POE program

[golftrippy]

Did anyone apply for the POE program at St. Jude's this summer or previous summers?...has anyone heard anything back or know when we should?...thanks!

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[Pianoboe01]

Did anyone apply for the POE program at St. Jude's this summer or previous summers?...has anyone heard anything back or know when we should?...thanks!

I did the POE program last summer. It's still early to be hearing back from Dr. Gronemeyer since the deadline was just Feb. 2 I think. It wouldn't hurt to send her an email to see how things look this year. I hope you get it -- I had a wondeful time at St. Jude!

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I did POE last year and am (probably, unless I get into Baylor) doing it again this year.

Its a good program and St. Jude is a wonderful institution to work at, but like any other research program you have to make sure you don't end up with a bad project so you don't end wasting the summer. I'm not going to do it as a med student since I am not very interested in pursuing a career in pediatric oncology. If you have no interest in ped onc, it might not be the best use of time in your post M1 summer.

Some of the more cosmopolitan students in POE complained about Memphis being a ghetto dump (Beale St. isn't as great of a night life as it is made out to be)...I tend to agree, but I'm stuck here for another 3-5 months before I finally peace out.

I have 2 friends that have already gotten accepted, but they have already worked at St. Jude so the whole mentor situation is worked out. I'm changing fields (radiology to radonc, both basic science research) so I'm still waiting to be 'officially' in again.

p.s. you get to live in the same complex where Elvis lived as a teenager, if thats not enough to get you excited, I don't know what will

 

[Pianoboe01]

I'm not going to do it as a med student since I am not very interested in pursuing a career in pediatric oncology. If you have no interest in ped onc, it might not be the best use of time in your post M1 summer.

I don't know any 1st year med student that really knows what specialty they want to do, although I don't think people with *zero* interest in ped onc would apply for this program. I didn't particularly have an interest in ped onc and I loved the experience. I think the more learning experiences you have and getting exposure to as many fields as you can is in anyone's best interest. And, as med students as opposed to undergrad, it's half research and half clinical (although, for me it was more like 10% research and 90% clinical).

p.s. you get to live in the same complex where Elvis lived as a teenager, if thats not enough to get you excited, I don't know what will

Oh yeah!!! My roommates and I lived right next door to the apartment Elvis was in!

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I applied for the POE program, along with the CHLA Peds Onc, Roswell Park, and MD Anderson programs, for the summer of 2003. I ended up not being accepted to the POE program but was given some weird reasoning by Dr. Gronemeyer that they were taking a bunch of undergrads from Vandy over med students. Not sure if it was because they had already spent a summer there or what. It didn't really make sense to me that they would take non-MD students into a "clinically-oriented" program. I ended up choosing the CHLA program and had a great summer in the lab (and surfing). Got a pub and an abstract/poster out of it (very basic sci research), so its possible to get a lot done in 10 weeks if you have a good mentor and a well-designed project. I'm sure the St. Jude program offers some great opportunities. Good luck everyone.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I applied for the POE program, along with the CHLA Peds Onc, Roswell Park, and MD Anderson programs, for the summer of 2003. I ended up not being accepted to the POE program but was given some weird reasoning by Dr. Gronemeyer that they were taking a bunch of undergrads from Vandy over med students. Not sure if it was because they had already spent a summer there or what. It didn't really make sense to me that they would take non-MD students into a "clinically-oriented" program. I ended up choosing the CHLA program and had a great summer in the lab (and surfing). Got a pub and an abstract/poster out of it (very basic sci research), so its possible to get a lot done in 10 weeks if you have a good mentor and a well-designed project. I'm sure the St. Jude program offers some great opportunities. Good luck everyone.

there is a limited number of clinical spots available for med students (St. Jude isn't exactly a large clinical facility as many people imagine it to be). A few years ago (maybe the year before you applied?), there were too many med students in the program and it decreased the quality of the experience for the med students who did the program. There's many more undergraduates who do this program doing basic science research...the "clinically oriented" program for med students simply can't accomodate many students at all due to St. Jude's size.

 

[Pianoboe01]

St. Jude isn't exactly a large clinical facility as many people imagine it to be

I was shocked at this when I worked there last summer! Most of the patients get their treatments outpatient, so their inpatient is tiny (60 beds and only 2 ORs). And there's only a limited number of clinics at St. Jude, so they just cannot accommodate very many med students -- there were only 11 of us last summer.

I was working in pediatric neurosurgery, and these surgeries aren't even performed at St. Jude. A lot of my time was spent at another pediatric hospital in Memphis, making it difficult to attend the things going on at St. Jude (like the enjoyable Lunch and Learn series which is "required" 4 days a week). Dr. Gronemeyer is no longer placing students in pediatric neurosurgery for this reason.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I was shocked at this when I worked there last summer! Most of the patients get their treatments outpatient, so their inpatient is tiny (60 beds and only 2 ORs). And there's only a limited number of clinics at St. Jude, so they just cannot accommodate very many med students -- there were only 11 of us last summer.

I was working in pediatric neurosurgery, and these surgeries aren't even performed at St. Jude. A lot of my time was spent at another pediatric hospital in Memphis, making it difficult to attend the things going on at St. Jude (like the enjoyable Lunch and Learn series which is "required" 4 days a week). Dr. Gronemeyer is no longer placing students in pediatric neurosurgery for this reason.

haha I was wondering where you always were!

 

[EBI831]

I did POE for the past 2 summers. and i didn't hear back until march so you are good. i'd recommend it,it seems rather fun for those who weren't from memphis like i was.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I did POE for the past 2 summers. and i didn't hear back until march so you are good. i'd recommend it,it seems rather fun for those who weren't from memphis like i was.

yeah, driving from the suburbs everyday would really suck...

 

[arthur]

I was a POEer 2 summers ago. It was an excellent time, and I would recommend it to anyone, not just those interested in Peds Onc. I was a medical student at the time, and I was able to 1st author a paper during the short time, so it was definitely worthwhile. That, and the BBQ!
As I recall, I dont think I heard of my acceptance until into March, so you have some waiting to do.