Do I need to read journals to preapre for interviews?

[libraryismyhome]

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Besides books about ethics and policy, do I need to read journal articles like new england, jama, nature, and science? I used search functions, and some were suggesting several publications, which I visited, but they seemed very technical and specialized that I wouldn't be able to understand much with undergrad education background. And others were writing that premeds don't need to. So, I am confused.... do I need to read journals? If I need to which ones I should read 😕

 

[Kaustikos]

Besides books about ethics and policy, do I need to read journal articles like new england, jama, nature, and science? I used search functions, and some were suggesting several publications, which I visited, but they seemed very technical and specialized that I wouldn't be able to understand much with undergrad education background. And others were writing that premeds don't need to. So, I am confused.... do I need to read journals? If I need to which ones I should read 😕

Not necessarily. Just be up to date on what's new in healthcare and some idea of the politics surrounding it.

 

[mauberley]

Not necessarily. Just be up to date on what's new in healthcare and some idea of the politics surrounding it.

Agreed.

 

[libraryismyhome]

Not necessarily. Just be up to date on what's new in healthcare and some idea of the politics surrounding it.

To learn the new stuff in health care and the politics, I am aware that books won't be able to satisfy this purpose, cause all of them are at least couple of months old, so what websites could I spend my time and make myself up to date?

 

[Iso4ane]

If you are working a lab you should at least be able to talk about your research and how it applies to the big picture.

 

[NickNaylor]

I thought reading journals might be helpful for interviews before I started the application cycle. It wasn't.

The only thing you're likely to be asked about is healthcare politics, and you don't need a journal to get that kind of information. Pay attention to the news or just Google healthcare topics and read up.

 

[Kaustikos]

If you are working a lab you should at least be able to talk about your research and how it applies to the big picture.

Yes, definitely know about your research. Also, don't talk about a research project you did 4 years ago unless you know everything involved... Had the most WONDERFUL interview and I let slip I did an assay 4 years ago and my mind went blank about one reagant I used. The discussion turned into a minor argument...🙄

 

[235788]

I am. I'm going to read the newpaper and yahoo news as well.

 

[Kaustikos]

I am. I'm going to read the newpaper and yahoo news as well.

You've got a lot of work ahead of you, then. Have fun reading Nature, Cell, Science, NEJM and keeping up to date on what's been going on in the past 3-4 years AND knowing about what's new.

Honestly, though, the last place I'd look to for science discoveries is newspapers and yahoo news. 👎

 

[mauberley]

If anyone is interested in catching up on the big picture of health care in the US, there were some good suggestions for reading material in this thread.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

all of this seems extremely unnecessary

 

[235788]

all of this seems extremely unnecessary

Its good to ground talks with facts and not seem like a total airhead. Some people need to and others don't; it all comes down to speaking abilities. I am going to just so if challenged I can fire back.

 

[NickNaylor]

Yes, definitely know about your research. Also, don't talk about a research project you did 4 years ago unless you know everything involved... Had the most WONDERFUL interview and I let slip I did an assay 4 years ago and my mind went blank about one reagant I used. The discussion turned into a minor argument...🙄

People that ask questions like that regarding research are just irritating. What does it matter whether or not you remember what reagent(s) you used? That's what protocols and articles are for. I was only asked to explain my research very generally, but then again I never interacted with someone in the field...

 

[Lil Mick]

Only for MD/PhD interviews (your area of study). None of my friends were asked on MD interviews.

 

[libraryismyhome]

hello everyone, I highly appreciate your intention of helping, but it seems that my question has been slipped away. Where would be the place I could look for the new stuff in health care and its political ground? I guess yahoo isn't suggested by a resident so no.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

hello everyone, I highly appreciate your intention of helping, but it seems that my question has been slipped away. Where would be the place I could look for the new stuff in health care and its political ground? I guess yahoo isn't suggested by a resident so no.

Any news website should suffice. BBC News usually has excellent explanations and timelines of events like this, including most major US legislation such as health care. Here's a good starting point. The article is a year old but should link to some newer ones. I've also found Real Clear Politics to be a fantastic source of news, as it gives links to opinions from both sides of the political spectrum as well as independent news sources. Of course, to be honest, there hasn't been all that much "new stuff" in health care policy on a federal level since the health care bill was passed. If you're also looking for new developments in medicine, try CNN Health or Time Health.

 

[mauberley]

hello everyone, I highly appreciate your intention of helping, but it seems that my question has been slipped away. Where would be the place I could look for the new stuff in health care and its political ground? I guess yahoo isn't suggested by a resident so no.

The health sections of the websites of major newspapers are a good start. (New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc.)

 

[Web MD]

I asked the law school attached to my college if they had any pamphlets/ summary info about the health care law and got a solid 3 page summary, so that might work. You don't need to be familiar with the whole 2,000 page bill since even the writers aren't. Technical journals won't help much in my experience, things more likely to come up are things about health care law, ethics and the role of a physician in a country where mid-level providers are expanding

 

[LegendaryPunk]

hello everyone, I highly appreciate your intention of helping, but it seems that my question has been slipped away. Where would be the place I could look for the new stuff in health care and its political ground? I guess yahoo isn't suggested by a resident so no.

Just pay attention to the news. When you hear something interesting / health care related, Google it to gain a little more knowledge on the subject than the average well-informed professional would have.

 

[libraryismyhome]

I asked the law school attached to my college if they had any pamphlets/ summary info about the health care law and got a solid 3 page summary, so that might work. You don't need to be familiar with the whole 2,000 page bill since even the writers aren't. Technical journals won't help much in my experience, things more likely to come up are things about health care law, ethics and the role of a physician in a country where mid-level providers are expanding

wow.. 3 pgs.. I am actually physically in the law school library right now. gotta take an action over the lunch break. 👍

 

[Kaputt]

wow.. 3 pgs.. I am actually physically in the law school library right now. gotta take an action over the lunch break. 👍

is that your said "home"?

ok that was lame. when I applied I just tried to do some reading on New York Times in their health care news section. with the changes to their site I don't know if it's open access anymore. but I got lucky and very few interviewers called me on my ignorance of all things health policy.

 

[Kaustikos]

wow.. 3 pgs.. I am actually physically in the law school library right now. gotta take an action over the lunch break. 👍

Honestly, you should have some idea of whats up. If you're just now figuring out obamacare....hmmm.

 

[Kaputt]

Honestly, you should have some idea of whats up. If you're just now figuring out obamacare....hmmm.

People are still calling it Obamacare?

 

[Kaustikos]

People are still calling it Obamacare?

I call it failcare, but I've called it that since 1983...when I was born





And I'm completely joking

 

[Kaputt]

I call it failcare, but I've called it that since 1983...when I was born





And I'm completely joking

For a second I was like "floating laughing smiley! what sorcery is this?!"

 

[lpmarcus010]

This page is my homepage and it is really sick. They have all types of science news, but you can go to the specific medical section.

http://esciencenews.com

I talked about what I see as future frontiers in medical science because this is very interesting to me. I had some cool conversations with interviewers regarding future immune therapies for cancer, stem cell therapies, and genetic stratification of metastatic disease. If you are not super interested in medical science though, don't talk about it because it will seem contrived. Not everyone applying to med school is a biochemistry nerd like myself.

The healthcare issue is incredibly messy even for those with advanced degrees in healthcare policy. Just simply state what you believe, but always say that you think "access to health care should be increased for everyone". This is a good buzz-phrase to use, and just say whatever means are necessary to increase access while reducing costs is what you are for.