Books to read for interviews

[VaulterGirl]

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Anyone know of good books on healthcare policy, insurance, managed care...? Or any other materials that helped prepare you for the interview process.

Thanks I appreciate your input.

 

[GoinBack2Cali?]

Anyone know of good books on healthcare policy, insurance, managed care...? Or any other materials that helped prepare you for the interview process.

Thanks I appreciate your input.

Out of 11 interviews I only got 1 healthcare/policy/etc type of question. Just make sure you Know your AMCAS EC's well and have a couple extra to throw in at the end. Interviewing is chill.

 

[foofish]

Anyone know of good books on healthcare policy, insurance, managed care...? Or any other materials that helped prepare you for the interview process.

Thanks I appreciate your input.

I liked Understanding Health Policy by Bodenheimer...it's fairly short by policy book standards, and written from/for the clinical physician's perspective. It also covers insurance, and the evolution of the American health care system. I was also never asked a health policy question, but it's a good read if you're like me (and most premeds) and feeling pretty ignorant about the topic. I think it's a fairly popular choice on SDN, and it's on Amazon.

For ethics, I liked this website by UWash: http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/index.html

 

[BigRedPremed]

Out of 11 interviews I only got 1 healthcare/policy/etc type of question. Just make sure you Know your AMCAS EC's well and have a couple extra to throw in at the end. Interviewing is chill.

I would love to have your interviews.

BTW: I'm interested in the answer to the OP's question as well.

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

"Complications" - Atul Gawande

"How to not F*CK up interviews" - SDN

 

[ssquared]

For a few books from the public health perspective:

Social Injustice and Public Health, Levy & Sidel

Social Determinants of Health, Marmot & Wilkinson

The Impact of Inequality , Wilkinson

They're all pretty similar, but they do present a lot of very useful (and surprising) information about health from a population point of view. I would say it's useful for anybody considering entering into the healthcare field.

 

[VaulterGirl]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Waiting4Drexel]

I've been recommending "Healthcare Meltdown" by Bob LeBow to everyone. The book advocates a single-payer system, but even if you don't agree with it, it gives you a lot of info about what's wrong with the system and ideas to fix it. I think this is a must-read for interviews if you don't know much about the health care system. I also read "understanding health policy" by bodenheimer, but it was pretty long and not that helpful. I would read it if you have time.

For ethics questions I read Kaplan's USMLE Ethics book. It is pretty short. It doesn't really go into arguments for or against issues, it just tells you what the laws are. From there you can develop your own argument, I think...

 

[Waiting4Drexel]

BTW, i had three interviews and I had both ethics questions and health care questions in all three. Best of luck.

 

[Wanna_B_Scutty]

A lot of interviewers like to hear your thoughts on current events- at least, mine did. Reading the New York Times online each morning is free and will ensure that you know at least a little bit about anything they might throw at you.

Good luck!

 

[hayden]

go to the amsa webiste, they have a lot of stuff about healthcare policy

 

[lilold3chordme]

A lot of interviewers like to hear your thoughts on current events- at least, mine did. Reading the New York Times online each morning is free and will ensure that you know at least a little bit about anything they might throw at you.

Good luck!

I agree with this suggestion. If you have to pick your poison, I'd go with staying abreast of current events in the healthcare realm. You'll get exposed to policy issues, general health care issues, and current event issues. It shows you're more aware of the world around you and can talk about stuff beyond SN2 reactions...

However, if you're really concerned about policy stuff, I also have read Bodenheimer's book, and it is a very nice and accessible summary of the present system.

 

[TheRealDrDorian]

Just found this, and I will use it.

Hope it helps those interested.

http://www.amsa.org/hp/hpsimple.cfm

 

[gujuDoc]

Anyone know of good books on healthcare policy, insurance, managed care...? Or any other materials that helped prepare you for the interview process.

Thanks I appreciate your input.

The number one source for interview questions is SDN's Interview Feedback. Go to the main page and look under the premed link. It should be there.

Other sources for potential questions include Kaplan's "Get into med school: A strategic Approach"

If you've taken the Kaplan MCAT course and still have your materials, there should be a slim book called "Med school application workbook" or something along those lines. That has the same info in the Get into med school: a strategic approach book has on interview questions and types and overall advice.

As per things related to healthcare, well the SDN topics in healthcare forum is one source. I'd also look in the AMA and AMSA websites for information on healthcare news.

 

[AttackNME]

i've found my campus library to be a great resource which had lots of random topics that you'd never think about, a good thing to try to check out if u gots time

 

[sendwich]

Second Opionions By Groopman was a good and quick read.
Complications was great as well.

 

[VaulterGirl]

Just found this, I will use it.

Hope it helps those interested.

http://www.amsa.org/hp/hpsimple.cfm

This is great. Thanks! 🙂

 

[samwise2]

--The Spirit Catches You
--Pathologies of Power
--Psychiatry:Out of its Mind
--Birth of the Clinic

 

[Disinence2]

I liked "Critical Condition". Really helped me for "What are the negative aspects of being a doctor?"

Theres a great website out there for ethics that really helped me out..i think it was lecture notes from wash U perhaps? I can't find it again, anyone know where it went?

 

[gsmithers68]

Anyone else read Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope? I thought it was a great read and definitely noteworthy for this conversation about books to read before an interview especially for midwest schools 😀 He has some very fresh and new perspectives on everything from health care to Iraq. Check it out.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

My recommended reading list:
General Ethics and Leadership: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Clinical Ethics: So There Were These Twins.... by Dr. Josef Mengele (I also highly recommend his followup The Tourist's Guide to the Hidden Secret Places of Argentina )
Social Theory: Mein Kampf or Pol Pot's Bodies? What Bodies?
Interpersonal communications: How to Reign Over and Influence People by Idi Amin
Setting Goals and Achieving them: How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator

 

[DropkickMurphy]

"The Spirit Catches You...." made me want to fellate a shotgun. If you have have lived a sheltered life and you're therefore still into the touchy feely, "I want to feel for my fellow man" type of drivel....it is the book for you.

Personally I can't see why (other than giving one answers to BS the ADCOMs with) this book still sells. The only use I have for it is tinder for lighting the fireplace in the living room.

 

[kyley3k]

My recommended reading list:
General Ethics and Leadership: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Or, if you're looking to lead by misdirection by promising unity: The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Or, if you're looking to lead by misdirection by promising unity: The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Nah, I prefer to rule with an iron fist.....

 

[greg1184]

I am suprised nobody mentioned: The Medical School Interview - Secret and A System for Success by Dr. Jeremiah Fleenor

Excellent book that prepares you specifically for the interview. It is specially helpful to see it from the side of the ADCOMM. I highly recommend it.

 

[Stolenspatulas]

I am suprised nobody mentioned: The Medical School Interview - Secret and A System for Success by Dr. Jeremiah Fleenor

Excellent book that prepares you specifically for the interview. It is specially helpful to see it from the side of the ADCOMM. I highly recommend it.

i bought the book and felt it was entirely captain obvious and a waste of money.
everything you need to know about the interview process is self-explanatory/found on SDN.

NOTES: (I took during prehealth advising session at my ugrad)
-know your activities
-relax
-can't cram for it, bc youre talking about yourself, but prep overall
-know your research, both to inform a layperson and a scientist
-know school's basic things (like size of classes, etc)
-not just saying youre a great person, but great person for that particular school (show that youre interested in the specific school and why)
-stay with student host (cheaper, better understanding of school, hosts give more truthful answers)
-be confident, be graceful, don't be thrown or stressed out, dont get mad
-show that you're personable, beyond your statistics
-how your education prepared you for med school
-they will ask about your file....they will cater your questions toward your history -> know health policy, research, specific activities healthrelated that are listed on AMCAS/secondary
-reread personal statement, file, and secondary app for that particular school the day before
-in panel interviews (many med students interviewed in group), dont get frazzled and try to show other people up [emory, northwestern]
-figure out if you want to go there. know if you would be happy there. talk to the students.
-contact ugrad alums that now go to schools to see how they like it
-future of US healthcare -> helping the underserved -> they dont want you to solve it! -> read the newspaper, they want to know that you know whats going on
-read AMSA PRIMER ->good unbiased US healthcare look
-publicagenda.org
-studentdoctor.net
-show why you would fit at the school, tailor answers
-tailor answers for interview, be able to gauge interviewer
-be astute and watch nonverbal cues!
-send thank you cards, personalize so they remember who you are (talk about the discussion, etc)
-be respectful with attire, conservative, no earrings, make sure your clothes dont smell like smoke, no heavy cologne or perfume
-prioritize schools, get rid of schools, dont have to go to every interview, but LET THEM KNOW in very timely fashion

 

[DropkickMurphy]

read AMSA PRIMER ->good unbiased US healthcare look

Wow the AMSA? Unbiased.......

 

[Dookter]

House of God. Seriously, it tells you everything you need to know about medicine.

We had a clinical case presentation yesterday. Right before it started there was a code blue in a nearby elevator. The cardiologist running our session went to it...anyway, he told us how the first thing you do at a cardiac arrest is check your own pulse, which is a law of the House of God. I almost died when I heard a doctor quote a House law in class....

 

[TheRealDrDorian]

It's not a book, but his weekly webisodes are usually interesting.

www.healthpolitics.org

Check him out.

 

[etsuprinthead]

I've been recommending "Healthcare Meltdown" by Bob LeBow to everyone. The book advocates a single-payer system, but even if you don't agree with it, it gives you a lot of info about what's wrong with the system and ideas to fix it. I think this is a must-read for interviews if you don't know much about the health care system. QUOTE]
i agree. this was my christmas-break crash-course in health care policy. it is REALLY repetitive, but it gave me a basic understanding. i wanted to believe everything he said, but i'm afraid it's rather biased -- but, again, it does the job. quick read, good overview.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Taken from a list I compiled in this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=347970

Books:
A Map of the Child by Darshak Sangavi
A Not Entirely Benign Procedure by Perri Klass
A Piece of My Mind by Roxanne K. Young
After Your Third Martini by Mark Leyner
And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlik, M.D.
Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis
As Nature Made Him by John Colapinto
Awakenings by Oliver Sacks
Baby Doctor by Perri Klass.
Becoming a Doctor by Melvin Konner
Betrayal of Trust: the Collapse of Global Public Health by Laurie Garrett
Blind Eye by James Stewart
Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures: Stories By Vincent Lam, M.D (Giller Prize)
Body of Knowledge: One Semester of Gross Anatomy, the Gateway to Becoming a Doctor by Steven Giegerich
Brute by Richard Selzer
Children's Hospital by Chris Adrian
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
Complications by Atul Gawande
Darkness Visible by William Styron
Death Without Weeping by Nancy Scheper-Hughes
Delivering Doctor Amelia by Dan Shapiro
Doctors by Erich Segal
Driving Mr. Albert by Michael Paterniti
Emergency Doctor by Lewis Goldfrank
Fatal Cure by Robin Cook
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Dr. Paul Brand
First Do No Harm by Lisa Belkin
Five Patients by Michael Crichton
Forgive and Remember: Managing Medical Failure by Charles Bosk
Gifted Hands by Benjamin Carson
Grandfather's Blessings and Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen
Health and Healing by Andrew Weil, MD
Hot Lights, Cold Steel by Michael Collins
How We Die by Sherwin B. Nuland
House of God by Samuel Shem
Illness as Metaphor by Susan Sontag
Incidental Findings by Danielle Ofri
Internal Bleeding by Robert M. Wachter and Kaveh Shojania
Just Here Trying to Save a Few Lives by Pamela Grim, MD
Kill as Few Patients as Possible by Oscar London
King of Hearts by G. Wayne Miller
Kitchen Table Wisdom by Dr. Rachel Remen
Letters to a Young Doctor by Richard Selzer
Mama Might be Better Off Dead: The Failure of Healthcare in Urban America
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Mount Misery by Samuel Shem
Narrative Medicine by Rita Charon
A Not Entirely Benign Procedure by Perri Klass
On Being Ill by Virginia Woolf
On Call by Emily Transue
On Becoming a Doctor: Reflections of Women in Medicine
On Doctoring edited by Richard Reynolds, MD, and John Stone, MD
Pathologies of Power by Paul Farmer
Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramachandran
Scalpel and the Silver Bear by Lori Arviso Alvord
Second Opinions by Jerome Groopman
Singular Intimacies: Becoming a Doctor at Bellevue by Danielle Ofri
Spirit Catches You by Fadiman
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Surviving the Extremes by Kenneth Kamler
The Anatomy of Hope by Jerome Groopman
The Art of Medicine by Kevin J. Soden
he Butterfly and the Diving Bell by Jean-Dominique Bauby
The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett
The Citadel by A.J. Cronin
The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston
The Desire to Heal by Raphael Campo
The Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen in Rhyme by Zachary Cope
The Doctor Stories by William Carlos Williams
The Dressing Station by Jonathan Kaplan
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene
The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity by Roy Porter
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
The Intern Blues by Robert Marion
The Island of the Colorblind by Oliver Sacks
The Language of Medicine by Davi-Ellen Chabner
The Language of Cells: A Doctor and His Patients by Spencer Nadler
The Lost Art of Healing by Dr. Bernard Lown
The Making of a Surgeon by William A Nolen
The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat by Oliver Sacks
The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Medicine by Eric J. Cassel
The Need for a New Medical Model by George L. Engel
The Physician and Shaman by Noah Gordon
The Pact by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt
The Plague by Albert Camus
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
The Scalpel and the Silver Bear by Lori Alvord, MD
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
The Strange Case of the Walking Cadaver by Nancy Butcher
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty by Brian Freeman, MD
The Wisdom of the Body (also titled How We Live) by Sherwin B. Nuland
This Ain't ER by C. Patrick Murrah
Time to Heal by Kenneth Ludmerer
Toxin by Robin Cook
Travels by Michael Crichton
Vector by Robin Cook
Virus X by Frank Ryan
Walk on Water: Inside an Elite Pediatric Surgical Unit by Michael Ruhlman
Walking Out on the Boys by Francis Conley
War Hospital by Sherri Fink
What I Learned in Medical School by Kevin Takakuwa
What Patients Taught Me by Audrey Young
What Your Doctor Really Thinks: Diagnosing the Doctor-Patient Relationship by Ian Blumer
When the Air Hits Your Brain by Frank Vertosick
Where is the Mango Princess by Cathy Crimmins
White Coat: Becoming a Doctor at Harvard Medical School by Ellen Rothman, M.D.
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup
Why Do Men Have Nipples? Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor
Year of the Intern by Robin Cook

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

I myself used HealthCare Meltdown, Understanding Health Policy, and the bioethics website from UWashington.

That was more than enough. And it saved my ass countless times in interviews.

 

[etsuprinthead]

this isn't about insurance or anything, but i just finished "the soul of a doctor: harvard medical students face life and death." 1 of the students was an NPR commentator -- it's fabulous writing. all of it. i like stories, and i like medicine... so stories about medicine rock.

 

[Anjlprincezz]

this isn't about insurance or anything, but i just finished "the soul of a doctor: harvard medical students face life and death." 1 of the students was an NPR commentator -- it's fabulous writing. all of it. i like stories, and i like medicine... so stories about medicine rock.

i just read that too. Its one of those interesting free-time reads, just to relax... i usually just read it the night b4 interviews, but it was nice. Who knew med students could write so well? well, i guess it is harvard...

 

[gsmithers68]

Social Theory: Mein Kampf

Social Theory? Hehehe... I think Marx's Communist Manifesto is much better. revolution!!

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Social Theory? Hehehe... I think Marx's Communist Manifesto is much better. revolution!!

Shut up and get on the train.