is coming and they're not going to take a chance on blowing. So as you continue to embark on your journey to becoming a doctor, it is important to remember that what you do when no one is watching may mean the difference between getting in or not.
Sheema
Sheema Prince
Publisher tprince@premedlife.com
4 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
Find us on Twitter @premedlife Find us on Facebook.com/premedlife Here’s How To Reach Us: Kisho Media, LLC P.O. Box 7049 New York, NY 10116 Main Office (347) 231 - 6429
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Advertising Questions? Email us at advertise@premedlife.com PreMedLife magazine is published six times per year by Kisho Media, LLC. and copies are provided to select 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 admissions process and related topics. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs, artwork, and images 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. To reach us by phone call (347) 231-6429 or email us at info@premedlife.com.
student advisor y board THE PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD IS AN EXEMPLARY GROUP OF PREMED STUDENTS from a variety of backgrounds who have a wide range of accomplishments. They will help keep us informed about what we need to know to make PreMedLife magazine the go-to resource for aspiring doctors. If you have any questions for any of our board members email us at info@premedlife.com >>>
Diana Altamirano
Alexandra Massa Neuroscience @ Stonehill College Alexandra is currently a volunteer at her local hospital’s emergency department. She is interested in providing care to third-world countries where access to medical supplies are limited.
Linda Mukumbuta
Post Baccalaureate @ Georgia Gwinnett College Diana is a non-traditional student with a business degree. She is currently taking science classes as a pre-med post-baccalaureate student.
Biology & Public Health @ University of Texas, San Antonio Linda is a 19-year-old junior who is currently affiliated with 4 pre-med organizations. She says a career in medicine is truly her calling in life.
Tamara Edgin
Tiffany Que-Smith
Biology @ University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Tamara is currently working towards an associates degree and plans to transfer to Lyon College, a four-year university.
Art & Design @ San Jose State University Tiffany is a non-traditional student who translates her thoughts into art which luckily for her, is extremely helpful when studying.
Jaime Garcia
Touria Rguig
International Economics @ University of Washington Jamie is the first in his family to attend college. He has gained experience in the medical field and is currently an emergency room volunteer.
Biochemistry @ University of Texas, Austin Touria is a honors student who speaks 6 languages. She’s also an author on a research paper published in Synthetic Metals Journal.
Ola Hadaya
Will Smith
Middle Eastern Studies @ Rutgers University, New Brunswick Ola is a 17-year-old student who is in the process of applying to medical school. She speaks 3 languages.
Post Baccalaureate @ California State University, Sacramento Will is a non-traditional pre-med student with a degree in comparative religion. He has worked as an ER tech.
Chesha Hayter
Chandler Stisher
Biomedical @ Southern Oregon University Chesha is a non-traditional student and a mother, who after starting her education later in life has learned many things.
Biology @ University of Texas, Austin Chandler is the first in his family to attend a 4-year university and has had aspirations of becoming a doctor since he was 11 years old.
Hillary Lee
Marina Zeledon
Neural Science @ New York University Hillary will start on the pre-med tract in Fall 2012. She says her transition from Missouri is an experience she can share to help others like herself.
Biology @ Potsdam State University Marina likes to read, research, and talk about medical school journeys with current doctors. She is on her school’s equestrian team and has a strong passion to become a doctor.
6 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
THE TWEET PEEK FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.COM @PREMEDLIFE FOR DAILY UPDATES LIKE THESE PREMED DECOR Test tube lamp = when HGTV meets your chemistry lab pic.twitter.com/6brkqz1m PC LOVE Young Doctors in Love... with Primary Care! boston.com/lifestyle/heal... REALITY MD Time Article: Shock and Awe: Dispatches from a First-Year Med Student healthland.time.com/2012/09 /14/sho... PREMED WORKOUT Hey NYC #premeds, get those juices flowin’ to your brain...@thafitnessgroup Better Than #Bootcamp starts Oct. 2 thafitnessgroup.com CHILD’S PLAY “Sesame Street” has Muppet doctor in the neighborhood ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/...pic.twitter.com /nLRf9Fb5 STUDENT VIEWS #MedSchool Students Need Second Opinion About #ObamaCare news.investors.com/ibd-editorials...
PREMEDLIFE
CAMPUS EDITION Want a unique leadership opportunity to add to your medical school application? Now you can apply to be CEO/Editorin-Chief of the PreMedLife Campus Edition at your school. WHO: You WHAT: As CEO/Editor-in-Chief, you are talked with putting together a staff, producing content, and publicizing your edition on campus - running your own online magazine that is a part of the PreMedLife network. WHERE: Your high school, college, or university. WHEN: The application deadline for Spring 2013 launches is Feb. 1 WHY: Running your own campus edition of PreMedLife magazine will provide you with a unique leadership opportunity that will surly help you stand out from the rest of the crowd.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.premedlife.com ‘Start Campus Edition’ Deadline for our SPRING 2013 LAUNCH
FEBRUARY 1
NEWSBITES
>>> Recent news & information relevant to students applying to medical school
New Study: Short, Mid-Day Nap Improves Med Students Performance Students who take a 20-minute nap during the day can improve their cognitive functioning, according to a study conducted by researchers from Stony Brook University. The results of the study are consistent with previous sleep studies which suggest the potential benefits of catching a few zzz's during the day. The study, led by researchers from Stony Brook University, was designed to test whether or not a short, mid-day nap during normal daytime duty hours would prove beneficial for internal medicine residents by making them feel less sleepy and improving their cognitive functioning. Involved in the study were 37 first-year residents who were divided into two groups: a nap group and a rest group. To measure their attention levels during the study, researchers connected all of the residents to a device designed to monitor how often their eyes rolled, an indication for attention failures. Then, in the middle of the day, both groups took a test called the Conner's Continuous Performance Test to evaluate their cognitive functioning and afterwards were instructed to sit in a reclining chair designed for napping. Next, residents in the nap group slept for up to 20 minutes and the study authors chatted with residents in the non-nap group to prevent them from going to sleep. Immediately afterwards, residents from both groups took the Conner's Continuous Performance Test again. Until the end of the day, the study authors recorded the residents' attention failures monitored by the special sleep device. When the study authors compared the outcomes of the two groups, they found that a short, mid-day nap improved cognitive functioning and alertness
Creative Commons/Flickr by RelaxingMusic
Researchers say catching a few zzz’s in the middle of the day could help medical students perform better on a cognitive level. The results add to a growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of napping
among first-year internal medicine residents. "We found that, compared with the resting-but-awake residents, the residents who actually napped experienced fewer attention failures during their work later in the day as determined by a monitor of SEMs," the authors wrote. "Further, we found that, compared with controls who rested by stayed awake for 20 minutes, residents who had the opportunity to nap for a maximum of 20 minutes demonstrated a faster reaction time and made fewer error of omission and commission as determined by a validated test of cognitive functioning." The study author's acknowledged a few limitations of their study and noted that they did not
take into account two factors which may have played a role in the outcome: caffeine intake and workload. "Despite its limitations, our study demonstrates the potential benefit of a short, mid-day nap for residents and highlights the need for further research to address the effect of a mid-day nape on the quality of patient care, resident education, and longer work shifts," the authors concluded. The results of this study were first presented at the Sleep Health and Safety meeting of the National Sleep Foundation in March 2011 and were published in the October 2012 issue of Academic Medicine. „
Physician Burnout Varies Among Specialties Doctors in certain specialties are at a greater risk for experiencing burnout than those practicing in other areas, according to a national study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. The study, led by researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the American Medical Association, surveyed over 7,000 physicians to examine their experiences with burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance. Overall, the findings of the survey revealed that relative to the general U.S. population, burnout is more common among physicians than workers in other fields.
Compared with a group of working U.S. adults, physicians were more likely to have symptoms of burnout (37.9% compared to 27.8%) and to be dissatisfied with work-life balance (40.2% compared to 23.3%). Furthermore, researchers reported that physicians in specialties at the "front line" of care access (family medicine, general internal medicine, and emergency medicine) seem to be at greater risk for burnout. In addition, compared with high school graduates, individuals with an MD or DO degree were at increased risk for burnout, whereas individuals
8 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
with a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or professional or doctoral degree other than an MD or DO degree were at lower risk for burnout. "Our finding is concerning given the extensive literature linking burnout to medical errors and lower quality of care," study author Dr. Tait Shanafelt of the Mayo Clinic told Time.com. "Most previous studies of physicians from individual specialties have suggested a burnout rate of 30% to 40%. Thus, the prevalence of burnout among physicians appears to be higher than in the past."„
NEWSBITES
Creative Commons/Flickr by theurchiness
Growing Number Want to Become MDs
MCAT Writing Section Eliminated Starting in 2013 Earlier this year, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) announced the approval of the new MCAT exam, with changes set to go into effect beginning in 2015. Now, the AAMC has revised its plans and says that the Writing Sample section of the MCAT will be removed from the current test in 2013. According to an update announcement on the AAMC's web site, for test-takers who plan to take the MCAT in 2013 or 2014, the current exam will be modified and the Writing Sample section will no longer be part of the exam. In its place, a voluntary, un-scored trial section will be added start-
ing in January 2013. The trial section will include 32 new questions in either biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physics or in psychology, sociology, and biology. For test-takers who volunteer to complete this trial section, the AAMC says examinees will have the opportunity to not only preview content that medical school admissions officer want applicants to know, they will also receive the following for putting forth a good-faith effort: a $30 Amazon.com Gift Card claim code and feedback on their performance that will allow them to compare themselves to others who also participated in the Trial Section.
The number of students who are applying to and enrolling in medical school continues to increase, according to data recently released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The data shows that in 2012, 45,266 students applied to medical school, a 3.1% jump from 2011. Moreover, first-time applicants and first-time enrollment increased in 2012, 3.4 and 1.5 percent respectively. "Medicine continues to be a very attractive career choice for our nation's best and brightest," Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., AAMC president and CEO stated in the press release announcing the data. "Given the urgent need our nation has for more doctors to care for our growing and aging population, we are extremely pleased with the continued growth in size and diversity of this year's entering class of medical students." Here are some additional highlights of the new data: • In 2012, applicants had strong academic credentials, with an average undergraduate GPA of 3.54 and combined median MCAT score of 29. • In 2012, 4 percent of the entering class were students from one of the 11 new medical schools that admitted their inaugural class between 2007 and 2012. • The number of men applying to and enrolling in medical school increased across all racial and ethnic groups, with strong gains among Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latino. • Asian applicants increased by 5.6 percent and enrollees by 5 percent.
TALK
Med School Scholarships Offered to Multicultural Women turally sensitive patient-centered care. In these challenging economic times, the Go Red Multicultural Scholarship Fund will help ensure the continued success of a diverse group of young women in their healthcare education journey," said Dr. Jennifer Mieres, Senior Vice President, Office of Community and Public Health, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for North Shore - LIJ Health System and American Heart Association Go Red For Women spokesperson. Deadline for entry is November 30, 2012. For more information visit GoRedForWomen.org/GoRedScholarship.
10 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
@premedlife
The American Heart Association has announced that through its Go Red For Women initiative, it is offering scholarships to multicultural women interesting in pursing medicine as a career. Through the Go Red Multicultural Scholarship Fund, sixteen second year women pursuing higher education in health care will be awarded $2,500 to ease the burden of tuition hikes during these rough economic times and increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine. "The recruitment of talented diverse young women into the healthcare field is a critical step in the delivery of quality, cul-
There may be more medical school graduates than residency positions by 2015 ow.ly/eF4mc #premed #medschool Barbie as you’ve never seen her before: Anatomical sculpture reveals how doll’s insides dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2... Biologist Names New Genus of Ferms after @ladygaga RT @AAMCtoday More than 45,000 students (45,266) applied to attend #medschool in 2012, an increase of 3.1% bit.ly/TQrUbt Khan Academy for Organic Chemistry Part 5 goo.gl/fb/nP6ux
NEWSBITES
Survey Shows Med Students Worry Most About Debt
MEDICAL SCHOOL PIPELINE Here’s a list of new medical schools that are being developed in the U.S.
NORTHSTATE & CUALIFORNIA NIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Rancho Cordova, California Opening Summer 2013
ESTERN MICHIGAN & WUNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
Creative Commons/Flickr by Tax Credits
MEDICINE
Kalamazoo, Michigan Opening Fall 2014
BEACH MEDICAL & PCALM OLLEGE Palm Beach, Florida Opening Fall 2015
Medical students are most concerned about paying off their student debt than they were five years ago, according to a recent national survey. The survey, which involved 1,015 students from more than 160 medical schools across the country, was conducted by the health information technology company Epocrates. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the average student debt is $162,000 for allopathic students and $205,674 for osteopathic medicine students. The results revealed that 45% of students surveyed cited the cost of their medical education at the top challenge, followed by the
amount of information that they are required to learn during their training. The students were also asked about their concerns going forward as future physicians. Fifty-three percent of the students responded that being a "good" physician was among their greatest concern, whereas 47% cited balancing work and personal life, and 30% expressed concerns about paying off their student loans. Erica Sniad Morgenstern, a spokesperson for Epocrates, explained that "overall, students ranked their medical school experiences as positive, but many said they would like to have more direct contact with patients and more education about the business side of medicine."
TOP CONCERNS OF MEDICAL STUDENTS
MEDICINE
Riverside, California Anticipated Fall 2012
MICHIGAN & CUENTRAL NIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Mount Pleasant, Michigan Anticipated Fall 2012
& COOPER MEDICAL SCHOOL OF
ROWAN UNIVERSITY
Camden, New Jersey Anticipated Fall 2012
NIVERSITY OF SOUTH & UCAROLINA SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE, GREENVILLE
Concern
2007
2012
Being a good physician Balancing work and personal life Paying off student loans Facing medical liability lawsuits/insurance premiums Handling administrative tasks
29% 53% 17% 15% 15%
53% 47% 30% 16% 16%
Source: "7th Annual Future Physicians of American Survey," Epocrates, Sept. 13
NIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, & URIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF
Greenville, South Carolina Anticipated Fall 2012
& QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
North Haven, Connecticut Anticipated Fall 2013 or 2014 UPDATED 6/2012
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 11
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Brand New Med School Gets Okay To Open Its Doors
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Want to be in PreMedLife magazine? Here are some of the stories we’re working on MEDICAL SCHOOL INTERVIEW STORIES Did you ace your medical school interview and want to share your experience? We’d love to hear from you.
UC Riverside School of Medicine/Peter Phun
ENTREPRENEURIAL PREMEDS Calling all premed entrepreneurs! Have you started your own business? We want to hear from you!
The LCME, a national accrediting agency, has granted The University of California, Riverside (UCR) "preliminary accreditation" essentially giving the school the okay to move forward with its planned medical school. "This is a momentous decision for Inland Southern California and for UC Riverside," said UCR Chancellor Timothy P. White. "This medical school is critically needed to address our region's physician shortage and stimulate the local economy. Our community has been superb in its support of this project and on so many occasions community members have come together on this transformative and challenging effort. We simply could not have reached this point without that support." According to the press release announcing the news, this was UCR's second attempt to gain accreditation for an independent, four-year medical school. In Summer 2011, the LCME withheld preliminary accreditation due to a lack of recurring state funding support for the school. Fortunately, however, after the school managed to secure new funding from various sources and reapplied, they were reconsidered for accreditation. The school announced that it will immediately begin recruiting students for its first class entering in August 2013.
INSPIRING PHYSICIAN Do you know a physician who is doing amazing things? Tell us how you know that person and what makes them so amazing CALL FOR OP-EDS Are you passionate about something? Pitch us your idea for an op-ed piece and we’ll let you know if we’re interested in having you write it up for the magazine. PERSONAL STORIES Do you have a personal story that you think would make an interesting read for premeds? In the past we’ve featured a medical student juggling school and motherhood and a premed’s internship experience. We’d love to hear your story.
Email us at info@premedlife.com
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 13
WORKING AS A PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIAN HAS GOTTEN A BAD RAP OVER THE YEARS. HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS AND HOW THINGS MAY BE CHANGING FOR THE BETTER
the NEW primary care
PHYSICIAN W
ith talk about the Affordable Care Act ruling and its effect on the shortage of physicians in this country, a lot of attention has been placed on one type of health care provider in particular - primary care physicians. According to the Association of American Medical College's Center for Workforce Studies, by 2020, "there will be 45,000 too few primary care physicians in this country". And while the AAMC's report explained that "both an aging U.S. population and greater number of insured drives demand for physician care," it is also important to point out that medical students aren’t exactly lining up for careers in primary-care medicine.
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@ Depositphotos.com/doodko
By 2020, there will be 45,000 too few primary care physicians in this country
Creative Commons/Flickr by revbean
Lower pay is often cited as one of the most common reasons students choose not to pursue careers in primary-care Let's face it, working as a health care professional in primary care medicine has not gotten the best rap lately and with the media focusing on why so many medical students are not choosing primarycare medicine, we sometimes forget about why some medical students do choose to practice in the field (and enjoy it). Almost like it would be featured on the show "Dirty Jobs" - it's a dirty job, somebody's gotta do it - those considering a career in medicine are constantly bombarded with the negative side of primary-care medicine and unfortunately, early on, many aspiring physicians are turn off from a career as a primary-care doctor. Some common misbeliefs about being a primary-care physicians discourage them from the field, pushing them to pursue other specialties. So, we wanted to shed light on some of the most common misconceptions that surround having a career as a primary care physician. THE SALARY SUCKS. Lower pay is often cited as one of the most common reasons students choose not to pursue careers in primary-care medicine. While the primary care-specialty income gap has been a concern of many students making decision on which direction to take their career, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A recent report published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reveals that new methods for paying primary-care physicians may soon help increase their pay. According to the group's report, the average earnings for primary-care physicians increased around 5.2%, which translates to a faster jump than those of specialists. "There appears to be a growing focus on primary-care providers in anticipation of new methodologies in payment, a focus on coordination of care, and the imperative to control utilization and costs in the system," Dr. Michael Nochomovitz, president of University Hospitals Physician Services in Cleveland, said in an MGMA news release. "There is increasing employment of physicians by integrated delivery systems and hospitals, which may also explain these shifts in compensation for primary-care physicians." Nowadays, primary-care physicians are being offered attractive hiring incentives. According to the same MGMA salary report, slightly more primary-care physicians than specialty care physicians reported receiving a signing bonus in their contract. Moreover, according to the Fact Sheet: Creating Jobs and Increasing the Number of Primary Care Providers, a few provisions are in place to encourage and educate more physicians to practice in primary care, including:
9Expanding tax benefits to health professionals working in underserved areas: In addition to the incentives provided by the Department of Labor and Education to pursue primary care as a profession, the Department of Treasury is responsible
“Let's face it, working as a health care professional in primary care medicine has not gotten the best rap lately and with the media focusing on why so many medical students are not choosing medicine, we sometimes forget about why some medical students do choose to practice in the field (and enjoy it).� for providing tax benefits to students. The Affordable Care Act includes a provision that excludes from taxes the value of student loans that were repaid or forgiven because the individual worked in certain health professions, including primary care.
borrowers after July 1, 2014, by capping payments at 10 percent of their discretionary income (down from 15 percent) and forgiving loans after 20 years (down from 25 years). Public sector employees will still have their loans forgiven after 10 years.
9Building
So while primary-care physicians may not make as much as their colleagues in higher-paying specialties, there are a number of incentives in place now - and set to be put in place in the future - that have the potential to make salary more of a non-factor when medical students are deciding on pursuing the field or not.
9Making
A WORK-LIFE BALANCE DOESN'T EXIST. Due to required work hours and patient care duties, many students believe that practicing as a primary-care physician is pretty much a death sentence for their personal lives. And while the factors influencing medical students' career choices were once unclear, studies have now shown that this is indeed the belief. In 2008, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical
primary care capacity through Medicare and Medicaid: Medicare will provide a 10 percent bonus payment for primary care provided by qualified physicians from 2011-2015. In addition, Medicaid payment rates to primary care physicians will be increased in 2013 and 2014 to at least 100 percent of associated Medicare rates. health care education more accessible: Many individuals in health professions are eligible for generous student loan forgiveness programs under current Department Education programs. This includes Public Sector Loan Forgiveness, which allows individuals in eligible jobs to have their loans forgiven after 10 years. The Affordable Care Act expands the existing incomebased student loan repayment program for new
16 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
Creative Commons/Flickr by Thirteen of Clubs
Many doctors, not just primary-care physicians, find the administrative duties a burden when it comes to their jobs
Association found that graduating students had serious reservations about the quality of life and rewards of the field compared with other specialties. For students who wish to go into primary-care medicine and rank quality of life high on their list of priorities, there is a way to have both. Now more than ever, to attract and increase their primary-care workforce, employers are giving significant attention to work-life balance and advertising their primary care openings as those that offer flexible scheduling in order to help physicians achieve a work-life balance. According to an article posted on the American Medical Association's Web site, recruiters are now offering great incentives to attract physicians including, flexible work schedules and shorter workweeks. For example, in an job advertisement seeking a primary-care physician, the Veterans Health Administration says most of their professionals enjoy a Monday thru
Friday from 8-4pm schedule with little to no on-call expectations. And this is not the only place making such offers - hundreds of employers across the country are answering demands from primary-care physicians who are seeking the same perks and benefits their colleagues receive in other specialties. THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN IS CRAZY Ask any doctor, primary-care or not, about an aspect of their job that they are less enthused about and the answer will most likely be unanimous - paperwork. One study revealed that physicians reported spending almost a half hour each day, three hours each week, and three weeks per month interacting with health plans aka being consumed with paperwork. Furthermore, primary care physicians spend significantly more time (3.5 hours weekly) than other medical specialists (2.6 hours) or surgical specialists (2.1 hours). Fortunately, however,
18 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
many have taken notice of the challenge these physicians face as they battle with completing paperwork and spending time with their patients. The change may come by way of an Affordable Care Act provision that is designed to "cut red tape in the health care system." According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the new rule - which involves getting rid of the inefficient manual process associated with paperwork and brining in the use of electronic system - will not only save health care providers and health insurance companies money, but also allow physician offices to redirect time now spent on administrative tasks to patient care. "This is only the beginning of our efforts to cut out waste and inefficiency in our health care system and free dedicated doctors, nurses, and caregivers to focus their time and efforts on keeping patients healthy, treating illness, and restoring health." „
Premed / Pre-Health / Post Bacc Electives & Study Abroad in Africa
A F R I C A
Our program offers the following: Ø Opportunity for early exposure to medicine Ø A unique way to demonstrate intent and interest in medical school application Ø See healthcare delivery in a different setting Ø Cultural exchange and an appreciation of other cultures, including a Safari to famous Maasai Mara if placed in Kenya
info@electiveafrica.com
www.electiveafrica.com
Elective Africa's Premed / Pre-Health / Post Bacc program offers well structured and well supervised placements for Premed / Pre-Health / Post Bacc students seeking to study abroad, get independent study and be involved in experiential learning or volunteer programs in Africa.
Medical Programs
Safari to Masai Mara
Ø Student electives ð Surgery, Pediatrics, General Medicine, Obstetrics
& Gynecology, Emergency & Critical Care, Dentistry Ø Premed programs Ø Public health research Ø Medical camps Ø Nursing Ø Midwifery Ø Physician Assistant
“Doing a medical elective in Kenya was an eye opening experience. I got to see the developing world health system and range of tropical diseases not normally prevalent in Australia. It was a really hands on experience. I got to learn and perform skills like administering injections, catheters and suturing patients. I was also able to take part in the examining, differentials, diagnosing and formulating treatment plans. The highlight for me would have to be the amazing new friends I have made and the motivation I have taken back home. I would recommend this program to anyone considering it.” Cassanne Eccleston Charles Sturt University Australia, August 2010
http://www.electiveafrica.com
GETTING IN From the author of The Ultimate Guidebook For Getting Into Medical School...
3 Tips for Getting Into Medical School The commonality between star athletes, championship teams, and award winning singers and actors is coaching. In order to reach one's peak potential, we must have guidance, be it written or spoken to help direct us towards achieving our goals. Becoming a doctor takes hard work and dedication.
There will be many nights spent staring at open textbooks, but for all of the long hours and extra help sessions, there is no way I would go back and change my dream of becoming a doctor. I have found that most pre-medical students lack any type of pre-med coach and thus will often fail to have an undergraduate experience which puts them in the best position for medical school. When I began to write The Ultimate Guidebook For Getting Into Medical School, it was with the intention to help pre-med students who are often left to figure out the intricacies of being a strong candidate for medical school. No matter how much "insider" information students hear from their friends, having a guide to get you through the premedical years is invaluable. My hope is that The Ultimate Guidebook For Getting Into Medical School will help be your coach to help aid you in gaining a competitive advantage in your goal of getting into medical school and becoming a doctor. So here are three tips to getting into medical school:
TIP #1: RECOGNIZE THAT YES, THE MCAT IS IMPORTANT! If there is one area that is most crucial, most utterly important for acceptance to a top tier medical school (or any medical school for that matter), it's the MCAT. The MCAT is now a 5 ½ hour computer-based exam testing physical science, biological science, verbal reasoning, and writing skills. The biological science, verbal reasoning, and physical science sections are each scored scale from 1 to 15, with a perfect score equaling 45. For the first time in my career, I can say that back in my day, I took the MCAT with a pencil,
scantron, and giant test booklet filled with the questions that would essentially determine one's candidacy for medical school. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reported the average score in 2011 for students in the United States who completed the MCAT was between 26.0 and 30.1. Additionally, the average MCAT score for students who entered medical school in 2011 according to the AAMC was 31.1. The question that is always asked by undergraduate college students is what score they need to get into medical school. The truth is, there no magic
20 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
ASK AN EXPERT PREMED COACHING COUNTS Having a guide to get you through the pre-med years is invaluable
number that guarantees acceptance. Every medical school applicant has heard stories or myths of a 4.0 college student who scored a 42 on their MCAT but didn't get into medical school. My response to that myth is to ask the question, "Are they really telling the truth?" If so, what on their application stands out so blatantly poor that they would not be granted admission to medical school? The reality is that you do need to score highly on the MCAT if you want your application to appear strong enough on paper so that you will be invited to an interview for medical school admission. When I was in college, there was another rumor that circulated amongst the pre-medical students on campus that an MCAT score of 30 would be a "magic" number to be invited to a least a few interviews. While many would subscribe to this rumor, it really is not true. A score of 30 has become much more commonplace at competitive medical schools and a score above 30, along with a strong application, letters of recommendation, and personal statement are now the norm. Admissions directors typically say that the MCAT score is not the sole reason why students are invited or rejected for an interview. Truth be told, there still is a cutoff point where schools typically will not invite students to interview if their scores fall below an arbitrary mark. Unfortunately, no one will admit
Creative Commons/Flickr by CollegeDegrees360
By Chad Rudnick, MD
what that number is, but searching online for average class MCAT scores for the schools you are interested in applying will give you the idea of what caliber of students are typically accepted to a particular school.
TIP #2 DON’T TAKE THE APPLICATION LIGHTLY. In addition to the MCAT score, all parts of your medical school application should be considered supremely important. Having an outstanding application, complete with a high GPA, great letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, a phenomenal personal statement, leadership experience, research experience, and publications can together make up for an MCAT score which may not be as high as you would like. There is no sure combination of MCAT score, grades, extracurricular activities, research, etc. that will guarantee your admission into medical school. Every student's application is viewed in its entirety, assuming they meet minimum GPA and MCAT requirements. Excelling, not just getting by with mediocrity, at each of the parts of the application should ensure that you are invited to interview at several programs across the country. There are very few students who are invited for medical interviews and even fewer students who are granted admission to medical school who do not have a résumé that boasts a number of extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and volunteer hours. Your extracurricular activities should also help tell medical school admission boards a little more about yourself prior to them reading your personal statement and inviting you for an interview. While it is nice to be a member of many different student associations on campus, it looks even better if you have held a leadership role within that organization. This helps medical school admission committees realize that along with a busy college course schedule you are able to also handle the responsibilities that go along with being a leader in a student run organization. There are a number of student run organizations in medical school. There is everything from medical specialty interest groups, such as cardiology, surgery, or pediatrics, to groups focused more on organized medicine and the future of the medical profession as a whole, like the American Medical Association (AMA). Many of the faculty, with whom you will be interviewing, serve as advisors to student-run interest groups. They often like to recommend students for admission who they think will not only perform well in the classroom, but will also help to give back to the school and medical profession as a whole through their involvement with medical school student run organizations.
Your time in college will be full of free time, regardless of your major and course load. It is important to spend free time doing things you love, but also important to volunteer your time helping an organization. Volunteer hours are not something that you get paid for, so your summer job tutoring freshman in calculus or working as a lifeguard does not count as volunteer work, but does count as work experience on your résumé. While most applications for medical school will not make volunteer work a requirement, I doubt there have been many medical students in the last 10 years who did not have a single volunteer hour on their medical school resume.
FACT OR FICTION: All volunteer hours need to be done at a hospital or in a patient care setting if you want to get into medical school. Fiction: While it is always nice to have patient care experience while you are in college, it is about time spent volunteering with any charity or cause that is important. However, students should note that many medical schools would prefer their students to have some clinical exposure prior to acceptance into medical school. After all, how do you know you if a career as a physician is for you if you have had zero exposure to it prior to medical school?
TIP #3 FIND COACHES TO HELP GUIDE YOU AND BRING OUT THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES . Chances are you know someone, be they in your family, friends, or professors who will be able to help you with different parts of your applications. This can be as simple as reviewing your résumé or reading your personal statement for grammar errors. I encourage students to utilize as many coaches as they can in as many forms as possible. Students need to research MCAT preparation materials and whether you use a live review course or a review book, you should have a coach of some form. MCAT review courses can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the type of review that the student wishes to have. While the cost of a review course may seem expensive, remember, medical school is a commitment of your time and money. The cost of a review course, along with other sources of information to help boost your application pales in comparison to the cost of medical school. Start
saving money now to help yourself afford the best review materials. Coaches can also serve as writers of your letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation can be difficult to obtain, especially if you don't have contact with your professors outside of a being a face in a lecture hall or a physician that you shadow. Identify potential writers for your letters of recommendation early in the semester and follow up with them throughout the semester by attending several office hour sessions. A tip I give to college students is to only ask for a letter of recommendation from a professor if you are going to earn an A in their class and be sure to follow up with a hand written thank you note once your letter is complete. Other options to serve as your coaches along with The Ultimate Guidebook For Getting Into Medical School is information available via the Association of American Medical Colleges (www.aamc.org) and articles in PreMedLife magazine. You are already on your way to becoming the next great physician in your city, state, and even the country. As a world renowned expert in your medical field, you will be involved in cutting edge research and will be providing the best evidencebased care for your patients. I applaud you for taking one of the first steps toward your goal of becoming a doctor and becoming a part of the greatest and most rewarding profession in the world (yes, I am biased). In 2011, there were nearly 44,000 applicants to medical schools in the United States. Of the nearly 44,000 students who applied, a little more than 19,000 were accepted into a medical school program in the United States. You don't need a PhD in mathematics to understand that earning an acceptance into medical school is no easy task. Having a plan and starting to prepare yourself early will help you gain a competitive advantage over other students who are also vying to get into medical school. These are just a few of tips and tricks found in The Ultimate Guidebook For Getting Into Medical School which along with your hard work aims to help boost your candidacy for medical school. DR. CHAD RUDNICK is a pediatric resident at Miami Children's Hospital. He is the author of The Ultimate Guidebook For Getting Into Medical School. Dr. Rudnick maintains a pediatric based blog and is a frequent lecturer to pre-medical high school and college students. More information can be found on his web site at www.DrChadRudnick.com
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 21
@ Depositphotos.com/ampyang
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How will you
CONNECT
?
You might think that medical school admissions committees care most about how well you did in your pre-requisite courses, what your scores were on the MCAT, and participation in research projects or volunteer experiences, but they are really interested in something more.
W
hen you strip away your grades and your test scores, who are you? Beyond how you have presented yourself to be on paper, medical school admissions officers are not only interested in getting to know the "real you" but also use the interview process to determine whether or not you
will ultimately be a "good fit" for their school. According to a study published in the American Association of Medical College's Analysis in Brief, data show that medical schools use the interview, almost exclusively, to assess applicants' personal characteristics. Holding so much weight, after academic and test performance, it goes without saying that the medical school interview is an opportunity that you don't want to blow.. >>>
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 23
Making a connection with your medical school
If you've made it to the part of the admissions process where you're offered an interview, the admissions committee already thinks you may have what it takes to snag a spot in the next year's entering class, but now it’s your job to make it happen and make that spot yours. While there are many factors that go into acing your medical school admissions interview, making a connection with your interviewer can be the key to a successful interview. Many things can come from making a connection with your interviewer. Not only will making a connection give you the opportunity breathe life into your application, it will provide you with a way to standout from other applicants. Establishing a connection with your interviewer can be the key to succeeding during one of the most important parts of the admissions process. So here are some ways to connect with your medical school interviewer:
Make A Great First (and Lasting) Impression.
It is important to understand that what stands in between you and your acceptance to medical school may very well be your interviewer. So it pretty much goes without saying that you're going to want to make an impression on them - and it needs to be a good one! From the first 30 seconds of your interview, you need to make everything you do count. Studies have shown that in a general setting, interviewees are judged according to their early rapport with the interviewer, even when a highly structured interview format like for some medical school interviews is followed. Traditional medical school admission interviews, like those similar to a typical job interview, give applicants a chance to make lasting impressions even after the first 30 seconds. Unfortunately, however, with an increasing number of medical school adopting the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) as part of their admission process, with this style of interview the window of opportunity for applicants to show who they are beyond the answers they give is limited. From greeting your interviewer with a firm (but not aggressive) handshake to making eye contact during the initial introduction, your actions will set the stage for a positive experience. Let this initial interaction be your opportunity to plug into an outlet of confidence that will stay with you throughout the interview. As you move in to greet your interviewer and shake their hand, let this action be the trigger that reminds you to be confident. You've worked hard to make it to this point in the process and having confidence in yourself will resonate through the responses
you give during your interview. And let's not forget your appearance. If you think that your interviewer cares more about what your say than how you look - you're wrong. Whether you want to believe it or not, (and whether not they'll admit it or not) you will be judged based on your appearance. Making a great first impression starts as soon as your interviewer lays eyes on you so it is important that you show your interviewer that you care so much about the opportunity to meet with them that you put time and effort into your appearance. All in all, the impression you leave on your medical school interviewer plays a pretty significant role in your overall success during the interview, so remain aware of the impression you're giving off at all times during your interview.
Watch Your Body Language. You've heard it plenty of times before, "Actions speak louder than words" and when it comes time for your medical school admissions interview the case remains the same. Going hand in hand with making a great impression on your interviewer, your actions, or body language and gestures, can tell your interviewer things about you even when you're not saying a word. From the way you sit in your seat to how you place your hands when speaking, your body language can speak volumes and can literally drown out what actually you're saying if drastic enough. While it may seem like just another "thing" you have to think about during your interview, your body language is part of the package deal so it is quite important to make sure that you're using your body language to connect with your interviewer in the most positive way possible. As you try to connect with your interviewer through your body language, don't try too hard - it will be obvious to your interviewer. Here are a few effective non-verbal communication tips for connecting with your interviewer to send them the right message about who you are: Nail the Handshake: While the handshake is a gesture that lasts about a millisecond, everybody remembers the handshake! As you see your interviewer and move in closer for the grab, your heart starts beating faster as you begin thinking "okay not too firm, not too weak" and then it happens. This very moment will help you set the stage for the rest of your interview. When you've nailed the handshake, strong and firm, you're confidence level will instantly jump so make sure you get it right. Watch Your Posture: From the moment you walk
24 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
Creative Commons/Flickr by Victor1558
admissions interviewer could mean the world of difference when it comes to standing out from all of the other applicants vying for a seat in a school’s next incoming class.
into the room to meet your interviewer, your posture should be on point and all you have to do is just keep you head up, this will help show that you are confident and ready to show them what you've got. But it doesn't stop there. Once you take your seat, you'll still need to be mindful of your posture. Search the Internet for the do's and don'ts of posture which may at first seem like small things but will mean a lot for creating the best experience for you. Make Eye Contact: Like it or not, making direct eye contact with your interviewer is a must. Not only does making eye contact show that you are interested in what your interviewer is saying, it shows that you are being an active listener. And while you're not trying to have a staring contest with your interviewer, it is okay to look away quickly but don't wait too long to reestablish contact. If you stare at your interviewer without ever looking away, don't you thing this will make them a bit uncomfortable? And making your interviewer uncomfortable is the last think that you'll want to do. Try to act as natural as possible while at the same time remembering what you're there to do, the impression you're trying to give and, the connection you want to make. These are just a few of the non-verbal factors that may play a significant role in how you ultimately will (or will not) connect in a positive and meaningful way with your interviewer. Do some research on interview body language tips and advice, you'll be glad you did.
Listen, Listen, Listen! It’s important to show your interviewer that you are a good listener. The easiest way to show your interviewer that you are listening to them is through your eye contact. But make sure that
you're actually listening to them and not just staring at them while thinking about a million and one other things. Even if you need your interviewer to repeat something they've asked because you want to make sure you understand them completely before responding, you probably shouldn't ask them to repeat themselves - this will make it seem like you were not listening. Instead, if you were listening as you should have been, repeat the question as you understood it and let them clarify any misunderstandings. Another reason it is important make sure you listen to everything your interviewer has to say is that it will make it much easier to make a connection later on. If given the opportunity to ask your own questions at the close of your interview, this is when you'll be able to make a great connection by mentioning something your interviewer may have said earlier on during your interview and asking them to talk a little bit more about that.
Go Ahead, Ask Questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. By asking questions, you can connect with your interviewer by showing that you are interested. Do you research about the school beforehand and come up with a few questions that you're genuinely interested in learning the answer to. If you ask questions about information that is already on the school's Web site, it will look like you're just
asking questions because you think that's just what you're supposed to do, not because you're really interested in whatever it is you're asking. And people like talking about themselves - ask your interviewer about what they like about the medical school. Check out the school's media page, have they been in the news lately? This would be a great opportunity to show that you've done your research and you're excited about learning more. To make yourself stand out figure out a way to ask questions that don't seem so generic, this will certainly help you make a connection with you interviewer as you engage in a conversation that will mostly likely not happen with other interviewees.
Make a Game Plan. Before your medical school admissions interview, make a mental note about what messages you would like to convey to your interviewer. As you compete with other prospective students who have, like you worked hard and done great things to get to this crucial point in the admissions process, you must find a way to sell yourself. Almost like a car salesperson who makes a point to point out a vehicle’s best and top features, think about three or four of your "key features" that you want to make sure your interviewer knows about. Even if you've mentioned your "key features" on your application or in
your personal statement, mention them again! The interview is your chance to maybe give a little more detail about whatever it is you're so proud of yourself about. And throughout your interview, keep your "key features" in mind and try to find the most natural way to take advantage of an opening that allows you to get your "key features" or messages about yourself to your interviewer.
Don't Forget to Smile. Yes, we know this is one of the most important interviewers of your life thus far, but don't be so serious. Go ahead, crack a smile from time to time during your interview, it can go a long way! A natural, not false or fake, smile can show your interviewer that you're friendly, open, and HUMAN. You want to show your interviewer that, as a future physician who's career will be based on interactions with others, that you have feelings and emotions, and what better gesture to display your human side with a smile! In such a competitive environment, like on the day of your medical school admissions interview, it is harder than ever to stand out from other applicants. When a genuine moment arises that warrants a smile, smile. You may be surprised at how applicants go through their entire interview stone-faced and too serious. And hey, maybe if your interviewer doesn't remember you for anything else, they'll remember you for your great smile.
get published. write for us
If you consider yourself a good writer and would like a chance to have your article published in an issue of PreMedLife Magazine, we’re looking for student writers to submit articles. From your personal experiences as a pre-med student to living everyday life as a college student, we want to share your story with our readers. Or if you need an idea to write about - we’ve got tons of them. For more information about writing for PreMedLife Magazine, visit our Web site at www.premedlife.com or email us at info@premedlife.com.
EXTRACUR
RICULAR THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES YOU CHOOSE CAN SAY A LOT ABOUT YOU TO MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSION COMMITTEES
The number of qualified students applying to medical school each year far exceeds the number of available seats. On top of that, among the pool of applicants are a great number who are the nation's best and brightest students. So, unless you've been living under a rock, you know that you'll need far more than just grades and test scores to earn a coveted spot at one of the nation's medical schools.
26 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
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n fact, one study conducted by the AAMC found that approximately eight percent of applicants with GPAs ranging from 3.80 to 4.00 and MCAT total scores ranging from 39 to 45 were rejected by all of the medical schools to which they applied. On the contrary, the same study revealed that about 18 percent of applicants with GPAs ranging from 3.20 to 3.39 and MCAT scores ranging from 24 to 26 were accepted by at least one school. In this super-competitive medical school admissions arena, you'll need to stand out from the crowd and your extracurricular activities could give you the competitive edge that means the difference between getting in or not. Extracurricular activities give medical schools a chance to see what you've done during your pre-med years outside lecture halls and other than studying for the MCAT. More than ever before, medical school admissions committees are putting more emphasis on recruiting students who, beyond having a strong academic background, are balanced, well-rounded students who will be a good fit for their school.
Creative Commons/Flickr by Neon Tommy
VOLUNTEERING/COMMUNITY SERVICE (MEDICAL):
The extracurricular activity most valued by medical schools is medical-related community services. And we're not just saying this. A reported published by the AAMC reported that after letter of recommendation, an applicants participation in medical-related community service was considered the next most important in deciding on not only if they would invite them to an interview but also if acceptance was offered. So, why is having this activity under your belt so important? For starters, altruism,
the unselfish concern for the welfare of others, is something that all physicians pledge to when they take the Hippocratic Oath, so wouldn't it be crazy for medical schools not to take this into account? And while your involvement in a medicalrelated community service activity can demonstrate the commitment and dedication valued in medical students and future physicians, it is important that your experience be meaningful. So your job is to make it count. You shouldn't be worried about whether or not you'll have enough extracurricular activities to impress admission committees, you should be more concerned with those which will foster meaningful experiences and outcomes. Not only will having meaningful experiences give you more depth as an applicant, it may even give you something to write about for your personal statement and give you stories to tell during your interview. There's no way to tell beforehand as to whether or not the activity you choose will be meaningful or not so it is important to give yourself enough time during your pre-med years to plan and manage your time accordingly. The first one or two activities you become involved in may not be the ones that you gain meaning from and it may very well be the next one that does. However, you don't want to be left at the end of your pre-med years with a long list of extracurricular activities that have meant nothing to you. In order to be successful in finding an extracurricular activity that has potential to become a meaningful experience, start by finding an activity you genuinely enjoy. Then try to find an activity that brings in the medical component. So, let's say you enjoy sports, you play on your school's team or you just love watching sports on TV - consider volunteering with the medical team at a sports medicine clinic in your area or with one of your school's athletic teams. Or, let's say you like working with kids and you're good in math, check out the inpatient pediatric department at your local hospital, you'll be sure to find an opportunity to volunteer as an academic tutor for the hospital's long-term patients. You get the point right? Put some thought into which activities you will ultimately commit your time to because this time is precious and can mean the difference in finding an experience that is just an experience and finding one that brings meaning to your pre-med life. To find a medical-
28 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
related volunteer/community service project, visit www.healthcarevolunteer.com to find an opportunity that is right for you. Examples of Volunteering/Community Service (Medical) Extracurricular Activities: Volunteering at a hospital or clinic to gain broad exposure to working within a health care setting Volunteering as a summer camp counselor working with children who are disabled Volunteering on an on-going basis with a blood bank to assist in various activities of the operation Volunteering as a member of a medical corps to help restore crisis-affected communities Volunteering as an emergency medical technician MEDICAL/CLINICAL WORK EXPERIENCE:
Creative Commons/Flickr by phalinn
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), a well-rounded sampling of extracurricular activities or work experience, both related and unrelated to medicine, will help broaden an applicant's knowledge and development. When it comes time to complete your AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) application, you have 15 spaces to enter your work/activities that you would like to highlight to medical schools. Aside from your potential to succeed academically, this is your chance to give medical schools up to 15 more reasons as to why they should invite you for an interview and ultimately offer you acceptance to their medical school. So now that we've told you what you probably already knew about the importance of extracurricular activities, the next thing you should know is that not all extracurricular activities are equal. Here are 5 extracurricular activities that every medical school admission committee wants to see on your application:
Why not take medicine for a test drive before committing the rest of your life to it? Aside from learning about what you like (and don't like) about medicine, gaining work experience in a medical/clinical setting shows medical school admission committees that you've seen what it's like to be a doctor, you've worked around them, you've gained a sense of what it is they do, and yes, your sure that this is what you want to do with your life. It will give you the opportunity to get a first-hand look at medicine and get a peek at what you're options are. Having medical/clinical work experience is more for you than it is for medical schools, they want to know that you
service activities towards addressing the priority health concerns of the community, region and/or nation that they have a mandate to serve.'
COMMUNITY SERVICE (NON-MEDICAL):
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE:
With non-medical community service activities comes an experience that will truly demonstrate your commitment and dedication to something that will do nothing other than foster your selfless tendencies. Different from being involved in a medical-related community service activity, like volunteering at a hospital or during a community health fair, donating your time to something that has absolutely nothing to do with you says a lot so, go ahead, rack up those hours, it will say a lot about your commitment to community and public service. Chances are, if you take a look at your top school's web site, you'll find that they are active and involved with community oriented service and projects. And in some cases, students are required to complete a certain number of hours of community service prior to graduation. According to an article published in The Clinical Teacher, the World Health Organization (WHO) expects all medical schools to 'direct their education, research and
ical schools, make sure that you're able to show why you'll be a perfect fit for their school. Examples of 'Leadership Experience' Extracurricular Activities:
Examples of 'Community Service Non-Medical' Extracurricular Activities: Volunteering with an organization like Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for individuals and families in need
Holding an office in student government, club, or organization Mentoring at-risk youth though a program like Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Volunteering with an organization like Feeding America to support food donation efforts and a mission to end hunger
Becoming the team captain for a sport played during college
Volunteering as a manager or coach for a little league in your community
Organizing any type of event on campus or in your community
Volunteering through an organization like AmeriCorps to participate in work ranging from public education to environmental clean-up
EXPERIENCE WITH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS: Having experience with underserved population is something that medical schools will definitely want to see if you are applying to a program that is designed to increase the supply of physicians in underserved areas. With growing concerns about the reality that the U.S. will face a widespread doctor shortage and the treat of an impending health care crash due to this shortage, more and more schools have begun to implement programs to address the need for attracting students who are compassionate and dedicated to addressing the health care needs of underserved populations. By participating in a program working with underserved populations you will now have the opportunity to talk first-hand about your experience, what you gained from it, and why you are passionate about committing your life in medicine to serving individuals in these areas. Working with underserved populations, medical-related or not, gives students the opportunity to become exposed to environments of cultural diversity. According to Health Reform.gov, the Obama Administration believes that strengthening and growing the country's primary-care workforce is critical to reforming the nation's health care system and announced that with the passage of the Affordable Care Act it plans to make available $250 million in new funding to expand the primary workforce to invest in a new generation of primary caregivers through increased resources for training, new incentives to physicians for providing primary care to patients, and support for caregivers who choose to enter primary care in underserved areas. And medical schools planning to participate in the Obama Administrations plan for creating jobs and increasing the number of primary care providers are looking to attract students who genuinely share the same desire to become a part of this new primary care workforce. For any of the above-mentioned examples of extracurricular activities, students can find opportunities within these categories that are particularly aimed at addressing the needs of individuals in underserved populations. „
Volunteering on a on-going basis to organize a coat, book, toy drive to support individuals in-need within your community
Creative Commons/Flickr by mriggen
Creative Commons/Flickr by Official U.S. Navy Imagery
know what lies ahead along the road to becoming a doctor and the field of medicine overall. As a pre-med, there are tons of opportunities to engage in a medical/clinical experience and this also includes shadowing a physician, which will allow students to gain exposure to patients in a medical setting. By gaining a realistic view of the health profession through clinical experiences, you secure critical insight into why you are choosing a career in medicine. As an individual who plans to spend the rest of your life working in a clinical setting, there is no excuse for not having any experiences. It is absolutely necessary that you spend a significant amount of time dedicated to gaining experience and not get caught up with dibbling and dabbling for short periods of time in many areas. While you should shoot for at least 200 hours of experience, there are students who may spend up to 500 hours or more during a single experience. But try not to get caught with the number of hours you are putting in and focus more on seeing what you can draw from your experiences, to leave you with enough exposure to explain with great confidence why medicine is for you!
If you can use at least one of your 15 slots for work/activities to tell school's about a leadership role you held during your pre-med years, you'll be sure to gain a few extra points compared to an applicant who can't say the same. While it will not guaranteed your acceptance, having a leadership role on your resume will help build your case for why you're the one to pick. Many medical school look favorably upon applicants who have held leadership roles and some actually require applicants to have at least one leadership experience to apply. And it helps a lot if the school's you are applying to are particularly big on leadership. For example, on the Website for the Geisel School of Medicine, under the page that outlines what the school stands for they have an entire section on 'Creating Leaders and Leadership' and explain that they are 'committed to creating a new type of physician leaders who exercise the kind of superb leadership required to tackle our most vexing challenges in health care.' So, the point is, if you're applying to a school that is big on leadership, which is pretty much all med-
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 29
2013
PRE-MED
SUMMER PROGRAMS
PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Little Rock, Arkansas
June 3 - August 9, 2013
10 Weeks
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
Los Angeles, California
June 23-August 3, 2013
6 Weeks
Seaver Undergraduate Research in Biology at Pepperdine University
Malibu, California
May 12 - July 27, 2013
10 Weeks
30 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
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.
S
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
DESCRIPTION
PERKS
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.
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Paid summer research fellowships are available for 9$3000 Stipend 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.
Phone(501) 686-8895 pharmtox.uams.edu/surf
MARCH 15, 2013
The UCLA SMDEP will serve as a model learning 9Meals community in which students examine health care 9Stipend issues in medically underserved communities. 9Housing 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.
Phone (310) 825-9573 Email uclasmdep@mednet.ucla.edu www.medsch.ucla.edu/smdep
MARCH 1, 2013
Summer research program geared specifically to 9Stipend undergraduate students who are interested in 9Room + Board pursing a career in biological research, science 9Travel Costs 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.
Email jay.brewster@pepperdine.edu seaver.pepperdine.edu/surb
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 31
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP)
Stanford, California
June 22 - August 24, 2013
8 Weeks
UCLA Pre-Medical Enrichment Program (PREP)
Los Angeles, California
June 19 - July 31, 2013
7 Weeks
UCLA Re-Application Program (RAP)
Los Angeles, California
June 19-July 31, 2013
11 Months Summer Session 7 Weeks + Academic Session 9 Months
Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Duarte, California
May-July 2013 or June-August 2013
10 Weeks
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience (CURE) Program
Duarte, California
May-August 2013 June-August 2013 June-September 2013
10 Weeks
UCSD Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
San Diego, California
June 24 - August 16, 2013
12 Weeks
32 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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.
9$3,500 Stipend
Email: ssrpmail@stanford.edu ssrp.stanford.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
Program designed to provide premedical and 9Travel Allowance Phone(310) 825-3575 MARCH 1, 2013 predental students from disadvantaged background www.medstudent.ucla.edu/offices/aeo/prep.cfm 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. Comprehensive, structured re-application program 9Stipend 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 academicyear program that consists of a science curriculum will follow.
TBA (priority deadline) Phone(310) 825-3575 www.medstudent.ucla.edu/offices/aeo/rap.cfm
Program gives promising students with an interest 9$4,000 Stipend in research and health science careers practical experience and helps them develop important skills for their futures. Our instructors are worldrenowned 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.
Email: psalv@coh.org www.cityofhope.org/education
MARCH 14, 2013
9$4,000 Stipend
www.cityofhope.org/education
CONTACT PROGRAM
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.
Program for motivated undergraduate students 9$4,800 Stipend Email: (800) 925-8704 interested in seeking future training in a combined 9Housing mstp.ucsd.edu/surf MD/PhD program. Principle focus is an 9Travel Allowance 8-week research project conducted in the laboratory of a faculty member in the biomedical sciences.
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 33
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Graduate Experience for Multicultural Students (GEMS) at the University of Colorado - Denver School of Medicine
Denver, Colorado
June 3- August 9 2013
10 Weeks
Summer Student Research Fellowship at Hartford Hospital
Hartford, Connecticut
June 3-August 9, 2013
10 Weeks
Yale University Summer Medical/Dental Education Program (SMDEP) New Haven, Connecticut
June-July 2013
6 Weeks
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation Internship Program
Ridgefield, Connecticut
TBA
TBA
College Enrichment Program (CEP) at the University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
May - July 2013
6 Weeks
College Summer Fellowship Program at UConn School of Medicine
Farmington, Connecticut
TBA
10 Weeks
34 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Selected GEMS interns will enroll in a research 9$4,000 Stipend (303) 724-6084 internship course, Topics in Biomedical Science and 9Travel Allowance Email: GEMS@ucdenver.edu Research. The course will be conducted by www.ucdenver.edu/academics distinguished research faculty and will consist of lectures, demonstrations, and laboratory research assignments with a mentor. Program offers a unique clinical research 9$1,500+ Award 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.
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
Rportal@harthosp.org FEBRUARY 13, 2013 www.harthosp.org/ResidenciesFellowships
Program for highly motivated college students who 9Stipend (203) 785-7545 are considering a career in medicine. The Program 9Food Email: Linda.jackson@yale.edu exposes students to a problem-based learning model 9Housing www.smdep.org/progsites/yale.htm of science education that is similar to that used in 9Travel Allowance medical school. 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 FDA.
(202) 798-9988 us.boehringer-ingelheim.com/career
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.
(505) 277-5321 cep@unm.edu
The program is designed to offer undergraduates 9$2,500-$3,000 who are completing their sophomore, or preferably 9Stipend their junior year of college, and plant to purse a 9Housing 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.
(860) 679-2487 Email: dieli@uchu.edu www.medicine.uchc.edu
MARCH 1, 2013
MARCH 15, 2013
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 35
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Medical/Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at Howard University
Washington, DC
June-July 2013
6 Weeks
Georgetown Summer Medical Institute (GSMI)
Washington, DC
TBA
Varies
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 2013
7 Weeks
Health P.A.S.S. Program
Des Moines, Iowa
July 2013
4 Weeks
36 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The program is designed to provide an educational 9Stipend experience of exceptional quality that will strengthen 9Housing the overall academic preparation of under9Meals represented minority, disadvantaged, and lowincome students who express interest in admission to medical or dental school.
(202) 806-0378 hu_smdep@yahoo.com www.smdep.org/progsites
MARCH 1, 2013
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.
(202) 806-0378 CONTACT PROGRAM hu_smdep@yahoo.com som.georgetown.edu/prospectivestudents
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).
The program is designed for highly motivated 9$1,500 Grant 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.
(813) 974-4707
CONTACT PROGRAM
The program is designed to be a mini first-year 9$400 Stipend (305) 284-3187 medical education experience that exposes 9Housing www6.miami.edu participants to classroom instruction in select basic 9Meals science courses in the medical education curriculum 9Travel Allowance and offers physician-shadowing opportunities. Great attention isplaced 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.
LATE MARCH 2013
The program is for promising college sophomores 9Travel Stipend and juniors to prepare for and enhance their chances 9Meals of getting into medical school and other health 9Materials professions programs. Health P.A.S.S. will provide 9Housing participants with well-rounded 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 areas- and the knowledge they need to get started.
FEBRUARY 2013
(800) 240-2767 x 1709 www.dmu.edu/healthpass
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 37
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP) at The University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
June-July 2013
4 Weeks
MCAT-DAT Review Summer Workshop at the University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, Kentucky
May 28 - June 25, 2013
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
6- 8 weeks
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland Baltimore, Maryland Frederick, Maryland
mid-May-June 2013
8 Weeks
Summer Internship Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland
May 26 - August 3, 2013
10 Weeks
College Summer Enrichment Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts
May-June, 2013
38 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
4 Weeks
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The program provides academic enrichment in 9Housing chemistry and biology, as well as clinical experiences, 9Meals medical and dental experiential activities, laboratory experiences, seminars, demonstrations, and clinical site visits.
(859) 257-1968 ctsnyd0@email.uky.edu www.uky.edu
MARCH 2013
Free MCAT review workshop for eligible students
502) 852-8109 MARCH 1, 2013 louisville.edu/medschool/diversity/undergrad
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.
PERKS
9$3,500 Stipend
(859) 257-6322 bguer00@email.uky.edu www.research.uky.edu
APRIL 15, 2013
The program provides a type of internship for 9$500 Stipend 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.
(606) 672-2317 information@frontiernursing.org www.frontiernursing.org
CONTACT PROGRAM
The program is designed to provide an independent 9Stipend 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.
cohend@mail.nih.gov www.jhsph.edu
MARCH 1, 2013
cwill@jhmi.edu
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
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.
9$3,000 Stipend 9Housing
A tuition-free four-week residential program for 9Stipend (508) 856-2707 undergraduate sophomores and juniors interested 9Housing www.umassmed.edu in entering the health professions. The goals of 9Travel Allowance 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
MARCH 2013
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 39
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Four Directions Summer Research Program at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
June 10 - August 8, 2013
8 Weeks
Siteman Cancer Center Summer Opportunity Program
St. Louis, Missouri
May 28 - August 2, 2013
10 Weeks
Biomedical Research Apprenticeship Program (BioMed RAP) at Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
TBA
10 Weeks
University of Nebraska Medical Center Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
Omaha, Nebraska
June - July 2013
8 Weeks
Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program at the Eppley Cancer Research Institute
Newark, New Jersey
TBA
10 Weeks
40 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The focus of activity during the summer is 9Travel Allowance (617) 525-7644 participation in a basic science research project. 9Housing FourDirections@partners.org Students are assigned a medical school faculty 9Living Stipend www.fdsrp.org 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
FEBRUARY 13, 2013 @ 11PM
Program provides opportunities for undergraduate, 9$3,500 Stipend 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.
MARCH 1, 2013
(314) 454-8439 waldhofft@siteman.wustl.edu www.siteman.wustl.edu
As a BioMedRAP/CD-BioRAP participant, 9Stipend (314) 362-7963 students will conduct independent research with 9Travel Allowance Biomedrap@msnotes.wustl.edu outstanding faculty mentors, work in a cutting 9Housing 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
JANUARY 31, 2013
The program is designed to identify, recruit, and 9Meals (800) 701-9665 assist future dentists and doctors through a 9Travel Assistance smdep@unmc.edu comprehensive six-week summer experience for 9Stipend www.smdep.org talented freshman and sophomores. The overall 9Housing 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.
MARCH 1, 2013
Students in the summer program work for 10 wks 9$4,000 Stipend doing hands-on research in Eppley Institute 9Housing 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.
MARCH 1, 2013
crgp_info@eppleyits.comundefined www.unmc.edu/eppley/summer.htm
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 41
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS 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 2013
6 Weeks
Biomedical Careers Program (BCP) at Robert Wood Medical School
Piscataway, New Jersey
June - July 2013
6 Weeks
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
New York, New York
June-July 2013
6 Weeks
Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program at Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering
New York, New York
June - August 2013
10 Weeks
42 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Program serves to advance our institution's core 9Stipend mission of meeting society's current and future 9Housing health care needs by preparing individuals under- 9Meals represented 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.
(973) 972-3762 anthondd@umdnj.edu www.smdep.org
MARCH 1, 2013
Academic enrichment program for undergraduate 9Tuition Free 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 healthcareoriented activities.
(732) 235-4558 summerprogram@umdnj.edu rwjms.umdnj.edu
MARCH 2013
The program provides students seriously interested 9Meals (212) 305-4157 in applying to medical or dental school with a well- 9Travel Assistance smdep-ps@columbia.edu defined, integrated approach to learning, focusing on 9Stipend www.smdep.org/progsites the basic science curriculum needed to apply to 9Housing 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.
MARCH 1, 2013
The program was established for underrepresented 9$4,300 Stipend minority and disadvantaged college students who 9Travel expenses wish to pursue the combined MD-PhD 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.
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
(212) 746-6023 mdphd@med.cornell.edu www.med.cornell.edu
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 43
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Undergraduate Mentorship Program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Bronx, New York
June-July 2012
6 weeks
Montefiore Medical Center's Health Opportunities Program (Monte-HOP)
Bronx, New York
July - August 2012
6 Weeks
Project Asian Health Education and Development (AHEAD)
New York, New York
June - August 2012
8 Weeks
The Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program for Premedical Students at Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, New York
June - August 2012
8 Weeks
Project Healthcare at NYU Langone Medical Center
New York, New York
June - August 2012
10 Weeks
44 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The program will be comprised of a six-hour per 9$1,000 Stipend week commitment to a shadowing experience 9Transportation with an assigned mentor and fourteen hours per 9Meals 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.
(718) 430-2792 hcoe@einstein.yu.edu www.einstein.yu.edu/hcoe
MARCH 2013
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.
(718) 920-4678 cwhittak@montefiore.org www.einstein.yu.edu/hcoe
APRIL 2013
The program is designed to provide training and 9Meals (212) 379-6988 ext. 619 experience for college students who are interested in 9Travel Assistance www.cbwchc.org pursuing a career in the health care field. The 9Stipend program consists of a practical field placement, 9Housing 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.
FEBRUARY 2013
The program is designed to give 25 premedical 9$140/Wk (212) 746-1057 students deeper insights into the field of medicine, 9Housing www.med.cornell.edu including issues that greatly affect the health of 9Travel Expenses for traditionally underserved groups. Through the students who live some experiences of laboratory or clinical research, the distance from NY 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.
FEBRUARY 1 2013
Project Healthcare is an innovative volunteer program for enthusiastic and inspired college and postbaccalaureate students. Created by the Bellevue Hospital Center Emergency Department, PHC allows students an opportunity to experience and 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.
JANUARY 2013
(212) 562-3041 bellevuepavers@nyumc.org emergency.med.nyu.edu
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 45
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS 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 2013
Varies
46 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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. Partici pants also have numerous opportunities to go on rounds with doctors, observe physicians in their private offices and attend hospital conferences.
MFalzone@nshs.edu http://www.northshorelij.com
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
The Access program of Weill Cornell Graduate 9$3,000 Stipend School of Medical Sciences is a summer internship 9Up to $300 for program that trains underserved college students in travel expenses the biomedical sciences Interns gain hands-on 9Housing 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.
(212) 746-6565 ffreyre@med.cornell.edu weill.cornell.edu
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
The program is an intensive residential research 9$3,500 Stipend (631) 632-1387 internship program for underrepresented minority 9Round-trip airfare sunyagep@notes.cc.sunysb.edu undergraduates majoring in science, technology, 9Housing www.stonybrook.edu/agep engineering, or mathematics. Students will get a 9Meals unique opportunity to work on independent research projects in cutting-edge laboratories under the direction of Stony Brook University faculty.
FEBRUARY 2013
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.
VARIES
(718) 590-1110 www.bwahec.org/programs
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 47
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS 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
Indians into Medicine Program at the University of North Dakota
48 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Grand Forks, North Dakota
TBA
TBA
8 Weeks
6 Weeks
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The program is designed to provide appropriate 9$3,000 Stipend 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.
(402) 559-8242 sacox@unmc.edu www.unmc.edu
MARCH 1, 2013
The program is an intensive, challenging, 9Housing educational summer program that allows 9Travel Stipend 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.
(252) 744-2500 ascc@mail.ecu.edu www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ascc/SPFD.cfm
CONTACT PROGRAM
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.
(919) 966-2264 nchcap.unc.edu/sep.php
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
2 programs. Pathway at UND: This program is for 9Stipend tribal community college students planning to 9Travel Stipend 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, physioogy, 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.
(701) 777-3037 www.med.und.edu/inmed
MARCH 31, 2013
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 49
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
Cleveland, Ohio
June - July 2013
6 Weeks
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Scholars Program
Athens, Ohio
June 11 to July 17, 2013
6 Weeks
MedStarz Program at the University of Toledo College of Medicine
Toldeo, OH
July 2013
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 2013 8-10 Weeks
Chester Summer Scholars Program
Cleveland, Ohio
June - August 2013
Pre-Professional Internship Program at Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
50 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
Cincinnati, Ohio
TBA
10 Weeks
1- 2 Weeks
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
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.
9Meals (216) 368-0529 9Travel Assistance smdep@case.edu 9Stipend www.smdep.org 9Housing
APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2013
Summer Scholars participants prepare for the 9Room + Board (800) 345-1560 challenges and rewards of medical school. 9Stipend schriner@ohio.edu Twenty-five applicants are selected each year to 9Program Materialswww.oucom.ohiou.edu participate in this rigorous six-week program 9Round-Trip designed to give you an intensive and realistic Travel Expenses introduction to the first-year curriculum at OU-COM. In addition to traditional medical school curricula taught by medical college faculty, graduate students and upper-class medical students, the program focuses on case-based problem solving and small-group/team work.
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.
MARCH 1, 2013
9Housing (419) 383-4229 9Travel Allowance medadmissions@utnet.utoledo.edu www.utoledo.edu
MARCH 1, 2013
The R.O.S.E. program is part internship, part early 93,000 Stipend (513) 558-5581 acceptance to medical school, and part mentorship 9ROSE students ROSEProgram@uc.edu program. The purpose of the program is to provide have conditional www.med.uc.edu/rose/index.html stimulating experiences and contact with academic acceptance to the medical faculty for high ability, intellectually curious Cincinnati College pre-medical college students. of Medicine
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
The program awards 15 collegiate undergraduate 92,000 Stipend students the opportunity to spend the summer in 9Free Parking clinical laboratory research at MetroHealth 9Supplies and Medical Center. The program is an opportunity equpment are for pre-medical and scientifically-oriented students provided to explore the potential for a career in medical research or academic medicine.
(216) 778-5940 jmoore@metrohealth.org www.metrohealth.org
FEBRUARY 2013
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.
(216) 916-7488 lfranck@ocpm.edu www.ocpm.edu
TBA
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 51
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Summer Premedical Enrichment Program (SPEP) at the University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
June - July 2013
6 Weeks
Summer Premedical Academic Enrichment Program (SPAEP) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June - July 2013
8 Weeks
Pre-med Enrichment Program at the University of Pennsylvania Health System
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May - August 2013
10 Weeks
Pre-Med Program at St. Mary Healthcare Center
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Begins May 2013
TBA
Summer Pre-Med Program at Doylestown Hospital
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Late-May - August 2013
10 Weeks
52 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
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 self-awareness, and making each participant a competitive medical school applicant. 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.
9$1,000 Stipend 9Transportation 9Housing 9Meals
The aim of this program is to prepare minority 9$2,500 Stipend 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).
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
(513) 558-7212 lathel.bryant@uc.edu comdo-wcnlb.uc.edu
MARCH 1, 2013
(412) 648-8987 www.medschool.pitt.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
(215) 898-3980 jcraig@mail.med.upenn.edu www.uphs.upenn.edu
CONTACT PROGRAM
This program is for students who have complete 9Conditional (215) 710-2096 their second year of college with a GPA of at least acceptance to the lschonewolf@stmaryhealthcare.org 3.2 in a course of study that qualifies them for UC COM www.stmaryhealthcare.org 9$3,000 Stipend
CONTACT PROGRAM
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
(215) 354-2204 www.dh.org/body.cfm?id=616
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 53
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Mini-Med Spring Break at Drexel University College of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March/April 2013
Choose from 7 1-week sessions
Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA)
Nashville, Tennessee
June - August 2013
TBA
Oncology Education (POE) Program
Memphis, Tennessee
Mid-June - August 2013
Varies
Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Collegiate Medical Summer Internship Program
Nashville, Tennessee
June 1 - July 30, 2013
8 Weeks
54 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
PREMEDLIFE MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION
PERKS
PROGRAM INFO
APPLICATION DEADLINE
(215) 762-6800 minimed@drexelmed.edu www.drexelmed.edu
MARCH 2013
The program offers biomedical research 9$2,500-$4,000 opportunities to undergraduates who want to Stipend 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.
(615) 343-2573 michelle.grundy@vanderbilt.edu medschool.mc.vanderbilt.edu/ssa
CONTACT PROGRAM
The POE program offers a unique opportunity 9$4,000 for students preparing for careers in the 9Housing 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, researchoriented physicians, and postdoctoral fellows.
(901) 595-2488 Suzanne.gronemeyer@stjude.org www.stjude.org/poe
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
This program is a summer internship for pre-medical 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) 327-8814 http://www.dciinc.org
FEBRUARY 2013
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. Tuition: $1500
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 55
2013 PREMED SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAM NAME
LOCATION
DATE
DURATION
Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program at Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Mid-June- August 2013
8 Weeks
The University of Texas Dental Branch and Medical School at Houston Houston, Texas Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP)
May-June 2013
6 Weeks
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 - July 2013
8 Weeks
Scholars Program in Organic Chemistry at University of Texas - Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
TBA
10 Weeks
56 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
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 www.debakeydepartmentofsurgery.org
JANUARY 2013
The program seeks motivated students from a 9Stipend (713) 500-4532 variety of backgrounds including those who are 9Travel Assitance Rebecca.L.Lopez@uth.tmc.edu underrepresented or underserved that are interested 9Meals www.smdep.org/progsites/houston.htm in pursuing a career in dentistry and medicine, 9Housing 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.
MARCH 1, 2013
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 applicati on process, academic counseling, time management training, and test-taking/skills.
(713) 743-2047 rboykins@optometry.uh.edu www.opt.uh.edu/students/undergrad
CONTACT PROGRAM
This research program designed for highly 9$3,000 Stipend 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 ongoing research projects under the direction of a faculty member as well as work with postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.
(210) 567-4324 physiologygrad@uthscsa.edu www.physiology.uthscsa.edu
MARCH 2013
The goals of the program are to improve college 9$1,000 Stipend 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.
(214) 648-7517 SPOCPrograms@UTSiuthwestern.edu www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw
TBA
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 57
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the anti-freshman 15
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©Depositphotos/adam_r
Exclusiv contests &egcivontent, reader polls, &eaways, more...
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SCHOOLSPOTLITE
Get a glimpse into what one medical school in the U.S. has to offer prospective students <<<
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Stanford, CA Recently, two professors from Stanford School of Medicine shook things up in the world of medical education when a perspective piece they wrote was published in one of the most highly regarded publications in academic medicine, the New England Journal of Medicine. In their piece, the professors expressed their thoughts about changes they thought were needed in medical education including, a shift in thinking about the traditional lecture used by schools for the past century. In line with their mission to develop and direct their students' skills and passion so they can become outstanding clinicians, the "flipped classroom" model, proposed by Charles Prober, MD, senior associate dean for medical education, and Chip Health, PhD, professor of organizational behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, proposes that lecture content is packaged into videos that students can watch at their own pace. According to the press release announcing the innovative idea, "class time is freed up for more interactive education, with greater emphasis on patients' clinical stories as a way to increase the relevance of the necessary scientific medical knowledge." For those who are excited about the idea of "lecture-less" medical school classes, the school has already started to experiment with the model for its
core biochemistry class. Swapping out the traditional lecture format with the new, flipped classroom model, short online videos replaced the original lecture-based format. Instead of spending class time listening to professors lecture, students engaged in discussions that focused on the biochemical basis of various diseases. According to the perspective article, the new class format was a success. "Student reviews of the course improved substantially from the previous year, and class attendance increased from 30 to 80 percent, even though class attendance was optional," the authors wrote. In addition to this non-traditional approach to teaching its students, Stanford School of Medicine has another unique program called the "Master of Medicine" (MOM) program that is a new master's degree option for PhD candidates who are interested in gaining exposure to clinical medicine. According to the school's Web site, the goal of the program is to train a new generation of PhD students about human biology and disease, and thus better prepared to translate new scientific discoveries into useful medical advances. Â&#x201E; For more information about Stanford School of Medicine visit www.med.stanford.edu.
quick facts DEGREE OFFERED: MD/PhD MD/MBA MD/MPH MD/JD MD/MS (Health Services Research, Epidemiology, Medical Information Sciences, Biomechanical Engineering)
# OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED 6,000+
# OF APPLICANTS ACCEPTED 86
Tuition & Fees $63,124
Creative Commons/Flickr by roarofthefour
Unique Feature Stanford Wilderness Experience Active Orientation Trip (SWEAT), a wilderness orientation trip in which students in the incoming class travel to Lake Alpine in the Sierra Mountains for a 4 day, 3 night trip. Last year, 90% of the incoming class participated.
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 61
we know you love us ...so why don’t you ‘LIKE US’? facebook.com/premedlife
ESPECIALLY THIS SPECIALTY
Learn more about various specialties and what it will take to pursue a certain specialty<<<
UROLOGIST
UROLOGY IS THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SPECIALTY THAT FOCUSES ON THE URINARY TRACTS OF MALES AND FEMALES, AND ON THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF MALES. MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SPECIALIZING IN THE FIELD OF UROLOGY ARE TRAINED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, AND MANAGE PATIENTS WITH UROLOGIC DISORDERS. THE ORGANS COVERED BY UROLOGY INCLUDE THE KIDNEYS, ADRENAL GLANDS, URETHRAS, URINARY BLADDER, URETHRA, AND THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS.
You've probably never seen depicted on the cast of a medical TV drama or know of any who have become one of the many celebrity doctors that have been gaining the public's attention, but don't blame the media. Think about it, how often do you hear an aspiring doctor who says "I want to become a Urologist?" Surprisingly, however, the field of urology is quite a popular choice among medical students. According to a report published by the American Urological Association (AUA), urology is one of the most competitive specialties and is extremely competitive to enter for physicians. The website Urologymatch.com further reveals that "some of the best and brightest medical students have entered urology over the last few decades, further fueling the innovation, creativity, and vitality for which the field is know."
the following: 1 year in general surgery, 3 years in clinical urology, and a minimum of 6 months in general surgery, urology, or a clinical discipline relevant to urology). The final year of residency must be spent as a senior/chief resident in urology with appropriate clinical responsibility under supervision. Pediatric urology sub-specialty requires an additional year of training
WHAT DOES A UROLOGIST DO? The work of Urologists, also called Genitourinary Surgeons, can fall into a wide range of diseases that primarily involve the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. And while it is technically classified as a surgical specialty, much of what Urologists do involves non-surgical management of diseases, including but not limited to male infertility, overactive bladder, recurrent urinary tract infections, and sexual dysfunction.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BECOME AN UROLOGIST? Undergraduate (4 Years) (to obtain bachelor's degree) Medical School (4 Years) (to obtain MD or DO degree) Postgraduate (5-6 years) Programs vary in offering residents a combination of surgical training, internships, research, and laboratory experience. An example of a postgraduate training program may involve
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD UROLOGIST? According to a study published in the Canadian Urological Association Journal, Urologist tend to be more extroverted compared to other surgeons. Specifically, Urologist appear to be gregarious, have excitement seeking tendencies, and display positive emotions more often than non-urologists. In separate study of the "urological personality", researchers found that urology residents tend to be willing to entertain new ideas and are purposeful and determined.
WHAT DO UROLOGISTS SAY THE LIKE ABOUT THEIR SPECIALTY? Mix of surgical and medical management approaches Diversity of urological procedures Flexible lifestyle compared to other surgical specialties Advancements and developments within the field
WHAT DO UROLOGISTS EARN?
The 2012 Medscape Urologist Compensation Report found that Urologists were the fifth-highest earners in their survey. In 2011, Urologists earned a mean income of $309,000. While there were Urologists who earned $100,000 or less, 14% of Urologists surveyed reported earning a salary of $500,000 or more.
WHAT ARE SOME SUB-SPECIALTY AREAS OF UROLOGY? Pediatric Urology, Urologic Oncology, Endourology, Laparoscopy, Neurourology, Andrology, Reconstructive Urology, Urogynecology.
Creative Commons/Flickr by Joint Base Lewis McChord
Dr. Robert Allen completes an ultrasound course at the James C. Kimbrough Urological Seminar
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 63
THEGOODS
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>>>Our pick of items that will add some flair to your premedlife and perhaps make you smile
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Get Crap Done Pen No mere writing utensil, the Get Crap Done Pen is a, high-quality communication tool that wittily announces your intentions as it helps you achieve your goal—whether it’s writing to-do lists, fiftyyear plans, or ransom notes.
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Magnetic Stones Bring a little bit of that zen-like spa atmosphere to your desk with a set of these Inukshuk Magnetic Desk Stones.What can you do with them? Stack them to make a stone tower. Pinch notes right where you will see them, or wrangle all those paper clips all in one spot. Hold up your favorite picture of your family. Feeling extra stressed? Get hands on and play with them for a while.
` 64 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
This is Spinal Tape A handy spinal cord on a roll. Use this tape to seal and stick with endless sacral style.
Long and Short of It Notepad Behind the portrait of an extra-long dachshund thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wagging its tail on the cover, this panoramic pad features 80 tear-off sheets with a smaller stretchy pooch, as well as ruled trim with centimetersized ticks. Designed to be a companion to your desktop keyboard, this accessory is also a convenient spot to rest your wrists when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not jotting down reminders or making a list
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Time Management Pie Chart Clock The Time Management Pie Chart Clock will remind you to stop Facebooking long enough to go out and live life. Your Facebook friends will thank you because by actually living life you might start to have interesting things to say in your status updates.
Brain Cell Plush Toy
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The Giant Microbes Brain Cell (Neuron) Plush Toy includes a hangtag with an image and fun and educational facts about brain cell and is approximately 1,000,000 times actual size.
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 65
IN THE STACKS
Books we thought that aspiring doctors might be interested in reading<<<
THE REAL LIFE OF A PEDIATRICIAN by Perri Klass As the title of the book suggests, this anthology of stories from medical students, interns, and doctors gives readers a first-hand look at the daily life in the field of pediatrics. The author, Perri Klass, earned her medical degree from Harvard University and is also the author of the book, A Not Entirely Benign Procedure, which tells the story of her struggle to balance medicine and motherhood. The book touches on questions like: How do you tell a mother that her child has a terminal illness? What do you do when your patient is too young to tell you what's wrong with him? For students who are considering a career in pediatrics, this book offers candid accounts on the ups and downs of the field. BRAIN SURGEON: A DOCTOR'S INSPIRING ENCOUNTERS WITH MORTALITY AND MIRACLES by Keith Black In this book Dr. Keith Black, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, offers readers a look into his personal journey through medicine to become a neurosurgeon and continues on to share stories from his career. Publishing his first scientific paper at 17 years old, Dr. Black attributes much of his success to his parents and being told that there was nothing that he could not accomplish. This reader-friendly book is great for students who are not only interested in neurosurgery, but medicine overall. OBAMACARE SURVIVAL GUIDE: THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR HEALTHCARE by Nick Tate This newly published book is a must-read for anyone pursuing a career in medicine. The author's goal was to create a comprehensive, but easy-to-understand guide of the 2,700-page Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In an article on Ibtimes.com about the book Tate wrote: "ObamaCare will restructure the way health care is delivered in significant ways we will all feel. And regardless of your political views, whether you like what the law sets out to do or believe it is the wrong way to go, change is coming your way." SHAKESPEARE'S TREMORS AND ORWELL'S COUGH: THE MEDICAL LIVES OF FAMOUS WRITERS by John J. Ross What if Shakespeare, Nathaniel Hawthorne, or George Orwell were seen by House, M.D. for their diseases and were given entirely different diagnoses than those chronicled in biographical stories? In his book, John J. Ross takes beliefs about the diseases of some of the greatest writers and turns them on their heads by introducing entirely new diagnoses for these writers' medical mysteries. These questions and others are explored by Ross and fill the pages of real-life medical mysteries with a historical twist. Fun and informative, this book is a great read for students.
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 67
BETTERLIFEBETTERYOU
>>> Information on taking care of yourself as a student living a busy pre-med life
newstouse
Health | Wellness | Fitness | Nutrition | Mind & Body
In just as little as four months, individuals who exercise for that length of time can improve their brain function, according to findings from a study presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. The study, led by researchers from the Montreal Heart Institute, involved individuals who participated in intense interval training, two times a week for four weeks, including workouts with circuit weights and exercise bikes. Before and after their exercise sessions, participants were administered tests to measure their cognitive functioning, cardiac output, body composition and exercise capacity and tolerance. The results of the study revealed that participants who partook in the exercise regimen performed better on cognition tests. "It's reassuring to know that you can at least partially prevent that [cognitive] decline by exercising and losing weight," said Dr. Martin Juneau, study author and director of prevention of the Montreal Heart Institute.
Šflickr by Ed Yourdon
Exercise May Be Linked to BrainBoosting Effect
The amount of pain that someone can withstand may increase the more they laugh, say researchers who published the findings from their study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. In a study of how connected ones body and emotions are, Robin Dunbar, a professor of evolutionary psychology at Oxford and his colleagues recruited a large group of undergraduate students and took a test of their pain threshold, determined by how long they could tolerate a tightening blood pressure cuff or a frozen cooling sleeve. Next, the students watch a series of short videos that were categorized as funny or serious. The results of the study revealed that pain thresholds did increase after the students watched the funny videos, but not after they viewed the serious ones. The study authors pointed out that the only difference between those who felt more pain than others was that they laughed less. "The sense of heightened affect in this context probably derives from the way laughter triggers endorphin uptake," the authors wrote.
68 | PreMedLife Magazine | November/December 2012
Šflickr by gagilas
Laughter Heightens Pain Threshold
>>> See upcoming health and fitness events at thafitnessgroup.com
Sugary Diet Sabotages Learning and Memory
©flickr by Chris Hunkeler
A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California Los Angles has found that a diet high in fructose can slow the brain, affecting memory and learning. The study involved two groups of rats that consumed a fructose solution as drinking water for six weeks. Moreover, to see if the effect of sugar could be disrupted, the second group of rats received omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is know to protect against damage to the brain’s synapses. According to the press release announcing the findings, “DHA is essential for synaptic function brain cells’ ability to transmit signals to one another.” Furthermore, the rats were trained on a maze twice a day for five days before starting the special diet. Then, the researchers tested how well the rats
A new study suggests that a quick, 10-minute technique may help shorten the time it takes to fall asleep, improve the quality of sleep, and reduce the feeling of next-day fatigue. The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, involved men and women who completed a questionnaire to measure their stress levels. In addition, participants were asked about their sleeping habits, including how long it took them to fall asleep, how long they slept, how often their sleep was interrupted, their use of sleep aids, and how often over the previous month fatigue affected their daytime activities. After completion of the "Tension Tamer" program, which involved attending four workshops where participants learned about mentally focusing, participants retook the questionnaire and survey initially given to them. The study showed that 85 percent of the participants improved their reported stress by over 6 points. Additionally, participants who reduced their stress levels showed significant differences in sleep quality.
© flickr by SteveNakatani
Trick Before Bedtime May Improve Sleep
were able to navigate the maze, which contained numerous holes but only one way to exit. The results of the study revealed that the group of rats that received the diet with the added omega-3 fatty acids navigated the maze significantly faster than the rats than the ones that did not. “Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a professor of integrative biology and physiology in the UCLA College of Letters and Science. “Eating a highfructose diet over the long term alters your brains ability to learn and remember information. But adding omega-3 fatty acids to your meals can help minimize the damage.” The findings were published in the Journal of Physiology.
November/December | PreMedLife Magazine | 69
COLLEGE101
>>> Tips and advice for getting through your days as a student in college
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Take a chill pill.
If you haven’t heard already, a huge part of having a successful experience in medical school is having balance. While the possibility of having a balanced life may seem quite far-fetched for a busy pre-med student, most individuals who have been there and done that and gone through the same motions will agree. While you’re in school, it is a must that you take care of yourself mentally and physically. The stress and workload that may come
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with being a pre-med student is no joke and it is crucial that you remember to do the basics - eating, sleeping, exercising, and dare we say, relaxing. what good are you if you’re about ready to fall apart mentally, physically, or emotionally? Go to the park for a jog. Meet your friend or family member for lunch. The point is, whatever you do or however you do it, don’t underestimate the importance of taking care of yourself.
UC DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY Pre-Medical Surgical Internship & Mentorship Program
The UC Davis Department of Surgery Pre-Medical Surgical Internship & Mentorship Program is a unique opportunity for pre-medical students to work with and be mentored by surgeons and physicians in the nationally recognized medical center. This program is not volunteering, but the ability to experience what surgeons do everyday. You will be with the physicians every step of their day when they are working and treating patients in the clinic, by the bedside, in the intensive care unit, Emergency Department, and right next to them in the operating room. This program is open to all pre-medical students regardless of school attended or grade level (graduates and returning students are welcome as well). This program seeks to foster a relationship between physicians and pre-medical students. There will be 3 cycles throughout the academic year that you can apply and participate.
For more information about the program: www.premedsurgery.org
Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just watch Greyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anatomy. Be a part of it!
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INSTEAD OF JUST HANGING OUT ON SATURDAYS
I HELP KIDS HANG IN THERE
AT SCHOOL BECAUSE I DON’T JUST WEAR THE SHIRT, I LIVE IT. ®
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED Michael Cleveland is part of United Way’s ongoing work to improve the education, income, and health of our communities. To find out how you can help create opportunities for a better life for all, visit LIVEUNITED.ORG.
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