Talking Admissions And Med Student Life

“How do we implement things safely but quickly once we know how it ought to be done and how do we build systems to enable us humans to do it better all the time?”Dr. Norlin’s passion for the ever changing field of pediatrics keeps him engaged in searching for methods of improvement and ways to break barriers. We discuss what has changed since he began practicing in 1980, the “Medical Home” concept, his role in the Pediatric Quality Improvement Organization, and finally, why systems and checklists are important for maintaining balance.

“I felt like what I was doing was very likely to never be used and it made it very hard for me to get engaged in what I was doing.” After receiving a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from #MIT and five years into his career at an Idaho National Lab, Michael felt he had more to offer and knew medicine was the career for him to transition into.  We talk about his experience in the field of Nuclear Engineering and his journey to med school.   We discuss what the cadaver lab experience has been like for him as a non traditional student without an anatomy background and his experience thus far as a first year med student.

“If I can overcome these obstacles, maybe I can actually help others do the same. And it became a test almost, can I do this? But the desire to be a doctor was always there.”Kyle secretly always had the desire to become a doctor. But life and obstacles led him instead to find his passion in working with youth. We talk about how he became involved with youth programs, his experience as a Residential Care Parent, and how working with a nine year old as part of the Court Approved Special Advocate (CASA) program lit the fire to overcome his misconceived obstacles about becoming a doctor and seek mentorship that would change his study habits and lead him to fulfilling his dream.

“You concentrate on things you can control and you don’t worry about the other stuff.”At age 31 and after more than a decade in the Navy as an Explosive Ordinance Device Technician, Dean befriended a physician that opened his eyes to the world of medicine and made him take a step back and think. We talk about what his job entailed in the Navy, what it was that intrigued him about medicine, how to study chemistry at 3am, and finally, his method of dealing with anxiety provoking moments.

“There was a point where I seriously considered other things, even just six months before applying to medical school. I thought I have to be one hundred percent onboard.”For Russell, the journey into medical school was one that went from just “ticking the boxes” to eventually becoming a life enriching experience. We talk about why he chose to volunteer for something that scared him, the importance of finding your “headroom”, his passion for music and his band #TheMayReunion, and finally, what hammocking is and how it changes his perspective in viewing things around him.

“I felt like a band aid; I felt like I’d see these traumatic things happen, I’d see horrible things happen to people and I’d be with them for under an hour. I’d bond with them, I’d help them and then I’d drop them off for someone else to do the definitive care, and that began to feel rather limiting to me.”Wendy had always wanted to be a doctor, but when she left school early on in her undergraduate studies, she pushed aside that dream and pursued a career as a firefighter and paramedic. Seven years into her career, an experience with a young girl during a call stirred the fire and passion within her and put her back on the path to pursuing her dream. We discuss what her journey was like as a non-traditional applicant and student; how to make time to meet the application requirements with a full-time career and additional responsibilities, and finally, I ask her some of the burning questions we all want to know in regards to the fire service.

“If it’s your passion and you get involved in the things you want to do, the things you’re passionate about and by doing that, things will kind of just sync together and you’ll be able to look back at your experience with a smile and almost be like I don’t know how I was involved in that much.”As an Offensive Lineman for Brigham Young University Football, and medical school applicant, Houston had to prioritize and find a balance to meet the demands placed upon him. We discuss why he wanted to become a doctor, what kind of unique service opportunities he was able to participate in with his team, why reaching out to people around you is important, and finally, we make our predictions for the BYU 2015 Football season. GoCougs.

“A lot of times when people find out what I do for a living, they say I couldn’t imagine doing that and actually for me, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”As a former Amphibious Task Force and THIRD Fleet Surgeon, Dr. Poss has traveled the world. What was it about Utah that made him decide to put down solid roots? We discuss why he chose Utah, what a Pediatric Intensivist is, the new MD/MBA dual degree program that is being offered here at UUSOM, and finally, why it is important to take advantage of every opportunity in education.

“I know that I have a finite amount of time once I get out into practice and I really want it to matter.”What makes former equities and bond trader on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) and the owner of a finance company decide to pursue a career in medicine? For Kim, a third year medical student here at #UUSOM, her mother’s cancer diagnosis became the premise for her transformation into a non-traditional medical student. We talk about the challenges older student’s face, the advantages in being one, and what her focus has been throughout her first three years of medical school.

When Jenn, a current first year medical student here at UUSOM didn’t get into medical school on her first try, she chose to take that year to pursue a master’s degree in something that not only interested her, but would provide a path for another potential career. With a Master’s in Pharmacology from Georgetown, she is now more than half way through her first year of med school. We talk about ways that she strengthened her application before reapplying, what her experience thus far has been like, and finally, how you can apply Complimentary/Alternative medicine to Western Medicine.

“In general pediatrics /primary care, we spend about 40% of our time dealing with kids who are healthy or coming in for well child visits and well child checkups. Getting to know that child and getting to know that family while being a part of their lives over an extended period of time, it’s hard to beat that.”For Dr. Paul Young, a medical educator and pediatrician here at UUSOM, there have been many changes during the span of his career as a pediatrician. We discuss what changes he’s seen over the past 30 years, how he approaches talking to a concerned parent about vaccines and autism, and finally, what he sees in the future for pediatrics.

For Matt, a current first year medical student here at #UUSOM, taking more than a year off before entering medical school was a decision based on his desire to work and gain knowledge within the medical industry. As an analyst for a healthcare consulting firm, he was granted access to the changing scene of health care policy and the transition into value based care and quality metrics. It was during this time that he began preparing to apply to medical school by writing his personal statement, compiling dates of volunteer work, and taking the additional steps necessary to build a strong application. I talk to Matt about how to start early in preparing for your medical school application, what he feels is the best thing about his first year of medical school, and finally, the different types of interest groups students can get involved in.

How does a medical student choose a career in pediatrics? How do you become involved in medical education and what is a Learning Community? “I loved all my rotations as a student, but it was my work with the pediatric population that brought out the best in me. Those patients made me want to be the best.” Dr. Glasgow and I discuss her path to becoming a pediatric hospitalist, why it is important to maintain emotional health balance as a pediatrician, and finally, her involvement in the Clinical Methods Curriculum (CMC) and Learning Communities here at UUSOM.

“It was a decision between my heart and my brain, I made the decision with my heart.” Daniela, a first year medical student here at #UUSOM had a difficult decision to make when it came to choosing which medical school to ultimately attend. As a non-resident without scholarship money, she would face paying out of state tuition for all four years of her medical education here in Utah. Daniela’s medical experiences abroad had fueled her passion for working with underserved populations in a #ruralsetting and it was this passion that, after choosing to attend UUSOM, led her to applying for and receiving the National Health Service Corp (#NHSC) scholarship. Daniela and I discuss how to apply for and what the NHSC scholarship covers, how she chose to go into a rural medical setting, and finally, how a young boy in India (named Sumit) left an impression that will stay with her for the rest of her life.

“Your life experiences build who you are.”  From a young age, Wes, a second year medical student here at #UUSOM was taught to respect and serve the elder community.  It was through these experiences that he discovered his strong interest in the aging process, leading him to become involved in geriatric research, and hospice care.  He shares his thoughts on how to demonstrate your passion for medicine on your med school application, the importance of maintaining a healthy school/life balance, and the best and most challenging aspects of being in medical school.

What is a Triple Board? Why would anyone choose to get boarded in three subjects and what are they? Why would anyone follow the #CincinnatiBengals here in Utah? I interviewed Dr. Thomas Conover, a Triple Board Physician here at #UUSOM. We talk about his path to becoming triple board certified, why he chose the University of Utah, and what it means to “accept the good and the bad in your heritage” when it comes to being a lifelong football fan.

What are some big city challenges for a medical student who moves here from Southern Utah? How is the new curriculum working out here at UUSOM? I interviewed Rebecca, a first year medical student here at UUSOM. We talk about the shock of adjusting to life in a big city after living in a rural area, what the advantages are in attending Southern Utah University (#SUU), and finally, the ups and downs of her first semester of medical school.

In the world of Family Medicine, every patient and physician “comes from a different place.” This leads to unique and memorable interactions over time, as family doctors treat patients repeatedly over their lifetime. Lifelong relationships of helping people to stay heathy is a reward of the profession. I interviewed Dr. Rick Henriksen, a Family Practitioner and faculty member here at the UUSOM. We talk about the basis of family medicine, what a colonoscopy is and what medical students at the UUSOM experience during their Family Medicine clerkship during their third year of medical school.

What is the field of Geriatrics? How does a medical student choose to become a Geriatrician? In terms of safety, how do you know when to take away Grandma and Grandpa’s car keys? I interviewed one of only 7,000 Geriatricians in the United States, Dr. Katherine Anderson, who practices here at the University of Utah School of Medicine. We discuss the path that led her into Geriatrics, details about the upcoming “silver tsunami” and how she became involved in teaching medical students in the innovative Clinical Method Curriculum (CMC) here at the UUSOM.

How does an Idaho student choose to come to the University of Utah School of Medicine? What is Teach America and how does it help prepare one for medical school? What was the biggest surprise and best memory of the first year of med school? I interviewed Matt, a current second year student here at the UUSOM. He talks about why it was important to pursue his feeling of “doing something bigger than myself”, what it was like for a student from small town Idaho to experience a massive culture shock, what he learned in the process that strengthened his skills in dealing with diversity, and the biggest surprises and best moments of his first year in medical school.