Healthcare Career Blog, Physician Blogs

How to Start Medical School

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 28.08.2009 | Category Education, Healthcare Career Blog, Medical Student Loans, Medical Students, Medical doctor jobs, Physician Career Path, Physicians

The decision to become a physician is not one that should be made lightly.  Medical school is a long, grueling, and expensive process that is not for everyone.  Some students grow up knowing that they will become a doctor and grow into a physician career; others make that decision after several years in another career or perhaps after starting a family.  Whichever category you fit into, you should think long and hard about your reasons for wanting to pursue a medical career, taking time to weigh all of the pros and cons of your decision.

Why Choose a Medical Career?

The reasons a person chooses to become a physician are as varied as they would be for any other profession: intellectual curiosity, a desire to help people, money, prestige, family tradition, etc.  The question to ask yourself is whether or not your reasons for wanting to become a doctor are going to lead you to be happy in your medical career.  As a medical doctor, you will likely be working long hours with patients from all different walks of life; how does that fit in with your desire to become a physician?

The medical profession is an interesting one because, as heavily as it relies on the sciences, the humanities are also incredibly significant.  To be a successful doctor, you must have not only the scientific knowledge to understand what is happening in the body, but also the analytical and interpersonal skills to work well with your patients.

What next?

Once you have decided that a medical career is right for you, what next?  If you are still an undergraduate student, the first step is to take the required science classes and to be assigned a premed advisor who can walk you through the medical school admissions process.  If you are an older student who graduated college without taking the required science classes, you can look at classes at a local college and begin the process on your own, or you can consider a formal post-baccalaureate premedical program, which will give you more structure and guidance but may be more costly.

Choosing a Medical School

Choosing a medical school is not unlike choosing an undergraduate university.  Many of the same factors come into play as you decide what medical school is going to make you the happiest and most productive student possible:

Location may be one of the most important factors in the decision process.  Consider how far from your home and family you’d like to be.  Do you want to live in a particular region of the country?  Do you prefer urban, suburban, or rural areas?  How will location affect clinical or volunteer opportunities?  Is cost of living a factor?  Does the campus itself appeal to you?
Curriculum should also be a major influence.  Do you prefer the traditional lecture-based format, or is a problem-based learning format more effective for you?  What clinical opportunities are available?  Are you looking for research opportunities?  What is the grading system like (pass-fail or letter grades)?  How important is the reputation of a medical school for you?
Money, like it or not, must also be heavily considered.  How are you going to finance your medical education?  What financial aid opportunities are available at particular medical schools?  Would an in-state public medical school be the best option?

The student body could make or break your happiness at a particular medical school.  Think hard about the size of the school at which you see yourself.  How competitive of an atmosphere are you looking for?  Some people enjoy the cut-throat competition of many medical schools, while others prefer a more collaborative style.  Also consider the gut-feeling you get as you walk around a school; do you feel comfortable there?  Talk to current students and ask questions about their experiences.

College counselors at high schools around the country often share the mantra, “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”  The same should hold true for medical school admissions.  While the U.S. News and World Report rankings may mean the world to some people, they do not necessarily make for the happiest and most successful students.  Decide what you personally value in a school, and make your decisions accordingly.

Free from Medical School Debt?

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 11.08.2009 | Category Education, Family Medicine, Healthcare Career Blog, Locum Tenens, Medical Student Loans, Medical Students, Medical doctor jobs, Physician Career Path, Physicians, Pre-Med Students

CNN’s recent article “Free Medical School for 40 Lucky Students” must have had premedical students salivating. The article celebrates the University of Central Florida Medical School, which opened its doors at the beginning of August, for offering free tuition to all 40 members of its inaugural class. Whether this will become the status quo at UCF or whether it is just a one-time deal to entice students to take a risk on a new medical school, is anyone’s guess, but the fact remains that this is “the first time that an entire class will go through medical school completely debt free.”

Dr. Deborah German, dean of the new medical school, says, “We’re giving our students the opportunity to come get a medical education free from debt so that they can pursue their passion.” German here is referring to two passions: 1) the students’ passion for medicine, in general, and 2) their passion for particular fields and specialties.

The astronomical cost of a medical education has two unintended consequences. First, it hinders qualified and passionate students of modest financial backgrounds from pursuing careers in medicine. Over 60% of medical students come from families in the top 20% of the annual income bracket, and a recent survey conducted by the AAMC cites cost of medical school attendance as the number one reason qualified minority students choose not pursue a medical career. Secondly, it deters students from going into less lucrative specialties, like internal and family medicine, and from working in under-served areas where they may not be paid as much. It is easy to accuse a physician of greed when he or she chooses a specialty based primarily on financial gain, but it’s not quite that simple. When a young physician is looking at $200,000 of debt, how can he or she afford not to consider salary a primary factor when making career choices? If students could come out of medical school debt-free, they could, in turn, have the freedom to practice whatever type of medicine they choose without the burden of loan payments hanging on their shoulders.

So, what does UCF’s decision mean for the rest of us? If this was simply a one-year lucky break for these 40 students, it could mean very little to the rest of the county. But, if UCF can set a precedent for medical schools and for the government to offer greater financial incentives for medical students, it could be the beginning of a new model of medical education.

You have updated your Physician CV, now what? Add a great Cover Letter

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 07.07.2009 | Category Anesthesiology jobs, Emergency jobs, Family Medicine, Hospitalist physician, Internal Medicine, Locum Tenens, Medical Student Loans, OB GYN jobs, OB/GYN physician jobs, Orthopedic Surgery, Physician CV, Physician Career Path, Physicians, Pschyriatry Jobs, Retired Physician, Surgery jobs, jobs

Learn the best practices here

The most difficult thing about writing a physician resume is that there is not just one physician CV template that everyone can follow. Because each physician has different types and levels of experience, every physician CV is going to be completely unique. Sample Curriculum Vitae can help, but unfortunately, there is not one easy equation that every doctor can plug his or her information into. To make your resume the most effective it can be, you need to decide how to write a CV that will best sell your unique experiences, and a good place to start marketing yourself is in the physician resume cover letter.

When putting together a resume package, it’s important to remember that the CV itself is only one part of the package; take full advantage of the opportunities that a cover letter gives you. A physician resume cover letter can seem like just one more intimidating task to worry about as you begin your job search, but it is a great chance for you to introduce yourself more fully and more personally to your audience.

Like your resume, your cover letter should be short and to the point; try to limit your cover letter to one side of a page in 11 or 12-point font. Its tone should be formal and professional, but it should also give you a chance to express yourself more personally than the strict CV format allows, so avoid using “one-size-fits-all” cover letter templates that you might see in books and resume software.

What to Include in the Physician Resume Cover Letter:

• Your first paragraph should be a couple of sentences briefly introducing you and your purpose in writing to this employer.
• Your second paragraph should give enough information about your background and skills to interest a potential employer. Be careful, however, not to get repetitive; your resume will also cover your background. This may be a good place to explain your philosophy about caring for patients or why you entered the medical field in the first place.
• Your third, and final, paragraph should relate directly to the organization to which you are applying. Explain why you are looking to relocate and why this particular hospital, practice, etc. appeals to you. What makes you a good fit?
• Close the letter by thanking your potential employer for his or her time and consideration.

Helpful Hints for a Successful Physician Cover Letter:

• Use the same quality paper that you used for your CV itself.
• Address the letter to a specific individual. Show that you have done your homework about the company.
• Avoid generalities. Use specific details that show potential employers why you are particularly interested in their place of employment.
• Keep paragraphs short and clear.
• Be professional, but show some personality – remember this is your chance to distinguish yourself from all other applicants.
• Be confident, but not boastful.

Visit our Physician Resources page for more helpful information about the physician job search.

Rural Doctor Bill to Help Repay Medical Student Loans up to $160,000

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 04.06.2009 | Category Education, Hospitals, Medical Student Loans, Physician Shortage, Physicians

The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that will make it very attractive for a new medical school graduate to work in rural Texas or areas that are underserved.

HB 2154, initiated by Pampa Republican Warren Chisum who represents the largest number of rural counties in the House, will set up a fund to repay medical student loans of up to $160,000 to any medical school graduate who agrees to practice in a rural county in the state for at least four years. You ask, “Where will the money for this fund come from?” Mr. Chisum added into the bill that the money will come from a tax placed on smokeless tobacco products.

Adding to this exciting news, HB 3485 was also passed that will allow hospitals in counties with populations no greater than 50,000 to hire physicians as their employees. Texas is one of a few states where doctors are self employed, even if they only work at hospitals.

So not only will you get assistance to pay off your loans, you will have the security of knowing that you will have a paying job to go to without having to worry about paying office overhead. For a medical school graduate starting out, this is a wonderful opportunity to jump on!

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