MD Applicant: Should I Refrain From Mentioning This To Schools?

[ScrubswithnoSleeves]

Hey all,

So I have known for a little over a year now that I want to pursue a career in aerospace medicine, specifically to study and treat the health conditions associated with space travel.

I am concerned about how this will look to medical schools, as all of them seem very focused on serving underserved communities. I have a lot I can say in that regard, co-founding and presiding over a non-profit that has donated about $1 million in medical supplies to Malawi, Africa and visiting the country to help allocate and distribute said supplies.

Should I say nothing about aerospace and just talk about my previous experiences? What should I do when they ask about my "plans for my future in medicine"? Should I tailor it to how it could benefit underserved communities or is that a stretch?

Thanks for all your responses in advance!

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[locklearjojo]

why wouldn't medical schools like that, especially if they have a public health focus? just be genuine and explain why you're passionate about aerospace. if anything, don't try to tailor what you say to what you think they want to hear.

 

[medlife52525]

I would suggest bringing it in through diversity essay/interests? It would be more of a unique aside if reviewing an application- and I feel like you'd get some love from it

Aerospace medicine is a very specific subset though and without having done work in that sector (ie clinical experience, interning, etc.) I wouldn't push it a lot but i think it makes sense to include somewhere

 

[907914]

aerospace medicine

While there are residencies specifically for this, it is hyper competitive. Mentioning it before you even get in to medical school will be a negative. They want students who are equally comfortable as a family practitioner in East Peoria, Illinois as they would be a flight surgeon for the USAF. That is fairly overgeneralized, but they want to know that you are willing to be a physician first and foremost.

as all of them seem very focused on serving underserved communities

This is true and should be a large portion of your applicaiton.

co-founding and presiding over a non-profit that has donated about $1 million in medical supplies to Malawi, Africa and visiting the country to help allocate and distribute said supplies

Right on! Do you also have direct service to US citizens, particularly those within your own community?

Should I tailor it to how it could benefit underserved communities or is that a stretch

You should be honest with your answers, however you would come off as fairly naive by stating that you want to be a space doctor with no prior space doctor exposure.

 

[LizzyM]

I am trying to figure why caring for space travelers appeals to you. They are adults and, aerospace medicine does not involve patients who are pregnant, aged, or in need of surgey performed by the aerospace medicine specialist. Therefore...

You might say that you are interested in internal medicine, occupational medicine or perhaps, aerospace medicine. That more or less takes it from the very broad (adult medicine) to care of adult workers (occupational medicine), to care of workers in a specific setting (space -- also the specialty treats patients who are in the air and under the sea). As long as you can sell that interest in caring for adults of working age and specifically those who have work-related issues both clinical and preventive, I think that you may be fine.

 

[Moko]

You should be honest with your answers, however you would come off as fairly naive by stating that you want to be a space doctor with no prior space doctor exposure.

I agree with this 100%. I get very skeptical when things come out of left field. Even if you can back up these aspirations with some prior experiences, I would still focus first and foremost on your more run-of-the-mill career plans first, and mention the aerospace thing possibly briefly as an extension of that. It's unlikely to help, and might hurt your chances at a school. Just my thoughts.

 

[ScrubswithnoSleeves]

I am trying to figure why caring for space travelers appeals to you. They are adults and, aerospace medicine does not involve patients who are pregnant, aged, or in need of surgey performed by the aerospace medicine specialist. Therefore...

I've always been concerned with maintaining health rather than only treating it once it has deteriorated. I enjoy viewing healthcare as a means to help every person perform optimally on an individual level as well as help society perform optimally on a systematic level. I have seen the systematic detriment that occurs from having a poor healthcare system firsthand on my visits to Malawi. I believe space travel is going to become increasingly integral to society in a time frame that is shortening exponentially, and am shocked by the limited amount of research and development in the field.

Beyond what I've described above as what I believe is an unfilled niche, I have been fascinated with space travel since I was a child. I have continued to be fascinated with it, though my interests have matured to be more realistic. I have likewise been interested in the human body from a young age, and with options for a career in medicine more available, I set my goals in that direction. I am very happy with that decision and would be happy to be a general internist or family practitioner or whatever else may pique my interest as I move through medical school, but the opportunity to combine these two passions is like a dream to me.

So that's the short version of why I want to go into it. But yes, I would not speak about this in secondaries or interviews as my finite goal. I am open to the range of career paths in front of me and am aware that my interests may change in the next 4 to 8 years.

 

[Goro]

Hey all,

So I have known for a little over a year now that I want to pursue a career in aerospace medicine, specifically to study and treat the health conditions associated with space travel.

I am concerned about how this will look to medical schools, as all of them seem very focused on serving underserved communities. I have a lot I can say in that regard, co-founding and presiding over a non-profit that has donated about $1 million in medical supplies to Malawi, Africa and visiting the country to help allocate and distribute said supplies.

Should I say nothing about aerospace and just talk about my previous experiences? What should I do when they ask about my "plans for my future in medicine"? Should I tailor it to how it could benefit underserved communities or is that a stretch?

Thanks for all your responses in advance!

Without any evidence of involvement in aerospace medicine, your interest may come off as being too starry-eyed.

 

[ScrubswithnoSleeves]

Without any evidence of involvement in aerospace medicine, your interest may come off as being too starry-eyed.

I agree with this 100%. I get very skeptical when things come out of left field. Even if you can back up these aspirations with some prior experiences, I would still focus first and foremost on your more run-of-the-mill career plans first, and mention the aerospace thing possibly briefly as an extension of that. It's unlikely to help, and might hurt your chances at a school. Just my thoughts.

Good advice. I think what I will do is to only very briefly state that I have explored that avenue, not that I am trying to pursue it.

 

[907914]

Without any evidence of involvement in aerospace medicine, your interest may come off as being too starry-eyed.

Would it be ok to talk about your future plans in medicine along the lines of:

“I do not have enough experience in any one field to truly know where I want to end up. I will be open to many potential specialties in my medicine pathway, however my primary goals as a physician are XXXXXX and I would like to be in a position that allows for XXXXX.”

 

[ScrubswithnoSleeves]

Would it be ok to talk about your future plans in medicine along the lines of:

“I do not have enough experience in any one field to truly know where I want to end up. I will be open to many potential specialties in my medicine pathway, however my primary goals as a physician are XXXXXX and I would like to be in a position that allows for XXXXX.”

Yes, that's how I was planning on phrasing it. I would talk about the parts of the career I value most and that I want whatever specialty I go into to exude those values.

Thanks for the comments!

 

[Goro]

Would it be ok to talk about your future plans in medicine along the lines of:

“I do not have enough experience in any one field to truly know where I want to end up. I will be open to many potential specialties in my medicine pathway, however my primary goals as a physician are XXXXXX and I would like to be in a position that allows for XXXXX.”

Yes, in interviews.

 

[907914]

Yes, in interviews.

Not in secondaries?

How should secondaries be approached then?

 

[chlorocruorin]

When I got asked these 10 years down the road type questions in my interviews, I talked about qualities first like, I see myself as a physician that's known as caring for his patients, heavily involved in the communities, a leader in my respected field etc something along those lines. Then the last thing I always said was, "as for what specialty I can see myself in (whatever specialty) but I'm open to any specialty" . I usually said GI, but I also said surgery as well. OFC

 

[Goro]

Not in secondaries?

How should secondaries be approached then?

You answer the prompts from the heart

 

[907914]

You answer the prompts from the heart

Seems hokey.

 

[Medic741]

Hey all,

So I have known for a little over a year now that I want to pursue a career in aerospace medicine, specifically to study and treat the health conditions associated with space travel.

I am concerned about how this will look to medical schools, as all of them seem very focused on serving underserved communities. I have a lot I can say in that regard, co-founding and presiding over a non-profit that has donated about $1 million in medical supplies to Malawi, Africa and visiting the country to help allocate and distribute said supplies.

Should I say nothing about aerospace and just talk about my previous experiences? What should I do when they ask about my "plans for my future in medicine"? Should I tailor it to how it could benefit underserved communities or is that a stretch?

Thanks for all your responses in advance!

Unless you're applying to USUHS I don't think anyone would take you seriously ESPECIALLY if you're not planning to apply to military programs (HPSP)

 

[907914]

Unless you're applying to USUHS I don't think anyone would take you seriously ESPECIALLY if you're not planning to apply to military programs (HPSP)

Surprisingly, there is actually a civilian aerospace medicine residency in TX.

 

[Goro]

Seems hokey.

Wait until you become an interviewer, then.