Stanford likely practice scenario...

[srs58s]

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Hi forgive me, I know I'm a premed and I should know this but I just want to make sure before I write.

Stanford's essay prompt says:

7. What do you see as the most likely practice scenario for your future medical career?
a. Choose the single answer that best describes your career goals.
1) Private Practice
2) Health Policy
3) Academic Medicine
4) Public Health
5) Health Care Administration

Can someone explain what a doctor in health policy, public health and healtcare administration would be doing?

I expect to be working in a public hospital and to be involved with underserved communities. Does that put me in public health? I really enjoy research too...would my career aspirations give me the option of pursuing some kind of research also- given I'm in a public hospital and all?


Oh also, in Stanford's curriculum, does their "scholarly concentration" portion of their curriculum basically mean a research project? That's what I took it to mean, but with their need to use such "intellectual" language, this becomes slightly unclear. Thanks.

 

[srs58s]

bump...I would really appreciate some advice

 

[dondeleduele]

Can someone explain what a doctor in health policy, public health and healtcare administration would be doing?

Yeah, somebody who has been trying to understand how health care works in the US would be able to answer this. Somebody who, say, wants to be a doctor. Meaning, Stanford expects you to have some clue about how health care works in the US. Your post indicates that this is likely not the case.

I expect to be working in a public hospital and to be involved with underserved communities. Does that put me in public health? I really enjoy research too...would my career aspirations give me the option of pursuing some kind of research also- given I'm in a public hospital and all?

Have you been in a public hospital? You could visit one and look at a bulletin board, see if maybe anybody's trying to publish anything or recruit study subjects. Watch out, you might see or smell some underserved community members...

Oh also, in Stanford's curriculum, does their "scholarly concentration" portion of their curriculum basically mean a research project? That's what I took it to mean, but with their need to use such "intellectual" language, this becomes slightly unclear. Thanks.

Yeah, "intellectual" language is really off-putting. I wonder what kind of "research" you enjoy without publishing anything with "intellectual" language. Hmmm.

 

[littlealex]

What dondeleduele tried to say in too many words was this: do your own research. You get to pick your favorite search engine! I like google.

GOOGLE IT.

 

[nomoreplz]

no need to be an ass, donde. back off.

Health policy means you want to work on exactly that - health policy. Influencing the govt, creating new approaches to health care, etc. It becomes a public policy job informed by your MD background.

Public health is a really huge category, and at its broadest addresses the health of the population as a whole. It generally includes surveillance and control of infectious disease and promotion of healthy behaviors among members of the community (preventative medicine.) It also includes working with the underserved to reduce health disparities. The clinical side includes working in a public hospital/clinic/etc.

Healthcare admin sounds like..the people at the top at a hospital, who don't really see patients but run the hospital. Not too sure about what this entails, but those kids with a MD/MBA might be looking at jobs like this.

The concentration does not only seem to be a research project. It involves coursework as well (at least the community one does). It's sorta like a major in college - a way to pursue your individual interests within a mostly rigid curriculum.

I hope this helps. I just turned Stanford in myself - good luck.

 

[jonessoda]

Wow, you can really feel the love.

 

[srs58s]

Yeah, somebody who has been trying to understand how health care works in the US would be able to answer this. Somebody who, say, wants to be a doctor. Meaning, Stanford expects you to have some clue about how health care works in the US. Your post indicates that this is likely not the case.



Have you been in a public hospital? You could visit one and look at a bulletin board, see if maybe anybody's trying to publish anything or recruit study subjects. Watch out, you might see or smell some underserved community members...



Yeah, "intellectual" language is really off-putting. I wonder what kind of "research" you enjoy without publishing anything with "intellectual" language. Hmmm.

did you create a new SDN sn just to be a prick? I bet you wouldnt say this to my face. Go ahead and hide behind your computer screen. Note I said "I wanted to make sure before I write". In fact, I asked 2 medical students prior to posting...both of which also gave vague answers. Thanks to those who are replying with helpful answers.

 

[falcon21]

yea you folks should chill out. i think the op knows what google is and how to use it, so that's real helpful. you don't need to answer the post if you don't want to, so it's pretty idiotic to act as though you're being hassled by the question.