Keepsake® 2011 a guide for minority science students

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keepsake 2011 | 2

medicinefuture doctors start here ................ 5allopathic vs. osteopathic ................6what doctors earn ............................ 7what you need to do to prepare ...... 7premed timeline .............................. 8-9the mcat ..............................................8new physician profile: roberto silva, md ..............................14application process overview ........ 16postbaccalaureate programs .........18recommendation letters ................. 19interviews .........................................20med student profile: anthony quinn .................................21finding the funds ............................ 22scholarships & loan repayment programs .......................................... 24financial aid resources ................... 28med student resources .................... 28

dentistryfuture dentists start here ...............31what dentists earn .......................... 32the path to dentistry ........................33dental school timeline .................... 34the application process ................... 35the dat ............................................... 36help paying for school .................... 37dentistry resources ......................... 37new dentist profile: gwen werner, dmd .......................... 38

special featuredr. john ruffin on the fourth annual health disparities conference ........................................40

contents

On the Cover:

Model: Darius Riley, Eastside College Preparatory School, Palo Alto, CA

Photographer: Julie Caskey

3 | keepsake 2011

Founded in 1789, the same year the U.S. Constitution took effect, Georgetown is the nation’s oldest Catholic university. The vision of Georgetown founder John Carroll, S.J., still guides the university in its commitment to Catholic, Jesuit education, with respect for diversity and open dialogue in the pursuit of truth.

georgetown university school of medicineDUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS:

MD/PHD CELL BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY, PHARMACOLOGY, OR PHYSIOLOGY & BIOPHYSICS, NEUROSCIENCE, TUMOR BIOLOGY, AND BIOETHICS

MD/MBA BUSINESS DMINISTRATION

MD/MALS LIBERAL STUDIES

MD/MS COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, BIOHAZARDOUS THREAT AGENTS & EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES

GSMI – GEORGETOWN SUMMER MEDICAL INSTITUTE REMEDIATION OR POST-BACC REVIEW, GROSS ANATOMY, HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

Guided by the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, care of the whole person, Georgetown University School of Medicine will educate a diverse student body, in an integrated way, to become knowledgeable, ethical, skillful, and compassionate physicians and biomedical sceintists who are dedicated to the care of others and health needs of our society.

The University was founded on the principle that serious and sustained discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs promotes intellectual, ethical and spiritual understanding. Consistent with this principle, the School of Medicine expects faculty, staff and students to respect and embrace cultural, ethnic, racial, and all dimensions of diversity in a learning environment that understands and includes the varied health care needs and growing diversity of the populations we serve.

INQUIRIES OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE BOX 571421 WASHINGTON, DC 20057-1421

PHONE: 202-687-1154

medicaladmissions@georgetown.edu

cura personalisG

Future Doctors Start Here.

What’s “hot?” What’s in? These days, fashion and tech-nology move faster than the time it took you to turn to this page. But there’s one human need that remains the same, now more than ever: Doctors.Doctors hold high respect within our communities, and for good reason. We go to them for un-derstanding and healing, for guidance, and trust. A doctor may take off her lab coat at 6 p.m., but her responsibilities continue 24/7. And in return? The community gives her respect and esteem in endless supply. (A good salary helps very nicely, too.)

Like most efforts that deliver great reward, getting into medical school and then navigating the rapidly changing world of medicine is hard work—very hard work. But you can do it, if you’re ready for the challenge.

What do you need to be a doctor? Integrity, curiosity, and modesty. Compassion. Dedication. Determination. Sacrifice, and stamina. And last but not least: Faith in yourself, along with a strong commitment to the health and well-being of people (and never forget that they are peo-ple, just like you).

a world of opportunityThe medical field offers more professional opportunities than practically any other. When you’re a doctor, you work in a constantly changing envi-ronment where no two days are ever alike. And the satisfaction you can get from helping people—in rural clinics, in urban hospitals, in schools—is un-matched.

Primary care physicians are generally the main contacts for people who need health care, and they are trained to work with a broad range of health problems. Specialists, on the other hand, work with a particular part of the body: oncologists study and treat cancer, dermatologists study and treat the skin, and general internists treat the internal organs.

Doctors can also be found outside traditional patient care, doing research at pharmaceutical companies, working on Capitol Hill for health reform, teach-ing the next generation of doctors at universities. And doctors work behind the scenes, at many levels within the government. Can you imagine stitching up a few high-ranking politicians after an informal basketball game?

5 | keepsake 2011

You’ll Make A DifferenceEthnic diversity is one of our country’s many strengths, and it’s the medical profession’s job to catch up.

Whites make up almost 61 percent of the na-tion’s 77,722 medical students, while Asians comprise 22 percent. Only 7 percent are African American, and about 8 percent are Hispanic. But the U.S. needs doctors of all ethnicities, and from all backgrounds, to improve our understanding of “minority” patients and their specific health is-sues and needs.

how you can help health care and your patients:improved accessStudies show that minority physicians are more like-ly to treat minority patients and indigent patients and to practice in underserved communities.

increased patient satisfactionStudies also indicate that when minority patients can select a health care professional, they are more likely to choose someone of their own racial and ethnic background. Relationships between patients and physicians of the same race or ethnic background also are characterized by higher levels of trust, respect, and the increased likelihood that patients will recommend their physician to others.

ensuring culturally competent careThe nation needs a culturally competent health care workforce—that is, one with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors required to provide the best care to a diverse population. Exposure to racial and ethnic diversity in medical school contrib-utes importantly to the cultural competence of all of tomorrow’s doctors, and diversity in the physi-cian workforce ensures that the health care system is representative of the nation’s population and re-sponsive to its health care needs.

allopathic vs. osteopathicThere are two types of physicians: the MD, who practices allopathic (also called conventional) medicine; and the DO, who practices osteopathic medicine. Both types of physicians complete medical school programs, and both are licensed to practice medicine and prescribe medications in all 50 states.

Approximately one in five medical students in the United States is studying to become an osteopathic physician. Osteopathic students re-ceive the same comprehensive training as allopathic students. The main difference between them is that osteopathic students receive additional training in muscular and skeletal manipulation, osteopathic philosophy and principles, and alternative forms of treatment such as holistic treat-ment and massage therapy.

Other similarities:

ÆBoth DOs and MDs complete four years of medical school.

ÆBoth can choose to practice in a specialty areas of medicine, such as surgery or obstetrics, after completing a residency program that requires an additional two to six years.

ÆBoth must pass state licensing examinations.

ÆBoth practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities.

Why become an osteopath? Osteopathic physicians tend to focus on preventive health care, with a greater focus on the musculoskeletal system

and how an injury or illness in one area can affect another. It has been said that osteopaths focus on treat-ing a patient, not a disease.

An osteopathic physician’s train-ing focuses on looking at the “whole person,” including home and en-vironmental factors that might be contributing to the person’s health. More than half of all osteopathic

physicians practice in primary care areas such as pediatrics, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, and internal medicine. And, although osteopathic physicians represent only five percent of all U.S. physicians, they handle ap-proximately 10 percent of all primary care visits.

According to a 2010 study by the American Association of Colleges of Os-teopathic Medicine, overall osteopathic student enrollment in the U.S. has in-creased more than nine times over the last 40 years. Female enrollment has also grown, from three percent in 1969 to just over 50 percent in 2010. The num-ber of applicants to osteopathic medical schools also set a new record in the 2009–10 application cycle—13,147, up from 6,324 in 2003.

Approximately one in five medical students in the United States is studying to become an osteopathic physician.

university of nebraska

northeastern ohio universities colleges

of medicine

what you need to do to prepareMedical school admissions are very competitive. There are 133 medical schools in the U.S., and only about one-half of those who apply are accepted.

What’s the difference between you and your competitors? If you’re an ex-tremely good student, you’ll have a much better chance of being accepted if you have high GPA and MCAT scores. Put all your effort into the elements you can control (how much you study) instead of the ones you can’t (having a parent on the admissions committee).

Even better, your uniqueness matters. Today, demographics and increas-ing attention to diversity have a significant impact on who is being accept-ed to medical school. No school wants every one of its students to be white male biology majors with the exact same MCAT scores. Rather, they want to create a mix of students who will create a strong class as a whole. This means women and men, sci-ence and nonscience majors, and people of all ethnicities.

If you don’t make it into a par-ticular school, don’t take it person-ally. Just think of it this way: Each school is picking a team, and your “position” this year may already be occupied.

Medical school takes four years to complete. After a student’s second year in medical school, he or she takes the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE), a three-part exam that assesses a physician’s abilities and skills in providing effective patient care.

The first test, USMLE Step 1, covers all basic-sciences material taught in the first two years of medical school. You must pass “Step 1” in order to graduate to years three and four. The third and fourth years of medical school are spent taking classes and on rotations in hospitals, where you get hands-on medical experience and observe other doctors.

At this point, students must pass Step 2, which assesses your medical knowl-edge, patient skills, and understanding of clinical science. Step 2 has two parts:

clinical knowledge, a multiple-choice exam that tests your clinical knowl-edge; and clinical skills, which uses real-life patients to test your ability

to work with patients and colleagues.After four years in medical school, you graduate with a doctor of

medicine degree (MD). However, you still cannot practice medi-cine! Your next step is to spend three to eight years in a resi-

dency program, depending on which medical specialty you want to pursue. For example, family physicians spend three

years in residency, while urologists and cardiovascular surgeons spend five.

During your residency, you must pass Step 3 in order to complete the full USMLE examination. Step 3 is a

final assessment of your ability to deliver effective medical care in an independent setting.

After you’ve passed Step 3, you may then de-cide to become highly specialized in a particu-

lar field (such as gastroenterology, which is a subspecialty of pediatrics and of internal medicine). To do this, you’ll need to complete

more training.

what doctors earnAre you going into medicine for the money? Then stop reading right now and start working on a cool iPhone app.

Jokes aside, you can earn a very good salary as a doc-tor. Physician and surgeon salaries are among the highest of any occupation. Primary care physicians make about $185,000 a year, while physicians in a medical specialty earn about $340,000. Salaries vary according to factors such as type of practice, whether or not you’re self-em-ployed (if you have your own practice), geographic region, skill, personality, and professional reputation.

Job opportunities are expected to be very good in the next 10 years, as a large percentage of physicians and sur-geons are expected to retire. Job prospects are also very good for doctors working in special-ties that affect our rapidly changing and aging population, such as breast cancer and heart disease.

Today, demographics and increasing attention to diversity have a significant impact on who is being accepted to medical school.

7 | keepsake 2011

the mcat®The Medical College Admission Test, known as the MCAT, is the entrance exam required by almost all medical schools in the United States and Canada.

Designed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the MCAT tests a student’s knowledge of subjects within the biological and physical sciences, and also assesses writing and critical thinking skills. The MCAT is administered multiple times throughout the year (from late Janu-ary through early September), and is about five and a half hours long. You must preregister online. The registration fee is $235, but can be reduced to $85 through the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP) if you qualify. Complete information is available at www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat.

Ideally, you should plan to take the MCAT within the same year that you will apply to medical school. So, if you’re planning to apply to medical school in 2012 (for entrance in 2013), you should also take the MCAT during 2012. Different medical schools have different application deadlines, so be sure to choose an MCAT test date that meets the requirements of the school(s) to which you’re applying.

Medical schools consider the MCAT and your GPA as two major factors in determining acceptance. Good scores open doors, so knowledge and prep-aration are essential. Many of the questions on the MCAT can be answered from the information covered in the required premed courses: bi-ology, general chemistry, or-ganic chemistry, and physics. Invest your time now. Sac-rifice nights out with your friends so that you can do

freshman year Æ Schedule meeting with the prehealth advisor. Æ Join a premed club to hear useful talks, meet others with common interests.

Æ Begin working on prerequisite courses, especially biology.

Æ Research majors. Æ Develop good study habits! Æ Get some clinical experience by volunteering or shadowing a health professional.

Æ Talk to advisor about research. Æ Find healthy ways to relax and relieve stress.

premed timeline

sophomore year Æ Continue taking premed requisite courses: chemistry, physics, math and English.

Æ Select a major. Æ Meet with prehealth advisor. Æ Remain active in premed club. Æ Cultivate relationships with professors. Æ Pursue research through volunteering in a lab or for academic credit.

Æ Get more clinical experience—volunteer, paid and/or shadow.

Æ Maintain strong GPA or consult with major or prehealth advisor for resources and strategies to improve GPA.

Æ Look for summer volunteer/work/research opportunities; see your career counselor for internship options. Also try the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program www.smdep.org. It’s a free (including housing and meals) six-week summer medical and dental school preparatory program that offers eligible students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation.

Æ Maintain fun, enjoyable extracurricular activities.

well—very well—in school. Not only will you get a good GPA, you’ll also pave your own road to good MCAT scores.

The MCAT contains four sections: verbal reasoning, physical sciences, biological sciences, and writing sample. Verbal reasoning presents a series of passages that cover the social and natural sciences and the humanities, and tests your reasoning skills based on that text. Physical sciences and biological sciences contain questions on bi-ology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Writing sample assesses your ability to develop a well-written, well-organized essay.

Preparation is key to scoring well on the MCAT, and there are two ways to prepare: pay to take a test preparation course, or study on your own. Most likely, you’ve already completed two or three years of undergraduate study and have taken the required course work in the sciences. Before you begin either method, be sure to review all class notes, outlines, and textbooks that you have from those courses.

Test preparation companies such as Kaplan and The Princeton Review can be very helpful if you can fit them into your budget. Both offer a wide variety of options in online and classroom-based learning, as well as private tutoring.

If you want to study on your own, check out their MCAT review books, which have study material and full-length practice versions of MCAT exams. You can find these books online at a wide range of prices. (Exam-krackers is another popular publisher.) Kaplan also of-fers videos and study materials that you can download to a mobile device or smartphone. Last but not least, the AAMC has its own practice MCAT exams, books, and guides—plus lots of free information and resources—available on its website.university

of nebraska

AAMC Fee Assistance ProgramThe AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) helps individuals who would be unable to take the MCAT—or apply to medical schools that use the AMCAS application—without financial assistance. Note that FAP does not offer retroactive fee assistance, so be sure you get the decision on your FAP application before you pay the MCAT registration fee. Go to www.aamc.org/students/applying/fap for information on eligibility, deadlines, and instructions on how to apply online.

NOTE: FAP eligibility decisions are based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’s poverty guidelines. For the 2010 calendar year, ap-plicants whose total family income is 300 percent or less of the poverty level for their family size are eligible for fee assistance.

junior year(Applications)

Æ Finish science prereqs before studying for MCAT. Æ Consider taking some of the following: biochemistry, physiology, genetics, molecular biology, English lit.

Æ Continue pursuing research opportunities. Æ Become a leader in a club or volunteer organization. Æ Get letters of recommendation from professors you have a relationship with.

Æ Take spring or early summer MCAT if applying this year, any date if applying next year. Register early!

Æ MCAT prep course or study on your own? Æ Start work on AMCAS personal essay (and don’t underestimate its importance).

Æ Research medical schools in AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements (www.aamc.org).

Æ Submit AMCAS in summer. Æ Look for summer volunteer/work/internship/research opportunities.

Æ Attend your prehealth club meetings, read, and discuss health care issues.

senior year(Interview/Acceptance!)

Æ Make sure you have fulfilled requirements for your major, core, and for medical school.

Æ Have fun. Æ Become a leader in a club or volunteer organization. Æ Get more clinical experience. Æ Do research. Æ Consider taking some of the following courses: math and English prerequisites, bioethics, biochemistry, Spanish, etc.

Æ Turn in secondary applications and have recommendation letters sent from your file.

Æ Find scholarships. Æ Check out information on financing medical school on www.aamc.org/md2

Æ Do a video practice interview; recruit a friend to record with a handheld or even flip phone camera.

Æ Interview at medical schools. Æ Along with applying, make sure you are developing “Plan B” in case you are not accepted this time.

how to prepare for the mcatWhile there is no one way to prepare for the MCAT, your study plan should begin at least three months before your chosen exam date. Here’s an outline you might want to revise to fit your situation:

ÆGet a copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam (available through bookstores and at www.aamc.org).

ÆRead and understand the MCAT Essentials (download the free PDF at www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/preparing/).

ÆRead “Preparing for the MCAT Exam” at www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/.

ÆMake a note of any material that is unfamiliar to you or that you haven’t studied recently.

ÆReview science topics with relevant course materials such as textbooks, course outlines, and notes.

Æ Take the MCAT practice tests, which are books of practice tests published by companies such as Kaplan, and Simon and Schuster. You can use the diagnostic reports in the online tests to identify topics and skills that need additional review.

Æ If your test pace is slow, take advantage of any services your college offers to help improve reading speed and comprehension.

ÆDo you have a study partner? Each of you can use your strengths to help the other address areas of weakness.

ÆAvoid last-minute “cramming.”

ÆMake sure to get enough sleep, food, and exercise, especially in the days before the test.

northeastern ohio universities colleges

of medicine

9 | keepsake 2011

VISITING RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (VRIP)Sponsored by the Harvard Catalyst Program for Faculty Development and Diversity, VRIP is an 8-week mentored summer research program open to 1st and 2nd year U.S. medical students, particularly underrepresented minority and/or disadvantaged individuals from accredited U.S. medical schools. VRIP is designed to enrich medical students’ interest in research and health-related careers, particularly clinical/translational research careers. VRIP offers students housing as well as a stipend and transportation reimbursement for travel to and from Boston. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Noncitizen Nationals or Permanent Residents of U.S.

SUMMER CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM (SCTRP)Sponsored by the Harvard Catalyst Program for Faculty Development and Diversity, SCTRP is a 10-week mentored summer research program designed to enrich students’ understanding of and interest in pursuing clinical and/or translational research, as well as to increase underrepresented minority and disadvantaged college student exposure to clinical/ translational research. College sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to apply, particularly those attending Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) and Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) NIH-funded institutions, historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and/or Tribal Colleges with baccalaureate degree programs, and/or alumni of the Harvard Medical School Minority Faculty Development Program and/or the Biomedical Science Careers Program. SCTRP offers students housing as well as a stipend and transportation reimbursement for travel to and from Boston. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Noncitizen Nationals or Permanent Residents of U.S.

Program Director:Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MBADean for Diversity and Community Partnership Associate Professor of MedicineHarvard Medical School

For more information please contact:Vera Yanovsky, Program CoordinatorPhone: 617-432-1892 E-mail: pfdd_dcp@hms.harvard.eduWeb Site: www.mfdp.med.harvard.edu/catalyst

Student Programs at Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, Massachusetts

YOU alwaYs wanted [ a career in healthcare. ]

TOGETHER, WE’LL BUILD YOUR FUTURE.

www.midwestern.edu

CHICAGO COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE ARIZONA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE

CHICAGO COLLEGE OF PHARMACY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY–GLENDALE

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LEARN MORE AbOuT OuR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PROGraMS IN HEALTH CARE, AT www.MIDwESTERN.EDu.

Educating Tomorrow’s Healthcare Team

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Physician Assistant StudiesPhysical TherapyOccupational TherapyBiomedical Sciences

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www. ouc

Apply to our SummThe first step toward be

OU-COM’s preprofessional programs are designed to assisteconomically and educationally disadvantaged studentswith preparation for and access to medical school. Call us.

Our nation’s population is becoming increasinglydiverse. Join us in our commitment to trainingculturally competent physicians. For the past tenyears, more than 24% of our graduates havebeen minorities. Last year, 26% of the OhioUniversity College of Osteopathic Medicine’sentering class was comprised of minoritystudents from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

OU-COM Office of Admissions (800) 345-1560Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education (740) 593-2189

Greg Hill, D.O. (‘86)Orthopedic Surgery/Hand & Upper ExtremitiesSumma Western Reserve Physicians, Inc.Cuyahoga Falls, OH

OHIOUNIVERSITY

edu

om.ohio.

er Scholars Programcoming a great physician

“The programs offered by OU-COM, such as the Postbaccalaureate andPrematriculation programs, helped me to develop lasting mentor/mentee relationships with many osteopathic physicians and medicalstudents. These relationships encouraged and supported me as I continued toward my goal of becoming an osteopathic physician. ”

Tyree Winters, D.O, (‘o7), PediatricsCare + Pediatrics at Crossgates, Brandon, MS

Participating in Summer Scholars gave me a firsthand view of what it would take to succeed in medical school;I learned to adapt to a faster pace of learning and how tomanage my time efficiently. Summer Scholars pushed meto my limits and proved that I did have what it wouldtake to succeed in medical school.”

Michelle Moreno, D.O, (‘o8), Family Medicine ResidentAffinity Medical Center, Massillon, OH

“

Summer Scholars ProgramPreparation to become a stronger candidate for medical school

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Mor

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Postbaccalaureate and Prematriculation ProgramsPreparation for the first year of medical school, which is typically the toughest

Pre- and Postdoctoral TrainingOutstanding training from the Centers for Osteopathic Resear chand Education (CORE), a consor tium of more than 25 urbanand community teaching hospitals

Tyre

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‘07)

The CORE system provided great support as I entered my clinicalrotations. The academics were excellent and I was given appr opriateresponsibility as I progressed in my medical education. The COREhospitals offered me a broad range of hands-on experience at alllevels of my training. The CORE system and OU-COM providedeverything I needed to succeed as a medical student at every stepalong my path.”

Robert Polite, D.O. (’99), Family Medicine/Addiction MedicinePolite Care, Columbus, OH

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www.oucom.ohiou.edu

roberto silva, mdMed School University Of New MexicoFamily Medicine Residency University Of Colorado, DenverWhere Is He Now? Private Practice, Alamosa, Co

Were you one of those kids who al-ways dreamed of being a doctor?In high school, I was already interested in science—biology, physics, and anthropology mostly—but I certainly didn’t expect anything to come of it. It might help people to know that I was not a very “in-volved” high school student; I just kind of got by. I got average grades and didn’t exactly have big plans as I was leaving high school.

When I decided to go to college—my older brothers and sisters had gone to college, but we’re still all in the first generation to do so—I kind of thought, “Well, if I’m going to do this, I’m going to go all the way here; I’m going to pick the most challenging thing.”

What caused that shift from being a “what-ever” high school student to being committed?I can pretty much pinpoint it to one experience. I had just graduated from high school and I went to the University of New Mexico campus to go apply for a job to do painting for them around the school. But, as luck would have it, I went to the wrong place: I went to the admissions office rather than the employment office.

I ended up talking to someone in the financial aid office who asked me if I was going to go to college, and whether I had taken the ACT test. When I told her what I scored, she said, “Didn’t you know that that score makes you eligible for a scholarship?” So I went there to apply for a job to paint dorms, and I left with a full scholarship to college.

That was when I said, “Now I’m going to make the most of this.” A side note: I still got the job painting dorms, and did that for a while in undergrad.

When did being a doctor start to appeal to you?It wasn’t until later in college actually. Initially, I thought I would be a high school science teacher. I didn’t jump right into the life sciences, but along the way, I found my way to some premed club meetings and was intrigued by the challenge of getting into medi-cal school. Plus, of course, the career itself seemed exciting, too. Be-fore that, I really had no idea what a doctor did.

fresh insights from a new doctor

Dr. Roberto Silva

keepsake 2011 | 14

Did you encounter any resistance to your dream?I definitely experienced some comments from other students who were upset or jealous. They would say things like, “Oh, you’ll get in, because you’re His-panic and they need more Hispanic doctors.” It used to make me so upset be-

cause I wanted to get in because of my good grades and my ac-complishments, not because of a quota or something. So, that was another driving force behind my need to excel: I pushed to get even better grades so that no one could tell me I only got in because I was Hispanic.

Who were your mentors or your support system?My family, mostly. It was great to be able to go home and get a good homecooked meal or ask my older siblings for advice. As far as academic mentoring, when I look back, I realize I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know what classes to take. I’d hear, “You should volunteer at an E.R.,” so I’d go do it. People would say, “You should work in a lab.” I’d go start knocking on doors of professors and asking if I could wash their dishes in their lab. I got lucky along the way and ran into some very nice academic folks who pointed me in the right direction. Probably the best advice I got was above all, to get good grades. You can do volunteer work, work in the E.R. and work in the whatever, but if you want medical schools to look at your application, you have to have good grades.

What was the most challenging thing about applying to med school?Being the first person in my family going anywhere near the direction of a medical career, I was just clueless about the pro-cess. “What’s the MCAT? What’s an interview?” It took a lot of time to figure all those things out. Also, I worked one or two jobs while going to school full-time (I worked all four years of medi-cal school as well), so it was hard to do everything at once.

What kind of work did you do?I did jobs on campus and I also worked on an organ and tissue donor recovery team. I’d fly around New Mexico in little air-

planes and help the team recover tissues for transplants. I worked for a while at the medical examiner’s office at the university and did autopsy work at some of the local hospitals.

What was it like to be in medical school? It was certainly very difficult, but once I was in, it was a big load off my back. Plus, medical school was so much more fun than college was. I was where I wanted to be, and I was learning the things I wanted to learn. I wasn’t having to take a course that was required because it was a prerequisite. I was learning about medicine, which is what I wanted to do.

Did you go to medical school with National Health Service Corps (NHSC) or any kind of loan repayment program? No, I just took out a bunch of loans. Now that I’m out of residency however, I’ve been involved with a loan repayment program.

Did you know going into medical school that you’d be a primary care doctor?Absolutely, not! In fact, I would have said you’re crazy if at any time in the first two years of med school you would have said to me that I would end

up in family medicine. I thought I’d be specialist of one kind or another or a researcher; I still had that scientist in me, but after doing training in pathology (another area I was interested in), I discovered that I actually enjoyed interacting with patients—not just their cells or their lab tests or their autopsy. Also, my wife and I had a baby toward the end of medical school, so I started to think “Maybe I don’t want to be a surgeon that is on call every other night forever.”

What are you practicing now?I’m in a small family medicine practice in rural Colorado. It’s a lot of fun, because I can still be an old-fashioned doc-tor [chuckles] that gets to do just about everything. I deliv-er a lot of babies and deal with chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes (bread-and-butter type of work). I get to do a lot of procedures here that I probably wouldn’t get to do if I was working in the city that had lots of specialists. I also do a good amount of teaching here. The residents come out here and see what it’s like to be a rural doctor.

What drew you to the small-town setting? I knew that I would be able to carve out my own practice and really do whatever I wanted to do here. Also, I grew up in a small town, so I’m used to the pace. It’s nice to drive two minutes to work instead of 40.

Now that you’ve been in prac-tice for a few years, what do you love about being a doctor?I love that I’ve been able to pick my own career. It’s busy. It’s hard work. But I get to come to work every day and take care of people and do fun procedures. I could have still been doing the painting at the school and probably would be thinking, “Darn it, I should have tried to go to med school or something.” But instead, I’m saying, “I did it. I’ve been able to carve out my own niche with a career I love.”

Tips from Dr. Silva Æ Study hard, keep good grades: Good grades alone will not get you into med school, but a low GPA can keep you out. Æ Find mentors early: teachers, med students, physicians. Æ Experience the real world: don’t get too much med school tunnel vision; don’t just take biochem classes for four years. Take history courses, take odd jobs, enjoy your family. ÆDo not give up! I had the “I don’t belong here” feeling many times. Med school is NOT just for geniuses, wealthy students, and doctors’ kids!

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application process overviewStarting Early >Unlike college and university admissions, medical school spots are filled on a rolling basis. This means that schools fill seats in their classes based on who completes their applications first. For example, if you complete your primary application in June, submit your secondary application in September, and in-terview in October, you could get in by December.

However, if you finish your primary application in late July, send your sec-ondary in November, and interview in February, there could only be 20 seats left by the time you apply. Instead of competing for one of 145 seats, you’re now competing for one of 20. Don’t let this happen to you! Start early.

Where to Apply >When considering a medical school, ask yourself: If this was the only school you got into, would you still go? If your answer is “yes,” then apply. If it’s “Prob-ably not,” you may want to reconsider that choice.

Choose five or six schools that you’d really like to attend. They should also be schools that you have a reasonable chance of getting into. Next, add three “safety” schools that you wouldn’t mind going to. Finally, add three “dream” schools (because you just never know).

National ranking and “Top Ten” lists are fine. But what’s most impor-tant is to pinpoint exactly what you value about your education. Minor-ity medical students often face ob-stacles that are unique to their cul-ture—being responsible for a family at a young age, significant financial concerns—that upper- and middle-class white students may encounter much less.

Because of this, you might consid-er applying to a medical school that has a high minority enrollment and

has programs and resources in place to recruit minority students. For example, African-American students may find that historically black colleges or univer-sities can provide not only an excellent education, but also a deep range of cul-tural understanding.

If you can’t find diversity information on a particular school you’re inter-ested in (and it should be available, from the AAMC as well as from the school

itself), don’t be afraid to ask. “How important is racial diversity to your school?” “What kind of sup-

port services do you have for minority students?” You may want to speak

to currently enrolled students with similar ethnic back-

grounds, to get a first-hand account of what the school is like.

Medical Schools with a High Percentage of Underrepresented MinoritiesHoward UniversityLouisiana State UniversityMeharry Medical CollegeMorehouse School of MedicineUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of IllinoisUniversity of South FloridaUniversity of Texas, GalvestonUniversity of Texas, Houston

Choosing among all the schools and programs that you’re considering can be daunting, so compare require-ments and offerings, and narrow down your list as best as you can. You can also ask yourself specific questions:

ÆDo you prefer large lecture classes or small-group discussions? Most schools offer some of both, as well as the opportunity for independent study. Ask your premedical advisor about what your potential schools offer.

ÆDo you want early experience in clinical work? Traditionally, medical school offers classroom work in the first two years, followed by clinical work in the third and fourth years. Some schools, however, involve students in clinical work as early as the first year.

Æ Is the school’s grading scale important to you? You might want to consider how much of your potential school’s coursework is pass-fail and how much is based on the standard letter-grading system.

keepsake 2011 | 16

Before You Apply: Tips on Filling Out Your Application

Æ Request a copy of the official transcript from each school you attended after high school, and confirm that your grades are correct. Professors have made mistakes before! ÆUse your transcript(s) to help you fill out your AMCAS or AACOMAS application. You’ll be asked to enter information about each and every course that you enrolled in after high school. ÆWrite class names exactly as they appear on your transcript. The AMCAS will check your transcripts against what you’ve written. If they can’t figure out a class, costly delays will occur. Make the process easy for them. Æ Prepare your information in advance. You will be asked to supply detailed academic, work, and personal information such as coursework details, work hours per week, and academic dates of attendance. Plan to create a full “sample” version of your application to help you fill out the final online application more easily.

Non-AMCAS Schools and Texas Medical SchoolsFor non-AMCAS schools, you will need to contact each one and apply individually. You can use the application that the school provides, or use a non-AMCAS application service. If you are applying to a medical school in Texas, you’ll need to use their application service: the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). Application fees, fee waivers, and deadlines vary from school to school.

the amcas and aacomas primary applicationsMost medical schools in the U.S. belong to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). And fortunately, all of these AAMC schools accept one centralized applica-tion, which you’ll register for and complete online through the American Medical College Applications Service® (AM-CAS®). Once your application is complete, AMCAS, which is sponsored by the AAMC, sends your information to all the schools you request.

For entrance to osteopathic medical schools, the pro-cess is the same. The Association of American Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOMAS®) also has an online application service. (Osteopathic schools in Texas are an exception; see below for more information.)

Using the AMCAS or AACOMAS online application, you can apply to as many AMCAS or AACOMAS medical schools as you wish. The AMCAS application cost is based on how many schools you apply to. Fee waivers are avail-able through both services.

AMCAS and AACOMAS follow set deadlines, so pro-crastinators beware! Both applications generally contain the same sections: personal information, work/activities history, letters of evaluation, personal essays, coursework history, and test scores.

When filling out the work/activities section, be sure to spotlight those activities and honors that are most important to you, and the ones that you hope will distin-guish your application. List them in descending order of priority. You may also want to highlight health-related activities, public service work, and science or medically related work experience.

secondary applicationAfter each medical school has reviewed your informa-tion, they then decide whether or not to invite you to sub-mit a secondary application. This application includes submitting a statement of authenticity (your signed confirmation that all of your information is true and correct), another application fee, and letters of recom-mendation, including letters from your instructors. Once they’ve reviewed your secondary application, they’ll then decide whether to offer you an interview.

Monique Cola (standing, right), assistant professor of neurology, works with medical students at Tulane School of Medicine in her Neuroanatomy Laboratory class.

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postbaccalaureate programsSome schools have a formal postbaccalaureate premedical program for students who are trying to enter medical school after earning their baccalaureate degree. Postbaccalaure-ate premed programs generally cater to a specific population; many are targeted toward helping underrepresented students of any background to enter the field of medicine.

Postbaccalaureate premed programs offer undergraduate premed course work as well as upper-division courses in biology. They also provide extensive guidance on applying to medical school and preparing for the MCAT. Finally, postbac-calaureate premed programs allow students with similar nontraditional backgrounds and goals to support each other. Although postbaccalaure-ate premed programs are generally very expensive, financial aid is avail-able to soften the blow.

Just as with medical school, postbaccalaureate premed programs often have more applicants than spaces. GPA is the most important element in choosing who gets admitted to a program.

American University > Postbaccalaureate Premedical Certificate Program > Washington, DCwww.american.edu/cas/premed/cert-gpmd.cfm

California State University > Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program for Prehealth Professionals > Los Angeles, CAwww.calstatela.edu/academic/biol/certprehealth.php

Charles Drew University > Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Pre-medicine > Los Angeles, CAwww.cdrewu.edu/cosh/programs/graduate/pre-medicine

Creighton University > Premedical Postbaccalaureate > Omaha, NEwww.creighton.edu/health/hsmaca/index.php

Dominican University > Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies Program > River Forest, ILwww.dom.edu/departments/pbmedical

Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine > Biomedical Science Post-Baccalaureate Program > Blacksburg, VAwww.vcom.vt.edu/post-baccalaureate/index.html

Hunter College of CUNY > Postbaccalaureate Pre-health Certificate Program > New York, NYwww.hunter.cuny.edu/prehealth/information-for-postbaccalaureates

Indiana University–Purdue University > Purdue School of Science Premedical Program > Indianapolis, INwww.science.iupui.edu/node/207

OSU Center for Health Sciences > Bridge Program > Tulsa, OKwww.healthsciences.okstate.edu/student/bridge/index.cfm

Roswell Park Cancer Institute > Student Summer Programs > Buffalo, NYwww.roswellpark.edu/education/summer-programs

San Francisco State University > Health Professions @SFSU > San Francisco, CAonline.sfsu.edu/~brothman/index.html

San Francisco State University > Dental Postbaccalaureate Programs > San Francisco, CAonline.sfsu.edu/~brothman/dentalindex.html

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine > Medical/Dental Education Preparatory Program (MEDPREP) > Carbondale, ILwww.siumed.edu/medprep

UC Berkeley Extension > Postbaccalaureate Health Professions Program > Berkeley, CAextension.berkeley.edu/spos/premed.html

UC Davis School of Medicine > Postbaccalaureate Program > Davis, CAwww.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/ome/postbacc/index.html

UC Irvine School of Medicine > Postbaccalaureate Program > Irvine, CAwww.meded.uci.edu/admissions/postbac.html

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine > Academic Preparation Programs > Los Angeles, CAwww.medstudent.ucla.edu/offices/aeo/academic_preparation_program.cfm

UCSF School of Medicine > Outreach and Postbaccalaureate Programs > San Francisco, CAwww.medschool.ucsf.edu/outreach

UC San Diego School of Medicine > Postbaccalaureate Program > San Diego, CAhttps://meded.ucsd.edu/asa/dcp/postbac/

University of Massachusetts Boston > The Premedical Program > Boston, MAwww.uac.umb.edu/premed/

UNT Health Science Center > Master of Science Degree in Medical Sciences > Fort Worth, TXwww.hsc.unt.edu/education/gsbs/medicalsciences.cfm

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center > Premedical Graduate Certificate Program > Richmond, VAwww.medschool.vcu.edu/graduate/premed_cert/index.html

Washington University in St. Louis > Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program > St. Louis, MOhttp://ucollege.wustl.edu/programs/special-programs/post-baccalaureate-Premedical-program

West Chester University > Premedical Program > West Chester, PAwww.wcupa.edu

William Paterson University > Postbaccalaureate Premedical Preprofessional Program > Wayne, NJwww.wpunj.edu/cosh/departments/biology/postbacc/

Worcester State College > Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program > Worcester, MAwww.worcester.edu/graduate/shared documents/cert/certpremedicalpredental.aspx

Postbaccalaureate Premed Programs Offered Throughout the U.S.:

university of pennsylvaniauniversity of pennsylvania

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recommendation letters: find a good connectionRecommendation letters are key to your application. They show admissions committees that other people respect your abilities and your work. They also promote the skills that don’t show up on the MCAT or your transcript, such as your desire to help people, or your ability to persevere. Applicants may submit three to eight letters, although five or six is the norm.

Remember: letters of recommendation should reflect you as a person. Don’t ask a random or-ganic chemistry teacher whom you barely know, and who is being asked by 50 other students in

the same boat. The better you know someone, the more enthusiastic and personal the recommendation will be. Ide-ally, you should have a good relationship with a professor, physician, or another well-re-spected person who can truly speak to your abilities. For ex-ample: are you working with a mentor in a lab? Can that men-tor vouch for your work ethic and scientific rigor?

If research isn’t your thing, then find recommenders in the field where you have the most passion. This can be a hospital

where you’ve worked directly with nurses or doctors; at a mental health clinic where you’ve volunteered as a counselor; or in a totally nonmedical related arena such as sports, theater, or the arts. Let the admissions com-mittee hear from people who know the “real” you.

Be sure to show your scientific skills in at least one or two of your letters. Other than that, make sure the other sides of you (writing ability, commu-nication skills) are well represented in your letters.

The better you know someone, the more enthusiastic and personal the recommendation will be. Let the admissions committee hear from people who know the “real” you.

Each summer, the University of Maryland School of Medicine spon-sors a Mini-Med School for Kids at the Boys and Girls Club in West Bal-timore. Camper Matthew Blackwell (right), who is interested in going to medical school, found a mentor in third-year medical student Yusuf Ali.

To look at graduating med student Jimmy Moss, you’d never know he was once homeless. “He’s everything we look for in a med student,” says Dr. Terry Allen at John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, Ga., where Moss spent most of his third and fourth years in medical school. “He’s super bright. He’s someone who re-ally wants to learn and goes out of his way to do it. I see him 10 years from now the head of a department somewhere.”

But Moss’ path to medical school was a rocky one. His father was in and out of jail. His mother battled diabetes and was unable to work. At one point, he and his siblings found themselves in a homeless shelter, and at age 13, Moss got a job at a tire factory and became the family breadwinner.

School turned out to be his salvation: he excelled in the classroom. And though he had never seen a black physician, he made his way to college, where majored in biology and set his sights on med school.

His determination and hard work paid off. Moss recently began a three-year resi-dency in internal medicine at the esteemed Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

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interviews: make a good impressionNow it’s time for the interview. Once you’ve sent out your secondary applications, each medical school will decide whether to ask you in for an interview. Your interview, rec-ommendation letters, essays, and test scores will create a complete picture of you as an admissions candidate.

Interviews are generally one on one, with two interviews per school. An inter-viewer may be a faculty member, a current medical student, or a voting member of the admissions committee. You may or may not be told who will interview you, and the interviewer may or may not know whom he or she is interviewing. The inter-view format varies for each school. Do your research. Know what to expect.

Men: Wear a suit and tie. At the very least, wear khaki slacks and a sport coat. A tie is a must: Dress like you mean business, or your interviewers won’t take you seriously.

Women: Stick to conservative business attire. You want to present yourself as a ma-ture woman, not a sexy teenager.

Both: Be professional. Talk about yourself in a thoughtful, informative way—but be a good listener, too. Don’t talk over your interviewer. Your goal is to have a good, two-way conversation about your interests and what you have to offer.

Finally: Avoid coming into your interview with loose papers and a school catalog slipping out of your nervous, sweaty hands. Bring a folder to hold personal informa-tion that you can refer to (a copy of your recommendation let-ters, test scores, etc.), plus materials that you’ll receive during your interview. You can find stylish, professional folders at any good office supplies store.

The interview format varies for each school. Do your research. Know what to expect.

Nasibo Kadir, MD’10, stands with Hassan Bashir, who hooded her last May. Dr. Kadir is originally from Nairobi, Kenya and is serving her residency at the University of Arizona in internal medicine.

university of massachusetts

university of nebraskakeepsake 2011 | 20

anthony quinnUniversity of Nevada School of Medicine, Class of 2012

Anthony Quinn is a native of Dallas and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2007. He participated in the Ne-vadans into Medicine program prior to enrolling at the School of Medicine in the fall of 2008.

What made you decide upon a career in medicine?I first became interested in health care when I took a high school anatomy and physiology course and became fas-cinated by the way the separate body systems work to-gether.

After my sophomore year, I joined the Scholar Laureate Program and traveled to South Africa with other prepro-fessional students. There, I learned about the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in that country, traditional healing methods, dissimilarities between public and private hospitals, the structure of South African medical schools, and the role of Doctors Without Borders.

Why did you choose the University of Nevada School of Medicine?I chose Nevada because of its mission to provide care to the underserved is a commendable effort to eliminate health inequalities and a representation of humanitarianism for the rest of nation and the world. The consistently remark-able match rates are evidence that this program possesses a faculty group that is encouraging and highly successful.

The emphasis on humanistic care, the presence of a nurturing learning environment, and the innovative

research that exist here make the University

of Nevada School of Medicine a top

choice for any undergraduate

pursuing a career in

medicine.

right here, right nowthe word from a current med student

Talk about your involve-ment with the school prior to your enrollment.I was involved in a number of the outreach programs that the school offers students considered under-represented in medicine. I received an opportunity to participate in the Nevadans Into Medicine program at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, designed for under-graduate juniors and seniors to get prepared for the medical school ad-missions process.

This residential program includes admissions preparation, clinical shadowing experiences and inter-active sessions with experts in fi-nancial planning, the admissions dean, and admissions committee members. While physician shad-owing at the University Medi-cal Center Hospital in Las Vegas, I observed the processes of patient examination in the intensive care unit, rounding with attending phy-sicians, performing resuscitation in the emergency room, operating on severe injuries, and communicating with patients’ relatives.

What is your particular area of clinical or research interest and what steered you toward it?I am interested in the field of pediatric orthopaedics which covers treating musculoskeletal deformities and pathologies secondary to a variety of etiolo-gies from infancy to adolescence. My initial interest in orthopaedic surgery stems from my premedical shadowing experiences in spine, trauma and pe-diatric orthopaedics.

Best experience thus far afforded to you by the school?My best experience has been the opportunity to interact with the diverse group of people in my class. I am most pleased by the experience of advanc-ing through part of my journey in medicine with a great group of people who share my strong passion for helping others in need.

Please finish this sentence: Profession-ally, in 10 years, I see myself...…appreciating great professional and personal satisfaction by making lifetime improvements in the quality of function for young patients as a pediatric spine subspecialist.

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a summer school that’s worth itLooking for a good way to prepare for medical school? Try SMDEP. The Sum-mer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) is a free (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer academic enrichment program that offers freshmen and sophomore college students intensive, personalized preparation for medical and dental school. Its goal is to help students from a wide range of economic, cultural, racial and ethnically diverse backgrounds through the application process.

SMDEP takes place at 12 program sites across the nation. Each site provides scholars with academic enrichment in math, the basic sciences, clinical experi-ences, career development activities, learning and study skills seminars, and a financial planning workshop. Program sites vary on how they deliver each of these required components and when the programs begin.

For more information on SMDEP, go to www.smdep.org.

finding the fundsAny discussion of med school has to include money. Medical schools cost money, quite a lot of it. Annual tuition and fees at state medical schools in 2008-2009 averaged $23,581 for state residents and $43,587 for nonresidents. At private schools, tuition and fees averaged $41,225 for residents and $42,519 for nonresident students. These figures do not include housing or living expenses.

But tuition and fees aren’t the only financial obligations you’ll have in medi-cal school. While fees usually cover such items as books, supplies, and some-times room and board, you’ll need to factor in other items such as equipment, transportation, and curriculum-related travel. Find out exactly what the fees for your prospective schools will cover. Personal expenses like clothing, rent or mortgage, public transportation, child-care expenses, credit card payments, re-location costs, and internship/residency applications, and interviews are gener-ally not covered within a financial aid package.

Once you’ve calculated your expected costs, move on to determining how much funding a school may provide in scholarship and grant aid. Remem-ber: the real issue is not how much it costs, it’s how much you will actually have to pay.

SMDEP Program SitesCase Western Reserve University, Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine > Cleveland, OH

Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons and College of Dental Medicine > New York, NY

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UCLA School of Dentistry > Los Angeles, CA

Duke University School of Medicine > Durham, NC

Howard University: Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Dentistry, and Medicine > Washington, DC

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School and Dental School > Newark, NJ

University of Louisville, Schools of Medicine and Dentistry > Louisville, KY

University of Nebraska Medical Center, Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry > Omaha, NE

University of Texas Dental Branch and Medical School at Houston > Houston, TX

University of Virginia School of Medicine > Charlottesville, VA

University of Washington, Schools of Medicine and Dentistry > Seattle, WA

Yale School of Medicine > New Haven, CT

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keepsake 2011 | 22

A few scholarship opportunities we’re particularly fond of...

herbert w. nickens medical student scholarshipsThough you can’t qualify immediately, this AAMC scholarship is well worth waiting for. It recognizes outstanding academic achievement of medical students entering their third year who have shown leadership in efforts to eliminate inequities in medi-cal education and health care, and have demonstrated leadership efforts in address-ing educational, societal, and health care needs of minorities in the United States. Each recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship in November of the year the scholarships are awarded. For more information: www.aamc.org.

national medical fellowships (nmf)NMF’s mission is to diversify the health care workforce, and to do that, they award mil-lions of dollars to minority students through need-based scholarships, grants, and fel-lowships to medical students. More than 65 percent of NMF scholars have annual family incomes of $35,000 or below. For more information: www.nmfonline.org.

training and perseveranceNo doubt about it: medical school is a huge investment. In the not-so-distant past, medical students worried less about the debt they assumed while in school because they reasoned that after a few lean years of residency training, they would earn a sizable enough in-come to repay their loans. Today, longer training periods mean that students go without income for greater lengths of time; the terms on repayment during residency are stricter; and managed care has driven down physician salaries while the cost of medical school has increased. So, yes, debts are higher—but there’s still help.

A wide array of loans, scholarships, and grants are available to those who are determined to get a medical education. Some of these may minimize your debt. Some are need-based; some are not. Some options are targeted to individuals who plan to pursue careers in primary care or who agree to practice in underserved areas for a predetermined amount of time.

However, you will need to plan your budget carefully so that you don’t end up with more debt than necessary. About 87 per-cent of medical students graduate with some educational debt, ac-cording to the LCME Part I-B Medical School Question-naire (LCME-1B). Many receive substantial financial assistance in the form of loans guaranteed by the federal government.

Most medical students borrow at least a portion of the money they need to finance their education. In 2008, the median debt was $155,000. That’s significant debt. However, a medical education is an investment that keeps returning dividends throughout your life.

scholarshipsSchool scholarships are awarded to only a few: those who have the best overall credentials. So if you work hard, this could be an option for you. Most medical schools have scholarships that they award from endowed funds donated by an individual or organization. These awards are distrib-uted according to the donor’s applicant-eligibility criteria.

For an exhaustive list of scholarships, see the AAMC site: http://bit.ly/glcBPU.

New medical student Korsica Lassiter receives her white coat from Dr. Randall Renegar, assistant dean for student affairs, at the Aug. 13, 2010, white coat ceremony at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.

university of washington

service scholarships/ loan repayment programsWant another option? You can pay for your medical education with your time, instead of money.

NHSC >With the passage of the Healthcare Reform Law (Patient Protection and Af-fordable Care Act), one of the most popular service scholarship programs—National Health Service Corps—received a huge boost. The law permanently authorized the program and provided over $1.5 billion of enhanced funding for it, enough to help an estimated 15,000-17,000 clinicians.

How does it work? Pretty easy, in fact: successful applicants receive up to $170,000 in loan repayment for completing a five-year service com-

mitment. Don’t want to commit that much time? There’s also a two-year service commitment option that

pays back $60,000 of your loan. Once out of school, awardees practice

in NHSC-approved sites located across the country in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HP-

SAs). Many types of health care facilities are NHSC-approved sites.

About half of Corps members serve in federally supported health centers.

Other approved sites are rural and Indian Health Service clinics, public

health department clinics, hospital-af-filiated primary care practices, managed

care networks, prisons, and U.S. Immigra-tion and Customs Enforcement sites.For more information: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov.

The Military >The Armed Forces provides financial assistance to med-ical students in return for active duty in the Air Force, Army, or Navy. The Armed Forces pay full tuition and fees, books, and supplies, and a monthly stipend for 12 months. For each year of the award, students must serve one year in the Armed Forces. Applicants are selected based on academic performance, leadership potential, faculty recommendations and a strong commitment to practice as a medical officer.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

ÆUnited States citizen

Æ enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited medical school in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or any U.S. territory

Æ physically and morally qualified

Æ sign an agreement that they will complete the program, accept commission in the appropriate service, and accept an internship in a military institution

The military pays for medical schooling which encom-passes tuition, books, and other fees. Medical students in the HPSP also receive a small remuneration each month for living expenses. In return, students must serve a year-for-year match in terms of active and reserve duty. Students can typically attend the medical school of their choice. It is important to note however that they must be accepted by the medical school prior to applying for HPSP. The military does not help students get admitted.

Accepted students in HPSP are commissioned as an in-active reservist during their studies in school. However,

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Student debt statistics

Æ$156,456 – According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the average educational debt of indebted graduates of the class of 2009.

Æ79 percent of graduates have debt of at least $100,000.

Æ58 precent of graduates have debt of at least $150,000.

Æ87 percent of graduating medical students carry outstanding loans.

Source: AAMC 2009 Graduation Questionnaire

they are required to participate in forty-five days of active duty each year as part of their participation. Upon gradu-ation, students will apply for medical residency through a military match program and are elevated in rank to of-ficer status. Typically this residency is served in one of the military hospitals, although in some special instances, it can be served in a civilian hospital.

Upon residency completion, the next step is four years of active duty. Upon completion of the four years, doctors can either continue as career military or serve in the civil-ian sector. If the civilian route is chosen, the doctors serve four additional years as a reservist.

For additional information, contact your local Armed Services Office.

NIH >You do the research. NIH will repay your student loans. That is the idea behind the National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs).

NIH wants to encourage outstanding health profes-sionals to pursue careers in biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical research. If you commit at least two years to conducting qualified research funded by a domestic nonprofit organization or U.S. federal, state, or local gov-ernment entity, NIH may repay up to $35,000 of your qualified student loan debt per year, including most undergraduate, gradu-ate, and medical school loans. Loan re-payment benefits are in addition to the institutional salary you receive for your research.

For more info: www.lrp.nih.gov.

A second-year medical student at the UW School of Medicine performs a physical exam on an inpatient with the guidance of her instructor, Dr. Mark Whipple.

Monique Cola (standing, left), assistant professor of neurology, works with medical students at Tulane School of Medicine in her Neuroanatomy Laboratory class.

keepsake 2011 | 25

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VISITING ELECTIVES PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS UNDERREPRESENTED IN MEDICINE (VEPSUM)

VEPSUM offers four-week electives at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) and its affiliates in the Graduate Medical Education Consortium to qualified 3rd-year and 4th-year medical students who are from groups underrepresented in medicine1 and who attend U.S. accredited medical schools. In collaboration with the MSSM Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs, VEPSUM is designed to increase diversity in the house staff and subsequently the faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and its affiliated institutions.

Electives are available between July and February. Students must have completed their required core clerkships before starting the program.

Tuition is not charged.

Housing and travel expenses are subsidized for one month.

Students are provided the potential to network with residency program

directors, residents, minority faculty, and students, and have access to the Office of Graduate Medical Education, Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs, medical school library, seminars, and workshops.

To learn more about VEPSUM and the application process, please visit: http://www.mssm.edu/about-us/diversity/initiatives/visiting-electives-program

We look forward to receiving your application and to having you visit with us!

For more information please contact:

Adam Aponte, MD, MS at adam.aponte@mssm.edu

Monique Sylvester, MA at monique.sylvester@mssm.edu

1 The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) defines groups underrepresented in medicine “those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general

population."

loansGiven their earning potential, medical students are considered “safe bets” for private student loans. In fact, more than 85 percent of all medical students borrow money to pay for their education, with debts averag-ing $120,300 after four years of medical school for medical students who graduated in 2005. Loans give you the opportunity to invest in becoming a physician.

Borrowing limits vary by lender, but most offer up to “full-expense less aid,” and “full-expense” can sometimes defined rather liberally. Individual lenders, such as Citibank and Sallie Mae, set the interest rate.

Here’s a brief list of loan providers:

ÆAccess Group, www.accessgroup.org

Æ Citi Student Loans, CitiAssist Health Professions and Residency Loans, https://www.studentloan.com/

ÆGraduate Leverage, www.graduateleverage.com

ÆNellie Mae, www.nelliemae.com

Æ Sallie Mae, www.salliemae.com

Æ TERI, www.teri.org

Minority Funding Programs and InformationIf you’re a member of an underrepresented mi-nority group, be sure to check out AspiringDocs.org. This AAMC website is targeted toward in-creasing diversity in medicine and is chock full of information and inspiration, including real-life audio clips of people who have done it. www.aspiringdocs.org.

National Medical Fellowships (NMF) —see above.

Indian Health Service—Scholarships for Native American and native Alaskan students are also available. Check out the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment program: www.ihs.gov/jobsca-reerdevelop/dhps/lrp/

vanderbilt-meharry

university of massachusetts louisiana state

university, shreveport

27 | keepsake 2011

Medical Student ResourcesAmerican Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicinewww.aacom.org

American Medical Association, AMA Resources for Medical Students www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/medical-students/medical-students.shtml

American Medical Student Associationwww.amsa.org/

Association of American Medical Colleges, AspiringDocs.orgwww.aspiringdocs.org/

Association of American Medical Colleges, Considering a Medical Careerwww.aamc.org/students/considering/

The Education Resources Institutewww.teri.org/college-planning/index.asp

Penn Medicine, The Office for Diversity: “The Journey to Medical School”www.med.upenn.edu/diversityume/journey.shtml

Student Osteopathic Medical Associationwww.studentdo.com

Summer Medical and Dental Education Programwww.smdep.org/

financial aid resources ÆAmerican Educational Guidance Center, Free Scholarship Searches www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm Æ Catching the Dream, Native American Scholarship Fund www.catchingthedream.org/Scholarship.htm Æ College Board www.collegeboard.com Æ CollegeNET Mach25 Scholarship Search www.collegenet.com/mach25/app Æ CollegeView Financial Aid www.collegeview.com/financialaid/index.html Æ EducationPlanner.org, “Paying” www.educationplanner.org/education_planner/paying.asp?sponsor=2859

Æ Fastweb.com Financial Aid Guide www.fastweb.com/financial-aid Æ Fastweb.com Scholarship Guide www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships Æ FinAid! The SmartStudentTM Guide to Financial Aid www.finaid.org Æ FreSch! Free Scholarship Search www.freschinfo.com ÆHispanic Scholarship Fund www.hsf.net ÆMinority College Scholarships scholarships.fatomei.com/minority-scholarships-medical.html Æ Sallie Mae® www.salliemae.com Æ Sallie Mae® College Answer® www.collegeanswer.com Æ SuperCollege.com www.supercollege.com ÆU.S. News & World Report, “Paying For College” www.usnews.com/sections/education/paying-for-college/index.html

Ceazon Edwards, a second-year IUSM medical student, assists young students as they dissect a sheep brain. The students were partici-pants in IU’s Brain Link (5th & 6th graders) and Middle School Acad-emy of Science and Health Sciences (MASH: 7th & 8th graders) summer science and math camps held at the medical school campus.

First- and second-year med students at Case Western—Kadir Carruthers, Ernest Powell, James Barton, Den-rick Cooper, and Keisha Mitchell—ride the rapids on a rafting trip in Ohio Pyle, PA, as part of an outing organized School of Medicine’s Wil-derness Medicine Interest Group.

indiana university

case western

keepsake 2011 | 28

UCLA

INTERCAMPUS MEDICAL GENETICS

RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

UCLA Medical Center

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Children’s Hospital of

Orange County

For individuals who have completed training in a primary

residency specialty and are interested in Medical Genetics, the

UCLA Intercampus Medical Genetics Training Program would

like to invite you to apply to our Medical Genetics Residency.

The UCLA Intercampus Medical Genetics Training Program

utilizes the clinical and research resources of the affiliated

campuses and teaching hospitals: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,

UCLA Center for Health Sciences, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

and Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Understanding the role genetics plays in both health and disease

provides a path to integrating scientific discoveries into diagnosis,

prevention, and treatment of many diseases, both rare and

common, as well as overall improvement in the health of society.

Residents of the program will receive a well-rounded,

academically oriented training experience in all aspects of medical

genetics. This includes clinical presentation and diagnosis;

laboratory diagnostic methods, interpretation and pitfalls; result

reporting; and patient management and counseling.

The goal of our program is to train Clinical Geneticists who will

provide comprehensive diagnostic, management, treatment, risk

assessment, and genetic counseling services for patients and their

families who either have, or are at risk for, genetic disorders or

disorders with a genetic component.

Our faculty are physicians and scientists who are nationally and

internationally recognized experts in their fields. To that end, we

can proudly say many of our trainees have become leaders in their

fields, also.

The Intercampus Medical Genetics Training program is one of the

leading medical genetics programs in the U.S. We are proud of

our diverse group of residents and faculty and invite you to join

our program.

Medical Genetics Residency applications are accepted through

ERAS

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/Harbor/UCLA Program

ACGME Program ID: 1300521010

And the Fellowship Match in the NRMP.

For more information please contact: patricia.kearney@cshs.org

www.uclamedgenticspostdoc.com

www.ExploreHealthCareers.org is

a comprehensive source for information

about health careers

including health-

related education

and training pro-

grams, financial

aid resources, and

contemporary topics

in health care.

Opportunities for Minority Students in

U.S. Dental Schools expands on these re-

sources for individuals interested in dentistry

and includes profiles of dental professionals,

information on the necessary preparation

for dental school, and additional resources

of interest to minority students.

For more information on the American

Dental Education Association and to order

Opportunities for Minority Students in

U.S. Dental Schools, visit www.adea.org.

AMERICANDENTALEDUCATIONASSOCIATION

The American Dental Education

Association (ADEA) and ExploreHealthCareers.org

are committed to preparing individuals from diverse

backgrounds for careers in the health professions.

KEEPSAKE AD 2010.indd 1 11/19/10 2:14 PM

Future Dentists Start Here.Open up and say, “Ah!” because you’ll find that being a dentist is one of the most rewarding careers you can have. Unlike doctors or nurses, most dentists work for themselves or with a small group, which means you get to call the shots. And you’ll also get to pick up the tab when you go out with friends: dentistry is one of the highest-salaried careers, ranking in the top five percent of family income levels.

why dentistry?People are living longer, and dental care is a cradle-to-grave need. From cleanings and checkups for toddlers all the way through life to dentures and veneers for the elderly, dentists are in demand for every age.

Dentistry is an ever-changing and rapidly growing field of study and practice. New treatments, tools, and methods of care continue to expand the field, creating increasingly more services available for a dentist’s use. More efficient pain management practices allow dentists to break the ap-prehension barrier keeping patients out of their offices. New technology in cosmetic dentistry appeals to a whole new group of patients, opening the door to an entirely different clientele.

Becoming a dentist often means you own your own business and you are your own boss. This ensures flexibility and allows you more creativity and control in choosing how to run your business. Business owners enjoy great tax incentives along with the opportunity to build a lasting stream of in-come for the years ahead. Once your business is built, scheduling time off becomes a great deal easier, as many dentists take an afternoon or a whole day or two off per week.

But, becoming a dentist is more than a business. With more and more people being conscious about their smile and looks, your client list will be full, as long as you give them a good job. It’s a decision to dedicate your life to helping others and to building your future in the process. Hard work and a caring philosophy will serve you well in every phase of your life.

31 | keepsake 2011

how you’ll practiceThough your only exposure to dentistry may have been in a community clinic or private practice, dentists actually practice in a wide variety of settings. No matter what your work style, there’s a practice that’s right for you.

Private Practice >The most common way to be a dentist is also the most hands-on way. You can work in solo private practice or in partnerships with other dentists. The majority of private practice dentists own their own practices.

Academic Dentistry >An academic dentistry career combines teaching, research, community service, and patient care. The university is an intellectually stimulating and exciting environment, and there is a huge need for URM dentists in the academic setting. For more information, go to the American Dental Education Association’s (ADEA) website, www.adea.org.

Public Health Dentistry >As opposed to a solo or group private practice, dentists in public health work in a community clinic or other community setting. You’ll work to promote dental health, develop health policy, and prevent disease, as well as have opportunities to do research and teaching. Through the

U.S. Public Health Service, you can have the chance to work in unique settings, such as Indian reservations, Coast Guard bases, Federal prisons.

Research >If you’re more interested in investigation than hands-on dentistry, a research career might be just the right thing for you. You can be on the cutting edge of scientific discoveries that will improve patient care. Researchers often work at universities, while others work for federal agencies like National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), www.nidcr.nih.gov. Unless you limit yourself to clinical research (that is, research within the scope of your practice), a career in research requires an advanced degree or additional train-ing beyond the dental degree.

International Health Care >Love to travel? A career in international health could be your ticket. You could work with populations around the globe for such agencies as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scien-tific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Hospital Dentistry >If you’re energized by working in a hospital set-ting, you might want to consider hospital dentistry. You’ll work alongside physicians and other health care professionals to treat patients with medical conditions and disabilities. Hospital dentists usually have a strong interest in medicine and collaborative care and have spent a year or more training in a hospital-based setting after dental school.

What dentists do ÆDiagnose, prevent, and treat teeth and tissue diseases, injuries, and malformations. Æ Fill cavities, remove decay, and perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease. Æ Extract teeth, make models, and take measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth. ÆGive instructions on dental care, such as diet, brushing, flossing, and the use of fluoride. Æ Examine x-rays, place protective sealants on children’s teeth, and repair fractured teeth. ÆAdminister anesthetics and write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications. ÆHire and oversee a staff of dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratory technicians, and receptionists.

what dentists earnAccording to the American Dental Association (ADA), the average net income for an independent private practitio-ner who owned all or part of his or her practice in 2008 was $207,210 for a general practitioner and $342,270 for a specialist.

Dental school enrollment was at its highest level dur-ing the late 1970s/early 1980s, with peak enrollment of 22,842 in the 1980-81 academic year. In the last ten years, first-year predoctoral enrollment has risen an average of 1.5% annually, so it’s estimated that the need for new dentists will continue to grow, most particularly in un-derserved areas.

keepsake 2011 | 32

why dentistry needs youURMs often practice in the communities from which they came, and those communities need you! That’s because minority and disadvantaged people often don’t have the resources to see the dentist, and they often can’t find a dentist in their neighborhood.

And the need is only going to grow: statistics indicate that 58 percent of the population will be comprised of un-derrepresented groups by the year 2050.

dental specialists If you yearn to do more than checkups and fillings, you might want think about becoming a dental spe-cialist. Yes, you’ll be in school longer, but that invest-ment will pay huge rewards, both monetarily and intellectually.

Æ Periodontists diagnose, prevent, and treat gum disease. They can also place dental implants as well as perform cosmetic periodontal treatments.

Æ Pediatric dentists specialize in dental care for children from toddlerhood through adolescence.

Æ Endodontists perform a variety of procedures including root canal therapy, endodontic retreatment, surgery, treating cracked teeth, and treating dental trauma. Root canal therapy is one of the most common procedures.

ÆOrthodontists treat malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. The most common treatment is the use of braces and retainers, but some orthodontists actually work on reconstructing the entire face rather than focusing exclusively on teeth.

Æ Prosthodontists help their patients regain function and appearance after suffering with missing or deficient teeth. They do cosmetic restoration and tooth replacement.

the path to dentistryGetting into dental school can be challenging, but it’s a challenge that’s worth the effort! You’ll need to be prepared to immerse yourself in the basic sciences in undergrad, but if you plan your schedule in advance, you should have time to take classes in other things that might be of interest, such as politics, history, literature.

Dental school typically takes four years to complete. Schools award either a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Additional postgraduate training is required to practice as a dental specialist, such as an orthodontist or periodontist (see above).

university of washington

freshman and sophomore yearsplan your coursework

Æ The prerequisite courses covered on the DAT should be completed by the end of the spring semester of your junior year of college.

Æ At a minimum, these courses are 8 semester hours of general biology, 8 semester hours of inorganic chemistry, and 8 semester hours of organic chemistry.

Æ Be aware that the DAT covers general biology topics. Æ Note that physics is not covered on the DAT; many predental students take the required physics courses in their senior year, after they have taken the DAT.

make contact with your college professorsWhile you are in college, take the time to establish personal contacts with your professors. Remember, you are going to ask some of these instructors to write letters of recommen-dation for you. It is difficult for a professor who has never met you to write you an outstanding letter. Letter-writing aside, having out-of-class contact with your professors en-riches your college education.

make good use of your summers Æ Take part in an academic enrichment program such as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program www.smdep.org/. It’s a free (including housing and meals) six-week summer medical and dental school preparatory program that offers eligible students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation.

Æ You can also try to work in a dental office to see what the day-to-day life of a dentist is all about.

Æ Keep researching schools, their diversity and their admissions requirements.

dental school timeline

junior and senior yearstake the dat early

Æ Plan to take the DAT either in late spring or very early summer between your junior and senior year in college or the year you plan on submitting your application.

Æ The DAT is given on computer in local testing centers across the U.S. almost every day of the year.

Æ You can apply to take the DAT at www.ada.org. Æ Important: you must wait a minimum of 90 days to retake the DAT. If you wait too long to take the DAT, you may not be able to retake it in time to include it in your application.

apply to aadsas Æ File an application with the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) in the summer a year before you plan to enroll in dental school.

Æ The earlier you apply to AADSAS, the earlier your application can be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Æ Applying early allows you plenty of time for the unexpected. Things like delays or lost mail, letters of recommendation that are slow in arriving, and the normal processing time at AADSAS are no big deal when you apply early; they can become a huge problem when you apply close to the deadline.

send in all parts of your dental school application Æ Applications become available May 15, and AADSAS starts processing on June 1. An early application significantly enhances your chances of being admitted to dental school. Don’t procrastinate and let that application deadline sneak up on you!

Æ Submit your AADSAS application. Note: fee reductions are offered to individuals who can demonstrate extreme financial need.

prepare for your interviewIf you are selected for an interview, it will help relieve your anxiety if you come prepared. Participate in mock interviews offered by your predental organization or career center.

Æ Get a good interviewing outfit. Professional business attire is the norm. Æ Know where the school is located and how long it takes to get there.

accepted—enjoy your summer! Æ Congratulations! All your hard work paid off and you got into dental school. Use the summer before your fall enrollment to travel, relax, or work to earn a bit of money before starting your first year. Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy your new status!

keepsake 2011 | 34

the application processAs noted in our timeline, though dental schools have different prerequisite re-quirements, required courses generally include:

Æ 8 hours biology with lab

Æ 8 hours physics

Æ 8 hours English

Æ 8 hours general chemistry with lab

Æ 8 hours organic chemistry with lab

what schools look forDental schools consider lots of factors when looking at applicants, but you have to assume that your GPA and Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores are going to be the key influencers. That said, your background, experience, letters of rec-ommendation, and interview also weigh in, so make sure you’re as well-round-ed an applicant as you can be.

how to applyPlan on starting the application process at least a year before you’ll be admit-ted. There are three main steps in the application process:

Æ Take the DAT (also a year before you want to start school).

Æ Submit a centralized application form to ADEA’s Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS).

Æ Submit all of your school-specific materials.

Tips for a Successful Application

ÆApply early! Æ Read all instructions carefully before completing the ADEA AADSAS application. Æ Print a copy of your ADEA AADSAS application. ÆMonitor your application online. Check messages from ADEA AADSAS by email or online. Æ Remember that ADEA AADSAS considers your application complete and begins processing your application after receiving:

• your submitted ADEA AADSAS application• official transcripts from every college

and university you have attended (even if coursework is posted to another, more recently attended college), and

• application payment.

Source: ADEA AADSAS

university of washington

the datThe Dental Admission Test, or DAT, is a computerized test given by the ADA that is required by all dental schools. The test is composed of four areas: natural science survey, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantita-tive reasoning. DAT tests are held year round, and take about five hours. The current cost of the test is $320.

The test is designed to measure general academic abil-ity, comprehension of scientific information, and percep-tual ability. While all dental schools require applicants to take the DAT, test results are only one factor considered in evaluating the admission potential of an examinee.

For more info: www.ada.org/dat.aspx.

associated american dental schools application service (aadsas)Most dental schools use the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), which provides one standard form so you don’t have to complete multiple applications, and gives dental schools the same informa-tion on all applicants.

The fee for the 2011 ADEA AADSAS application is $227 for the first dental school and $72 for each additional school. ADEA AADSAS offers a Fee Assistance Program (FAP) for applicants who demonstrate extreme financial need. Details of this program can be obtained at www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/aadsas.

the interview processThe dental school interview gives you a chance to evalu-ate the school—and them you. Treat it like you were ap-plying for a job (a job you really really want!). Dress con-servatively and be prepared by practicing with a friend first—a video camera is really helpful. They’ll be asking you questions that reveal your self-confidence, ability to meet challenges, capacity to work independently, and motivation for seeking a dental career. Make sure you ask questions about the program and learn if it’s right for you.

university of washington

Dentistry ResourcesAssociated American Dental Schools Application Service http://aadsas.adea.org

American Dental Associationwww.ada.org

National Dental Associationwww.ndaonline.org

Student National Dental Associationwww.sndaonline.com

American Dental Education Associationwww.adea.org

American Student Dental Associationwww.asdanet.org

American Academy of Periodontologywww.perio.org

Hispanic Dental Associationwww.hdassoc.org/

Society of American Indian Dentists Associationwww.aaip.org/?page=SAID

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Sciencewww.sacnas.org/

Black Dental Edgewww.blackdentaledge.com

help paying for schoolLet’s face it—dental school is expensive. And while your education is an invest-ment in your future success, the financial choices you make as a student will im-pact your career later. Besides traditional loans, you will want to apply forschol-arships that can help you reduce your debt. It’s well worth the time it takes to find them.

The Underrepresented Minority Dental Student Scholarship program was created by the ADA for underrepresented students in dental schools: www.ada.org/applyforassistance.aspx#adaf.

The Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program provides scholarships for full-time, financially needy students from underprivileged backgrounds enrolled in a health professions program. The Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) pro-gram offers long-term, low-interest rate loans to similar students, as does the Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) program. Go to http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/.

The American Fund for Dental Health offers scholarships of $2500 for first-year minority students. Write to them at 211 E. Chicago Ave. #820, Chicago, IL 60611.

The Hispanic Dental Association Foundation has four different scholar-ship funds to encourage the entry of Hispanics into oral health careers. Go to www.hdassoc.org and click on ‘scholarships.’

The National Health Service Corps offers loan repayment for dental school: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov.

Did you know?

ÆOver 77% of graduates have a debt over $100,000

Source: Annual ADEA Survey of Dental School Seniors: 2009 Graduating Class

37 | keepsake 2011

gwen werner, dmdDentist, Indian Health ServiceTribal Health Clinic, Salt River Indian Reservation, Outside of Phoenix, Arizona

Did you always know you wanted to be a dentist?Oh, not at all; I had no science background, not even in high school. I went to college and studied architecture. But then life happened: I got married, had a child, and quit college.

After about two years of staying home with my daughter, I realized I wanted to do something career-wise, but didn’t know what that was. Around the same time, I decided to go to the dentist for a checkup. I had grown up receiving all of my health care from the Indian Health Service (IHS) in Tuba City, Arizona, so I went to an IHS facility here in Phoenix, too. I was shocked when I got there. They would only see me if I had a toothache; if I didn’t have a toothache, the waiting list for an exam was two years! They said they were overwhelmed; they didn’t have the number of dentists they needed.

I ended up going to a private dentist and it was the best experience ever. The dentist sat down with me and told me everything about my teeth; no one ever told me the amount of detail she told me about my mouth. I walked out of there saying, I think I can do this. I think I want to be a dentist.

That must have been one awesome dentist!She was, definitely. But the other thing was I realized I wanted to give IHS pa-tients the same type of experience I had just had at a private dentist; I wanted to raise the standard of public dental care. The problem was, I had absolutely no idea what to do to get there; I didn’t even know there was such a thing as

fresh insightsfrom a new dentist

Gwen Werner, DMD

dental school.I started researching and it was recommended to me

that I get in touch with Dr. George Blue Spruce, the U.S.’s first American Indian dentist. It took me a while to find him, but once we connected, that’s when I felt like I re-ally was on the path to becoming a dentist. I went back to undergrad to do all of the hard sciences classes I needed as prerequisites.

How was it going back to school—and in a brand new field at that?I’ve never been under so much pressure in my life. So many people were helping me and encouraging me and wanting me to succeed, I didn’t want to let them down. And because GPA is a major factor in acceptance to dental school, I knew I had to get straight As for my lack of not being focused the first time I had gone to college.

It was hard for me, but it was even harder for my fam-ily. My daughter was two-years-old when I started on this whole journey, so I had to be super organized to make it work. I planned out every single hour of every day, from when I woke up to when I went to sleep. I always had a babysitter backup plan—often two plans. We lived that way through two-and-a-half years of undergrad and four years of dental school.

How was the dental school application process for you?I didn’t know how to apply for dental school; I thought you had to wait until all of your prerequisites were finished, so

I got started very late in the process. In my third or fourth year of dental school when I started mentoring students, I would tell them I felt like I crawled up a rocky mountain without any shoes, slipping and scraping myself up all the way. When I got there, I looked down and saw there was a tram there all the time that could have taken me to the top.

How did you feel when you got accepted?Excited, of course, and I also thought, finally, the hard part is over. But dental school is re-ally, really hard, especially the first year. My low point came when a classmate sitting next to me said, “I bet you didn’t even have to ap-ply; I bet they just let you in,” because I was American Indian. I said, “are you kidding me?” He had no idea how hard I worked. There were

keepsake 2011 | 38

many times I called Dr. Blue Spruce in the middle of the night crying saying I didn’t think I could do this anymore. He would always tell me it was worth it. And it was. Everybody has their own issues, but we all got through.

Once you actually started doing some clinical practice, how did you feel about your decision to pursue a career as a dentist?When I got into the simulation lab and started learning how to hold instruments and so forth, I remember thinking: this is what I came to dental school for! I loved it. I learned I’m really good with my hands, so dental school for me just got easier and easier as it went along.

Also, because I’m sociable, when we started seeing patients, I loved all of them. I loved that I was helping them and that I was keeping them out of pain.

How did you pay for dental school?Since I knew I wanted to work for IHS, I got an IHS scholarship and agreed to work for an IHS facility in exchange for loan forgiveness.

What’s your day like now in the tribal health clinic?I get to work at 7 am and I see my first patient at 7:15. I see all ages: 18 months to 78 years old. I do dentures, partials, crowns, bridges, root canals, fillings. I do everything you can do and probably more than people are used to getting in a public health setting.

I like being in a community practice because I don’t have to worry about any of the business aspects of my practice. I show up to work and see patients and take care of them—the dental stuff. I don’t have to worry about insurance or anything like that. I don’t have to talk my patients into accepting a treatment plan. The bureaucracy can be a problem, and because I’m a government employee, there are things I can and cannot do. So it’s got it’s pluses and minuses, just like any job, but for where I am right now, it’s a great fit.

What do you love most about being a dentist?Dentistry is a very special profession. No one else can do what a dentist does. You’re deal-ing with people’s lives. I love taking people out of pain, and I love feeling like I’m contrib-uting to their overall health beyond just their dental health. And I really like the work of being a dentist; I feel like every patient is different and that makes it really interesting.

What tips do you have for someone reading this who also has dreams of becoming a dentist?I’d say three things:

1) I would recommend shadowing a dentist before you start, or become a dental assistant so you can become familiar with the inner workings of the clinic, what the procedures are, and what the job entails. I was a dental assistant for about six months right before I went back to undergrad to make sure it was what I wanted to do.

2) The better you develop your study skills in under-grad, the better you’ll be prepared. There’s so much infor-mation in dental school; it’s not that it’s difficult per se, but there’s just so much of it. Being prepared to deal with that will be really helpful to you.

3) In the bigger picture, I’d also say: don’t listen to any-body who tries to discourage you. If you want to do some-thing, do it. Of course you have to prepare and plan, but you shouldn’t let anybody ever tell you you can’t do something. You’re the only one who gets to make that decision.

Dr. Werner at work in her clinic.

Dr. Werner (right) with her mentor, the first American Indian dentist, Dr. George Blue Spruce

39 | keepsake 2011

FACT: You can beat all O.R. obstacles with a strong mind, finesse and skill.

MYTH: Orthopaedics demands Herculean upper body strength.

The truth is, you don’t need incredible brute strength. Technology, equipment and methods have been developed to handle the professional needs. So, if you’re driven to help restore patients to a higher quality of life, there’s nothing to hold you back.

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MYTH: Orthopaedics demands Herculean upper body strength.

Choose a career in Orthopaedics—our powerful mentoring programs offer personalized guidance and support to help you succeed.

For more information, visit aaos.org/diversity or email mentor@aaos.org

J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic SocietyA MultiCultural Organization

The AAOS extends sincere appreciation to Zimmer for its charitable contribution.

Why is this med student

smiling?

Because she just found out she can join our community of minority med

students and premeds. So can you:

www.spectrumpublishers.com

Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt University SO

M

ad indexamerican academy of orthopaedic surgeons .............................................. 43

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harvard medical school .................... 10

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a guide for minority science studentsKeepsake® 2011

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Naturopathic Medical SchoolsEmbrace Diversity - Globally and LocallyThe AANMC proudly recognizes the alumni of its member schools for honoring their commitment

to multicultural diversity, among doctor and patient alike, through their medical practice.

Are you considering a career in naturopathic medicine? Find out more about naturopathic medical school:

Discover the diverse ways of practicing naturopathic medicine. Whether through private or integrated practice, research, travel or education – our AANMC school alumni follow varied career paths and lead extraordinarily infl uential lives Leaders.AANMC.org

Request information from the ND schools. Becoming a licensed naturopathic physician begins with a strong education. Start by choosing the school that’s right for you Request.AANMC.org

Download our PDF brochure offering a concise overview of what it takes to become an ND Brochure.AANMC.org

“I have learned so much from the com-

munity that I live with. I could never give

back in my services what they’ve given

to me. So I just hope that I can continue

to develop these relationships and help

give to my brothers and sisters who are

in developing countries — to be able to help and work with

them in any way so that they can better their lives.”

Dr. Parker became interested in naturopathic medicine when she was younger, after using natural remedies rather than surgery to successfully heal a herniated a disc.

After graduating from ND school, she felt it was her duty and her mission to serve others. Dr. Parker then co-founded Natural Doctors International, whose mission is to serve people in underserved communities worldwide. The clinic she works in provides free medical services to the community living on the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua.

Dr. Parker and her peers remain committed to promoting global access to natural medicine; they are developing standards for global naturopathic medicine and disaster relief; and they are educating the WHO and other international agencies on the role of naturopathic medicine as a natural bridge between conventional medicine and indigenous healers.

DeJarra Kamil Sims, NDSOUTHWEST COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE ALUMNA

Tabatha Parker, NDNATIONAL COLLEGE OF NATURAL MEDICINE ALUMNA

“This is the kind of doctor I always

wanted to be! In conventional medical

school, you absorb an enormous amount

of pharmaceutical knowledge about which

drugs treat which diseases. In ND school,

once we got into clinics and practice,

we spent a lot more time with our patients. We developed

relationships with them. We looked at every aspect of their

lifestyles: nutrition, exercise, relationships, etc.”

As the oldest of seven siblings, Dr. Sims was a natural caregiver. Her grandparents often used herbs for healing, her mother was an RN, and her father a CRNA. He had always encouraged her to pursue a career in naturopathy, but it took a later re-introduction to bring about Dr. Sims’ choice to transfer from DO school into ND school.

Making health care available to people who need it remains of primary importance to Dr. Sims. And so in addition to seeing patients in her private practice clinic, she also makes home visits.

Also important to Dr. Sims as a med student was the stronger sense of multicultural awareness she reports having felt after having transferred into ND school.

READ MORE DrSims.AANMC.orgREAD MORE DrParker.AANMC.org

If you are serious about a career in Medicine or DentistryLet SMDEP give you a competitive advantage

Summer Medical and Dental Education Program

Join the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) for a FREE six-week summer academic enrichment program at one of 12 sites across the country.

The Participating SMDEP Institutions include:

SMDEP is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Dental Education Association.

To be eligible for SMDEP, an applicant must:

• be a U.S. citizen or hold a permanent resident visa;• be currently enrolled as a freshman or sophomore in college; and• have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with 2.75 in the sciences.

Applications available: November 1

Application deadline: March 1

For more information, visit our Web site at www.smdep.org or call the National Program Office at1.866.58.SMDEP (587-6337)

Case Western Reserve University Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine

Columbia University College of Physicians andSurgeons and College of Dental Medicine

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLAand UCLA School of Dentistry

Duke University School of Medicine

Howard University Colleges of Art &Sciences, Dentistry, and Medicine

The University of Texas Dental Branch andMedical School at Houston

UMDNJ New Jersey Medical and New Jersey Dental Schools

University of Louisville Schools of Medicine and Dentistry

University of Nebraska Medical Center,Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry

University of Virginia School of Medicine

University of Washington Schools ofMedicine and Dentistry

Yale University School of Medicine