The Medical Center Hour

The Medical Center Hour: Medicine and Society in Conversation is a production of the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Held on Wednesdays from mid-September through early April, 12:30-1:30pm, in the Jordan Conference Center Auditorium (unless otherwise noted). All programs are free of charge and open to the entire university and the public.

September 10: Healing in Medicine: Lessons from Clinicians and Patients
Larry R. Churchill PhD,
Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
Stephanie Davis Hunt,
Class of 2017, UVA School of Medicine
Co-presented with the Generalist Scholars Program in observance of Primary Care Week and the Institute for Practical Ethics and Public Life, UVA

September 17: The Ash and the Fire: Writing about Medicine, the Body, and the Mind
Christine Montross MD MFA,
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Medical Humanities and Bioethics
Scholarly Concentration, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence RI

September 24: Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health
H. Gilbert Welch MD MPH,
Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH
Co-presented with the Department of Public Health Sciences, the Sadie Lewis Webb Program in Health Law, UVA Law School; and the Institute for Practical Ethics and Public Life, UVA

Watch the Medical Center Hour on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uvamch
See the following link for more information: http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/community-service/centers/bioehums/medical-center-hour

Stall Seat Journal Opportunities

The Office of Health Promotion is looking for...

1. Male campaign assistants for distribution of the posters in bathrooms around Grounds on Friday per month (3 to 6 hours). This position pays $8 per hour. Priority is given to applicants submitted by September 1, but applications will continue to be reviewed until all positions are filled. 

2. Two new graphic designers to help create the Stall Seat Journal and other social marketing projects. This position is aimed at developing graphic design skills as well as gaining practical experience in health promotion. This positions pays $12 per hour and works an average of 5 hours per week. 

Please contact Sally Dover at sed7d@virginia.edu or call 434-924-1512 if interested in either position. 

Clinical Studies Opportunities

Asthma Studies: Participants Needed

Volunteers (19-40 years old) are needed for a study about asthma and the common cold. You must have asthma and not smoke. The screening involves two visits ($40 for each visit). Those who qualify can receive up to $1870 for completing the study. Please contact the University of Virginia Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center at 434-982-3510 for more information. HSR-IRB Nos. 12656 or 14427. 


UVa Radiology Research seeks adults ages 18 and older with asthma for a research study. The study looks at air movement in your lungs using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with xenon gas. Study includes spirometry, 6-minute walk, electrocardiogram, physical exam, nuclear medicine scan, finger stick, and MRI with xenon. Study requires on to three visits about two to three hours each. Minimum compensation is $100. For more information, please contact Joanne Gersbach at jcg4j@virginia.edu or call 434-243-6074. IRB HSR No. 16215. 

ADEA Go Dental

The American Dental Education Association released ADEA Go Dental this week! It is a top resource for all Pre-Dentistry and Pre-Dental Hygiene students: 

http://www.adea.org/godental/ 

Featuring: 
-Dental education by the numbers
-Cost of attendance and budgeting
-Conducting a program search
-Specialty areas of dentistry

And much more! For further information on resource capabilities, see the ADEA Go Dental promotional video.

Madison House Volunteer Opportunities

Madison House serves as the student volunteer center at the University of Virginia. As a student run non-profit organization, Madison House coordinates volunteers, develop leaders, and builds community partnerships  to promote lifelong volunteer service. 

Registration for the majority of Madison House programs opened this week! Click here to see a complete list of the volunteer programs and registration instructions. 

Program Highlights: 
Recreational Therapy
Animals and Environment
Adopt-a-Grandparent
The programs above are excellent ways to serve the Charlottesville community and gain clinical experience through patient interaction. 

The Medical Services Program is also available through Madison House but requires a separate registration process as follows:
*If you wish to volunteer with Medical Services, attendance is required at one of the following information sessions in order to gain access to the online application and participate in the program. 

• Monday, September 1, 6:30-7:30pm
• Tuesday, September 2, 8-9pm
• Thursday, September 4, 6:30-7:30pm

All information sessions will meet in Wilson 402. Info sessions provide details about the program, requirements, and provide access to the online application. Students must also be available on Sunday, September 7th for Sign-Up Sunday.

Special Note to First-Year and Transfer Students:
In order to volunteer, you will need to bring a copy of your immunizations to registration day (Sept 7). The health records you provided the University during the summer will be imported into the computer system after registration day, September 7th.

UVA Health System Volunteers:
All UVA volunteers will be required to obtain a flu vaccine provided by employee health when they become available. This vaccine will include the H1N1 vaccine.
 
Volunteers Who Received Returning Status:
You will receive an email concerning your registration process during the first week of classes. Those volunteers who did not receive returning status must attend one of the information sessions above in order to volunteer with medical services.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Madison House Medical Service Program, please contact mhmedservices1011@gmail.com.

Preparing for a MMI Interview Format?

As of 2013, there were 33 allopathic medical schools in the United States and Canada as well as 4 osteopathic medical schools in the United States using the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for admission interviews. See the list of schools utilizing this interview format. 

If you received an interview invitation at a school which utilizes the MMI format, it is important you know about this style so you can best prepare. To learn more, check out this video explaining how Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School organizes their process.

Once your know a little more about the style, it's time to practice. Use the scenarios on page one of the following link to practice. Then review the guidelines and rubric on pages 2-4 to see how you did! 
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B97rY_-Rylu5UHRteHJSUTJIY28/edit  

*Scenarios and guidelines credited to the University of Michigan Career Center.

MCAT Exam Policies Report - Osteopathic Medical Schools

For pre-medicine students who plan to apply to osteopathic medical schools during upcoming application cycles: 

Administration of the MCAT2015 will begin in Spring 2015. As a result, students and advisors questioned medical schools as to which MCAT scores (current or 2015) they will accept during the next several application cycles. 

 

In response, the AACOM released a report which outlines current policies for each AACOM member institution as of August 15, 2014. See the report at the following link: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B97rY_-Rylu5YURhUmUwNVF5anc/edit.

Review the report and note any specific policies at the schools of interest to you! 

 

 

 

National MD-PhD Program Interivew Calendar

Most of the MD-PhD Programs around the country joined forces to create a National MD-PhD Program Interview / Revisit Day Calendar. For those applicants with multiple interview offers, this might help to organize the time and interview dates. To date, 61 MD-PhD Programs (nearly every active MD-PhD Program in the country) are represented on this calendar.

The calendar can be accessed directly through this link or through AAMC's MD/PhD page.

Case School of Dental Medicine Webchat

Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental medicine is hosting a web chat for students who may be applying in the current application cycle or in upcoming cycles. 

Monday, September 1st, 2014
7:30-10pm Eastern Time

Dr. Emil Chuck, Director of Admissions, as well as current dental students will be on camera while pre-dental students can type questions for the panel to address. Current students will specifically address their current experiences with the unique hands-on active learning curriculum as well as their pathway to Case's dental program.

Registration required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-webchat-september-2014-tickets-10315868039. Space is limited.

Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System Course

"Everyone needs to know something about healthcare; Let this course be your guide."
GNUR 6559-001 (3 credit hours)
Fridays, 1-3:50pm
A new graduate course in the School of Nursing. Although this is a graduate course, it is available to undergraduate students outside the School of Nursing. 

Starting this fall, Professor Rick Mayes' course will lend perspective on the changing American health care landscape, demystify the Affordable Care Act, and provide clarity both on how our system of care has evolved and where it's headed. For clinicians and non-clinicians alike, this course will offer a unique vantage on health care systems through a sociological, economic, psychological, anthropological, political, ethical, and historical lens.

About Professor Rick Mayes: 
Former Medicaid policy advisor to the White House, an analyst for the AARP and a two-time University of Virginia alumnus (MA, PhD in political science), Rick Mayes, PhD, is an associate professor in the University of Richmond's department of political science and a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Richmond. 

Mayes is the author of Universial Coverage: the Elusive Quest for National Health Insurance, of Medicare Prospective Payment and the Shaping of U.S. Health Care, and the co-author of Medicating Children: ADHD and Pediatric Mental Health. 

Public Health Centralized Application Cycle Open

The centralized application service for public health - SOPHAS - launched the 2014-2015 application cycle yesterday. Applicants can now begin their application by visiting www.sophas.org. 

There are over a dozen new SOPHAS members this year, bringing the total number of participating institutions to 76. A complete list can be found at http://www.sophas.org/Directory.cfm.

Bridge Year Opportunity - Dermatology Clinical Assistant

Family Dermatology of Albemarle, a private practice dermatology office in Charlottesville (Pantops), seeks to hire a dermatology clinical assistant/scribe who will:
-bring patients back from the waiting room
-take initial history of medical problems to be discussed
-generate prescriptions to be sent electronically
-help with surgical procedures
-provide medical education regarding dermatological conditions and treatment

The office seeks a student considering a bridge year from their studies prior to enrollment in medical school or a physician's assistant program. The position will provide excellent experience for a medical application. Background of dermatology or surgical knowledge not necessary. 

This is a paid position and will be the fourth running year of this annual bridge year program. The individual will become comfortable seeing live patients, taking succinct medical histories, assisting with surgical procedures, interfacing with electronic medical records, and well versed in dermatological diseases and treatments. 

Interested applicants should submit a resume, current GPA, and MCAT scores (if taken) to Brett Krasner, M.D. as soon as possible at brettkrasner@yahoo.com.

MCAT Exam Policies Report

For pre-medicine students who plan to apply to medical schools during any of the following application cycles:

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019

Administration of the MCAT2015 will begin in Spring 2015. As a result, students and advisors questioned medical schools as to which MCAT scores (current or 2015) they will accept during the next several application cycles. In response, the AAMC released a report yesterday which outlines the current policies for each school. AAMC will update and repost the report as appropriate based upon communication with medical schools about changing policies.

Review the report and note the policies for schools of interest to you! Note that some schools have not stated a policy at this point. If that is the case for a school of interest to you, you'll want to contact those admissions offices directly.

Position Opening in UVA Dept of Radiology and Medical Imaging

The Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging has an immediate opening for someone who seeks to work as part of a team running human studies which evaluate new types of breast cancer imaging systems. This person would work alongside imaging scientists, graduate students, breast imaging radiologists, mammography technologists, and study nurses, primarily in UVa's Breast Care Center in the West Hospital Complex. 

Responsibilities will include: 
-Identifying eligible study participants,
-Describing the nature of the studies to interested volunteers,
-Scheduling scan times,
-Participating in some aspects of the scans.

Excellent communications skills, an ability to grasp and describe basic technical aspects of imaging studies, and organizational skills are prerequisites. 

The human studies are currently ongoing and will continue for at least another 12 months. Interested applicants should contact Mark B. Williams, Professor of Radiology and Medical Imaging at mbwilliams@virginia.edu or 434-953-6083 with inquiries and for further details.

High Point University Physician Assistant Studies

High Point University has positioned itself in a significant and meaningful way to meet the current and future requirements of healthcare and the needs of the communities they serve. At the forefront of their efforts is the newly developed Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. 

The MPAS program is excited to welcome its inaugural class in June 2015. Some of the distinctive advantages in the program include: 

• Advanced wireless patient simulators, with internal robotics that mimic human cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological systems. The simulators have realistic airways, articulated joints and blood on board, allowing full mobile simulation capabilities. 
• Newly released maternal/fetal simulator to educate PA students in the management of normal childbirth and complications arising from childbirth and pregnancy. 
• Central control room with one-way mirrors that allow faculty to direct and evaluate student performance.
• Ten patient examination tables, diagnostic sets, partial task trainers, equipment and supplies necessary for the acquisition of hands-on clinical skills.
• Four central projects screens providing students and easy view of skills and procedures demonstrated by the faculty.
• State-of-the-art digital recording system with which Standardized Patient encounters can be recorded. Students are then able to observe their patient encounters at a later date as a form of self-evaluation. 
• Electronic medical record (EMR) for documentation, prescription and laboratory orders following simulated experiences. 

If you have questions regarding the program or to find out more, contact Dr. Linda Sekhon, Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at lsekhon@highpoint.edu. 

If you have detailed questions related to admissions requirements or process, contact Dr. Mark Archambault, Director of Research and Chair of the MPAS Admissions Committee at marchamb@highpoint.edu. 

AAMC System Maintenance

Sunday, August 17th -- 5:00am - 12:00pm Eastern Time
Sunday, August 24th - 5:00am - 12:00pm Eastern Time

The AAMC will experience a technical outage on the above dates. This outage will impact new users receiving authorizations codes and individual test purchasers. Additionally, new users without a registered e-mcat account, will not be able to pick-up bulk products with authorization codes. Existing e-mcat account users will be able to use bulk order authorization codes. 

To prevent interruptions during this time: 

• Register as a new user at AAMC and establish an e-mcat.com account for the first time prior to these dates. 
• Existing e-mcat users can enter authorization codes for products and will not have access issues with previously purchased authorization codes. 

• To set up an account,  use the AAMC order system to acquire free Practice Test 3 at www.aamc.org/freemcatpractice.
  
• Be aware that you will not be able to purchase any MCAT practice tetss or self-assessment directly from the AAMC during the dates and times noted above. If you wish to purchase MCAT products, please do so in advance of either date to ensure you can practice.

 If you have any questions, please contact mcatprep@aamc.org. 

2015 AACPMAS Application Now Available!

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine is pleased to announce the new and improved 2015 AACPMAS Application is now available. 

Students interested in podiatric medicine can now begin their application at https://portal.aacpmas.org or from the AACPM homepage at www.aacpm.org. Applicants can also use a mobile app to keep updated on the status of their application. The app is available for activation by using a smart phone to scan the QR code with the application. 

All inquiries, questions, and transcripts should be sent to: 
AACPMAS
PO BOX 9200
Watertown, MA 02471
617-612-2900 (lines open M-F, 9a-5p Eastern)
aacpmasinfo@aacpmas.org

Volunteerism or Voluntourism?

In today's global age, it is easier than ever for college students to study abroad or participate in international service projects across the world. Many such projects involve short-term visits to developing countries with struggling populations. 

Simultaneously, in the age of social media it seems such “service projects” can become more about the volunteer’s self portrayal on Facebook and Instagram than about the struggling populations they served.  

At the intersection of global service and social media is voluntourism, which is “ultimately about the fulfillment of the volunteers themselves, not necessarily what they bring to the communities they visit.” Lauren Kascak, graduate of the Master’s Program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University, writes her own reflection of voluntourism and the narcissism of overseas selfies: http://tinyurl.com/ovxwg2y. 

Did you spend time serving underprivileged populations at home or abroad this summer? If so, think critically about your experience, what you learned, and the purpose of your participation. Although it’s understandable you’d like to share your experience with others, think about doing so with words rather than iPhone photos.

UVA Medical Scribe Program

Interested in becoming a scribe? 

Scribes are hired as hourly employees and assist the UVA Medical Center Emergency Department physicians by documenting the entire medical record. The responsibilities of Scribes include, but are not limited to, documenting the history of present illness, review of systems, physical exam, and procedure notes. In addition, Scribes track laboratory and radiology results. These responsibilities are part of a coordinated effort between the Scribe and the resident physician to ensure complete and accurate documentation. 

The program provides the opportunity for pre-medical students to gain significant clinical knowledge and experience while contributing to patient care in the Emergency Department. Through close interation with the ED physicians, Scribes gain great exposure to patient care and Emergency Medicine. 

For more information on applying and a list of Mandatory Information Sessions, please go to www.uvascribe.com. Deadlines are quickly approaching.