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Pros and Cons of the Liberal Arts for Premeds

Allison and Ryan discuss the pros and cons of choosing a liberal arts school or major as a premed, including the implications later on as a physician.

The Role of Residency Training For Physicians

Allison and Ryan discuss a new controversial bill in Missouri that would allow new medical school graduates to work without any residency training.
How the UF Dream Team is Changing Patients' Lives

How the UF Dream Team is Changing Patients’ Lives

Session 83

Our guest for this episode is Alex Breslin, a rising senior at the University of Florida (Go Gators!) and the President of the Dream Team. The Dream Team is a student-run, non-profit organization whose program specifically focuses on the children in cardiac care at UF Health Shands Hospital. They aim to dedicate time, not money, and service these children and their families with enthusiasm, passion and shared dedication.

Here are the highlights of my conversation with Alex:

  • How shadowing physicians and going to medical missions influenced his decision to be a doctor
  • Choosing to go to University of Florida, how he studies for the MCAT and how he have gets the most out of his pre-med advisors
  • Sharing each of our own experiences as Shands volunteers, and about Child Life Program, a sub-specialty within Shands volunteer
  • Where the idea of the Dream Team came from, the organization’s goals, and what the program is all about
  • Getting the hospital involved in the Dream Team, forming relationships with the directors, and getting the necessary approvals by impressing them with their first 10 volunteers
  • Strict application cycles, interviews, and methods on how they sifted through applications to get their first 10 volunteers
  • Their strategies in keeping their momentum, their motivation and their overall success
  • Finding out where he wants to go to med school and what he wants to do next
To echo Alex’s point, the journey is equally important with the outcome. So embrace everything you are doing, find something that you are passionate about and be involved in activities that make a difference. Fueling this fire will get you going through those hard days and night in med school.

Links and Other Resources

Dream Team UF Dream Team UF Volunteer Application Shands Child Life Program
10 Premed Resources You Need to Be Using

10 Premed Resources You Need to Be Using

With so many premed resources out there, we helped you narrow down to the 10 we think you should start with. Everything from the medical schools to YOU. Listen!

Reviewing the 2014 Physician Compensation Report

Each year, Medscape does a phenominal job of surverying physicians about their compensation, work settings, and job satisfaction. We talk about the report!
Rejected from Medical School Twice—Finally, a Medical Student!

Rejected from Medical School Twice—Finally, a Medical Student!

Danielle Ward had many obstacles on her path to medical school, but she conquered each of them, and is now starting medical school in the Fall of 2014 at PCOM - Georgia.

PreMedLife Magazine Partners with the Medical School HQ Podcast!

Learn the story of how Premed Life Magazine started, and how, together with the Medical School HQ Podcast, we hope to bring all premeds the best content available!

The Dark Side of Medical Education – Premed Through Residency

Ryan and Allison talk about pimping, scut work, humiliation and more as they discuss mistreatment in the medical education process, from premed through residency.
Starting the Journey to Med School at 38, Taking the First Steps

Starting the Journey to Med School at 38, Taking the First Steps

Ben Abney is currently serving in the US Navy, but will embark on a journey to med school in the Fall. He shares his premed story and advice with us today.

5 Traits Patients Want Their Doctors to Have

Allison and Ryan talk about a new diagnosis and how as a patient, Ryan wanted things from his physician that fell short, causing him to seek a second opinion.