Biol 395
2008
 Medical Observations and Evaluation



NOTE:  due to email issues, please send me your revised personal statement when you can.  I have your autobio and resumes done.  I will turn them back to you in class.  We will delay the second version for a couple of weeks.

See below for your med specialties and ethics topics.  I am not certain about the groups for ethics.  You should each know who your partners are.

Remember you will each have an assignment about each topic.
Description:  This course is designed specifically for students interested in pursuing a career as a physician. It consists of a series of 3-4 hour observations of physicians or other health professionals at a regional clinic, hospital or health care facility. Accompanying each observation is a 3 hour class session that is dedicated to the discussion of people's observational experiences. This class session will also be used to discuss selected readings pertaining to health care and ethics. Participants will maintain an observation/experience journal throughout the semester.
Required Text  Writing about me.   Barbara Huntington and Linda Masse.
Get Into Medical School 2nd Ed Kenneth Iserson

Class Information Updates: Check here for updates and changes to the course.
  • You MUST review these pages daily - Because we do not meet in class each week this page will serve as  a way for your instructor to  communicate with you.  I will ask you to reply by email from this page or your email
  • Emailed Assignments - ONLY the personal statement and autobiography will be emailed to me. Follow instuctions and have your last name in the title of the document and IN the document.  I can not sort through 12 emails that all say personal statement... 
  • ALL OTHER ASSIGNMENTS ARE TO BE TYPED AND TURNED IN TO THE CHEMISTRY OFFICE.  NO OTHER FORM OR SUBMISSION SITE WILL BE ACCEPTED.  THIS INCLUDES EMAILING DR PROVOST!
  • Wit Movie Discussion - The Wit movie discussion assignment is linked at the bottom of the page.  Bring it with you and turn the TYPED assignment the Friday following class.
  •  The Making of a Doctor - The is a simple report linked at the bottom of the page.  Bring it to class.
  • BOOK REPORT INFO - This will be a two page report single spaced and 11 pt font.  In this report you will discuss three items.  As a minimum the book will cover: 1) the general overview of the book, 2) the deeper meaning to this book than "just what happened, and 3) what this book meant to you.  For part three tell me if this book changed or matured your understanding of medice after reading it.  Finally, close the report with a statement that you would answer in an interview to the question "tell me about a book that you've read".
  • Info on other assignments will be coming.
Altru Rotations - REMEMBER you will meet me at 6:00 at the North Door of Science Lab.  If you have a 7:30 time, call me at 701-306-1586 before you leave town. Altru Surgery Tip - Must read before doing a surgery!

Orientation Info from Altru:  I will meet you in the Altru hospital lobby to give a shadowing packet and program participation agreement.  Then, I'll take
you to your shadowing area and introduce you to your mentor.  If your assigned mentor is unavailable for your appointment, I will ask the staff to locate another mentor for you.

As a shadowing participant at Altru Health System, we ask that you abide by the same professional dress code that our employees do.  Wear comfortable dress clothes:   NO BLUE JEANS, SHORTS OR SANDALS ARE ALLOWED.  Due to infection control precautions, we also ask that you wear SHOES AND SOCKS.  Because there are patients and employees who may have allergic reactions, we ask that you abide by our scent-free policy: NO COLOGNE OR AFTERSHAVE  are allowed.

Please eat before you come in for your appointment, to prevent any queasiness or fainting while you shadow.

Come prepared with questions to ask your mentor, in order to get the greatest benefit from your shadowing experience.  Feel free to ask about the different aspects of work and various procedures that you observe.  You may want to ask:

  * How did you become interested in your occupation?
  * What are the highlights of your job?
  * What are the drawbacks in your work?
  * What advice do you have for someone who is just starting in your area?

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO KEEP YOUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT,  PLEASE CALL ME
TO CANCEL. 780-5834.  Heidi CollisonEmployment RecruiterHuman Resources Altru Health System

Jan 24
Christopher Failing 8-10 Anestesia; 10-12 Internal Med; 1-3 Chemotherapy
Daniel Fetzer 8-10 Respiratory; 10-12 lab; 1-3 Podiatry
Tatiana Gracyk 8-10 Radiology; 10-12 Cardiac Cath Lab; 1-3 Dermatology

Jan 31
Daniel Hammes 8-10 Fadiology, 10-12 Cardiac Cath, 1-3 Surgery
Naomi Light 8-10 5th floor, 10-12 Renal, 1-3 Jennifer Tinkler, Nurse Practitioner at Altru Truyu Dermatology and Aesthetics Center go directly to the center (3165 Demers Ave).
Nicole Haverland 8-10 Lab, 10-12 Internal Med, 1-3 OB/Gyn (LaChance)

Feb 14
Joana Mensah-Woode:  8-10 Surgery, 10-12 Renal, 1-3 Cardiology
Bilal Mohamed Cardiac Cath, Respiratory, Radiation
Paul Nicholis Pain Mgt, Radiation, Gastro

Rapid Care Rotations - 
Moorehead - Just off of 8th and Main. 
Fargo - University and 32nd Ave So (North side of ave) 
Osgood - 4622 40th Ave S  I94 to 45th St then South to 40th Ave.  It is directly west of Horbachers.  Park away from blg.

Jan 24:
Mhd - D Hammes,
Osgd - N Light,
Fargo - N Haverland & J Mensah-Woode

Jan 31:
Mhd - J Mensah-Woode
Osgd - B Mohamed
Fargo - P Nicholis & E Roeber

Feb 14:
Mhd- R Yunusova
Osgd - C Failing
Fargo D Fetzer & T Gracyk

Villa Maria Rotations - Park on the Northside of the building or on 23rd Ave.  The entrance is in the back. 
In-class schedule - For the weeks at MSUM
10 Jan - Introduction and Orientation to Med Obs and Self Assesment. Start time at 8:00 in the Chemistry Seminar Room. Bring your books to class.  We will be meeting in the classroom for the entire time.
  • Read the all of Writing About Me and Chapter 1 and 2 of Get into Medical School.

16 Jan -  Visit Villa Maria. You will need to learn how to answer the question, why do you want to be a physician? 
    • Meet at 8:00 at the North side of Science lab.

7  Feb - Personal Statement Preparation - Turn in your first draft statement.  Use Writing About Me to create statement.  Other info will be coming.
Readings: Writing about me (pages appendix A); Get into medical school (Chpt 11 and 12).


21  Feb - Personal Statement Preparation / Applying to Medical School - This section will cover the MSUM process, how to prepare for letters of recommendation, the self assesment information, preparing your statments, autobiographies, where to apply to medical school.
 Readings: Writing about me (pages appendix A); Get into medical school (Chpt 11 and 12).

20 March - Interview Skills and Preparation and WIT- Print out and bring to class discussion points.
  • Readings: Get into medical school (chapters 23, 24 and 25).
  • Interview guide (see link at bottom of page).  ALSO handout "Whacha gonna do?"
  • Wit: Each student will bring the handout below and be prepared to participate in a group discussion on the handout after the movie.

3 April -Morals and Ethics - Each student will read about Ethical Decision-Making (click here).  Be prepared to use these resources in each of your cases below.
    Student teams of two will present a case.  All other class members will be responsible to bring an informed opinion or view to the discussion.  Each of you should take the time to look up a few things about each topic. I have found hundreds of good links and news articles for each case.  Remember participation is a part of the grade, and is of course good for you...

Use the U of Wash School of Med Ethics Site for your initial resource.  They have cases if you wish to use them.  Include "Medical School" to any google searches you use to ensure the appropriate sites are used. 

Another source is the EthicsWeb of applied ethics resources and the American Academy of Medical Ethics

One more source is the AMA FAQ in ethics web page
    • Socalized Health Care - Managed Health Care (Class leaders Dan Natalia and Paul ).  This will cover what is managed care, what are the different types of managed care, what are the pros and cons and what is a physician's responsibility.
    • End of Life / Care of the Dying, Physician-assisted suicide, do not resusitate and euthinasia.  (Class leaders Liz and Chris). Class leaders will cover, what are the classic cases and  discuss both the legal and the ethical sides of this issue.
    • Abortion, Partial-birth abortion andInfanticide - (Class leaders Joanna and Nicole ).  Present both sides of this issue and focus on the physician and health team's responsibilites.  The ethics sites above have cases and there are many more availible
    • Stem Cell Basics - (Class leaders Billa and ? ).  Class leaders will talk about the current controversy (presenting BOTH sides) of the stem cell debate.  Include informtion on what is happening outside of the US and the California actions of last year.  Harvard Stem Cell website
    • Genethics, Genetics and DNA Banking - (Class leaders Dan and ?  Information covering medical ethics as it relates to the human genome and genetherapy issues.
    • Cloning  - (Class leaders Roza and? ).  Include info on human cloning, the difficulties, promise and pitfalls as well as other pertinant information.
  • Each student is required to write a 2-4 well thought out and supported paragraph summary about each topic.


17  April Touch on Interview Skills (see above for readings) and Alternative Med Options(see below) and  Medical Specialties: Each student will present the following medical specialties.  There are many many web sites devoted to this so take the time and search.  I have included a link at the bottom of the page to start your research.  Include the following information (but do not limit yourself) to: description of the specialty, time to finish specialty, difficulty in getting specialty, what kind of a career does a doc in that specialty have, how much does a starting and average physician in that specialty earns.  Each person should take 15 min or so.  The information is out there but you may need to search for it.
Readings:  Get into medical school (Chapter 3)

Medical Specialties:
Billah - Allergy & Immunology; Anesthesiology; Colon & Rectal Surgery 
Joanna and Dan- Physicians Assistant; Emergency Medicine; Family Practice
Chris and Roza - Internal Medicine; Obstetrics & Gynecology; Orthopaedic Surgery
Paul and Liz - Neurological Surgery;Thoracic Surgery ; Radiology
Nicole and Dan - Dermatology; Pathology; Urology
Tatiana Naomi -  Radiology; Surgery; Otolaryngology; Pediatrics

Alternative Medical Options: Alternatives to medical school including DO, PA, off shore and post bac programs Get into Medical School (Chapter 27)

30 April - Practice Interviews. - I will lead a short interview (pre-med style) Students will act as a panel and each student will also ask questions.   There will be a group critique.  The journal article "whatcha gonna do" will be copied and placed on my office door.  Read this prior to class and bring it with you to class.  Prepare be reading the interview links below and the literature passed out in class.  The interview will start with, so tell me about yourself... or something like that.
Readings: Get into Medical School (Chpt 23, 24 & 25) and Whatcha gonna do? (Handout)

ROTATION START TIME


VM = Villa Maria - Sisters of Mary of the Presentation Health System (click here for address).  Start at 9:00 be there 10 min early.

TMD = Movie The Making of a Doctor - Movie starts at 8:00 bring posted questions to class.  Movie will be shown in the biochem lab.

- Altru Observations (Jan 30, Feb 6, 13, March 6, 13) – ALL students will meet Dr. Provost at the Science Lab at 6:00 for check in and then will drive to Grand Forks on their own.  It will take about 1.5 hrs to get there without any stops.  (Click here for a map)

 RC = Rapid Care - Info Coming
 
Jan 24
Jan 31
Feb 14
Feb 28
March 13
March 27
April 10
Apri 24
Failing C
 Altru VM RC  Altru TMD RC
 VM
RC
Fetzer D
 Altru
 VM
RC TMD Altru RC OPEN RC
Gracyk T
 Altru TMD RC VM Altru  RC  OPEN RC
Hammes D
 RC Altru
TMD RC  Altru RC
 VM
 OPEN
Haverland N
 RC  Altru VM RC
 TMD  Altru
 RC
 OPEN
Light N
 RC
 Altru VM  RC
 VM
Altru RC
 Altru
Mensah-Woode J
 RC RC Altru RC VM Altru  RC
  VM
Mohamad B
 TMD RC Altru VM RC VM Altru OPEN
Nichols P
 VM RC Altru TMD RC
 OPEN
Altru VM
Roeber E
 VM
 RC TMD Altru RC
 OPEN Altru RC
Yunusova R
 TMD Open RC
 Altru RC
 VM
 RC
 Altru


 
Syllabus
Observation Report
Interview Guide
Interview Report
Suggested Book List
MdPhD Info
Personal Statement
Medical Specialties
Wit Discussion
 Personal State Guide
 Preparing for your interview The Making of an Doctor  (TMD)
Resume Guide
 Biography Guide
 Foreign/International
Medical Schools Info
 International Premed Student
Information
Deadlines/Due Dates:
Writing Assignments:
•    14 Jan - Self-assessment step #1 pp.5 Writing About Me.  Recreate table on MS Word. (10 pts)
•    14 Jan – Self assessment med school advisor handout (10 pts)
•    17 Jan – 2-3 sentence on why I want to be a Physician/Physician’s Assistant (10 pts)
•    31 Jan - Two Paragraphs Why I want to be a Physician/Physician’s Assistant and what makes me a good Physician/Physician’s Assistant.  (20 pts)
•    31 Jan - Self-assessment step #5 pp. 24, Writing About Me.  (10 pts)
•    7 Feb -1st draft of your personal statement. Turn-in at beginning of class time. (20 pts)
•    21 Feb – 1st draft of your biography, resume (20 pts)
•    29 March – 2nd draft of personal statement  (20 pts)
•    7 April – Summary of ALL medical ethics and morals discussions held in class.  (50 pts)
•    14 April – Book Report  (50 pts)
•    3 April – Final version of your personal statement  (100 pts)
•    3 April – Final version of your autobiography and resume (50 pts)
•    21 March - WIT Handout (20 pts)
•    (Friday after watching the movie) TMD Handout