University of Minnesota (UM) Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is one of the foremost medical institutions offering top-caliber education to promising individuals. The university takes one of the higher spots in the country’s rankings for best medical schools because UM promotes the core values of a medical professional–commitment, understanding, and compassion. These, together with instruction and training through advanced digital technologies in the field of medicine, enable UM graduates to take their place among the best doctors in the United States and the world. Check out the university’s website to learn about admission details.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)
The University of Tennessee Health Service Center was established in 1911 at Memphis. For decades, the university has been providing education in medicine that is recommendable to any talented and eager scholar. “Improving the health of Tennesseans” is the motto of the university and its intensive programs and advanced research and learning facilities enable graduates to provide a flawless execution of patient care. The UTHSC today has campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Martin. Applicants who want to dedicate their life to medical and health services can choose to visit any of the campuses or check out the university’s official site to fill up an online application form.
University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVA)
It was the University of Virginia School of Medicine that first acquired a full-time professor among other UVA departments during its earlier days. UVA was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1812 in Charlottesville, Virginia, and initially had only a handful of specializations and course offerings. Nevertheless, UVA is the alma mater of many well-renowned doctors and medical educators in the United States. Through dedicated instruction and hands-on training, graduates of UVA are able to gear up for the demands of the medical industry.
Not everyone who studied medicine for nearly a decade get to pursue a hospital career . Their medicine degrees, however, won’t be put to waste as the corporate world opens new doors to a different career path. Here are some positions where medical graduates are key players:
Genetic counseling
Genetics has become a tool for more than just tracing bloodlines. As a genetics counselor, a doctor confers with patients with genetic histories of disorders. Medical information about their background, analysis of their genetic patterns, and assessing the risks of disorders recurring in the present or future generation are done by genetics counselors. This position not only requires clinical duty, but also practice professional sympathy by providing emotional support and counseling. Medical graduates who want to go into this profession should have at least taken units of genetics, biology, psychology, and public health.
Medical examiner
After the success of many police-medical dramas and TV series, a lot of people, including medical students, have turned their aspirations toward becoming another Jordan Cavanaugh of Crossing Jordan or Dr. Al Robbins of CSI. These characters portrayed medical examiners employed by the police to investigate cases. Instead of pulling out stories from live patients, medical examiners find out the truth from the dead. The evidence culled by medical examiners play key roles in investigations as they can also be called to court to testify and present their findings. For those who want to enjoy a CSI-esque career, be prepared to take up or brush up on physiology, anatomy, pathology, biochemistry, and your carving skills.
Everybody wants to make a difference or make their mark in this world. Even when not in a hospital setting that doesn’t mean you can’t help others anymore. A medical degree can take you a long way, in whatever track you might want to pursue.
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Hospital dramas and shows have engrossed many viewers and made notable personalities such as Dr. McDreamy of Grey’s Anatomy and Dr. House of House, M.D. a household name. Audiences are entertained and educated with various medical conditions, diagnoses, and treatments that are featured in the captivating scenes of these medical shows. Despite the entertainment they provide, some viewers may be left in the dark when it comes to the hierarchy of the characters or hospital staff, say in ER or in Scrubs. Here’s a quick rundown of the titles carried by medical practitioners::
Chief attending
Dr. Richard Webber of Grey’s Anatomy carries the title of big honcho. As chief attending, he is responsible for keeping the entire hospital department running smoothly. The chief attending is considered the boss who makes big decisions or confers with the other big bosses (such as the private owners) for running the hospital.
Attending physicians
Attending physicians are doctors who have gained some experience in their field of specialization. This title may be assigned after finishing a certain period of training for the said specialization. Attending physicians may also head or hold officership positions in their sub-departments. They are responsible for heading a team of residents and interns as well. Attending physicians may conduct courses to interns in teaching hospitals.
Medical residents
Newly-proclaimed doctors, fresh from board and internship exams, are proclaimed medical residents in a hospital. They are doctors who can practice medicine under the watch of their supervisors, the attending physicians, and can now legally attend to patients. Medical residents do their fare share of teaching through medical interns.
Medical interns
After graduating from med school, you can start working in a hospital under the title of medical intern. Medical interns, though, are not yet licensed to practice medicine but are only allowed to observe and participate or “scrub in” for medical and surgical procedures.
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So what makes a doctor good? Is it the brains? Is it the people skills? Or, is it because one came from a reputable medical academic institution such as Harvard Medical School? Read on for a list of some of the qualities that help doctors become successful in the field despite the erratic schedules and the heavy caseloads.
Doctors must be people persons
Aside from being a medical maverick and genius, good doctors also need to have people skills, especially when interacting with a lot of patients, who may be confused or emotionally befuddled about their conditions. Breaking the bad news is also never easy for most doctors. Though this part of the job is also described as one of the hardest tasks doctors do, learning how to tell family members the right way takes time and experience.
Doctors must pay attention to detail
Dr. House is deemed the medical Sherlock Holmes due to his keen observations skills. In the TV series, House makes use of psychology and take hints his patients’ lives. Real-life doctors, on the other hand, should possess the same dogged interest even in the little things such as lumps that could turn into cancer or a twitch that may actually be a symptom of a life-threatening disease. Attention to detail makes the job of doctors easier, allowing them to diagnose and treat patients more effectively.
Doctors must value time and use it wisely
You don’t outgrow your schedules when you graduate from med school. In fact, doctors are known to lead such scheduled lives to make sense of all the things happening around them. Time management skills could be honed while still studying in med school. Consider making a time table of the things that you need to do such as studying for pharmacology from 8pm to 10pm. Be sure to accomplish your tasks up to 10pm, so you could go to that late dinner, have a night cap with friends, or hit the sack right after. Setting a deadline also encourages doctors to think faster and come up with solutions even in a short time.
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Before getting into med school, many students have set their minds on the specializations they wish to take in their residency. In fact, they may even include their field of interest in their personal statement for medical school. Stating the field of specialization in your personal statement for medical school may show how career-oriented you are. Choosing your specialization, however, can be an arduous task with numerous areas to choose from and different factors to consider. To aid you in making the right choice, here a few of the most competitive areas of specializations that are popular with medical students at the moment.
Dermatology
Doctors practicing dermatology are raking in profits, as people today are becoming more aware of their skin health and overall appearance. Though dermatologists provide medical advice on skin care and the preservation or enhancement of physical beauty, most skin specialists also make assessments and prescribe treatments that go beyond skin deep. Serious skin conditions such as psoriasis, impetigo, dermatitis, eczema, melanoma, and even the full-blown kind of acne are treated by dermatologists. Many doctors decide to specialize in dermatology for the promise of higher salaries, with patients who are willing to pay large amounts for vanity’s sake and treatment of skin problems.
Neurosurgery
Another complex organ of the body that requires proper care and attention is the brain. Neurosurgery is the new rocket science that many brave medical students are gearing up for. It would be best to think of neurosurgery as the most delicate specialization, as this involves not only the study of the brain, but also performing delicate operations on it. A doctor who aims to specialize in neurosurgery should be well-versed with the symptoms, sicknesses, and treatments that affect the brain. They also need to have good locomotor skills in able to operate on patients. Handling the most powerful yet most delicate organ of the human body entails precision and well-calculated movements, as a slip can already have dire consequences.
Those who wish to specialize in neurosurgery would normally talk passionately about the challenge of this practice in their personal statement for medical school. Medical professionals who are brave enough to face the risks of performing operations may specialize in this field of medicine.
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You thought the worst was over once you got into a residency at a hospital. Still, choosing an area of expertise is another tough decision for doctors to make. There are a variety of specializations to choose from. Here are some of the more popular choices of expertise:
* Pediatrics
Kids are cute and fragile. Because their immune systems are not yet as strong as adults’, most of them tend to get sick or acquire some illness or another. Pediatrics is a popular choice for doctors to specialize in it, probably because of the natural urge to care for children. Pediatrics, however, means more than just listening to heartbeats and breathing patterns. Pediatricians must master the art of reaching out to their young patients, who usually dread trips to the doctor’s office. Aside from diagnosing the illness and prescribing medicines for it, pediatricians also educate parents on the proper care of their children’s well-being. Pediatrics is also a lucrative specialization, as there can never be a shortage of children in most areas or of parents who pay large amounts for the well-being of their kids.
* Plastic surgery
Though vanity is oft-quoted as the root of all evil, many medical practitioners see man’s (or woman’s) quest for beauty as a very profitable specialization to venture into. Plastic surgery is one of the most popular specializations these days and also one of the hardest subjects to master and excel in. Aside from enhancing what one already has, plastic surgery also has a functional aspect by reconstructing body parts that have been deformed congenitally or through accidents. To some, plastic surgery is like an art form that uses the body as a canvas. Still, it’s more than just molding and reshaping body parts. Plastic surgery usually involves a major medical operation; with any operation, risks are involved. That’s why plastic surgeons have to take into account the patient’s condition, not only on the external appearance, but also based on the patient’s inner well-being.
* Obstetrics and gynecology
Female doctors also like to specialize in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, as most of them easily gain familiarity in this practice. The care and maintenance of female body parts contribute to the well-being of a woman and of her unborn child as well. This is also a lucrative specialization as doctors can be assured of a steadfast clientèle, with expectant mothers and non-pregnant women becoming more aware of the need to observe good reproductive health.
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Though movies often take viewers on journeys to the unfamiliar, some are modeled around real places and events. Films about medical school have engrossed viewers with sensationalized takes on the lives of medical interns and students. Here are top five movies revolving around the sleep-deprived and adrenaline-charged arenas of medical study:
Of Human Bondage (1934)
Leslie Howards stars as struggling artist-turned- medical student Philip Carey in this movie of unreciprocated love. Bette Davis stars as the object of Carey’s affection, Mildred, a manipulative illiterate tearoom waitress, who haunts Carey’s daydreams in med school. This movie showcased Davis’ acting prowess as the overbearing Mildred whom Howards’ character is obsessively shackled to while completing med school.
Bad Medicine (1985)
After being rejected by every American medical school, Jeffrey Marx is sent off by his father to a medical school of questionable rank somewhere in Central America. Marx falls head over heels with a classmate but answers a noble calling by providing illegal medical assistance to the poor villagers.
Gross Anatomy (1989)
Joe Slovak starts his first year in med school with a bang, his wayward manners earning him laughs from classmates and rebuke from his strict professor. See how Slovak deals with the rigors of med school, prove his worth to an overbearing teacher and win over a career-driven classmate’s heart while staying true to himself.
Vital Signs (1990)
While vying for internship in a hospital, a group of medical students realize that getting into hospitals isn’t as peachy as it seems. Two third year medical students from opposite sides of the spectrum try to garner the illustrious position, while nursing their own grievances. LA Central Medical school not only teaches them about easing other’s sufferings, but also their own.
Anatomy (2000)
Franka Potente stars in this German film about stellar student Paula Henning’s internship at the University of Heidelberg Medical School. When a second meeting with a man she rode on the train with happens on her dissecting table, Paula questions where and how the school procures its specimens. As a number of her classmates mysteriously drop dead along the length of the course, she discovers a secret group of students performing autopsies on live people.
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Studying for med school is no easy feat to accomplish all by your self. Fortunately, you can join or even start a study group where you can make studying a social event as well. Read on to know why joining study group sessions are worth your time and effort.
No room for procrastination
Procrastination hits everybody at some point, and it strikes hard when you’re alone. Alone you’ll probably have more tendency to put off what you should do, worrying only about yourself. With a study group, you learn to be codependent with other students as each of you may be assigned topics to read on and discuss with others. Being part of a study group gives you a certain responsibility of studying not only for yourself, but also for others.
Enough collection of ideas
A study group is a great venue for exchange of ideas. Though each person is assigned to study and discuss a certain topic for the session, other members can air out their comments and opinions. When studying alone, you’re only exposed to your own interpretation or understanding of the topic, whereas with a study group, you may cover different aspects on the subject. Some may be good, others may be points for further discussion, but all the same, a study group session can leave you enlightened about the topic.
More chances for self-improvement
Facts and figures aren’t the only things that you can get from joining a study group. Here, you also get to pick up new ways and methods for studying. Or, you can share what you find most effective for you. Discussions in study group sessions help make you get used to speaking, explaining, and listening to people. The development of interpersonal skills prepares medical students for the profession that they are studying for. Study groups also provide venues for socialization.
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So, you’ve finally got a call after sending your personal statement for medical schools. You then confirmed the appointment date and place. What else do you need to ensure the success of getting in? Here are a few tips on how to wow the admissions panel for that medical school interview that could change the course of your life.
*Dress to impress
Formal settings such as an interview with the admissions panel means donning a suit that would make you look professional and respectable. Keep jewelry to a minimum and skip the glittery eyeshadow. Instead, opt for neutral colors that are easy on the eyes. Shoes should be of comfortable fit as well. For women who prefer wearing heels, make sure that you can walk in them. Men should also try to tame those spikes in the hair, at least for a few hours, and wear clean and pressed suits with a tie. Instead of the usual sneakers, wear leather shoes that go well with your suit. Though fragrance can be worn, keep it also to a minimum so you won’t distract your interviewer.
*Check body language
Though popular advice tells you to relax during an interview, it doesn’t mean you can slouch or spread your legs when sitting down. Sit properly on the chair in a position that is comfortable for you, without coming across as lousy or disrespectful. Maintain eye contact with interviewers during conversations to convey attentiveness and professionalism
*Be true to yourself
Even though you’re out to impress the admissions people with your achievements, don’t brag too much about the achievements you’ve included in your resume or mentioned in personal statement for medical school. Also don’t make up or exaggerate information during the interview. Though it may seem easy to make up one lie and the next, it’s harder to cover up for these once you’ve built a life out of false facts. Instead of risking your reputation, just be honest and tell the truth. If you really are deserving of a slot in med school, you don’t have to make up lies just to get in.
* Keep your cool and stay polite
Engaging in polite conversation with other people never did anyone bad, despite the fact that some interviewers can challenge and intimidate you in the process. Don’t lose your cool when instances like these happen. Remember that your fate lies in the hands of these interviewers who have read your personal statement for medical school. How you act and speak toward them can have severe consequences on your application. The interview is just another type of test that you have to go through. You should be able to maintain grace even under pressure to secure that slot in medical school.
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You may have your plans set on stone the moment you enter medical school. But through the course of your studies, you begin to see other aspects of your would-be profession. Finally, you do get awarded the degree, the title, the responsibility to practice medicine, and another dilemma – what kind of practice should you go into? There are a lot of factors to consider before deciding whether you’d go into private practice or work in a government hospital.
Government vs. private hospitals
Public hospitals are government-run medical institutions, which make healthcare also accessible to indigents. These medical institutions are dependent on the national budget for the supply of medical equipment, the maintenance of the facilities, and for the fees paid to the medical professionals employed in such. Private hospitals, on the other hand, are owned and run by private individuals or entities such as healthcare insurers. Funding comes from the hospital fees that these institutions charge to patients.
Medical facilities and equipment
Excellent medical equipment and facilities are often hard to come by in public hospitals. Usually, the funds allotted for a year of service is very limited. Private hospitals, meanwhile, have enough funds from the fees charged to patients to continually update and develop their facilities and services. If you prefer to work in a hospital that would foster research and development in the field of medicine, as well as easy access to facilities and equipment, practicing in privately run hospital might be good for you.
Salaries and debts
Admittedly, the salary for doctors in public hospitals are not as high as those that doctors in private hospitals. The workload is not the same as well, because more patients flock to public hospitals for the cheap or even free medical services. Private practice allows you to attend to a limited number of patients, as private hospitals usually charge higher fees.
Repaying your debts and loans, however, can be remedied immediately when you work for government hospitals. There are some student loan programs that ask students to perform public service for a certain period of time as a form of payment. But if the salary you get from practicing in a private hospital is enough, you can also repay your debts easily. With a little financial management, you can pay off your loans in just a short while.
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