CHOOSING A CAREER IN MEDICINE

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CHOOSING A CAREER IN MEDICINE Stephan J. Cohn,
MD Assistant Professor Dept. of Anesthesia and
Critical Care University of Chicago
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Pomona College Accepts
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
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SO YOU WANNA BE A DOCTOR
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WHY ?
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Future concerns

• Economic Uncertainty
• Medicine is recession proof
• Perceived lifestyle

Choose a career because you are PASSIONATE about
it
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Three Most Common Motivations forChoosing a
Career in Medicine
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Three Most Common Motivations forChoosing a
Career in Medicine

• Family / Friend is a doctor

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Three Most Common Motivations forChoosing a
Career in Medicine

• Family / Friend is a doctor
• Someone you know well suffering from critical
  illness

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Three Most Common Motivations forChoosing a
Career in Medicine

• Family / Friend is a doctor
• Someone you know well suffering from critical
  illness
• Media

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How Do We Know This Is The Right Career For You

• Regardless of your initial interest in medicine,
  your application must demonstrate how you went
  about to convince yourself that this was indeed
  your true calling
• Community service, shadowing doctors, volunteering

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How Do We Know This Is The Right Career For You

• Regardless of your initial interest in medicine,
  your application must demonstrate how you went
  about to convince yourself that this was indeed
  your true calling
• Community service, shadowing doctors, volunteering

Show COMMITMENT to your activities
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Should I be a pre-med orscience major ?

• You should major in a subject that EXCITES you
• Must have met medical school requirements
• Most schools looking for well-rounded applicants
• Science or non-science major - make sure you are
  prepared for MCAT

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TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX

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Why are NUMBERS important ?

• Likelihood of success in med school
• Passing coursework
• Finishing in 4 or 5 years
• Passing USMLE parts I and II

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Why are NUMBERS important ?
Factors that predict step I performanceMultivaria
ble analysis

Variable ß SE p-Value
Age -0.69 0.26 0.009
Undergraduate College selectivity -1.72 0.8 0.033
SGPA 9.92 2.14 0.0001
MCAT MCAT MCAT MCAT
BS 4.09 0.57 0.0001
PS 1.96 0.46 0.0001
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Why are NUMBERS important ?
Factors that predict step II performanceMultivari
able analysis
Variable ß SE p-Value
Age -1.15 0.29 0.0001
Undergraduate college selectivity -2.23 0.93 0.018
SGPA 12.76 2.42 0.0001
MCAT MCAT MCAT MCAT
BS 2.9 0.63 0.0001
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Why are NUMBERS important ?
GPA vs. MCAT
Julian, ER Academic Medicine Issue Volume
80(10), October 2005, pp 910-917
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What about multiple MCAT takes ?
Probably averaging multiple MCATs is the best
predictor of step I performance
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Why are NUMBERS important ?
All Applicants
YEAR GPA MCAT
2002 3.52 29.5
2003 3.54 29.5
2004 3.53 29.8
2005 3.53 30.0
2006 3.54 30.2
2007 3.57 30.9
2008 3.59 31.4
2009 3.60 31.5
2010 3.62 31.9
2011 3.62 32.1
Source PSOM Office of Admissions
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The Admissions Process
APPLY EARLY
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The Admissions Cycle

• June AMCAS accepts applications
• June 15 Our link with AMCAS opened, screening
  begins
• Late August to February Interviews
• September to March Committee meetings
• Rolling acceptances, October 15 till April
• May 15 Applicants pick final school
• August 4 First day of Orientation

It never ends
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The dreaded PERSONAL STATEMENT

• It should showcase your strengths, but be humble
  at same time
• Explain your passion for medicine
• DONT embellish keep to the truth
• Avoid typos or incorrect quotes
• Have at least 4 people who know you well read it
  and see if it accurately portrays you

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The dreaded PERSONAL STATEMENT
The essays are where the applicants gives us
insight into their values and how they think.
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Listing your experiences

• Committee likes to see that you picked something
  and stayed with it
• DONT embellish your hours (the committee knows
  how to add)
• Good mix of research and clinical exposure
• If you have accrued substantial hours in a
  certain experience nice to have supervisors
  LOR as one of your letters

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Choosing your references

• Pick those that know you well
• Avoid those with history of writing bad LORs
  (your advisors may be able to help you here)
• Who can attest to your academic horsepower?
• Who can attest to your interaction with others /
  empathetic nature?

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Differing paths to medicine

• Traditional college med school
• Non-traditional
• Spend some time off before med school
• Change career, post-bac, then apply
• PhD (or other degree) first, then apply

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Differing paths to medicine

• Traditional college med school
• Non-traditional
• Spend some time off before med school
• Change career, post-bac, then apply
• PhD (or other degree) first, then apply

All are EQUALLY valid
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Where do I apply?

• Schools looking for applicant who is good fit
  for them
• Applicants looking for a school that is best
  fit for them
• Talk to your advisor(s)
• MCAT and GPA may play a factor (med schools
  cannot interview all applicants)

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Welcome to CHICAGO!

• Vibrant, diverse metropolitan city
• 3.5 million residents
• City of distinct neighborhoods
• Culture, recreation, architecture

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Hyde Park

• Community of 35,000-40,000 people
• Incredible diversity of people
• Just south of downtown
• Campus is 1.5 miles from
• Lake Michigan

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University of Chicago

• Rich intellectual tradition
• Emphasis on graduate/professional education
• Contained campuseverything is accessible
• Impressive Faculty
• Unique Structure

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The Pritzker Community

• Smaller class size
• Diverse students, faculty, and staff
• Emphasis on teamwork
• Pass-Fail
• Focus on Adult Learning

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The Pritzker Community

• Smaller class size
• Diverse students, faculty, and staff
• Emphasis on teamwork
• Pass-Fail
• Focus on Adult Learning

Very similar to Claremont College Community !
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Applying to Pritzker

• Get your completed AMCAS in early !
• We have two secondary essays that need to be
  completed before we review your application

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Our Mission

• At the University of Chicago, in an atmosphere of
  interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the
  Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to
  inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise
  to become leaders and innovators in science and
  medicine for the betterment of humanity

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Secondary Essays

• Our Mission Statement above is an expression of
  our core purpose and educational philosophy.
  Please reflect on its content and write an essay
  describing why you see yourself as a great "fit"
  for Pritzker.  We suggest that you limit your
  essay to about 550 words.

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Our Mission

• At the University of Chicago, in an atmosphere of
  interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the
  Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to
  inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise
  to become leaders and innovators in science and
  medicine for the betterment of humanity

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Secondary Essays

• Tell us about a difficult or challenging
  situation you have encountered and how you dealt
  with it. In your response, identify both the
  coping skills you called upon to resolve the
  dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you
  sought advice. We suggest that you limit your
  essay to about 400 words.

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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
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Another Quick Look at NUMBERS
GPA
MCAT
ALL APPLICANTS INTER- VIEWED APPLICANTS MATRI- CULATES
2002 3.52 3.70 3.63
2003 3.54 3.69 3.63
2004 3.53 3.70 3.64
2005 3.54 3.77 3.74
2006 3.54 3.74 3.75
2007 3.57 3.75 3.79
2008 3.59 3.78 3.79
2009 3.60 3.81 3.82
2010 3.62 3.81 3.82
2011 3.62 3.80 3.80
ALL APPLICANTS INTER- VIEWED APPLICANTS MATRI- CULATES
2002 29.5 32.4 30.9
2003 29.5 32.6 30.9
2004 29.8 32.6 31.4
2005 30.0 33.3 32.8
2006 30.2 33.9 33.8
2007 30.9 34.4 34.7
2008 31.4 34.8 35.6
2009 31.5 35.8 35.7
2010 31.9 35.6 36.0
2011 32.1 35.9 36.0
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Another Quick Look at NUMBERS
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WHO ARE WERECRUITING ?
MATRICULATION STATISTICS
2007 2008 2009 2010 2010
MEN 59 49 48 47 45
WOMEN 53 51 40 41 43
African American 14 12 11 13 6
Mexican 6 5 3 2 5
Puerto Rican 2 0 0 0 5
American Indian/ Alaskan Native 3 1 0 0 0
URM 22.3 17.8 15.9 17 18.2
AAMC Database
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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?

• History of engagement
• Contributing to our community
• Future leaders and innovators
• Ability to work in teams
• Cultural competence
• Good fit

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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
CLINICAL EXPOSURE

• Looking for exposure to patient care
• EMT, trained nurses aid
• working in a health care facility
• shadowing physicians

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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
LEADERSHIP

• Looking for participation in group activities
• RA, TA
• sports
• fraternity
• service organization

Evidence of local, regional or national leadership
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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
EXPOSURE TO DIVERSITY
Important to explore applicants attitudes and
level of comfort with living and working in our
community
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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
EXPERIENCES

• Long term experiences valued over short-term
  experiences
• Team sports, marching band, group activities that
  show ability to work in teams
• Leadership, defined or undefined roles
• Clinical experiences
• Research experiences
• Community involvement

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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
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Med Educ. 2011 Feb45(2)132-40. Personality
factors and medical training a review of the
literature. Doherty EM, Nugent E.
WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
RESULTS the authors identified seven suitable
studies. Four of these looked at personality
factors and academic success, one looked at
personality factors and clinical competence, and
two looked at personality factors and stress. The
main personality characteristic repeatedly
identified in the literature was
conscientiousness.
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WHO ARE WE RECRUITING ?
THE ROAD TRAVELLED
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The Interview Process !

• Congratulations on making the cut !

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The Interview Process !

• Congratulations on making the cut !
• Dont let that get to your head. You MUST be in
  Interview Mode from the time you leave your
  house until you return

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Interviewing at Pritzker

• Faculty Interview
• Administrative Interview
• Medical Student Interview
• Lunch with medical students (usually MS 4)
• Opportunity to be housed with a medical student
  for your stay in Chicago

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What do we look forin the interview ?

• Verbal Communication
• Intellectual Readiness
• Motivation for Medicine
• Exposure to Diversity
• Interpersonal Skills
• Authenticity

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The Admissions Committee

• AMCAS application
• Secondary Essays
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcript and MCAT score(s)
• Comments and scores from your three interviews

GOOD FIT
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Darrell NabersDirector of Admissions and
Outreach
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Curriculum

• Scientific Foundations
• Patient/Physician/Society/Systems (P2S2)
• Scholarship and Discovery
• Interdisciplinary Focus

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Scholarship and Discovery Milestones

• MS 1 Scholarship Discovery Course 1A, B, C
• Meet track leaders, highlight mentors student
  scholarship
• Learn basic concepts of each track (i.e. what is
  global health)
• Learn core scholarship skills (i.e. literature
  searching)
• Learn basic biostatistics and epidemiology (1B)
• Obtain advanced training in one area (1C)
• Meet with potential mentors
• Consider summer opportunities for scholarship

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Scholarship and Discovery Milestones

• MS 2 Select track and mentor (early Fall
  Quarter)
• Interval group meetings with track leaders to
  present "work in progress"
• Time to work with mentor on project
• Progress report at end of second year

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Scholarship and Discovery Milestones

• MS 3 Clinical Year
• Critical appraisal of literature and journal
  clubs (via core clerkships)

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Scholarship and Discovery Milestones

• MS 4 Completion of Project
• Complete work on mentored project, work on a
  related project, or obtain advanced
  skills/experience in track
• Disseminate work (local, regional, or national
  conferences)
• Present scholarly work at Senior Scientific
  Session
• Complete final progress report

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Clinical Curriculum

• Begins first quarter
• Diverse patient population
• Structured grading, against
• standards not each other
• On site training
• Exceptional Residents Faculty

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Dual-Degree Opportunities

• 15-20 of our students graduate with a
  dual-degree
• MD/PhD
• MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program)
• GDTP (Growth and Development Training Program)
• MeSH (Medicine with PhD in Social Sciences or
  Humanities)
• MD/MBA, MD/JD, MD/MPH, MD/MPP

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Opportunities to Innovate

• Scholarship and Discovery
• Summer Research Program-First Year
• Scholarship of
• Distinction

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Committed to our Community

• Health Care Disparities Course
• Urban Health Initiative
• REACH Program

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Repayment for Education to Alumniin Community
Health

• REACH Program
• provides 40,000 per year for up to four years
  for graduates of the University of Chicago
  Pritzker School of Medicine who complete a
  residency in primary care or much-needed
  specialties and then return to practice medicine
  at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or
  a community hospital in the Medical Centers
  primary service area

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International Opportunities

• Global Health Initiative
• REMEDY
• International
• Medicine Group

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Recovered Medical Suppliesfor the Developing
World
Pritzkers 2005-2006 REMEDY student group
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Pritzker Societies

• Ready-made community
• Career Advising
• Faculty Mentors
• Peer Mentors
• Social, academic, service opportunities

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Extracurricular Opportunities

• U of C and Pritzker Student Organizations
• Free Clinics
• International Opportunities

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Student Organizations in Action
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Stephan J. Cohn, MD Asst. Prof. Dept. of
Anesthesia and Critical Care University of
Chicago scohn_at_dacc.uchicago.edu
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Darrell Nabers Director of Admissions and
Outreach University of Chicago Pritzker School of
Medicine 924 East 57th Street, BSLC 104P Chicago,
Illinois 60637 773-702-1938 773-834-5412
(fax) dnabers_at_bsd.uchicago.edu http//pritzker.uc
hicago.edu