Transitions for UVA Career Center

As we prepare to enter the 2015-16 academic year, we have a few updates to share!

• Health Professions Advising (HPA) is now Pre-Health Advising. We still work with students in the preparation and application process (as well as alums in the application process) to gain admission to their health professional program of choice – just with a slightly different title!
• Health & Law Professions Advising (H&LPA) is now Graduate & Professional School Advising (GPSA). This means we work with students preparing for health professional programs, law school, and other graduate programs. We made this transition to serve and provide an even greater population of students with services to prepare for their next step after UVA. 
• University Career Services is now the UVA Career Center.

More updates to come as we approach the fall semester. You’ll begin to see more evidence of these transitions at our new website as well as our physical space in Bryant Hall when you come by to see us in the fall!

Paid Internship: Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine

Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine (HSRPKM
June 1st – August 1st

The Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine (HSRPKM) will offer a robust and varied introduction to the world of nephrology for the undergraduate college student who is considering a career in science or medicine. The Program will primarily be a research-based experience but will include a core curriculum that addresses the basic science and clinical fundamentals and challenges in the field. The Program will span the nephrology divisions of four Harvard-affiliated hospitals – Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston’s Children’s Hospital (BCH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). At the end of the program students will present their posters at the summer national symposium. (Location TBD)Students will receive a $1000 stipend for the summer. Complimentary Campus styled housing will be provided near the Longwood Medical in Boston area for the benefit of the students.

The program welcomes applicants from undergraduate college students that meet the following criteria at the time of application:

· Currently enrolled in a undergraduate degree granting program
· Currently a US citizen or permanent resident (international students are not eligible)
· Must agree to complete full 8 weeks

Admission will be based on the applicant’s academic record, including prior research, personal statement and 2 letters of recommendation from the applicant’s faculty advisor or research supervisor. Intent to pursue a Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. degree and prior research experience are desirable, but not required.
 
Application Procedure:
Applications should be completed online at http://hskp.bwh.harvard.edu/ and all supporting documents must be emailed to HSKP@PARTNERS.ORG by December 31 2015.

Please contact HSKP@PARTNERS.ORG for questions.
Connect with Alumni through FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/harvardsummerkidney

Prepare for Multiple Mini Interviews

There are a variety of interview types you may encounter during your application process for a health professional program. The Multiple Mini Interview format is a relatively recent interview technique which focuses on assessing an applicant's soft skills during a combination of 6-10 minute scenario-based situations.

To learn more, watch this video explaining how Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School organizes their interview process.

See the list of Medical, Dental, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Veterinary Schools Using the Multiple Mini Interview as of Spring 2017.

The MMI Is...
An opportunity to demonstrate inter/intrapersonal characteristics necessary for healthcare 

• Maturity: Adaptability, Leadership, Autonomy
• Judgement: Common Sense, Decisiveness, Reasoning
• Perseverance: Persisting in the face of challenge
• Self Confidence: Self-assurance and trust in one's skills
• Empathy: Tact, consideration, sensitivity to the needs of others
• Oral Communication: Articulateness, Clarity of expression
• Originality and Imagination: Ability to see and understand new and different perspectives and approaches
• Ability to work with people/cultural competency: Rapport, tact, consideration, cooperation, attitude, biases

The MMI is not...

• A test of your knowledge of any particular healthcare procedure or policy. You will not be asked to diagnose, order tests, prescribe medicine or a course of action.
• A critique of your acting skill in role play scenarios  
• A back and forth dialogue, a friendly conversation, an opportunity to "buddy up" or "butter up"
• An opportunity to highlight your __________ (unless it is relevant to the topic) 
• A chance to explain (or explain away) an unpleasant or less than stellar aspect of your file

What you need to know...
About yourself: 

• Be prepared to answer any behavior-based questions and ethical dilemma questions in a longer, extensive format (than traditional interviews)  
• Idiosyncrasies in your verbal and/or non-verbal behavior that have the potential to be exaggerated in a prolonged answer about a particular topic. 

About hot topics in healthcare: 

• Affordable Care Act
• Center for Disease Control 
• MedlinePlus
• National Institutes of Health
• National Public Radio's Health section 
• New York Times' Health section
• PubMed
• WebMD Health News 
• ExploreHealthCareers.org Health Policy Topics
• Current Issues and Food for Thought Sections of this Blog

How you may (possibly) be evaluated: 

• Ability to analyze information, engage ethical dilemmas and think critically about each scenario
• If you actually answer the question(s) presented
• Communication skills -- clear, well-thought out answers backed by examples or personal experiences
• Non-verbal skills -- eye contact, tone of voice, empathy, use of hands/gestures, posture
• How well you (actually) listen -- to the actor in role plays; to the follow-up questions
• Demonstrate an understanding and ability to discuss bioethics and healthcare issues

 Where to find practice questions & prep tools: 

• Columbia University Bioethics Program
• University of British Columbia
• University of Calgary
• Multiple Mini Interview, Sample MMI questions 
• University of Michigan Career Center Scenarios  

This information is primarily compiled by the University of Cincinnati Pre-Professional Advising Center

Unite For Sight's Global Health and Social Entrepreneurship Events

Check out these two events if you have an interest in public health, social entrepreneurship, or international development. Register today!

Social Entrepreneurship Institute in New Haven on October 30, 2015. 

The Social Entrepreneurship Institute will draw public health, social entrepreneurship, and education professionals and students for a focused, highly interactive and collaborative institute on quality, effective involvement in global health, social entrepreneurship, and international development. The expert speakers will offer key lessons, mentoring, and guidance about strategies that participants can apply to their work in global health, social entrepreneurship, international development, and education.

Global Health & Innovation Conference at Yale on April 16-17, 2016. 

The Global Health & Innovation Conference (#GHIC) is the world's leading and largest global health conference as well as the largest social entrepreneurship conference, with 2,200 professionals and students from all 50 states and more than 55 countries. This must-attend, thought-leading conference convenes leaders, changemakers, and participants from all sectors of global health, international development, and social entrepreneurship. 

ADEA Virtual Fair Videos

If you weren't able to attend the 2015 ADEA Predental Student Virtual Fair, you can now watch the presentations you missed on YouTube. You will find presentations about financing a dental education, the ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS®) the dental school application process and much more!https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCyJCPmOZNT7HrmpZI5bfp5LRBbDVJtzx

Upcoming PreSOMA Conferences

PreSOMA Conferences
September 19 at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
October 3 at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Pre-SOMA medical student leader-lead conferences are designed to provide information on Osteopathic Medicine for Pre-Health Advisors and prospective students, while also an opportunity for Pre-Health organizations at undergraduate and graduate schools to learn how to establish a Pre-SOMA Chapter on their campus.


Both conferences  will offer attendees incredible experiences and opportunities to connect with current medical school students, inspiring faculty members and to meet with many admission officers from across the country. These are especially great opportunities for those applying in the 2016 AACOMAS application cycle!


See the flyers for more information on the conferences: MU-COM and RowanSOM. Registration begins in mid-August.

Congratulations '14-15 Applicants!

As we prepare for a new academic year and begin a new application cycle, Pre-Health Advising would like to congratulate all of the UVA applicants who gained admission to their health professional program of choice during the 2014-15 application cycle! Those who individually notified us of their success are listed below. 

Arian Khorshi, School of Engineering and Applied Science, '14
Alexander Reed, College of Arts and Sciences, '15
Andrew Sanders, College of Arts and Sciences, '15
Brendan Butler, School of Engineering and Applied Science, '12
Carey Stewart, College of Arts and Sciences, '15
Clare Parker, College of Arts and Sciences, '15
Carlo Basilio, College of Arts and Sciences, '13
Caroline Mears, College of Arts and Sciences, '14
Connor Wang, College of Arts and Sciences, '14
Emily Evans, School of Engineering and Applied Science, '14 
Janice Park, College of Arts and Sciences, '15
Jessica Chaoul, School of Engineering and Applied Science, '15
Kayla Sheets, College of Arts and Sciences, '14
Keanan McGonigle, College of Arts and Sciences, '14 
L. Sun Park, College of Arts and Sciences, '14
Lauren Benoit, Curry School of Education, '15
Margaret Berrigan, College of Arts and Sciences, '14
Nicholas Lee, College of Arts and Sciences, '15 
Parker Campanella, College of Arts and Sciences, '15
Sarah Yang, College of Arts and Sciences, '14
Stephanie Sisak, College of Arts and Sciences, '14


Advice from the Alums for New Applicants 
"Remember that everyone has a different path to medical school. Study hard, but also partake in the activities you enjoy, even if it is not directly related to medicine. The process is just as important as the outcome, and every step of your journey will be meaningful on the application and interviews." 
-Sun

"Remember that whatever you want to accomplish in life, medicine is not the only path that can get you there. Finishing this commitment takes nearly a decade, so be certain before you commit. Make sure whatever reason you have for pursuing medicine is not dependent on others -- you should want to take this path for yourself, not just for someone else. It's neither easy and short, nor cheap, but it can be extremely rewarding!" 
-Arian

"Start as early as possible on the personal statement. If you start thinking about it months or years ahead of time, you will have more time to allow others to read your statement, and gain the clinical experience necessary for writing a good one."
-Alexander

"Shadow in a variety of specialties and clinics (i.e. private practices,Mission of Mercy projects, free clinics in underdeveloped countries, etc.). I enjoyed working alongside and learning from dentists, dental students, and other pre-dental students. This helped me flesh out the details of my dental career vision (research vs. serviced based, working alone vs. starting an associate practice, etc.)."
-Sarah

"1) A bridge year to work as a medical scribe was a great idea.2) Consider osteopathic schools. 3) Start studying for the MCAT sooner than you think. 4) Apply for scholarships." 
-Caroline

"Do try to do all the pre-med things: get clinical experience, do research, study hard, take practice MCATs, but also find something you really, truly enjoy completely outside of medicine. Don't do it for your resume, do it for you. Pursue it, look to take on leadership roles in it, have fun with it! Even if you don't start out doing it for your resume, this will provide a whole new facet to your application and make you unique, so don't tamp it down in order to push forward all your medical experiences. Plus, it will give you lots to talk about on your applications and in your interviews! 
-Janice

"Take advantage of the College Council's Take Your Professor Out to Lunch program each semester. I greatly value the stories and words of wisdom I gained from getting to know professors one-on-one. I also really recommend this for pre-dental students who feel unprepared for professional situations such as dental school interviews." 
-Sarah 

"Get applications in as soon as possible. The sooner you get the primary application in, the sooner you get the medical school's secondary application. It's all rolling admission so you want to give yourself the best chance by getting your application in early. Also, think about how you can distinguish yourself from your peers. Almost every school's application had a "what makes you unique?" type of question, so think of out-of-the-box ways to answer that." 
-Andrew

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*This is not a complete list of UVA applicants who were admitted. If you are a UVA grad who would like to be recognized here for successful admission to a health professional program in the '14-15 cycle, contact Jessica at jgbowers@virginia.edu.

AOTA Occupational Therapy Virtual Education Fair

AOTA Occupational Therapy Virtual Education Fair
August 4-5, 2015
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) will host its first-ever occupational therapy virtual education fair. Essentially, this is an online grad fair where OT programs across the country can connect and interact with prospective students in a live virtual setting. To learn more about this opportunity and to register your program alongside some of the top OT schools in the country, please visit www.careereco.com/events/aota. Hurry—registration closes July 24th!

Unite For Sight is Hiring

Unite For Sight Employment Opportunities

Program Manager (New Haven, Connecticut)
Applications for the Program Manager position are currently being accepted, and the selected candidate may begin employment between August and November 2015.

The Program Manager position provides an outstanding individual with an opportunity to engage in high impact front-line global health programs. The Program Manager works from our New Haven office that overlooks the Yale campus. The Program Manager helps to lead Unite For Sight's four program divisions, while contributing creative and cutting-edge ideas to a leading global health organization. Ideal candidates exemplify a balance of superior writing, analytical, and communications skills paired with a demonstrated commitment to excellence.

Global Health World Fellow

Applications for the Global Health World Fellow position are currently being accepted, and the selected candidate may begin employment between August and November 2015.

The Global Health World Fellowship provides an outstanding individual with an opportunity to engage in high impact front-line global health programs. The Global Health World Fellow works from our New Haven office that overlooks the Yale campus. In this full-time paid job position, the Fellow works closely with Unite For Sight’s CEO and with Unite For Sight's Executive Director on global health programming. The Global Health World Fellow opportunity is a 9-month to 1-year position starting in Summer/Fall 2015, with the opportunity for continued growth in the organization as a Program Manager after the first year

Please review the complete details and application instructions for the Program Manager position and for the Global Health World Fellow position.

Bridge Year Opportunity: Urology Clinic Full-Time Internship

Busy and pleasant Urology clinic in Reston, VA (Northern Virginia Area) is seeking a dependable, on-time, and cordial college graduate to join their team. This is a paid, full-time internship of 1-2 year(s) duration, perfect for an individual seeking more experience in the medical health sciences with hopes of going to a medical, nursing, physician's assistant, or allied-health sciences school. This would be an excellent opportunity for those taking a bridge year or two prior to attending professional school. 

You must be mature; organized; have excellent written, verbal, and typing skills; and must be committed to delivering excellent customer service. Proficiency with Microsoft Office 2010 is expected. No prior medical experience required, although preferred. 

Interns may receive training in any of the following: using electronic health records, collecting patient medical history, checking patients in and out at front desk, using electronic billing systems, answering phones, and keeping the meeting schedule for the physician. Applicants must be willing to learn and work with multiple medical systems. 

Immediate work available! Please email resumes to admin@urolady.comcastbiz.net. Please do not hesitate to contact the office at 703-742-7757. You may leave a message with the answering service if you are unable to reach someone. 

*Notification sent by UVA alum who worked in this office for the past year.

Work With Us! '15-16 Student Assistant Position

'15-16 Graduate & Professional School Advising Student Assistant Position

The UVA Career Center fosters holistic career development and facilitates connections to educate, inspire confidence, and empower all students to launch professionally and personally fulfilling lives. This position serves on the Graduate and Professional School Advising (GPSA) Team which functions within the Career Center to offer pre-health, pre-law, and graduate school advising to all UVa students.

Duties: Will work closely with the Graduate and Professional School Advisors to provide a wide range of services to UVa students preparing for health professional programs, law school, or graduate school.

Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:
• Maintain the Pre-Health Advising and Pre-Law Advising blogs per the GPSA marketing calendar
• Perform research to find articles, stories, resources, or other relevant content to develop timely web and listserv resources for students

See the job posting to see more duties.

Resumes will be accepted online via CAVLink or by email to jgbowers@virginia.edu through Friday, August 14, 2015. Top candidates will be contacted for Skype interviews no later than Friday, August 21, 2015. 

**Must qualify for work study to be paid.

Jefferson Trust Now Accepting Applications

The Jefferson Trust is pleased to announce that the application for funding for the 2015-16 grant cycle is now available. Each year, the trustees of the Jefferson Trust solicit proposals from U.Va. students, faculty, and organizations of any school, department, or program for initiatives that will enhance the University of Virginia as a preeminent global institution of higher learning.

Information Sessions: In August and September, the Jefferson Trust will hold information sessions open to all potential grant applicants. Dates and times will be announced shortly. A video of a session from 2012 is available on our website. Learn More

Grant proposals will be accepted through October 1, 2015. The proposal template can be downloaded from the Jefferson Trust website.

OTCAS Now Open!

The 2015-2016 Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) is now open.

Hoos in Cville: Great Internships Don't Have to Be Far Away

From today's publication of UVA Today: 

COLLEEN SURATT – University Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities
Fourth Year / Spanish and interdisciplinary studies, bioethics minor
As an intern at the University’s Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities, Colleen Suratt is spending her summer delving into some of the trickiest ethical dilemmas facing doctors and nurses today.

Suratt will shadow the center’s board members, consisting of faculty, social workers and medical professionals, as they provide on-call ethics consulting to the University Medical Center. When not at the hospital, she will compile a literature review of a particularly complex case the hospital faced a few months ago, which will help set a precedent for future cases.
This summer’s internship is the latest in a string of bioethics projects Suratt has completed, including an internship with Emory University’s Center for Bioethics that was funded by U.Va.’s Institute for Practical Ethics and Public Life.

“People are sometimes afraid to go out and ask for an opportunity, but it is so important. Even if they say no, that does not really hurt you,” Suratt said. Each opportunity has exposed her to different areas of bioethics, helping her to narrow future career paths.

“Bioethics is not a stand-alone field. You can approach it through many different avenues, from medical school to public health to philosophy or religious studies,” she said. “Hopefully being around people in the center this summer will help me to see which approach interests me most.”

PharmCAS Opens Today!

The 2015-2016 PharmCAS application will launch on July 15, 2015.

SEMSS Conference 2015 - Call for Abstracts

Southeastern Medical Science Symposium Conference 2015
Date: September 19th & 20th
Location: Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN


SEMSS is an annual meeting of MD/PhD students, MD students and undergraduates from the southeast designed to foster discussion about physician scientist career paths and research. Register here.

We are also accepting abstracts for poster and oral presentations. Any MD/PhD, MD, PhD, and undergraduate students are encouraged to submit - regardless of topic or level. There will be awards for the top 3 posters. Abstracts are due August 31, 2015 and can be submitted here.

An outline of the agenda is attached. For more information on SEMSS please visit http://www.southeasternmdphd.org/info/.

#ASKMDPHD Twitter Chat Tomorrow

Due to positive feedback from applicants and pre-health advisors after last month's Twitter Chat, the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program (Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering) will be answering MD-PhD related questions via Twitter #ASKMDPHD. 

Questions will be answered by:
Dr. Olaf Andersen, Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program Director
Ruth Gotian, Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program Administrative Director

Tuesday, July 14th - All Day
and 
Tuesday, August 18th - All Day

Don't forget to mark your questions with the #ASKMDPHD hashtag!

Rigidly structured childhoods and psychological blowback in college

 A recent article on Slate.com published excerpts from How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims, a former Stanford University dean: 
 
"In my years as dean, I heard plenty of stories from college students who believed they had to study science (or medicine, or engineering), just as they'd had to play piano, and do community service for African, and, and, and. I talked with kids completely uninterested in the items on their own resumes. Some shrugged off any right to be bothered by their own lack of interest in what they were working on, saying, "My parents know what's best for me...

In a 2013 survey of college counseling center directors, 

• 95% said the number of students with significant psychological problems is a growing concern on their campus, 
• 70% said the number of students on their campus with severe psychological problems has increased in the past year,
• reported that 24.5% of student clients were taking psychotropic drugs. 

 ...The increase in mental health problems among college students may reflect the lengths to which we push kids toward academic achievement, but since they are happening to kids who end up at hundreds of schools in every tier, they appear to stem not from what it takes to get into the most elite schools but from some facet of American childhood itself...

The data emerging about the mental health of our kids only confirms the harm done by asking so little of them when it comes to life skills yet so much of them when it comes to adhering to the academic plans we've made for them."

Continue reading here.

SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Information Session

SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Information Session
Wednesday, July 22, 2015, 10 am to 2 pm
Alumni Atrium
395 Lenox Road
Brooklyn, NY 11203

For College Juniors, Seniors & College Graduates interested in Medical School.
Includes: Curriculum overview, Admissions information, Meet current students, & Tour the campus

RSVP today here

How will you contribute to the diversity of a professional program?

As those of you in this summer's application cycle begin to receive secondary applications, you will probably encounter this question:

"How will you contribute to the diversity of your class and this institution?"

What does diversity mean to you? How might you answer this question? 
As you consider the topic, here is some food for thought from The Atlantic: The Weakening Definition of Diversity.

OptomCAS is now live for '15-16 cycle

OptomCAS has launched for application cycle 2015-2016! The link to access the application can be found at www.optomcas.org  and also directly at http://optomcas.liaisoncas.com. 

General information about the OptomCAS process along with more specific information about LORs and prerequisites, etc. can also be found at the www.optomcas.org website. 

If you are re-applying to OptomCAS, the re-applicant tools that allow you to copy information from your 2014-2015 OptomCAS application will be available on July 13, 2015. If you wish to copy information from your previous application, please wait until July 13, 2015 to start your new application.