Speakers will discuss how individuals become homeless, what challenges they face, how we can get involved and help out, and why they chose a career in this field.

The NUAMSA 2nd General Body Meeting will take place after the presentation with a discussion of events that are planned for the remainder of the semester.
 

The general interest meeting for FACE AIDS at NU will be on Wednesday, February 29th at 7pm in 458 Richards Hall. The chapter leaders will introduce the group, followed by a presentation given by two staff members from Partners In Health, the organization supported by FACE AIDS fundraising efforts.

If you have any questions, feel free send an e-mail to faceaidsnu@gmail.com.

NU-AMSA has arranged a program at the Shapiro Clinic Simulation and Skills Lab of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The program will be held on Wednesday, April 11th and will run from 12:00pm-2:00pm. (Sorry – the center is open only during the daytime hours.)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Sim labs, these are centers that are located in most medical schools (and teaching hospitals). The sim labs provide additional training for health professionals using virtual patients and body parts. The session on April 11th will be structured in the form of a 2-hour tour that includes skills stations such as blood draws, virtual reality simulators, and intubation practice. This session will provide an inside look about how medical professionals not only get their training, but also how they stay up-to-date with all those procedures.

To help cover the total cost of this program (sessions at sim labs are a bit expensive), there is a small fee of $10.

NU-AMSA needs to know as soon as possible who is planning to participate. Please note, the number of people who will be able to attend is limited. Attendees must stay for the whole session (12:00pm-2:00pm), meaning no late arrivals or early departures.

To register, please send an email to Pamela Rudnicki at rudnicki.p@husky.neu.edu. You must be a member of NUAMSA, meaning that you must pay your dues for the 2011-2012 school year. Please direct your questions to Pamela Rudnicki – NOT the PreHealth Advising Program.

More information/details will be sent to participants when as the date of the event gets closer.

How did you prepare yourself for medical school? The application process?
I prepared for medical school by studying for my undergraduate courses. As a biology major at NU, in my final semesters, I completed several courses (Biochemistry Dr. Dmitry Blinder, Cell Biology Dr. Wendy Smith, and Medical ethic Dr. Kerry Dugan) that greatly benefited me in my first year of medical school.

What undergraduate experiences were most instrumental to your success?
I was very focused when I began going to school. I transferred to Northeastern from Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn NY and my main goals were to do well in my classes, to graduate from NU, and to start medical school. Looking back, it would have be nice to take advantage of NU Coop program and spend a semester conducting research or working, but I was determined to complete the work I set forth for myself.

What obstacles or hurdles did you overcome in your medical school journey?
Growing up in Brooklyn NY was not very easy.  There were many distractions that caused me to lose focus of my dream of one day becoming a surgeon.  I was more involved in my extracurricular activities than doing well in my classes.  After high school my grades were so bad that I was not accepted into any colleges.  I decided to enlist in the United States Army at the age of 17 as a 13B Artilleryman. I excelled in the Army, was promoted to Sergeant at the age of 20. My mentors instructed me to continue on in the Army and become a career soldier. I was contemplating re-enlisting in the Army, when a good friend of mine was killed in an IED explosion on the streets of Baghdad.  His death was the deciding factor in my decision to leave the Army.  Not because his death scared me, but his death made me ask myself a very important question “Is this what I wanted to do with my life?” the answer was no, I wanted to be a surgeon.  Using the values, leadership skills, and the discipline I gained in the Army, I was honorably discharged from the Army and began the long journey to one day fulfilling my dream of becoming a surgeon.

Whether you entered medical school directly from NU or had a gap year (or more), looking back, are you happy with the decision you made? Why or why not?
I am very happy with the decision I made. The time between finishing NU and starting medical school was very relaxing. I worked fulltime, but I got to take a break from studying all the time and I really enjoyed my job and my coworkers.

Is medical school what you thought it would be?  Would you share your thoughts?
Medical school is very challenging. I have found that the material is not extremely difficult but the amount of material you are required to absorb is enormous.

What are your career goals right now?  Have they changed since you begin your medical school studies.
Before starting medical school I already knew I wanted to become a surgeon.  Since starting medical school, and working with my preceptor, I have now decided to become a surgical oncologist specializing in breast surgery.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
Do the best you can in all your classes.  Shadow a physician, volunteer at a hospital or do something else that is medically related to gain experience in the medical field where you will eventually provide care for patients.

How did you prepare yourself for medical school? The application process?
I mostly concentrated on doing as well as I could in my undergraduate classes and tried to balance that with gaining a good amount of clinical exposure.  As far as the application process goes, I tried to prepare my personal statement and MedAppTrak responses well in advance of when they would be needed.

What undergraduate experiences were most instrumental to your success?
Northeastern provided me with the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and skills through the experiential education that I received on my first co-op. During this time, I was able to obtain a job at Professional Ambulance of Cambridge, which gave me extensive clinical experience working in a busy urban environment.  I found that I enjoyed the work and decided to work on a year-round basis.  During my service there, I obtained over 4,000 hours of direct patient care experience. While working at Professional Ambulance, I decided to take my medical education one step further by participating in an intensive paramedic training program which involved an additional 1,200 hours of classroom education as well as a clinical internship at Boston Medical Center.  The internship offered a broad exposure to different aspects of medicine.  Rotations included time in the emergency room, anesthesia, pediatrics, labor & delivery, psychiatry, and the intensive care unit.  Every rotation gave me a sample of the exciting possibilities each field had to offer.  As I moved through the departments, I imagined myself working as a physician on each of the services.

What obstacles or hurdles did you overcome in your medical school journey?
The MCAT!  I think it is definitely the most feared component of the process. However, I decreased my stress by studying early and testing early.

Did you did matriculate directly from NU to medical school or did you have a gap year? Whether you entered medical school directly from NU or had a gap year (or more), looking back, are you happy with the decision you made? Why or why not?
I matriculated directly.  I am happy I did not take a gap year.  I felt that I was able to get my clinical experience through the coop program and did not see the need to take an additional year off.

Is medical school what you thought it would be?  Would you share your thoughts?
Medical school is more work than anyone will believe unless they have been there.  Even the top students are spending 10-12 hours studying and going to class every day.

What are your career goals right now?  Have they changed since you begin your medical school studies.
My goal when starting school was to become an emergency medicine physician.  I have not changed my goal but will be keeping an open mind when it is time for rotations.  I would eventually like to be in a position to teach and advise those who come after me.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
If you can see yourself doing anything besides medicine you should do that instead.  There are much better and more efficient ways to make a living.  I will be 31 years old when I finish my residency.  If you are going to spend 12 hours a day everyday for the next 4 years (and probably the rest of your life) learning medicine, you need to love what you’re doing and have a passion for it. Regarding the application process- the most controllable factor in all of this process is timing.  Applying as early as possible in the cycle is a huge advantage and involves no additional work.

Two Area D.O.s will come to Northeastern to speak about their experiences and Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Berlin and Dr. Chang are both leaders in their fields and graduates of the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Berlin (D.O.) is a Medical Instructor at Harvard Medical School. She Practices Gynecologic Oncology in the Medical Oncology department at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Dr. Berlin was a graduate of the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and has completed a residency at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital and a fellowship at the Boston Medical Center.

Dr. Chang (D.O. MSc, FACEP, FAAUCM) is a primary care physician who practices family and emergency medicine in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He was elected as the Vice President of the Massachusetts Osteopathic Society, to the Board of Directors of the American Board of Urgent Care Medicine, New England Osteopathic Association and as a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Growing up I had always been fascinated by science and by the potential it had in transforming the way we understand the world we live in today. My passion for the biological sciences propelled during high school, particularly due to the passion and motivation that my AP Bio teacher had when teaching it. At that point, I participated in a youth forum on medicine and was introduced to the world of clinical medicine. From that point on, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, I just wasn’t sure in what context that would be.

Coming to Northeastern, I then became involved in basic science research and was captivated by it. I began struggling with whether I wanted to get involved in medicine from the biotechnology side or the clinical side, and slowly things came together. As much as I loved basic science research, I felt that pursuing a career in clinical medicine was better suited for my personality and my overall goals in addressing the health needs of individuals from a population based perspective.

How did you prepare yourself for medical school? The application process?

During my time at Northeastern, I made sure that I only participated and engaged myself in activities and programs that I was truly passionate about. I think this significantly helped from a few different perspectives. First, I developed strong relationships with the individuals that I worked with, including various professors, who were willing to write letters of recommendations on my behalf.  When completing the application process, the prompts and statements that I was asked to write about really came as second nature to me because all of my extra-curricular activities were things I had become emotionally invested in.

In terms of preparing myself for medical school, I took the summer before starting as a way to just relax and prepare myself for the challenges that were to come. I felt it was important to begin school relaxed and mentally prepared – especially given the pace of classes and the transformation that you go through during medical training.

What undergraduate experiences were most instrumental to your success?  What obstacles or hurdles did you overcome in your medical school journey?

There were two major programs that truly allowed me take advantage of the opportunities available to me at NU. First was the financial and social support that the Latino Student Cultural Center (LSCC) provided me. After my freshman year, I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to continue to pursue my degree at Northeastern because my family didn’t have the resources to support me financially. Through the center, I was fortunate enough to be chosen for a scholarship that gave me the chance to stay at NU. Additionally the center provided me with a home away from home – a second family that I could turn to for support or advice – without whom I wouldn’t be where I am today.

In addition to the LSCC, my experiences with the Social Enterprise Institute (SEI) at NU really broadened the way that I viewed the world and the determinants of health. At its core, the SEI really focuses on the utilization of business and business principles as drivers for social change with programs such as microfinance. Participating in their programs made me recognize that the ultimate metric of health status was well-being, and that well-being was a function of more than just health care. It made me realize that to truly impact an individual’s well-being, systems had to be in place that effectively addressed various social determinants of health as opposed to those that just focus on healthcare delivery. These experiences encouraged me to apply to the MD/MPH program at Tufts.

Can you describe the effect that Tufts Early Assurance Program had concerning where you are now and where you see yourself going?

The Early Assurance program really gave me the chance to pursue other interests without  the pressures associated with the traditional application process. As I had mentioned, my work with the SEI really changed how I viewed health – and how different enterprise models can be used to craft impactful and sustainable interventions. This directly influenced me to apply to the dual-degree program, and in the future I hope to be fortunate enough to be involved in developing such initiatives from both a clinical and systems based approach.

Having entered medical school directly from NU – are you happy with the decision you made? Why or why not?

Because of the educational model that NU utilizes, I was able to participate in co-op and get involved in activities that most traditional students can’t without taking time off after. So for me, NU’s unique educational model really contributed to me being happy with my decision.

Is medical school what you thought it would be?  Would you share your thoughts?

Med school is and isn’t what I thought it would be. If I were to try to compare it to anything – it would be taking college level classes that have a little more depth to them, on a high school schedule. Because of this, it’s really a matter of learning how to handle the volume overload of material, and then adjusting accordingly to make sure you still make time for family and friends (Although I’m sure that will change with 3^rd year!).

What are your career goals right now?  Have they changed since you begin your medical school studies?

I’m still in the air about what type of medicine I’d like to practice, but my goals have changed in that I now know that I want to also be involved in public health. I think it’s a fascinating perspective being able to translate the physician-patient relationship to the broader implications that this has on the health of populations.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?

The best advice I received during college was to make sure I maintained a balanced life. It’s important to put your best foot forward in the classroom and do your part academically, but it’s equally important to let yourself get involved in activities that you are truly passionate about. I often find that students are so caught up in doing what is “traditional” to get in, that they forget that the goal of medicine is to allow people to truly enjoy the activities that make them happy.

Posted: 1/20/2012

Topics that will be discussed:

*    Where their interest in medical school came from
*   Advice for preparing for and going through the med school application process
*   What their strong points were as a candidate for medical school
*   What they are enjoying most about medical school so far, or finding to be the biggest   challenge
*   The different combined programs available (i.e. MD-PhD, MD-MPH, MD-MBA)

You will be able to ask the panelists any questions you may have for about 30 min after the panelists have finished speaking.

We really hope to see you there!

You will have the opportunity to hear inspirational personal stories… of how the panelists achieved their careers in health care. The evening promises to be filled with encouraging words, networking, and meeting new friends. This year the focus will be on mentorship, and the importance of having mentors at different stages of ones career and endeavors.

Dinner will be Served!!!!!

PLEASE RSVP through OrgSync
The panelists are:
Jose Alberto Betances, MD
O’Neil Britton, MD
Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA
Irene Porro, PHD

Co-Sponsors- NUAMSA, HDSC, PreSOMA and HSU

My interest stemmed primarily from my father’s undying love, commitment, and passion for his profession.  We have always had similar interests growing up, so naturally I found the dynamic field appealing and stimulating while assisting him. It is a career that demands mental toughness and physical excellence.  Knowing myself, dentistry matched up well to my athletic passion for strategy, desire to fulfill the needs of patients and love for utilizing my hand skills.

How did you prepare yourself for dental school? The application process?

I prepared myself for dental school through extensive hours (over 1,000) of dental assisting at my father’s office and shadowing of local oral surgeons- there is nothing like experience as a learning tool.  The more I observed –procedures, the art of explanation to patients on their options, treatment planning, diagnosis of x-rays—the easier and more comfortable clinic and lab sections became in Dental school.

The biology courses at Northeastern were instrumental to my success.  The higher level courses –biochemistry, parasitology, histology, molecular cell –provided a strong solid foundation for the didactic portion of Dental school.  As some of my fellow students struggled with the biological details and equations, I found most of the material review.  A part of Northeastern that was sometimes difficult, yet extremely beneficial for everyday life was the degree of responsibility instilled on every student. As you know, we have to fabricate our own class schedule, choose additional programs to boost our resume and apply for the co-operative programs.  It forced me to be organized, a skill that I am able to use as secretary of my Dental school class by constantly updating our demanding schedule.

What obstacles or hurdles did you overcome in your dental school journey?

One obstacle I had to overcome on my dental school journey was balancing sports, extracurricular programs and academics.  I was sure not let myself get caught up entirely in grades and placed heavy emphasis on exercise and being involved in other activities, like volunteer work.  Although school was my top priority, there were invaluable lessons to learn in life outside the world of academia.  You’re going to have off days.  I cannot stress the importance of having an activity outside of school to fall back on, that makes you happy and rejuvenates you for a new day with a different outlook.

Another obstacle I had to overcome was the fact that I did not have the perfect 4.0, although I tried extremely hard, I was not the “perfect” student.  Instead, I was a well-rounded student with a laundry list of extracurricular activities that had slightly impacted study time.  It was discouraging at first, but I quickly learned that grad programs are searching for a person who is in balance.  The interviewers were actually pleased to hear that I could handle all of my outside activities and maintain a reasonable academic average.

Did you did matriculate directly from NU to medical school or did you have a gap year?

I had one gap year in between Northeastern and Dental school.

I decided to graduate a year early (4 years instead of 5) and by the time I realized this, the deadline was the next week for the applications.  Instead of jumping the gun, I took the extra time to gain more experience and applied for a surgical assisting position down in Augusta, Georgia in the General Practice Residency Program at Medical College of Georgia.

If you did not matriculate directly from NU to medical school, how many gap years? What did you do during your gap year?

Working in the General Practice Residency Program at Medical College of Georgia, I learned a huge amount of invaluable information that has excelled me through Dental school and will undoubtedly help me thrive in private practice.  I became familiar with dental materials, customized procedure techniques, as well as taking x-rays and making impressions.  This program specialized in implant placement, surgical extractions, bone grafts and sinus lifts besides the usual realm of general dentistry, which meant I was in heaven 40 plus hours a week.

Whether you entered medical school directly from NU or had a gap year (or more), looking back, are you happy with the decision you made? Why or why not?

I would not trade my gap year experience for anything.  I have the upmost respect for the attending and the residents who have been through that program. I have such a strong foundation that I am building upon right now.  I am more prepared for clinic then I would have been if I had matriculated right after undergrad.

Is medical school what you thought it would be? Would you share your thoughts?

I thought dental school would be incredibly fast paced and challenging and I would be struggling to keep up with the workload. Which was true at first, but it becomes a way of life and you get used to the pressure and heavy schedule.  I have always been one to react well in the face of a challenge; it becomes a competitive game to me.  I am constantly trying to better myself and as long as I am learning from my mistakes, I stay positive and consider myself doing well.  We, dental students, learn how to take criticism in a constructive manner very quickly, ask anyone of us.  We are here to discover our weaknesses, fix them, and become competent in our skills to help patients. I love what I am doing, so it makes dental school pretty simple and easy.  Plus, I believe that there is a reason and rhyme to all the madness: our curriculum is preparing us for real life situations so we will be able to react to all situations in a calm and collective manner. Being responsible for a human being is a serious matter, so I am glad we are put through continuous hurdles.

What are your career goals right now? Have they changed since you begin your medical school studies?

One of my goals is to be an associate dentist or own my own dental practice someday. I would also like to become a general dentist with the capability of placing implants, performing extractions, and doing IV sedation for my patients.  My goals have not changed since the start of dental school, but I still have two and a half years to go.  I have a strong background in dentistry, so I am pretty firm on that direction, but it could change at any second.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?

My advice to future applicants of Dental school is that you need to be well rounded.  Dental schools would rather a 3.5 (GPA) student who is well rounded, than a 4.0 student who doesn’t have a clue what the world looks like outside of the library.  You live in Boston, so there is no excuse.  There are a million different activities happening around you at this very minute. You have to be able to relate to all different cultures and understand your future patient base. So get out and be social in different activities offered by Northeastern. Take advantage of the different clubs, sports and unique opportunities you have now.  Learn how to play the piano, paint, draw, learn sign language –refining those fine finger movements will make you a top candidate and put you ahead of your class in clinic and lab.  Be a leader –you need to learn how to motivate and inspire your peers, because if you can’t, how do you think you’ll gain that ability for future patients? Push yourself to the limit by packing your schedule full of activities, because it will make the transition in Dental school easier. Lastly, do not get discouraged.  Learn from your mistakes and keep going; you can always turn a negative into a positive.  One of my mottos has been “Never give up; challenges are put there to test how much you want something”.

Posted 1/17/2012

All interested in learning more about CFHI Global Health Education Programs are invited to call in and follow along online as staff and CFHI alumni talk and take questions about:

* CFHI’s 20+ programs in 5 countries;
* 2012 Dates and Deadlines
* How CFHI Supports Local Communities Abroad
* Our newest Intensive Beginner Spanish Program
* Effective CFHI Fundraising Tools
* Upcoming CFHI Scholarship Opportunities (deadline: Jan 16th!)

To Participate:

* January 19th @ 4pm Eastern: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
* January 25th @ 8pm Eastern: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

You will receive an email follow up with information on how to join the conversation. For more information visit our webinar info page or view the Facebook Events.

All interested in learning more about CFHI Global Health Education Programs are invited to call in and follow along online as staff and CFHI alumni talk and take questions about:

*   CFHI’s 20+ programs in 5 countries;
*   2012 Dates and Deadlines
*   How CFHI Supports Local Communities Abroad
*   Our newest Intensive Beginner Spanish Program
*   Effective CFHI Fundraising Tools
*   Upcoming CFHI Scholarship Opportunities (deadline: Jan 16th!)

To Participate:

*   January 19th @ 4pm Eastern: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
*   January 25th @ 8pm Eastern: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

You will receive an email follow up with information on how to join the conversation.  For more information visit our webinar info page or view the Facebook Events.

All are welcome to attend!

How did you prepare yourself for medical school? The application process?
Throughout my experience at Northeastern I remained focused and committed to my studies. Now in medical school, I am reminded quite often of how well the Northeastern curriculum prepared me. I also sought extracurricular opportunities while at Northeastern, which included participating in undergraduate research, and serving as a Resident Assistant in the Department of Residential Life.

What undergraduate experiences were most instrumental to your success?
My co-op exposure at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as an inpatient physical therapy assistant was deeply impacting. Working along such talented practitioners as our patients walked for the first time following joint replacement and other surgeries was remarkable. This was care in its most raw form, and I feel so fortunate to have spent time with the therapists and patients at BIDMC.

What obstacles or hurdles did you overcome in your medical school journey?
I have become very efficient in mapping out my day and managing my time to allow for school, studying, and personal time to relax and visit with friends and family.

Did you did matriculate directly from NU to medical school?
I graduated from Northeastern in January, and before starting school in August I returned to my second co-op employer and continued as a research technician for 8 months.

Can you describe the effect that Tufts Early Assurance Program had concerning where you are now and where you see yourself going?
The Early Acceptance Program truly allowed my undergraduate experience to become even more rich and memorable. I took a liking to history and was able to obtain a minor in history, I continued my role as a Resident Assistant on campus, and I continued my involvement as a musician. Most importantly I was able to spend additional time with my family.

Having entered medical school directly from NU – are you happy with the decision you made? Why or why not?
I am happy with my choice. NEU prepared me well for medical school and I am glad I was able to enter Tufts after a terrific final semester at Northeastern. The momentum carried me into the start of medical school and since then I have been off and running.

Is medical school what you thought it would be? Would you share your thoughts?
Medical school is terrific. Yes, it is difficult at times and laborious throughout, but I could imagine no other path for someone who enjoys science and is dedicated to helping others in a compassionate and caring manner. The camaraderie at Tufts is also great, everyone in the class supports their peers, there is very little competition and it is an environment where we have all thrived together.

What are your career goals right now? Have they changed since you begin your medical school studies?
I have joined the Maine Track Program at the medical school since enrolling. This will give me the opportunity to conduct my third year rotations in Maine in addition to learning more about the health care climate in the state. This is a real privilege for me as someone who intends to stay and practice medicine in Maine, where I was raised and where my family resides.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
I would encourage anyone considering medicine to shadow someone in the healthcare field (Nurses, physical and occupational therapists, physicians, physician assistants, etc.) Not only will this impress upon them the importance of all these roles in healthcare, it will allow one to consider these many roles and what may be the best fit for each individual. My advice: Keep an open mind regardless of where you end up in healthcare, and remember that our ultimate goal is to provide thoughtful and compassionate care as a team.

Posted 1/5/2012

If you are eligible* to apply for 2014 matriculation and plan to apply, we encourage you to attend
the Information Session to be held at Tufts School of Medicine on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 5pm.

Location: Sackler Building, Room 114 – 145 Harrison Avenue, Boston MA

*Please be sure that you have requested NU PreHealth Advising Program confirmation of your eligibility through MedAppTrak.

Please attend this workshop to learn more about what you should know before you sit for the MCAT.

• Should I take a Prep course offered by Kaplan, Exam Krackers, etc.

• How do I know when you are ready to sit?

• What are the potential consequences of a poor MCAT score?

• How many times can I sit for the MCAT?

Although intended for students and alums planning to sit for the MCAT in 2012, it may be helpful for those planning for a 2013 MCAT, too!

How did you prepare yourself for medical school? The application process?
The only distinct preparation I did for medical school was fitting in all of the pre-requisites required for admission. Through the mechanical engineering curriculum, I was able to learn good study and time management skills that I use every day during my first year at school. During the application process, I tried to stay ahead of the game as much as possible. Talking to teachers early about letters of recommendation was critical, as most of my professors required numerous kind reminders to get them completed. I also started studying for the MCAT early. I knew I would not have a lot of time during the semester, so instead I would just treat it is an extra class and dedicate a several hours a week to MCAT work along with my other classwork.

What undergraduate experiences were most instrumental to your success?
I played on the women’s ice hockey team during my time at Northeastern. This was a great experience that reinforced commitment, teamwork, and responsibility.

What obstacles or hurdles did you overcome in your medical school journey?
The main obstacle I ran into was having enough time to pull my application together and study for the MCATs between the mechanical engineering curriculum and the time commitments required by being a collegiate athlete. I was able to avoid this becoming a big problem by starting early on my preparation.

Did you did matriculate directly from NU to medical school or did you have a gap year?
I had half of a gap year! I graduated in December and then matriculated the next fall. It was the perfect amount of time for me to do some travelling, spend time with family, and recharge before beginning school again in the late summer.

If you did not matriculate directly from NU to medical school, how many gap years? What did you do during your gap year?
Taking a (half) gap year was amazing. I travelled to Mexico, Alaska, and Europe. When I returned from that I rode my bicycle across the country to medical school. I had a lot of fun stories to tell my new classmates during orientation.

Whether you entered medical school directly from NU or had a gap year (or more), looking back, are you happy with the decision you made? Why or why not?
I am very happy with my decision to graduate a semester early and travel. I think it would have been difficult to come straight out of school and only have a couple of months off before beginning again.

Is medical school what you thought it would be? Would you share your thoughts?
Medical school is great. I thought I would have a lot less time on my hands, but I find I have plenty of time to get out and do all of the things that I enjoy. I’m able to continue to play hockey, cycle, and spend time with friends rather than living with my nose in a textbook. I’m glad that I didn’t let the fear of 4 more years of rigorous study affect my decision to apply to medical school.

What are your career goals right now? Have they changed since you begin your medical school studies?
I still don’t know what kind of doctor I want to be! There are far too many interesting fields out there for me to pick one already.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
If medicine is what you truly want to do, don’t let anything get in your way. I would make a plan about how I wanted to proceed with the application and stick to it! If you want to take a gap year, do it! I found that at all of my interviews, the interviewers were excited to hear about my upcoming plans and wanted to talk about them.

Posted 11/30/2011

How did you prepare yourself for medical school? The application process?
I pretty much made Snell Library a second home during classes.  It’s obvious that you need a high GPA and competitive MCAT score to get into medical school and unfortunately I am not smart enough to do so without studying a lot.  As far as the less objective components of my application, I strengthened them using NU’s well-established infrastructure to create experiences that targeted my own personal goals and asking a lot of advice from people more knowledgeable than myself.  Whether it be school advisors, professors, co-op employers, or sometimes complete strangers, the most useful conversations I had usually began with, “I am interested in ‘x.’  I understand that you do ‘y.’  I was wondering if you knew of any opportunities or advice as to how I could get more involved with ‘z.’”  As an example, for my third co-op I looked up and contacted the international health advisor at UMass Medical School stating who I was and that I was interested in completing a medically-related project in a Spanish-speaking country so that I could learn the language while gaining relevant experience.  Quite sure I wouldn’t hear back (since he had no idea who I was until reading my email), I received a call the next day at which time he proposed a few ideas he thought might suit my interests and told me he’d look more into how I could get involved.  He ended up putting me in contact with their Chief of Neurosurgery who later became a supervisor for my co-op and honors project, and eventually wrote me a letter of recommendation for medical school.  I’ll be taking classes two floors beneath his office this coming August.

What undergraduate experiences were most instrumental to your success?
My three co-op experiences along with the help I received from all of my pre-health advisors, honors program advisors, and many of my professors all played a huge role in my success and ability to competitively apply to medical school.

Describe your academic honors and/or coop experiences.
My first co-op was with a MGH research group titled “Cost-Effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications (CEPAC),” for which I was basically an administrative/research-assistant and sort of got me started in the medical research world.  For my second co-op I received the Matz Scholarship to conduct a study examining microbial population genetics in the laboratory of my Genetics professor, Steven Vollmer, Ph.D.  The Matz Fellowship is a great opportunity that provides a regular salary to 2-3 NU science or physics majors to conduct a proposed research project in a NU-faculty laboratory.  Upon completion of their projects, all students present their research findings at the Annual Matz Symposium, which I did during the semester following my co-op.   For my third co-op, I traveled to Bolivia for 5 months and conducted a health-utility/cost-analysis of NGO-funded neurosurgical and pacemaker implementation for the country’s underprivileged patient populations.  I was able to work in local Bolivian hospitals and travel to patients’ homes conducting interviews, observing surgeries, and analyzing the functionality of the program from a third-party perspective.  The project also served as my Honors Junior/Senior Project with much help and guidance from Gail Begley, Ph.D. as my NU-faculty advisor and was funded by the Presidential Global Scholarship, Provost Research Grant, and Gladys Brooks Undergraduate Research Award (all NU grants).  We later presented the project at various research expos, receiving a Socioeconomic Award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons 2011 Annual Conference as well as the Undergraduate Research Award from the NU Annual Research & Scholarship Expo.

What obstacles or hurdles did you overcome in your medical school journey?
I entered NU as an Engineering major year and later transferred to Behavioral Neuroscience following my first year of classes.  Because I was still unsure of the direction I was heading for a future career, I didn’t perform as well as I should have in classes and had to spend the last three years essentially making up for it.  It was difficult and frustrating to play catch up like that, but definitely proves that not all is lost for those who make a few mistakes early on in your college career.  That’s also why I really had to focus on expanding the extra-curricular portion of my application and there isn’t really a better platform to do so than NU.

Why did you apply during your senior year and not your junior year?
The process of becoming a doctor is pretty long, so you’re going to be in your late 20s, early 30s regardless, not including residency.  I’ve spent 17 consecutive years of going to school, so it is nice to have some freedom while I’m still young  - to work, see friends and family, and enjoy having little responsibility.  It’s not like the workload will slow down once I have a M.D., so if there is anything time-consuming that I want to accomplish, my gap year might be the only time available to do so.  Also, the route I chose eliminated the trouble of having to balance MCAT studying and interview preparation while taking classes and completing an honors project.  I wanted to ensure my ability to focus on each of those separately because the possibility of pushing my career forward a year wasn’t worth the risk of doing poorly on the MCAT or classes.

What do you plan to do during your gap year?
I want to spend my gap year doing things I won’t have the time to do once I start medical school.  I got a sales/marketing job for a small telecom company in Cambridge and hope to make enough money so that I can travel and enjoy the last summer I have before medical school.  I’m also hoping to gain some knowledge and experience in the business field because I, one day, plan to run my own primary care clinic.

Are you happy with the decision you made about the choice of the year in which you did apply? Why or why not?
Yes, I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.  It’s really nice to have some time off to spend with my family and friends before I start medical school next fall.  I have a lot of things I want to accomplish while I’m still (relatively) young and didn’t want to start the commitment of medical school without giving myself some free time to do so, so the gap year is great for that.

What are your career goals right now?
After medical school I’d like to eventually open my own primary care practice in a local underserved community as well as coordinate and participate in international health missions providing care to less-developed countries.  I’ve had the chance to learn Spanish and am currently learning (or attempting to learn…) Mandarin Chinese with the goal of making myself available to the world’s three major language populations.  Hopefully those goals will help to facilitate each other down the road.

What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in medicine?
Use your resources.  NU has a great infrastructure for building experiences and setting yourself apart from applicants from other colleges, so ask around about opportunities.  If you have an idea but aren’t sure how to implement or fund it, ask your advisors and professors.  If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, tell your advisors and professors a few topics you’re interested in and ask for advice of how you might be able to get more involved.  They aren’t going to hold your hand and walk you through each step, but a lot of times all you need is someone with a little more experience to give you some feedback or spark a few brain cells to get you started.  The school is always growing and new opportunities are constantly coming around so just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.  And just because it doesn’t exist doesn’t mean you can’t create it.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the NU community?
No matter what your background is or how you got there, if you’ve somehow ended up at NU than you are in a privileged position to do something that will change the world.  Not many people can say that.  What are you going to you think of yourself forty years from now if you let that opportunity go to waste?

Posted 11/30/2011