University of Washington School of Medicine

1. University of WashingtonSchool of Medicine Alpha Epsilon Delta June 3, 2008

2. UWSOM Mission statement • Meeting the health care needs of our region- recognizing the importance of primary care and providing service to underserved populations • Advancing knowledge and assuming leadership in the biomedical sciences and in academic medicine • Special responsibility to WWAMI states • Commitment to building and sustaining a diverse academic community • Assuring access to education and training for learners from all segments of society

3. What UWSOM Expects • Academic ability to make it through school and licensing exams • Knowledge of the practice of medicine • Awareness of current problems affecting medicine and society • Familiarity with ethical issues in health care • Good communication and interpersonal skills • Broad interests and life experiences

4. Academic Ability* *includes MSTP and WAMI

5. GPA - Considerations • Time to adjust to college • Inadequate high school preparation • A bump in the road for personal or family reasons • We are looking for an upward trajectory or some compelling reason for lower than average grades. • Although we value a broad based education, ability to succeed in science courses is important.

6. MCAT Considerations • We use verbal reasoning as a measure of the applicant’s ability to solve problems, an important attribute for a physician. <7 is associated with problems passing USMLE • The writing sample gives us some insight into the applicant’s ability to communicate his or her ideas clearly. • When biology or physics scores are low we look for timing of the MCAT & course work.

7. RESOURCES for MCAT • Commercial review courses • Practice tests • Learning specialists at UW • Blanceducationservices.com

8. Knowledge of the Practice of Medicine • Know what you are getting into • Show that you are making an informed decision • Find experiences that are consistent with your interests and goals • Reflect on your experiences

9. Knowledge of medicine • Has the applicant spent some time observing doctor/patient interactions? • Does s/he understand the rewards, demands, and frustrations of the practice of medicine? • Does s/he have any concept of lifestyles of various types of practices of medicine? • Does s/he value patient autonomy? Does the applicant realize there are patients who don’t cooperate with treatment plans, or who may engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors?

10. The Value of Experience • Find out what the career is all about • Clarify and validate your initial impressions • Learn about “the dark side” • Test your level of commitment • Find out what you like and dislike • Improve the articulation of your goals • Enhance your motivation

11. Motivation for medicine • What drives you toward medicine? • What experiences/people have had a positive influence?

12. Resources for Volunteer or Shadowing Experiences Washington Academy of Family Physicians http://www.wafp.net Volunteer Match http://www.volunteermatch.org Idealist http://www.idealist.org Peer ideas http://www.studentdoctor.net/blog/2008/03/22/pre-med-preparation-the-importance-of-physician-shadowing

13. Awareness of problems facing medicine and society • Does the applicant know about delivery of health care in the U.S. and abroad? • Does s/he have any understanding of the cost of health care and/or the breadth of those who are uninsured in the U.S.? • Is there an understanding of the different types of medical insurance systems?

14. Familiarity with ethical issues in medicine • Patient autonomy and privacy • Rights of adolescent patients • End of life issues • Participating in clinical trials • Decisions around scarce resources • Transplants • Medication

15. Communication and Interpersonal Skills • Active listening • Making yourself understood • Ability to put yourself in another’s place • Respecting others’ wishes

16. Ability to relate to others • Is the applicant empathetic, able to communicate, able to listen, broad minded, respectful of others? • Does the applicant show a genuine interest in people? Does s/he have experience working with people? • Has there been community involvement? • Are there demonstrated humanitarian qualities? • Is there recognition of needs of individuals? • Does the applicant allow for differing values? Is s/he non-judgmental?

17. Broad interests and life experiences • Personal characteristics • Knowledge of self & others • Maturity • Integrity • Intellectual curiosity

18. Knowledge of self • Does the applicant know his or her personality, strengths and weaknesses, biases? • Can s/he self-assess? • Is s/he aware of personal learning style? • Does s/he have an understanding of people from cultures over than his or her own?

19. Maturity • Has s/he shown the ability to deal with stressful situations? • Has the applicant demonstrated responsibility? • Is the applicant self-reliant and independent? • Is s/he confident, secure? • Has s/he thought about long term as well as short term goals?

20. Integrity • Is the applicant consistent? • Are his/her experiences consistent with expressed goals?

21. Intellectual curiosity • Does the applicant demonstrate intellectual curiosity? • Can s/he grow? • Can s/he call a question? • Does s/he demonstrate interest in being a life-long learner?

22. Letters of recommendation The letter writer should know you well in one or more areas Academic ability Interpersonal skills Work ethic Leadership qualities Ability to function on a team

23. Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Recommendation 1. How well do you know the applicant and under what circumstances did you have contact with him/her? 2. What strengths does the applicant possess? Does the applicant have any unique characteristics? 3. Have you observed any particular weaknesses or characteristics which you feel would interfere with a successful medical career? 4. How well does the applicant get along with the faculty and his/her peers? 5. How does the applicant handle disappointing or stressful situations? 6. How do you assess the applicant's emotional maturity? 7. How do you assess the applicant's oral and written communication skills? 8. If possible, please indicate reasons why you feel that the applicant should or should not become a physician. Letters must be printed on University, company or personal letterhead and signed.

24. Changes • Sequence of discussion by interview score • Criminal background check • First year site selection match • No automatic interviews for E 2009 • Additional pre-reqs for E 2010 (humanities and social sciences)