Posts Tagged: ‘Best Medical Schools’

Top Doc Joins Top Medical School’s Staff

January 23, 2012 Posted by admin

Let’s face it, only the top medical schools can attract people like, Scott Reeves, PhD for their staff. Reeves is a British born sociologist – world renowned for his research in health education. He has had five books and 110 peer-reviewed papers published over his seventeen year career. Additionally, he was instrumental in obtaining approximately 70 research grants, totaling approximately $14 million (US) or $12 million (CA) over a five year period while at the University of Toronto. Additionally, Dr. Reeves is the editor-in-chief of the British publication, Journal of Interprofessional Care. In December 2011, Reeves accepted the position of Director at UCSF’s Center for Innovation Interprofessional Healthcare Education. Prior to joining the University of California at San Francisco, Dr. Reeves worked at one of Canada’s best medical schools, the University of Toronto at St. Michael’s Hospital, serving as the Director of Research in the Centre for Faculty Development. While serving as Director, Dr. Reeves also served in three other prestigious capacities including:

  • Scientist at the Wilson Centre for Research in Education, University Health Network
  • Scientist at the Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Toronto

While with the University of Toronto, he focused his research on evaluating and exploring the outcomes and processes involved in interprofessional education and practice, qualitative research methods, interprofessional collaboration and teamwork, and systematic review  in science of sociology.   All this was accomplished by a man who is only 44 years old – a great inspiration for staff members and students alike. Dr. Reeves’ educational background includes some of the UK’s top medical schools:

  • PhD (health services research), City University, London, UK
  • M.Sc. (social research methods), London Guildhall University, UK
  • PGCE (sociology), University of Greenwich, UK
  • B.Sc. (applied social science), University of North London, UK

His research focused on advancing scholarship in interprofessional education and practice, while his main interests included exploring and evaluating the processes and outcomes related to interprofessional education and practice by use of ethnographic, mixed methods, and systematic review. Particularly, Reeves credits Erving Goffman and Anselm Strauss for their sociological theories. While still in the United Kingdom, Reeves held the following positions:

  • Visiting Fellow, Centre for Interprofessional Practice, University of East Anglia
  • Research Fellow, London School Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London
  • Senior Research Fellow, City University, London, Health Care Education Development Unit

Prior to being hired at the University of Toronto, Reeves also worked as:

  • Methodological adviser, PIER Project, Faculty of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University
  • Evaluation lead, Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative, University of British Columbia

When first hired at the University of Toronto, Reeves worked in the School of Graduate Studies (Theory and Policy Studies in Education) as an associate member.  Later on he was involved in the supervision of three PhD students based in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, the Department of Pharmacy and the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education.  The faculty as well as the student body of UCSF must be thrilled with their new director! According the UCSF Medical School website, Reeves states that he is “keen to get students on board as soon as possible and make sure their voice is heard.”

With the newly formed Center for Innovation Interprofessional Healthcare Education at UCSF, I have no doubt that it will continue to rank as one of the top medical schools in the U.S., as well as the best overall medical school in the country. According to the UCSF Vice Chancellor for Student Academic Affairs and interim dean of the Graduate Division, Joseph Castro, PhD, he voices his own enthusiasm about Reeves joining the school, saying that “Scott [Reeves] is exactly the right person to come in and work with the students, faculty and staff who share his commitment. We now have the right ingredients to create a center that will be unrivaled around the country and the world.”

“Top Doc Joins Top Medical School’s Staff” was written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS.
©2012 Brenne Meirowitz & Best Medical Schools & Medical School Requirements. All Rights Reserved.

Bibliography:
The University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/01/11336/ucsf-taps-17-year-interprofessional-expert-lead-new-center (accessed January 22, 2012).
St. Michael’s Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, Canada, http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/research/profile.php?id=reeves&
and http://www.cfd.med.utoronto.ca/aboutus/scottreeves.html (accessed January 22, 2012).

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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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