Medical Schools who favor doctors going into underserved medicine

[leric90]

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Hey Guys,

I was wondering if you guys could share some schools who favor applicants who want to serve in international underserved areas?

Thanks! All is appreciated 🙂

 

[j814wong]

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if you guys could share some schools who favor applicants who want to serve in international underserved areas?

Thanks! All is appreciated 🙂

I would also like to know this. I think it would be best to express this interest in interviews and essays.

 

[red7]

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if you guys could share some schools who favor applicants who want to serve in international underserved areas?

Thanks! All is appreciated 🙂

I would start with the schools that have big international contacts/research/departments. e.g. The 6 schools that have Doris Duke fellowships (Harvard, UCSF, Yale, Duke, UNC, Minnesota). GW in Washington DC also comes to mind, and I think Hopkins also has sizeable international facilities.

A lot of it too is going to depend on where exactly you want to go and what type of work you want to do. I think it is more about making contacts in your region/discipline of interest than going to any specific school.

 

[Cambino]

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if you guys could share some schools who favor applicants who want to serve in international underserved areas?

Thanks! All is appreciated 🙂

Never mind. I read that you're interested in international.

 

[FSU2013]

I suspect every school says they want their students to pursue undeserved populations.

 

[NickNaylor]

I suspect every school says they want their students to pursue undeserved populations.

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. Every school espouses a love for the underserved and wants to train a legion of students to save everyone. I'm sure schools have various programs they include on brochures to demonstrate this, but for my money the HBCs seem to be primarily focused on training physicians that will serve in predominantly (black) underserved areas.

(sent from my phone)

 

[earf]

Weill Cornell Medical College has a medical school abroad:
http://qatar-weill.cornell.edu/

They even have a trailer for it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y15PmjMKsJo

 

[leric90]

At least for myself, I dont think I'll be applying to the big institutions (harvard, duke, yale, etc) because I won't be competitive

Sorry for being picky guys, do any other schools come to mind? I'm more interested in going overseas and making the states a base

 

[leric90]

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. Every school espouses a love for the underserved and wants to train a legion of students to save everyone. I'm sure schools have various programs they include on brochures to demonstrate this, but for my money the HBCs seem to be primarily focused on training physicians that will serve in predominantly (black) underserved areas.

(sent from my phone)

yeah, im not to aware of hbc's but i'm not black so i'm not sure what that means in terms of the application process

 

[Omppu27]

+1 for GW.

I've heard this a lot actually... I think it was in their school specific thread.

I suspect every school says they want their students to pursue undeserved populations.

Agreed. But I would imagine that some do put mroe emphasis on it than others.

 

[FSU2013]

At least for myself, I dont think I'll be applying to the big institutions (harvard, duke, yale, etc) because I won't be competitive

Sorry for being picky guys, do any other schools come to mind? I'm more interested in going overseas and making the states a base

You can do anything from any medical school. The driver in your decision will be your student loan burden. If you owe $400,000, you'll be much less likely to do international stuff. Focus on finding a med school where you can be happy and do well. Your medical education has very little to do with what you will end up practicing. Harvard turns out PCPs and podunk-u turns out neurosurgeons.

Go to a med school you like and is cheap. Then find a residency (or even fellowship) with an international focus.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Tulane has a strong commitment to underserved areas. UW (Seattle) specializes in rural medicine. Practically the only way to get an OOS acceptance there is if you want to do rural medicine. On the DO side of things, VCOM loves international medicine. You can tell just by looking at the pictures on the break room tables. When I interviewed there they spent lots of time bragging about the number of students that went on international medical mission trips.

No matter where you go, it isn't enough to say you are interested in working internationally, you must have experience to back up your words. Any starry-eyed premed can say they want to spend their medical career working on a hospital ship in Africa, but when I said it my interviewers believed me, since I've already worked there.

 

[leric90]

Tulane has a strong commitment to underserved areas. UW (Seattle) specializes in rural medicine. Practically the only way to get an OOS acceptance there is if you want to do rural medicine. On the DO side of things, VCOM loves international medicine. You can tell just by looking at the pictures on the break room tables. When I interviewed there they spent lots of time bragging about the number of students that went on international medical mission trips.

No matter where you go, it isn't enough to say you are interested in working internationally, you must have experience to back up your words. Any starry-eyed premed can say they want to spend their medical career working on a hospital ship in Africa, but when I said it my interviewers believed me, since I've already worked there.

Good point Chip!
I agree and actually took a break from undergrad to serve in the impoverished philippines. Also I will be attending a year of grad school since I will have a gap year. I am a starry eyed premed, but the reason I want to "spend their medical career working on a hospital ship in Africa" is a conviction drawn from my experiences.

 

[dextor2003]

At least for myself, I dont think I'll be applying to the big institutions (harvard, duke, yale, etc) because I won't be competitive

Sorry for being picky guys, do any other schools come to mind? I'm more interested in going overseas and making the states a base

I think Georgetown is also fairly big on international work. One of the main reasons I fell in love with it actually..They also have a Health Justice Scholar Track, where you can set up and implement your own project to address certain healthcare issues. Pretty sweet if you ask me.

 

[MedPR]

annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=745836

Study about which schools actually produce URMs, PCPs, and physicians in underserved areas. Obviously the HBCUs are atop the list (most URMS), but other schools are on there as well.

People in this thread can speculate about which schools "really" care about underserved and primary care, but this study actually represents real data regarding schools that actually produce those types of physicians.

 

[Restart13]

I know for a fact MSUCHM and Central Michigan's school favors primary care physicians that work in underserved areas.

 

[Planes2Doc]

I think Southern Illinois is focused on rural medicine. I heard from people in Chicago that if you're applying from the Greater Chicagoland area, then you have absolutely no chance at that school.

I realize that saying you want to help the underserved is what the ADCOMs want to hear. I saw this in a generic medical school interview video on YouTube where the girl casually said she wanted to help the underserved. If you really have the desire, then you need to walk the walk, not just the talk (or something like that). Don't just say it because you think it will improve your chances. If you say you want to help the underserved and show absolutely no desire based on past experiences, then ADCOMs will see right through you.

Otherwise, yes, many schools do emphasize it more than others.

 

[Lollygag]

Cooper in NJ that recently opened sounds a lot like what you're looking for. It's in Camden though which is a pretty bad area so not exactly ideal for wanting to live in for 4 years and for me personally-- not getting shot while in medical school would trump going to a school that has a program I'm interested in hahaha

I'm probably exaggerating but it's no Beverly Hills. I think they have heavy in state preference but its worth looking into!

 

[Lollygag]

Actually I just reread your post and you were looking into international. Copper is big on serving underserved populations but I don't know about it being international. Sorry about that!

 

[Planes2Doc]

Hmm... I'm not sure how enthusiastic medical schools would be to train somewhere here expecting them to practice in the US, and then have that person leave the country.

When you hear about pre-medical mission trip criticism, people often say that you have the underserved in your backyard. Therefore, I can't really think of any schools that emphasize any international work. I'd assume that schools want their graduates to stay in this country.

 

[leric90]

I think Southern Illinois is focused on rural medicine. I heard from people in Chicago that if you're applying from the Greater Chicagoland area, then you have absolutely no chance at that school.

I realize that saying you want to help the underserved is what the ADCOMs want to hear. I saw this in a generic medical school interview video on YouTube where the girl casually said she wanted to help the underserved. If you really have the desire, then you need to walk the walk, not just the talk (or something like that). Don't just say it because you think it will improve your chances. If you say you want to help the underserved and show absolutely no desire based on past experiences, then ADCOMs will see right through you.

Otherwise, yes, many schools do emphasize it more than others.

That's a great article! I just read through it quickly and saw that many schools were HCP's and traditionally they don't accept korean students who have a background of upper-middle class and privileged life style. (which I totally understand having a social work background).

Also a lot of the schools that have global health tracks or real world connections tend to be top tier schools, which I know would be a waste of my time to apply too.

Another thing is, I'm not against those students who go on the short term medical missions for a week. It's a great way to open and impact their perspective, thus decision making and career ambitions but at the same time, in no way can they have an attitude of accomplishment in terms of making a large impact. If anything, short term medical missions are for the benefit of the premedical student more than other things. This comes from someone who did a 1 year stint, so not long or short.

 

[yehhhboiii]

I've heard that Einstein, Baylor and Mount Sinai are pretty big on global health.

 

[Shinobiz11]

I think Southern Illinois is focused on rural medicine. I heard from people in Chicago that if you're applying from the Greater Chicagoland area, then you have absolutely no chance at that school.

I realize that saying you want to help the underserved is what the ADCOMs want to hear. I saw this in a generic medical school interview video on YouTube where the girl casually said she wanted to help the underserved. If you really have the desire, then you need to walk the walk, not just the talk (or something like that). Don't just say it because you think it will improve your chances. If you say you want to help the underserved and show absolutely no desire based on past experiences, then ADCOMs will see right through you.

Otherwise, yes, many schools do emphasize it more than others.

Southern Illinois only accepts OOS students if they are doing a MD/JD program, that's why.

Oakland and Western Mich (new for 2014) are heavy on the primary care as well.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Hmm... I'm not sure how enthusiastic medical schools would be to train somewhere here expecting them to practice in the US, and then have that person leave the country.

When you hear about pre-medical mission trip criticism, people often say that you have the underserved in your backyard. Therefore, I can't really think of any schools that emphasize any international work. I'd assume that schools want their graduates to stay in this country.

VCOM is wildly enthusiastic about training people for international work. In my interview and personal statement I said my plan is to work in the US for a few years to pay off student loans and then go overseas for most of my career. The interviewers were delighted to hear that, and I got accepted. I said the same thing at my other interviews and got favorable responses at all of them except my state school, which seemed more interested in training people who wanted to practice in that state.

 

[NickNaylor]

annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=745836

Study about which schools actually produce URMs, PCPs, and physicians in underserved areas. Obviously the HBCUs are atop the list (most URMS), but other schools are on there as well.

People in this thread can speculate about which schools "really" care about underserved and primary care, but this study actually represents real data regarding schools that actually produce those types of physicians.

I suppose it's better than nothing but that's a pretty weak study. It's entirely possible that a lot of the data they get is incorrect.

 

[leric90]

VCOM is wildly enthusiastic about training people for international work. In my interview and personal statement I said my plan is to work in the US for a few years to pay off student loans and then go overseas for most of my career. The interviewers were delighted to hear that, and I got accepted. I said the same thing at my other interviews and got favorable responses at all of them except my state school, which seemed more interested in training people who wanted to practice in that state.

wow i should definitely check out vcom than...


oops vcom is osteopathic not md

 

[Guero]

Meharry Medical College actually rejects people based on not being interested in serving the underserved, the largest part of their mission statement. You'd have a great shot there. But it's uber expensive; so be careful.

 

[MedPR]

I suppose it's better than nothing but that's a pretty weak study. It's entirely possible that a lot of the data they get is incorrect.

Yea, it's about as useful as USNews rankings 🙂