Super Star Blogs!

Congratulations to Ananna! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. I was born in Bangladesh. I came to America in 2011. I graduated from SUNY Binghamton this year with a major in Integrative Neuroscience. I am passionate about education, teaching and physical and mental health. When I was in college, I was greatly involved in many extracurricular activities, including research, teaching and tutoring, internships, leadership activities and volunteering. I love mentoring. As a pre-health peer advisor, I mentored many students about classes, research and volunteering opportunities and career planning. Some of these students kept in touch with me even after my graduation and, I continue to help them with their questions.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite teacher in school was Dr. Morrissey. I took General Psychology, Statistical Analysis and Design and Research Methods with him. Dr. Morrissey taught me everything about psychology, from Pavlov’s dogs to attachment theory. In class, I would always think, “how does he know everything?” I would often go to his office for advice related to my family and friends. He encouraged me to apply for research and study hard for my MCAT. He also provided me emotional support when I needed it and wrote me 10+ letters of recommendation for various programs and scholarships.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? My interest in medicine sparked from dealing with an illness in my family when I was a kid. Since then, I realized how a person’s home and community can affect their health. When I came to the US, I explored my medical interest in this new country by immersing myself in medical related activities. I was selected as one of five volunteers at the NYU Langone Medical Center where I greeted patients and showed them directions to the hospital buildings. I also worked at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center that summer. My hospital experiences showed me how I love working with the underserved population. The amount of time and energy that is needed to provide the best healthcare plan for this population is something I am excited to invest myself in. I have heard many stories from my patients about the various socio-economic factors that led them to health issues, such as substance abuse and becoming an alcoholic. I would like to serve as a resource for these types of people. As a future physician, I will implement health programs in underserved communities to promote awareness of physical and mental health in those communities. I will also focus on the preventive aspect of medicine in my practice. Finally, I want to build a free hospital in Bangladesh when I am able to do so.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? I have recently been accepted to medical school and since then, I have been watching many Youtube videos of medical students to learn about their experiences in medical school. I am open to explore my interests and strengths in all the specialties. However, currently, I am interested in psychiatry and neurology along with nephrology which I researched for two years in college.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? My coolest experience so far on my premedical journey is my research on kidney disease. I was a fellow for the Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) program and I performed my research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. As a fellow, I was able to use my knowledge from the classroom to discover a biomarker for acute kidney injury. I learned lab techniques, such as immunohistochemistry, western blot and PCR, shadowed my mentor at the Montefiore Children’s Hospital, attended classes where she taught medical students, went to lab meetings and participated in various conferences. After my research, I presented my oral and poster presentations at Einstein, the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Maryland and Experimental Biology Conferences 2016 and 2017 in San Diego and Chicago respectively. My research abstract was published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) journal. This year, I was part of this fellowship for the second time and performed my research on preeclampsia with the same researcher. I was able to have the same “cool” experience once again and presented my new research at Einstein and the NIH.

6. What is your favorite book? My favorite book is Brick Lane by Monica Ali. This book is about a Bangladeshi woman, Nazneen who gets married off to a much older man in Brick Lane, London. One aspect of the book focuses on how Nazneen does not have any independence in her household because all the family decisions are made by her husband. In the end, Nazneen regains her independence by starting her own sowing business.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. One thing about me that most people do not know is how cultural I am. When I am at home, I always listen to Bengali music, watch Bengali movies and shows and sometimes, read Bengali blogs and articles. My family and I attend lunch or dinner parties with my relatives almost every month. We celebrate Eid, Bengali new year, mother’s day, birthdays, etc.

8. What do you like most about PreMed STAR? I like the supportive environment of PreMed STAR the most. Whenever someone needs help with personal statements, understanding a concept or applying to a program, there is always someone who is there to help him or her. When I applied to medical school, I made a post asking for help to review my personal statement. One student reached out to me and gave me tips on improving it. Support like this will keep this pre-med community move forward and help us achieve our dreams!

Top 10 Things to Calm Your Nerves Before Exams

1. Plan Ahead: The worst thing you can possibly do is to not show up for your exam or getting there late. Make sure you have exams penciled into your calendar from the first day you get your syllabus. Being premed you probably have a busy schedule so you don’t want any unexpected conflicts or lapses in memory to disrupt your exams.

2. Speak with Your Professor: Take advantage of office hours. Your professors will direct you in the right path. Of course you don’t want to bug your professor so make sure you go there with specific questions in mind.

3. Get Active: Physical activity is just as good for the mind as it is the body. Put away the books and audio recordings and go for a walk or nice game of tennis or basketball. Don’t let the studying turn you into a stiff robot… get up and move.

4. Eat Well: Healthy eating will give your body the proper nutrients and energy to keep it going and keep you from getting sick. Most students don’t find the time to cook during midterms but remember, this is the best time to use the “mama I’m starving over here” pity card. There is nothing like good home cooked meals or care package to prepare you for an exam. Just don’t experiment with foods before the big exam or else you may have a rough test.

5. Jam Out: Relax your mind and let the music move you. Music is very useful in that it ingrains memories into your head. Certain songs remind us of specific moments in our lives whether the memories are wanted or unwanted. Some can listen to soft music in the background (instrumentals or classical) and some need total silence. Regardless, taking a break to jam out is always a good thing.

6. Laugh Out Loud: Give yourself 10 minutes for a little laugh session but don’t get too carried away. Read some jokes or make some jokes about what you have been studying. Youtube clips are great escapes but very easy to get addicted to.

7. Hang Out with Friends: It may be a great escape if you spend some time with others who are not in the same classes but be careful as they may keep you away from your books too long. It’s good to spend some time with other premeds in your classes as well so you can share study experiences briefly before having fun. Again, time yourself.

8. Catch Some ZZZZs: Sleep well. There is no need in studying when you are sleep deprived and not retaining the material. It is all about the quality of your studies rather than the quantity. You will not get a reward or pity for studying 20 hours a day if you don’t make the grade. Sleep well and be efficient with the remaining 16hrs of the day.

9. Get Help: A wise person seeks counseling when needed. Don’t play superman or superwoman, otherwise the exam will be your kryptonite. If you are struggling with your studies speak to your professor, a mentor, or a school counselor early. It is better that your weaknesses are addressed or noted prior to the exam.

10. Pray: Publically, meditation is promoted but I am a personal fan of prayer. Prayer has become taboo in classes and many public places but from my personal experience a faithful prayer (specifically for God’s will and strength in my studies) along with hard work goes a long way.

Congratulations to Ilemona! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. My name is Ilemona Ameadaji, I am a junior at UC Berkeley double-majoring Integrative biology and Anthropology. I am also an international student – I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Berkeley for college. Although this change was a little daunting at first, I am really glad that I got to experience it, as I have learned a lot about myself in the process. I came to college planning to learn only science and nothing else, and now I am so glad that did not happen. Science is what I have always been most passionate about, but now I know that I also love music, theatre, culture history, social justice and literature (and yes, I do read for fun!). Most of all, I have learned that I just love learning, and I hope that throughout my life’s journey, I never stop learning.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? I am currently taking a medical ethnobotany class taught by Dr. Thomas Carlson. His research combines allopathic medicine and plant biology with cultural anthropology and ethnography to highlight how different cultures around the world interact with and sustain their local flora in order to preserve and promote health. His work not only spotlights safer, effective and more affordable ethnobotanical treatments but it also debunks the belief that societies of color around the world have no civilization, science or technology that is indigenous to them.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? I never pictured myself as a doctor until my senior year of high school. I had thought that I would be a lab scientist and stick to research because I didn’t think I had the compassion or bedside manner to be a doctor. That year, I lost a family member who I loved dearly and I started to think about all of the reasons why I wanted to be a scientist. I thought I could solve the world’s problems – that if I was on the cutting edge of research I could cure the incurable diseases and provide answers to the questions that had plagued the world for centuries. All of this is good, and it is all still true, but it all came down to wanting to take away pain. It turns out, I’m actually a total softy. I want to be a doctor because I want to take care of people, I want to help make them well, whole and happy.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? I am currently focusing on skeletal biology. My main interests are osteology, orthopedics, genetics and neonatal medicine, however I am also interested in public health and medical anthropology.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? This semester, I started working as a theme program assistant for the Women in Science and Engineering theme program at Berkeley. So far, it has already been my most exciting and rewarding experience yet. The opportunity to mentor young women who are pre-meds and STEM majors as they navigate through their first year of college has been amazing. I feel that I have gained from them, twice as much as I have given. Everyday I learn something new about their cultures, backgrounds and the influences that shaped them into the strong, intelligent and passionate women that they are today. As a community, we teach and learn from one another, support one another, and inspire one another. Being around them gives me hope and reminds me that I am not alone – we are all working together, each one of us, to become someone who makes a difference in other peoples lives.

6. What is your favorite book? My favorite book is Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The book describes the lives of a young Nigerian couple as they take different paths in search of a better future and explores how their intersecting identities play out in both Nigerian and Western societies.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. One thing about me that most people don’t know is that I love art. Drawing and painting have always been my outlet, the way that I find peace and feel centered. In the first two years of college I neglected this part of myself because I felt that I was too busy for it, but recently I learned the importance of self-care. This summer, I rediscovered my love for art and started working on a portfolio. I realized that my paintings are reflections of who I am and hopefully someday I’ll get to share them with others.

8. What do you like most about PreMed StAR? I love that it brings together a very diverse group of people from different backgrounds and communities who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to meet and learn from each other.

My Journey As a Re-Applicant

After 3 application cycles, I cannot stress enough how good it feels to finally have an acceptance into medical school! I first applied in 2008, and you can definitely see the growth in my applications from then and now. The first time I applied, I could not afford to apply to many schools, and I was lucky enough to receive an AACOMAS fee waiver. This allows for an individual to apply to three osteopathic schools for free, so I picked my three very carefully and hoped for the best. I have no idea what I was thinking applying at the time though because there was nothing notable about my application. While I did have shadowing experience and a letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician, I had very little extracurricular activities, research, or volunteering experiences mentioned in my application. I think I may have even mentioned job experiences and extracurricular activities from high school. On top of that, my MCAT score was only a 21 and I had a GPA that was below a 2.5. I received rejections from all three schools around May of that year, but due to not passing a biochemistry class that was only offered once a year and having to extend my graduation date, I would not have been able to attend anyway. Needless to say, I was still very upset and not quite sure about my future.

After graduating in the fall of 2009, I took a job working full-time in a somewhat medically-related research field and I also worked on building my resume. By the time 2011 came around, I felt that I was ready to re-apply to medical school. This time, I applied to three allopathic schools and they were all HBCUs. I also re-took the MCAT, but my score literally only increased by one point. I think the only noteworthy thing about my application was that I included all of my experiences, and I completely re-vamped my personal statement to really reflect me. Unfortunately, I was also rejected this cycle without any interviews. Looking back, I can say that my main problems that cycle were that: I did not apply broadly, I took the August MCAT, I applied somewhat late, and I still had not proved to the schools that I could handle a heavy course load and succeed.

Fast-forward to 2013, and this time I was going all in. On top of all the extracurricular activities noted from my previous years, I also upped my shadowing experiences, started volunteering every week at my local hospital, and now had research publications under my belt. By the grace of God I was accepted into a graduate program in the summer of 2012, and I was doing better than I had ever done in my academic career. This was a risk in itself because sometimes graduate courses are not considered in the same fashion as post baccalaureate classes, but I wanted an extra degree to fall back on just in case this application cycle did not work out as well. My graduate classes were not easy either and I think taking classes like chemical thermodynamics, pharmacology, and toxicology really raised some heads. I re-took the MCAT twice this year (yes, that makes a total of four times), but my scores still remain low with a 20 and then a 21. I also applied very broadly within two weeks of the application cycle opening, and I submitted all of my secondary applications within two weeks of receiving them. This cycle, I have applied to 26 schools total, and these include both allopathic and osteopathic schools. As of today, I have 1 acceptance, 2 holds, 13 rejections (plus 2 never sent a secondary), I withdrew from two, and I am complete at the others and waiting. I interviewed and was accepted to my first choice school, so I can say confidently and happily that the application cycle is over for me. I have chosen not to withdraw from the other schools that I am still waiting to hear from because I would like to see where this goes.

I am living proof that anything is possible despite any shortcomings that you may think you have, and my advice to any re-applicants is to not give up and keep pushing for what you want. If you cannot see yourself doing anything else in life, then don’t be afraid to take risks and go for it. You’ll be happy you did.

Written By Danielle Ward

Read more of Danielle’s blogs at Aspiring Minority Doctor

Image Credit: Pixabay

Congratulations to Monica! Premed of the Week!

1.Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m 22 years old and pursing a career in medicine, hoping to serve as a physician in areas with underserved populations. I’m currently a Master’s student at Eastern Mennonite University, completing a Master’s in Biomedicine program.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite teacher in school had to be my high school AP bio teacher. This teacher was always delighted when we asked questions in class. She would direct us to news articles that dealt with things we were learning in class. It showed just how alive and vibrant biology is. She was always willing to stay behind after school to have discussions about a variety of things, from research implications to healthcare policies.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? Growing up in Egypt, I was able to see firsthand the negative impact a lack of access to healthcare had on certain populations. Even something as simple as a cold, without access to medical guidance, could lead to a severe fever that then became fatal. Seeing these kinds of easily preventable cases occur stirred within me a passion to make a difference. Years later, I still have this zeal to become a physician, serving populations such as the one I observed in Egypt, where medical access is lacking.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? My interests in medicine are still very varied. I love serving children skewing me towards pediatric medicine. However I also am drawn to the fast paced nature of Emergency medicine, and the wide-ranging cases of patients that an ED doctor is able to serve.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? One of the coolest experiences I’ve had was while volunteering at a transitional care hospital. During this time, I would often go into patients rooms and talk with them about different things, from how they were feeling that day to the World Series. One patient, Jeffery, had been in the hospital for a few months. He was always ready to talk and share with me his life experiences. We ended up forming a genuine friendship and till this day check in with each other. Being able to see how his day always became just a little bit brighter through some conversation is still one of the coolest experiences I look back on. It reminds me constantly why I want to be a physician, connecting with and helping people in their most vulnerable times.

6. What is your favorite book? This changes from season to season as I read more and more. Right now my favorite book is “The Way Of The Pilgrim”

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. I love writing. As I’m studying I often like to take breaks and work on different pieces of writing that I’ve started. I hope to one day publish a novel.

8. What do you like most about PreMed STAR? I value that PreMed STAR offers a platform for premeds to encourage each other and most-importantly build a network. For me, not only does networking build a door through which opportunities may come, but it also becomes a learning tool where we as pre-meds may share guidance, study tips, and other relevant information with one another.

A Humbling Day

“He is not about to cry, is he? Whoa, he is about to cry! Where is the Kleenex box?!?” I sat there in my VA clinic just last week with these questions roaming through my head. I was anxiously staring at my patient just having told him this would be our last meeting together. This was a 70 year old, stoic veteran who proudly served in Vietnam if my memory serves me correct. Did I just unknowingly insult the gentleman or was he having excruciating pain? Maybe he was passing a kidney stone or something.

It literally took me half a minute before I realized this man of few words I had been honored to help care for was really emotional because it hit him that this really was our last visit together. It’s always difficult moving on and now that I am completing my final year of fellowship I expected departing from my patients would be emotional as always. However, I hadn’t really taken time to see the impact physicians can have on the lives of their patients and how deeply they also influence us. My patient wiped his face and said in a quivering voice, “You know… I thought I was going to die that day until you came by and spoke to me?”

I had met this gentleman nearly 3 years ago in his quiet room at the Durham VA hospital and thought it was another routine consultation for hyperthyroidism. He was actually admitted with atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate and subsequently found to have significantly elevated thyroid hormones. His wife and daughter stood anxiously at bedside waiting for me to give them any news. I could tell that just like many patients I had been consulted on, this family was utterly confused as to what was going on. Doctors and nurses had been in and out, in and out for the past 24 hours. I sat on the bed next to the patient and smiled. If I tell you I remember what I said to this lovely family I would be lying to you. I don’t recall anything special at all I said or did. Sitting there I do remember reaching for a paper and drawing out the brain, pituitary and thyroid gland. I then diagrammed this endocrine axis until I began to appreciate heads nodding around the room. This was a fun habit I had picked up during medical school back when I had plenty of time on my hand. I would return to my patient’s rooms at the end of the day and answer questions or explain their disease. I found this was a great way not only to educate the patient but also myself.

It is sad saying goodbye to my patients over the past few weeks. Each clinic I have that old Boyz II Men song playing in my head. I wish I can pack them all up in buses and bring them along to my new practice. I am extremely honored and privileged to have served them for the past three years at an amazing institution. As physicians, we often don’t grasp how important our 10-15 minutes consultation visits are. Simply smiling at a patient and taking time to answer questions garners trust and really goes a long way in fortifying that doctor-patient relationship. In this day of electronic records, technology and meeting specific hospital quality goals, many obstacles hinder these relationships. We must always be cognizant of this and realize our attitudes, facial expressions, and words can really affect our patients. We should treat each one as though they are a loved one. Even on a larger scale, the way we treat our neighbors will also influence our destiny (Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 12:28-31). This resonates well with Hebrews 13:1-3 and with a 33-year-old carpenter’s son who washed the feet of men.

Needless to say, my end-of-fellowship clinics have been extremely humbling and gratifying. It reminds me why I chose to become a doctor. Nonetheless, at times I feel as though I have been in a 10 year slumber since college and sacrificed a lot of life’s youthful pleasures in pursuit of my dreams. The ten year training period post-undergrad has finally come to an end and I finally realize that the light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t a train after all!

Written By Dr. Daniel

Image Credit Pixabay

Congratulations to Curtis! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. My name is Curtis Mensah and I am a graduate of Stony Brook University. I am currently a first year graduate student at New York Medical College pursuing an M.S. of Basic Medical Sciences. I grew up in a faith based home which strongly emphasized servitude and caring for the well being of others. This has caused me to get involved in my community, with other students, and instilled in me a desire to give back and pay it forward to those who come after me. Being first generation, as both of my parents are Ghanaian immigrants has strongly influenced my personality, my values, and the work ethic I have to make my goals of becoming a physician a reality.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My sophomore year in undergrad I took a course called Political and Social History of Africa. My professor was named Dr. Abena Asare and initially I enrolled in the class because I knew she was Ghanaian. However, being able to learn about my heritage in such detail from someone who was clearly passionate about her work, motivated me to want to provide an example to all those who want to pursue medicine as someone that is truly cares about their work and naturally excites others about it as well. Getting to know her on a personal basis, similar to my parents, I was inspired by her journey from Ghana to an Ivy League degree and her impact at a prestigious university.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? I first decided I wanted to become a doctor when I was very young, around the age of 8 or 9. I grew up around scrubs, white coats, sophisticated medical conversations. As a child I was naturally curious and desired to one day understand and also contribute to these conversations. I knew that I wanted to become a doctor, but at that point it seemed like more of a passive default than an active pursuit. I did not feel the true conviction to become a doctor until I was 19, during the spring semester of my sophomore year in college. It was at that point that I truly began to see the parallels between my faith and my desire to pursue medicine. I saw the real reason behind why I wanted to put others before myself and my journey towards medicine became a mission, fueled by my devotion to serve all those that I come in contact with, giving them a voice during their most vulnerable stages, changing their lives by not only being their physician, but their friend. Being a student that is hungry for knowledge and always looking to learn something new, I find that our discovery in this field is essential to serving those that are under-served in the most efficient way possible.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? I am currently interested in cardiology, family medicine, and sports medicine. However, I have decided not to make any decisions about the area I want to pursue until I have real experiences with them during medical school.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? My entire senior year in college has been the highlight of my premedical journey. I was elected as the president of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) at my school. My involvement with MAPS allowed me to come in contact with many brilliant physicians and researchers, but also to serve as a resource to underclassmen who want to become health care professionals. I was also enrolled into a program called Pre-Medical Access to Clinical Experience (PACE) in which I got to have first hand experience in the daily life of multiple physicians. Through this program I gained a great mentor and I also was able to see the connection that the physicians have with their patient. Several instances showed me the hope, reassurance, and inspiration that doctors provide for their patients and it reaffirmed my desire to one day be a source of hope for many others.

6. What is your favorite book? My favorite book is called “Rise” by William Lee Barefield III. He is a pastor as well as a hip hop artist. The book spoke of the need for the upcoming generation to not settle for mediocrity and what society expects of us, but instead, to live according the conviction and call for greatness that we all possess.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. One thing about me that most people don’t know is that I love to sing. I have been a member of the youth choir at my church for many years and have served as a co-vocal director more recently. I also currently serve as a member of the worship team at my church and jump at the opportunity to sing wherever and whenever.

8. What do you like most about PreMed StAR? I enjoy getting to see the variety of paths that people take, while sharing the same goal. I also enjoy the sharing of resources and seeing us all help one another make our dreams come true.

Healthcare From A Patient Perspective

EMU’s M.A. in Biomedicine Program invites patients who have experienced medical issues to share their persepctives on healthcare. This is a unique event which allows students to empathize with these individuals and gain valuable insight on the field they wish to enter. The patient panel comprised of two cancer patients and a physician who’s father passed away from prostatic cancer. I’ll describe each patient and the important takeaways from the presentation.

Patient 1: A long-time employee of the UVA health system, patient 1 suffered from breast cancer. Patient 1 had both a sonogram and mammogram which revealed a 2.4 cm mass in her right breast confirming the diagnosis. She described the news as an “out of body” experience and felt overwhelmed when the healthcare team began to provide treatment options. Patient 1 explained to her doctor that she would need a little time to explore her options after consulting with her husband and family. The healthcare team consisted of a radiologist, oncologist, and surgical oncologist (specializing in breast cancer).

Major Takeaways:

-Patient 1 did not have a pleasant experience with her initial surgeon, so she opted to get a second opinion. She informed the audience that it is your job as a patient to have full control of your treatment plan and be well-informed by each physician. In addition, she noted that if you do not like your doctor it is okay to seek help from another professional. The surgeon did not build a good rapport with patient 1 and she felt that he undermined her input.

-The healthcare team bombarded her with a wealth of resources about her condition, treatment options, etc. but did not take the time to brief her on the most useful or pertinent information.

-Initially patient 1 was unsure of which direction to go, whether to choose surgery or chemotherapy first. Ultimately, she chose to have chemotherapy for 6 months which shrunk the mass and then proceeded to have a lumpectomy. Patient 1 had follow-up procedures to remove calcifications and described having “chemo-brain”. Chemo-brain is when a patient becomes forgetful with even the most basic tasks and feels extremely weak on a day-to-day basis.

Patient 2: A trained nurse who now in her 80’s suffered from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and pancreatic cancer. This patient was a long-time smoker who had multiple lesions in her pancreas which was removed at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. This patient had a history of illness from multiple trips to the hospital for pleural effusion, diverticulitis, etc. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after a follow-up with her physician, revealing metastatic cell growth at the end of her pancreas.

Major Takeaways:

-Patient 2 needed a skilled healthcare team to combat multiple symptoms and illnesses.

-Patient 2 also did not know exactly what to expect when her physicians conducted a procedure or injected her with a shot. She encouraged students who are entering the health professions to take the time to consult the patient on the types of sensations they may feel, side effects, etc. to put them at ease.

-It is important to look at patients as people first, and treat them the way you’d want to be treated. These individuals are at their most vulnerable state, so it is important to make them feel comfortable and inform them step-by-step of their treatment and prognosis.

Panel Member 3: Panel #3 was a healthcare professional whose father passed away from prostatic cancer. She described his condition as progressive and had to be transferred from Duke Medical Center to Johns Hopkins to be a part of an experimental trial. Panel #3’s father had high PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) levels which confirmed the prostate cancer diagnosis.

Major Takeaways:

-Panel #3 gave a medical perspective in which she relayed that she also had to argue with some of the healthcare staff because they were not adequately informing the patient or family members of her father’s prognosis. She felt that because Johns Hopkins was an academic teaching hospital they wanted to be aggressive with the treatment, yet did not take the time to deal with the underlying issue of treating the patient as a person first. Panel #3 described that her father had a lot of anxiety and that if the anxiety was treated first it would of made the experience a little more comforting before he passed.

-Hospice and palliative care are sensitive times for patients and family members. it is important to recognize how to relay information and how to break tragic news in a professional manner.

-The experimental trial: the patient was given medication to suppress testosterone levels, however the tumor actually grew, adversely affecting the patient’s overall condition.

-A doctor’s primary focus should not be research and experimental treatment, but rather focus on the addressing the patient’s needs to make them feel comforted and have dialogue and proper communication.

Overall, this was an eye opening experience. I learned the importance of getting to know your patient by learning something personal about them and taking the initiative to build a relationship. We are in dire need of well-trained physicians who express empathy, compassion, and are able to relate to their patient. The patient/panel members also described their insurance plans and reimbursement. I did not expand on this because as many of us know, medications are expensive and the patients still had a large out-of-pocket cost without proper reimbursement. I hope that you found this useful and if you have any questions please post and i’ll try to answer to the best of my ability.

Premed Motivation

“What keeps you going?” Interestingly, in the past I hadn’t put much thought into this question but as more and more premeds asked, I was forced to. Because that is the case, it seems worthwhile to address it. The question has been posed with the idea that working constantly to get into Medical School and Residency can be exhausting. I agree 100%. It certainly is emotionally and sometimes physically draining. I do not believe there is a single trick to stay motivated, but there are 2 key things I did as a college student.

Before we delve into these 2 things, it is important to understand the nature of self-discipline. The overarching theme of the premed life is self discipline which in turn will be your driving force for success. No matter how good a mentor you may have, if you yourself are not disciplined to do what you have to do, then success is not an option for you. A mentor can’t study for you. A mentor can’t take take your MCAT. And a mentor certainly can’t graduate for you! So before you even ask the question of how to stay motivated, you have to have a self-conviction of discipline Once you have made it up in your mind that you can be disciplined enough to do what it takes to get into Medical School, then you GO HARD!

So, the real question then is how to keep yourself motivated to go hard? The first thing I did as an undergraduate student was to put small signs on my bedroom bulletin board with motivational quotes such as “failure is not an option”, “the world is watching”, and “keep your eyes on the prize”. I know it sounds corny, but perhaps because I was an athlete growing up, motivational quotes have always fueled me. Also, since these signs were right above my bed, I could not avoid looking at them everyday. When I didn’t feel like studying, my own words were staring me in the face telling me to go hard so that’s what I did. This might not work for everyone, but it did for me. In the end, everyone has to find their own internal driving force and go with it!

The second thing that is essential is to surround yourself with friends who support your goal. If I were to look at your 5 closest friends, I would have a good idea of what type of person you are. If all 5 of them get drunk and high every night of the week, I’d guess you do the same which would hinder your studying. If all 5 of them had goals and were self motivated to achieve them, then I’d guess you were working hard to achieve your goal as well. As a freshman, I understood this concept and affiliated with students who wanted to do well. Some of us even went as far as setting grade point average goals together and pushed one another throughout the semesters to achieve them. It wasn’t competition, but rather encouragement. If you don’t have close friends who care enough about you to tell you to study the night before a test when you are tired, then you won’t study! That’s what friends are for.

What kept me going? As silly as it sounds, little cut out pieces of paper stapled to my bulletin board and my friends. Both of these things were necessary for me to make it. So, my question to you is: How do you motivate yourself and who are your 5 closest friends?

Please comment below and share how you stay motivated.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Congratulations to Ashley! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Greetings, I am Ashley Henderson from Lufkin, TX. I graduated May 2017 from Prairie View A&M University with my Bachelors of Science in Biology and a minor in chemistry. I love listening to music and slam poetry. My favorite color is pink. I am terrified of flights, but I love to travel! I like experimenting in the kitchen, and one day I aspire to start a garden, even though I despise a handful of vegetables

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? This award would have to go to my high school track coach. She initially started off as my junior high basketball coach, then my high school world geography teacher, my junior varsity basketball coach, and finally my varsity track coach. I had a complicated childhood, which made me an angry kid. I had tons of frustration and disappointment bottled inside of me. No one ever noticed anything except my accomplishments until I met Coach Bolden. She made me acknowledge my hurt and channel it into a passion for the track. She reminded me always of the light at the end of the tunnel.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? When I was a child, I wanted to be a chef because I loved eating and cooking would supply me with an infinite access to delicious food. Then I wanted to be a carpenter because I love remolding turning the old into new. So, I cannot necessarily pinpoint the exact moment but more so an accumulation of events that have occurred in my life. My grandmother raised me until she passed away, the same day of my regional track meet, due to a ruptured varicose vein. I can remember sitting in class trying to figure out what I could have done to save her and not being able to come up with an answer. Although I did not a definite answer, I knew I wanted to attend college to break the cycle in my family. Since attending college, I have gained ample amount of opportunities I never dreamed of experiencing. Like conducting research, shadowing physicians, attending scholar conferences, studying abroad which all managed to play a vital role in my decision to pursue being a physician ultimately. My study abroad experience in Botswana Gaborone ignited my aspirations of becoming a physician as I witnessed disparities, volunteered in the clinics, and shadowed physicians. Many of the clinics and hospitals were understaffed and overpopulated with patients. Once again, I found myself full of grieve with the desire to help and this time I had an answer! I would join many of my peers aspire to provide efficient healthcare on the journey to becoming a physician.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? I am interested in becoming a primary care physician working with underserved communities.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? This is the toughest question so far because it is hard just to pick one! I would have to say my clinical experience in Botswana wins the grand prize. I participated in a public health study abroad program as a sophomore in college. The purpose of the program was to go into clinics “observe issues” and present “solutions.” Unfortunately, many of the clinics where understaffed and filled with patients. The unfortunate circumstances presented me with my first legit clinical experience outside of shadowing. I got trained on the child welfare portion of the clinic for 30 minutes, and then my trainer went on a 3-hour lunch break. So, my colleague and I found ourselves operating a part of the clinic!

6. What is your favorite book? My favorite book as of now is The Wait. It focuses on resisting the temptations of instant gratification for the rewards of delayed gratification.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. I love cutting hair. I taught myself how to cut hair with the help of YouTube videos. Cutting hair is like art and therapy at the same time. The individuals head is my canvas, and the exchange of our life stories is more therapeutic than an ice cream cone during the Texas summer.

8. What do you like most about PreMed StAR? I get the opportunity to network with others aspiring to enter medical school. There is no one way to get into medical school. Each who gains acceptance tends to be unique from the next. PreMed Star allows us to meet the unique individuals before we become overwhelmed with medical school. The journey is more adventurous and less stressful when you realize you are not alone. PreMed Star simply reminds me that I am not alone and what some may consider impossible may very well be possible.

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