Bioethics/ Social Work

Started by Chromium Surfer
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Chromium Surfer

Chromium Surfer

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Hi SDN,

Thanks for all the great help and insight that I have been provided so far, it has really helped me to navigate the pre-med journey. Today I have 2 questions.

Would getting a LOR from a bioethics professor fulfill 1 out of the 2 Science LOR writers that I need? My other future LOR writer is a chemistry professor.

Also, how can a student interested in serving the underserved and health disparities, distinguish themselves from a social worker? I have started doing research with a professor who works to improve health literacy, in addition to minoring in a field related to this issue. I am also volunteering at a clinic for refugees. So far I'm not getting much patient contact due to the severe hoops and hurdles of the parent hospital. Would it be better to serve in a capacity like a food bank, instead?

Adults close to me have told me that I'm looking more like someone who wants to go into social work than Medicine. Is this true, and if so how can I improve my approach?

Thanks for your time, and all responses are appreciated!
 
Medicine IS social work!!!

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. Other examples include Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

The whole idea behind this is to demonstrate your altruism and humanism.

Chromium Surfer said:
Also, how can a student interested in serving the underserved and health disparities, distinguish themselves from a social worker? I have started doing research with a professor who works to improve health literacy, in addition to minoring in a field related to this issue. I am also volunteering at a clinic for refugees. So far I'm not getting much patient contact due to the severe hoops and hurdles of the parent hospital. Would it be better to serve in a capacity like a food bank, instead?

Adults close to me have told me that I'm looking more like someone who wants to go into social work than Medicine. Is this true, and if so how can I improve my approach?

Thanks for your time, and all responses are appreciated!
Click to expand...
 
Goro said:
Medicine IS social work!!!

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. Other examples include Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

The whole idea behind this is to demonstrate your altruism and humanism.
Click to expand...
Goro, thanks for your input!

That was what I was thinking as well. However the adult told me that doing all of these things, and focusing on serving underserved individuals will make it seem that I would be better suited as a social worker. The adult told me that I need to demonstrate my passion for medicine in a way that is separate from my altruistic endeavors in order to show that I will be a future doctor rather than a future social worker. How would I demonstrate a passion for medicine, while continuing to serve. Or by serving am I demonstrating a a passion for medicine as well?
 
Does the "adult" you were having this discussion with know anything about medical school admissions????

You demonstrate your passion for Medicine by being around sick and injured people, and their families. You demonstrate that you are a person destined for a service profession (and that's what medicine is) by helping others, period.

This is why the ECs are so important. And the people who treat these things as checklists tend to be less successful than those who truly love what they're doing.

Chromium Surfer said:
Goro, thanks for your input!

That was what I was thinking as well. However the adult told me that doing all of these things, and focusing on serving underserved individuals will make it seem that I would be better suited as a social worker. The adult told me that I need to demonstrate my passion for medicine in a way that is separate from my altruistic endeavors in order to show that I will be a future doctor rather than a future social worker. How would I demonstrate a passion for medicine, while continuing to serve. Or by serving am I demonstrating a a passion for medicine as well?
Click to expand...
 
The adult is not part of medical school admissions. They have had a successful career in business, and picked up a job in healthcare on the side because of their interests. Due to their side job they interact with a lot of doctors, and thats where they draw their arguments and opinions from. Since I'm just an undergrad student without much life experience its hard to win our debates haha. Thanks again for your input!
 
LizzyM said:
Can you answer the question, "why medicine rather than social work or sociology of health communications? "
"How have you tested your interest in a career in medicine?"
"Can you point to any specific interactions with patients that has sealed the deal for you?"
Click to expand...
I am still relatively early in the process so I have a couple more years till I apply. I don't think I have enough experience to answer your first question. In regards to your second question, can this be attained solely through volunteer work with communities, or does this require some other activity, shadowing perhaps?
Hopefully by the time I apply I will have a multitude of these types of interactions, and be able to answer your third question thoroughly.

Thanks for your time!
 
Chromium Surfer said:
I am still relatively early in the process so I have a couple more years till I apply. I don't think I have enough experience to answer your first question. In regards to your second question, can this be attained solely through volunteer work with communities, or does this require some other activity, shadowing perhaps?
Hopefully by the time I apply I will have a multitude of these types of interactions, and be able to answer your third question thoroughly.

Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...
OK, so now you know why we want people to have volunteer experiences, maybe work experiences, plus shadowing to get a good idea of what a career in medicine is all about and, ideally, to consider other related professions, too, as it is very difficult and expensive to shift gears after matriculating in medical school but far easier before to decide that a career in another related profession (eg clinical social work, heath policy, etc) would be better.

Get those experiences so that you can answer those questions as an informed adult.
 
LizzyM said:
OK, so now you know why we want people to have volunteer experiences, maybe work experiences, plus shadowing to get a good idea of what a career in medicine is all about and, ideally, to consider other related professions, too, as it is very difficult and expensive to shift gears after matriculating in medical school but far easier before to decide that a career in another related profession (eg clinical social work, heath policy, etc) would be better.

Get those experiences so that you can answer those questions as an informed adult.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for your input! If you don't mind me asking just to sum up what you're saying. If I can find a meaningful volunteer opportunity that is personal to me, besides demonstrating altruism, will that demonstrate a passion for medicine above other fields? Or will a passion for medicine be demonstrated through clinical research and other clinically related activities like shadowing and health internships? I ask that because I applied and was able to get a 1 year internship to a fairly prestigious hospital in my state thats also nationally known and I want to make sure I utilize this opportunity in the best way. Thanks for your time again!
 
Look, here's the deal: You need to show AdComs that you know what you're getting into, and show off your altruistic, humanism side. We need to know that you're going to like being around sick or injured people for the next 40 years.

Here's another way of looking at it: would you buy a new car without test driving it? Buy a new suit or dress without trying it on??

We're also not looking for merely for good medical students, we're looking for people who will make good doctors, and 4.0 GPA robots are a dime-a-dozen.

I've seen plenty of posts here from high GPA/high MCAT candidates who were rejected because they had little patient contact experience.

What are you going to say when asked how you know you are suited for a life of caring for the sick and suffering? “That you just know”? Imagine how that will go over!



Chromium Surfer said:
Thank you very much for your input! If you don't mind me asking just to sum up what you're saying. If I can find a meaningful volunteer opportunity that is personal to me, besides demonstrating altruism, will that demonstrate a passion for medicine above other fields? Or will a passion for medicine be demonstrated through clinical research and other clinically related activities like shadowing and health internships? I ask that because I applied and was able to get a 1 year internship to a fairly prestigious hospital in my state thats also nationally known and I want to make sure I utilize this opportunity in the best way. Thanks for your time again!
Click to expand...
 
Goro said:
Look, here's the deal: You need to show AdComs that you know what you're getting into, and show off your altruistic, humanism side. We need to know that you're going to like being around sick or injured people for the next 40 years.

Here's another way of looking at it: would you buy a new car without test driving it? Buy a new suit or dress without trying it on??

We're also not looking for merely for good medical students, we're looking for people who will make good doctors, and 4.0 GPA robots are a dime-a-dozen.

I've seen plenty of posts here from high GPA/high MCAT candidates who were rejected because they had little patient contact experience.

What are you going to say when asked how you know you are suited for a life of caring for the sick and suffering? “That you just know”? Imagine how that will go over!
Click to expand...

Goro,
Thank you for your candid advice. I guess the issue I had was just differentiating between demonstrating a passion for a service profession versus a passion for serving as a doctor specifically. I have taken all of your salient points to heart, and I will really delve into what it means to serve others. By the time I apply for medical school, I hope to cogently answer the question "Why medicine?".
 
I'm currently a social worker and I got asked this question at a couple interviews.

The correct answer is "More money, duh".
 
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