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.

Candidate Direct Unveils New Physician Resources Page

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 21.08.2009 | Category Anesthesiology jobs, Board Certification, Education, Healthcare Career Blog, Licenses, Locum Tenens, Medical Students, Medical doctor jobs, OB/GYN physician jobs, Physician CV, Physicians, Pre-Med Students, Retired Physician, jobs

Whether you are a medical student just starting your physician career or an established physician looking for a change, navigating the physician job market can be a daunting and confusing task; however, leading staffing agency Candidate Direct’s new physician resources page is geared to help both new and experienced doctors stay current on medical issues, find the dream jobs they deserve, and transition smoothly into their new employment.

The site boasts up-to-date information on their most recent locum tenens and permanent job postings and links to full lists of employment opportunities. New to the site is the “Design-a-Job” feature, which allows you to send specifications for your ideal job directly to Candidate Direct staffing agents to get started in your job search immediately. If you’re new to the physician job market, check out advice on how to write a physician CV and view samples of CVs for all levels of experience.

Once you’ve found that job you’re dreaming of, the physician resources page offers a number of links to help ease your transition. Learn about moving and shipping companies, find city guides to help you learn more about your new location, and get transportation information to make your travel go smoothly as you move into your new physician career.

Not looking to get into the job market? There is still plenty of valuable information to help all physicians stay up-to-date on happenings in the medical world. Resources include the Mayo Clinic Medical News site, KevinMD’s award winning blog, social networking sites for physicians, and medical humor from the New Yorker. Links to physician credentialing associations can offer networking and professional development opportunities for physicians of all experience levels. Finally, resources for your financial health and retirement planning finish off the site, making it one-stop shopping for all of your professional needs.

No matter where you are in your physician career, Candidate Direct’s physician resources page has something to help enhance your future in the medical profession.

Visit Candidate Direct or Apply Online today to start working with your recruiter.

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.

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!

Read more about Physician Careers

Interested in a Physician Job in a Community Hospital that is Ranked Among the Best in the U.S.?

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 06.04.2009 | Category CRNA, Education, Healthcare Career Blog, Hospitals, Locum Tenens, Medical doctor jobs, Physicians, Pschyriatry Jobs, Travel Nurses, jobs

The Candidate Direct Healthcare Career Blog brings you this breaking news for professionals seeking opportunities in hospitals nationwide.

Given the severe shortage of physicians jobs and CRNAs, many current position postings for permanent and locum tenens are in often in urban and rural communities in a multitude of healthcare settings.

If you like the idea of working in a community hospital, this article is for you! It’s no coincidence that many of these places are also in choice locations for locum tenens who wish to combine work and leisure and visit places like Fort Lauderdale Florida, Colorado Springs, or Atlanta Georgia.

65 of the Best of the Good Community Hospitals

They have no medical school or residents, but they know what they’re doing, some are even ranked!

The following 10 hospitals are not academic medical centers, nor do they have physicians in training. But they are ranked—some of them in multiple specialties—in the latest edition of U.S. News & World Reports, America’s Best Hospitals.

Top 10 Community Hospitals

The 55 non-teaching hospitals below scored nearly high enough in America’s Best Hospitals to be ranked.

For additional insight on the shortage of CRNA’s see this blog posting, Nurse Anesthetist

Physician jobs that are also in great demand are:

• Emergency Medicine
• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Hospitalist