Difficult PreMed Course

Wait until your senior year to take the most difficult classes required for graduation as well as any optional science classes that will help prepare you for medical school. That way, those grades will not affect the GPA that medical school admissions committees see.

Significant Challenges Facing MDs'

They include the increasing costs of medical malpractice coverage, higher practice costs, lower insurance reimbursement rates and insurance-company restrictions resulting in less autonomy over how patients are cared for.

The Association of American Medical Colleges projects that America needs a 30% annual increase in medical-school enrollment in order to keep up with need for doctors. In 2012, compared with 2002, medical-school enrollment will be up 21%.

But for potential physicians, there is a future of looming medical-school debt, which is higher than ever. Students who graduate from a public medical school have a median debt of $100,000; private-school students graduate with a median debt of $135,000, according to a 2003 study by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Compare that with 1984, when median debt for public-school graduates was $22,000 and private-school students was $27,000.

Monthly payment on a debt of $150,000 at the end of residency at an interest rate of 2.8% is $1,761, according to the study.

No one ever said being a doctor was easy. School and training go on seemingly forever; once graduation arrives, doctors work long hours and are faced with life-and-death decisions daily.

But there were rewards. For decades, doctors earned hefty paychecks, had autonomy and respect. But those benefits are fading, and as a result, so is the number of doctors. Within the next 15 years, the United States will experience a shortage of between 90,000 to 200,000 physicians, according to the recently published Will the Last Physician in America Please Turn Off the Lights: A Look at America's Looming Doctor Shortage.

The American Medical Association recognizes there are shortages in certain geographic areas and in certain specialties. Part of that is due to the aging population and a stagnant number of medical-school applicants.

But there are other significant reasons. They include the increasing costs of medical malpractice coverage, higher practice costs, lower insurance reimbursement rates and insurance-company restrictions resulting in less autonomy over how patients are cared for.

This is not just a question of career choice--consumers will be affected greatly by this shortage. If you think there's a long wait for an appointment now, it could be nothing compared with 15 years down the road. The three co-authors of Will the Last Physician in America Please Turn Off the Lights, all from the physician-staffing firm Merritt, Hawkins and Associates, say the wait will jump to three to four months or more to see a doctor for a non-emergency, and a routine doctor's visit will cost two to three times what it does now--whether you are insured or not, they say.

Insurance has become a loaded word. One-third of the country is insured by Medicare, and over the next nine years, the government program plans to cut payments to physicians by about 40%, while practice costs are projected to increase 20%, according to the American Medical Association. The first of those cuts will take place in July, when the reimbursement rate to doctors will drop by 10.6%. The next cut, of 5%, will occur in January.

It's expected to have a trickle-down effect. "If Medicare makes a change to their reimbursement, other insurance companies follow their lead, since Medicare drives the marketplace," says Lawrence Smarr, president of the Physician Insurers Association of America, a trade association for medical malpractice insurance companies.

But as costs continue to rise, many doctors say they need to see more patients in order to maintain their salaries and cover basic practice costs.

Are you a practicing physician? What's your experience of the workplace today? Would you encourage your children to follow in your footsteps? Let us know in the comments section below.

"We used to have a lot of respect for doctors, but now they seem like easy targets," says Phillip Miller, an author of Will the Last Physician in America Please Turn off the Lights. "There's a perception among patients that, 'I went to a doctor's appointment and he was 45 minutes late. He's probably on the golf course or driving his Mercedes.' The truth is, they're probably busy with patients."

The amount of time it takes to pay off debt depends on the specialty. The average physician's net income, adjusted for inflation, declined 7% between 1995 and 2003, according to the Center for Studying Health System Change. In order to enter the most lucrative specialties, like radiology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology and dermatology, doctors must continue with their training into their 30s. That means they can't start chipping away at their debt--let alone make money--until a time by which their counterparts in law or business are usually prospering.

Meanwhile, getting sued by a patient is a major concern. Of course, doctors who make fatal mistakes and who are unqualified should be held responsible. But there's evidence that the bulk of lawsuits brought are frivolous. Of all malpractice lawsuits brought to jury trial in 2004, the defendant won 91% of the time. Only 6% of all lawsuits go to trial; those that aren't thrown out are settled. Only 27% of all claims made against doctors result in money awarded to the plaintiff, according to Smarr, president of the trade association for medical malpractice companies.

Regardless, doctors need to defend themselves against the possibility of damages--and that's an extremely expensive proposition. It takes about four-and-a-half years from the start of a lawsuit to the end, and the average cost to the defense in legal fees was $94,284 in 2004, according to the American Medical Association.

To support that assertion, a 2007 survey by Merritt, Hawkins indicated that 57% of 1,175 doctors questioned would not recommend the field to their children.

http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/05/physicians-training-prospects-lead-careers-cx_tw_0505doctors.html

Why Become A Doctor?

• Problem solving
• Interpersonal interaction
• The need for continuing education – I love learning and love the ability to take new knowledge and adapt it to my patients
• My goals – I really enjoy helping patients. When I think about medicine, I think about how I can help patients achieve better quality of life
• The doctor side of the doctor patient relationship – the way patients respond to their physician; the default respect that we receive (unless our actions forfeit that respect)
• The intellectual challenge

Squeamish? Don’t worry, medical students are too

BMC Medical Education has just published an interesting study that examined the incidence of fainting among medical students observing surgery. Apparently, more than 1 in 10 medical students almost or completely pass out in the operating theatre.

The authors of this study surveyed 630 clinical medical students in their fourth or fifth (final) year of study at the University of Nottingham medical school in northern England. A total of 77 (12%) students reported at least one episode of near or actual operating-theatre-related loss of consciousness, also known as syncope.

The authors looked pretty closely at factors affecting whether a student was likely to faint in the theatre. Those who did lose consciousness were on average 23 years old (range 20–45 years), were more likely to be an undergraduate student than a graduate student (60 undergrads versus 17 graduates) and were significantly more likely to be female than male (68 females versus 9 males). Gynaecological operations were most likely to cause syncope among the fainters (29% of cases), followed by colorectal surgery (16%) and vascular surgery (16%).

The majority of students who passed out put their episode(s) down to the hot temperature of the theatre or the length of time spent standing. None of the fainters identified needle or blood phobias as a cause of their fainting. The authors do note, however, that 16% of episodes occurred during laparoscopic, or keyhole, surgery. Given that keyhole surgery doesn’t involve much gore and blood, this finding suggests that the operation itself remains a strong contributory factor to fainting in the operating theatre.

Interestingly, more than 50% of the students who reported surgery-related fainting were still keen to pursue a career in surgery, although 16% said that their fainting episode(s) put them off that particular career path.

As well as affecting the clinical education and career choices of medical students, such operating-theatre-related syncope also has implications for patients. In 9% of cases, the operation was affected by the medical student passing out, the most common issue being delays to surgery while the a new assisting student was brought in.

Student BMJ has some practical tips for squeamish medical students. Jessica Whitworth experienced episodes of syncope well into her penultimate year of medical school and eventually got some help from her university’s psychologist, who suggested distraction, dissociation and rationalisation techniques to overcome her problem.

I also have an illustrious history of passing out in medical circumstances. As well as several dramatic fainting episodes during work experience placements at local hospitals, I also spent a considerable proportion of my undergraduate human dissection classes with my head between my legs. In fact, a particularly gruesome lecture even made me pass out once. I find it quite reassuring to know that seasoned medical students also have this problem!

(h/t to Dr RW who pointed out this research on his blog Notes from Dr R.W.)

http://www.helenjaques.co.uk/blog/2009/medical-students-fainting-theatre/

What Academia Doesn’t Teach

• The Art of Listening
  Nobody (and I mean nobody) listens as well as they should. In our day-to-day routines we don’t take the time to really concentrate on what is being said to us.
• Making the Perfect Pitch
  You may have an incredible idea, the best product, or the most dynamic company in the world. But without a compelling marketing monologue that excites the audience about what you and your company offer, you’ll miss the target.
• Speaking Effectively to Audiences
  Speaking in front of an audience is an extremely daunting task for so many of us. It takes practice to become a persuasive, charming, and entertaining speaker. Winging it just doesn’t work.
• The Beauty of Brevity
  From elevator pitches to email, from voicemails to sales presentations, people need to understand that the opportunity to make a good impression is fleeting. To be successful in today’s workplace you must be able to make your point quickly while still eliciting interest, excitement, and admiration from your audience.
• Understanding Visual Cues And Body Language
  Communication experts estimate that only 10% of our communication is represented by the words we say, 30% by our sounds, and 60% by body language. How well we understand and respond to others strongly influences how they respond to us.

Why an MD?

Answer: Advantages:

• Ability to provide service and support to others
• Ability to save lives
• Continuously Learning
• Appreciation for medical science
• Teach students and patients about medicine
• Rewarding
• Decent Salary

Disadvantages:

• Spend several years training and preparing at schools and hospitals (e.g. medical school, internship, residency)
• Long process to acquire a license
• Difficult
• Tiring
• Stressful
• Depressing
• Time consuming
• A great deal of Responsibility
• Managed care means more difficulty earning a high salary

Free On-Line Resources Med Students

AAMC - The AAMC offers information on applying to med school, MCAT help, ERAS, and medical careers. This site also provides details on financial aid, scholars programs, and medical residencies.

University of Illinois at Chicago - The library at the UIC has many online resources for medical students. Resources include electronic texts, links to medical organizations, residency assistance, study resources, and research help.

StudentDoc - One of the oldest medical education sites, StudentDoc provides information about test prep, financial aid, and med school admissions.

Student Doctor Network - This nonprofit educational site offers forums, medical articles, and interview secrets for medical students and residents. Student Doctor Network also provides resources for dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, rehab science, veterinary, and more.

John Hopkins Medical Reference Desk - This online medical reference desk is a great resource for students who are looking for news and information on medical conditions and illnesses. Updates are added daily.

Med-Source - The Med-Source blog was designed to save medical students time. This informative site provides a comprehensive medical index and links to other medical blogs.

American Academy of Pediatrics - This medical site provides pediatric medical students with educational program reviews, information about conditions, and case studies.

Doctor’s Guide - The Doctor’s Guide provides medical news, webcasts, and case studies. This educational site also links to medical sites, hospitals sites, medical journals, reference sites, and associations.

MayoClinic.com - This site offers medical information backed by the world’s leading medical experts. Students can find extensive details on diseases, symptoms, drugs and supplements, and tests.

National Library of Medicine - The National Library of Medicine offers a large collection of material and research information for the public, medical professionals, researchers, and librarians.

MedicalMnemonics - This free non-profit site offers a large database of medical mnemonics created by professors, students, and demonstrators.

MDNG New Media - MDNG New Media offers cutting edge content for the medical community, including blogs, exclusives, videos, podcasts, and publications.

Canadian Medical Association Journal - This medical journal features innovative ideas and research for the medical community. The CMAJ publishes commentaries, news, clinical research, and practical updates.

Medical Students Network - The Medical Students Network is a free online community for med students to connect and socialize. Community features include forums, blogs, and study groups.

MediLexicon - The MediLexicon is an online reference site for medical professionals. The site features abbreviations, dictionaries, codes, drug search engines, and hospital search engines.

Free Medical Journals - This free medical journal site offers 1,214 free journals covering everything from biology to physiology. The site features articles from The New Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and many other well-respected journals.

Health Affairs - Heath Affairs, a journal of health policy, features online content that is freely available to anyone who wants to read it. Content includes full-text articles published between 2001 and 2009.

The Merck Manuals - This online medical library features information on diseases and drugs as well as resources for diagnosis and therapy.

FreeBooks4Doctors - FreeBooks4Doctors provides 365 free books to the medical community. Book topics range from AIDS to Virology.

DoctorsHangout.com - This social network is an online community for medical students to meet and connect with other students, residents, and doctors. DoctorsHangout.com is an excellent place for students to share knowledge, clinical experience, and review cases.

MD Salary Survey

Basic requirements for medical school

1. General biology
2. Physics with lab
3. General chemistry (inorganic) with lab
4. Organic chemistry with lab
5. Calculus
6. English Composition

1. Medical school is competitive. The average age for a new medical school student is around twenty six. You need to prepare yourself for the rigors of medical school and the admission process.
2. You need to have a strong GPA. Most medical schools would like to see a 3.5 or better. A GPA of 3.0 or lower is going to send a red flag.
3. Your MCAT scores are important. This test is given substantial weight by most medical schools. This test is similar to the coursework you will be engaged in at medical school. Most medical school applicants need to take a MCAT test prep course.
4. You need to have a Baccalaureate Degree. It does not necessarily have to be in the sciences. However you must show proof that you can do college work and have earned a degree.
5. It is also a wise decision to have done some volunteer work in the medical area. Experience in volunteering at a hospital or clinic is a nice addition for your resume. Shadowing a doctor is also recommended for applicants. This will also provide you with a real look at the career you are about to enter.
6. You will need letters of recommendation. Most medical schools will want to see letters from you undergraduate school faculty members. Be prepared to ask for letters from former faculty members who know you well.
7. You will also have to write an essay of your personal philosophy of life and answer the question of why you want to enter the medical profession.
8. Most experts suggest that you apply to at least 10 medical schools. S o you are looking at $1300 to $2000 in application fees for medical schools.
9. The median debt for a medical student is more than $120,000 after medical school. But do not be alarmed or discouraged. A medical degree is a life-long investment. It will continue to pay dividends for many years and a career of work.

Becoming a Doctor

"If you fail to prepare then you prepare to fail"

medical school advice

Medical School Admissions

What is most important with regard to medical school admissions is academics. A high GPA (3.9) and a strong MCAT score (above 30 with a good distribution) are the most important factors for an application to be considered for review by an admissions committee.

Things I wish I knew Before Starting Med School

1. If I had known what it was going to be like, I would never have done it.
2. You’ll study more than you ever have in your life.
3. You don’t need to know anatomy before school starts. Or pathology. Or physiology.
4. You may discover early on that medicine isn’t for you.
5. Your social life may suffer some.
6. Residents will probably ask you to retrieve some type of nourishment for them.
7. Most of your time on rotations will be wasted. Thrown away. Down the drain.
8. You’ll work with at least one attending physician who you’ll want to beat the shit out of.
9. You’ll work with at least three residents who you’ll want to beat the shit out of.
10. At some point during your stay, a stranger’s bodily fluids will most likely come into contact with your exposed skin.
11. Somebody in your class will flunk out of medical school.
12. You’ll work 14 days straight without a single day off. Probably multiple times.
13. After the first two years are over, your summer breaks will no longer exist. Enjoy them as much as you can.
14. You’ll be sleep deprived.
15. There will be times on certain rotations where you won’t be allowed to eat.
16. You will be pimped.
17. You’ll wake up one day and ask yourself is this really what you want out of life.
18. You’ll probably change your specialty of choice at least 4 times.
19. Nurses will treat you badly, simply because you are a medical student.
20. There will be times when you’ll be ignored by your attending or resident.
21. You will develop a thick skin. If you fail to do this, you’ll cry often.
22. Public humiliation is very commonplace in medical training.
23. It’s always the medical student’s fault..
24. You’ll look forward to the weekend, not so you can relax and have a good time but so you can catch up on studying for the week.
25. Your house might go uncleaned for two weeks during an intensive exam block.
26. There’s a fair chance that you will be physically struck by a nurse, resident, or attending physician. This may include slapped on the hand or kicked on the shin in order to instruct you to “move” or “get out of the way.”
27. Any really bad procedures will be done by you. The residents don’t want to do them, and you’re the low man on the totem pole. This includes rectal examinations and digital disimpactions.
28. You’ll be competing against the best of the best, the cream of the crop. This isn’t college where half of your classmates are idiots. Everybody in medical school is smart.
29. Don’t think that you own the world because you just got accepted into medical school. That kind of attitude will humble you faster than anything else.
30. If you’re in it for the money, there are much better, more efficient ways to make a living. Medicine is not one of them.
31. Anatomy sucks. All of the bone names sound the same.
32. If there is anything at all that you’d rather do in life, do not go into medicine.
33. The competition doesn’t end after getting accepted to medical school. You’ll have to compete for class rank, awards, and residency. If you want to do a fellowship, you’ll have to compete for that too.
34. You’ll never look at weekends the same again.
35. Somebody in your class will be known as the “highlighter whore.” Most often a female, she’ll carry around a backpack full of every highlighter color known to man. She’ll actually use them, too.
36. Rumors surrounding members of your class will spread faster than they did in high school.
37. You’ll meet a lot of cool people, many new friends, and maybe your husband or wife.
38. Your first class get-together will be the most memorable. Cherish those times.
39. Long after medical school is over, you’ll still keep in contact with the friends you made. I do nearly every day.
40. There will be one person in your class who’s the coolest, most laid back person you’ve ever met. This guy will sit in the back row and throw paper airplanes during class, and then blow up with 260+ Step I’s after second year. True story.
41. At the beginning of first year, everyone will talk about how cool it’s going to be to help patients. At the end of third year, everybody will talk about how cool it’s going to be to make a lot of money.
42. Students who start medical school wanting to do primary care end up in dermatology. Those students who start medical school wanting to do dermatology end up in family medicine.
43. The money isn’t really that good in medicine. Not if you look at it in terms of hours worked.
44. Your family members will ask you for medical advice, even after your first week of first year.
45. Many of your friends will go onto great jobs and fantastic lifestyles. You’ll be faced with 4 more years of debt and then at least 3 years of residency before you’ll see any real earning potential.
46. Pick a specialty based around what you like to do.
47. It’s amazing how fast time flies on your days off. It’s equally amazing at how slow the days are on a rotation you hate.
48. You’ll learn to be scared of asking for time off.
49. Find new ways to study. The methods you used in college may or may not work. If something doesn’t work, adapt.
50. Hospitals smell bad.
51. The best time of your entire medical school career is between the times when you first get your acceptance letter and when you start school.
52. Medicine is better than being a janitor, but there were times when I envied the people cleaning the hospital trash cans.

100 Med Resources

If there is one thing a med student could use, it would be more time (well, that and maybe an endless supply of Cherokee Workwear Scrubs). This list can help reduce the amount of time you may spend hunting for specific resources and may even provide some unknown jewels that will make your time in school more productive. From medical libraries to medical student blogs, you will find something to make your life a little easier.

Medical Search Engines

Medical students are guaranteed to be doing research. These 25 search engines can take the work out of the Internet search for you. From searching the PDR to finding journal articles, you are sure to find helpful sites to bookmark on your computer from the list below.

1. OmniMedicalSearch.com. Gathering information from many of the top medical professional sites such as PubMed, NIH, and Merck, this search engine provides information from peer level sources. They also offer a "reference desk of hard-to-find medical resources."
2. MedNets. This metasearch engine provides information from journals, associations, news sources, and more. MedNets offers a search specifically for medical professionals in addition to one for the general public.
3. Hardin MD. Sponsored by the University of Iowa, this site allows you to search for a disease or general health topic alphabetically to get links to a variety of online articles and photos about each disease. You can also view photos from classic medical books via this site.
4. Healthline. Healthline searches the best of the health sites available on the Internet, reducing your search time. Browse by topic or use their keyword search.
5. PubMed. Sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, this database provides access to citations going back for the past 40 years. You must register (free) with NCBI before having access to this powerful search engine.
6. Entrez. Hosted by NCBI, this life sciences search engine searches across all the available databases which gather information from journal articles, books, online books, and more.
7. MedicalNDX. Search for medications, information in specific journals, medical definitions, medical books, articles, and web searches and much more.
8. HONMedhunt. Not only can you search for specific topics on any imaginable health topic, but once your results pop up in the window, you can click on different tabs to find conference information, news, and images that relate to your query without re-typing the keyword.
9. PubGene. Specifically geared to searches for genes and proteins, this search engine relies on text mining PubMed articles to find any source with a specific gene or protein mentioned in it.
10. Journal Watch. Monitoring 350 medical journals, this site offers both journal searches as well as short, daily email updates. Choose between Primary Care Physician, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, and other specialties to specialize the content according to the type of medicine you practice.
11. MDLinx.com.This site reviews over 1200 journals and provides a search by specialties and subspecialties. In addition, they offer conference and job listings. You must register, but it is free of charge.

Medical Libraries

The busy med student does not have a lot of extra time to be surfing the Internet looking for the best places to bookmark. Hopefully the sites below will help save some time in the search.

12. eMedicine. Describing itself as an "open access comprehensive medical textbook," eMedicine offers over 6,500 clinical articles written by contributing physicians. eMedicine also offers free accredited CME courses for physicians.
13. Welch Medical Library. While this site is specifically for those associated with Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, it offers a search feature for articles published in medical journals and online. They also have Subject Guides under the "eResources" section that offers links to topics ranging from Alternative Medicine to Grants and Funding to Writing and Publishing.
14. MedConnect. This site features four interactive journals for primary care, managed care, emergency medicine, and pediatrics.
15. Intute. Out of the U.K., this site offers searches on a wide variety of topics under medicine, nursing/midwifery, medical history, and other fields in the health sciences. They also provide links to a handful of resource brochures and training site tutorials.
16. rmLibrary. This database service provides access to all the major databases and organizes them by specialty. This service costs $35.95 for a 30-day pass or $299.95 for an annual subscription.
17. MedBioWorld. Available at this site are Reuter’s health and medical news from the past three years, access to online journals, full access to scholarly publications, and access to a highly-rated genomics blog.
18. HighWire Press. This database provides access to most of the major news and research publications in the life sciences. Almost half of the full-text articles available are free of charge.
19. MedicalConferences.com. Find international conferences and CME events in this searchable database. The site also provide a resource listing of major medical sites in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
20. Antibiotic Guide. Browse this guide by specific antibiotics, diagnosis, pathogens, management, and vaccines. Look for free, updated CME programs that are also available.
21. American Hospital Directory. Having access to information for hospitals is always handy. Keep this search nearby for the next time you need to contact a hospital anywhere in America.

Sites Specifically for Med Students

These sites offer everything from how to approach studying to using modern technology to enhance your experience.

22. MedicalStudent.com. This free and incredibly comprehensive site provides links to online medical textbooks, medical journals, continuing education/board exam information, and more. Check out their page of awards, reviews, and comments.
23. Medscape Med Students . Get news, industry updates, and viewpoints from other med students on this section of Medscape especially for med students.
24. MomMD. This site is specifically for women in medicine and offers forums, articles, and resources for med students as well as practicing physicians.
25. Student BMJ. For med students interested in international medicine, this site offers articles on education, life, and research.
26. A Student’s Guide to the Medical Literature. This helpful guide offers suggestions on how to approach learning medical literature and also offers a glossary, calculators, and a downloadable version for your mobile device.
27. Med School Chat. This international site offers top news stories, medical school reviews, forums, and more for the med student.
28. Forensic Medicine for Medical Students. Out of the U.K., this site offers a wealth of information for forensic medicine, legal medicine, and forensic pathology.
29. Real Doctors. This site offers lots of resources for med students such as an essential guide to becoming a doctor, video tutorials, downloadable software, and more.
30. The Efficient MD. Not just for med students alone and technically a blog, this site touches on electronic stethoscopes, iPhones for doctors, the professional benefits of using Twitter, and tips for surviving residency.
31. Braniacs. This site from Vanderbilt Medical School is designed specifically for medical students studying neurology. Find tons of links to enhance your studies.
32. Med-Source. Find all sorts of resources here to help you learn information, plan your course of study, and more.

Sites by Specialty

These links offer helpful information based on medical specialty. Whether you will practice in this field or are just studying it, these sites will offer plenty of information.

33. GeneralPediatrics.com. With multiple links to almost 400 topics, this site opens up a vast amount of information on pediatric issues.
34. M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Center. Each page at this site provides a wealth of information explaining about specific types of cancer as well as topics related to cancer such as pain, fatigue, and genetics.
35. Michigan Ear Institute Medical Library. Find several articles about diagnosis and treatment of ear issues in this online library intended for both professionals and laypersons.
36. ClinicalTrials.gov. Search this world wide registry of "federally and privately supported clinical trials." Search almost 57,000 trials by condition, drug intervention, sponsor, or location.
37. Trials Center. This site offers information for all medical trials available. You can find trials by geographic location, types of cancer, or by other diseases.
38. Aegis. Find information about HIV/AIDS at this information clearinghouse. Search by topics, find conferences, and read fact sheets on this comprehensive site.
39. South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Geared toward both the professional and clients and their families, this site offers a wealth of information from the diagnostic stage to treatment.
40. Internet Mental Health. Learn about disorders or join a discussion group in this comprehensive site designed to raise awareness about mental health issues.
41. ObGyn.net. This comprehensive resource for professionals offers databases, webcasts, and much more. You can also keep up with the latest articles published in the field.
42. Clinical Neurophysiology on the Internet. In addition to the detailed information about clinical neurophysiology on this site, find information on books, journals, conferences, forums, and more.

Pharmaceuticals

These websites offer a vast amount of knowledge on prescription medication, over-the-counter, and alternative medicines.

43. PDR.net. Access one of the most well-known and frequently used resources for FDA-approved prescription drugs. You must register to use this service, but it is free of charge to all U.S.-based medical professionals.
44. Antibiotic Guide. Browse this guide by specific antibiotics, diagnosis, pathogens, management, and vaccines.
45. Drug Digest. This non-commercial drug information site offers a drug library complete with drug comparisons, interactions, and side effects. Photos of the pills are also available.
46. RxList. Find information on any prescription medication on this site. They also offer a pill identifier where you can search by imprint code, color, or shape.
47. Drugs.com. Not only can you learn about prescription drugs on this site, you can also keep up with the latest pharmaceutical news and articles.
48. Electronic Orange Book. Updated daily, this online resource monitors generic prescription drugs and posts updates with new generic drug approvals, application approvals, discontinuations, patent, and exclusivity information.
49. Kaiser Permanente Drug Encyclopedia. Search for information by drug name or browse alphabetically by drug name or drug condition to find what you need to know. The information is also available in Spanish.
50. MedLibrary.org Medication Library. You can find information on prescription drugs, but also learn about generics and the FDA, read drug literature, or learn about clinical trials.
51. Personal MD Drug Database. Search for both prescription and over-the-counter medications on this site.

Reference Material

Sometimes you want to find a very specific bit of information. Whether you need to have an easy way to remember medical terminology or want to find a local chapter of a health organization, the following sites will provide you with a wide range of facts and even a bit of trivia.

52. Medical Mnemonics. Any student who has tried to memorize lots of information knows how helpful mnemonics can be. This resource offers handy ways to remember all that medical information.
53. Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. Look up any medical terminology in the medical dictionary trusted by many. You can also go to the pronunciation and explanation guides for more help.
54. Online Medical Dictionary. Enter a word to search for the definition or browse alphabetically.
55. Health Services/Technology Assessment Text. The National Library of Medicine provides full text surgeon general reports, information on AIDS, clinical practice guidelines, community preventive services, and much more. You will need to read through the list on the left to find your topic of interest.
56. Who Named It?. This fun resource will let you discover the origin of medical eponyms or medical phenomena named for a person. Search alphabetically or browse to find descriptions of the condition and biographies of the people who lent their names.
57. Encyclopedia of Psychology. This site run by Jacksonville State University provides links to anything related to psychology. Read about organizations, learn about the major theories, or find out about a career in the field.
58. Directory of Health Organizations. Use the keyword search to find listings of all health organizations for each disease or disorder. The results bring up full descriptions of the organizations as well as complete contact information.
59. Health Guidance. If you are looking for online articles about specific health topics, this is the place to go.

Anatomy Resources

Studying anatomy is a big part of medicine, so make use of these great online anatomy aides.

60. Visual Medical Dictionary. Start typing a therapy, disease, or medication and you will receive an outline of potential subtopics. Click on each one to receive in depth information on drugs and biologics for that subtopic.
61. The Virtual Body. Choose English or Spanish to get started exploring this virtual guide through the entire human body.
62. Children’s Hospital Boston Interactive Features. Click on these features to make neurons fire, see cell growth as you travel through cancer stages, create red blood cells, and more.
63. Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body. Search this classic book online with 13,000 entries about the human body. Enjoy the original engravings as well.
64. Human Anatomy Online. Start this interactive search by selecting one of ten anatomical systems. You can then pick from a list of specific parts of that system and learn about each by reading the information or zooming in for a more detailed view.
65. Visible Body. Sign up for free to take advantage of this visualization tool to help you learn about the human anatomy.

Online Study Help

From online texts to courses to academic papers, you will find something to help your studies.

66. Case Based Pediatrics for Medical Students and Residents. This text designed by the Department of Pediatrics at University of Hawaii’s medical school is specifically designed for med students.
67. LearningRadiology.com. This online text offers a special section specifically for the med student including quizzes.
68. Tufts Open Courseware. Tufts University has put several courses online for anyone to access. Their medical school offers many courses that you may want to take if you feel you need a bit more help with some of your coursework.
69. Supercourse. View almost 3500 lectures from scientists around the world in this repository of information on public health and prevention.
70. Medexam. Get free or full versions of this software that helps prepare you for many of your med school exams.
71. CiteULike. Save and organize academic papers you are reading or search for papers that may help your studies. You can share with friends, too.

Med Student and Resident Blogs

Learn from those who are experiencing what you are with these informative, supportive, or just plain entertaining blogs.

72. Blogs of Medical Students. This med student posts with interesting med student blog information from around the world. The posts are not as frequent lately, but many of the blogs are still going strong.
73. blogborygmi. This resident in emergency medicine keeps an entertaining blog on medicine as well as other interests such as competitive eating.
74. jenniferhawke.com. Follow the life of this Canadian in med school in the Caribbean as she posts about text books, life as a student, and more.
75. Not Rocket Science. This resident posts about his experience as a neurosurgery junior resident.
76. CCLCM Student Blog. Follow this student blog through a research MD program in Cleveland.
77. Doc Amazing. This Texas med student blogs about his experiences through each of his rotations. The blog is not kept current, but still offers great insight.
78. Anatomy Notes. Find out tons of interesting information about anatomy from this anatomist-turned-med student.
79. Ramble Strip. This third-year med student recently took a break from school due to medical reasons and is starting back to school. Find pop culture mixed with medicine in this blog.
80. the underwear drawer. This anesthesiology resident blogs on medicine and life in New York.
81. The Ablution Block. Two bloggers, one resident and one med student, post here about their experiences in Africa and life in America.

Organizations and Support for Med Students

Find groups with a specific purpose or general support and information groups from these resources.

82. Healtheva. This organization is for physicians, researchers, and med students who are interested in research, paper collaboration, and start-up opportunities.
83. National Society for Non-Traditional Premedical and Medical Students. Also known as OldPreMeds.com, this group is specifically for older students who didn’t come straight through high school and college. The organization offers support via forums, an annual conference, and more.
84. Medical Students for Choice. This non-profit advocates to "destigmatize abortion provision among medical students and residents" in order to provide well-trained physicians so that women may truly have a choice with their reproductive health.
85. American Medical Student Association. This national organization organizes activism for med students to help prepare them for a more compassionate service as a physician.
86. Association of American Medical Colleges. From considering a medical career to your residency, this site offers articles and resources to help guide you.
87. Studentdoc. This site offers help on topics such as the MCAT and finding a medical school. Join a forum for personal support from other students.
88. The Student Doctor Network. Find plenty of articles here that offer support and suggestions for med students as well as a forum.
89. Playing Doctor. This insightful article describes how the writer underwent 23 physical exams by 23 med students performing their first solo physical exam. Her experiences are a helpful view from the other side of the otoscope.
90. SocialMD. Join this social network for med students, residents, fellows, and physicians to network for a whole host of medical support.
91. TiroMed. This social networking site is specifically for med students and physicians to help you "research and learn, and connect with others in your field."

Finding a Residency and Beyond

While med school may be your first step toward becoming a doctor, you will need to prepare for the next phase of your career by seeking a residency. These resources will help you along the way.

92. Medical Students’ Guide to Writing curriculum vitae and Personal Statements. This online guide will help you get your CV and PS together to help you land the residency you want.
93. Medfools. Medfools is a resource for pre-med, med students, and residents–run by students and residents–to help prepare them for a career in medicine.
94. Match A Resident. This service takes your qualifications and runs them through their database to find residency programs that might be willing to accept you based on the information you provided. Basic membership is free.
95. Electronic Residency. Create an electronic residency file with all your residency application information and send it immediately to hundreds of residency programs with this service.
96. How to Prepare for the Medical Residency Interview. Follow these suggestions to make the most of your residency interview.
97. How to Prepare for a Residency Interview. This article offers tips on how to interview for a shabbos-friendly residency program.
98. 25 US Residency Programs Aimed at Better Preparing Surgical and other Specialty Residents to Care for Older Patients. From Medical News Today, find the top 25 schools preparing residents to care for the growing population of geriatrics in America.
99. How to Get the Right Residency Program. This helpful guide offers a timeline, suggestions, charts, and more to help you land the perfect residency.
100. How to Prepare for USMLE Residency Tests. This straightforward outline makes completing your USMLE exams seem downright easy.

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

Doctoral Preparation for Nurse Anesthetists

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is calling for the requirement of doctorate

in nursing for advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists. This new degree will be called a Doctor of Nursing Practice and, if the AACN has its way, will become the entry level for advanced nursing practice.

What is the AANA’s official position statement on doctoral education and where can
I view it?

The AANA Board of Directors’ position statement on doctoral education is: “The AANA supports doctoral education for entry into nurse anesthesia practice by 2025.” The statement can be accessed on the AANA website at http://www.aana.com/dpcrna_presentations.aspx.

WASHINGTON, DC, October 27, 2004: In a historic move to help shape the future of nursing education and practice, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing

(AACN) has adopted a new position which recognizes the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as the highest level of preparation for clinical practice. At its Fall Semiannual Meeting held October 25, 2004, AACN member institutions voted to move the current level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice roles from the master's degree to the doctorate level by the year 2015.

"This courageous move on the part of nursing education represents a milestone in the evolution of the nursing profession," said AACN President Jean E. Bartels. "This bold first step puts in motion a future that recognizes and validates the unique expertise of nurses engaged in clinical practice at the highest level."

Currently, advanced practice nurses (APNs), including Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Mid-Wives, and Nurse Anesthetists, are prepared in master's degree programs that often carry a credit load equivalent to doctoral degrees in the other health professions. AACN's newly adopted Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing calls for educating APNs and other nurses seeking top clinical roles in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. The changing demands of this nation's complex health care environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure high quality patient outcomes.

The Practice Doctorate is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice, and offers an alternative to research focused doctoral programs (i.e. PhD programs). Though only a handful of practice doctorates currently exist, more than a dozen new programs are taking shape nationwide, and several have expressed interest in seeking accreditation. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the nation's premier accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, has agreed to initiate a process for the accreditation of practice doctorates.

http://www.aana.com/uploadedFiles/Professional_Development/Nurse_Anesthesia_Education/Educational_Resources/DTF_Report/focus_sessions.pdf

FSU Nursing Req

Prerequisite Coursework:
The following courses or their equivalent must be completed prior to entry into the nursing major. 15 hours of these should be used to satisfy Liberal Studies/General Education (6 hours Natural Sciences, 6 hours Social Sciences, 3 hours for the second mathematics course).

1. BSC X085, X085L (3,1) Anatomy & Physiology I with lab, or acceptable alternative
2. BSC X086, X085L (3,1) Anatomy & Physiology II with lab, or acceptable alternative
3. CHM 1030, CHM 1030L or CHM 1032 (4) Survey of General Chemistry
4. DEP X004 (3) Developmental Psychology or acceptable alternative
5. HUN X201 (3) Science of Nutrition or NUR X192
6. MCB X010C (4) Microbiology with lab or acceptable alternative
7. PSY X012 (3) General Psychology or SOP X004 Social Psychology
8. STA X023 (3) Statistics or STA X014 or STA X122 or STA X022
9. SYG X000 (3) Introductory Sociology or SYG X010 or SYG X013

Steps To CRN

If you want you can start out earning your Associate's Degree to get your RN license, then get working for a facility that will pay tuition assistance to help you complete your BSN. You will need your BSN (or a bachelor's in another field - but you're better off with the BSN) to get into a graduate degree nurse anesthesia program. You also are required to have at least 1-3 years of work experience in a critical care / ICU unit. All anesthesia schools require this.

The CRNA program itself is about 2-3 years in length. It's a very very very competitive program to get into, some schools get hundreds of applicants for only 10-20 spots, so you have to keep a high GPA, do volunteer work, and other things that show you're a stand out, a super star. They only take leaders.

Education and experience required to become a CRNA include:

	A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or other appropriate baccalaureate degree.
	A current license as a registered nurse.
	At least one year of experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting.
	Graduation with a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. As of February 1, 2004, there are 92 nurse anesthesia programs with more than 1,000 affiliated clinical sites in the United States. They range from 24-36 months, depending upon university requirements.
	All programs include clinical training in university-based or large community hospitals.
	Pass a national certification examination following graduation.

Nursing Vs Biology Major

You seem awfully set or determined on this nurse thing, which is fine. Absolutely the other post on here about nursing being a more technical education is correct, my girlfriend is a nursing major and she does not have anywhere near the "core" (hard in a non difficult context) sciences that I have had to do.

She loves the major but it is no where near pre-med (at least not at my school).

So if you are a science fan (as you claim to be and obviously are) I don't know if you would particularly enjoy yourself as much with the nursing program.

For example she stopped at OChem I instead of II; has not had to take biochemistry, physics, histology, human physiology (just anatomy) or organic lab.

As far as survival in pre-med (which is not a major by the way but more of a set of courses required) or in college in general you may need to kick that habit of being lazy.

And as stated earlier (and this is fine too...its your future) the odds of you sticking with your first major are small... if you are a avid learner many things become tempting as a career once college gets started.

Going from a nursing degree to ANY other medical field is very difficult unless you have spent some time in the field. Furthermore, it can be a waste of time too. PA (phy assist) schools don't want Nursing majors any more than medical schools do because of the fact that it shows that you aren't committed to that speciality, based on the fact that you have your nursing major as a "back up". Why not forget about nursing all together. You say that you like science, be a scientist. There are plenty of non-medical jobs for someone with a degree in biology/biochemistry/etc besides research and teaching (especially if you go to grad school). Good luck!

Honestly, it is very difficult to be a nursing and a pre-med major. Firstly, most nurses that apply to med school have bee nurses for a decent amount of time, "non traditional applicants" and want to go back to school. I don't really see the point of accepting a nursing major into medical school. Perhaps you could be a biology major, and if you don't get into, finish you BSN? (and have 2 degrees?)

Anyway, you are in a bit of a dilemma. I sugesst getting a BS in biology, applying to Medical School, and if you get rejected: research Physician Assisting, Podiatry, Optometry, Clinical Psychology, Audiology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Pharmacy.

What is a D.O?

A D.O. (osteopathic physician), An M.D. (allopathic physician).

oth MDs and DOs tend to begin training by getting a four-year undergraduate degree, either in pre-med, or in a related science field. Each type of doctor will then complete four years of training before taking examinations that will result in licensure. Either type of doctor may then choose to specialize in a particular field and study for two to six more years. The doctor who specializes will then take further examinations to be licensed by the board of his or her specialty.

In most cases, the four years of medical school are quite similar. However the DO receives training in the muscular and skeletal system, and also in muscular and skeletal manipulation. A doctor who is a DO tends to evaluate a person’s health in terms of viewing the body as a complex related network. Any disease affects the whole body. The MD, conversely, may evaluate the disease in terms of how it affects certain parts of the body only.

A doctor of osteopathy is less likely to specialize than an MD, because emphasis in training is given to preventative care and on the philosophy of taking time with patients to assess their total health and total health needs. This does not mean that the DO cannot prescribe medicines and treat a disease with equal competency. It does however mean that the DO may consider alternative approaches to treating disease, and may be more apt to consider the disease as a dysfunction of the total working of the body.

The DO also practices osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT), which means slight manipulations of the spine or simply laying hands on the body to confirm diagnosis. This method of diagnosis may take slightly more time than that of the traditional MD symptoms and tests diagnosis.

Double major bio and nursing, is it worth it?

Ques:
Im half way through college to my bachelors and I was thinking of not only getting a nursing degree but also majoring in biology, are there any advantages to this?My end goal is to become a nurse anesthesist. any comprehensive websites on nursing career options and salarys or even personal experiance would be very helpful as my counselors dont seem to know much...thanx

Ans:
I don't think it would really matter, because to be accepted to medical school, you still have to complete your pre-requisites. Having a biology major would make you take classes such as General Biology I and II, Microbiology, Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cellular Biochemistry. But perhaps you are talking about an associates in Bio? Since you are halfway through to your bachelors, you may have most of those completed. But being a biology major means you still have to take your Chemistry I and II, Organic Chem I and II, Physiology. Then you would still have to take Physics I and II. And your math courses Statistics, Calculus I and II.

I don't know which classes you have taken so far because I'm not familiar with a nursing track degree. Perhaps, you don't need all those classes when you double major when you're halfway through your bachelors degree? Or it might postpone your degree in biology.

Either way, I was just going off of my 4 year curriculum for a biology major. Still not sure if you would have to do a couple extra semesters to finish the degree. Maybe a 2 year degree in Bio, if that's possible?

FSU REQUIRED BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE COURSES

1. A total of thirty-eight (38) semester hours of biological science courses must be completed for the major. At least twenty (20) of the required thirty-eight semester hours must be taken at FSU. The 38 semester hours include the requirements described below.
   
   1. Nine (9) semester hours of required introductory biology courses including:
      
      BSC 2010 Biological Science I (3 hrs)
      BSC 2010L Biological Science I Lab (1 hr)
      BSC 2011 Biological Science II (3 hrs)
      BSC 2011L Biological Science II Lab (2 hrs)
      
   2. Ten (10) semester hours of required upper division biology courses including:
      
      PCB 3063 Genetics (3 hrs)
      BSC 3402L Experimental Biology Lab (2 hrs)
      BOT 3015 Plant Biology (2 hrs)
      PCB 4674 Evolution (3 hrs)
      
   3. Nineteen (19) semester hours of upper division elective biology courses including:
      
      1. A total of two Area Courses, representing two different Areas:
         
         Area I: Cell and Molecular Biology
         MCB 4403/L Prokaryotic Biology (3 hrs) & Lab (2 hrs)
         PCB 3134 Cell Structure and Function (3 hrs)
         PCB 4024 Molecular Biology (3 hrs)
         PCB 4253 Animal Development (3 hrs)
         
         Area II: Physiology
         BOT 4503 Plant Physiology (3 hrs)
         PCB 3743 Vertebrate Physiology (3 hrs)
         PCB 4723 Comparative Animal Physiology (3 hrs)
         
         Area III: Ecology and Environmental Science
         BSC 3052 Conservation Biology (3 hrs)
         PCB 3043 General Ecology (3 hrs)
         ZOO 4513 Animal Behavior (4 hrs)
         
      2. Additional upper division elective biology courses at the 3000/4000 level to complete the required thirty-eight (38) semester hours of biological science courses.
         
2. Completion of at least five (5) laboratory and/or field courses in biological science. In addition to the three required laboratory courses, two additional courses designated by an "L" or a "C" must be taken.
   
3. No more than six (6) semester hours of honors work in biological science (BSC 4970), six (6) semester hours of Directed Individual Study (BSC 4900) or Research Methods (BSC 4933), two (2) semester hours of Senior Tutorial (BSC 4931), and one (1) semester hour of Undergraduate Supervised Teaching (BSC 4945) can be applied to the thirty-eight (38) semester hours of biological science coursework.

FSU REQUIRED COLLATERAL COURSES

1. Mathematics/Statistics: Eight (9) to eleven (11) semester hours including:
   
   MAC 2311: Calculus with Analytical Geometry I (4 hrs) and
   MAP 2480: Biocalculus lab (1hr)
   
   And ONE of the following three options:
   
   
   1. MAC 2312: Calculus with Analytical Geometry II (4 hrs)
   
   
   2. STA 2171: Statistics for Biology (4 hrs)
   
   
   3. STA 2122: Introduction to Applied Statistics (4 hrs) plus one of the following 2nd statistics courses:

      STA 4102 Computational Methods in Statistics I (3 hrs)
      STA 4202 Analysis of Variance and Design of Experiments (3 hrs)
      STA 4203 Applied Regression Methods (3 hrs)
      STA 4222 Sample Surveys (3 hrs)
      STA 4322 Mathematical Statistics (3 hrs)
      STA 4442 Introductory Probability I (3 hrs)
      STA 4502 Applied Nonparametric Statistics (3 hrs)
      STA 4664 Statistics for Quality and Productivity (3 hrs)
      STA 4702 Applied Multivariate Analysis (3 hrs)
      STA 4853 Time Series and Forecasting Methods (3 hrs).
      
      

2. Chemistry: Fifteen (15) semester hours including:
   
   CHM 1045C or 1050/1050L General Chemistry I (3 hrs) & Lab (1 hr)
   CHM 1046C or 1051/1051L General Chemistry II (3 hrs) & Lab (2 hrs)
   CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3 hrs)
   CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3 hrs)
   
   
3. Physics: Eight (8) to ten (10) semester hours including:

   PHY 2048C General Physics I (5 hrs) or PHY 2053C College Physics I (4 hrs)
   and
   PHY 2049C General Physics II (5 hrs) or PHY 2054C College Physics II (4 hrs)

FSU REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Students who decide to change their majors from biological science to another major and students from other majors often inquire about the requirements for receiving a minor in biological science. A minor in biological science requires a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of approved biological science courses to include the following or their equivalents:

BSC 2010 Biological Science I (3 hrs)
BSC 2010L Biological Science I Lab (1 hr)
BSC 2011 Biological Science II (3 hrs)
BSC 2011L Biological Science II Lab (2 hrs)

Additional biology elective course (approved for the major) to complete the twelve hours.

The sample schedule below would prepare you for the MCAT by the end of your sophomore year and includes additional courses that will strengthen your preparation for medical school.

Freshman year:

• General chemistry: CHM 141 and 142 (CHM 205 is helpful for the PS section of the MCAT)
• General biology: BIO 101 and 102
• Calculus: MTH 151 and 152 (plus MTH 121/122 if needed to prepare for calculus)
• English: ENG 115 and 116 (or 125)

Sophomore year:

• Organic chemistry: CHM 220, 221 and 222
• Cell biology and genetics: BIO 200 and 260
• Physics: PHY 131, 132 and 213

Junior year:

• Biochemistry: CHM 365
• Cell biology and genetics: BIO 200 and 260
• Physiology and vertebrate biology: BIO 302 and 310

Additional recommended courses:

• Microbiology: BIO 340
• Microscopic anatomy: BIO 410
• Developmental biology: BIO 430
• Biochemistry/molecular biology: CHM 465
• Statistics: PSY250
• Physics: PHY 210 (Electronics)
• English: ENG 245 (Literature and the Moral Life of Medicine)
• Religion/Ethics: REL 310 (Death and Dying), PHL 210 (Professional Ethics)