by Alison Hayward, M.D., Sarah M. Lawrence, and Bill Johnson, D.D.S.
SDN Staff Writers

Amanda (not her real name) is a second year health professional student at a major state-funded research institution. Like most students admitted to medical, dental or pharmacy school, Amanda was a top student at her undergraduate institution, used to earning high marks with minimal study time. In professional school, Amanda finds her old study habits put to the test. The material is not difficult, she reports, but the volume of information she’s required to process, coupled with the fast-paced schedule and demands of clinical activities, makes achieving at the level she’s accustomed to a major challenge. Read the full story

by Alison Hayward, M.D.
SDN Staff Writer

The past decade has seen a major position change by the American Medical Association regarding the projected need for more physicians nationally. Reversing a long-held stance, in 2002 the AMA recognized that calculations had incorrectly predicted an excess of physicians, leading to a critical shortfall. Having barred the opening of new medical schools for almost twenty years, the organization had to quickly backpedal and not only encourage the opening of new schools, but recommend that existing schools rapidly scale up enrollment. Read the full story

by Christian Becker, Author of The Official Student Doctor Network Medical School Admissions Guide

The application process for medical school is long and intense. It actually begins much earlier than the point where you fill out the application to send to schools. It includes completion of many premed requirements, meetings with your premedical advisor, taking the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), and participating in a variety of extracurricular activities.

Understanding What Happens Is Important
Most medical schools will review applications on a rolling basis, as they are submitted. They extend interview invitations to selected applicants and ultimately offer places in their classes in a similar manner. This means that the majority of schools fill their classes on a first-come, first-served basis. For example, a given school may start the application season with 150 seats to fill. With each passing week of interviews, the admissions committee meets and extends offers to fewer and fewer students. At the same time, the school is still receiving additional applications, driving the competition for the remaining seats up even further. In these situations, all things being equal, the applications submitted early stand the best chance of receiving an offer of admission.  Read the full story

Michael Hyde graduated from the University of Houston in 2002.  He currently practices on Mondays at the MS Eye CARE Clinic at the University of Houston and in Huntsville, Texas.

His areas of interest are glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmic disease and binocular vision disorders. He also enjoys complex, specialty contact lens fittings.

He recently took time from his schedule to answer a few questions for SDN.

Describe a typical day at work.
On Mondays I see a variety of cases as I work with Rosa Tang, MD (a well respected neuro-ophthalmologist) out of the University of Houston. It keeps my interest in learning and gives me good detective skills to use. The rest of the week I deal with primary eye care issues at my own practice. I enjoy the the hectic pace and the management of a business. It has been both rewarding and frustrating, and it constantly pushes me to learn and adapt and grow. Read the full story

PRESS RELEASE

The Student Doctor Network would like to welcome its newest organizational partner, the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. The National Register is the largest credentialing organization for licensed psychologists, serving over 12,000 providers. Their mission includes credentialing licensed psychologists, promoting credentialed psychologists to consumers, providing distinction and value to its Registrants, guiding psychology students toward credentialing, and enhancing psychologists’ contributions to integrated health care.

To learn more about the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology and the benefits of credentialing, please visit http://www.nationalregister.org/ .

by Ellie Moradi
SDN Staff Writer

Otha Myles, M.D. is the Deputy Chief of Epidemiology and Threat Assessment at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research’s United States Military HIV Research Program in Rockville, Maryland.

Dr. Myles graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He went on to complete his residency in internal medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. followed by a fellowship in infectious disease. He was also a recipient of the U.S. Military’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP).

Dr. Myles has become one of the leading researchers in the field of HIV. His involvement includes projects in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Dr. Myles recently sat down with SDN to give us a glimpse into the lifestyle of an Infectious Disease specialist. Read the full story

PRESS RELEASE

The Student Doctor Network.  Ten years ago it was just a catchy name.  It has since evolved into a trusted resource for over 130,000 pre-health and health students in over 10 doctoral fields of study.  Our staff, comprised of volunteers at all stages of their professional education, has worked tirelessly to diversify SDN’s offerings as part of our continuing effort to bring you what you need to succeed.

Our latest endeavor, SDN Premed Secrets, is a free CD containing some of the best content we have to offer in an ultra-portable format.  Read popular physician profiles, advice columns from Christian Becker and Jeremiah Fleenor, and read Ryan Aycock’s Not So Short Introduction to Getting Into Medical School!  This is just a sampling of the exclusive content provided on each CD.  Soon, you’ll be able to order your copy online to discover the additional sponsor content not available anywhere else!

With this, our Premed Secrets CD, we continue to expand our reach by putting some of our most valuable resources in your hands so you can get your SDN fix – online or not!