An Internet Resource Guide For Biology Majors Pursuing a Career In Medicine

Maxwell Kruse Eng 202c February 4, 14

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 1.1. Who this guide is for.. 2 1.2. Contents of this guide 2 1.3. Assumptions of this guide.. 3 1.4. Understanding the Organization of this guide. 3

2. Preparing For Medical School

2.1. Penn State Pre-Medicine Advising. 5 2.2. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). 6 2.3. American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) 7 2.4. Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) 8

3. Resources to Aid in Biological Research Electronic Databases

3.1. PubMed.10 3.2. Catalog of U.S. Government Publications. 12 3.3. Statistical Abstract of the United States 13

Scientific Journals 3.4. Nature 15 3.5. The New England Journal of Medicine 16

1. Introduction
1.1 Who this guide is for:
This guide is intended for undergraduate biology majors that are pursuing a career in medicine. It was designed as an aid to help students succeed in their biology courses as well as in their preparation for medical school. The guide includes resources that are appropriate for a range of students, and was structured so that it will be helpful to students throughout their academic career. Although this guide was written specifically for biology majors attending the Pennsylvania State University, much of the material may be useful to students attending other schools; additionally, this guide could be useful for any science major interested in a career in medicine.

1.2 Contents of this guide:

Pursuing a career in medicine is a long, competitive, and painful process. It requires that students excel in school, that they are actively involved in their community, and that they are able to persevere through a very long weed out process. There are several stages to the tedious application process, and this guide aims to provide undergraduate biology majors at Penn State with the upper hand in their path to medical school. This guide includes a variety of online resources that will help students succeed in their courses pertaining to the sciences, and also includes various tools to help students pursuing a career in medicine. This guide provides links, detailed descriptions, and useful tips for each online resource so that students can utilize these online tools effectively. Included are websites geared towards aiding students in their scientific research, tools for learning about the health care industry, and resources that can aid students in their application process to medical school.

1.3 Assumptions of this guide:

This guide assumes that you are an undergraduate biology major with an interest in medicine. Ive attempted to avoid using overly technical language and abbreviations for the purpose of making this material easily accessible to students in all stages of their career as an undergraduate. The guide does not assume that you have had previous experience with the medical school application process, and takes special care to explain each resource in depth to avoid any confusion. However, this guide does include resources that may be more appropriate for someone in the later stages of their preparation for medical school. If you are a freshman or sophomore you may not utilize all of these resources right away, but it is my hope that this guide will serve as a valuable tool throughout your journey to medical school. The resources in this guide will allow you to excel academically, and they will also be valuable in your application process for medical school.

1.4 Understanding the organization of the guide:

This guide begins by presenting four websites that aim to help students prepare for medical school, and then offers five resources that will assist students in their biological research. The resources aiding in preparation for medical school are organized so that they begin as introductory and get progressively more advanced. The first resource may be more useful to freshman or sophomores in the beginning stages of their process, and the last resource will be most useful to a senior who is ready to apply to medical school. However, each of these websites were included because they all contain a wealth of information and have the potential to help students throughout their academic career. The second group of resources was included to help students research topics in medicine and biology more efficiently. This section first presents three electronic databases, and then offers two of the most highly esteemed scientific journals. Although the guide was organized with purpose, it was written so that you do not have to read it in order. Feel free to use each resource in the order that best suits your needs. Although I do not encourage you to ignore entire sections completely, reading a later section first should not affect your understanding of the material. For each resource included in this guide I have provided an abstract and a series of tips to both explain the resource and indicate how you can use it most effectively. In addition, a link to each website is provided so that you can find them with ease.

2. Preparing For Medical School

This section provides a series of resources that will help you prepare for medical school. These resources will help you become a competitive applicant, and they will also teach you about the medical school application process. Utilizing these four websites will assure so that you are well prepared when its time to apply for medical school.

2.1 Penn State Pre-Medicine Advising

Website Location: http://science.psu.edu/premed/advising

Abstract:
Although you probably already utilize the Biology advising office, the Penn State Pre-Medicine advising website is a far more valuable resource when you have questions pertaining to medical school. This website provides several resources that will help you prepare for medical school. Additionally, it will allow you to schedule appointments with the pre-med advisors who are incredibly helpful. On the left hand side of the page there is a list of all the services they offer. Here you will find they offer an extensive list of FAQs, several Pre-health resources, tips on how to get involved at Penn State, a calendar of special events related to health care, and a Medical/Dental Application power point that offers step-by-step instruction on applying to medical school. This website should serve as your primary resource for directing your med school application process. You should utilize this resource early on in your college career to ensure you capitalize on all of the resources Penn State has to offer; this will help you become a competitive candidate for medical school. This website will also help you ensure that you maintain a high GPA. The Academic Success, Learning Assistance, & Student Resources tab provides links to several resources that will help you succeed in your most challenging courses here at Penn State. These resources include links to free tutoring services and also provide guides that offer effective study strategies. You have to maintain a high GPA for medical school, so dont hesitate to use this aspect of the website .

Tips: I recommend that you meet with a pre-medicine advisor at least once a semester. They are far more knowledgeable about the health professions than the biology advising office. Meeting with them frequently will ensure you are taking the right steps to become a competitive candidate for medical school. Medical schools require that you provide a letter of recommendation from Penn States Health Sciences Pre-professional Evaluation Committee. This committee provides a 26page packet that includes a time table for applying to medical school and also instructions for scheduling your interview with the committee. Downloading this packet from the pre-medicine advising website is an absolute requirement if you plan on attending medical school.

2.2 The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

General Website Location: https://www.aamc.org

Abstract:
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website is an essential resource for anyone aspiring to become a Medical Doctor (MD). This site provides resources that can be utilized by a wide range of students including undergraduates perusing medical school, current medical students, and even residents. For undergraduates, the most useful aspects of the website can be found under the Aspiring Docs tab. Here you will find information about the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), and their Fee Assistance Program. Taking the MCAT and using the AMCAS application system are absolute requirements for medical school, so its a good idea to start learning about them early on in your undergraduate career. The AAMC is the organization that actually administers the MCAT and AMCAS, so this is the best place to learn about them. In addition to providing information about medical school requirements, the AAMC website offers resources such as fact sheets on deciding if medical school is right for you, advice on how to pay for medical school, and a blog in which peers leave helpful comments for each other.

Tips: Make sure to utilize the free MCAT Essentials guidebook. Becoming familiar with this guide will ensure you understand how the testing process works. If you havent taken the MCAT yet, the best way to prepare is by taking the 11 AAMC practice tests. These tests are provided under the MCAT tab. If you plan on purchasing a MCAT test preparation package, such as Princeton Review or Kaplan, do not purchase the 11 AAMC practice tests. Most MCAT courses include access to these practice tests, so you will be wasting money by purchasing them twice. The AAMC website offers a list of their organizations initiatives, as well as links to articles discussing current issues in medicine. This is a good place to start learning about current events in the health care field to ensure you are prepared for medical school interviews.

2.3 American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)

General Website Location: http://www.aacom.org/Pages/default.aspx Abstract: Osteopathic Medicine is a rapidly growing field, and has become an appealing alternative to a traditional allopathic medical degree (MD). The AACOM website is a great resource for any student pursuing a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), and also provides an avenue for students who want to learn more about the field. This site offers a wide variety of resources for a range of users including medical educators, osteopathic medical students, and researchers. The most useful information for undergraduates can be found under the About and Applicants tabs. The About tab discusses what osteopathic medicine is, and how its holistic model of care is beneficial. It also includes comprehensive descriptions of osteopathic curriculums and general admissions requirements. If you are interested in applying to an osteopathic medical school, the Applicants tab provides any information you may need about applying, and also includes a link to their AACOM Application Service.

Tips: Osteopathic medical schools require applicants to shadow at least one DO, and require at least one letter of recommendation from a DO. If osteopathic medicine interests you, make sure to utilize the Shadowing a DO and Learning About the Practice of Osteopathic Medicine page. It provides a link to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) that can assist you in finding an osteopathic physician to shadow. You may want to consider purchasing the Osteopathic Medical College Information Book. This book provides a comprehensive list of osteopathic medical schools, links to their websites and financial aid offices, and also discusses the specific admissions requirements for each school.

2.4 Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR)

General Website Location: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/

Abstract:
MSAR Online is a tool that provides prospective medical students with information on all accredited U.S. and Canadian medical schools. It is a powerful guide that will help you prepare for medical school and the medical school application process. The Association of American Medical Colleges produces this tool in collaboration with a collection of medical schools, so it is guaranteed to provide accurate and up-to-date information. A one-year subscription to MSAR costs $22, however this is a small price to pay for a resource that is unrivaled in its field. In addition, this subscription includes a free promotional code to download the MSAR: Getting Started e-book, which costs $15 itself. MSAR includes a database of profiles for each medical school, and will make the process of selecting the right school much easier. Each profile includes a huge amount of data on that school including the different programs they offer, GPA and MCAT requirements, application deadlines, student life, financial aid, etc. Although much of this information is available on each schools website, MSAR is useful in that it allows you to search for medical schools based on various characteristics. You can search for schools by categories like application type, class size, location, and school type. In addition to this search function, you can also favorite the schools you find, take notes on them, and compare the schools youre interested in side -by-side. MSAR provides information to help you prepare for your application process as well. It explains how to decide which medical field is right for you, how to become a competitive applicant, and also offers tips for choosing the right med school.

Tips: At the bottom of the MSAR home page you will find a link to a few online tutorials that explain how to utilize all features of MSAR. MSAR Online and the MSAR: Getting Started e-book are updated each year. Admissions requirements change annually, so it may be beneficial to hold off on purchasing MSAR until you are a Junior or Senior. Each profile on MSAR provides link to that medical schools home page, admissions office, and financial aid office. Use these links to gain more detailed insight into each medical school before making a decision.
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3. Resources To Aid in Biological Research

This section introduces an index, two government databases, and two prominent scientific journals that will allow you to complete effective research for your lab reports and research projects as a biology major.

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3.1 PubMed
Government Database Website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Abstract:
PubMed is an internet database produced by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). It functions as a search engine that allows you to navigate through over 23 million publications from several databases, journals, and online books. This resource will be an integral part of any research based assignment pertaining to the biology major. PubMed provides access to journal citations, abstracts, and many full text articles from a vast array of fields including the biomedical sciences, life sciences, behavioral sciences, chemicals sciences, and bioengineering. This immense database will allow you to run a comprehensive search on nearly any topic related to your courses whether it be molecular biology or the latest technological advances in medicine. In addition to providing access to over 23 million citations, PubMed also offers links to other useful government databases and resources such as PubChem, the NCBI genome database, and the NCIB protein database. PubMed provides you with several search options. You can research your topic by key word, author, journal name, or article name. Moreover, each citation is labeled with a PubMed ID or PMID; by simply saving the PMID you can return to an article of interest by entering it into PubMeds search bar. It is likely that your initial queries will be far too broad. PubMed also provides several options for focusing your research. After an initial search query is made, filters along the left hand side of the page allow you to narrow your search by article type, text availability, publication date, species type, journal type, etc. If you require vey specific information and already know where to find it, PubMed has an advanced search option that offers several categories to which you can specify your search query as well. Tips: The majority of journals can be accessed for free via PubMed, however some of the more recent ones require a subscription. It is helpful to log into PubMed through www.libraries.psu.edu to access the journals Penn State is subscribed to. If you are completing a thesis or term paper, you may need to research a topic over an extended period of time. After making your initial search, select the orange RSS (Really Simple Syndication) icon located above the search box. You will need to download an RSS reader for this feature, but creating the search as an RSS feed will provide you with automatic updates any time new items are added to that search query.

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 If youre having any trouble using PubMed, look to the NCIB Help Manual located under the Getting Started section of the PubMed home page. This Help Manual will provide you with answers to frequently asked questions, links to tutorials, and even step-by-step instructions on how to use PubMed effectively.

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3.2 Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

Government Data Base Location: http://catalog.gpo.gov/F

Abstract:
The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (GCP) is a valuable resource for obtaining documents published by the U.S. government. It is a tool that allows you to search for government publications by authoring agency, title, keyword, or subject. The GCP database includes over 500,000 records for government documents that date back to July 1976. This includes archives of documents in print as well as links to current documents published online. The catalog offers an advanced search option that allows users to refine their search query by characteristics like format, year, and language. Other useful features of the GCP include the bookshelf and previous searches functions, which allow users to save specific publications and previous searches directly to their account. The GCP makes information about the latest health care reforms readily available to physicians and students pursuing medicine. For example, to investigate the progress of The Affordable Care Act, I simply entered the phrase: Affordable Care Act Progress 2013. Immediately, I found the HealthCare.gov: Progress and Performance Report, for 2013. This document provides an assessment of the HealthCare.gov website, which was conducted by experts from both government agencies and the private sector. It explains that although the website was launched with an inexcusable number of bugs and extremely poor usability, that the site has made substantial progress and is now running smoothly. It then goes on to discuss many of the features of HealthCare.gov. Below are instructions on how to locate this document. Documents like these could be invaluable for physicians who need to remain knowledgeable about health care and health insurance reform so that they can protect both themselves and their patients. Title: HealthCare.gov: Progress and Performance Report http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo41857/healthcare.gov-progress-report.pdf SuDoc Number: HE 1.2:H 34/32 Tips: Look to the Help tab along the top of the webpage for in depth descriptions of how to utilize each function of the GCP. If you are looking for a document that was published recently, the GCP offers a New Titles function that organizes publications that were produced with in the last 3 months.

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3.3 Statistical Abstract of the United States

Government Database Location: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

Abstract:
The statistical Abstract of the United States provides an immense range of statistical information that is collected by a number of federal organizations including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. This site is very useful in gathering accurate information for research projects, and can also be used to help guide your career path. It provides a wealth of information that can give you insight into the state of the economy, and more specifically the state of the health care industry. On the left hand side of the page there is a list of categories that allows you to easily find the statistical document you are looking for. As a biology major, it may be useful to look to the Heath & Nutrition section. Here you can find information on health care resources, health care expenditures, and heath conditions and diseases. The Heath Conditions, Diseases section is an excellent resource for educating yourself about the current trends in medicine. It is important to remain knowledgeable about the most prominent health conditions in our country if you plan to someday be treating patients with those conditions. For example, this section provides a document titled CancerEstimated New Cases, and Survival Rates. This document was produced by the American Cancer Society, and provides information on a number of cancers. It contains statistics about the estimated number of new cases in 2011 and five-year survival rates. These data are provided for every year since 1992. This is useful because it allows you to see the progression of the disease in our population over time, and also indicates that our treatment of these cancers has been improving. If you would like to view this document yourself, you can locate it using the information is below. Title : 182 - CancerEstimated New Cases, and Survival Rates http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition/health_conditions_diseases.h tml Tips: The Guide to Sources link on the bottom of the home page brings you to an appendix that is helpful in finding the data you are looking for. This appendix lists all of the sources included in the statistical abstract; it lists where else the documents are available, and also notes how often it is updated. Another nice feature of the website is the American Fact Finder. This resource allows you to enter key words to search for interesting facts about various aspects of America
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such as community demographics. The link to this tool is found under the Data drop down menu at the top of the home page.

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3.4 Nature
Scientific Journal Location: http://www.nature.com/ Abstract: Nature is a prominent name in the scientific community, and the Nature Publishing Group has been a major publisher of scientific and medical information since 1869. Nature is one of the best journals to use if youre looking for high impact studies in your area of research. The Nature Publishing Group actually produces several different journals, all of which are specific to different areas of study. They publish information in the areas of chemistry, clinical practice & research, earth & environment, life sciences, and physical sciences. On their homepage, you can select to view an index of their publications A-Z, or you can also choose to view a list of their publications organized by subject area. Both options will provide you with links to all of their more specific journals. Natures home page provides a search function that allows you to navigate through these journals collectively. This is useful when youre not entirely sure which specific journal the studies youre looking for would be published in. However, you can also choose to select a specific publication such as Nature Medicine for a more specific search query. An advanced search option is also offered which allows you to effectively narrow your search queries by author, title, publishing date, volume, etc. In addition to publishing scientific journals, the Nature Publishing Group provides information via multimedia sources such as videos, podcasts, databases, and blogs. Exploring these multimedia is an entertaining way to keep yourself updated in the most recent advances in the scientific community.

Tips: After completing an initial search, utilize the filters menu provided along the left hand side of the page. This will allow you to narrow your search using categories such as journal, article type, and publication date to name a few. You can also use the Sort by drop down menu to better organize your search results. Natures most recent publications require a subscription. Enter their website through Penn States library for access to all of their publications. Selecting the More news from Nature or the Latest research tabs will allow you to see what the most cutting edge studies are. This may aid in to pic selection when youre assigned a research project.
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3.5 The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)

Scientific Journal Location: http://www.nejm.org/

Abstract:
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) was founded in 1811 and is the oldest continuously published medical journal. This journal is designed to provide physicians with current research in a clinically relevant and easily understood format; however, this userfriendly style makes the journal beneficial for students as well. The journal publishes many of the most important medical findings, and has a reputation of being a top publisher of biomedical research. This journal is a great tool for finding clinically relevant research to include in your lab reports, and is also useful as a supplement to many of your textbooks. The articles are conveniently organized by specialties and topics, and their search feature allows you to narrow your search by a number of characteristics such as specialty, date of publishing, number of times cited, etc. A very unique feature of this journal is its Articles & Multimedia section. Here you will find videos in clinical medicine, images in clinical medicine, and a series of interactive medical cases. If you are truly passionate about medicine, you will find these videos and interactive medical cases fascinating.

Tips: There is a box on the right hand side of the home page that presents the most viewed articles of the month and week. Routinely checking this box is a great way to keep updated with the latest advances in medicine. NEJM offers a series of articles presenting the perspectives of physicians on different issues in medicine. These are a great way to learn more about current issues in medicine so that you appear well informed in your medical school interviews.

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