Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Info Session for Lynchburg College PA Medicine Program

Info Session for Lynchburg College PA Medicine Program
Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m.

The program is located in the lower level of the Graduate Health Sciences building at 300 Monticello Ave, Suite B. You will have the opportunity to talk with faculty in our newly renovated facility. PA Medicine students will learn in a state-of-the-art simulation lab, a fully equipped physical diagnosis lab and procedures lab in order to prepare them to become advanced health care professionals. The Physician Assistant Medicine program will give students a strong foundation for patient-centered medicine. The Physician Assistant Medicine program at Lynchburg College will enroll the first cohort for June 2015. You may also find information on the Physician Assistant Medicine website.

You may register
online. Future sessions will also be offered.

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Diversity Open House

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Diversity Open House
Saturday, April 25th, 10a.m. to 2p.m.
401 South Broadway Camden, NJ 08103

CMSRU’s Diversity Open House is open to all prospective students; however priority is given to students from traditionally underrepresented groups, including African-American, Hispanic/Latino American, Native American and first-generation/low income students.

The event provides prospective students with information about preparation for medical school, the application process, a question-and-answer forum, and a tour of the building. In addition, a panel of medical students will be available to answer questions during lunch.

There is no fee to attend, but advanced registration is required. Students may register online at
here. The registration deadline is Friday, April 17th. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Octavia Nash at nash@rowan.edu.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Student Success Story - Connor Wang, UVa '14

Student Success Story - Connor Wang, UVa '14

1. What led to your interest in medicine?
I grew up in a family rooted in medicine; naturally, many people felt that my decision to pursue medicine was a knee-jerk reaction to follow in my family’s footsteps, but my initial passion for medicine was actually most inspired by one of my family members who struggled with illnesses and disabilities since birth. Shadowing her medical visits, I saw how physicians were not only able to treat and allay her worries and concerns but also heal the family. This observation generated a strong interest in medicine for me. However, what really solidified my interest in medicine were the clinical and non-clinical activities I became involved in at UVa. I shadowed physicians, conducted both clinical and basic research, worked in specialty clinics, volunteered at various organizations on and off Grounds, held leaderships, etc. All those activities provided me glimpses at the sort of physician I aim to become; the clinical activities showed me how humbling it is for physicians to impact patients’ lives through every encounter.

2. Who or what inspired you to pursue medicine?
Like I alluded to in my answer to #1, my initial interest was sparked by one of my family members who suffered a great deal of illnesses and disabilities. Caring for her alongside her team of physicians and medical professionals gave me looks at the humanistic side of medicine and the kind of compassionate physician I can hopefully become.

3. What did you major in and what inspired you to choose this/these area(s) of study?
I majored in Biology. It opened up a lot of opportunities for me to learn more about intricacies of all levels of organization in organisms. Being a Biology major also afforded me a better understanding of my research projects.


4. What activities did you participate in at U.Va?
On Grounds, I held leadership positions in cultural and various other CIOs – most significant of those was my involvement with the Organization of Young Filipino Americans. Further, I conducted research at the School of Medicine and did a year of clinical research internship with the Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences Department of the hospital. I volunteered with Madison House for many years. Lastly, I was fortunate to have shadowed an endocrinologist at UVa and other physicians overseas.

Off Grounds, I worked as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic and volunteered at various other organizations.

5. How did you prepare for the medical school application process? 
I did extensive research on the schools and started writing my personal statement as early as I could to get as many eyes as I could on it. Also, it’s important to get everything ready ASAP – it makes a huge difference whether you submit early or late.

Further, start early by planning which professors you will be asking for recommendations and build relationships with them. An important note is that some schools will read as many as you send them, some have limits, some have strict requirements, some are very lenient, etc. Make sure you cover your bases with at least 2 science letters, 1 non-science letter, and 1 non-academic letter.

Lastly, think about how you are unique. What can you bring to the table that will make admission officers want to interview/accept you over literally the other thousands of applicants with the same stats as you?

6. How did you balance the demands of applying to medical school with additional obligations and challenges?
I took a gap year at the suggestion of my friends and UCS advisors and at the dismay of my parents. It opened up so much time for me to work on my application, secondary essays, and prepare for interviews. It also played a huge role in improving my candidacy and did wonders for my own personal development/sanity. It’s a game changer.

7. Have you been accepted to a medical school thus far?
Yes. As I am writing this (late March), I am leaning towards continuing my studies in Charlottesville at UVA SOM; however, financial aid will end up playing a large role in my decision. Aid offers come out in April.

8. What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
Be proactive, work hard, keep your GPA high, do your best on the MCAT, be dedicated to your commitments, make sure medicine is for you, and most important do not forget to enjoy your time in college. Have tons of fun!

9. In what ways did Health Professions Advising support you in your journey? What was most helpful?
I attended several UCS workshops, including: a resume workshop, a personal statement workshop, personal statement editing with pre-health advisors, mock interviews, etc. These were incredibly helpful to my application process, but I’d say that the mock interview really helped build my confidence and helped me get into my top choice medical schools.

10. Is there anything else you would like to share?
Don’t forget to have fun! Good luck!

UVa Research Week 2015

April 2-10 
This is a chance for students to learn more about UVa-funded research opportunities such as the Harrison, Double-Hoo, Arts Award, Community-Based Undergraduate Research Award, and Jefferson Public Citizen program. Current student award winners will present their work at the various receptions and presentations taking place during Research Week. See the flyer for a listing of events.

Pre-Medical Panel This Thursday

Thursday, 4/2, 7:30pm 
Physics Building, room 203

The Pre-Med Mentoring Program will host a panel made up exclusively of UVa Medical students who completed their undergraduate degrees at UVa.

Revised Office Hours - 4/1/15

Health Professions Advising Monroe Hall (room 263) Office Hours on Wednesday, 4/1/15 will close at 3:30pm.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Summer Volunteering - Martha Jefferson Hospital

Martha Jefferson Hospital is accepting applications for summer volunteering. If you are interested or would like to learn more, please contact Michele Shepherd at mmshephe@sentara.com.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

University of the Pacific School of Dentistry Pride Day

University of the Pacific School of Dentistry Pride Day
Saturday, April 18, 2015, 9:00 am - 2:30 pm
University of the Pacific
Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
155 Fifth Street San Francisco, CA
Map & directions

Know someone interested in dentistry? Want to meet the Pacific Dugoni family and see our new San Francisco campus? Then sign up for Pacific Pride Day — an annual event that enables prospective students and their families to get an inside look at the DDS and IDS programs at University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School Dentistry. Our students, faculty and staff are excited to share their experiences with you and give you a glimpse of dental school life.

 Take a look at our website
 to purchase your tickets and to learn more about the event.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

VCU School of Dentistry Open House

VCU School of Dentistry Open House
May 14, 2015, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

We will be going over the basics of the D.D.S. program, as well as the admissions requirements and the application process. Attendees will also have chance to tour the dental school facilities. Register online today at here. This event is FREE! 

 Please contact Lindsay Smith at smithlj2@vcu.edu or 804-628-2283 with any questions.
 




University of Richmond's 2015 Summer MCAT Preparatory Program

University of Richmond's 2015 Summer MCAT Preparatory Program
The University of Richmond, in conjunction with the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance, offers a summer MCAT Preparatory Program to students enrolled in Virginia's historically black colleges and universities and other Alliance schools. This program provides students the opportunity to advance their skills through an intensive five week course. Accepted students receive housing, meals, a $500 stipend, access to the University's top facilities and all materials needed for the course. See the
website for more program information. 

See
here for the application. The application deadline is April 24, 2015, but we will be using a rolling admissions process this year, so early submissions are strongly encouraged.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

What’s with the Green Dot?

What’s with the Green Dot?
Thursday, 3/26, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Amphitheatre (Rain site: Newcomb Ballroom)
Come learn about the importance of bystander intervention and the role you can play to make our community a safer place. Together we can engage in conversation and decisions that will help promote lasting cultural change. Follow us @NotonOurGrounds. Check out #GreenDotUVa and #HoosGotYourBack.
Facebook event.






Dr. Terrence Holt: Ars/Medica: The Role of Narrative Medicine

Friday, 3/27, 7:00 p.m., Jefferson Hall (Hotel C)
The Jefferson Literary and Debating Society is pleased to present the 5th speaker in the Spring 2015 Distinguished Speaker Series, Dr. Terrence Holt. An associate Professor of Medicine at UNC and an award-winning author, Dr. Holt is currently working towards creating a course for undergraduates at UNC that will fuse medicine, literature, and culture, and underscore the complementary nature of the three fields.

Health for America Fellowship


Applications due April 6 

This yearlong, full-time program is open to young leaders who graduated, or will graduate, between January 2012 and July 2015. We provide a $50,000 stipend to our HFA Fellows, as well as travel opportunities. Although it takes place in the world of healthcare, we are seeking applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, including (but not limited to) entrepreneurship, engineering, design, health, and the humanities.

See flyer for more information.
 
Click here  for answers to Frequently Asked Questions.







Monday, March 23, 2015

Fall 2015 Health Professions Related Courses

See the list of courses of interest for health professions for Fall 2015. This list is not comprehensive of all possible courses. It showcases courses of potential interest to pre-health students for the fall 2015 semester.

Student Success Story - Amrit Singh, UVa '11

American University of the Caribbean Scholarship Recipient
 

"Mr. Amrit Singh, of South Riding, Virginia, was recently the recipient of the highest scholarship award given by the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC). The Dean’s Award of Excellence Scholarship, an award in the amount of $25,000, recognizes students who come to AUC with exceptional academic achievements and a demonstrated commitment to service. Singh is one of the top incoming students in AUC’s January 2014 class..."

See website for the rest of the article.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Howard University College of Dentistry Impressions Program

HUCD Impressions Program
April 4, 2015 from 8:00AM-5:00PM.
Howard University College of Dentistry
600 W Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Professional attire is expected.


Registration Instructions
Step 1
Please note, advanced registration is $10 and is to be paid via the PayPal account listed below. Once you have paid through Paypal, please email your PayPal receipt with the registration form completed. Cut off for advanced registration is March 31st at 5pm.PayPal:
Amarteifiovn.vcu.edu
*note: please place your full name and impressions program in the message section
Step 2
Please type your name, school, and payment status on the
excel sheet.

Your registration will not be complete until the registration form and excel sheet are completled, as well as payment.

If you are interested in having your personal statement reviewed, it must be submitted to the email address listed below no later than 5:00PM April 1, 2015. Please email all registration information and any questions to:
SNDAimpression2015@gmail.com








Wednesday, March 18, 2015

CANCELED -- GW George Washington University Physician Assistant Program Info Session


Due to unforeseen circumstances, this program is canceled. FPAS apologizes for the last minute change and any inconvenience.


George Washington University Physician Assistant Program Info Session
Hosted by the UVa Future Physician Assistant Society (FPAS)
Thursday, March 19th, 12-1pm
Newcomb, Room 481

The Future Physician Assistant Society (FPAS) at UVa is excited to host GWU PA Program representatives, Ms. McKan and Dr. Wright. They will speak with UVa students about the program and answer any questions.

The GWU PA program is ranked by US News & World Report as the #3 PA program in the country, and associated with the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. It is also closely tied with the Milken Institute School of Public Health. Come and stay as long as you can! We hope to see you there!

ACC Debate Tournament

April 10-12, 2015
Wake Forest University’s Graylyn International Conference Center


The member schools of the ACC have recently decided to revive a ACC Debate Tournament/Championship. The ACC championship debate tournament will provide accommodations, meals, out of conference judging, tournament souvenirs, and trophies for the participants. The Provost Office will cover the costs of travel (driving).

The topic of this year’s debate competition is: Resolved: Student athletes should receive monetary compensation for participating in athletic competitions
Each school is represented by a team consisting of two students and a debate coach (optional). Given the short time frame, a video application process is being used to help select UVa’s team. If you are interested in being considered for the team, see the information sheet for general information and the instruction sheet for composing and submitting applications.
 


Applications are due by Friday, March 27th at 5 pm (late submissions will not be accepted).

If you have questions, please direct them to: Archie Holmes, Vice Provost for Educational Innovation and Interdisciplinary Studies
ah7sj@virginia.edu







Temple University Physical Therapy (DPT) Program Open House

Temple University Physical Therapy (DPT) Program Open House
Saturday, March 28, 2015, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Room 101 Pharmacy Building
3307 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 10140

Interested in physical therapy as a career? RSVP to the Temple DPT Open house.
RSVP: Nicole White,
nicolewhite@temple.edu

Sacred Heart University Graduate Open House

Sacred Heart University's Graduate Program Open House
Saturday, March 28, 9:00 A.M.
Fairfield, CT Campus | University Commons


 Learn more about our graduate programs in individual presentations by program directors and faculty. Admissions and Financial Aid staff will be available to discuss requirements and procedures.

Programs:
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Orthopaedic PT Residency
*Physician Assistant Studies
*Developing program pending state approval & ARC-PA provisional accreditation.
Anticipated Fall 2016 start.

For detailed program information, please click on the links above. Register here.





Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Flash Seminar: The Affordable Care Act Contested

Professor David Klein, Politics Department
Thursday, March 19th @ 4:00 p.m.

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act, the most significant overhaul of the US healthcare system in over fifty years. Since it was signed into law, it has become one of the most heavily contested achievements of President Obama’s presidency. This term, the Supreme Court is considering who qualifies for federal subsidies that lower the cost of health insurance premiums. This question is one of interpreting a statute rather than the Constitution. In this Flash Seminar, we will look at the challenges of interpreting a statute objectively when policy preferences can so easily push justices a certain way. Join Professor David Klein to discuss the ways in which the Supreme Court acts to interpret laws, both by interpreting statutes and interpreting the Constitution, by looking at the current Affordable Care Act case. Sign up
here.

Medical Center Hour - March 18th and 25th

March 18th
12:30-1:30pm 
Unquiet Minds: Living with Bipolar Illness
Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, 
The Dalio Family Professor in Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore MD
Co-presented with the Women's Initiative, Charlottesville VA, in association with the Virginia Festival of the Book

March 25th 
12:30-1:30m
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? 
Roz Chast, Cartoonist, The New Yorker, and Finalist for the 2014 National Book Award in Non-Fiction for Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?

The Medical Center Hour takes place in the Jordan Conference Center Auditorium
Watch the Medical Center Hour on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uvamch

Monday, March 16, 2015

Eastern Virginia Medical School Information Session

Wednesday, March 18, 2015
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Bryant Hall

Dr. Michael Solhaug, an EVMS Admissions Representative, will provide an overview of the medical school application process with emphasis on EVMS admission requirements. RSVP not required. Open to all students.

VCU School of Dentistry Info Session


Wednesday, March 18, 2015
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Bryant Hall

Dr. Susie Goolsby, an Admissions Office representative from the VCU School of Dentistry will be visiting UVa. Dr. Goolsby will provide an overview of the dental school application process with emphasis on VCU's admission requirements. Open to ALL students. An excellent opportunity for any student interested in the field of dentistry. RSVP not required.


Student Success Story - Alicia Muratore UVa '14






What led to your interest in medicine?
My interest in medicine began with a childhood curiosity. I told others of my interests and ambitions and they encouraged me to further explore them. Starting in seventh grade, I began shadowing doctors in order to observe the day-to-day experiences of a physician. Additionally, I began to seek more ways to learn about the field such as volunteering in the hospital, speaking with physicians, and researching the professions. This led me to volunteer experience at a local hospital. Through these experiences, I learned that serving the community as a physician was the path for me.

Who or what inspired you to pursue medicine?
I was inspired to pursue medicine by the physicians I shadowed. Seeing how they were able to help their patients motivated me to want to do the same.

In addition, volunteering as an undergraduate at the UVA Medical Center in the Family Medicine and Acute Pediatrics Units inspired me to continue to pursue medicine. During my time in the Acute Pediatrics unit, volunteering taught me the importance of taking time for quality interactions. I did not have to do "something big" to make a difference. Although I was not the physician treating the child, I left the Pediatric Unit knowing that I did make a difference in a child's life.

What did you major in and what inspired you to choose this/these area(s) of study?
I majored in Biology. I decided to pursue a degree in biology, because I found the classes and topics intriguing. In addition, the setup of the major allowed room for me to take classes in a variety of fields that I found interesting, ranging from sociology, to anthropology, to ethics. 

What activities did you participate in at U.Va?
At UVA, I served as a Student Study Coordinator at a Radiology Research lab through the UVA Hospital. In addition, I volunteered through Madison House in the Family Medicine and Acute Pediatrics Centers. I was on the executive committee of the Women’s Leadership Development Program. I was as a Resident Advisor during my second year. I was also in Alpha Chi Omega and served as Vice President of Risk Management.

How did you prepare for the medical school application process?
I looked up different requirements through both UVA’s Health Profession Advising Website and the AAMC Website. These resources gave me the general idea of how the process worked. The most help I received in preparation was from speaking directly with people. I talked to many upperclassmen about their experiences to get an idea of how the process actually looked. In addition, I met frequently with the Health Profession Advisors to get a more detailed idea of how the process would work and how best to prepare for it. 


What resources did you utilize, if any, from health professions advising that was helpful to you in the application preparation/process?
During my time at UVA, I utilized many resources from Health Professions Advising. I frequently attended drop-in hours at Monroe Hall. In addition, I made appointments with the advisors when I had concerns or questions that I knew would take longer than the drop-in time allotted. During my third year, I took advantage of the numerous resources they offer for students entering the application cycle. I found the group advising sessions helpful in providing information about the application process as a whole. The most useful resource for me was the mock interview. It provided helpful feedback and helped me to feel comfortable during my actual interviews.

How do/did you balance the demands of medical school with additional obligations and challenges?
I completed all of my primary and a majority of my secondary applications during the summer. Having the essays complete prior to school starting helped significantly. Interviews fell during the school year. I found that if I talked with my professors ahead of time they were very accommodating.

What medical school are you attending and how did you decide to attend this institution?
I am attending Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (there was a recent name change- it used to be Jefferson Medical College). I truly enjoyed my interview and second look days at Jefferson. When it came time to decide which school I wanted to attend, I picked Jefferson because I felt that the students and faculty created an environment that I would do well in.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
Do things because you enjoy doing them, not because you feel like you have to do them. If you are truly passionate about the activities that you are doing, then this will be apparent on your applications and during your interviews.