How can applicants avoid the stress of applying to medical school? Well, a few of their incoming classmates may have already found a different path to earn their seat through articulation “early assurance” or “early ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated January 9, 2024 by Emil Chuck, PhD
The Student Doctor Network (SDN) provides online resources to pre-health students and the health professional community as part of our nonprofit mission. Here’s a recap of our standout achievements in 2023, our 24th year: Top ... Read more
Laura Turner
Published December 21, 2023
Over 22,500 allopathic medical school applicants in the 2023-2024 cycle had to take the AAMC PREview Situational Judgment Test as part of their application cycle (“AAMC Prehealth Advisor Newsletter”, November 2023). In upcoming cycles, more ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated April 17, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Avi Patel, DDS, or Dr. Avi, is a dentist who leverages his dental education to educate people about clear aligners. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and attended dental school at NYU College of Dentistry. ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated December 10, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Unlike applicants to other health professions programs, aspiring dentists applying through AADSAS must wait until December to get the first notification of an offer of admission. Beginning at midnight (Eastern time) on December 15, admissions ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated December 7, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Dear Aspiring Physicians: I have been a long-time observer, educator, and supporter of physicians and those who aspire to that calling. As a physical therapist and educator in health care professions, I have spent over ... Read more
Elizabeth Ross, DPT, MMSc, ACC
Updated November 27, 2023 by Elizabeth Ross, DPT, MMSc, ACC
SDN had the opportunity to speak to Aaron Chambers about his journey as a podiatrist and service in the US Navy and Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps. Please introduce yourself and tell us about ... Read more
Chivas Owle
Updated November 22, 2023 by Chivas Owle
Emelia Sam, DDS is a former clinical associate professor of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at Howard University and author of the “360 Soul Blog” and Compassionate Competency: Healing the Heart of Medicine. She joined Emil Chuck, ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated November 27, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Applicants greatly rely on the perspective of peers who are a few years further along in their education when it comes to making decisions on a career path to pursue or a school to attend. ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated November 6, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Bethaney Fehrenkamp, PhD is a reproductive immunologist focused on infant and maternal health. She is keenly interested in the role of inflammation on female reproductive outcomes and infant immune development. She also serves as a ... Read more
Laura Turner
Updated December 10, 2023 by Laura Turner
We previously discussed how study abroad opportunities could give future physicians better insights into global health challenges. Many health professions programs are specifically recruiting students who see their purpose as physicians as being global health ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated October 17, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Bob Rarig, Ph.D. (he/him/his) is the Program Director for the Temple College of Science and Technology Post Bacc Program. He directs the admissions process for the various tracks within the program, including a Basic Sciences ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated October 12, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
The ascent of Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs) in admissions, including Casper and AAMC PREview, has spurred frustration and concern among health professional school applicants and their advisors. In June 2023, the National Association of Advisors ... Read more
Laura Turner
Updated April 17, 2025 by Laura Turner
For pre-medical students, gaining clinical hours and direct exposure to the work of physicians is a necessary step in building a competitive application. Likewise, aspiring physician assistants (PAs) also need hours of clinical experience. Medical ... Read more
Kyle Magatelli
Updated October 6, 2023 by Kyle Magatelli
For over 40 years, medical and dental school applicants have been asked to provide an institutional “committee letter” packet of recommendations if their prehealth offices provide a supportive evaluation. SDN has fielded questions about committee ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated September 27, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
In many literary epics, the protagonists’ journey is adversely affected by the weather or some force of nature. In Odysseus’s voyage home, Frodo’s quest, Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road, or Katniss Everdeen’s persistence ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated September 21, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Dr. Alison “Ali” Thaler is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she specializes in treating stroke and headache patients. She is a co-author of The Only Neurology Book You’ll Ever Need, ... Read more
Laura Turner
Updated September 12, 2023 by Laura Turner
Many aspiring health professionals are attracted to opportunities that impact health outside the nation’s boundaries, but they find limited advice on preparing for a career in global health. In this article, Dr. Chris Kurian and ... Read more
Chris M. Kurian
Updated August 24, 2023 by Chris M. Kurian
A highly sought-after speaker about integrating virtual reality and digital innovation, Rohan Jotwani (he/him) is an assistant professor in clinical anesthesiology and assistant director of education at Weill Cornell University School of Medicine. Dr. Jotwani ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated August 22, 2023 by Emil Chuck, PhD