big names at MCW?

[runnermed]

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hi everyone,

I was thinking of applying to the Medical College of Wisconsin for Med School. I have done a good deal of cancer research during undergrad and want to continue with that in med School. The problem is I don't know if I want to go into med onc or rad onc. I know I wont't have any idea until I experience both, but i have heard good things about the med onc research there and not much about the rad onc side. I would love to keep my options open and go to a school with strength in both areas. By looking over previous posts I have noticed how important it is to get good rec letters from the big wigs in the rad onc field in order to match. I looked at the MCW website and i was hoping someone would know iif either of these two names would carry any weight in the field- Frank Wilson, Roger Byhardt or Beth Erickson-Whitmann? Thanks a lot for any insight you can share with me.

 

[Butch]

MCW has an outstanding radiation oncology department.

There have been several messages on this forum by individuals who are applying to medical school. I would encourage you and others to be open-minded. It is difficult to truly know what you are interested in doing without experience. I originally thought about neurology/neurosurgery before coming to medical school. That obviously changed over time to the care of cancer patients and, ultimately, radiation oncology. While I feel that radiation oncology is the best field in medicine, please be open-minded and explore other options.

hi everyone,

I was thinking of applying to the Medical College of Wisconsin for Med School. I have done a good deal of cancer research during undergrad and want to continue with that in med School. The problem is I don't know if I want to go into med onc or rad onc. I know I wont't have any idea until I experience both, but i have heard good things about the med onc research there and not much about the rad onc side. I would love to keep my options open and go to a school with strength in both areas. By looking over previous posts I have noticed how important it is to get good rec letters from the big wigs in the rad onc field in order to match. I looked at the MCW website and i was hoping someone would know iif either of these two names would carry any weight in the field- Frank Wilson, Roger Byhardt or Beth Erickson-Whitmann? Thanks a lot for any insight you can share with me.

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

Hey dude--I'm in my third year at MCW and, while I admittedly know painfully little about either rad or med onc here (or anywhere for that matter), I do know that CA research is a big area of emphasis for the administration in terms of faculty recruiting. We (I say we because I had absolutely nothing to do with it) just hired a new biochem chair that apparently is very well known in those circles. There is also a new research facility in the works now, a large part of which will be devoted to CA research. So, that's that.

That said, I would encourage you to explore other areas when choosing a med school. They'll all have some researchers that you can hook up with, but you should also be very in tune to the curriculum, the happiness of the studen body, and how well you fit in.

Anyway, I hope you like what you see in MCW--I've had three of the best years of my life here. Oh, and if you have any other ?s about CA research here, feel free to ask someone else, because you've already exhausted my knowledge...

Peace.

 

[runnermed]

Thanks for your all your help. I should have been a bit more specific. My first choice is MCW for family reasons as well as many personal reasons. I am very interested in continuing cancer research, because of a personal episode with cancer as a child. My other area of interest in Pediatrics. I already know that MCW is great for that (Childrens of WI). I realize that it is foolish to set my specialty in stone, but after shadowing MANY doctors, I have narrowed it down to Peds, Med Onc or Rad Onc. In order to keep my options open, I want to attend a school that is strong in all three areas. I knew MCW was strong in Med Onc and Peds, I was unsure of Rad Onc. Thanks for all the information, its been a big help. One last question, maybe I am a bit naive, but HawkeyeKid, what does CA stand for? Cancer ________?

Thanks again for all the help

Hey dude--I'm in my third year at MCW and, while I admittedly know painfully little about either rad or med onc here (or anywhere for that matter), I do know that CA research is a big area of emphasis for the administration in terms of faculty recruiting. We (I say we because I had absolutely nothing to do with it) just hired a new biochem chair that apparently is very well known in those circles. There is also a new research facility in the works now, a large part of which will be devoted to CA research. So, that's that.

That said, I would encourage you to explore other areas when choosing a med school. They'll all have some researchers that you can hook up with, but you should also be very in tune to the curriculum, the happiness of the studen body, and how well you fit in.

Anyway, I hope you like what you see in MCW--I've had three of the best years of my life here. Oh, and if you have any other ?s about CA research here, feel free to ask someone else, because you've already exhausted my knowledge...

Peace.

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

yeah, CA = cancer. my guess is that it originated because we don't like to say "cancer" and saying "C.A." instead somehow makes us feel better. too bad we don't have a problem saying "hypercholesterolemia," because i could really use an abbreviation for that. anyway, glad i could help. you're also right that CHW will give you an excellent peds experience--i learned from some fabulous attendings and, while i'm not going into peds, i had a terrific month there. feel free to PM me if you have any MCW-related ?s.

 

[stephew]

i know one of the new attendings going to MCW. nice guy.