Interview Questions

Name a time you went above and beyond. What did you learn from this experience? (IOWA)

-**Parasitology project** Took something that was a simple project without any basic guidelines and we made it into a comprehensive study. Taught me to make the most out of every opportunity and keep an open mind → I had originally taken this course because it was only one of my two options for a final biology elective. I wasn't overly excited about parasitology, but ended up finding a deep passion for the field and the research we conducted.

When is a time you received feedback that you did not agree with and how did you respond? (IOWA)

-1: not gaining acceptance to medical school - I had the confidence in myself from the beginning that I could succeed if I was given the chance, and was honestly very sad when I didn't get in the last cycle. -2:

Give an example of how you are organized.

-A great example of my organization comes from my ability to manage my time successfully. I like to document the tasks I have to get done in a list for the day or week, providing myself with smaller goals to prevent myself from getting overwhelmed. This was extremely necessary in college with basketball and extra curricular commitments.

What is the difference between osteopathic, allopathic, and palliative care?

-Allopathic: alleviate the symptoms of disease by attacking/affecting the natural defense of body / Treatment with medications, surgery, radiation, other therapy -Palliative: specialized care for people living with serious illnesses / focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. -Osteopathic: uses a holistic approach to medicine, the physicians are partners with the patient, they treat symptoms while also accounting for the person's lifestyle. Also focus on the body's natural ability to heal itself.

Describe a time when you asked for help. (IOWA)

-Applying and reapplying to medical school - the process is very complicated and there are dozens of different factors to take into account and nobody in my family knew anything about the process. My academic advisor was somewhat familiar with the process, but again this was all second-hand through past students that he had had. -Much of what I did was reliant on the internet and fellow classmates that I could talk to.

In shadowing DOs and MDs, do you honestly see a difference in the way they practice?

-Not entirely - when shadowing Dr.Russell, there was a slight difference in the way he interacted with patients and talked about their treatment in a holistic manner (he was much more concerned about the person's lifestyle and how that injury impeded it) -So his care relative to the other surgeons I shadowed was a little different, but then Dr. Garcia is an MD and he is extremely attentive to holistic care.

How do you deal with stress? (IOWA)

-One of the main ways I deal with stress is by organizing my schedule and outlining tasks that I need to accomplish. I find that I can ease my stress by creating smaller goals that I can reach along the way instead of focusing solely on the end goal at hand. This helps me visualize the progress being made. -However, I always make sure I find time to take a deep breath and relax. In college, there was always a lot of stress trying to balance academics and athletics, so I had things that I could find joy in and take my mind off of everything else such as biking/hiking/reading/exercising. Exercising, reading, hiking, biking, simply being outside

Give an example of how you are driven/hard working.

-Parasitology -Immunology

Give an example of how you are ambitious.

-Parasitology research -- started as a simple class project and is something my partner and I have continued through the summer and are trying to expand still -Immunology independent study -- was an independent course where the guidelines were formed by the professor and I, so it could have easily been a minimal effort type of thing to just get credits, but it was something that really fueled my passion and interest in the field of immunology. -Helping start AMSA

What have your leadership experiences taught you?

-Patience -- this is most evident as a youth basketball coach and camp instructor because the kids don't always understand what I am trying to get across to them or they don't always work as hard as they could/get frustrated easily by adversity. These moments you have to be able to take a deep breath and approach the situation with a clear mind. -Composure -- as a leader, people often are looking to you as a voice of reason/comfort/direction and a team will fall apart if the leader of the group cannot control his or her own emotions -Being a leader means much more than being the person in control or being the most vocal -- setting an example with your own actions can be just as powerful.

What characteristics would you want in a physician who was taking care of you or a family member of yours?

-Patient, thorough, able to clearly outline what is wrong, all available treatment options, etc. -Attentive - he should be actively listening and in-tune with what is going on

If you could invite three people to dinner, who would they be and why? What would you cook?

-Paul Kalanithi - Stanford neurosurgeon, wrote a memoir about his life/medical training/death

How do you believe the rising cost of healthcare is going to affect the delivery of healthcare in the future? (IOWA)

-The rising costs of care may make it much more difficult for patients to receive the care that they need. They may not be able to afford the simple care and maintenance that they need for health, let alone being able to receive it when there are more pertinent and severe health conditions that they are faced with. -The population overall may become less healthy, and I think we have seen this trend a little bit already.

Tell me your thoughts about healthcare.

-Too expensive right now, not enough people covered -It is extremely confusing to navigate, too many insurance companies are out to make money off of people's illnesses and so on -Drugs/prescriptions are too expensive -- these should be regulated in some way such that simple medications like insulin don't became too expensive for a patient

What are your strengths?

**-Ability to work in a team - This is an essential ability within any career, but especially within medicine because it can be a very high stress environment and you are affecting people's lives. Being able to work well in a team means the focus can remain on the patient completely. This is also an important trait within the medical school environment. Resilient - I am not someone who shys away from failure. I want to reach my fullest potential and know that there will be many obstacles and bumps in the road along the way. Work ethic (BLAH) - too common Creativity ( I would have an example to back this up.) Ability to learn from mistakes - this was necessary in basketball, something I employed in this application cycle Attention to detail Ability to multitask Organizational skills

Give an example of how you are patient.

-**Dealing with hospice patients, especially those in harsher conditions or with dementia. The patients are often very quiet and struggle to speak. Many often struggle to speak clearly or remember what you have told them. -Youth basketball coach

Give an example of a patient encounter that left an impression on you. Give an example of a doctor that stood out to you during your shadowing experiences.

-**Dr. Ryan --> talking with the elderly patient and her best friend about the remission of her colon cancer, on top of battling breast cancer, and how the best option she has ahead of her is to enter hospice care because of how much she struggled with a single chemotherapy treatment. On top of this, the patient had dementia, so it was difficult for her to fully comprehend what he was saying. -**Dr .Groteluschen --> Talking with a younger lady about her breast cancer. They had both confirmed it was gone after a previous visit, but she had noticed another lump and was extremely nervous about what it could be. A large part of his care during this visit was simply to quell her anxiety and be a voice of comfort/reason. ---------------- -Dr. Garcia → he has a tendency to fall behind, but it is often because he wants to spend every single minute with each patient that they need to provide them with relief. It is obvious that he understands how chronic and painful the condition of joint pain is and is dedicated to influencing the lives of his patients. The amount of respect and patience that he demonstrates for each patient is very admirable, and it is obvious how much of a difference it makes based on what the patients are saying. -Dr. Russell → seeing him are for my sister before and after her surgery and being invested in her well-being. The care who took was reassuring for me as a sibling.

What are the pillars of medical ethics?

-Non-maleficence - doing no harm to the patients, the benefits must outweigh the risks -Autonomy - patient must have full autonomy over their own thought, intention, and action. They essentially have the final say. -Justice - each patient should be treated equally -Beneficence - always doing good by the patient

How would you deal with a colleague/patient who had different values/beliefs than you?

-Be open to hearing about those values and beliefs to understand where they are coming from, why they have come to feel/think that way. -You can't get offended if people disagree with you or see something in a different way. -See it as a learning opportunity ---------------------------------------------------- - Ex) this was a common thing to experience during the first few weeks of the basketball season as you had to learn how each of our new teammates played and understood the game -- not everyone played by the same principles out of high school -International studies curse, Providence course, Sociology --> these were all courses that I took in college where we often engaged in debates about religion, politics, and so on which can be passionate and touchy subjects for different people.

Give an example of how you are a good leader.

-Coach for Complete Package in the Spring. -I was a good leader because I was given a group of 10-12 high school aged kids and had to make them work together and communicate effectively over the course of three practices prior to our first game. -I had to be very PATIENT -- understanding that each player was at a different point in their basketball career -I had to have a CLEAR VOICE -- meaning I had to be someone they could look to for inspiration/guidance/energy, I had to draw them in with how I coached and interacted with them -I had to be ADAPTABLE -- with little practice time, we were much more unprepared than other teams and had to learn on the fly. This required me to teach quickly and effectively, being able to focus on the most important things instead of getting caught up in every single small detail. You kind of had to triage.

What are the biggest problems / things you like least about X school?

-Cost -- the price tag associated with medical school is daunting and can make it difficult to have a family

Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult person.

-Dealing with difficult people is something that I have grown accustomed to in every job that I have held from working retail to the pharmacy and orthopedics clinic. (Lady who needed an antibiotic for her 1 year old son. The pharmacist was unsure about the doctor's orders for it, but it was after clinic hours to try to get a hold of the physician and clarify.) -You need to be patient, you can't take their anger/frustration personally, and simply find solutions to calm them down and see how you can actually help them. -------------------------------------------- Working as a medical scribe → unhappy patients who have been waiting a long time. They are upset with having to wait and I am the one there that they can take it out on. Same thing with the pharmacy → countless patients coming in to get their prescriptions and they haven't even been processed let alone filled or checked. The biggest thing I learn from these situations is to maintain my composure and not get upset that they are taking their frustration out on me. I have to understand how they feel based on the fact that they are in pain, lead busy lives with other problems, and just want relief and in light of this be able to find solutions to the problem as quickly as possible. Try to accommodate them instead of giving a half-hearted apology and moving on. You have to be able to take responsibility for the long wait time or the prescription not being ready and do whatever you can to give them the best care possible. -Many patients while working as a pharmacy technician. (Lady who needed an antibiotic for her 1 year old son. The pharmacist was unsure about the doctor's orders for it, but it was after clinic hours to try to get a hold of the physician and clarify.)

What does diversity mean to you?

-Diversity is what makes us unique. Inclusion, valuing everyone's backgrounds/perspectives/up-bringing/culture/etc. Diversity is essential in healthcare because of how complex medicine is. By including people from different backgrounds, you bring unique perspectives and thought processes to the table to solve the problems that we are faced with.

Give an example of a time you failed. How did you react?

-Failing to gain an acceptance to medical school last cycle. (reacted by taking time to clear my mind and figure out ways to improve my candidacy. I had to reflect on my resume and be critical of it/find the gaps. However, I also had to find ways to keep myself active and excited about medicine.)

List five characteristics that set you apart from other applicants here today.

-Grit -Humility?

When we look back on your time with RVU/X School, what would you like to be remembered by?

-Hopefully someone who was able to make a difference in the local medical community and patient's lives alongside my fellow classmates. -I want to make connections with classmates and the medical community -- I don't just want to get in and get out of medical school to move on to the next step in my medical career. __________________________________ Someone who worked extremely hard and excelled in making patients and his fellow classmates better. -Hopefully made a difference in the community during my time there

What is one thing we should know about you? (IOWA)

-I am adaptable and handle stress/pressure well -I am dedicated to treating patients in a holistic manner??

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

-I see it as a continuation of the servitude I have had towards my community in medical school and residency. I hope to continue providing community service and holistic care as I had the previous 10 years, but now in a larger leadership role as I am finally practicing on my own. -However, I also see myself still finding ways to learn and grow as a physician and person. I want to be a lifelong learner to be able to provide the best care for my patients as possible. ----------------------------- -Practicing as a physician and serving the community both through medicine and hopefully through other philanthropic/charitable means -I believe that this will be heavily dictated by where I attend school because I will have spent four years of my life and training there, making connections with medical professionals and the community -Will also be dictated by my partner's career

What is the worst thing about being a doctor?

-Not being able to treat/save/cure every single patient (One of the main reasons I want to become a doctor is to serve the community and influence the lives of those in need around me.) -Along the same lines, not every treatment will affect patients in the same way. I see this everyday at the orthopedics clinic, two people present with the same type of arthritis, but the same treatment has completely different outcomes. I think this can be very frustrating when what should provide relief does not.

What kind of doctor do you want to be and why?

-I want to be a doctor who is known for his sincerity, patience, and dedication. I want patients to leave visits with me feeling well-informed and confident about the steps they have to take for their issues in the future. I want them to leave with a sense of security, having answers instead of even more questions. I also want to be someone that the patient feels comfortable with to open up to and connect with, and someone that they feel truly cares for and listens to them. As a patient myself, there is nothing more frustrating than feeling like the physician is just going through the motions and leaving with more questions than you initially had. -These are elements that stem from my original desire to become a doctor to bring peace of mind and a sense of security to those in need. I have shadowed many different physicians and seen a broad range of what patient care looks like. I think that it can be easy for someone's passion for medicine to eventually become a routine, thus I want to be someone who never loses sight of that initial reason for why I became a doctor. I never want to lose sight of the patient at hand.

What kind of doctor do you want to be and why?

-I want to be a doctor who is known for his sincerity, patience, and dedication. I want patients to leave visits with me feeling well-informed and confident about the steps they have to take for their issues in the future. I want them to leave with a sense of security, having answers instead of even more questions. I also want to be someone that the patient feels comfortable with to open up to and connect with, and someone that they feel truly cares for and listens to them. As a patient myself, there is nothing more frustrating than feeling like the physician is just going through the motions and leaving with more questions than you initially had. -These are elements that stem from my original desire to become a doctor to bring peace of mind and a sense of security to those in need. I have shadowed many different physicians and seen a broad range of what patient care looks like. I think that it can be easy for someone's passion for medicine to eventually become a routine, thus I want to be someone who never loses sight of that initial reason for why I became a doctor. I never want to lose sight of the patient at hand. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Overall, I want to be the type of doctor where patients leave from a visit with me and feel that I truly care about their well-being. I have spent a great deal of time in the past years shadowing different physicians across a broad range of specialties; within these interactions, it is quite obvious what a difference being sincere and engaged with the patient makes. They are more receptive and the interaction becomes a partnership as it should be.

Give an example of how you are creative.

-Immunology course - I needed one more biology elective for graduation but didn't want to enroll in a course that I had no interest in to just check that box, so I developed my own course, linking my passion for athletics to immunology to look into this intricate relationship.

Give an example of how you deal with stress well.

-Junior year -- taking Immunology, Physics, Systemic Physiology on top of being involved in AMSA and playing basketball while also studying for the MCAT

How have you demonstrated leadership at SNC?

-Leadership was something I had to demonstrate and utilize in basketball each and every day through mentoring younger teammates and coaching one another. -However, the best example I can think of is through AMSA. The first year of the club, each of the E board members were new so we were all working together to figure out one another's responsibilities and the functions of the club. -In the second year, I was the only remaining member and had to emerge as a leader to make sure that the club was effective and each new member understood what they had to do. ----------------------------------------------- -Basketball -AMSA -TAing -Parasite Research

What is Medicaid? What is Medicare?

-Medicaid -- largest source of healthcare coverage in the United States, people receive this based on income level and certain medical conditions → covers low-income people, children, etc., joint federal and state program (67 million people), public assistance program for those in need of all ages -Medicare -- age-based federal health insurance program that guarantees coverage for individuals ages 65 and over and some younger people with disabilities, federal program only

What career would you pursue if not for being a doctor? If not medicine?

-Medical research -- I think this is the next closest thing to being a doctor and influencing the lives of people in need.

Why Osteopathic medicine?

-More well-rounded -More versatile -- have more routes to provide trained care for patients

What experience do you have with osteopathic medicine?****

-My main experience with osteopathic medicine is through shadowing Dr. Jeremy Russell, an orthopedic surgeon in Wausau ,WI. -**I saw how he operated within the OR during surgery and how he was a member of a team, but also how he spoke with family members after the surgery was over. -**Also saw how he interacted with patients through my younger sister since she was one of his patients. It was very unique to see this from a more longitudinal aspect because I was able to follow one of his patients over many months before and after surgery. I was able to shadow him in the operating room and he was my sister's surgeon for multiple surgeries. As a result, I was able to see how interacted with patients, specifically my sister, throughout the treatment process from her diagnosis to weeks down the line following surgery. In doing so, it was quite clear how he was willing to listen to the patient. He was always available and receptive to questions, very in-tune with his patients, and you could tell that he was invested and cared for them. The holistic approach was obvious, even within the field that he was practicing. In addition, I have been able to speak with Dr. W, an emergency medicine D.O. in Stevens Point, WI about the benefits and differences between the MD and DO pathways. This was critical for me to hear it from another professional instead of just reading what the internet has to say.

How would you handle a non-compliant patient? (IOWA)

-Never give up hope -Never lose sight of why I became a physician - to stand by my patients and do my best to provide them with care and relief. -I would also understand that much of their anger, frustration, or non-compliance may stem from the issues medically that they are having. I need to approach their treatment in a holistic manner and account for all physiological, mental, emotional, etc. factors. --------------------------------------------- Continue to have faith in them → don't give up hope that they will never change or will never follow directions. I would continue to inform them of the risks of not being compliant and the benefits of following the treatment. Encourage encourage encourage.

Tell us about the physician's role in patient care.

-Physicians are a member of the care team that provide the patient with answers and treatments for their problem. Although they get most of the credit, it is important to me to remember that they couldn't do it on their own without the nurses, MAs, etc. -But, as one of the team members that has received extensive medical training, they have a leadership role that they must take. They must be attentive and in-tune with every patient during the treatment process. -***They have to be able to diagnose and treat diseases that a patient may have, but they also have to be able to interact and treat them in a much more holistic manner. By this, I mean that they have to be an advocate and educator for the patient, ensuring that they can make informed decisions about their health and overall lifestyle.

What attracted you to RVU/ X School?

-RVU -- location was near Denver but in a smaller suburban community outside of it, I enjoy the outdoors, it is a newer school that gives me a chance to contribute to its early history and impact the medical curriculum for future classes, option of a DO is very appealing to me -Iowa -- it is a world class medical facility in the Midwest and country as a whole, has a long history of serving underserved communities of the Midwest, I feel like my values align quite well with the school, I have family in Iowa -Phoenix -- Midwestern is a very strong program, I enjoy Arizona and the outdoors, love the Phoenix area and can see myself ending up there, DO option is very appealing to me -Chicago -- great city, close to home, in a suburb of Chicago so you are close to the city but not in it entirely, Midwestern values align with my own, DO option is appealing to me

What are your weaknesses?

-Reserved (sometimes it takes a while for me to assert myself within a group) -Communication skills - when I know people to some extent, I have no problem speaking with them. In a more professional role, my reserved side makes this a little more difficult. As a result, I have been working on placing myself in roles to work on these skills such as being a volunteer basketball coach, working as a medical scribe and hospice volunteer where I have to talk with patients by myself. This has forced me into uncomfortable situations to learn how to find that sense of security and to get rid of the nerves.

What are three of your weaknesses?

-Reserved person -- this is something that I am working on through finding ways to put myself out there in many way such as working as a teaching assistant, AMSA E-board member, and hospice volunteer. There are positions where I have to interact with random strangers, especially in the hospice care setting. -Not fully utilizing my support systems -- I don't like to bring my stress or problems onto other people's plates and want to be able to solve it on my own. I need to be able to realize that people are there to help. **Give an example but also explain the ways that you are trying to improve upon that weakness.**

What distinguishes you from other applicants?

-Resiliency - I am not something to shy away from failure or be deterred when it does happen -As a high school basketball player, I won 14 games my first three years and then won 13 in total my senior year. -I failed to gain acceptance to medical school and continued to find ways to improve and reflect on my candidacy.

What is your view on Abortion?

-SIDE 1: Life begins at conception and we as humans have an obligation to protect that life. Science can't exactly tell us at what time a child becomes a viable womb Easier availability could cause people to be less careful with readily available contraceptives. -SIDE 2: A woman has the right to control her body Should be able to be performed when there is a threat to the health of the mother, even pregnancy for healthy mothers is a risk Continuing an unwanted pregnancy, for whatever reason, can have a negative effect on that woman and may also have adverse effects on that child in the future. You shouldn't subject a child to a life with an unprepared or unwilling mother. Having a child is not something someone can embark on without being fully committed to. May be performed in cases where the woman is a victim of a rape This falls under patient autonomy Outlawing or making legal abortions more difficult to obtain won't completely stop people from getting them → they may have to get these abortions in other manners that are far more risky -Solutions? - Sex education can be a way to truly combat this issue. In America, sex and especially the topic of teenage sexuality is a very stigmatized issue. Kids are taught in school that sex is something to be controlled, that they are irresponsible, and should suppress these natural feelings and emotions they have. Instead of being an open issue and a part of everyday life, it becomes a touchy topic that nobody wants to talk about or provide the education to practice safe sex.

What scares you the most about medical school? What excites you the most?

-Scares: 1. Cost - it can be hard to look past the price tag because this number is very jarring. When you add up the debt from undergraduate school, medical school, etc. it can be difficult to see where there is time and money to start a family. 2. Work Load -Excites - finally being able to serve patients in need and utilize the wealth of knowledge I have gathered for medicine into action. It is the chance for me to finally interact with patients.

How would your friends describe you?

-Someone who is funny but also loyal and extremely hard working, always available to help when needed

Name one positive and one negative experience from your undergraduate studies.

-Starting AMSA (children's hospital donation), Parasitology work -**not partaking in RESEARCH earlier -- this was something that I didn't immerse myself in until my final semester and I hadn't realized how interested I would be in it. It sparked a newfound passion for science in me and it would have been great to immerse myself in a much more in-depth and meaningful project during my tenure at SNC. -Basketball -- not having more time to be more active in the medical community

What is the Affordable Care Act?

-The current healthcare system being used in the United States. -BENEFITS: coverage until 26, government subsidies available for those in need, Medicaid expansion money made available to states, protection of pre-existing conditions, tried to make it so people could "shop" for the type of healthcare they wanted. -CONS: many states didn't accept Medicaid expansion, not everyone is signing up for healthcare in spite of the individual mandate

What do you anticipate will be the most difficult aspect of medical school?

1. Time management and work load -- there is so much information to digest in such a brief period that you need to be able to stay on task and not stress yourself out in the long run. -This is where my time as a student-athlete will pay off because I had to manage my work load every single day between classes, basketball, and extra-curricular activities.

Why Arizona?

1 - I was first drawn to the Midwestern curriculum/mission 2 - My parents love Arizona, will likely move there for winters in the future 3 - I can see myself starting a family there, I love the outdoors 4 - Immerse myself in one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan cities in the nation, thereby interacting with a broad and unique patient population --------------- -Firstly, I wanted to attend a school in a diverse area of the country where I can get a great education while also serving/interacting with a diverse patient population -- I see this as being essential in my training to be able to treat all patients -I love the outdoors and it is a great way for me to manage stress -- Arizona has countless options to to such things -I interviewed at Mayo last year and got a much better look at the communities around Phoenix and fell in love with the area.

Why Medicine?

1 - Stems from my mother, nurse of more than 30 years, I was constantly exposed to medicine through her stories from work -This played into my passion for science 2 - Began shadowing physicians to see what it was really like -Shadowing Dr. Hogan and seeing the open-heart surgery → this was a demonstration of the responsibility a physician has but also the amazing ability they have to influence the lives of others. 3 - This story makes me think about that patient on the table - he has a family, kids, and the physician is playing a role in getting him back to enjoying those things. -I also think about my mother and her own health struggles - waking up in the mornings in tears because she can't get out of bed or walk to the bathroom because her back hurts so bad. -Medicine is a way for me to bring joy, peace of mind, and a sense of security to the lives of people who are in pain and just want to be able to wake up and enjoy the day instead of worrying about their bodies. I want to make a difference so that people can focus on the things they love and do them alongside the ones that they love

Describe a negative situation that you turned into a positive one.

1 - Tutoring Nate - He was struggling with statistics homework, I aimed to help him as much as possible despite taking statistics about 4 years prior. 2 - Angry patients at the clinic or pharmacy - calming them down and letting them know what exactly is going on, how much longer it will take, their options, etc. 3 - Microbiology lab assistant - a time when the samples might have been contaminated 4 - **Failing to gain acceptance into medical school - initially, I saw this as a negative situation because I had failed to accomplish my goal. I was able to turn this into a positive one by finding new ways to gain medical and life experience while growing as a person overall. --> Need to have a back-up (second example) in case I talking about failing to gain acceptance to medical school before this

What are three qualities a doctor should have?

1 -**ADAPTABLE** - They should work very well within any setting that is thrown at them. 2 - **PATIENT**- a doctor has to be able to maintain their composure regardless of what goes wrong, not all patients will be bubbly and happy, understand what you are saying, or follow the treatment regimen. You won't get along with every person you work with. There will always be stress. But, amidst all of this, the physician should be able to remain calm and move forward. 3 - **HUMILITY** - a doctor should be confident in their own abilities, but not overconfident to the point where they are unwilling to ask for help or seek out second opinions. I want to be getting the best treatment and to do so, collaboration between medical professionals is essential due to the complexity of the field. -Compassion - sympathy and concern for the misfortune of others → a doctor has to be able to understand what their patients are going through and that pain should mean something to them. -Drive/work ethic - a doctor has to be passionate about medicine and have a motivation to always be learning and improving in their own skills. I want a physician that is in-tune with medicine and understands the changing elements of the field, and I also want them to be excited to go to work and treat patients.

Why do you believe AZCOM/CCOM would provide you with the type of osteopathic medical education you are seeking?

1-Foundation in Primary Care -- treat more patients and readily understand/treat the most common problems that patients face 2-I value a healthy lifestyle and personal environment -- these are aspects of patient and student lives that DO schools value and stress. 3-locations of both schools place me in some of the most diverse and unique cities in the country, allowing me to interact with and treat a diverse patient population. I want to gain as much experience with a broad range of patients to best prepare me for when I am practicing. -------------------------------- -------------------------------- AZCOM will provide me with the medical education I desire due to their deep roots in family medicine. With a foundation in primary care, I would have the tools to treat a vast array of issues, allowing me to see my patients through a more humanistic lens instead of in the light of a single bodily dysfunction. This is central to why I want to be a physician; a patient's ailments extend far beyond a single organ, muscle, or bone, inducing emotional distress and influencing their loved ones. Osteopathic medicine takes this to heart and would make me a more aware and well-rounded doctor, thereby enabling me to serve a broader patient population. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also paramount to me. As a collegiate athlete, exercise, diet, and stress relief are elements I have always focused on. Thus, I want to incorporate these into my care as a physician because healthcare should begin long before a problem arises. AZCOM fits this mold perfectly because of the emphasis placed on preventative measures in osteopathic medicine and the holistic approach taken to train their students. The location of AZCOM is another key reason why it would give me the education I seek. Living in the Phoenix area would place me at the center of one of the most diverse cities in the country, which is an opportunity few schools boast. This would allow me to interact with a unique spectrum of patients, expand my communication skills, and provide countless chances to give back to the underserved.

List five characteristics that set you apart from other applicants here today.

1. Adaptability - talk about the many countless variables to account for during a basketball game 2. Grit - I am not afraid to do the little things or the less glamorous jobs 3. Patience - I am able to maintain my composure amidst stress and don't have a short fuse. 4. Resiliency - Staying the course amidst failure 5. Creativity 6. Ability to work in a team - this is something that comes natural to me ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Grit Humility -ADAPTABILITY -- being a college athlete, I always had to be able to devote time in different areas when needed without getting too stressed out, the practice schedule could change quickly, etc. In addition, Over the course of a basketball game, you have to be constantly analyzing your own movements and positioning while doing the same for 9 other people on the court, you have to recall tendencies of both your teammates and opponents from watching film, and understand how the officials are calling the game. On top of this, you only have about 30 seconds to perform all of that. A basketball game is a back and forth battle, a rollercoaster ride where you have to have a short memory and be able to move on even after you fail. -My ability to translate my passion for something into hard work/drive

What would you do for a career if you couldn't be a doctor?

Medical Researcher **If it can't be anything related to medicine, maybe say be a teacher?

What are three qualities a doctor should have?

1. adaptability 2. patience 3. humility ------------- Compassion - sympathy and concern for the misfortune of others → a doctor has to be able to understand what their patients are going through and that pain should mean something to them. Patience - a doctor has to be able to maintain their composure regardless of what goes wrong, not all patients will be bubbly and happy, understand what you are saying, or follow the treatment regimen. You won't get along with every person you work with. There will always be stress. But, amidst all of this, the physician should be able to remain calm and move forward. Drive/work ethic - a doctor has to be passionate about medicine and have a motivation to always be learning and improving in their own skills. I want a physician that is in-tune with medicine and understands the changing elements of the field, and I also want them to be excited to go to work and treat patients. Humility - a doctor should be confident in their own abilities, but not overconfident to the point where they are unwilling to ask for help or seek out second opinions. I want to be getting the best treatment and to do so, collaboration between medical professionals is essential due to the complexity of the field.

Who is your role model?

A key role model for me is obviously my mother. She has been an inspiring figure in my life and has been a huge reason why I am pursuing medicine today. The reason that I feel this way is because I have seen how hard she works day in and out, not only as a nurse, but as a mother to support myself and my three siblings. She is always there for us every hour of the day. In addition, she is extremely selfless. I have witnessed a few times her jump into action to help a random bystander who was in need. This courage is amazing to witness because she burst into action while everyone else stood by in shock. Lastly, she is an extremely strong person. I have seen her, with a large cyst that was pressing against her spinal cord, walk 30 miles through the backcountry to spend time with her family. -------------------------------------------------- -Mother -Coach Woody

Why D.O.?

As a physician, one of my biggest goals is to have the ability to serve the widest patient population possible, and to better the live of as many other people as possible. To do this, however, I feel that it is just as necessary to receive a type of training that gives me the best opportunity to do so. In my opinion, the osteopathic medical field does this extremely well because of its basis in family medicine. Not only does this give you the background and knowledge to treat some of the most pertinent and chronic conditions that affect patients, but it gives you a wide breadth of knowledge for many different fields instead of simply being an expert in one aspect of medicine. In addition, I believe that the inclusion of the manipulative medicine aspect in the D.O. curriculum further adds to this. To me, it adds a new tool that I can use to provide patients with relief and makes me a more versatile physician while also allowing me to be hands-on as a physician. In addition, as a physician, I want to care for patients beyond just identifying their physiological problems and attempting to fix those. A big driving force for me in medicine is to maintain the humanity of the patient within the care that I provide. This is something that was stressed to me within my time as a hospice volunteer because a main focus of this type of healthcare is providing comfort and dignity to the patients.

Explain your parasitology research.

Basically, the parasitology research that I conducted was a survey of the parasite profile of black bullhead in eastern Wisconsin bodies of water. Firstly, a black bullhead is a small catfish-like species of fish that commonly lives in dirtier water systems. As a result, we assumed this habitat would lead to them being colonized by a much larger array of parasite species. In turn, what we were most interested in was seeing the variety of different parasites inhabited these fish, where they were found within the fish, and to what extent they were present. We wanted to compare between two bodies of water to see if there was any difference between them. To do so ,we performed necropsies on black bullhead and carefully removed any parasites we found from essentially every part of the fish body, and then preserved them for molecular or morphological work. In the end, we used the DNA sequences from the parasites and their body form to determine what types they actually were.

Give an example of a time you turned a bad situation into a good one.

Basketball with Jared → He was a new freshman who was not buying into what we were doing as a team, he was always goofing around, taking bad and quick shots, and not playing defense. He was just doing his own thing and not really motivated to change. I was one of the people who took him aside and had a one on one conversation about what was going on. Instead of simply getting frustrated with him like my other teammates were, I let him know why they were feeling that way. I gave him constructive criticism but reminded him that he wasn't alone. We were all there ready to help and fight for him. Accident up north going to the cabin with the boat

Why is D.O. different?

D.O.s use a whole-person approach to prevent illness and injury in patients. They are PARTNERS with their patients. They utilize the perspective that there is more to a person being healthy than the absence of injury and illness.** They aim to treat symptoms while also taking into account your lifestyle and environmental factors.They are trained to promote the body's own systems to return to good health and how to stimulate the body's natural self-healing systems, and this plays into the fact that D.O.s focus heavily on the PREVENTION of disease instead of simply treating problems after they arise.

Give an example of how you have come into contact with diversity.

Diversity has been a common thing for me to come into contact with during my time as a hospice volunteer. In my role there, I basically interact with patients during meal times by getting their orders, prepping their meal trays, and cleaning up afterwards while also feeding them if needed and providing companionship. In doing so I have faced DIVERSITY in terms of factors like age, race, religion, and so on. -Eastern European family that spoke minimal English, one patient is a World War veteran while another is a 50 year old mother with multiple children and grandchildren that she is leaving behind. -Interacting with such a unique patient population in such a VULNERABLE environment taught me how to pay attention to and value the differences between people. For example, understanding that one patients prefers their apple to be sliced while the other wants it whole can go a long way in making their day better. It also demonstrated to me that you can't assume one way of delivering or providing care is good enough. Not every patient thinks the same way and it is important to take this into account.

Give an example of how you are a good multitasker.

During college, I was in basketball/focusing on academics/involved in starting and then running AMSA on top of studying for the MCAT

How have you demonstrated leadership at SNC?

During my time at SNC, I was always trying to find ways to be a leader even if I wasn't within a formally defined leadership role or position. However, the best example that I can give of this is through my role in the American Medical Student Association Chapter on campus. I helped start the chapter alongside the other E-board members during my Junior year and we were all basically working together to figure out what shape we wanted the club to take. However, following this first year, I was the only remaining member for the E-board and had a major leadership role to help organize and teach the other members what had to be done, expectations, etc. for the club. I had the most experience and had to assert myself much more when it came to this. -Holding younger players accountable to show up on time for workouts and lifting. Although this didn't seem like a huge deal to them, it could be detrimental to the team and shows a lack of commitment to everyone else. Aside from this, basketball was also another great example of how I was a leader on campus. Each year, we had about 7-10 new freshmen that joined the team and I always wanted to find ways to ease their transition during the season because it is a huge commitment beyond classes.

Give an example of how you are resilient.

Failing to gain acceptance to medical school and then finding ways to reflect on my application and improve (However, I feel that this is rather common and may not be a great example.)

If you find out that one of your classmates is addicted to drugs/alcohol, what would you do?

First of all, you can't simply assume that what you have heard is true, meaning I don't just want to approach that friend/classmate and say are you addicted to drugs and alcohol. I would consider just talking to them about how their day is going, how they are dealing with the stresses of classes, etc. This is like a CASPer question Ask them if they want to talk, make it known that you are always there to help/listen, ask how things have been going or if they want to study together. Find ways that if there really is a problem then they will open up to you.

Tell me about a conflict you had and how you resolved it.

Group project for geography class where I didn't know any of the other three members but they were all friends. They were unprepared and didn't want to work on the poster we had to create until the night before. They weren't in class to get their phone numbers to contact them so I had to do this. I had to go out and buy the poster-board myself and reserve a room at the library to work on this. It was a frustrating situation because we had so much time to work on this but my fellow group members were unwilling to communicate or work ahead. However, I found ways that I could contribute by getting materials and setting up a time to meet and then working with them while we were together. Share what you learned from this -- how would you avoid this conflict again

Describe a time you dealt with someone difficult. (IOWA)

I have had to deal with difficult people in every job that I have held, including the pharmacy/Menard's/lawn-mowing/Orthopedics scribing. -Most vivid example was the mother at the pharmacy who wanted her son's antibiotic because he was sick -- the script seemed to be written wrong, it was after clinic hours, couldn't reach the prescribing doctor, she was yelling and upset, turned out the doctor wrote it wrong. ------------------------------- ------------------------------- -Hospice patients -Pharmacy patients

Why SPECIFICALLY a doctor???**** (IOWA)

I love to be challenged and want to be able to have the greatest impact in the world of medicine. Whether that is through patient care, research, or healthcare policies/community outreach/global health, I feel that doctor's are placed in a better position to be the leader/a voice for change. **Doctors get to witness humanity at its very best and its very worst → we see people in some of their most vulnerable moments and are inserted in those instances to be a source of hope/relief or simply comfort. One of the big things that excites me about being a doctor is the prospect of being able to help a person both physically and mentally. One of the most understated aspects of what a doctor does is to be someone the patient can talk to. Their pain and problems can take a huge mental toll and this is just as important to understand and attend to. -You get to be a leader and have a great deal of responsibility I love problem-solving/learning, sifting through data

How do you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized groups?

I would plan on reaching these groups through medical education and community outreach. Educate these groups on preventative care, the importance of healthy lifestyles, and any healthcare options available to them. This education can also extend to the rest of the community, letting others who are better off that people are in need. Building an inclusive healthcare environment and focusing on solidarity I am familiar with these two areas due to my involvement in AMSA and working youth sports camps. -Medical education and community outreach**

If you could sum up your application in a short pitch, what would you say?

I would say that I am someone that is a deeply motivated and resilient person who has tried to explore as many outlets as possible in the world of medicine through shadowing/employment/undergraduate studies. That I am a very caring individual who wants to become a doctor to serve those most in need in his community and wants to be someone who brings the humanism back into patient care.

***What should I be sure to tell the admissions committee?

I would want the admissions committee to know that I am someone who is prepared and unafraid to take on the challenges that lie ahead within medical school and the years beyond that. I am not afraid to fail and believe that with my resiliency, work ethic, teamwork abilities and attention to detail, I will be able to handle the stress and work load while never losing sight of why I decided the embark on this endeavor of becoming a doctor in the first place: providing a sense of security and peace of mind to the lives of my fellow community members in need through medicine. ------------------------------------------------------------- -That I am someone who not only has a deep passion for medicine, but also a clear desire to treat patients in a sincere and wholesome manner. I am someone who patients are going to feel comfortable with, listened to, and prepared for whatever comes in their way.

How would you deal with healthcare costs? How would you attempt to lower them? (IOWA)

Increase taxes to help expand Medicare/Medicaid to increase healthcare coverage across the country Reduce costs of pharmaceutical drugs → patients are paying way too much to get simple medications like insulin that are necessary for everyday maintenance Lower the costs of insurance Healthcare should be a human right, not something where businesses can exploit people and make huge profits off of them

What would you do if a patient refused a blood transfusion due to their beliefs? (mentioned a MULTIPLE times******) (IOWA)

Medical ethics -- patient's have the last say Requires that the patient have autonomy of thought, intention, and action when making decisions regarding health care procedures. Therefore, the decision-making process must be free of coercion or coaxing. In order for a patient to make a fully informed decision, she/he must understand all risks and benefits of the procedure and the likelihood of success. Because ARTs are highly technical and may involve high emotions, it is difficult to expect patients to be operating under fully-informed consent. ***You have to make sure that the patient is well-informed, understands the pros and cons of the treatment, and is in the right mental state to make a decision.*** ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- -This is a very tricky situation because my main goal as a physician is to provide relief and safety to my patients and not providing the patient with a life-saving blood transfusion completely goes against that. However, in this case I need to remember the role of patient autonomy in medicine. Ultimately, the patient has the final say on what treatments they receive and as a physician I have to honor that. Thus, in this situation, I will make sure I provide them with as much information I can about the reasons why a transfusion is necessary and the consequences of if they do not choose to have it performed. In this way, I can ensure that they can make an informed decision and understand the gravity of the choice they are making. I also need to evaluate to make sure they do not have clouded judgment in this situation.

When is a time you received feedback that you did not agree with and how did you respond?

Medical school applications last year → I thought that I was ready and simply wanted a chance to prove that I had what it took. In light of this feedback, I may not have agreed with it in the beginning but took a step back to try to understand the feedback. To reflect on my candidacy and see why the schools felt that way and then move forward from there. I didn't just get angry and disregard what the feedback had to say.

How would you solve problems with organ shortages? (IOWA)

One of the biggest ways I think would help solve this issue is by increasing education across the nation about organ donation and the important role it can play in healthcare/medicine.

Why should AZCOM accept you into this year's class? (Essay question)

One of the reasons AZCOM should accept me into this year's class is because I am an ambitious and driven person. I am not afraid to dream big and feel that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. In college, I not only balanced academics and basketball, but excelled by being a 4.0 student, winning multiple basketball championships and making an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, all the while staying active in engagements such as AMSA and being a TA. My goal is to employ this mindset at AZCOM, pushing the limits of myself and my fellow classmates, and in turn, hopefully expanding the boundaries of healthcare as well. My resiliency would also make me a great asset to AZCOM. I am not one to shy away from failure. Becoming a physician is a goal I have been feverishly pursuing for 5 years now. In spite of failing to gain acceptance to medical school this past application cycle, this has not torn my world apart, rather spurring me on further. Being able to overcome any obstacles in my journey is vital because it will allow me to continuously grow, making me stronger as a future physician and person. This is an essential trait for a doctor; I will be able to fight for each of my patients and make a meaningful difference in the world through medicine despite any adversity that will inevitably arise. I want to be a spark for improvement in the lives of my patients in this way and believe that there is no better path to do so than by gaining an osteopathic medical education from AZCOM.

Why medicine?

Overview: 1 - Stems from my mother, nurse of more than 30 years, I was constantly exposed to medicine through her stories from work -This played into my passion for science 2 - Began shadowing physicians to see what it was really like -Shadowing Dr. Hogan and seeing the open-heart surgery → this was a demonstration of the responsibility a physician has but also the amazing ability they have to influence the lives of others. 3 - This story makes me think about that patient on the table - he has a family, kids, and the physician is playing a role in getting him back to enjoying those things. -I also think about my mother and her own health struggles - waking up in the mornings in tears because she can't get out of bed or walk to the bathroom because her back hurts so bad. -Medicine is a way for me to bring joy, peace of mind, and a sense of security to the lives of people who are in pain and just want to be able to wake up and enjoy the day instead of worrying about their bodies. I want to make a difference so that people can focus on the things they love and do them alongside the ones that they love ========================================================================== I initially was exposed to medicine through my mother. As a nurse in the operating room for more than 30 years, I was constantly exposed to the medical field while I was growing up and this kind of meshed with my love for science. However, one of the most memorable moments I can recall for when I truly saw medicine as my career path was when I was shadowing Dr. Thomas Hogan, an anesthesiologist, and he asked me if I wanted to go to the heart room. I didn't have much idea of what he meant by this but being the naive high school student obliged. When I was able to see the open-heart surgery, witnessing another person's heart mere feet in front of me, pumping furiously, I was amazed. The influence that that physician had in another person's life was incredible to me and I wanted to have that type of ability to serve others. From moments like this, my passion for medicine and desire to serve others has grown. I often think about the moments of struggle that I have seen people go through and want to be able to relieve that pain so they can return to doing the things they love alongside the people they love. -------------- In today's world, there are so many different negative things that you see each day, whether it is on the internet/tv/etc. That it can make the world we live in seem very dismal. However, with medicine, I feel as though you have an opportunity to provide a sense of security, peace of mind, or happiness to the lives of others. You are able to make an immediate difference for people. The biggest thing that excites me about medicine is being able to improve the lives of others so that they can go out into the world and make a difference or do the things they love, spend time with the ones they love. I think back to my own mother and her recent struggles with health issues. She had a bad back and would wake up in the morning, unable to even walk to the bathroom at age 55. She struggled to do the little things let alone work or do things with her day and it was mentally and physically draining for her. These moments of seeing her in such agonizing pain and tears because she couldn't live life normally is what drives me.

Describe a time when you had to interact with someone difficult.

Patients at the pharmacy and clinic -- unhappy with the care -Hospice -- patient's commonly ask for one meal and then don't want anything to do with it after you bring it to them.

What are three things you would change about U.S. healthcare right now?

Pharmaceutical drug costs - maybe provide more government regulation on prices Expansion of Medicaid/Medicare -- there are still millions of people lacking coverage in the country Lowering healthcare costs for everyone?

How would you address the current physician shortage? (IOWA)

Somehow find ways to make medical school more affordable → application process, paying for medical school are all very daunting aspects that turn people away

Have you ever faced diversity? Recall a specific situation.

The best example of how I have come into contact with diversity in my life is as a hospice volunteer. Through this position, my main role was to converse with patients and serve them their meals. As a result, I was interacting with a broad range of patients and their families and had to be able to adapt quickly. Each patient had a completely unique background. Some were young, some were world war veterans, some were immigrants from Eastern Europe. I had to be able to understand each of their backgrounds to be able to provide the care they needed. Spanish-speaking patient at the pharmacy that we had to fill a worker's comp prescription for → none of us spoke Spanish and it illustrated a huge void in the pharmacy's ability to treat patients.

What is OMT? (OMM)

This is a set of hands-on techniques used by osteopathic physicians to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. Generally involves moving a patient's joints or muscles to do so. Students receive extra training on the body's musculoskeletal and nervous systems, thereby teaching them how each of the body systems are connected to one another. This brings another dimension to a physician's ability to provide care, providing another form of treatment that other professionals don't have - can replace drugs or surgery which is always beneficial.

Why will AZCOM/CCOM provide you with the type of osteopathic medicine you desire?

Treat as many patients as possible - D.O.s have a broad range of training, making them very versatile. Holistic care - maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to me (exercise, diet, stress) and these are things I want to bring to my care as well, I don't just want to focus on one aspect of the patient and ignore all of the other factors at play. Interacting with a diverse patient population - Chicago and Phoenix are areas that are much more diverse than the places I have lived and worked in, thus it would allow me to interact with a much broader patient population, thereby bettering my training and ability to understand more patients that I see.

Tell Me About Yourself

Well first and foremost, I would like to thank you for allowing me to be here today. It is an amazing opportunity. As far as myself, I am 23 years old and from WausauWiconsin, a small city in the center of ht estat. I grew up in a family that was very engrained in basketball culture in this town as my father was a high school coach for many years. As a result,my love for basketball was a substantial reason why I made my way to St. Nrbert COllege. This is a small liberal arts college in Green Baywhere my passion for medicine really began to blossom. I have shadowed countless medical specialties, started a chapter o the AMerican Medical sstudent asociation on campus, and played basktball there for three years befre graduating a seemster early. Currenty, I live in the Appleton area ad work as a medical scribe in a non-surgical porthopedics and sports medicine clinic. I thoroughly enjoy this position because it has gotten me upclose and personal with patietns and exposed me to a wealth of knowledge about not only orthoepdics, but the administrative elements of medicine like runnign a practice, and so on. I also spend time volunteering at a local hospice facility. This was somethign I was quite wary about before I started, but actually really lvoe being able to spend time in this evironment. It has been a great opportunity. Outside of this, I love the outdoors hiking, biking, camping, and so on while spending time wiht my family to relieve stress and enjoy life.

Tell me about yourself.

Well, first and foremost, it is a pleasure to be here today speaking with each of you. As far as who I am; I am 23 years old and from Wausau, Wisconsin, a small town in the center of the state. I went to college at Saint Norbert's, a small liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin by Green Bay where I graduated with a degree in Biology. Throughout my life, my passion for medicine has been steadily influenced by my mother, a nurse of more than 30 years in the operating room. Through a variety of factors, from hearing about her stories from work, shadowing physicians she worked with, and seeing her burst into action in a handful of instances to help random strangers, I was drawn to the medical field and this has blossomed into my strong desire to become a physician throughout college. Currently, I work as a medical scribe for a sports medicine physician in an outpatient clinic and thoroughly enjoy this position because of the clinical and patient exposure that it provides me. Each day, I work alongside Dr. Garcia as he sees patient and essentially shadow him, but have a better understanding of what he is looking for while he evaluates a patient, possible treatment options, and I have a better understanding of the patient's overall medical history because of how much I work with the chart and how often patients return to the clinic. While not at work, I spend time volunteering at a local hospice facility during meal times. With each visit, I help the nursing staff by taking patient's meal orders, preparing those trays, feeding patients if needed, and any other tasks that aid them. In addition, a large portion of what I do is providing companionship to the patients while they are at the facility.

What is the worst thing about being a doctor?

You can't help everyone. You don't always have the answer. -However, I think this is where there are many outlets within medicine that can better this in the world. (i.e. advocating for changes in healthcare to expand coverage and lower costs for all people, getting a broad background and interacting with diversity to treat the largest population of patients possible, always finding ways to learn as a physician/student of medicine)

If you get in to more than one school how will you decide where to go?

→ **I want to attend a school that shares similar values to mine with providing holistic patient care and making a difference in the local community --> large part of it will also be determined by finances, ability of Emily to get a job right away as a teacher, and the feel I have for the school/community because I want to find a place that I feel at home.

Are you concerned at all about coming to a school that is brand new?

→ Yes, of course but I am also concerned about any school that I will attend because there are so many new/foreign aspects that I will have to navigate during this process. -It's concerning because of their lack of a strong foundation in medicine, the name may not be as well respected... BUT it is a great opportunity for me as a student to hep build that foundation for future students.

Have you ever seen a doctor make a mistake? What did you do about it?

→ this is a main part of my job as a scribe when Dr. Garcia is dictating information for the charts, he has to sift through information from so many different patients and can get them mixed up easily. -You have to remember that they are human too and cannot be afraid to speak up when the patient is on the line.