Medical experience is enormously valuable to premedical students for a variety of reasons. Observing physicians and understanding what they do on a daily basis helps premeds understand the challenges and rewards of the medical profession and envision themselves as physicians. Spending time with doctors also helps premed students clarify and solidify their goals, confirming with certainty that they want to pursue a career in medicine. Observing or volunteering also helps premeds understand the ways in which hospitals or clinics function and the teamwork involved in providing good medical care.   Sustained clinical experience proves to both yourself and the medical schools that you have a good understanding of the medical profession and are committed to it. Clinical work also serves as inspiration, helping you power through the challenges of your premedical courses, reminding you of your ultimate goal.

I just did a web search for “why go to a DO school”  The top two results that I received:  - Reapply or go to DO school? - Why are Osteopathic medical schools treated like the plague   I’m sure you could do “MD vs DO” too and get similar results.   In the interview that I had with ATSU KCOM, I asked what they thought about this general philosopy of “my grades aren’t good enough for an MD school, I should just go to a DO school instead.” Their response” 

A little disappointment actually, because the curriculum is the same, so it’s not any easier than any med schools out there. But I do feel a little disappointment, and I even interviewed a kid the other day that iterated to that. He said, "Well my dad, who is a physician, said, 'Your grades aren't good enough, try a D.O. school.'"

Congratulations you Matched!...Now What?

The third thursday in March, known as Match Day, has come and gone. Thousands of 4th year medical students around the United States have opened their envelopes and learned where they will be spending the next three to seven years of their lives. Hopefully you are one of the many students who smiled, shouted with excitement, or shed tears of relief and joy. The long journey of the residency application process has ended, and graduation is fast approaching. Soon, you will receive your diploma and take the Hippocratic Oath; with those words you will become a physician. And as the era of your time as a medical student ends, a new era will begin - your residency.

Today, Will from the Lost in PreMed Podcast (lostinpremed.org) released an episode of his podcast that featured an interview with ME!   Will asked a ton of great questions about what it's like to be a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force, what I thought about the HPSP (health professions scholarship program) and we talked about this website a little.