Category: ‘Best Medical Schools’

UCSF 5th in Best Medical Schools Ranking in the U.S.

January 9, 2012 Posted by admin

According to the 2012 U. S. News and World Report, UCSF is one of the best medical schools in the United States. The University of California San Francisco comes in as number five in research – earning its place as one of the top medical schools in the U.S. The reason why I am so happy to write this review, is because I have experienced their healthcare firsthand, i.e. I use the UCSF medical facilities for all of my medical needs – including their dental clinic. In an earlier article, I raved about the dental care I experienced under the care of two of their interns. I have also visited the UCSF Women’s Clinic, where again, the care and facilities were excellent. In fact, U.S. New and World Report ranks the Women’s Clinic as number two in women’s health. Additionally, they were cited in the number one position for their AIDS research and medicine, and third for internal medicine. I hereby second their assessment. Furthermore, U.S. World Report ranked UCSF fourth in the overall quality of primary care training and fifth in quality of research training; it is the only medical school in the U.S. that earned two places in the top five of best medical schools in their 2012 report. Indeed, the research certainly reflects my experience.

UCSF is also amongst top medical schools for other specialties and statistics including number one in U.S. public medical schools awarded NIH (National Institutes of Health) dollars. The NIH is actually the American government’s medical research government agency, which supports scientific studies. Because UC San Francisco is so strong in research, it is no wonder that it is the number one recipient of funding. Secondly, UCSF has the most number of active patients in the entire University of California medical system. However, they were never overcrowded whenever I went for an appointment. They are very efficient and timely when it comes to checking in their patients, offering clean and comfortable waiting areas. I found the receptionists courteous and professional.

Originally founded in 1865 as Toland Medical College, the University of California San Francisco became an affiliate of the University of California system only nine years later. In fact, UCSF is one of America’s older, yet best medical schools! Today, it has seven major campuses within Fresno and San Francisco, which consist of 28 academic departments, 9 research units, and 7 interdisciplinary research centers. The average GPA of their undergraduates is 3.79, with most of their students (85%) deemed as California residents. Although it is a state school, only 5% of the medical school budget comes from state appropriations. The average 2011 MCAT score in 2011 was 11.4, less than .5 less than Harvard – U.S. News and World Report’s top scoring med school. The tuition cost for California residents is $33,622 and for out-of-state students, tuition is $45,867. These figures were incorrectly reported by U.S. News and World Report that stated the tuition for California residents was free and out-of-state student paid only $12,245. The base tuition for Harvard Medical School is $47,500 and not $45,050 as U.S. News and World Report incorrectly printed as well in 2012. Other top medical schools to consider in California are Stanford University, which tied in 5th place with UCFS, Duke University, and Yale University as top research medical schools. Other highly favorable med schools in California include UCLA, coming in at number 13, and UCSD at number 15, according to the 2012 U.S. News and World Report.

After all the stats come in, and figures verified, the conclusion as to which schools really deserves to be listed in the best medical schools survey comes down to personal taste and an individual’s career path. Lifestyle may also be a consideration. San Francisco is a much more casual place to live than Boston and certainly the weather is milder. Both cities have a beach, but the northeast isn’t always as inviting as the milder climate and currants of the Pacific.

“UCSF 5th in Best Medical Schools Ranking in the U.S.” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz & Best Medical Schools & Medical School Requirements. All Rights Reserved.

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The Top Disapproved Medical Schools in California

January 8, 2012 Posted by admin

On January 6, 2012, I wrote an article listing the best medical schools approved by the Medical Board of California.  The article listed over 130 top medical schools in the United States that are approved by the Board.  Since moving to San Francisco in September, I have had the opportunity to test out some of the area’s best medical teaching schools, including the well respected UCSF (University of California San Francisco) medical system.  Because I write this blog, I thought it a good idea to start posting my personal experiences with various teaching hospitals throughout the United States.  I have lived and traveled in a number of states including New York, Connecticut, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas.  While Texas Medical Schools are popular, the Texas public health system, from my experience, truly lacking.  So far, I have found the best public health coverage for both low-income, i.e. Medicaid and private health insurance to be in New York.  California has fine hospitals and doctors, but it does not have a dental or vision plan for its medicaid recipients.  New York. on the other hand does and is comprehensive.  Texas does not have a decent mental health plan or dental plan for its Medicaid recipients.  No wonder there are so many toothless people in Texas and California.  With the economy worsening and so many people losing their benefits, I foresee a lot less healthy people – especially in California and Texas.  In whichever state you reside, I definitely recommend using the services of a teaching hospital or clinic, as their facilities are generally new and state-of-the-art and are generally more affordable, and accept more health insurance plans, including Medicaid, than private practices.  Students who attend these schools are also more likely to find jobs in the cities where they did their internship.

With a rapidly growing California population, the state must oversee more and more healthcare facilities than ever before.  In California, there are over 30 medical school teaching hospitals and that number is expected to increase as the need for more doctors, nurses, and other professional personnel increases.  California also has a very large foreign born population, which includes medical workers and non-medical workers.  If you are considering coming to California to work in the healthcare industry, especially in the position of doctor, please take note of the following list of medical schools that are not recognized by the Medical Board of California.

Name of Medical School: Date Disapproved:
1. CETEC University, Santo Domingo (closed) 05-19-83
2. CIFAS University, Santo Domingo (closed) 11-16-84
3. UTESA University, Santo Domingo 07-13-85
disapproval reaffirmed 02-07-97
4. World University, Santo Domingo (closed) 12-01-89
5. Spartan Health Sciences University, St. Lucia 06-13-85
6. University of Health Sciences Antigua, St. John’s 07-28-95
7. Universidad Eugenio Maria de Hostos (UNIREMHOS), Dom. Rep. 11-01-96
8. Universidad Federico Henriquez y Carvajal, Dom. Rep. 07-31-98
9. St. Matthew’s University, Grand Cayman 02-18-05
10. Kigezi International School of Medicine, Cambridge, England and Uganda 11-02-07

Students that attended any of the schools that are not recognized or disapproved by the Board will have difficulty applying and getting into the best medical schools and programs in California, as well as other schools in the the United States.  If your school is listed below and you plan on moving to the U.S. to practice medicine, it is best to call the Medical Board of California directly at 916) 263-2382 to get their advice  Additionally, you may want to also contact the American medical schools that you are considering applying to and ask they their advice.  They may consider reviewing your official transcripts in order to determine which classes you will have to take over in order to be licensed in the U.S.  If your transcripts are in a language other than English, make sure to get a certified translation before sending it off to your prospective school.

For you adventurous Americans, who think that the best medical schools don’t necessarily have to be located within the U.S. to be good, I would research these schools before you start packing.  Many young people have been intrigued by advertizements for Caribbean Medical schools, which may be top medical schools in their area of the world, but that may not gain you acceptance into practice and eventual licensing in the U.S.  I would make sure that these schools are recognized by the Board before being further tempted to apply to exotic medical schools outside of the U.S.  As always, I hope the information on this site may cause you to think and further research your choice.

“The Top Disapproved Medical Schools in California” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz & Best Medical Schools & Medical School Requirements. All Rights Reserved

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Best Medical Schools Recognized by the Medical Board in CA

January 6, 2012 Posted by admin

Beware of schools claiming to be amongst the best medical schools, it is important to ascertain whether those schools are recognized by the Medical Board of California. Today there are lots of schools claiming to be amongst the best medical schools, it is important to ascertain whether those schools are recognized by the state in which they operate as well as the Board. This article will give you an overview of medical schools and medical programs recognized by the Medical Board in California. You may wonder what the difference is between a school which is recognized by the Medical Board and school which is not. Simply stated, a school which is not recognized or listed is an entity which may not only not be recognized, but also disapproved after application. If a school is not listed, chances are that either their education, training, or both was found to be unacceptable for licensure in California. If this is the case, chances are that students who attended such schools will be required to retake some or all of the classes taken at such a school. To avoid this, be sure to only attend or take classes at a school that is listed on the Medical Board of California website. As of the writing of this article, the following American schools are in good standing with the Medical Board of California:

Albany Medical College of Union University
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Allegheny University of the Health Sciences – MCP Hahnemann
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University
Brown University Program in Medicine
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Cornell University Medical College
Creighton University School of Medicine
Dartmouth Medical School
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Drexel University College of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
East Carolina University School of Medicine
East Tennessee State University College of Medicine
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine
Florida State University College of Medicine
George Washington University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Hahnemann University School of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Howard University College of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
(more…)

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I Name UCSF as one of the Best Medical Schools in the U.S.

January 5, 2012 Posted by admin

From experience, I name UCSF as of the best medical schools in the U.S. I have been treated in the UCSF dental clinic by top interns and doctors. I have also been seen by health experts in the UCSF Women’s Clinic. In both cases, the treatment was top notch. The staff are professional, courteous, and caring. The facilities are state of the art, and their treatment covered under my medical plan. I recently relocated from New York, and was concerned about what kind of facilities and doctors my new medical insurance plan would supply. I was pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness and friendliness of the staff. I also found it really neat that the urgent care clinic had a completely digitized its medical history form. If you’re like me, I hate having to write my information on medical forms, which never seem to have enough room to complete all of my information. Completing the digitized form was really a breeze. This was at the Parnassus urgent care clinic.

Across the street from the urgent care clinic is the UCSF dental clinic. It is a large building with several floors. My biggest difficulty when going to the dentist is having X-Rays taken, because I easily gag. Well, the X-Ray technician, a student, helped me to get my mind off of gagging by instructing me to raise my legs. She was extremely kind, patient, and professional in her treatment towards me. I have had less than happy experiences at other dental offices with technicians who only made me more nervous, and ultimately unsuccessful in taking the films. In the case of the UCSF student, she was more professional than others who have been at their profession for years. That’s one reason why I name this California state school as one of the best medical schools in the U.S. The dental intern who treated me is someone I can trust and know who cares. He did a full and very thorough exam and cleaning. In a few weeks, I am going to have a crown placed on one of my molars, because the tooth has a cavity in addition to an existing filling. I have great confidence that Ansony, my dental student will do a professional job. Just in case you are concerned about being treated by medical students, their work is supervised by an experienced dentist. So, rather than pay a premium for a credentialed dentist, I get his care plus the care of a caring intern.

The set-up is really neat at the UCSF dental clinic too. It is a large room with many cubicles. Each cubicle is a complete dental office. It is a very friendly and sunny atmosphere. On a clear day you can see the ocean as well as the Golden Gate Bridge from the clinic. The dental students do all of the work without the help of a nurse, so they get to experience all facets of oral care and surgery. The equipment is all state-of-the-art. The entire facility, including the restrooms are extremely clean. It’s so much better than some of the experiences I have had in the past, where the private doctor did not have the funds to keep up such a modern office or equipment.

Naming UCSF as one of the best medical schools in the United States is a big compliment, as I have lived and traveled all over the U.S. and abroad and experienced some of the best and worst in medial and dental treatment. I highly recommend UCSF as a top choice for dental work and other your other medical needs. There are medical offices all over San Francisco, depending upon what sort of medical attention you require.

“I Name UCSF as one of the Best Medical Schools in the U.S.” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz & Best Medical Schools & Medical School Requirements. All Rights Reserved

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Interviewing for the Best Medical Schools

December 5, 2011 Posted by admin

In an earlier article, about applying to the best medical schools, I covered the application process.  I went over some key points about writing your letter of intent, which should serve as a basis for constructing your interview.  This article will cover key points in preparing you to be accepted into the best med schools and is a critical step in the application process.   Hopefully, an interview will be scheduled after your paperwork has cleared muster and the school is interested in getting to know you on a personal, yet professional level.  Key point: never get the two confused!  The number one question in an interview, whether it is for med school or a job, is the interviewing asking you to tell them about yourself.  How you conduct yourself is critical.  Most applicants dread that question, but it can work for you instead of against you. The suggestion is that you smile and speak confidently, while maintaining a certain amount of humility.  After all, who wants to deal with an arrogant doctor.  In the medical school situation, professors are likely not to enjoy dealing with an arrogant student. Some people might like the idea of talking about themselves, but if you come off with a big ego, it will be a big turn-off.  Therefore, you must learn to temper this inclination.

An arrogant applicant or someone with an inflated ego will have a lot of difficulty answering the next most asked question, which is, what is your biggest weakness.  Expressing that you do not have any weaknesses or being dishonest can disqualify you from being admitted to the best medical schools.  Therefore, before you interview, be sure to take a personal inventory of your strengths and weaknesses.  After listing your strengths and weakness, try constructing a script of how you would answer these questions.  For instance, your greatest asset might be an experience that you had while doing volunteer work.  You might want to outline the situation; first the problem and how you found a solution.  You may have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a grandparent in a nursing home.  Review the situation and how you addressed the difficulties and the pain.  What did you like or didn’t like about how your grandparent or elderly patient was being treated in the nursing home.  Perhaps come up with a practical way of how you would have handled it.  However, be sure to be realistic and not too idealistic.  Idealism is a wonderful trait, but it is not always helpful or practical when dealing in an institution such as a nursing home or hospital.

You may want to invent some practical, real life scenarios that you might have to face as a physician, such as  how to tell a patient that you have just diagnosed them with cancer.  You might want to consider several variations of this, such as a younger person, a middle age person, and an elderly patient. Additionally, throw into the mix possibilities of inoperable cancer, terminal cancer, or treatable cancer.   If you patient is a young woman, telling her that she needs to have her breast or uterus removed can be more traumatizing to her than an older woman who has already had children. Further, you also have to be sensitive to your patient’s religious beliefs in your consultation.  Some people may resign themselves not to fight for their lives through therapy or surgery, while others will be completely open.  Answers to these questions are critical to your interview and ultimate success as a doctor and your acceptance into the best med schools.

Acceptance into the best medical schools will depend upon several factors in addition to grades and recommendations.  You want to come across as friendly and confident, but not arrogant or too informal.  You will want to practice a firm handshake and looking your interviewer in the eyes.  This is a good suggestion whether you feel you have mastered these skills or not.  Practicing with a friend or family member may be good, just to get feedback on how you come across.  Most of us are unable to judge ourselves fairly in interpersonal situations.

“Interviewing for the Best Medical School” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2011 Brenne Meirowitz & Best Medical Schools & Medical School Requirements. All Rights Reserved

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