M.D., P.A., P.T., O.T., OH MY!

Which Pre Health Options Are Right For

Your Students? WELCOME!

Your Facilitators:

Melissa Jones & Jeff Morales

University of Florida

So your student would like to have a career in

health care…•Fantastic!•They are attending a great institution•Strong faculty•Committed staff members who want

to see them succeed•Excellent peer group •Numerous campus resources

Should becoming an M.D. be the only

career path that they can plan for?

NO!

Reasons not to pursue a career in medicine:

• They want to play god• Grey’s Anatomy &

company• Roommate/Campus culture• “It’s the best career”• $$$• Moving beyond:

“I want to help people”“I have wanted this since

I can remember.”

Their parents want them to.They want to make their

parents proud.• “I don't know if I was a

natural. I did practice. I just had fun. I never had pressure from my parents to play the game. They were always very supportive and they helped me and things worked out pretty well.” - Camilo Villegas

(Pro golfer & UF grad)

Why do some M.D. aspirations not come to fruition?

• Challenging science courses

“Orgo”• Transcript• MCAT score• Cost• Timeline• Family• Lifestyle• Overall application

competitiveness

The “So I want to be an M.D.” Advising

Session• “Why do you want to become a

physician?”

– They should be SPECIFIC. Stating that they like “helping people” is not good enough.

– What is their motivation?

– Have they ever shadowed a physician before?

“So I want to be an M.D.” cont…

How are they demonstrating they are competitive?

Coursework Selection

– Are they avoiding taking multiple science courses in each term?

• What grades are they getting in the sciences?

– Credit Hours: Are they trying to avoid a heavy course load?

– Taking a lot of “fluff courses” to boost their overall GPA

“So I want to be an M.D.” cont…

GPA• What is their overall GPA?• What is their Science/Math GPA?• Are they failing courses?• Withdrawing from courses?

Median competitive GPA: 3.5

Median competitive Science GPA: 3.6

UF; Overall GPA Median: 3.82

UF; Overall Science GPA Median: 3.80

“So I want to be an M.D.” cont…

– Volunteering/Community involvement

•Are they putting in quality hours?•Do they find community involvement important?

– Campus involvement

•Are they involved in any organizations?–Why or Why not?

“So I want to be an M.D.” cont…

• Students who show little interest in volunteering or are not sure why they should volunteer, should question their interests in health care

• High test scores and a great GPA are not an automatic green light for medical schools

• Students need to show they care

“So I want to be an M.D.” cont…

Are they interested in participating in research?

•Not required, but encouraged

“So I want to be an M.D.” cont…

You will meet students who are interested in helping others in a health related field but may not be particularly interested in:

• taking copious courses in upper division empirical sciences

• completing almost part-time work hours in volunteering experiences

• Working numerous hours on scientific research

• Joining scores of clubs/organizations• Participating in international mission trips• Impressing their roommates• Becoming the “perfect” med school

applicant• Curing Cancer

“Approaches to assisting with career choices should emphasize personal responsibility and empowerment to enable independent, purposeful, deliberate, rewarding, and attainable goals”. - Seligman, L. (1994)

Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook., 2000.,27.

Perception of being a “Dream crusher”

• “I don’t care what you say, I will become a doctor.”

• Cultural sensitivity concerns• “But I really want to become a …

Working with the one track pre health perception: M.D. or nothing

DOCTOR!

Yes, there are other health related careers besides the

M.D.!• It’s OK if they change their minds

• Dreams can change!

It does not have to be M.D. or bust

Should they also plan for additional healthcare path

options…

YES!

Where do they start?

Some of these professions may include:

• Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)

• Physician Assistant

• Nursing

• Physical/Occupational Therapy

• Pharmacist

• Podiatrist

• Anesthesiologist Assistant

• Audiologist

• Optometrist

• Vascular Sonographer

• Hospital Administrator

• Researcher in the sciences

• Public Health Administrator

• Chiropractor

M.D. OR D.O. …Hmmm

• Allopathic medicine – M.D.

The system of medical practice which treats disease by the use of conventional remedies which produce effects different from those produced by the disease under treatment. M.D.s practice allopathic medicine.

The D.O.• Osteopathic

medicine is a profession that recognizes the relationship between the musculoskeletal organic function, diet, exercise, and fitness.

• MCAT required

Osteopathic Medicine

The osteopathic model is comprehensive and holistic and demands that its practitioners possess both humanitarian and

intellectual qualities. It encourages a broad educational background both

the sciences and humanities.

Osteopathic Medicine

While both the M.D. and the D.O. are trained in all aspects of patient care, D.O.s offer a distinctly holistic approach to medicine.

Andrew Taylor Still, M.D.

WWW.AACOM.ORG

Physician Assistants• What do they do?

– Practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons; formally trained to take medical histories, examine and treat patients, prescribe medicine, order and interpret lab results and X-rays, and make diagnoses.

Physician Assistants• Training: Many (but not all) PA

programs require a Bachelors degree before beginning their program. Most PA programs are 24-26 month programs. Must pass licensure exam to practice

• Job Outlook: Very good – expected to grow 27% through 2016

• Earnings: $74,980 (median annual earnings)

• data gathered from US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

Physical Therapists• What do they do?

– Help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain. Restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Patients often include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions.

Physical Therapists• Training: Master’s or Doctoral program

(2-4.5 years) Must pass licensure exam before you can practice.

• Job Outlook: very good – expected to grow 27% through 2016

• Earnings: $66,200 – (median annual earnings)

• data gathered from US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

Occupational Therapists

• What do they do?– Help people improve their ability to

perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. Patients include individuals with conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling.

Occupational Therapists

• Training: As of 2007, a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy or higher will be required (2-6 years). Must pass national certification exam for licensure

• Job Outlook: very good – expected to grow 23% through 2016

• Earnings: $60,470 – (median annual earnings)

• data gathered from US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

It’s more than just bunions &

toe nailsPodiatric Medicine –

is a branch of the medical sciences concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the conditions affecting the human foot, ankle, and their governing and related structures

Yes, they are doctors

Surgical training is astandard aspect of the field

Registered Nurses• What do they do?

– Registered Nurses perform basic duties such as treating patients, educating patients, and providing advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

– They also record medical histories, help to perform diagnostic tests, and administer treatment and medications.

Registered Nurses• Training: There are 3 paths to

registered nursing: bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) , associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma.

• Job Outlook: Excellent – expected to grow 23% through 2016.

• Earnings: $57,280 (median annual earnings)

Data gathered from US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

Advanced Practice Nurses

• Who are they and what do they do?

– Clinical Nurse Specialists – provide direct patient care and expert consultations

– Nurse Anesthetists – administer anesthesia and monitor patients’ vital signs during surgery

– Nurse Midwives – provide primary care to women (gynecological care, prenatal care, assistance in labor & delivery)

Advanced Practice Nurses

• Who are they and what do they do?

Nurse Practitioners – provide basic preventive health care, serve as primary care providers in mainly medically underserved areas.

Advanced Practice Nurses

• Training: all 4 advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master’s degree. Most programs last 2 years and require a BSN degree.

• Job Outlook: Excellent - expected to grow 23% through 2016.

• Earnings: $81,397- up 55% since 1997! (NP average – from journal ADVANCE for Nurse Practitioners)

Data gathered from US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

International Medical Schools

• The Caribbean – St. George

University, Grenada– American University

of the Caribbean,

St. Martin– Ross University,

Dominica– Saba University

School of Medicine, Island of Saba

International Medical Schools

• Europe – Students not specifically trained for American medical qualifying exams, i.e., the United States Medical Licensing Examination.

• Others…– There are a myriad of other, costly, and

for profit, medical schools around the world.

– Students should be careful when considering these schools, and they should ask a lot of questions.

One more thing…If your student is not accepted into

medical school, what will he or she now do with their major?

- Do they really want to be a microbiologist or a chemist?- Are they really interested in working with Petri dishes and Bunsen burners all day?

How do I find out about those other choices?

EXPLORE !!!EXPLORE !!!EXPLORE !!!

GET THEM GOING… Volunteer or work at a local hospital or

clinic. Talk to a family member or family friend

currently in a health care field. Shadow Do research on the internet.

www.explorehealthcareers.org

Visit UF’s Pre-health website www.advising.ufl.edu/ohlpa/prehealth/ Join the pre health listserv Fall and Spring term Pre Health work

shops

Thank You For Coming, Best Wishes,

And Remind Your Students, There are Options

Contact Information:

Jeff Morales Melissa Jones

352-392-1521 352-273-6400

Jmorales@advising. Mfjones@phhp.ufl.edu

ufl.edu