Bridge Year Story: Aman Mangalmurti, UVA '17

UVA Today: Off Grounds & On the Job

"Often, the best part of UVA alumnus Aman Mangalmurti's week is time spent in local clinics with children and their parents.

Mangalmurti, who graduated in 2017, now works at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD in the Post-Baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award program. The neuroscience graduate is working in the Shaw Lab, a child psychiatry research group studying attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

"When you work with young kids, you hope you are making a long-lasting impact," he said. "ADHD affects so many people, so there is an opportunity for our research to have a large impact."

The lab tracks groups of children over time, studying their symptoms and social environments and using neuroimaging to track how their brains are developing. Mangalmurti said they especially focus on creating and analyzing large data sets - big data is a growing emphasis in neuroscience - and on patients' genetic makeup...

After his fellowship at the NIH ends this year, he hopes to enroll in an MD-PhD program and continue gaining research experience, likely still focused on pediatric health.

"One day, I would love to run my own lab, and perhaps be a professor," he said.

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Student Spotlight: Madeline Rita, UVA '18

Maternal Health Drives UVA's Newly Minted Luce Scholar
UVA Today, March 6th, 2018

Madeline Rita, who will graduate in May, is bound for Asia" to experience and learn from unfamiliar health belief systems."

Madeline, a fourth-year global development studies major, does not yet know in which Asian country she will live after she graduates, but she knows she will be working with a partner organization in a health care field. Rita received a Luce Scholarship, which provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia each year for 15 to 18 scholars who have had limited prior exposure to Asia.

"This opportunity is tremendously exciting becaues it gives me a chance to experience and learn from unfamiliar health belief systems," Rita said. "The way we encounter and engage illness tells a fascinating story about our cultural values and priorities, and there are so many resourceful, thought-provoking things people do to manage their health in different contexts. I'm eager to discover more of that."

A high school graduate of the Denver School of the Arts, Rita plans to attend medical school, possibly pursuing a dual degree in medical anthropology or public health. She hopes her time in Asia will influence her approach to medicine.

"Health care is a profession that deals with profound vulnerability and subjectivity," she said. "I hope my Luce year will help me become better equipped to assume that responsibility with the reverence and empathy it demands."

Emphasis added


Read the full story on UVA Today >>

Bridge Year Story: Dana Lueker, UVA '17

When did you graduate from UVA and what did you study? 
I graduated in May 2017. I majored in Global Public Health and took all the necessary pre-medical classes.

What made you decide to engage in a bridge year and how are you spending your time? 
I knew I did not want to go straight into medical school after finishing undergrad. After 4 very busy years at UVA, I knew I needed a break from academics, and I also wanted to get more "real world" experience. I did not have any real clinical experience during undergrad and I wanted to make sure medicine is really what I want to commit to. MedServe is actually a 2-year program, which will allow me time to really become part of a community and develop my role. This also gives me a bit of a break between graduating and starting my applications. Right now, I'm starting to research where I might apply, but I'm mostly working and enjoying some free time.

How did you learn about this opportunity? 
I first heard about MedServe through an email from the UVA Career Center. As I read more about the program, I realized it sounded like a perfect fit for me so I applied.

What does your experience consist of? Can you describe a typical day? 
I work at Harvest Family Health Center, which is in a rural area in eastern North Carolina, just outside of Rocky Mount. At the clinic I mainly work as a medical assistant. I bring patients back and take vitals and history. The patient population at Harvest is very diverse and I end up using Spanish pretty frequently. One great thing about MedServe is that our roles are somewhat flexible -- we can do whatever the clinic needs. I've only been at Harvest a few months now, and I am currently getting more involved with the existing outreach program for migrant farmworkers.

What distinguished this opportunity from other options you might have pursued? 
Honestly, everything. While there were other options that interested me, they didn't line up with my career goals in the same way. What first caught my attention was MedServe's focus on primary care and community health. I am very interested in this aspect of healthcare, but I didn't find other opportunities with that as the focus or that contained both clinical and community roles. MedServe also has a great support structure. There are other Fellows, and even though we are all across the state, it's great to have a people going through a similar experience, especially if you are new to the area. The program also includes check-in's, reflective assignments, and group summits, which are all to help us learn from and make the most of our experiences.

What was involved in the application process? 
The application process took place during the spring semester of fourth year. First, I completed an application that included several essays and submitted letters of recommendation. I was invited to interview, via Skype, with the program staff in early March. During the initial interview, we were asked about which sites were most interested in. The sites then interviewed their top candidates. I was originally wait-listed after the initial interview, but was called for another Skype interview, this time with the clinic manager and doctor at my site.

In what ways is this experience preparing you for your next step?
This experience has given me exposure to primary care in a rural setting that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. The clinic where I work also serves a large Spanish-speaking population; my Spanish skills and fluency have improved, which will definitely be useful in the future. I think having this experience will allow me to apply to medical school with a clearer idea of what areas I might want to go into, and also understanding the reality of healthcare. It's one thing to learn about an issue in class or hear it in the news; it's another to actually see it at work.

Would you recommend this opportunity to other UVA students? 
Definitely! Although I've only been part of MedServe for a few months, I"m so glad I am part of it. The MedServe sites are all extremely different, which provides opportunities in primary healthcare that can align with your specific interests, whatever they are.

Is there anything else you'd like to share? 
Don't panic if you haven't found what seems like the perfect opportunity yet. I was definitely stressed about what I was doing after graduation during the spring of fourth year, but I just kept looking and eventually everything came together. This is also no one "right" path to get where you want to be.

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Interested in learning more about the MedServe program or applying for your bridge year experience? Applications are due this year by October 28th!

Learn more!

Student Success Story: Lauren DesRoches, UVA '16

What led to your initial interest in the physician assistant career? What motivated you to pursue it?
My first exposure to the PA profession came when I saw a dermatology PA for a routine check up as a teenager. At the time, I was considering medical school but I became intrigued by the PA profession as my PA explained her role in the healthcare team and educational background. I shadowed multiple PAs and this reinforced my interest in the field. I ultimately chose the PA profession because I liked the high levels of face-to-face time with patients, the accelerated education/training, the flexibility to change specialties, and the opportunity to be a unique, yet important, part of the healthcare team. 


What did you major in and why did you choose this area of study?
I majored in Kinesiology and minored in Spanish! I would highly recommend Kinesiology to anyone interested in the healthcare field. I knew I was going to take many Biology courses as pre-requisites for PA school so I chose Kinesiology because it was a good complement to the nitty-gritty, rigorous, biology/chemistry classes I took. With Kinesiology I took classes that were multifaceted and oftentimes more clinically applicable than my basic science courses. I loved my Kinesiology classes like Nutrition and Contemporary Health Issues - classes that were both extremely interesting and relevant to me. The Kinesiology program is also smaller and all the professors are wonderful and approachable!

I minored in Spanish because I fell in love with the language in high school and didn't want to lose my proficiency in college. I would recommend minoring in a subject that you are truly passionate about, regardless of its connection to medicine. In my interviews, I spoke more about my Spanish classes than my pre-requisite courses and I definitely believe this skillset/passion helped me stand out. 

What activities were you involved in at UVA? 
I was involved with Future Physician Assistant Society, Madison House Medical Services, Greek life, Seeds of Hope, and Relay for Life. I also volunteered as an EMT with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad.

Did you take a bridge year before starting PA school? If so, what did you do during that time and how did it help you prepare for your next step?   
Yes, and I highly recommend a bridge year to pre-PA students. Although there are certain pre-requisites that all PA schools require (such as 2 semesters A&P), most programs vary  in terms of math, psychology, english, and biology electives (cell bio vs. genetics, etc.). Because of this variation its very difficult to take all the pre-reqs in 3 years in time to apply by the start of 4th year to avoid a gap year. Taking a bridge year not only gives you more time to complete all the programs' pre-requisites, but it also allows for more time to accrue clinical hours, which is arguably the most important part of PA school preparation. You are allowed to apply to some programs with unfinished pre-reqs and/or patient-contact hours, but its such a competitive application process that finishing up everything you need and taking a gap year is worth it in my opinion.

I used my gap year to gain more clinical hours, complete my PA school application, and interview at programs. I continued to volunteer with the rescue squad and got a job as a medical scribe working in a doctor's office. I accrued 1,600 total patient-care hours by the time I submitted my application in June. I interviewed at PA programs from August to December. Taking a gap year was very helpful because it allowed me more time to focus on preparing for and traveling to my interviews. It's also refreshing to have a break between UVA and PA school, which will be very rigorous and time-intensive. 

What distinguished your bridge year experience from other options you might have pursued? 
I got most of my direct patient contact hours as an EMT so I chose to scribe because it was a change of pace from what I was used to. I really liked scribing for a family practice because it allowed me to work regular hours and get paid (unlike EMT) and the company gave me days off to attend my interviews without question. I also learned so much working in a family practice office because they see such diverse cases and patients. Since I accompany the physician to see every patient, I also began to truly understand the physician's thought processes and clinical decision making, which is invaluable experience.

How did you prepare for the PA application process? 

• Pre-requisites: I started taking pre-requisites my first year so early preparation is key! I had an excel document that had listed each PA program and their pre-requisite courses (you can find this on the program's website). I mapped out which semesters I would take all my pre-requisite courses then updated it as needed.
• Direct patient contact hours: I volunteered as a physical therapy technician during my second year because I wanted to start getting experience but couldn't get into an EMT class at the time. I took an EMT class my third year and accumulated the majority of my hours with the rescue squad as a third and fourth year.
• Professional networking: Another part of PA preparation is professional networking for shadowing opportunities and letters of recommendation. I reached out to PAs that I had personally seen or that my family knew. I shadowed 5 PAs in different specialties. Not only did this reinforce that PA is the path for me, but it gave me something to discuss in my application essays/interviews. One of the PAs I shadowed wrote me letter of recommendation for my application. 
• Interviews: I complied a list of common interview questions (from google searches) on a word document and typed out my response to each question as well as a bullet point list of specific things about myself/experiences that I wanted to communicate to my interviewer if applicable. You definitely don't want to sound too rehearsed, but its easier to prepare thoughtful, coherent answers ahead of time and have those in mind. I interviewed at 10+ schools and skimming over my notes before each interview allowed me to feel calmer and more confident. 

Have you been accepted to a PA program thus far? If so, do you know where you plan to attend? 
I've been accepted to multiple programs. I will be attending Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. I begin in May 2017! 

What advice do you have for others considering a career as a PA?  

•  Organization and planning is key! I made an excel document that listed my top 10 programs and their pre-requisite courses, clinical hour requirements, whether or not they require the GRE, their CASPA application deadlines, and whether or not they require a supplmental application. 
• Get good letters of recommendation. I highly recommend getting at least 3 LORs - 1 from a professor, 1 from a supervisor who oversees your clinical hours, and 1 from a PA. These cover all your bases. It may seem obvious, but having a PA write the LOR is much preferable to a physician. 
• Apply early in the application cycle. I can't stress this enough! The earlier you submit your application - especially if all your pre-reqs, hours, and GRE are completed - the better your chances of being invited for interviews. CASPA opens in late April each year. I finished all my applications, including supplementals, by mid-June.
• Shadow! Even though not all schools require it, I had over 80 shadowing hours in 5 different specialties. Shadowing is an easy thing to do over summer and winter breaks and shows schools you are committed to and knowledgeable about the PA profession. 
• Make your application essay unique. Its hard to stand out but try your best! For example, I opened my essay talking about my freckles. It was unexpected but I connected it to my exposure to the PA field and subsequent healthcare experience. A couple schools mentioned my essay which shows they actually do read them! 
• Get involved with the Future Physician Assistant Society. Not only are they a great resource but it looks good on your application. 

In what ways did UVA Pre-Health Advising support you in your journey? What was most helpful? 

• I met with an advisor to go over my resume and application essay, which was definitely one of the most helpful things in preparing my application materials. 
• I also signed up for the "Pre-Health Pulse," which is a newsletter than contains many helpful blog posts, links, and upcoming workshops.  

Lauren is happy to speak with UVA students considering a PA career. If you'd like to get in touch with Lauren, please contact a UVA Pre-Health Advisor.