|
PRE-HEALTH NEWS -- JUNE 2008
Happy summer pre-health students! This is the last newsletter until next fall. Good luck on final exams and congratulations to graduting seniors! Best of luck!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. AADSAS and AMCAS
2. UO Testing Center offering MCAT
3. International Service Learning
4. Legacy Stroke Program Assistant Position
5. ExploreHealthCareers.org Update
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Asklepiads Pre-Medical Society
Pre-Pharmacy Club
Pre-Dental Club
Physical Therapy Club
UO Students for Global Health
HEALTH CAREER PROFILE: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. AADSAS and AMCAS: Both the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service and the American Medical College Application Service have begun accepting applications for Dental and Medical School, respectively. Check out the websites for more information.
2. UO Testing Center is offering the MCAT! Prospective dates are June 13, July 8,10,18, August 5,7,15,22,26, and September 3,5,12. It is still necessary to go to the AAMC website to register for these test dates before they fill up, which are available at the Testing Center located in the Counseling Center in the Health Center.
3. International Service Learning
Interested in being a part of an international health care team overseas? International Service Learning offers medical missions/internships for 2-3 weeks in Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Mexico. Experience with direct patient care can be gained in the areas of general medicine, optometry, dental, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, women's care, and veterinary services. ISL is the only health care provider that offers this level of hands on experience for pre-health students, health related seminars, and financial aid. Contact ISL representative: Lindsey Shrier at lshrier@uoregon.edu for more information.
PAGE TOP
4. Legacy Stroke Program Assistant Position
Position: 36 hrs/week, $14.58 - $20.92 hourly wage Application available online.
Location: Based at Meridian Park Hospital, Tualatin, Oregon (Portland suburb). Legacy is a system of 5 hospitals in the Portland metropolitan area.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Assistant works closely with the Stroke Program Coordinator and Stroke Medical Director and is expected to carry out defined tasks with considerable independence. Individual assists in the management of the Stroke Program. Position expects ongoing education in the field of neurology including lectures and grand rounds. Responsibilities include data monitoring and modeling for quality review, general and technical assistance in support of a specific research projects including applications for publication, collection and analysis of scientific data, technical support for program activities and a variety of short term projects focused on improving stroke care in and out of the hospital setting. Assistant works closely with physicians and Program administration.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Bachelors degree in a related field, familiarity with clinical research is helpful. Candidate is likely to be a pre-med or pre-graduate school individual.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS: Proficient in word processing, and spreadsheet management. Good analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to work independently and prioritize, good organization skills, and flexibility.
Familiarity with statistical methods would be helpful and candidate should be able to deliver presentations.
Minimum expected job tenure: 1 year.
5. ExploreHealthCareers.org Update
U.S. News & World Report just released its annual list of "Best Careers 2008," and 9 of the 31 careers are in the health field. There's never been a better time to plan a health career, and the best place to start is ExploreHealthCareers.org, the free health career planning website for students and their advisors.
Did you get your FREE Health Career Planning Kit yet? Do it now!
On the site this month:
Discover 9 health careers with a very "bright future," according to U.S.
News & World Report - plus one health career that's "ahead of the curve."
Learn how pre-enrichment programs - like the Clinical Exposure and Mentoring Program at Montefiore Medical Center - can help students begin
preparing for a health career now.
Read the profile of a nursing student who used his skills to help people in Africa .
PAGE TOP
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Asklepiads Pre-Medical Society
If you are interested in the medical field, join the Asklepiads Pre-Med Society! Contact Asklepiads via e-mail at premed@uoregon.edu, or visit their website.
Pre-Pharmacy Club
The Pre-Pharmacy club is designed to help students achieve their goals related to any area of the pharmacy field. Contact the pharmacy club via e-mail at prepharm@uoregon.edu, or visit their website.
Pre-Dental Club
The Pre-Dental club is organized to help students learn more about professions related to the dental field. If you have any questions, please send your e-mails to dental@uoregon.edu.
Physical Therapy Club
If you're pre-PT, this is where you should be! Contact Katelyn Bell
(kbell@uoregon.edu) or Kaylie Smith (ksmith12@uoregon.edu) for more info about the PT Club.
UO Students for Global Health
This group seeks to raise awareness about health inequity worldwide.
Meetings: Thursdays 7pm, 122 Knight Library. Contact:
uoglobalhealth@gmail.com
PAGE TOP
HEALTH CAREER PROFILE: D.O.'s (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine).
An Explanation of D.O.s
D.O.s are similar to medical doctors in that they prescribe medications, perform surgery, and provide a variety of other services. However, what makes a D.O. different from medical doctors is their approach and philosophy. D.O.s take a whole person approach to practicing medicine when making a diagnosis, rather than only focusing on symptoms. They believe that all parts of the body work together and influence each other. In addition D.O.s focus more on preventing illness by teaching patients how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise.
A Brief History
Osteopathic medicine was developed in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still
because he was dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19th Century
medicine. He was one of the first people who studied the relationship
between health and the absence of disease in the human body. Dr. Still
was a pioneer in the concept of wellness and the identification of the
musculoskeletal system as a key element of health.
Pre-Professional Training
The path to a D.O. degree is similar to an MD degree. After completing
a bachelor's degree, D.O.s complete four years of specialized training
at an osteopathic medical school. While at the osteopathic medical
school students get additional training in osteopathic manipulative
treatment, OMT, which involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and
prevent illness and injury. Then students complete an internship for
one year during which they are exposed to all areas of primary care
medicine, such as, family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics and
obstetrics and gynecology. Next, D.O.s complete their residency
designed to last between two and six years allowing D.O.s to specialize
in an area of medicine. Lastly, prior to practicing, a D.O. must
complete a state licensing exam and these can vary from state to state.
A Few Interesting Facts
* Approximately 65% of all osteopathic physicians practice in
primary care.
* Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. medical colleges typically have
a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on science.
* D.O.s are one of the fastest growing segments of health care
professionals in the United States. By the year 2020, it is estimated
that at least 100,000 osteopathic physicians will be in active medical
practice.
* D.O.s represent 6% of total U.S. physicians and over 8% of all
military physicians.
* Each year, more than 100 million patient visits are made to
D.O.s.
Student Profile
* About 20% of applicants are non-traditional students who are
considering a new career in osteopathic medicine later in life.
* Almost all applicants have a bachelor's degree.
* Many applicants have earned a master's degree or doctorate in
another subject.
* For the 2006 entering class:
* The average MCAT scores were 8.41 verbal, 8.13 physical and 8.74
biology.
* The average overall grade point average was 3.45 and the average
science grade point average was 3.37. Please note that MCAT scores and
grade point averages are slightly higher for matriculating students than
scores reported for the overall applicant pool.
* Personal characteristics that osteopathic schools are looking
for in potential students:
* well-rounded
* good communication and interpersonal skills
* a record of community service
* a record of leadership
* some clinical experience
* participated in a variety of extracurricular activities
* diverse backgrounds
* motivated to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine
* knowledge of osteopathic medicine
* shadowed an osteopathic physician
References
American Osteopathic Association
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
For Additional Information
The Student Doctor Network
PAGE TOP
|
