Tuesday, November 23, 2010

USF PharmD Program Prerequisites

Hot off the presses is the updated list of prerequisite courses that the USF College of Pharmacy requires for admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Click the link in the title of the post.

Note: the USF College of Pharmacy will accept MAC 2241 Life Science Calculus I to fulfill the calculus requirement.

Honors MCAT Prep Course - Apply Now!!!

Due to the ongoing generosity of the Chowdhari family, the Honors College is excited to offer an MCAT preparatory course during the spring 2011 semester. The 15-week non-credit course, facilitated by third and fourth year USF College of Medicine students, will include test strategy as well as content preparation. Each week a different subject (biology, physics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and verbal reasoning) will be covered. Test prep materials will be provided.

This course will be offered on Tuesday evenings in SVC 1091 from 6:00-9:00pm. Selected students must be active Honors College students in good standing and demonstrate both financial need and readiness to take the MCAT and apply to medical school during the 2011 - 2012 cycle. Seating is limited, so selection will be competitive.

Applicants must submit the following information to Juliet Hill via email at jghill2@honors.usf.edu no later than Friday, December 17:

1) Name and U#
2) Statement describing in detail the applicant's financial circumstances, including any financial aid, scholarships, employment, expenses and family income. Information must be verifiable on request.
3) Statement describing in detail the applicant's pre-medical preparation (academic and extra-curricular) and providing a time-line for when he/she intends to take the MCAT and apply to medical school.

There is no required length for the statements, but students are strongly encouraged to provide as much information as possible about their personal situation to help the selection committee determine their need for the course.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Juliet Hill at jghill2@honors.usf.edu.

Monday, November 1, 2010

National Primary Care Week Activities at USF Health

Join in a week long celebration of the field of Primary Care!

Join in the conversation all week in MDA 1097 from 12pm-1pm (College of Medicine Campus) for Lunch & Learn Sessions: (11/1) Pediatric Primary Care, (11/2) The Patient Centered Medical Home, (11/3) Mental Health and Primary Care, (11/4) The Globalization of Non Communicable Diseases, and (11/5) "Why I'd Choose Primary Care Again" Panel. Also check out the USF Health Service Corp Website for a complete listings of NPCW service events!

http://my.calendars.net/servicecorps

Any questions: usfamsa@gmail.com

Reflections of a Second Year Medical Student

Andrew Vivas, current third year USF College of Medicine student, has put together a manual for pre-medical students based on his own experiences as an undergraduate at USF and in the Honors College, as well as anecdotes and information shared by fellow medical students. Contained within are his thoughts on academic preparation, extra-curricular involvement, the MCAT and the application process. With Andrew's permission, we post it here in the hope that it helps you in your pre-medical journey.

http://honors.usf.edu/documents/Reflections_of_a_2nd_Year_Med_Student.pdf

Thursday, October 28, 2010

MCAT Practice Test Update

The AAMC is pleased to announce that a new MCAT practice test will be released in early December 2010. Practice test 11 is a full-length online exam containing newly released MCAT items. This new test will provide all the same features of the current practice tests 3 - 10, including settings for timed and untimed practice, customization of delivery, detailed score reports, and explanations of the correct answers. It will be sold online for $35 at the link.

Practice test 6 will be retired from sale concurrently with the release of practice test 11 so that these items can be used for other preparation products. If a user has already purchased practice test 6, access will continue until the expiration of the one year subscription. However, practice test 6 will no longer be available for sale after practice test 11 is released.

We will announce the exact release date as it comes closer. Please direct any questions to mcat@aamc.org.

Best,
Jen Page
Manager, MCAT Preparation Products

Thursday, September 23, 2010

AACP Virtual Pharmacy School Fair

For all of our pharmacy students, this is a great chance for you to check out pharmacy school in the US without ever leaving your computer...

On Friday October 1, AACP will be hosting a Virtual Pharmacy School Fair for US Pharmacy Schools, so mark your calendars! The cost to participate is just $5 and you will have live access to the nation's pharmacy schools. The fair will be open 9Am-6PM Eastern Standard Time and will also provide pharmacy career information, PCAT information, and most importantly representatives from US Pharmacy Schools. Many of the exhibitors will have video chat capability, so we don't recommend you attending the fair in your pajamas, but you can learn about the schools that you are interested in without leaving the comfort of your home.

Register now at http://pharmacyvirtualfair.aacp.org to participate! Registration will remain open until 4pm ET on the day of the event

Questions? Contact Jennifer Athay at jathay@aacp.org

Monday, September 13, 2010

Hear From an Expert Pre-Health Panel

Any chance a pre-health student gets to network with health professionals in their chosen field is an excellent opportunity to learn from the source! USF offers several events to help our pre-health students learn more about their future health careers. One that is coming up features an expert panel:

Dr. Carlos Smith, ER Doctor
Dr. Joe Priest, Veterinarian
Dr. Rick Baker, Dentist

It will be on Wed., Sept 15, 7:00 pm in Maple C (Near Beta Hall and Holly Apts.)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Last call for applications for an amazing Healthcare in Panama course!

Last call for applications for an amazing course! Slots are filling quickly for the Healthcare in Panama: Beyond the Classroom will be offered this Fall on Wednesdays from 2:00-4:45 as either a IDH 4200 OR IDH 4000 course.

Looking for a different kind of learning experience? You will engage in 14 weeks of coursework prior to a 10-day immersion experience in Panama (participation in the trip from December 11 - 20 is a required part of the course curriculum). The course will introduce you to the healthcare system in Panama and how it compares to that of the United States, Panamanian culture and society, and current issues facing developing countries.

Although the course will focus on cultural comparison through the lens of the healthcare system, students of all majors are welcome to apply. If you are interested in participating in this course, please contact Ms. Hill at jghill2@honors.usf.edu .

Monday, June 28, 2010

USF Pediatrics Reach Out and Read Program

As a pre-health professions student, you can make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families by participating in the Reach Out and Read (ROR) early literacy program in which you can help to foster cognitive and emotional development in young children! See also http://health.usf.edu/medicine/pediatrics/reach-out-read.htm. One of the unique benefits of this program is that after you have served as a volunteer reader for four times, then you can also begin to shadow a pediatrician (~ 2 hours a week), as long as you continue as a volunteer reader! (~ 2 hours a week). This program is available at the USF Health South and Health Park Clinics.

Please contact Ellen Kent, MPH, at ekent@health.usf.edu, to sign up for the summer ROR training session which will be held OFF campus at the new USF Health South building at 2A-Tampa General Drive http://health.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/2BD65914-A496-4FCA-8E9B-671956EE5F7B/0/map_south_tampa_center.pdf nearby (but not inside!) Tampa General Hospital : July 2, 3-4 pm. Thank you!

**Please note that this weekly ROR volunteer opportunity takes place off campus, and the required training session also takes place off campus.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

LifePath Hospice Volunteer Opportunities

LifePath Hospice Volunteer Opportunities offer a great chance for health professions students to become more involved in their community. Remember, summer is a great way to become immersed in patient contact opportunities and a way to devote more time while you are not taking classes!

Call them today at 813-871-8237 visit www.lifepath-hospice.org for more information.

Patient and Family Support
Volunteers provide emotional support and companionship to LifePath Hospice patients and their families. Home visits are typically two to four hours per week and may involve giving caregivers time off, reading to patients or running errands. Specialty volunteers bring comfort to patients by offering spiritual support, dining assistance, music therapy, hair and nail care, pet visitation and life review legacy projects. Volunteers visit patients in their homes, as well as in our hospice houses, area nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Office Assistance
Volunteers provide clerical assistance and administrative support at our resources centers, pharmacy and medical equipment department.

Children’s Programs
Volunteers assist with providing emotional support to grieving children and teens at the Circle of Love Center for Grieving Children and Camp Circle of Love.

Bereavement Support
Volunteers make condolence phone call to survivors and tell them about bereavement services, provide one-on-one support to survivors who need companionship or facilitate support groups for survivors who are interested in social interaction after the death of their loved ones.

Life’s Treasures Thrift Stores
Volunteers accept donations, sort and price items, stock merchandise and help customers. Volunteers also serve as cashiers and provide office assistance.

Special Events
Volunteers help support fund-raising events.

Ambassador Bureau
Volunteers educate the public regarding LifePath Hospice programs, services and volunteer opportunities at social, civic and religious organizations and at community fairs.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Summer Vacation? Stay motivated!

Summer is a great time to get involved in volunteer work and physician shadowing! Remember, being a pre-health student is a long-term committment and you should be an active member in your community.

Below is some information on one opportunity to get you started:

American Cancer Society - Road to Recovery program
2 hour training today at 11am @ Hope Lodge (USF Tampa campus)


Thursday, May 20, 2010 11:00am-1:00pm (lunch included)



The program is in urgent, urgent need of drivers to take cancer patients to and from their treatment appointments. Volunteers can drive based on their own personal schedule and can also decide which area they wish to drive. For instance, if they live in the USF area and wish to only drive to Moffitt, that is completely acceptable and welcomed. They need to have a vehicle that is properly maintained and smoke-free. The training is held at the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge on the USF Campus @ 12810 USF Magnolia Drive (see attached).
All are welcome to attend!

Questions or interested and can not make today’s training? Contact - Nancy Nethery (813) 319-5919 or cell (813) 417-7385.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Check out our upcoming health professions student events!

The USF Health Professions Advisory Committee offers several ways to assist student with their applications to health professions programs. You do not need to participate in the HPAC letter in order to attend a workshop. Honors Students are more than welcome to come to either the upcoming Application Workshop or the Personal Statement Workshop. We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events!

Application Workshop - April 16 + April 19
Learn the components of a solid and competitive application for health professions programs.
Presented by Autumn Mueller
Friday, April 16, 2-4pm., JPH 1319
Monday, April 19, 2-4pm., JPH 1319

Personal Statement Workshop - April 20
We will discuss why a strong personal statement is essential to your application, how to prepare for and draft your statement, what to include and what to omit, and other resources that can help you put together an excellent statement.
Presented by Christina Nelson and Juliet Hill
Tuesday, April 20, 1-3pm., JPH 1317

If you are interested in any of these workshops, please RSVP to HPAC (HPAC@cas.usf.edu) with your name, U#, major, and intended health profession.