Premed/Pre-Health June Newsletter

Published on June 21, 2024

June 2024

The image features a neon sign with the phrase "and breathe" against a lush, green backdrop of various plants. This creates a relaxing and nature-inspired atmosphere, perfect for a summer newsletter.

Happy Summer, officially!

Welcome to the June Premed/Pre-health Newsletter! This “monthly” summary email includes upcoming events tailored to premed/pre-health students. These events may be hosted by MCS, or outside events open to all. In addition, we will make advising announcements via the newsletter, such as upcoming items like course registration advising hours, drop-ins, advising policies, and reminders to engage with application advising resources when the time is right. Please note that this newsletter is a complementary email to the MCS weekly digest you receive based on your subscription preference.

Premed & Pre-Health Announcements

Summer Advising Reminder

  • June: Appointments are currently only available for those applying this summer. All other advisees should plan to book once we resume regular advising in August. Urgent advising questions can always be forwarded to premed@fas.harvard.edu.
  • July:Current applicants who need advice in July should first turn to your House/Dudley Community premedical tutors, who remain available during the summer to answer questions related to secondary applications, school list, and other questions about the overall application and plans. Also see the Applying to Medical School page on the MCS website, including our “FAQs for Applicants” (under the AMCAS tab). If you have an urgent question about your application that your Premed Tutors or the AMCAS/other primary application support staff cannot answer, please email premed@fas.harvard.edu and one of us will get back to you within one business day when possible. Regular premed/pre-health advising appointments resume in August.
    • We will continue to send important updates about the medical school application process via the MCS Applicant listserv throughout the summer. As a quick reminder, if you are applying to medical school in 2024 for matriculation in 2025, make sure you are signed up for our applicant listserv and have reviewed our 2025 application cycle advising onboarding materials. If you need this information, please let us know at premed@fas.harvard.edu. 

MCAT Book Drive!

In collaboration with HUPS Community Care Collaborative, MCS hosts a library of donated MCAT books for student use. Loans will be provided for Fall, Spring, or summer study periods and be distributed at the beginning of each study block. Donate now to help make healthcare education more accessible! Just fill out this 30 second form and reach out to premed@fas.harvard.edu to donate your books/study materials to your peers.

For those looking to borrow books from the lending library, please complete the linked form and anticipate a follow-up message from MCS.

Gap Year Opportunities

  • Program Manager with Unite For Sight
    • The Program Manager position provides an outstanding individual with an opportunity to engage in high impact front-line global health programs. The Program Manager helps to lead Unite For Sight’s program divisions, while contributing creative and cutting-edge ideas to a leading global health organization.
  • (NEW!) Clinical Technician at the Palo Alto VA
    • The Precision Neuromodulation Clinic (PNC) at the Palo Alto VA is offering a paid, in-person position as a clinical technician. Responsibilities of this position include delivering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatments under the supervision of senior clinicians to patients with psychiatric conditions, administration of symptom scales, entry of electronic medical records notes, administrative duties, and assisting in implementing quality and process improvement projects. The position requires strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with patients, as well as to coordinate care with a multi-disciplinary clinical team, the ability to multi-task, and strong motivation to help patients with different forms of mental illness. The position is ideal for a recent college graduate who would like to gain hands-on experience working with patients in preparation for attending medical school or other allied health professional school. Students who have majored in psychology and related disciplines are particularly encouraged to apply. The attending physicians at our clinic are dually appointed Stanford University School of Medicine professors. This is a full time, full benefits position. This job will be available beginning Fall 2024 and requires at least a two-year commitment. Additionally, this is a federal position and requires US citizenship. 

Please send a cover letter, CV and at least two references from prior work experiences to piayoon@stanford.edu and CC Dr. Jong Yoon, jhyoon1@stanford.edu.

  • (NEW!) Nonprofit Management Fellow with PBHA 
    • PBHA is looking for recent graduates (up to 4 years out) to apply for our first year Nonprofit Management Fellow position. To learn more about the position and to apply, review the job posting.

      We will be reviewing applications this month before starting interviews in early July.

      Please reach out to Cass Morales (cass@pbha.org) with any questions.

Additional Opportunities

Clinical

  • MCS keeps a running list of clinical volunteering sites in the Cambridge/Boston area. On our Getting Experience page, you can find this information under the “Clinical Volunteering” tab.
  • Personal Care Aid Opportunity
  • I’m a 30 year old researcher at Harvard Medical School. I use a wheelchair and am looking for help with:
  • full transferring (50 Ibs)
  • toileting
  • bathing
  • dressing 
  • housekeeping and meal prep (during same shifts as above)

Shifts are every weekday: 

  • morning (7:30-10 AM)
  • afternoon (.5-1 hr between 1 and 3 PM *MOST URGENT NEED*)
  • evening (5-6/7 PM). 

Most shifts will occur either at home in Cambridgeport or at my office in Longwood. I’m looking for people to begin ASAP with weekly hours and flexible scheduling at $20/hr. No minimum hours or prior experience is required. 

Contact by email or text with interest or questions! Emily Ackerman, 607-376-1882, eeackerman@gmail.com

Job description for Personal Care Assistant role.
  • Volunteer with patients on the BMC Pediatric Epilepsy Healthcare Transition Resource Navigator Team!
    • Navigators will work in Boston Medical Center’s Pediatric Neurology clinic rooms and meet one-on-one with epilepsy patients aged 12-26 to connect them with personalized resources. We have shifts available from 9am to 1pm, and 1pm to 5pm, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and we ask that students commit to at least one 4-hour session every week throughout a semester. Navigators will also be required to work at least 1-2 hours per week remotely. Detailed information about the opportunity can be found here (detailed description) and here (flier). The plan is for training and volunteering to occur over the summer, with continuation into the fall – we are looking for folks with summer 2024 and fall 2024 availability. Students do not have to commit to the same shift in both the summer and fall. 

We have internal leadership positions, unique opportunities to build relationships with providers, and shadowing. Interested individuals can send their resume and cover letter to Meenal Khandaker at meenal.khandaker@bmc.org.

Research 

Community Engagement

Professional Development

  • Hofstra Medical School Virtual Info Session
    • On behalf of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, I would like to invite your students to attend our Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 4:00 PM ET. We offer a 4 year, fully accredited MD program and are located in New York, approximately 30 miles outside of Manhattan.

This 60-minute webinar will include a presentation on our curriculum and admissions process by Rona Woldenberg, MD, Associate Dean for Admissions, Professor of Radiology. A student panel will also be joining us to answer all of their questions.

To register, please CLICK HERE

  • Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Virtual Admission Seminars
  • Thursday, June 20th at 4:00pm
  • Wednesday, June 26th at 12pm

The session will be a great opportunity to learn more about Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), including all aspects of our application process, interview tips, curriculum, clinical and research opportunities, student life and support services, etc.

  • University of Arizona – Tucson Virtual Info Sessions
    • MD Information Session and Q&A with medical students from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
      • The first 15 minutes of these session will provide an overview of the College of Medicine-Tucson, presented by the admissions team, and the remaining 45 minutes will be set aside for Q&A with our medical students. The info session gives applicants an opportunity to learn about the curriculum, programs, student groups, and what the experience of the medical students at College of Medicine – Tucson is like. The sessions help applicants learn information about a school or community that they may not glean off a website, and that can improve their secondary and interview performance.
      • Info Session Dates: 6/28 12-1pm MST, 7/19 12-1pm MST
      • to register fill out poll
  • 4th Annual Pre-Health Dreamers‘ Conference
    • The 4th Annual Pre-Health Dreamers’ Conference is here! PHD created this conference with the community in mind. Speakers were chosen based on the most pressing questions we have received from students and educators in the last year!
      • 2-day online conference, 10 informational sessions available to attendees + Welcome sessions.
      • Date 7/25 & 7/26, 9 am – 3 pm pst
      • Students $25
  • Learn more and RSVP
  • This is a fundraising event to help support PHD’s 2024/2025 programming year! We appreciate your support and attendance.
  • Pre-Health Conference 2024 at UC Davis
    • You’re invited to the 22nd annual Pre-Health Conference

November 2nd, 2024

8 am – 4:20 pm at UC Davis

Every year, we host up to 3,000 college students and alumni attendees from across California and the nation. Students from Community Colleges, Four-Year Universities, Post-Bac Programs, and alumni are invited along with Counselors and Advisors.

Attendees will be able to explore various health fields throughout the day, including the pre-health fair and afternoon workshop sessions. During the Fair, learn how to become a competitive applicant from admissions staff and deans of admissions. During the Workshops, learn directly from practicing professionals and other experts. For more information about our programs and workshops, check out the Pre-Health Conference website pages workshops, and the Pre–Health Fair. 

What is Conference like?

Why should you register?

Registered attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Explore 20+ health professions, including medicine, physicians assistant, nursing, and more all day.
  • Network with deans of admission from health professional programs and organizations during the Pre-Health Fair.
  • Learn from current professionals, professional students, and admissions staff during the workshop sessions.

Register today: 

Attendee Registration (non-UC Davis student fee is $35)

Group Registration

Resources & Readings

General Resources

Financial Aid & Fee Assistance Programs

  • AAMC: Fee Assistance Program application is now open!
    • Not just for current applicants – apply for FAP prior to taking the MCAT to use any benefits for which you may qualify!
    • In preparation for the application opening, the Fee Assistance Program team held an informational webinar to share updates about the 2024 AAMC Fee Assistance Program. This webinar covered the 2024 Fee Assistance Program benefits, eligibility requirements, the application process, etc. Register today and you will be able to view the recording.
  • AAMC FIRST
    • Did you know the AAMC has a free, searchable database of state and federal loan forgiveness programs?
    • These tips are brought to you by FIRST (Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools) – an AAMC service that provides free resources to help you make wise financial decisions.
  • ADEA: Fee Assistance Program
  • VMCAS: Fee Assistance Program

Entrance Exams & Situational Judgment Tests

  • Learn more about the MCAT (MD/DO)
    • Registration for July-September 2024 MCAT test dates are now open.
  • Learn more about the DAT (Dental)
  • Learn more about Situational Judgment Tests (MD/DO programs)

Connect with Professional Organizations

For a full list of MCS programs and employer events, check out the MCS Calendars. 

Best Regards,
Premedical and Health Careers Advising at MCS
premed@fas.harvard.edu

By Rob Harrington
Rob Harrington Assistant Director of Premedical and Health Careers Advising
Send Email