Hospital Volunteer: Day 1

Today was my first day volunteering at the hospital! It was a training day, so I had a wonderful group of ladies to show me the ropes. I work at the patient information desk so basically I do everything. I can give visitors room numbers, answer questions, direct people, take food or flowers to rooms, and discharge patients.

The minute I got to the desk today, a very old lady was having trouble with her computer. She could not connect to the wi-fi in the hospital. The other ladies at the patient information desk were also older, so they didn't know how to help her. Luckily, I knew just how to get her connected. The issue didn't end there, however. She didn't know how to send an email. Since that kind of thing is so easy for the younger crowd (like me), I taught her how to send a message to her daughter. She was having trouble reading the screen and typing on her new keyboard, so I offered to type the message for her. After I sent the message, we sat and talked for probably a good five to ten minutes. It felt great to help someone out, and she was so thankful. It was a really good start to the day.

After that, the ladies at the desk ran through the basics with me. I then toured the maternity pavilion and ICU units. I also went on any type of run we got a call for, which included taking food from nutrition services to the chest pain unit, taking paperwork to a nurse's station, and discharging a patient. I also got a grand tour of the radiology, cardiology, emergency, surgery, and chest pain departments.

Toward the end of my time volunteering, I was answering phones and directing visitors on my own. I also got to discharge my own patient! I couldn't stop smiling the entire time I was there. I suppose that's a pretty good sign. My cheeks hurt a little, though. Unfortunately, it wasn't as busy today as it usually is, so it wasn't as exciting as it could have been. I will be training again next week and the following week I'll be on my own! I'm pretty excited for it and am really glad I chose to spend some of my time volunteering this summer. I might have to pick up some more hours!

What I'm Doing Now to Prepare

I studied A LOT today. I'm trying to get a lot of studying for the MCAT out of the way over my summer break because I know time will be limited once school starts in two months. I am doing a few things either every day or at least regularly to prepare myself for the admissions process:

1. I have been "attending" class at http://www.wikipremed.com/. This site has a completely free MCAT course to take online. It features online videos in a spiraling curriculum to cover topics in physical and biological sciences. A spiraling curriculum means that you don't just cover one science group at a time, but rather look at each topic in the entire context of the sciences. That way, you can more easily see how everything in your science courses tie in with each other. The site also has many more resources for premeds (such as review cards, crosswords, vocabulary, etc), and none of the site is restricted. Printed material is available to purchase if you learn better that way, or just want even more practice. I would highly recommend this site to anyone preparing for medical school. It would be a really helpful resource to everyone in the undergraduate sciences, but it definitely takes a lot of time as there are hours of video review. I have been taking notes on the videos and have put together a binder with the outline of the course so I can have all the notes in one place. 
2. I downloaded the "MCAT A Day" app on my IPod Touch. I have this huge dry erase board in my room and every morning when I wake up I write the MCAT question of the day from the app along with the date and a bible verse (usually from the app "365 Devotions"). This is great because I am in the habit of practicing at least one MCAT question every single day. It even gives you an explanation of the correct answers and why the other answers were wrong. Also a highly recommended resource for future medical students. 
3. I bought and read The Medical School Admissions Guide by Suzanne M. Miller, MD, and use it as a resource. It is a week-by-week guide to medical school admissions written by a Harvard graduate who has been through it all and is now helping other students pursue their physician dreams. In the book, Dr. Miller discusses everything from the money you will spend during the admissions process, to recommendations, MCAT preparation, applications, essays, interviews, and decisions. It is a fantastic resource on the entire process, although not specifically geared toward MD/PhDs. 
4. I keep a virtual journal called iDailyDiary. You can download it from http://download.cnet.com/iDailyDiary-Free/3000-2124_4-10211308.html?tag=mncol;1 and it is totally free. I use this to take note of any volunteer, work, academic, or volunteer experiences so I can discuss them in detail later if ever asked to write an essay on any of them or asked questions about them in an interview. I also want to have enough information to be able to fill out the activities section on the AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) in great detail. Even more, I like to use the admissions book stated above (in #3) and other resources to get examples of questions asked on essays and in interviews to brainstorm in my journal possible answers. This way I won't be forcing my brain to think about a topic enough to write an entire essay when I have never thought about it before. 
5. I have started volunteering weekly at a local hospital. It is not a clinical position (volunteers are not allowed to touch patients) but I will be spending time in a clinical setting and will have many opportunities to interact with patients and medical professionals. This will also be an experience I can add to my activities section or be able to discuss in essays and interviews. 
6. I read PreMed Life magazine at http://www.premedlife.com/ (another free resource). It gives a lot of different information for premeds and comes out about once every other month. There are many different types of articles in each issue and every issue has a list of books to read, a list of gadgets to look into, and a specialty spotlight. It also features a list of summer premed programs across the nation (and a few in other countries).
7. I have been reading medical-related books for pleasure. Some I get off the book list in PreMed Life magazine, and others I just find browsing the library bookshelves. Right now I am reading the book BioMedical Ethics, a book in the "Opposing Viewpoints" series from Greenhaven Press. This book looks at each side of many different ethical issues in medicine including stem cell research, organ transplantation, reproductive technology, and human genetic testing. I have not gotten very far yet, but may give a review later in the blog after I have finished. Recently I finished How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman, MD. Although not exactly the most exciting read, it definitely got me thinking. It pointed out a lot of ways doctors are trained to think and how it can be good or bad in different situations, and also how you as a patient can ask questions and communicate with your doctor in order to find a correct diagnosis for any problem you may be having. It opened up my eyes to a lot of things that enhances my desire to be a communicator between physicians and scientists so we can improve the quality of medical care. 
8. I researched a lot of schools and have narrowed my list to 11 different schools. I have made a sheet for each school that includes information about the school itself, its MD/PhD program, and the location it is in. Information such as the curriculum, the graduate programs offered, and activities students participate in is included on the sheets among other things. These sheets have been placed into a binder and are ranked from my top choice on. The ranks are definitely not set in stone as I haven't even visited most of the schools yet. I plan to place all of my application and interview information and materials in the binder with its corresponding school. 
9. I have been working closely with my academic advisors to make sure I am taking all the recommended courses throughout my undergraduate career in order to make sure I am ready for the challenge of medical and graduate schools. 

Well I think that's pretty much all I've been doing so far (not that it isn't enough). If I think of something else I will add it later. Now I will list just a few things I plan on doing in the near future to help me prepare:

1. Make flashcards for the MCAT
2. Review for the MCAT using my notes and a review book
3. Take practice MCATs
4. Start a research project
5. Continue to do what I have already started

I think I have a pretty good list here. It may seem like a lot, and it is, but it doesn't seem so bad when you do a little at a time. It also helps that it is impossible to get a summer job around here. I'm doing odd jobs for a few bucks here and there, and may be increasing my volunteer work this summer. Totally unrelated to my preparation for an MD/PhD program is that I am training year-round as a hammer and discus thrower on my track and field team. I have potential to compete at the national competition, so I am working hard! I have found it very difficult to find motivation to work out a lot of days during the summer, but if I want to get to California to compete next season, I know I have to suck it up, step it up, and work as hard as I can for it. I think that's all for now. Thanks for reading!

So What's a Combined MD/PhD Program Anyway?

As the title suggests, at the end of the program you will come out with two degrees: MD and PhD. The PhD is usually in one of the biomedical sciences, but doesn't always have to be. Such a program usually takes 7 or 8 years and is very challenging (which is probably why I am so attracted to it).

Who should consider an MD/PhD program?

Basically, a good candidate loves science, loves research even more, loves medicine, and loves caring for other people. Also, if you have any interest in teaching medicine, this program can definitely help get you there. You must also enjoy a challenge because a 7 or 8 year academic commitment is a big deal.

Why am I considering an MD/PhD program?

• I have a passion for helping others
• I love working in the lab
• I have a passion for learning new things
• I love puzzles and challenges
• I love teaching others what I know
• I am a great organizer and have great time management skills
• I am a great communicator and want to use this skill for bridging the gap between physicians and scientists
• When I found out about this program, I had an "AHA!" moment

What is the curriculum like?

Each individual school has their own curriculum, but most follow the same general path. Basically, you can plan to spend two years in medical school, then transition to graduate school to take graduate-level courses, do research, and work on your thesis, and return to medical school to finish your clinical training upon finishing  your PhD work. 

What does it take to be accepted?

These programs are very competitive and take a lot of hard work to be a part of. There is no direct path, as all kinds of different people make up the MD/PhD community. However, to better your chances, you should have a pretty high GPA, a great MCAT score, and be able to demonstrate how much you love research (by being able to discuss research experiences you have engaged in). You will need to meet the requirements for both medical and graduate school, so be sure to look individually at each program you are interested in. 

An extra perk:

Although definitely not a reason to apply to MD/PhD programs, an added perk is that they usually will pay your tuition and fees and provide you with a stipend. Most also cover your insurance or at least subsidize it. Many schools get funding through the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and call their program MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program).

Introduction

Hello. My name is Jamie. I am a chemistry and premed student at Trine University. I have decided to start a blog about my journey in my goal of being accepted into a combined MD/PhD program. Mostly my reason behind this is that as I became interested in this type of program, I could not find very many resources out there for the admission process. There is a ton of information for getting into medical school, but limited information is available for future physician-scientists. I am hoping to blog about everything from my work and volunteer experiences, to research and classes, to preparing for the MCAT, to the application and interview process, and everything in between. Comments and questions are always welcome, and I hope my experiences can provide valuable information to anyone else interested in this combined degree program.