- Joined
- Feb 13, 2011
- Messages
- 132
- Reaction score
- 57
@AgentQuestion I'm a newly minted MS1 at Penn (still feels weird to say that...), so I'll give a newbies perspective. There are so many opportunities for community involvement at Penn, it can be overwhelming. If you are into free clinics, there are a number of them, serving the different underserved populations in Philly. They vary in terms of the role you play (more vs. less autonomy), whether they are student led or resident/attending led etc.
There are multiple certificates you can get that have large community service involvement (2 community health ones, women's health, global health) as well as a bridging the gaps service opportunity. There is outreach to the indigent through CHOP, the list goes on and on (here is a good site with overviews of some of the things available at Penn: http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/educational.shtml)
As far as institutional/faculty support: it is out of this world. Classes haven't started yet and we are already hearing about orientations and information sessions for the community outreach opportunities.
As you can tell, I'm thrilled to be at Penn. Some of the reasons I chose it are (in no particular order of importance):
1) The people: the faculty are obviously top-notch, but they also came across as really approachable and friendly
2) My class: one of the most talented, fun and dynamic groups I've met.
3) Facilities: CHOP (arguable the best children's hospital), HUP, the VA: lot's of great training sites. Plus a shiny new medical school
4) 1.5 year preclinical curriculum: getting to the good stuff faster.
5) Insane board scores (apparently the Penn average is the best in the country)
6) Consistently solid residency placements in the geographic region I am interested in.
7) Philadelphia is a fantastic city. Great places to eat, BYOB, and reasonably affordable
8) An institution that supports whatever you are interested in, medically related or not. I know that if I want to do business, or any type of research, or global health, or whatever, Penn can make it happen.
Hope that's helpful, and to anybody else who has questions, don't hesitate to ask!
There are multiple certificates you can get that have large community service involvement (2 community health ones, women's health, global health) as well as a bridging the gaps service opportunity. There is outreach to the indigent through CHOP, the list goes on and on (here is a good site with overviews of some of the things available at Penn: http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/educational.shtml)
As far as institutional/faculty support: it is out of this world. Classes haven't started yet and we are already hearing about orientations and information sessions for the community outreach opportunities.
As you can tell, I'm thrilled to be at Penn. Some of the reasons I chose it are (in no particular order of importance):
1) The people: the faculty are obviously top-notch, but they also came across as really approachable and friendly
2) My class: one of the most talented, fun and dynamic groups I've met.
3) Facilities: CHOP (arguable the best children's hospital), HUP, the VA: lot's of great training sites. Plus a shiny new medical school
4) 1.5 year preclinical curriculum: getting to the good stuff faster.
5) Insane board scores (apparently the Penn average is the best in the country)
6) Consistently solid residency placements in the geographic region I am interested in.
7) Philadelphia is a fantastic city. Great places to eat, BYOB, and reasonably affordable
8) An institution that supports whatever you are interested in, medically related or not. I know that if I want to do business, or any type of research, or global health, or whatever, Penn can make it happen.
Hope that's helpful, and to anybody else who has questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Last edited:
