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Prehealth
Newsletter
February 14, 2022
Welcome!
There is so much important information to share with you this week, that we just couldn't wait another day to send you more items. Please see below for even more events and opportunities to grow your portfolio!
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Diversity in Healthcare Conference at Penn State
Hosted by Alpha Epsilon Delta
Alpha Epsilon Delta is hosting a Diversity in Healthcare Conference titled: Sourcing Solutions for Better Outcomes Tomorrow. This conference aims to engage undergraduate pre-health students like you in direct discussion and problem-solving regarding issues in the medical field.
Through interdisciplinary collaboration with fellow undergraduates, leadership from Penn State Hershey Medical Students & Penn State Senior Nursing Students, and networking
with distinguished speakers, this opportunity serves to increase undergraduate pre-health students’ awareness of and competency with these issues toward careers as patient advocates and leaders in healthcare. Additionally, all participants will receive certification from the Penn State College of Medicine, and there is even an opportunity to win cash awards!
We hope that you can express your interest in this conference by filling out an Interest Form here:
https://tinyurl.com/DHTInterestForm
Prehealth Group Advising
Demystifying the Application Cycle: Accepted Students Panel
February 16th, 2022 6 P. M.
Zoom Link
This session will provide an overview of the upcoming application cycle, timelines, deadlines, and processes. Additionally, this session features a panel of current Penn State Students accepted to Medical, Dental, Podiatry, and Physician Assistant/Associate Schools.
The list of dates for Spring 2022 Pre-Health Group Advising Sessions is now available. The full list of group advising sessions can be found here.
Click here to join the Prehealth Group Advising Canvas Course for access to previous session recordings.
Black Maternal Health and Medical Equity
Thursday, February 17
3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
WPSU invites you to attend a free online screening and discussion about Black maternal health and medical equity. The documentary watched through the OVEE video platform is Voices: A Childbirth Crisis.
Decades of inequity in the healthcare system have led to a crisis in Black maternal health. Mothers and babies are dying in childbirth at an alarming rate, much higher than their White counterparts. In this episode of VOICES, African American women from Pittsburgh share experiences where their voices were not heard, and the devastating consequences that resulted.
A panel discussion will take place on Zoom directly after the documentary and a secure Zoom link will be emailed to participants.
For more information, visit this page.
Penn State Global Health Minor
Application Deadline EXTENDED to March 1st, 2022
The Global Health Minor is open to students from across the university. This 21-27 credit program includes, as a capstone feature, participation in a five-week, six credit global health field placement in So. Africa, Ecuador, Mexico or Germany. The minor is particularly well suited for students who plan careers in medicine, public health and allied health fields.
After attending an information session, students who intend to apply for the minor should schedule an advising appointment to meet with the Global Health Program Director, Dr. Dana Naughton.
30-minute advising sessions may be arranged by emailing Dr. Naughton at
dmn161@psu.edu
Application materials will be provided to students following their interview meeting.
Or, email Dr. Dana Naughton at dmn161@psu.edu.
Black Men In White Coats: A Documentary
February 22, 6:00 p.m.
100 Thomas Building
Fewer Black men applied to medical school in 2014 than in 1978 and Black men have the lowest life expectancy in the United States. With Black men comprising only 2% of American doctors, this comes as no surprise. “Black Men in White Coats” dissects the systemic barriers preventing Black men from becoming medical doctors and the consequences on society at large.
Join M.A.P.S, Pre-Health Advising Office and the Eberly College of Science Diversity & inclusion in the documentary viewing. A free meal will be served.
MA-AUA Pre-Medicine Enrichment Program
The MA-AUA Pre-medicine Enrichment Program (PEP) is a newly developed scholarship program with the goal of empowering first generation college students from historically underrepresented in medicine (URiM) groups who are considering a career in medicine. Recipients of this scholarship will be enrolled in an eight week mentoring and support program in the summer of 2022 that focuses on developing key skills within four core areas that are essential to a successful career in medicine.
Selected students will participate in a comprehensive, eight-week mentorship and support experience under the direction of the faculty in the Department of Urology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Center City Philadelphia during the summer following their second year of undergraduate studies. Students will meet with their assigned faculty and resident mentors biweekly to address key developmental aspects of the program, as they relate to the individual student.
Each student will be a member of a clinical research project team with the goal of submitting an abstract to a publication and/or presenting at an academic congress or professional meeting. Students will also spend time shadowing physicians in their office practice, operating room, and other clinical settings to enhance the experience
Successful applicants to this this program will receive a stipend in order to allow them to devote a substantial period of time and effort to this program. Candidates will be nominated by our department and will be selected by a special MA-AUA task force.
The deadline for application is in early March 2022. Interested students can contact us directly at patrick.shenot@jefferson.edu.
PreHealth Organization
of the Week:
Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (M.A.P.S.)
There will be many challenges along the path of pursuing a career in healthcare as well as navigating a PWI; while this may be discouraging at times, M.A.P.S. provides a space for underrepresented students with the same goals to uplift and support each other. Aiding in the implementation of workforce diversity is a vital component of the M.A.P.S. mission, and we want to uphold this mission by engaging with students pursuing these fields through various resources so they can reach their goals.
General body meetings are held biweekly on Tuesdays from 6-7 pm in 014 Henderson. We also host biweekly study nights on Thursdays in 101 Osmond. If you are interested in joining MAPS, please request to be a member on Org Central and follow us on Instagram.
Instagram: @mapspsu
For more information, visit their website.
2022 AAMC Fee Assistance Program
Now Open!
The AAMC Fee Assistance Program provides financial assistance to individuals who, without this aid, would find it difficult to take the MCAT, apply to medical schools that use AMCAS, and fulfill other application obligations.
You may also apply for fee assistance if you are applying to D.O. schools as this program covers MCAT costs. You should apply separately for the AACOMAS fee assistance program to cover application costs.
CASPer Exam Updates
Duet, the value-alignment assessment, will now be available to any interested undergraduate medical education (UME) program at no additional cost to programs or applicants. As a result, more students may be required to complete this assessment depending on the requirements of their program(s) of choice. You can check with schools you plan on applying to and see if they will require the CASPer exam.
Casper, our online situational judgment test, will now incorporate a typed-response section (comprising 9 scenarios) and a video-response section (comprising 6 scenarios).
Information regarding this change to Casper, along with test prep tips, will be published on the TakeAltus website soon.
Prehealth Comprehensive Interviews Now Open
If you are applying to medical, dental, optometry or podiatry programs for the 2022-2023 cycle to begin at the professional program in Fall 2023, you may complete the checklist below to schedule a comprehensive interview with a member of the prehealth advising team. View the 2023 Matriculation Applicant Guide for more details.
Comprehensive Interview scheduling is now open.
Submit your portfolio checklist here.
Request a Health Professions portfolio here.
Penn State College of Medicine State College Campus
Click here to register and view details
Did you know that in addition to the Penn State College of Medicine Hershey Campus, PSCOM also has a 4 year curriculum campus in State College, PA? We’d love to share more with you about the University Park Curriculum Track, and we’d like to invite you to a series of ZOOM talks that we are hosting – each one focusing on a different aspect of the UP track. I’ve attached a highlight sheet for some additional information.
Sessions available are below. All sessions will be held 6 to 7 p.m.
- Feb. 16: Program Overview, Years 2-4
- March 2: Mock IQ group
- March 16: Life in State College
- April 6: Current student meet and greet
MCAT Information
MCAT Registration for July-September 2022 dates
Registration for the second half of the testing year is now open. You can begin scheduling exams held in July through September. Priority scheduling will be available for examinees with approved accommodations, and more information will be provided in the coming weeks. In the meantime, take a moment to learn about registration and scheduling in 2022.
New Video on AAMC MCAT Official Prep Free Resources
Learn all about AAMC MCAT Official Prep free resources in a new video tutorial. Log into the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Hub with your AAMC credentials to access all the resources in the video and create your personalized study plan. Visit www.aamc.org/mcatprep to get started today!
Prehealth Drop-in Hours
Prehealth Advising will be available virtually during the Spring 2022 semester at the following times:
Tuesdays from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Fridays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Summer Enrichment Opportunities
Are you interested in pursuing a summer experience? Explore the Opportunities that are updated weekly.
News from the Office of Science Engagement
New opportunities posted weekly!
The Office of Science Engagement has many resources and ways for you to get involved with internships and jobs!
Virtual Fairs & Open Houses
-MANY NEW EVENTS!-
Feel like you are missing out by staying at home? Want to learn more about osteopathic medicine, medical school in the Caribbean, or postbacc opportunities? Visit and connect with these and other programs virtually at these live events!
Miss an issue of the newsletter?
Head over to our website for an archive of past issues to see what you missed!
