The Inaugural ATSU COM-Mesa Class of 2011

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I just got a copy of it myself, and I must say that it has me ready to ask some questions! First of all, and I know this has been covered to some extent, but the second-year modules look like they'll keep us busy. As such, does anyone know how much time we'll be spending in Mesa during the second year? From my orientation/interview day, I thought we'd be spending only a limited time in Mesa in Year 2. Am I incorrect about this?

If we aren't going to be spending much time in Mesa in Year 2, where will our instruction be coming from? I'm assuming they're not going to be entirely taught by clinical staff at our CHC's, which makes me wonder how the instruction is going to be set up, and what "faculty" members will be available at our CHC sites if we're going to be away from Mesa.

If anybody has any insight on this, I would appreciate it!

We won't be spending anytime in Mesa year 2. We're going to be at the CHC's. They're going to have a classroom in the CHC for us. The instruction will come from the one faculty assigned to us, guest lecturers, and Podcast lectures from the main campus. Apparently, it's going to be 6 hrs of lecture plus 2 hrs of clinicals everyday.

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We won't be spending anytime in Mesa year 2. We're going to be at the CHC's. They're going to have a classroom in the CHC for us. The instruction will come from the one faculty assigned to us, guest lecturers, and Podcast lectures from the main campus. Apparently, it's going to be 6 hrs of lecture plus 2 hrs of clinicals everyday.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't think we'd be purely clinical in year 2 (that would be crazy!) I was, however, really curious where our instruction would be coming from, at the CHC, or how they would manage it. I'm hesitant about remote lectures (even though we're not supposed to use the word lectures, heh) but I guess that's no different from a lot of schools at which students don't come to class and regularly view lectures online - this seems to be becoming more and more common. Guest lecturers may be fun, as I did a lot of seminar-style classes with guest lecturers in grad school.

Also, wasn't there something in orientation about returning to Mesa in year 2 to prep for the COMLEX? Or did I hear that wrong? (The reason why I'm asking is, it could be tough for us to find housing if we're only going to be back for two weeks, or whatever.
 
ATSU-COMM CHC Sites 2008-2011:

Brooklyn, New York: rarekare, igtx,
Beaufort, South Carolina: hopefuldoc40,
Troy, Alabama: CO2003
Milford, Ohio:
Flagstaff, Arizona: jfeyko,
Phoenix, Arizona: Redcuilapa
Tucson, Arizona: rpinnell,
Visalia, California: stringerbell, ifpx181
Woodburn, Oregon: inthe415, gonnabeob,
Seattle, Washington: builttorock, greenshirt,
Waianae, Hawaii: dseattle, soccergrl03[/quote]

Anyone else headed to Troy?
 
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ATSU-COMM CHC Sites 2008-2011:

Brooklyn, New York: rarekare, igtx,
Beaufort, South Carolina: hopefuldoc40,
Troy, Alabama: CO2003
Milford, Ohio:
Flagstaff, Arizona: jfeyko, jacksonium78, gildas
Phoenix, Arizona: Redcuilapa
Tucson, Arizona: rpinnell,
Visalia, California: stringerbell, ifpx181, capucino123
Woodburn, Oregon: inthe415, gonnabeob,
Seattle, Washington: builttorock, greenshirt, romadanny
Waianae, Hawaii: dseattle, soccergrl03, md/do almost, v-lander, doctortravel
 
Thanks for the clarification. I didn't think we'd be purely clinical in year 2 (that would be crazy!) I was, however, really curious where our instruction would be coming from, at the CHC, or how they would manage it. I'm hesitant about remote lectures (even though we're not supposed to use the word lectures, heh) but I guess that's no different from a lot of schools at which students don't come to class and regularly view lectures online - this seems to be becoming more and more common. Guest lecturers may be fun, as I did a lot of seminar-style classes with guest lecturers in grad school.

Also, wasn't there something in orientation about returning to Mesa in year 2 to prep for the COMLEX? Or did I hear that wrong? (The reason why I'm asking is, it could be tough for us to find housing if we're only going to be back for two weeks, or whatever.

Yeah, ATSU not having a lot of faculty has worried me a little bit. They only have 6 faculty: 4 of them are Deans, the other 2 are a physiology and an OMM instructor. That's only 2 lecturers for the entire class the first year. I'm guessing they're going to hire the individual instructors for each CHC later. What I really want out of lectures is clinical context, so I guess it doesn't matter that we don't have an instructor for each of the basic sciences. I plan on teaching myself a lot of the basic sciences out the First Aid series. I just hope we'll have time to do that outside of lectures. With 6 hrs of lecture a day plus clinicals, it will be pretty tight.
 
Yeah, ATSU not having a lot of faculty has worried me a little bit...I plan on teaching myself a lot of the basic sciences out the First Aid series. I just hope we'll have time to do that outside of lectures. With 6 hrs of lecture a day plus clinicals, it will be pretty tight.

Yeah, I guess they're assuming that by the time we've reached this point, we should be able to take some responsibility for our own education. I've taken a lot of specific upper-division and graduate sciences, including Physiology, Neuro, Immunology, and I'm currently taking Endocrine, so that should help a lot with the listed modules in both first and second year. (There are modules about cardiopulmonary, neuro, renal and endocrine in first year, so I should be fairly comfortable with those.) The second year curriculum includes some of my weaker topics like GI, Skin, and reproduction.

I'm glad that I've finally gotten a copy of this curriculum. I can see how "basic science" topics can be easily integrated into each unit (ie, instead of having a histology and anatomy course, covering histology topics in the blood module and different organ/systems modules, as well as anatomy.)
 
Hey Stringerbell, would you mind forwarding a copy of the curriculum to me? Email is [email protected]. I also remember hearing something about us going back to mesa for about 6 weeks to prepare for STEP I on interview day as well, I'm interested to hear how this would work out if anyone knows.
 
any way to attach the curriculum to the forum?
 
any way to attach the curriculum to the forum?

Here it is. I didn't want to post it to the forum, because there are some non-ATSU people here...but then I figured it probably isn't really "sensitive" material, so I'm posting it so we can all check it out.
 

Attachments

looks good. thanks.

i know green and mdo brought it up earlier, but is anyone getting their cpr training now, or waiting until class. i already signed up for thursday, but would have some use for it before i arrive in mesa.

also i wonder what the basic life support and advanced cardiac life support are doing on the first page. it seemed that they wanted us to get our bls/cpr before starting classes from that immunization page. anyone know if we need both of them before, or should wait until classes start?
 
Hey Guys,
I have a question for you. My acceptance letter says to sent the deposits and the signed agreement to the Kirksville campus but all the ATSU- addressed envelopes in my package are addressed to Mesa. Is that a mistake?
And I was also hoping to get my CPR certification right before classes start.
 
Hey Guys,
I have a question for you. My acceptance letter says to sent the deposits and the signed agreement to the Kirksville campus but all the ATSU- addressed envelopes in my package are addressed to Mesa. Is that a mistake?
And I was also hoping to get my CPR certification right before classes start.


I used the envelopes they gave me in the packet and everything turned out fine.
 
Hi Guys...I missed y'all here SDN!
I was busy taking a trip down to Mesa for reconnaissance. I rented a house! YAY!! I'm so absolutely excited to have that squared away. For those of you interested, I used a rental agent (I highly recommend it!) to save myself time and be directed to the best neighborhoods, since it is VERY pocket-y in that area. I also highly recommend looking at the houses there instead of the apartments on the list since I found that you get so much more for the same price. I'm singing this part: COMMUNITY POOL! So bring your suit to the BBQ, kids; Mamma's got the sunblock.

Okay, now as for CPR, I'm waiting until I get to Mesa. This one's for my fellow girls: they have a class through the Red Cross, and it's taught at the Mesa fire department. You heard that right. Wouldn't that be a crying shame if we had to learn mouth to mouth from the firemen? I'm just saying... 😍
Sorry, er, I'll be professional now. Ahem.
What else? Right, insurance. I think Blue Cross quoted me $178 for the level of coverage that the school requires. Without dental! That's the tricky bit; level of coverage. Check your contract for those deductible numbers and you'll see what I mean. This is not a bare bones requirement, but it figures that a heath institution wants us healthy. I haven't checked the previous link someone left, though. I hope I can get that premium down!

Returning to Mesa: I think actually it's a review course through Kaplan for the boards, which will be a return trip to Mesa for SIX weeks, not two. Unless something changed. Anyone have ideas on that unique housing crisis? Because sleeping in the ATSU halls or the potentially bad free gym does not appeal. Sorry for the long post.
 
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Returning to Mesa: I think actually it's a review course through Kaplan for the boards, which will be a return trip to Mesa for SIX weeks, not two. Unless something changed. Anyone have ideas on that unique housing crisis?

Hahah, sorry...when I said two weeks, that was just to make an example and to highlight the very housing crisis of which you speak. Yes, I'm concerned about coming back for a limited amount of time (nobody rents out for 6 weeks!). Then again, though, if it's just a Kaplan course, might we just be free to take it wherever we may be?
 
So I am in!!!! Got the call/email from Joyce today, and expect to find out about the CHC tomorrow. Oh this decision is going to be torturous because I have to say I like both schools ALOT!!! So theoretically I have 2 weeks. I think I have decided to drop the $$$$ and go out and visit whatever my assigned CHC is--Brooklyn was my #1 choice, and get a feel for it there since thats where we will be for 3 years. Maybe this will help in the decision--if its Brooklyn then i can also hopefully see the finished Touro building. Life was so much easier with one acceptance!!😉
 
Hahah, sorry...when I said two weeks, that was just to make an example and to highlight the very housing crisis of which you speak. Yes, I'm concerned about coming back for a limited amount of time (nobody rents out for 6 weeks!). Then again, though, if it's just a Kaplan course, might we just be free to take it wherever we may be?

In my interview someone asked if the board review was Kaplan, and they specifically said "NO", but something "similar to Kaplan"..
 
Brooklyn.....anyone go out and explore the CHC. According to Joyce there is a few of you out there!! How was it??THoughts?etc??

ATSU-COMM CHC Sites 2008-2011:

Brooklyn, New York: rarekare, igtx, eastwestn2grt
Beaufort, South Carolina: hopefuldoc40,
Troy, Alabama: CO2003
Milford, Ohio:
Flagstaff, Arizona: jfeyko, jacksonium78, gildas
Phoenix, Arizona: Redcuilapa
Tucson, Arizona: rpinnell,
Visalia, California: stringerbell, ifpx181, capucino123
Woodburn, Oregon: inthe415, gonnabeob,
Seattle, Washington: builttorock, greenshirt, romadanny
Waianae, Hawaii: dseattle, soccergrl03, md/do almost, v-lander, doctortravel
 
sorry eastwest (congrats though), this wont help you, but anyone make any contacts with the seattle chc? i can try to scope it out for you all when i have time. also i can pick up some apartment guides.

oh yeah that was a raised aerobed i was looking at in costco. looks pretty nice, portable, and cheaper/easier than a futon.
 
Whoo hoo, EastWestN2grt!! Welcome to the class! 🙂🙂🙂
 
looks good. thanks.

i know green and mdo brought it up earlier, but is anyone getting their cpr training now, or waiting until class. i already signed up for thursday, but would have some use for it before i arrive in mesa.

also i wonder what the basic life support and advanced cardiac life support are doing on the first page. it seemed that they wanted us to get our bls/cpr before starting classes from that immunization page. anyone know if we need both of them before, or should wait until classes start?

heh dseeattle, do u mean u signed up in your home town? or is there some sign up list at Mesa?
 
heh dseeattle, do u mean u signed up in your home town? or is there some sign up list at Mesa?

yeah i'm doing the bls training here in seattle through the american heart association, no affiliation to mesa. i thought itd be useful since i might do some medical work during my trip next month.
 
Hey Guys,
I have a question for you. My acceptance letter says to sent the deposits and the signed agreement to the Kirksville campus but all the ATSU- addressed envelopes in my package are addressed to Mesa. Is that a mistake?
And I was also hoping to get my CPR certification right before classes start.

They put the Mesa envelopes in our packets by mistake. They said to use the Mesa envelopes anyway and they would forward it to the Kirksville campus for us.
 
looks good. thanks.

i know green and mdo brought it up earlier, but is anyone getting their cpr training now, or waiting until class. i already signed up for thursday, but would have some use for it before i arrive in mesa.

also i wonder what the basic life support and advanced cardiac life support are doing on the first page. it seemed that they wanted us to get our bls/cpr before starting classes from that immunization page. anyone know if we need both of them before, or should wait until classes start?

We only need BLS before classes start. ACLS involves learning how to run different codes (ie. how to interpret the EKG and the protocol for pushing drugs). We won't really need to know that info until later. I'm probably going to take a Red Cross class at home. I'm a Red Cross loyalist since I teach for them. I believe AHA (which does ACLS) accepts Red Cross certification.
 
sorry eastwest (congrats though), this wont help you, but anyone make any contacts with the seattle chc? i can try to scope it out for you all when i have time. also i can pick up some apartment guides.

I would love you and have your babies if you did! It be nice if you could get an e-mail address for us to contact or scope out the place and see what they have in store for us so far.

On a different note....does anyone remember how class sessions are going to run? I remember they said we'd start out as a big group w/ the instructor in the middle asking questions on the material to engage us and then we would split up into smaller groups. Is the material going to revolve around patient cases or just the system? I ask b/c I just visited a PBL campus, where all the learning is based around real patient cases. I think is cool way to learn b/c it prepares you for how you approach cases during clinicals. I remember they said what we we'll do is similar to PBL in some ways, but not exactly PBL. Anyone from the recent interviews learn anything more on how classes are actually going to run?
 
Has anyone heard about what the class times are going to be around? I would assume starting around 8 or 9 but I havent heard anything definitive. Hopefully they will be sending us all that info out with the april packet
 
Has anyone heard about what the class times are going to be around? I would assume starting around 8 or 9 but I havent heard anything definitive. Hopefully they will be sending us all that info out with the april packet

Starting about 8 or 9 sounds about right. They gave us a sample weekly schedule on interview day. It had us going until noon everyday followed by OMM, Labs, Medical skills, etc. after lunch.
 
Has anyone heard about what the class times are going to be around? I would assume starting around 8 or 9 but I havent heard anything definitive. Hopefully they will be sending us all that info out with the april packet

They did mention that we will be having wednesday and friday afternoons off. More time to play soccer hunh
BTW, did anyone try to contact the Flagstaff clinical site?
 
Hey Everyone,

Just got accepted!! Going to Beaufort, SC CHC! 🙂 🙂 One question, well actually a lot of questions but one for now, do they give more housing information with the acceptance packet? How is it possible to find a roommate? the Portal maybe?
 
ATSU-COMM CHC Sites 2008-2011:

Brooklyn, New York: rarekare, igtx, eastwestn2grt
Beaufort, South Carolina: hopefuldoc40, docmcdocerson
Troy, Alabama: CO2003
Milford, Ohio:
Flagstaff, Arizona: jfeyko, jacksonium78, gildas
Phoenix, Arizona: redcuilapa
Tucson, Arizona: rpinnell
Visalia, California: stringerbell, ifpx181, capucino123
Woodburn, Oregon: inthe415, gonnabeob
Seattle, Washington: builttorock, greenshirt, romadanny
Waianae, Hawaii: dseattle, soccergrl03, md/do almost, v-lander, doctortravel
 
Hey Everyone,

Just got accepted!! Going to Beaufort, SC CHC! 🙂 🙂 One question, well actually a lot of questions but one for now, do they give more housing information with the acceptance packet? How is it possible to find a roommate? the Portal maybe?

Congrats Docerson! During your interview, did anyone ask how many acceptances had been confirmed? In mid March, only 40 had officially confirmed. Waitlisters are anxiously awaiting........
 
Hey Everyone,

Just got accepted!! Going to Beaufort, SC CHC! 🙂 🙂 One question, well actually a lot of questions but one for now, do they give more housing information with the acceptance packet? How is it possible to find a roommate? the Portal maybe?

They'll be a list of some housing in the area, price ranges, contact info, etc. in the packet. There's lots of people looking for roommates on the Portal forum, which includes students in other programs as well, although the turnover isn't as fast as it is on SDN, so you might try here and on the Dental forum as well.
 
i'll do what i can greenshirt, thanks for the offer? hahah. they left a message on my voicemail which i haven't checked yet, but for now you can check out the website:

http://www.chckc.org/

based on wood's presentation, i have a feeling it will be at the renton and future seatac chc's.

oh and btw today in seattle it is SUNNY and 65F, with NO CLOUDS or RAIN! you can see all the mountains today. putting up with the mild rain and overcast for a while is worth the mild spring and summers, the sunshine and all the surrounding water with the views.
 
For those going to Flagstaff, I emailed them and this is the reply I got:


"Hello, hope all is well. First off, congrats on your acceptance to ATSU. Trust me, as excited as you are about this, we are equally excited about this new, exciting medical school and having you work with us at our community health center.
As for details in schedules, clinical training, services, lets put it this way- this is a new program, with a tremendous amount of time and thought put into it, but we do not have really detailed info of what the day-to-day will look like. That being said, you can expect that you will spend approximately 5ish hours a day in class your 2nd year, 2ish hours/ day your 3rd, and up to an hour/ day in your 4th. The rest of the time you will be immersed in various things at North Country CHC and several other healthcare facilities in and around Flagstaff. We are currently gearing up to move into a brand new facility, which is where you will do much of your training (please refer to the attached diagram). However, you will also be doing clinical training/ rotations at some of our regional medical centers, amongst other places. As for the types of rotations, you will be doing everything that every other med student does. Lastly, absolutely you can come up anytime to see the place and talk with us. Any ideas when you would like to do this?

Warm regards,
Sean "

They seem so excited about this new medical education as we are. I even got a personalised email from the director congratulating me.
wow I feel so special already:clap:
 
This is a website I ran across on another thread and thought I'd post it here b/c its kind of fun (like getting your fortune told) It's a medical specialty aptitude test. You answer 130 questions and it spits out a ranked list of specialties they think you match.

http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/specialties/

I got Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine as my #1 match. My intended speciality, EM, ended up 4th to last. Go figure! What do you guys get?
 
I have an interview coming up soon. I hope I get in. I am excited about Mesa.

Clay
 
I got Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine as my #1 match. My intended speciality, EM, ended up 4th to last. Go figure! What do you guys get?

Heh...My desired specialty was seventh! I got your #1 match too. Must be a DO trigger thing. 2nd nephrology, hemotology, neurosurgery, and then followed by every primary care category on the map. I guess I'm in the right ballpark after the first four. Fun site.
 
Oh, and good luck Clay! Just be yourself. :luck:
 
This is a website I ran across on another thread and thought I'd post it here b/c its kind of fun (like getting your fortune told) It's a medical specialty aptitude test. You answer 130 questions and it spits out a ranked list of specialties they think you match.

http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/specialties/

I got Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine as my #1 match. My intended speciality, EM, ended up 4th to last. Go figure! What do you guys get?


I wonder why they repeat the questions so much - some psychological game to determine what you ought to be doing? Anyway, I don't like what I saw on the results. Medical oncology? Blah. My interest now, ENT, was number 18. Family practice, another interest, was 33 out of 36. Interesting test, though. Maybe I just don't know myself yet (probably true).
 
I wonder why they repeat the questions so much - some psychological game to determine what you ought to be doing? Anyway, I don't like what I saw on the results. Medical oncology? Blah. My interest now, ENT, was number 18. Family practice, another interest, was 33 out of 36. Interesting test, though. Maybe I just don't know myself yet (probably true).

They repeat some of the questions to test for consistency. Yeah, medical oncology was up there for me too (#2). I just couldn't imagine doing that.

Me: I'm going to dose you w/ weapons grade chemicals that will make your hair and teeth fall out and vomit 30 times a day.
Patient: okay
Me: Oh, btw, you'll probably die in 6 months anyway.

It would be a hard specialty to cope with. I doubt the test really means much, but it's fun to see what you get anyway.
 
I went to see my PCP today (He's a DO). He told me that AT Still's grandson has a Urology practice on the floor above him. I was like "No way!". I almost ran up there to see if I could get a photo or autograph, so that my classmates would think I was cool (big dork, more likely). Anywho, that was my excitement for the day, a "brush" with DO celebrity.
 
This is a website I ran across on another thread and thought I'd post it here b/c its kind of fun (like getting your fortune told) It's a medical specialty aptitude test. You answer 130 questions and it spits out a ranked list of specialties they think you match.

http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/specialties/

1 obstetrics/gynecology 47
2 preventive med 45
3 occupational med 45
4 orthopaedic surgery 45
5 hematology 45
6 med oncology 44
7 pulmonology 44
8 general internal med 44
9 dermatology 44
10 general surgery 44

26 family practice 41
27 emergency med 41



hahaha, obgyn for #1? sorry gonnabeob, looks like you have some competition! hahah j/k. at least there are some primary/generals in the top ten.
 
Congrats Docerson! During your interview, did anyone ask how many acceptances had been confirmed? In mid March, only 40 had officially confirmed. Waitlisters are anxiously awaiting........

Thank you! My interview was March 29 and as of that day they said they had Visalia, Tucson, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Seattle, Oregon filled. I'm not sure if that meant deposits were in but it sounded like it in the way they were pretty sure no one would be put in those CHCs. However, no one asked about how many people had actually confirmed.
 
...AT Still's grandson has a Urology practice on the floor above him. I was like "No way!". I almost ran up there to see if I could get a photo or autograph

I was at an interview at another school, and the tour guide said one of his classmates was White Coated by one of AT Still's grandsons.

(It's like the Bill Walsh/West Coast Offense coaching tree!)
 
Thank you! My interview was March 29 and as of that day they said they had Visalia, Tucson, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Seattle, Oregon filled. I'm not sure if that meant deposits were in but it sounded like it in the way they were pretty sure no one would be put in those CHCs. However, no one asked about how many people had actually confirmed.

I also interviewed March 29. Who are/were you? Congrats on the acceptance! Im still struggling with the decision between ATSU and Touro NY, but I made the location choice easier for myself keeping Brooklyn as my number one choice-which I was assigned to. But I have to say every day, I think the ebb and tide of my decision starts leaning closer and closer to ATSU--I just cant help but feel the curriculum and being at a CHC is really true to my heart--At least I got another 11 days to decide, losing the $2000 Touro deposit will really suck, and I dont really have any other money sources to tap into for the ATSU deposit. Maybe they will take a REALLY LATE Post dated check!!🙁

Anyone know what happened to MD/DO ALmost? Im intersted in hearing about his decision--or is his silence indicative of his decision??
 
I was at an interview at another school, and the tour guide said one of his classmates was White Coated by one of AT Still's grandsons.

(It's like the Bill Walsh/West Coast Offense coaching tree!)

Any news from Touro Nevada?? Or have you decided to go with ATSU?
 
THis is not meant to exclude or alienate any one in the incoming ATSU Mesa class, but I am very interested in finding out the demographics of my potential future classmates. More specifically, how many other minorities are coming to ATSU? Some of you may not understand this, but it is an important factor for me in my decision. I come from a diverse background and very diverse community and I am looking for the same in my choice of schools. Granted, the overall mission and curriculum of ATSU strives to work with underserved populations it has been well documented that URMs/minority medical students are significantly more likely to end up practicing in underserved communities. And thus, my original question is posed. Any other URMs/minority students??


Hispanic:Eastwestn2grt
 

hahaha, obgyn for #1? sorry gonnabeob, looks like you have some competition! hahah j/k. at least there are some primary/generals in the top ten.

LOL! There is certainly room for all of us!! C'mon, you know you want to be a "baby catcher" too...
 
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