Medical Schools

Medical schools, colleges, and universities lay the foundation for careers in fields of medicine for aspiring nurses, technicians, therapists, and doctors. Students have many choices for gaining a solid medical education. The various accredited medical schools each declare various educational missions and teaching methods; this allows students to find the one medical degree program that suits personal goals and individual expectations.

Some specializations that can be found in medical schools are: public health, medical doctor, nursing, psychiatry, physical therapy, engineering, biochemistry, primary care, research, academics, and biomedical engineering, among others. Students should consider if they prefer teaching or working with people over performing research in laboratories. The choice of schools, as well as courses and programs of study can greatly influence life-long endeavors. Students should carefully consider selected medical schools and medical programs so as to choose a medical education that is complementary to long-term objectives and life goals. They should be mindful of time constraints, community or social needs, and personal interests.

Generally, medical training will begin with studies of anatomy, physiology, biology, pharmacology, and pathology. Second year students will focus on fields of choice and specializations.

Nursing degrees from medical schools can vary, including such programs as Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Registered Nurse (RN), and Master of Science in Nursing with specializations in areas, such as Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMH-CNS) or Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practitioner (PMH-CNS and NP). Clinical nursing classes are included in the final two or three years of nursing training. Courses for RN programs will include theory and clinical experience in various hospital and clinical settings.

Psychiatric studies will include mental health, behavioral sciences, research, theory, counseling practices, and much more. A wide selection of specializations are possible in this field, including substance abuse treatment, counseling, community health programs, and psychiatric and psychological doctor.

The third year for aspiring doctors preparing for professions in internal medicine will depend on the chosen school. Some medical schools depend heavily on reading and lectures, while others teach almost exclusively in laboratory settings. Some begin teaching programs by focusing on a single organ and its functions, examining the anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, and behavior of the systems involved with that one organ. Learning may take place in clinics or laboratories under the guidance of a professor. These are good choices for self-directed students who will succeed as members of a team.

The subject of internal medicine will move studies into clinical work, with students taking residency in hospitals associated with schools, and making clinical and surgical rotations. Education in this setting may be more important than the actual choice of schools, as characteristics of hospitals greatly influence the students' experience. Urban hospitals deal with trauma and emergency medicine, or infectious diseases in diverse ethnic populations. Hospital size, specialties, technology, and mortality rates will also affect experiences that determine the type of physician, psychiatrist, nurse, or biochemist the student will become. Many hospitals are actively involved in the communities in which they reside. Volunteer opportunities in clinical care can be very rich and educationally rewarding in these settings.

Pursuing a career in biomedical research should be undertaken only at medical schools with proven leadership roles in medical research. The same is true for students interested in academic medicine (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD), i.e., students interested in teaching should consider schools with a reputation for state-of-the-art academics and those that take an experimental approach to medicine and treatments, such as those schools associated with children's hospitals, cardiovascular hospitals, or oncology treatment centers.

If you would like to know more about Medical Schools, or even Online Medical Schools, we invite you to search our website where you will find numerous schools eager to give you all the information you need to start an exciting new career.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find Medical Schools and Online Medical Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, Natural Healing Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

Knock Em Dead With Your Medical Assistant Resume

Your Medical Assistant resume needs to stand out if you want to put yourself ahead of other applicants. We will go over what you should and shouldn't put in your resume and how to format it. I am going to divide this up into two sections, one for recent graduates and the other for those with experience.

Entry Level

If this is your first Medical Assistant job, you will not have any experience as a Medical Assistant to put down on your resume so your education should come first. Here is an example of an Entry Level Medical Assistant Resume:

Carrie Bishop

555 Main Street

New York, NY 10010

(212)555-3098

OBJECTIVE: To secure a leadership position as a Certified Medical Assistant in where I can utilize my extensive clinical and administrative work through patient care.

EDUCATION:

CUNY Brooklyn, Brooklyn New York Graduation: 12/11;Medical Assistant Program, Diploma Obtained, GPA: 3.5

(In this space, write about your Medical Assistant Training program or degree.)

If you have any other related medical education, you can list it here. Otherwise, list your high school information, if you have a high school diploma.

CLINICAL SKILLS ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS:

(In this section, list any clinical and administrative skills you have that would relate to the job)

-Phlebotomy

-Finger sticks

-Taking Patient Histories and Vital Signs

- Conducting Insurance Verifications

-Hematology

-Complete Blood Count (CBC)

-Referrals

-Urinalysis & Blood Testing

- Schedule Appointments

WORK EXPERIENCE:

(List most recent job first)

2008-Present Yak Bus Company Yonkers, New York

Special needs route driver; 2001-2008 Kernville School District Kernville, NY; Bus Driver

SKILLS & LANGUAGES: (In this section you can list any skills you have that would be beneficial and any other languages that you know.

- Fluent in English and Spanish.

- Microsoft Office

-Internet Savvy

REFERENCES: (In this section put 2-3 references. It would be best if you had some references from school and some from previous employment. You can always say references available upon request if you'd rather wait to give your references out once you are being considered. )

Resume for Applicants With Previous Experience:

If you already have experience, you will want to highlight your experience as the first thing on your resume. Here is an example with helpful tips about what you should write:

Jane Jones

987 Ford Street

New York, NY 10098

(212)555-2398

"janejones@email.com"

OBJECTIVE: To further my experience as a Medical Assistant and provide care to those in need.

PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE:

CENTRO MEDICO LATINO, Queens, New York 10/10 -12/11;

-Medical Assistant, Welcomed and greed all patients in a friendly manner.

-Assisted two Doctors per day at an internal medicine office.

-Performed Phlebotomy for lab test, EKG and Vital signs.

-Used E-Clinical Software to update and enter data, maintained patients' scheduling.

-Answered all phone calls and scheduled appointments.

-Cleaned and restocked supplies in all rooms.

-Maintained all incomings and outgoings logs.

-Checked and charged all insurance transactions.

( Also list your other positions in chronological order, even if they were not in the medical assistant field. Generally, it's fine to put the last 3)

EDUCATION:

New York BOCES, Brooklyn New York Graduation: 08/10;Medical Assistant Program, Certificate Obtained, GPA: 3.2

(In this space, write about your Training program or degree.)

If you have any other related medical education, you can list it here. Otherwise, list your high school information, if you have a high school diploma.

CLINICAL SKILLS ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS:

( In this section, list any clinical and administrative skills you have that would relate to the job);

• Injections

• Drawing Blood

• Taking Vitals

• Using EMR Software

• Filing Records

• Data Entry

• Record Keeping

• Payroll and Accounting

• Research on the Internet

• Training New Employees

• Dispatching

• Type 60 WPM

CERTIFICATIONS OF AWARD/ACHIEVEMENT: ( list any medical certification you have received and any rewards)

Phlebotomy Certificate

EKG-ECG Certificate

Injection Certificate

HIPAA Compliance Award

REFERENCES: ( In this section put 2-3 references. It would be best if you had some references from your previous work experience. You can also list some references from school or other jobs you've had. Like the other resume above, you can always say references available upon request if you'd rather wait to give your references out once you are being considered for the position. )

Visit our website for more help with your Medical Assistant Resume and also see Medical Assistant Resume Examples.

Caribbean Medical Schools - Advantages and Disadvantages

When considering whether one of the many Caribbean Medical Schools is right for you it's important to do thorough research and get as much information as possible so you can make an informed choice. There is no doubt that the Caribbean is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. If you decide to go to school in the Caribbean you'll be immersing yourself in that beauty while getting a world-class medical education.

Here are a few things you should consider when starting down the path to gather that information and making your choice:

ADVANTAGES

1. Cost

It is usually significantly less expensive to attend a Caribbean school. Even the top universities are a fraction of most top U.S. schools. An important note is the fact that there will be extra costs associated with studying abroad, such as travel expenses and travel student health insurance. However, even with those added expenses the total cost of education is far cheaper.

2. Rolling admissions

Some Caribbean medical schools have rolling admissions. What that means is that the window for applying to a given school can be very wide, often with 3 periods each year. This can make the application process far less stressful and allow more time to make sure everything you need is in order before submitting your application.

3. High USMLE pass rates

The top Caribbean medical schools have USMLE first-time pass rates that are at or above the U.S. average. High USMLE pass rates are a strong indicator that the programs offered by Caribbean schools are top level and that your education and advancement is taken seriously.

4. Admission Opportunities

Even with the best scores getting into medical school can sometimes be impossible. The number of applicants to U.S. schools is always far greater than the number of open slots. Caribbean medical schools give people opportunities to go to medical school that they might not otherwise have.

5. Clinical Rotation Opportunities

The first two years will be at the overseas campuses for all Caribbean medical schools, but the clinical rotations for the top schools are in the U.S. This offers a huge advantage to students in that they can benefit from the higher acceptance rates to get into the Caribbean universities while still being able to learn from the doctors at U.S. hospitals during their clinical rotations.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Wide range of quality

Not all Caribbean medical schools are the same, to say the least. The folks who run the schools know that there is high competition among prospective students to find a school to attend. At the top schools this has led to greater competition to elevate their programs and attract the best students. However, It has also meant the opportunity for lesser schools to make their way into the market and take advantage of those who might fall prey. Sticking to one of the best and oldest universities like is a safe decision because they are very well known and highly reputable. If you decide to investigate one of the newer schools be sure you research them especially well.

2. Language barrier

Again, this is something that you won't have to worry about at the top schools, but some Caribbean medical Schools don't use English as their primary teaching language. If you aren't fluent in the spoken language (usually Spanish) you will have a considerable disadvantage and will struggle unnecessarily.

3. Living in a foreign country can be challenging

The beginning of this article highlights the fact that the Caribbean is an incredibly beautiful part of the world. It is still a foreign country though, and its customs and culture are different than what most North Americans are used to. Most people find the differences exciting and fun, but some do find that it adds more stress to the already demanding medical school curriculum.

Deciding which medical schools to attend is a life-changing decision. It's important that you put a lot of time into gathering as much information as you can. Caribbean medical schools offer much to the student who puts forth the effort. Investigate the possibilities and see if a Caribbean medical school might be a perfect fit for you.

SUMMARY

It is definitely possible to get a quality education at one of the many Caribbean Medical Schools, but you must first do your homework and choose a quality school that matches your education and career goals. Going to one of the medical schools in the Caribbean can give you a quality education and allow you to save you time and money compared to some of the state side schools.

Medical Specialists Are Always in High Demand

Medical specialists are the highly skilled professionals in the field of health care. They reach this position after striving through a long educational and clinical career. Due to limited number of seats in higher medical education and high competition levels, specialists are always in high demand. Medical associations and boards of the respective countries control or monitor the courses offered and the medical specialists' jobs. There are no specific boundaries or limitations for a thorough professional. Countries relax their immigration rules to provide assistance for those who have completed their education abroad. High remunerations and other facilities are provided by the hospitals to retain a qualified and skilled doctor. The job is highly competitive, exhaustive and most of the times the life of a doctor is restricted to the hospital environ only.

Description of medical specialists' jobs

Medical specialists' jobs are available globally. There are various departments of specialisation and a physician can pursue his advanced study in either of these fields. The personal inclination and clinical exposure to that particular subject is a matter of choice. The prominent departments of specialisations after completing basic education criterion and residency jobs are enumerated below:

Allergist/ immunologist, anaesthetist, cardiologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, nephrologists, neurosurgeon, gynaecologist, ophthalmologist, Orthopaedic surgeon and paediatrician are some of the main branches.

A doctor is required to complete his residency job and clear a comprehensive exam before taking up the job as a medical specialist. Afterwards, he can serve at hospital or join a group practice; self practice is also an option. Besides joining a clinic or collaborating one or two roles can also work.

It has been noticed that dermatologists are most satisfied with their career profile while primary care physicians find themselves at the lowest levels. The reason behind the sense of satisfaction is unknown but the surveys confirm the report. Sometimes the reality situation or the demanding work hours demean the spirit of serving people. Social life is almost curtailed while meeting up with the stretched hours of clinical duty.

Remunerations

Although medical specialists are paid well, if the money is the primary motive then it is not a recommended career choice. The mean annual salary of a medical specialist is $175,000 in USA. However these are not final figures. There are various other factors that influence the salary package. To cover the expenses and meet up the demands, medical specialists generally join group practice. It is still felt that salary in heath care field is not rising in proportion to the changing economic scenario.

Conclusion

Medical specialists' jobs are available globally. But they covet highest degree of perspiration with excellence. This job type is suitable for those who find medicine interesting and ready to sacrifice various trivial social life arenas to pursue their career. The job offers money sufficient enough to lead a good life but satisfaction levels of serving humanity and saving lives is higher than any other field.

Check out the Medepage Healthcare community site for Medical Specialist Jobs, information and meet healthcare professional from across the globe.

Medical Writing Training: Train Broadly, Write Specifically

I get one question repeatedly from new medical writers wanting to be trained. They are often not sure of what direction they want to take, so they ask: "Should I take a lot of medical writing courses and learn everything, or should I specialize in a specific type of medical writing?" It's really two questions, and let me separate them for you. The first question is, "What kind of training should I take?" The second question is, "Should I be a specialist or generalist?"

Both are good questions, and they are two questions, not one.

My simple and I hope memorable advice is:

Train Broadly, Write Specifically.

When employers or companies look for medical writers, they typically want someone for a specific job, or a specific type of medical writing. They like to hire and work with specialists - people who know the particular field, who are familiar with the literature and practice around specific ailments, populations, pharmaceuticals, or devices. Everyone wants someone who knows what they are talking about, in order to get the most bang for the buck out of an author.

So, when you are presenting yourself for work, it's best to be the specialist who really knows what they are talking about.

Now, of course you can have specialties in a number of different areas. It's good to do that. That way you can have broader appeal to potential employers or buyers of your content. But they are only interested in the specialty relevant to THEM. Present yourself through your payer's eyes. Be the specialist THEY want.

Now, with regard to training, think about training broadly.

There are about 7 different kinds of medical writing:

    Consumer Health Writing
    Abstracts and Posters
    Biostatistics and Epidemiology
    Grant Writing
    Scientific Journal Writing
    Regulatory Writing
    Continuing Medical Education (CME) Writing

You can be well known in one or two kinds. But you should train broadly.

That means Abstract and Poster Writing, and Biostatistics and Epidemiology skills are broadly applicable to Consumer Health Writing, Scientific Journal Writing, CME Writing, and Regulatory Writing.

And Scientific Journal Writing, Regulatory Writing and CME Writing require similar discipline in gathering evidence, performing analysis, drawing conclusions, and making recommendations.

So, when you think of getting trained, train broadly. Consider packages of Medical Writing Training.

When you think of getting work, present yourself as the specialist to your potential payer.

Remember this simple advice: Train Broadly. Write Specifically

Jonathan Marx, MBA has been a medical writer since 2001, and owns a company which trains medical writers world wide. http://www.medicalwritingtraining.com. He also manages the annual Medical Writing Festival, an annual online event featuring 10+ hours of online seminars on medical writing and the business of medical writing. He also manages an online network of medical writers from around the world, at medicalwritingtraining.com