Step 1 Medical School

When it comes to becoming a doctor one thing you need to do is get accepted into medical school. Medical school is basically where you go to school for another 4 more years at least to receive either a Doctor of Medicine Degree (M.D.) or a Osteopathic Medicine Degree (D.O.). There are a number of required courses that need to be completed before acceptance can be granted. 

Here is a list of courses needed to be accepted into the Michigan State University College of Medicine: 

-As you can see there a number of courses needed to be taken in order to be just considered to be accepted into the med school. 

One thing many people don't know or understand enough about the whole application process is that you want to apply to as many schools as possible just because each school has its own set of requirements and general idea of the best person to become apart of the medical field. Another key important thing is to be a well-rounded student. Schools are looking for people that have the ability to balance out their lifestyle. They do not want people who are strictly book smart, they tend to look for people who are involved in other things such as sports or other clubs. This shows them that not only are you on top of your books, but you also actually have a normal life. 

Factors that make a well-rounded student

Sources:

"Medicine." Medical School. Michigan State University College of Natural Science, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015. 

Guitierrez, Lupe. "What Makes a Student Well-rounded?" Magnet. SNO, 24 Feb. 2015. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

Interview Prompt #3

This is an interview process in which I conducted with a relative of mine who is an emergency room doctor. He is very knowledgeable of the emergency room and everything needed in order to become one.

"Dr. J Gumma, I would like to ask you a couple questions about your field. What and how you use writing in your field? Why it is important? What are some general misconceptions about writing in your field?"          

           - Cezar Gumma

"First of all, I am known as an Emergency Medicine Doctor, and yes writing is very important in my field. Most of the writing that I do is primarily just notes and filling out prescriptions and generic, everyday writing. However, communication in general is very important in my field as I’m sure you know. Every day I interact with patients, coworkers, etc. However, despite the fact that I generally communicate by speaking, writing is still very important in my field.

Typically everything I write is at very quick speeds as I am listening to patients or on the move. Thus, I can have sloppy handwriting at times but practicing in this field everyone is used to it as almost everyone has bad handwriting. However, I would like to address the misconception that all doctors have bad handwriting. People typically think that doctors have bad handwriting just because they’re doctors and they stereotype. This is incorrect. Most of the times our handwriting is sloppy because we are rushed, moving between patients, or attempting to follow along with patients and jot down a couple notes. Often times I find myself trying to get myself to slow down a little and just write at a normal pace, after all I have taken writing classes similar to you during my education."

            -Dr. J Gumma

Economic Impacts

By Patrick Ashcraft

It is common knowledge to know that to get a degree you need school and to go to school you have to pay money. If you want to become successful in something you have to work hard for that and earn it. This is also applied to college; you're paying a lot of money to go to college and to get your degree so you might as well try your hardest and make every penny worth the money being spent.

There are some who may not be as fortunate as others in terms of money, but this does not stop everyone. There are always ways that you can make money and get going with the path of life you want. Student loans, bank loans, and financial aid are just a few of the many ways you can earn some money trying to get the degree and education you truly want. Since most of these things have to be paid back in the future, it is a good determining factor so that you will want to succeed and make money doing something you truly love.

Psychological Impacts of Being a Doctor

By: Fatamah Esa

As a pre-med or med student, a lot of pressure is upon our shoulders. It is highly competitive study. The struggle to get into medical school is very difficult (44.7% get into med school) and hectic and medical school is difficult just the same. After which countless hours are spent in the hospital caring for patients. Their tight schedules barely leave enough time for personal and social life.

Being a doctor, you normally work around 8-12 hours a day. In that timeframe, doctors are constantly under high stress trying to make rapid diagnoses and preferred treatment without sufficient information while knowing that any error can result in harming the patient.

Doctor examines his clipboard while seemingly stressed

It could be particularly hard to receive a patient with a terrible diagnoses or who dies unexpectedly; the feeling of sympathy, confusion and guilt overwhelms a doctor as they ponder if it was their fault. The high stress that doctors deal with daily is probably the main reason why they have high rates of substance abuse, depression, divorce and the highest suicide rate of than any other profession. Being a doctor and having the privilege to nurse someone back to health is an amazing feeling but with it comes psychological consequences that greatly impacts their lives and wellbeing.

Sources:
Shadowfax. "Dealing with Psychological Stress of Being a Doctor." KevinMD.com. MedPage Today 
Professional, 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.

Fear of the Dentist

By Logan W.,

There is a common fear of the dentist in our country, which I feel is absurd!  Our modern day dentists are very skilled and precise oral operators.  Fear of the dentist office is an old misconception from back in the days when dentistry was sort of a medieval practice.  I'm sure pictures of tools that look like they belong in a torture chamber come to mind.  Fortunately, you don't have to worry about that anymore since the dental field has evolved into a very safe and painless practice.

                                                            (Fig. 1)

I am unfamiliar with the fear of the dentist, my three brothers and I all enjoyed going to the dentist.  Maybe it is because our dentist is a good family friend or maybe it is because I just love being in the medical office environment.  I also enjoy all of the procedures that they do on their patients; I may be the only one who has enjoyed getting their teeth pulled.  So that is one of the reasons why I want to pursue the dental field.  I love being in the dentist office and can see myself there in the future.  I feel that I can change the common misconception of how the dentist office is perceived; you should enjoy going there not be scared.

Sources:
Fig.1.  "Why Are People Scared Of The Dentist?" The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post, 16 Nov.  
        2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Types of Surgeons

By: Dalin C.

The human body has many different parts, abilities, functions, and systems that are used on a daily basis. Without one of those parts or functions, our body will not perform the way it is supposed too. For example, if a bone is broken in somebody's arm, they will not be able to use their arm. That person will probably need surgery to set the bone back into place. That is where a surgeon comes in; however, that surgeon is most likely a specialist in repairing broken bones.

There are many different types of surgeries that are performed on a daily basis. It is not impossible, but it would be very difficult if a surgeon had to learn and perform any type of surgery out there. Therefore, we have surgeon specialists who specialize in a certain part or certain function of the body and only performs those types of surgeries.

There are many different surgeon specialists because the human body is so complex. A general surgeon performs surgeries on a wide spectrum of the body. A colon and rectal surgeon performs surgeries on various colon or rectal problems. A pediatric surgeon performs surgeries on children, ranging from newborn through the teen years. A neurologic surgeon performs surgeries that deal with the patient's brain. An ophthalmologic surgeon performs surgeries on disorders of the eye and vision. Also, an orthopedic surgeon performs surgeries on the musculoskeletal system, meaning the bones and muscles. These are just some of the specialties a surgeon can specialize in but there are many more. For myself, I have been leaning towards a general surgeon. I think that there would be more diversity in the surgeries because I am not specialized in one aspect. There are many different problems I would be repairing and I see that as a benefit.

Sources:
"A Guide to Surgeon Specialists." American College of Surgeons. Web. 24 September 2015.

The Steps

By: Cezar Gumma

Becoming a doctor isn't something you can master in just a couple days of studying or couple weeks of practice. It all starts during your undergraduate years. You can major in any field, obtain any degree, and still be able to go to medical school and pursue becoming an emergency room doctor. Every student who is on their way needs to meet prerequisite classs that medical schools require. That’s the easy part. So ideally someone can major in photography and still find themselves working on patients in the emergency room trying to improve their health. Shocking to think that, right? 

One of the major things that need to be taken is the Medical College Admissions Test, also infamously known as the MCAT. The MCAT is one of the hardest tests of determining whether or not you are suitable for the stressful, constantly changing environment of an ER doctor. This is a daylong test that requires tremendous amount of studying as well as dedication. The MCAT is typically taken within the year that you are applying to medical schools. Recently the MCAT has changed tremendously and incredibly more challenging in order to weave out people who do not fit in the medical field. Along with the MCAT, a high grade point average, letters of recommendation, and being well rounded all come into play when applying for medical school, and only a small step to becoming an emergency room doctor. 

Challenges of a Pre-Med Student

By Fatamah Esa

The transition from high school to college is already hard enough for incoming freshmen, but as a pre-med it is even more challenging. One of the major challenges is that most people don’t major in pre-med. As I met with my academic advisors in the summer I realized that I had to choose from a long list of majors which included biochemistry, astrophysics, neuroscience, and applied mathematics. I was completely baffled as I tried to search through the list for a major I understood thoroughly. However, meeting with advisors is the best decision I ever made and I highly suggest it. They provided me with valuable information on websites that will be of help in searching for the right major and directed me on what steps I should take next. Choosing the right major is all about finding yourself and what appeals to you.

After choosing a major, the next challenge is to excel in that major. This is easier said than done because there are numerous distractions in college such as social media, television, friends, video games and relationships, which makes it difficult. I too had difficulty with avoiding these distractions; however, I found the solution is to manage your time where studies are first and foremost and after which “me” time is allowable. Studying is the only way to succeed because it is important to remember that medical schools are big on high GPA’s (3.8+) and MCAT scores (33+). Brace yourself for difficult courses. From what I’ve been told, organic chemistry will be quite the experience.

The last challenge is to build a college experience that makes you stand out from the rest of the thousands of medical school applicants. This is the part I am most looking forward to. Joining extracurricular activities, volunteering at a local hospital, getting an internship for the summer and some research experience are important ways to build an outstanding resume but also to really experience the joy of helping others, being a leader and developing skills necessary to becoming an excellent doctor. You will be able to meet new people and creating connections that will help you in the long run. It is also important to get to know your professors as they might have research opportunities available for you and their letter of recommendation will come in handy. As a pre-med student, you will be faced with a lot of challenges but through dedication and hard work it is possible to succeed.

Image Credit:

"PRE-MED STUDENT..." PRE-MED STUDENT. Funky Llama Productions, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.

Intro to the Emergency Room

By Cezar Gumma

Starting off freshmen year of college I would like to say that it’s a big step to narrowing down what I want to do in life. The field I would like to go into is medicine. I want to become an Emergency room Doctor, with my main goal to help save lives, adapt to a constantly changing environment, and help people that are in need of medical attention.

Throughout the course of my life I have visited the emergency room for a number of times regarding my health. As a child I was very reckless and liked to play very physical sports just for the adrenaline rush. Due to that reason I ended up getting many surgeries done from there and the people there took care of me as I was going through these problems from month long staph infections to endless bloody noses that would not stop on their own. It will be my goal when I actually graduate and pursue my journey as a doctor, to be there in the emergency room making sure each patient gets exactly what he or she need because I was in his or her position countless times. 

How I Chose Nursing

By: Patrick Ashcraft

The thing that really stuck out to me as I was thinking about what I would want to do with the rest of my life is that it has to be something I enjoy doing or else I'll really just have a miserable life. As I thought about what I would enjoy doing, I first thought about the things I liked. I like talking to and meeting new people. I also enjoy helping people if they're going through a rough time or they actually just need some help with something.

During my life I have had a number of surgeries (mostly from snowboarding) that have really helped me have a different view of people in the medical field. Whenever I had surgery it always seemed to me that the nurses in the hospital were some of the nicest and friendliest people you meet while you're there. Out of the nurses I have had, every once in a while there would be a male nurse there who just seems like he loves what he's doing and is enjoying actually helping you. From these experiences I've seen something that I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life.

Introduction to Becoming A Surgeon

By: Dalin C.

As a freshman in college, there are many different majors and careers I could choose from. I, however, have chosen the medical field. More specifically, I would love to become a surgeon. My goal to become a surgeon started after I job shadowed a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). A nurse anesthetist is similar to an anesthesiologist but goes to school for less years and also gets paid less. I wanted to learn more about what the CRNA does so my plan was to follow a CRNA for the day. I got to witness a total of five different surgeries in a matter of six hours.

While spectating the surgeries, I caught myself watching the surgeons and not the CRNA. I watched very closely to see how they moved their hands and how they operated so smoothy. Then it hit me; I knew that the surgeries are what I want to do and it was my goal to become a surgeon. I learned that my career is not meant to stand in a surgery room watching the patient's vitals and making sure they stay asleep, but it is to help the patients being operated on and save many lives.

Dental practice ethics- prompt #2

By Logan W.,

Nearly everyday we are forced to make very crucial desicions that will more likely than not affect us for the rest of our lives.  That is why decision making is a very thought out process. We must weigh out the pros and cons to decide what the result will be.  At the heart of decision making their is our ethics and our morals.  We as humans are hard wired to do what is right.  This is no different in our careers, especially in the pre-professional field.  For dentists in the United states we adhere to the American Dental Associations ethics which states that "the dental profession holds a special position of trust within society. As a consequence, society affords the profession certain privileges that are not available to members of the public-at-large. In return, the profession makes a commitment to society that its members will adhere to high ethical standards of conduct." 

 I believe these ethics are very similar to my own. I believe people need to start doing more for not only others but also for themselves.  If everyone were to do or give a little bit more and expect a little bit less, the world would be a much more satisfying and functional place to live.  People's decisions on a daily basis should not only be based on how it will benefit them, but also how it will help others around them and make society a better place.  People nowadays are only concerned with what is convenient for them or makes them more money. It will, in the long run, make someone's life worse, which is why the ethics of this field should really be extended to everyone's life no matter their profession.

Unfortunately, the pre-professional and healthcare field really takes a lot of heat for having terrible ethics, which is kind of true. A lot of doctors or dentists you will encounter will likely see their pay checks and be green with envy; this will cause them to loose sight of their true duty.  I wish this were not the truth but there are people who love to cut corners and try to cheat people out; however, that is just the world we live in.  But like anything else that is successful, we need to build a strong foundation.  We need to change society's ethics so that people start caring more about others; this will create a better world to live in, and that will reflect in every profession. 

Sources:                                                
Fig. 1. Taylor, Kate. "Even Women Doctors Can't Escape The Pay Gap." Forbes. Forbes Magazine,  
        13 June 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.