by Alison Hayward, MD
SDN Staff Writer

A patient arrives at your hospital complaining of fever, malaise, and cough. You think nothing of it – until you notice the thirty other patients who have appeared in the waiting room with the same symptoms. A sudden flu outbreak? You realize with concern that it’s not flu season….

Clinicians must be trained to be watchful for the red flags of a biological or chemical terrorist attack. Although rare, the astute diagnosis of a biochemical weapon causing a patient’s symptoms can provide lifesaving treatment in the nick of time.

The following are classified as high risk potential agents of terrorism because they can be quickly disseminated, and would likely cause widespread societal panic and require sweeping public health actions to contain. Read the full story

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

Gaining admission to medical school is a multifactorial process. Almost all medical schools require the MCAT, specific course work, and an undergraduate degree. There are also many extracurricular activities that may not be required per se, but are absolutely necessary to be a competitive applicant.

Some schools will not only consider you a weak applicant if you cannot show some of these activities on your application, but also will deny an interview outright if they don’t don’t see enough of them.
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by SDN Staff

SDN is pleased to announce the reopening of the Student Doctor Network SwagStore! Located at http://www.studentdoctor.net/store/, there you can purchase SDN gear online and have it delivered to your doorstep. Whether you’re looking for one of our popular t-shirts, the official Student Doctor Network Medical School Admission Guide, or just an SDN lapel pin, the SDN SwagStore has you covered.

Don’t forget to sign up for the mailing list, so you can hear about product sales, new merchandise, and other information as it becomes available. The SwagStore also offers gift certificates. All revenue from the SDN SwagStore is used toward maintaining and improving the Student Doctor Network. Come visit today!

by SDN Staff

Thanks to a partnership with McGraw-Hill, Inc., SDN has begun publishing book reviews for texts spanning the spectrum of healthcare fields.  The reviews will be published in the Reviews & Recommendations forum, and as the archive grows, it will provide a wealth of searchable information for students, trainees, and practicing clinicians in all areas of healthcare.

Currently featured in the Reviews & Recommendations forum is Anesthesia Unplugged–an informative, highly readable procedure manual written, as one might infer, for anesthesiology trainees.  Read the review, or view the catalog listing.

• A displaced student provides advice on how to protect yourself and your property during extreme weather events.

by Brandon Luk
SDN Staff Writer

“This could be just as devastating if not more devastating than Katrina …”

These were the first words I heard when I flipped on WDSU. An anchorman was describing the unyielding path of Hurricane Gustav towards the Big Easy. The first thought that ran through my mind was, ‘wow, guess the third time’s a charm’- Gustav was going to strike the Gulf coast almost 3 years to the date that Katrina hit.

I was a little dumbfounded at the surreal nature of having to evacuate. While I only recently began to call New Orleans my home, the incomplete levees could very well also make it the graveyard of my livelihood.

Instantly, questions started to swirl through my head. What would I need to bring? What will happen to my education? What kind of preparations do I need to make so that my house isn’t flattened? When should I leave and where should I go?

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by Glenn Gregory, Anna Peck, and Bill Johnson
SDN Staff Writers

The Student Doctor Network is pleased to announce a partnership with the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

Founded in 1898, NCPA continues to be the leading voice in support of independent community pharmacists, especially for legislative change. In addition to supporting current pharmacy owners, NCPA also provides resources for pharmacy student members, including scholarships, lower interest student loans, internships, mentors, and career guides.

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