Sunday, December 04, 2011

Minutes from November 10th

Hey, everyone! In case you missed the meeting last Thurs, here are the minutes. We had a general information session about what will be happening next semester, so needless to say, it's going to be fantastic. Be sure to check out our speakers!

For MCAT books:
Stefanie Vamenta (bibiow@gmail.com, 601-562-0857): Examkrackers MCAT set for $45
Kelsey Layman (kbl55@msstate.edu): set of Kaplan MCAT book set for $20

Stadium Cleanups

    *  Two left: THIS Saturday after the Alabama game (~10 pm) and after the Egg Bowl
    *  These are the last two. So if you would like to go on a medical school trip (UMMC for sure), then you must have attended 2 cleanups.
    * Also, these cleanups are a great opportunity for community service. Med schools will ask you how you have volunteered, and you can say you helped raise money for the Jackson Free Clinic!

Next semester:
·         Practice MCATs
·         Medical school trips
·         Volunteer opportunities
·         Speakers!
  •    Raymond Archambo with the USAF on 1/19
  •    Dr. Davis form UMC on 2/16 (Pathway to Medical School)
  •    Rosalyn Campbell with the Tupelo Shadowing Program on 3/22
  •    Dr. Case from UMC on 4/12 (Application Workshop)
  •    Officer elections on 4/17
·         New T-shirts! (or you can buy an old one for $5)

Thanks to all who came out! Remember that the Egg Bowl is our last cleanup opportunity!

Minutes from October 13th

Minutes for Oct 13, 2011
Hello everyone! Thanks to those who came out to here Dr. Jim Weir. We will be taking a medical school trip to WCU so be sure to sign up for that. We also have some community service lined up in the next couple of weeks.

Next Meeting: Nov. 11
Peer-to-Peer interactive meeting. BRING YOUR QUESTIONS!!!

Medical School Trip: Friday, Oct 28!!!
  • William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Must have attended 2 stadium cleanups
  • If you would like to go, contact Caleb: cez7@msstate.edu
Next Cleanup: South Carolina Game!!!
Come and support!!!

Volunteer Day: Oct 29
  • Safe Haven in Columbus, MS
  • 8 am - 12 pm
Sweet Potato Drop
  • Friday Oct 21 by Palmeiro Center
  • Help bag sweet potatoes
  • 8-11 am
Speaker: Dr. Jim Weir, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why become a physician?
  • work with and help people
  • prestigious profession
  • high income
  • high demand
  • high-end technology
Why be an osteopathic physician?
  • They are fully qualified physicians licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medicine
  • Emphasized musculoskeletal system
  • Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy
  • Practice a "whole person" approach to medicine (treat a person, not a disease)
  • Preventative health care!
  • Work right along side MDs (equivalent degrees)
  • Four years of basic medical education and can specialize
How to get into medical school
  • How well you follow the WCU-COM Mission
  • Academics/Credentials (average GPA 3.4-3.5, however how you got that GPA matters)
  • Letters of Recommendations (two science faculty and one from a physician)
  • Personality Traits (ethics, professionalism, motivation...)
  • ACCOMAS Primary Application, Secondary Application, Interview, and Decision!
Why WCU-COM
  • New state-of-the-art facility
  • Small class size ~100
  • Exceptional faculty
  • Teaching is the first priority
  • Unique curriculum
  • Average faculty member has over 25 years of medical teaching 
Masters of Biomedical Science
  • 1 year, non-thesis MS
  • take courses with medical students
  • does NOT replace MCAT
  • contact Dr. Bob Bateman or www.wmcarey.edu/COM/MBS
For more information, visit: www.wmcarey.edu/COM
Dr. Weir: jweir@wmcarey.edu

Thanks, everyone!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Minutes from September 23rd

Hello everyone! Hope you've had a great weekend. Thanks to all the students who came out to hear about the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program. We made a few announcements, so if you weren't able to make it, here's your recap:
Next Meeting: Thurs, Oct 20!!!
Practice MCAT:
  • Saturday, Oct 8
  • 8:00 AM in Griffis computer lab, 4th floor
Volunteer Day (tentative)
  • Saturday, Oct 29 from 8am-12am
  • We will let you know once a community service has been chosen
Stadium Cleanup
Next cleanup is the South Carolina game on Oct 15!
  • Remember: you get to go on medical school trips
  • We are also having a drawing at the end of cleanup and another at the end of the semester
William Carey Medical School Trip
  • We do not have a set date for this trip, but it will probably be on a Friday. More info to come later!
 
Rural Physician Scholarship Program from UMMC
Speaker: Ms. Janie Guice

To be considered for the program, must be/have:
  • Mississippian
  • Rural background
  • Work ethic
  • Volunteerism
  • Exposure to medicine
  • Faculty evaluations
  • Commitment to MRPSP

Data supports that Mississippi is in need of more physicians, in particular, ones that practice in rural areas
  •  1st in adult obesity
  • 1st in heart disease deaths
  • 1st in teen birth rate
  • 2nd in infant mortality
  • 2nd in diabetes
  • 2nd in hypertension
  • 3rd in cancer mortality
  • Fewest physicians per capita!

The Program consists of four distinct phases
  1. Undergraduate premedical education
  2. Medical or osteopathic school
  3. Primary care residency training
  4. Rural clinical medical practice

Applications MUST be submitted by Feb 15.
 March: Interviews by physicians
 April: School of Medicine Admissions Committee Interviews
 May: Selection of 15 undergraduates plus alternates

Once you've graduated and been through residency:
  • 4yrs of service
  • Rural town of less than 20,000
  • Must be 30 miles outside of a medically served area

For more information contact jguice@umc.edu or visit the website http://mrpsp.umc.edu

Once again, it was good to see everyone, and we look forward to seeing you again at the next meeting (10-20)!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Minutes from August 25th

Hey, everyone!
We had an excellent turnout at our first AMSA meeting! I hope you all enjoyed it and found out something new about medical school. If you didn't get to make it, here are the highlights:
Why be in AMSA?
  • Free Practice MCATs
  • Med School Trips
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Informative speakers
  • Free pizza! 
If you would like to be a member of AMSA, the one-time-only dues are $20 for all 4 years.
We also have t-shirts from last year that are $5.
MSU vs LSU Stadium Cleanup
In order to be able to go on medical school trips, AMSA members participate in stadium cleanups right after home games end. Our first one is Thurs, Sept 15.
  • Meet at bottom of student end zone bleachers
  • More cleanups = more chances to win money and go on Med School Trips!
Blood Drive: Sept. 19
Our blood drive is part of our community service initiative. We had a sign up sheet for times to assist in advertising in the Union and hanging out with other AMSA members. It will be in room 325 of the Union. Come, give blood, and INVITE your friends!
Next Meeting: Sept. 22
Our next meeting will be in the same location in Harned. Ms. Janie Guice from UMMC will be speaking about the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program.

The Interview Process for Medical School
Presentation by Dr. Stephen Case,
Associate Dean of Admissions at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
For an invitation you must meet these requirements:
  • Mississippian
  • Completed AMCAS application
  • MCAT scores
  • UMMC Secondary Application
  • $50 Supplemental App Fee
  • 3 faculty evaluation letters received & transcripts
Early Decision Program: For students who choose to apply to UMMC only.
This program looks at BCPM: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math (must be >3.6) and MCAT (must be >27)
Regular Decision Program: Uses a sliding scale for combined GPA and MCAT score. If one is low while the other is high, then the applicant may still be considered for an interview.

Making the Cut
  • Invited by email
  • YOU call admissions office to schedule date and time
Interview Day
  • Meet admissions staff and committee
  • Answer questions, react to scenarios, and descriptions of your preparations and motivation to attend med school
  • One-on-one interviews: look for verbal and nonverbal communication
Pitfalls
  • Casual clothing
  • Extremely high-heeled shoes
  • Shirt collar too tight
  • Skirt too short
  • Very loud voice
  • Too quiet to be heard
  • SIT UP
Pearls
  • Plan for the unexpected so you can arrive on time
  • Conservative dress—business attire
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Turn cell phone off
  • Neatly groomed
  • Pay attention to your speaking volume
  • When asked a question that you do not have an immediate answer for, it is okay to take a moment to think. The pause is much better than blurting out something.
 If you have any more questions, Dr. Case's powerpoint is available on the UMMC website:
Also, the admissions committee offers counseling at any stage of your medical school preparation. To schedule an appointment or ask any questions not previously answered call:

Once again, we want to thank everyone who came to the meeting, and we want to encourage everyone to come out for the next one!
Hope to see you there!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

March 24th - Physician Shadowing Program

Some information and upcoming events:

  • We have two medical school visits this semester! We are going to UMC on April 1st and Vanderbilt on April 15th. Vanderbilt will be an overnight trip. Remember, you must have come to two stadium cleanups to be able to attend your first visit and one stadium cleanup for each subsequent visit. If you came to enough stadium cleanups, the trips will be free. The dress code for both of these visits is business casual – that means no blue jeans! Guys should preferably wear khakis or nice pants, a button-down shirt, and a tie. Girls, you probably know what to do. If you have any questions, send us an email!
  • For the UMC trip, we will meet on April 1st at 6:45 a.m. and will leave at 7:00 a.m. We will meet in front of the Hump in the parking lot facing the Sanderson Center. If you didn’t come to enough stadium cleanups, you can still come, but you will have to pay $10 to help cover the cost of gas. We should be back in Starkville by 4:00 p.m. 
  • For the Vanderbilt trip, we will meet on April 15th at 5:45 a.m. and will leave at 6:00 a.m. We will meet in the same place. We will be staying in Nashville Friday night and then driving back to Starkville on Saturday. If you didn’t come to enough stadium cleanups, you will have to pay to go on the trip. The estimate now is around $70. You will receive more information in a later email.
  • AMSA t-shirts are available for $10 to anyone who would like one! A picture is available on our website.
  • We will be having officer elections on April 19th. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else, send us an email. You will need to give a speech. You will receive an email with descriptions of the job positions and what the speech should be about soon.
  • Our next meeting will be April 14th at 7 p.m. in McCool 100. Dr. Steven Case, the Associate Dean at UMC and a member of the Admissions Committee, will be speaking to us about filling out the AMCAS application. Anyone who will be filling out the AMCAS this summer should make every effort to come, as this will be a very helpful presentation!

This past Thursday, Mrs. Rosalyn Campbell came to speak to us about the Physician Shadowing Program at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. This is a very good program that provides shadowing experience to students. More information can be found in an online PDF at http://www.nmhs.net/documents/PhysicianShadowing.pdf .
  • This is the program’s 11th year.
  • This program allows you to see the day-to-day lives of doctors and helps prepare you for medical school.
  • There are 2 three-week sessions in the summer – one in June and one in July. Six students are selected for each session, and 30 – 40 students typically apply.
  • If you are accepted into the program, you are hired (and paid minimum wage). You also get a lab jacket with your name on it! For the first two weeks, everyone goes on rotations in the same specialties. The third week, you are able to choose 3 specialty doctors. You also shadow ER doctors at the end of your third week. This program is only observational– you will not be performing procedures!
  • To apply, you must fill out an employment application, write an essay, send your college transcripts, take part in a one-on-one interview, and submit two letters of recommendation.
  • The application can be found online at nmhs.net/employment. Select North Mississippi Health Services, and the option Physician shadower should be available. Complete this application.
  • The deadline is April 20th.
  • Mrs. Campbell already conducted the interviews here at MSU; however, if you would like to have an interview, submit everything by April 10th and send Mrs. Campbell an email saying you would like to have an interview. (Send us an email too and let us know so we can help coordinate things if needed). If Mrs. Campbell receives enough people asking for interviews, she has offered to come back down for another round of interviews. However, if there aren’t enough people, you will likely have to go to Tupelo for an interview.
  • If you don’t get in your first year, reapply next year.
For more information, call (662) 377-3245, 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375), or email rosalyn.campbell@nmhs.net .

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

February 17 - Bulldawgs for Hearth Health

First, congrats to everyone who won money for attending stadium cleanups! Everyone should come to stadium cleanups next year! You could get a prize too!

Some information and upcoming events:

  • AMSA is having a Dental Hygiene Drive! We are collecting dental hygiene products, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, etc., for St. Joseph’s. There will be a drop-off box at the front desk in Griffis. You can also bring the items to our next meeting.

  • Practice MCAT on March 5th. We are planning to have a review of the MCAT where we would go over the test that you had just taken, but we would like some input about when we should do the review. We can either have the MCAT Saturday morning and the review Saturday afternoon, or we can have the MCAT Saturday afternoon and the review Sunday afternoon. If you would be interested in taking part, please let us know which choice you prefer.

  • Two people are selling MCAT books! If you would like to buy them you can contact:
Sarah Kreut, sek78@msstate.edu, 601-415-8422
Brooke Harris, BrookeNH10@aol.com, 601-613-8962

  • We have two medical school visits this semester! We are going to UMC on April 1st and Vanderbilt on April 15th. Vanderbilt will be an overnight trip. Remember, you must have come to two stadium cleanups to be able to attend your first visit and one stadium cleanup for each subsequent visit. If you would to go on a visit and weren’t at the meeting on Thursday, send us an email and let us know. If you didn’t come to enough stadium cleanups but would still like to go to UMC, send us an email and we’ll work something out. You will most likely have to pay for some gas. If you would like to go to Vanderbilt and didn’t go to enough stadium cleanups, you are welcome to meet us at the medical school for a tour, but we will not take you there or provide you with a hotel room.

  • Our next meeting will be March 24th at 7 p.m. in McCool. Mrs. Rosalyn Campbell will be speaking to us about the Physician Shadowing Program at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. The Physician Shadowing Program is a 3-week long, paid physician shadowing opportunity. More information can be found in an online PDF at http://www.nmhs.net/documents/PhysicianShadowing.pdf .
Mrs. Campbell will also conduct interviews for the program on March 24th. You will receive an email later with more details.

This past Thursday, Dr. James Warnock was supposed to speak to us about Bulldog’s for Heart Health. However, he was unable to come to the meeting so Alex gave us a presentation about it instead.

  • Mississippi is ranked 50th in the nation for potential to live a long, healthy life.
  • Bulldog’s for Heart Health (or BH2) was started by two graduate students at MSU to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in Mississippi.
  • Students participating in BH2 have visited local 3rd grade classes and talked to them about heart health and the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise.
  • New students are needed in the organization, particularly students who have new ideas about making an impact. BH2 can also provide leadership opportunities.
If you are interested in becoming a member of BH2, you can find information on the MSU website. You can also send us an email.

Monday, January 24, 2011

1/20 Meeting-Dr. Peggy Davis and the Pathway to Medical School

A few important upcoming events:
  • If you attended the last stadium cleanup (on November 20th following the Arkansas game), please send us an e-mail and let us know! We will have drawings for prize money for attending stadium cleanups at the next meeting. Be sure to come for your chance to win!
  • Practice MCAT today, January 23rd, at 2 pm in Hand Lab.
  • We are thinking about trying to have MCAT workshops to help raise MCAT scores. If you would be interested in attending a workshop or if you have any suggestions for a workshop, please send us an e-mail.
  • Volunteer opportunity on February 11th - You can volunteer to plant trees for MSU’s Arbor Day Celebration! From 9:00 am – 12:00 p.m., volunteers will be needed to plant trees around the MSU campus. For more information and to sign up, visit http://mvc.msstate.edu/volunteer/ .
  • If you ordered a t-shirt, you need to pick it up by our next AMSA meeting! If you do not pick up your shirt, we will sell it to someone else. The t-shirts are $10. You either can pick up your t-shirt at our February meeting or at the front desk of Griffis Hall on Wednesdays between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
  • Our next meeting will be February 17th at 7 p.m. in McCool. We will have a speaker from Bulldogs for Heart Health.


This past Thursday, Dr. Peggy Davis MD, MBA, spoke to us about the Pathway to Medical School, particularly as it related to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Dr. Davis serves on the medical school selection committee at UMC. The program on Thursday was the second of a three-part series about the application and admissions processes at UMC. This presentation contained useful information for everyone!
Dr. Davis’ PowerPoint presentation is available on the UMC website at http://som.umc.edu/admissions.html under the “Pathway to Medical School” link.

Some additional information she told us:
  • The road to becoming a physician is long, and it is a big time commitment! Medical school classes will also be long and intense. Be prepared! Once you adjust to the rigorous schedule, you will be able to succeed.
  • Your first year of medical school consists of lots of science classes. Anatomy and Biochemistry are the two “big” classes your first year. If you can get through these, you can probably get through the rest of your first year of medical school. In your second year of medical school, you become more involved. You begin learning basic clinical practices. You begin clinical rotations in your third year of medical school. Everyone follows a schedule, but you are allowed an elective so you can try to find your passion. In your fourth year of medical school, you begin to look at residency programs so that you can get a match! This is your most flexible year of medical school, and it will likely be your most enjoyable one as well.
  • UMC works to help prepare their students for the tests that you must take in medical school to be able to continue on your path to becoming a physician. In fact, UMC students are beating the national average and the national pass rate on both Step 1 and Step 2 tests.
  • Step 3 happens during residency and functions to make sure you haven’t forgotten any of the knowledge you gained in medical school.
Some helpful MCAT prep advice:
  • Be sure to take practice exams (like the one coming up today)!
  • Study with other students. Studies have shown that the optimum number of students in a study group is 4.
  • Another study has also demonstrated a way of dealing with test anxiety. Before you take the exam, write down all of your worries on a piece of paper to help push them out of your mind. It will help you focus!
Some advice for students who want to attend UMC:
  • Exposure to medicine is an absolute requirement for admission into UMC – this includes shadowing physicians, volunteering/working in medical settings, and being involved in your wonderful MSU AMSA! Exposure to medicine helps ensure that it is the right career for you.
  • Service is another important preparatory step for admission into UMC. Time management skills are showcased by your activity involvement.
  • Be sure to get your AMCAS application in as early as possible and verify the receipt of each item in the application. Also, be sure to watch deadlines.
  • In Mississippi, a speeding ticket is a misdemeanor. Disclose everything on the AMCAS application prior to the Criminal Background Check! The admissions committee doesn’t know your criminal background, but failing to disclose something could hurt your chances of getting into a medical school.
  • Most alternates have been admitted to UMC by mid-May.
  • 1/3 of the freshman class every year has applied more than one time.
  • If you don’t get accepted, counseling is available to help you be successful when you re-apply. Take advantage of this if it applies to you. There aren’t many medical schools that do this!
And a final interesting statistic: The national average of applicants to seats in medical school is 3:1.

There will be an AMCAS application workshop later in the semester, also from UMC.

11/11 Meeting-Navy Scholarships

A few upcoming events:
  • Only one more stadium cleanup! It will be next Saturday, November 20th, immediately following the game.
  • Practice MCAT November 14th at 2 pm. We will be meeting at Hand Lab. The price for the test is $30, and you will need a credit card to pay for it. AMSA will give you a check to reimburse you for the test.
  • 2010 – 2011 AMSA T-shirts are in! If you ordered one, bring $10 to the next meeting, and you can pick up your shirt. We also have a few extras if you want one but didn’t order one.
  • Our next meeting is January 20th. You’ll receive an email with more information in January.

This past Thursday, Chief Susan Patterson from the Navy came to speak to us about opportunities in Navy medicine.

Chief Patterson spoke about two programs available from the Navy to students pursuing a medical degree with a desire to serve in the US Navy: the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and the Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP). Information about these programs and about Navy medicine in general can be found at http://www.navy.com/navy/careers/healthcare/ , http://www.myspace.com/navyofficerrecruitingmem , and http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navmedmpte/accessions/Pages/default.aspx .

HPSP
  • Offers full tuition and allowable fees, reimbursement for required book and supplies, monthly stipend of $2060, optional clerkship during the summer where you will receive full officer pay, $20,000 one-time signing bonus, reimbursement for health insurance if required by school, guaranteed residency match, and GMO tours available if you don’t receive your match the first time.
  • Requires US citizenship, physical qualifications, acceptance into an accredited school in the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico, and a GPA 3.5 / MCAT 25 / DAT 18.
HSCP
  • Helps relieve cost of education by giving students full pay and allowances as an E-6. It also provides medical and dental benefits to the collegiate and his or her immediate family (wife/husband, children), access to military bases, facilities, and services, the possibility of being promoted to E-7, guaranteed residency match, guaranteed progression in specialty, and 30 days of paid vacation along with 45 days of maternity leave.
  • Requires US citizenship, physical qualifications, acceptance into an accredited school, and competitive test scores.
It is preferable for you to apply for these programs the fall before you are going to begin medical school, but the programs are still open even once you enter medical school.

If you have any questions or would like to apply for one of these programs, contact Chief Susan Patterson by phone at (601) 594 – 7497 or by email at susan.patterson@navy.mil .