Poisson's Ideas: Moving You Toward Medicine

Why Become a Physician?

2012-02-09T23:02:00.000-08:00

"The awe of discovering the human body. The honor of being trusted to give advice. The gratitude for helping someone through a difficult illness. These things never grow old."

Advise from an article I read on the New York Times today, about why people still want to become doctors.

Nowadays, with the advancement in technology, the higher demand on administrative documentation, it is becoming harder for physicians to fully devote themselves to patients. It is the interaction you can have with patients, the way you can make them feel better without speaking, and the smile you can give that lessens the pain that makes medicine so unique, and so worthwhile.

Medicine is the only profession in which you are licensed to touch. There is a reason why they are licensed to touch.

Osteopathic Fee Assistance Program

2011-05-25T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Fee Assistance Program (FAP) for osteopathic schools require you to send in a SAR (Student Aid Report) after filling out a FAFSA. Getting the FAP would pay for the first three schools you apply to, as well as 90% of the secondary applications.

Fill out your FAFSA now!
https://fafsa.ed.gov/

You can get your FAFSA reviewed in like..three days!

AMCAS Activities Section - New Format

2011-05-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

There are some changes to the activities section of the AMCAS application this year. Instead of writing 1325 characters for each activity. It is now limited to 700 characters per section. For activities you feel are significant, and you need some more room for it, you have additional 1325 characters for those. You can choose up to three activities for those significant activities. You are still limited to 15 activities you can write about on your application.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/125246/data/new_document.pdf

Check out the instructions!!!!

Fragileness of Life

2011-04-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

I just got the news that a close family friend had passed away. He was diagnosed with stage IV cancer about 1.5 weeks ago. This person reminds me so, so much about my dad. He, too, was a heavy smoker, reluctant to go to doctor's check-ups. As an immigrant from China, the pride and language barrier had a great role in discouraging him from preventing his diagnosis from something treatable to life-threatening. He had a on-going cough for the past three years, but everyone just thought it was from heavy smoking, or aging. No one would have ever thought that the first check-up he has, is the day he was told to have two weeks left to live. The tumors were found to be in his liver, kidney, and lung. He left a little earlier than his two weeks notice.

He did not want to see anyone, or be visited. Shortly after his diagnosis, he had kidney failure and was admitted to the ER. He never came out from the hospital since. He gave up on his life. He decided to end his life and not fight, so he wouldn't experience the pain and suffering associated with the cancer.

I sometimes wonder whether it was a good idea for me to push my dad through all the chemo and radiation therapies. As he was someone who was reluctant to be taken care of, and did not want to consult physicians, I thought I was being proactive in making him get treated. I am unsure whether I have been toxic to him and made his quality of life lower.

Life is fragile. Life is short. Tell people who you love, that you love them everyday. Don't take people around you for granted. Love them even if they don't love you back....

Keep Going! Move Positively Forward!

2011-04-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

YES, life has an interesting way of knocking you down! Right when you think that things are going smooth and silky, it can become disastrous. I had a pretty good taste of that in the past few years. Dealing with death, suicide, depression, isolation, and rejection left me feeling unloved and unworthy. I was such a mess. People walked out of my life, and I thought it was over. As I took the time out to reflect upon events after events, I even began to think that I was the issue, and that something was wrong with me. I must have been too full of myself and so selfish that I thought I was God. I thought I could handle everything and anything. When things were out of my control and it did not go my way, I thought it was my fault. I thought I did not try hard enough so I did not get what I wanted.

I realized that sometimes, we all just have to stop being our own God. Instead, we have to let go, and let God. When you do not know what to do, and are bombarded by too many thoughts, just let go and reflect upon what is important to you. Trust in God that things are happening in YOUR favor. Trust that God will pull you out of the situation He put you in, with double the benefit. God is preparing you to become the person you have dreamed of being. Uhm, in that perspective, the worst is not that bad, huh?

Well, as of now, I am not exactly out of the dark tunnel. I do not know where I will be or what will happen to me. But, I am surviving, and learning how to take on the everyday challenge. I am so excited about what God has to offer. I am excited to be in a better position than I am now. I am excited to see myself live in my highest potential. I am making it! So can you!

Focus on little steps that you can accomplish. Stay true to who you are. Do NOT settle for anything less. As long as you keep doing the good to those around you, some things can one day turn into your favor unexpectedly. Life if more interesting when there are challenges you have to overcome anyway, right? In the midst of adversities and you are lost, know that the destination is just around the corner. Please, do not give up too early! You are more talented than you or other people around you may think. Do not let these adversities take you away from you. Enjoy the journey. It is in the darkest of times, you can see the stars that shine, the brightest!

If no one loves you, I LOVE YOU!

Personal Statement - Insight

2011-04-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

Pay attention to the problems and find ways to turn their energy in a positive direction. By all means, don’t hide from life just because you’re afraid of coming across a few problems.

Let the problems come, and let the problems go. Whatever the problems may be, engage yourself purposefully and enthusiastically with the best life has to offer.

— Ralph Marston

As you are writing your personal statement, people often highlight problems they have encountered. In describing adversities, people tend to dwell on misery. But, just keep in mind that the reader is not trying to look into someone that cannot get out of their problems. Admissions would like to see someone who has overcome an adversity, and moved forward in a positive direction.

So, when you are reviewing your draft, please ask yourself a few questions:

1) What experience did I encounter?

2) What was my role in the experience?

3) How did I overcome it?

4) What did I learn?

To wrap this gift up, it would be great if you could describe how it motivated you toward medicine.

Good Luck!

From Another Student

2011-03-26T12:04:00.001-07:00

"Often times, I do wish I had a father figure to talk to and learn from as I become a grown man. Yet at other times, my hurt and anger outweigh any desire to have him in my life. Over the years, I've slowly started to accept the fact that my father is never going to be there for me."

From A Student...

2011-03-21T22:56:00.001-07:00

"Coping with my new situation was difficult but I'm thankful I found music. I turned to my piano. Whenever I felt like no one was listening, I sang, and then I felt heard. Whenever I felt lonely, I would play, and then I felt comforted. I began to compose songs and through writing, I felt an inundation of joy and beauty that overpowered my pain and fear. From my agony, I created art. "

On Your MARK...

2011-03-20T00:42:00.000-07:00

My inhalation and exhalation became closer and closer together. My breathing patterns began to synchronize with my father’s as I watched the two hospice nurses attempt to turn him to his side to avoid bed sores. With the tumors that metastasized from his lungs to his bones, liver, and brain, a movement of any magnitude was so painful that while watching him, I could not scream with a sound or cry with tears. The nurses looked to me for instructions, as they did not understand Cantonese, and were not sure if they could continue to turn my father.

Personal Statement - All About ME!

2011-03-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's ALL ABOUT ME! The only time you get to go selfish! Don't just focus on your mom, don't just focus on how your grandma died, focus on how YOU felt during those times. No, I'm not saying you shouldn't talk about situations that shaped why you want to become a physician. One mistake that people do is describing too much about the epiphany that they lost themselves in their essay. I read many good intentions, many good ideas, but none of which relevant to how the student felt or why he or she wanted to become a physician. Describing too much about an incident takes space away from YOU. You only get 5,300 characters, use them wisely. It's not clear unless you explicitly state so in your essay.

I, too, am making this mistake over and over again! Ahhhhhh.

AMCAS Application - Activities Section

2011-03-06T14:19:00.000-08:00

For those who are interested in applying to medical school this year, here are some things to consider while completing the "activities" section of the AMCAS application.

Yes, you have to write a description of things you can done in your life! (Well, mostly undergraduate years.)
Please be aware that you would have to put your accomplishments in the following categories:

Teaching/Turoring
Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations
Honors/Awards/Recognitions
Leadership – Not Listed Elsewhere
Community Service/Volunteer – Medical/Clinical
Research/Lab
Paid Employment – not Military
Publications

Please note that other than describing your activities, accomplishments, and categorizing them, you also have to put down the duration of your activity, as well as approximate hours per week dedicated for the project. Of course, the longer you have been with a project, it makes sense that you have less time devoted to other extracurricular activities.

I also want to mention that you only get to put down 15 activities, choose wisely. There isn't one specific type of activity that may be better to include than others. It really depends on the schools, whether they value research more, or academics. But of course, if you have choosing between music and something like clinical experience, you should probably put the clinical experience down, as it may have directly helped with your decision toward a career in medicine.

Personal Statement tips coming soon! Good Luck!

Dilemmas of Christian Medical Students

2011-02-24T23:40:00.000-08:00

Uhm, I never really thought about how Christian values can contradict some philosophies of medicine. This website gives a pretty interesting perspective! Please keep in mind that the website is based on someone's opinions. Don't take everything as facts. Always question what you read!!

http://www.bmei.org/jbem/volume3/num2/mosley_myths_about_medical_school.php

Some of my views that I may need to think about in the future, if I get into medical school that is:
1. STD prevention - an a former sex educator, I know that silence around sexuality actually kills. It's much better to openly talk about it. At this era, sex is everywhere. You see it on TV and internet, hear it on the radio, there's no way to avoid it. If that's the case, then it's better to educate people about sexuality, so people can make informed decisions. I don't think sex is wrong. Actually, I don't think pre-martial sex is wrong. But I think the meaning of sex is beyond physical attraction, beyond mere stimulation or enjoyment. Sharing your body with another person is not a joke. It shouldn't be. I think sex is about trust, love, and the commitment to love. People don't like to get married nowadays. Commitment to love one another is as close as it can get.

2. Abortion - I think it should be a woman's right. As a woman, if I were raped and then got pregnant, I don't think I would have the heart to have that kid. Life is valuable, life is a blessing. I think it would take ALOT of forgiveness for a woman to have that kid. I think it should be the woman's choice, because if she can't give happiness to the kid, why have the kid?

3. Gay Rights - Aye...people ask me this all the time. Honestly, I think love can cross boundaries.Given that there are more women than men on this earth. Maybe homosexuality would actually fill more of women's hearts? Marriage is universally defined as a commitment between a man and a woman. I think that's ideal, as they could produce offsprings. But, from a science perspective, homosexuality is not a choice. It's hard to blame those who love their own sex.

Yes, some of my views contradict Christian philosophies. Does this me I'm not a true Christian? I don't think so. I am confident with my relationship with God, and nothing can change that.

The Movement to Create More Birthdays

2011-02-11T12:03:00.000-08:00

Similar to New Years and Christmas, Birthdays make people reflect upon the previous year, the good and the bad. Some people might dread it because it's another year "wasted," it's another year of "no accomplishments." The thing is, we cannot measure our values by how much we accomplish. We are not human doings, so don't judge ourselves by how much we have done. We are human beings, just BE. For me, I think being able to celebrate birthdays is a gift. It is a chance to live a life of a purpose, it's a chance to love and be loved.

I first learned about the movement for more birthdays from American Cancer Society (ACS) in the radiation oncology room of St. Francis Memorial Hospital. I was touched by the flyer for more birthdays as I was losing hope for my father who wasn't doing better from radiation therapy.

The movement to more birthdays include: staying well, getting well, finding cures, and fighting back. The only way this concept works is if you ADVOCATE FOR YOUSELF (which includes positive thinking), and GIVE BACK.

Don't forget that everyday is a gift. Don't take it for granted. Don't settle for less. You are worth it.

Musicians join more birthdays with ACS as well! http://morebirthdays.com/artist/usher

Join the movement, be an advocate.

It's a gift to be able to give a gift. Treasure it. Here's to many more birthdays to you. Know that you are loved.

Love,

Poisson

Relationships in Medical School?

2011-02-08T23:34:00.000-08:00

I have a good amount of friends in medical school right now. They make relationships sound almost impossible. It is very common for those who are in a relationship breaks up, and those who are single stay single. What's left?

Medical school is so intense that it can suck the life out of people. Students are forced to be focused. It is very difficult to think about anything else outside of the quiz today, projects due tomorrow, and all the studying and classes to attend everyday.

Relationship wise, being the medical student is not as tough as being the partner of a medical student. They have to be especially understanding because their partner doesn't have much time, and is undergoing stress all the time. Of course, there are successful couples who were able to undergo the challenge, and still able to reach the end goal together and get married. I asked some couples how they were able to work that out together. They said, "you just can't plan things like this. If you do, it will never happen." This is one of the few situations where I thin planning ahead might not exactly work out the way you want.

Anyhow, it takes two to make a relationship work, especially in medical school. Both persons have to believe in it, communicate and negotiate, and willing to make changes in themselves for the relationship. Timing and work make the situation difficult, that's true, but there may never be a "good" time to start something. It wouldn't make sense to put the relationship on hold indefinitely because of uncertainty. 爱情不是等你有空的時候，再去珍惜的.

What - Tiger Mom??

2011-02-06T23:54:00.000-08:00

There has been so much discussion about "tiger mom." When I initially heard about this phenomenon, I thought "yesssssss" - as it was just a good idea in general to have some press about Asian people in general! Not many newspaper or magazine articles are written about Asian Americans. However, as I read more and more about it, I thought many of the things mentioned didn't really apply to me at all. My mother, by no doubt, was very strict to me; But she wasn't a tiger mom. With an elementary-level education, she wanted me to do good in school. At the same time, she didn't know how to teach me topics I didn't understand. Making dim sum 24/7 at a back alley with my dad made it even more impossible for them to support me academically.

Although my mom values education, she thought graduating for me was more than enough. It was more education than both of my parents have ever received in total. She thinks it would be idea for me to just find and job and help out the family financially. Thus, she did not approve my idea of pursuing medicine. She thinks it's a long journey that's not worth the money for. In fact, some doctors don't even make a lot. She kept telling me that by the time I graduate from medical school, she wouldn't be around anymore!

My mom didn't really restrict me on television watching, or limiting people interaction because of school. Maybe because I grew up in such an impacted place all the kids in the same condo would just go play with each other. My parents never had time for me, anyway. Me watching television, playing video games, or hanging out with other kids pretty much helped my parents raise me in Hong Kong!

Here's an article my friend wrote in response to the tiger mom phenomenon:
http://www.asianweek.com/2011/01/27/the-heart-of-the-matter-a-response-to-tiger-mom/

Acne Medicine and Headaches

2011-02-02T23:12:00.000-08:00

I just learned from the neurology clinic today that a common procedure done in the office is lumbar puncture. A lumbar puncture or a spinal tap, where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from the spinal canal for testing. It is commonly done for people who have migraine headaches. It turns out, some people get headaches bad enough to have to do lumbar puncture due to acne medications such as Doxycyclin!

Acne medications can cause pseudotumor cerebri (an accumulation of fluid around the brain), which causes headaches, as well as giddiness, ringing in the ears, nausea, and blurred vision.

Medication is probably not the best in solving acne problems. Eat a balanced diet, be physically active, and SMILE.

Financial Assistance Program for Medical School Applicants

2011-02-02T00:02:00.000-08:00

I know medical school is expensive. There are different ways to help fund your application process.

1.Ask your medical school adviser - There may be programs from your school that can help For me, the Biology Scholars Program of University of California, Berkeley helped pay for 10 schools I was applying to.

2. Financial Assistance Program of AAMC - There are limitations (I think the applicant has to be in three times poverty level), but it pays for 13 primary applications, and all the secondary applications that the schools allow (which almost all of them do). Please check out www.aamc.com/fap for the application. I encourage you to apply!

3. Financial Assistance Program of AACOM - This one has similar requirements as AAMC's. However, this program accepts less students. So, apply early!!!

New Medical Schools

2011-01-04T22:33:00.000-08:00

I just found out from the AAMC website that there are THREE new medical schools. I have included some general admissions information and links below, please check them out, and see if that schools is right for you!

1. The Commonwealth Medical College (please feel free to check out the link to the dean's blog on the left column on my blog) is in Pennsylvania. It emphasizes on its website that applicants should have at least a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a combined MCAT score of no less than 25 to apply for admission to TCMC.
http://www.thecommonwealthmedical.com/

2. Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine is in Michigan. It emphasizes on its website that applicants should have at least a 3.00 science GPA, and 3.20 overall 3.20 GPA, anf an overall MCATS score of 26 or higher.
http://www.oakland.edu/medicine/admissions/requirements

3. Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is...you guessed it, in Virginia! Last year, this school's pool of 45 students had the MCAT between 30-42, with the Median being 32, and Mean 33. The average GPA of their students was a 3.5.
http://www.vtc.vt.edu/education/admissions/index.html

Good luck with the application process!

News, News, News!

2010-12-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

Let me spread the news by using the BIG 5:

What? I am...REAPPLYING to medical schools!

When? 2011, and if I do get into schools, I'll start August 2012. If I do not get in, I'll going for my masters of Public Health or Business Administration.

Where? Both Allopathic and Osteopathic schools in California. I do not think I will apply for Caribbean schools right now. It is an option. I went to a seminar one time for Ross University. I like how the Caribbeans schools are connected with the U.S. residency programs, but based on the location, I would have to give it some more thought. Well, Caribbean schools do two application cycles. Maybe I will think about it after I have applied to allopathic and osteopathic schools.

Why? Because I have a goal. I am doing everything I can to protect and pursue my goal. Yes, I was knocked down by rejections upon rejections the first time around. Yes, I developed phobias and anxiety from my past. But, I really do not want myself to stop my from my dream or being a physician. There is nothing else I want more right now. I have not found anything better. If someone wants me to switch field, that person would have to try really really hard to convince me.

How? I'll be applying in June/July of 2010, working on secondary applications until December or January, and then hopefully start the interviewing process, and star school in August 2012!

Christmas is Scary...

2010-12-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

Since the period between Dec 07 to Jan 08, I have dreaded every x-mas and new year.

How nice would it be to have selective retrograde amnesia? You can filter things you don't want to remember!

The Role of Convenience

2010-12-05T01:25:00.000-08:00

Convenience made me lazy. It made me not want to work hard for things as convenience makes things easily available for me. When did walking more than two blocks become too far? When did we start buying things online without actually seeing, feeling, and touching the item in person?

Convenience does not question passion. It is the inconvenience, the challenges, the problems that can test your passion and test you how much you want something. When you have endured and perservered through the interruptions on your way to your goal, it will feel so much better when you actually achieve your goal.

When you get something without trying hard for it, you won't know how to treasure it. This goes for love, for work, for LIFE. You won't feel a thing if you lose these things.

For what you love, would you be willing to take a risk? Would you be willing to challenge yourself and fight for it, even if it's inconvenient? Even if it hurts to fight?

It is not about whether you have fallen, but whether you can get back up every time you fall. FAILING is if you don't take a step and actually TRY. You will never succeed if you don't even try. If things aren't going your way because it's not successful right now, just ask yourself whether it's something you LOVE doing. When you have passion, success will follow, and money will follow...

Take a risk, challenge yourself, and in the mean time, BE POSITIVE.

GRATITUDE can alter your ATTITUDE. Be thankful, you'll see what matters to you.

I hope you have the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, courage to change the things you can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Doctors Communicating With Patients Through E-Mail?

2010-12-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

One of the proudest features of some medical institutions nowadays is their commitment in narrowing the gap between physicians and patients. One of the things institutions have adopted are facilitated by the advancement of technology. Going online, not people are able to making medical appointments, view their laboratory results, and even email their personal physicians.

How do physicians actually feel about their patients emailing them? I found an interesting article on iHealthBeat. Check it out below!

Sixty-four percent of health IT professionals surveyed said a lack of reimbursement is a key barrier keeping physicians from communicating with patients through e-mail, according to a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society survey.

Fifty percent of respondents said they view an increase in workload as a key barrier, while 47% said data security and privacy issues were a barrier.

According to the survey, 35% of respondents said they had never initiated an e-mail conversation with their physician about clinical issues.

Meanwhile, 14% of respondents said their organization currently is working on a policy for electronic communication.

Read more: http://www.ihealthbeat.org/data-points/2010/what-are-top-barriers-keeping-doctors-from-communicating-with-patients-through-email.aspx#ixzz175JorcW5

Insight from a Writer!?

2010-12-01T22:35:00.000-08:00

张小娴：愛一個男人，可以愛他的英俊，愛他的聰明，愛他的才華，但是，請不要只愛這些。他的英俊、他的聰明、他的才華、他的錢、他的事業，都是屬於他的，只有他對你的好，才是他對你的情意。是這份情意讓你在他的人生中有了一席之地； 是他對你的好，使你變得獨一無二，也使他變得獨一無二

Chinese Version of Twitter

2010-11-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

I'm such a fob I think I like sina weibo better. Gotta follow my Chinese celebrities!

http://t.sina.com.cn/curryfishballs

爱情不是等你有空的時候，再去珍惜的

2010-11-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

你忙，忘了我需要人陪；你忙，忘了我會寂寞；你忙，忘了我在等你電话；你忙，忘了你對我的承诺。------ 但你知不知道，爱情不是等你有空的時候，再去珍惜的.