University of Southern California
Volume III | Issue II
May 1, 2013
Inside the Issue
Energy
Drinks 2
Trojans Bring Medical Aid
to Ghana and Honduras
The Incredible
Otana Jakpor 3
By KELSI CHESNEY, AISHA LODIN,
IFRAH HASSAN, GURLEEN CHADHA, &
JACKIE DINH
Writer, Editor, Editor, Section Editor, and
Layout Editor
Pre-Med
Athletes 4
Foreign Medical
Schools 5
The New MEDS
minor 6-7
MCAT, DAT. GRE
Prep Books 8
Paramedics and
EMTs 9
Above: Suitcases stuffed with a
variety of medical supplies.
Top: Freshman Helen Chou and
junior Andres Park listen to a
patient describe her symptoms.
Consultations can be challenging
due to language barriers.
Campus Health
Activities 10
Left: After walking for miles,
Hondurans queue in line for
hours to see GMB doctors.
Medicine in
Culture 11
Photos courtesy of Helen Chou.
HSPS: Medical School
On the Military’s Dime
By ALLIE FARINACCI
Editor
So you want to be a doctor. Four years
of medical school will cost you $120,000
in tuition alone at a public school and
close to $200,000 at a private institution.
The average medical student graduates with $160,000 in debt. What if there
was another option, one that would leave
you debt-free, cover all of your expenses,
give you a substantial monthly stipend,
and pay you $20,000 just for signing
up? Welcome to the Health Professions
Scholarship Program.
HPSP is offered through the U.S.
HPSP students participate in a training exercise.
ONLINE
New Minor:
Health Care
Studies
Army. It is analogous to the ROTC programs common on college campuses,
whereby students receive four-year full
tuition and cost of living scholarships in
exchange for years of military service after graduation.
In comparison, HPSP offers members
full tuition scholarships as well as compensation for books, equipment, academic
fees, food, and lodging.
It is available to qualifying students at
any “accredited medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinical or counseling psychology
programs” in the United States or Puerto
— see ARMY DOCTORS, page 5
elliotgarber.com
The USC Dornsife College of Letters,
Arts and Sciences has partnered with the
Keck School of Medicine to offer a new minor in Health Care Studies which began
enrolling students last year.
While the new minor is geared toward
students who want to pursue a career related to health care, Medical Sciences
(MEDS) courses are open to all majors,
even students who aren’t currently enrolled in the minor.
The minor offers a variety of courses in
classroom and clinical settings, including
Challenges in Biomedical Ethics (MEDS
260), Introduction to Surgical Principles
(MEDS 440), Wilderness and Survival
Medicine (MEDS 465), among many other upper division electives.
A diverse mix of health professionals
from both campuses will teach the classes.
Professors and guest speakers comprise of
dentists, engineers, physicians, biomedical researchers, pharmacists, health care
administrators, and international health
experts. Keck medical students and residents also guest lecture.
Turn to pages 6 and 7 for a detailed
look at the Health Sciences Minor classes and an interview with assistant Dean
Dr. Swadron. For unit requirements and a
full list of the courses offered, visit dornsife.usc.edu/minor-in-health-care-studies.
— see NEW MINOR, pages 6 and 7
Global Medical Brigades Abroad
By HELEN CHOU & NICOLE BASLER
Writers
Many pre-health students dream about
studying abroad and traveling. Global
Medical Brigades (GMB) offers the best of
both worlds. GMB conducts service trips
to Honduras and Ghana and sends a team
of students and doctors to serve communities with limited access to healthcare.
Two USC students, Helen Chou and
Isabella Wu, travelled to Honduras and
Ghana with GMB and have shared their
memorable trip with THC.
Here, Chou gives us a day by day overview of her experience in Honduras.
Day 1: First day of official brigading!
Thirty minutes on the road found us at a
small school in Las Champas where there
already stood a line of people, old and
young alike, waiting for us.
My first shift was at the dental station.
I helped lay out instruments and anesthesia. There was no electricity in the room,
so the only light was the sunlight filtering
in through the barred windows.
The room was dirty, and we were battling insects left and right. The next two
hours consisted of handing Dr. Frank, the
Honduran dentist, the tools he needed.
Watching the extractions was uncomfortable, yet fascinating at the same time.
Day 2: After going through triage, the
patients saw the doctors. Dr. Ricardo
would converse with the patient sand stop
to translate for me. Many of the patients
showed up with headaches or dizziness.
After an hour of consultation, I made a
Writer Helen Chou
Writer Helen Chou
visit with Dr. Ricardo to an epileptic patient and his mother. As we questioned
the mother, we realized that she did not
know what medication her son takes.
Frustrated, the doctor asked the son. He
knew the drug’s name, but it was difficult
for him to communicate further.
Day 3: Today brought us to the community of Manzaragua. By the time we
arrived, the line of patients stretched
around the building.
My day started in triage, where we interacted directly with the many patients
there, asking them about their medical
history and symptoms and taking their
— see BRIGADERS, page 12
Featured Profession: Paramedics | Social Impact: Media and Medicine | Article Exclusive: Insights into the new minor
Editorials
May 1, 2013
Follow Us on Twitter! @THCatUSC
Letter from the Editors-in-Chief
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
REBECCA GAO & JESSICA KUO
SECTION EDITORS
GURLEEN CHADHA & NATASHA SOSA
EDITORS
SENIOR EDITORS
JANIE CHEN
ANJLIE GUPTA
PAVITRA KRISHNAMANI
JESSICA DALLAS
FAIZAN MALIK
ALLIE FARINACCI
IFRAH HASSAN
LESLIE WU
AISHA LODIN
MORGAN ROGERS
ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
Page 2
AUDREY CHAI, VARUN AWASTHI
MANAGERS:
JACQUELINE DINH, Layout Editor; SANA AZAM,
SCOTT WEY, Web Managers; ASMAA ALBAROUDI,
PETER ESKANDER, ALISON YU, Public Relations
Managers; EMILY HE, Advertisement Manager,
HAN DAO, GINA LEE, Photo Managers
Senior Writers:
KAUSAR ALI, DALTON BANH, NICOLE BASLER, SAYULI
BHIDE, LYNN BENJAUTHRIT, AIMEE CHANG, KELSEY
CHESNEY, KRISTINA CHIU, DIANA CHUNG, ANNETTE
EOM, ABRAM ESTAFANOUS, JESSICA FRANKEBERGER,
MANU GANDHAM, PURNIMA GURUNG, DIANA HANG,
ROBERT HA, ALINE HESSE, AMRIT JAGGI, JUNG-GI
MIN, LAUREN MOHABBER, TIFFANY NAZAR, NIKKI
NOE, AKSHAY SUBRAMANIAN, SEHAR SALMAN, LU
TIAN, CHUKWUMAMKPAM UZOEGWU
Writers:
MORGAN CHEEKS, HELEN CHOU, RYAN EMHOFF,
NATALIE FRIEDERICKS, MARIE KAAKIJIAN, JACKIE
KRUGLYAKOVA, KATRINA MADDELA, EINAV NACHMAN,
ALEX NGUYEN, JOHN TANAKA, LAUREN TAYLOR,
EMILY VU
HAO-HUA WU & TAKANORI OHKUBO
Founders
Medical Specialty
Stereotypes
By JOHN TANAKA
Writer
Orthopedic Surgeons: These doctors are the
meatheads of the profession. Known to “hit the gym”
after work. Commonly nicknamed the “Jersey Shore
Crew” of each hospital staff.
Emergency Medicine: The cowboys. Known to
“slightly” exaggerate when it comes to severity of injuries.
Neurosurgery: Their home is their office. Known
to be constantly working. Some may label egotistical.
OB-GYN: Always overworked. Extremely grumpy,
viewed by others as harsh and insensitive. Favorite
term is “push.”
Psychiatry: The “doctor.” Commonly asked question “So you’re the same as a psychologist right?”
Family Medicine: The Hippy Country Doctor.
Doesn’t feel the need to shave or have regular haircuts.
All natural, takes payment in the form of vegetables.
Pediatrics: The Mister Rogers meets Barney of
medicine. Common statements to kids: “This will
only be a pinch” and “It will only take a second”. Both
statements are usually a lie. Only tolerated because of
Spongbob Band-Aids and stickers.
Radiology: Vampires. Are afraid of the light.
Somehow make bank.
Neurology: How are you so smart?!
Dermatology: Premadonna, 90210 meets the hospital. Sometimes viewed as “Bro, do you even work?”
Anesthesiology: “Bro, do you even work?’
Radiation Oncology: “Bro, do you even exist?” 
The Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Doctor
D
ear Reader,
Thanks to your loyal following
and the hard work of the staff,
Trojan Health Connection has marked
our fourth semester of publication with
a four-page expansion this issue.
Our extra pages have given us the opportunity to present greater coverage
of popular Pre-Med Activities on pages
4 and 5. Learn about the new Multiple
Mini Interview method that greater
numbers of medical schools are adopting as part of their admissions process,
or the strategies pre-med athletes utilize to maintain the thin balance between work and personal life.
Page 5 covers opportunities for students interested in unique and offbeat
medical tracks, including studying
medicine abroad or enlisting in military
medicine.
This issue’s centerspread provide
a comprehensive overlay of the new
MEDS courses for the Health Care
Studies Minor, an unprecendented expansion and committment to pre-health
education and preparation by USC.
Turn to pages 6 and 7 of this in-depth
and hands-on experience in the clinical
and research realms of medicine.
MEDS 320 offers a rare opportunity for undergraduates to gain valuable
anatomical experience working with cadavers. To prepare students for the clinical experience, MEDS 220 exposes students to medical ethics, the healthcare
system, and the cultural competency expected of future health professionals.
The Cult of Caffeine
By DALTON BANH
Writer
It’s 3 AM, and you’re struggling
just to stay awake. You have an outrageous amount of work left to finish.
You desperately try to regain your
focus but it’s no use. Your body and
mind are both exhausted. You crawl
to the fridge for a can of Red Bull.
As college students, we have all
experienced this before; caffeinated
drinks are often synonymous with
college culture.
A 2007 study on energy drink usage in college students found that the
most popular reason was to function
with insufficient sleep. Energy drinks
were also used for to study, to drive
for long periods, to mix with alcohol,
and to treat hangovers.
Sean Nordt, M.D., Pharm.D., emergency physician and medical toxicologist at the Keck School of Medicine,
said of alcohol-energy drink mixtures: “It’s actually more dangerous
because the energy drink gives the
person a sense of awakeness, even
though they are still intoxicated by
the alcohol. Because they feel awake,
they are more likely to engage in
high-risk activity.”
Worldwide, companies are advertising towards teenagers and making
energy drinks readily available in
convenience stores, supermarkets,
and even in school vending machines.
The consumption of caffeinnated beverages has increased dramatically. In
2012 alone, Red Bull reported total
sales of over $3 billion and Monster
reported sales of $2.6 billion.
Dr. Nordt said, “There are only a
few main ingredients in an energy
drink: water, sugar, B-vitamins, and
caffeine.” The labels list a variety of
ingredients such as taurine, creatine,
antioxidants, and ginseng. However,
the amounts are far below what is
needed for therapeutic benefit.
In low doses, caffeine has been
shown to improve endurance times
and provide a “jolt,” or a boost of energy. Unfortunately, it also tends to
result in a “crash.” A constant intake
of caffeine burdens the body’s adrenal
system, resulting in this fatigue.
Dr. Nordt published a study on energy drink usage in emergency department patients. The most common
side effect was shakiness and jitteriness, reported in 20% of respondents.
Caffeine stimulates the central
nervous system and encourages the
release of hormones like adrenaline,
elevating heart rate and simulating
“flight-or-fight” responses.
USC sophomore Zachary Chen
Pages 11 and 12 complete our paper
with a glance into the overlap between
medicine and pop culture. Read on for
the impact of medical TV shows on student perception, and insightful books for
any student pursuing a career in health.
Familiar pages include the Allied
Health column on page 9 on emergency healthcare with insights on the daily lives of ER doctors and EMTs; the
Campus News section on page 10 with
new information on the student health
center and organizations on campus.
Trojan Health Connection is excited
to announce that we will continue our
expansion with more frequent publications in the coming semesters.
We appreciate all your continued support, and encourage you to explore our
latest issue.
Sincerely,
Jessica and Rebecca
said, “With energy drinks, you can
get overly jittery. It’s a different type
of exhaustion—you’re mentally exhausted but at the same time, you’re
physically alert.”
Also, caffeine can be both physically and psychologically addictive.
Burgess said, “I think I might have
developed a slight dependence on energy drinks. Often, I feel like I have
to have one if I want to do a good job.”
Other adverse effects include heart
palpitations, racing or abnormal
heartbeats, cramping, nausea and
vomiting, and headaches.
Caffeine is the world’s most consumed psychoactive drug, and there
is virtually no social stigma. Energy
drinks are marketed as dietary supplements, and as a result, the FDA is
unable to approve or review them.
Burgess said, “I think society
doesn’t actually treat it like a drug at
all...It’s such a big part of people’s everyday lives, and there aren’t really
any age restrictions on it, so no one
considers it to be a bad thing.”
Clinical studies do suggest that energy drinks are safe in moderation,
but Dr. Nordt said, “The data is not
known yet whether caffeine will have
any long-term effects.”
“My advice would be to drink no
more than two over a short period,.
Sleep-deprivation combined with a
high dose of caffeine puts you at a
higher risk for seizures.” 
www.integra-flex.com
Superpowered Superfoods
By Audrey Chai
Associate Editor
The “Superfoods” trend has taken
over the world of health eating. With
all the hype, we’ve decided to make
your life easier and researched the
best and most overlooked superfoods.
Superfoods That Fight Fat
Garbanzo Beans: Also known as
chickpeas, garbanzo beans are filled
with starch and fiber. They are also
a protein powerhouse, providing an
amount comparable to meat or dairy
without the saturated fat. With a nutlike taste and buttery texture, you
can add these beans to anything: toss
them in a salad, eat them baked, or as
a delicious hummus dip.
Chilis: If spicy is your thing, then we
have good news for you: besides being low in fat, calories, and cholesterol, spicy chili peppers contain capsaicin, the natural heat component of
chilis plays many important roles in
the body. Capsaicin may act as natural anti-inflammatory agent, improve
circulation, and even help burn 50100 calories after a meal.
Beauty-Boosting Superfoods
Oysters: Oysters are an excellent
source of zinc, which plays a big role
in skin cell renewal and repair. It’s
also crucial in keeping nails, hair, and
eyes healthy. Low in fat and high in
protein, these “pearls of the sea” are
the perfect choice. As a bonus, oysters
are also rich in potassium, magnesium, and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower blood pressure.
Kiwi: These furry fruits pack a full
day’s vitamin C, but also tons of skinenhancing nutrients. They increase
collagen production and help brighten skin. Their high quantity of vitamin E and antioxidants also helps to
smooth skin and prevent blemishes.
Eat kiwis as soon as you slice them,
as their high moisture content allows
their nutrients to evaporate quickly.
Immune Boosting Foods
Mushrooms: Luckily for us, they are
a treasure chest of immune boosting
nutrients, filled with the mineral selenium, essential B vitamins, and
various antioxidants.
Garlic: Hailed as an “elixir” of
health, garlic has been used for centuries. Three powerful compounds:
allicin, ajoene, and thiosulfinates
that give garlic all its anti-fungal and
nutritive powers. Add some to a pasta sauce or spread crushed garlic onto
baguette slices.
The Athlete’s Superfoods
Lean Beef: Lean beef is the perfect
addition to an exercise diet. Along
with being a great source of protein,
beef is also high in iron. An iron insufficiency leads to less energy. Don’t
forget to add beans, peas, leafy vegetables, and iron-fortified cereals.
Visit us online at trojanhealthconnection.com for additional foods and
creative new recipes. 
www.myfoodstorage.com
Research
Page 3
May 1, 2013
www.TrojanHealthConnection.com
USC Professor’s Groundbreaking Research Implemented at Kaiser Permanente
By JANIE CHEN
Editor
Dr. Susan Enguidanos of the gerontology department has taken multidisciplinary
research to a new level. Though Dr. Enguidanos primarily does research in palliative care, she has intertwined cognitive
psychology with social work. Her innovative
work has influenced Kaiser Permanente facilities around the nation to implement her
model for palliative care.
Palliative care is an area of healthcare
that focuses on relieving and preventing
the suffering of patients. It is appropriate
for patients at all stages of disease and traditionally undertakes pain and symptom
management. Dr. Enguidanos’ new twist
takes palliative care deeper and extends it
beyond pain management. Instead, she has
pioneered the idea of holistic care for pain,
including care for psychological and spiritual needs along with physical ones.
This care empowers the elderly by guiding them through their problems with the
use of step-wise problem-solving. The elderly are taught to use small stages to accomplish their goals; sometimes these stepby-step exercises are reward-based.
Though this new model may not seem
modern or revolutionary at first, it has
changed the perspective of palliative care.
The traditional model aimed to fix patient
issues by instructing patients without first
studying the patient’s desires or goals. The
new guide helps them regain control over
their problems without becoming dependent on their care managers.
In one case, an elderly man who claimed
to feel overwhelmed had not bathed for
days. Following Dr. Enguidanos’ model, the
care manager helped the man figure out
how to rejoin the local senior center and reestablish a relationship with his estranged
daughter by sitting down with the man
and talking through his problems. It was
found that the man felt isolated socially. By
“
a more holistic type of care.
discovering this, the new method gave the
“Our healthcare system has communiman a chance to restart his life.
cation issues, different systems
Kaiser
Permanente’s
don’t communicate and nothmulti-site testing of Dr.
ing is holistic which is why our
Enguidanos’ new model of
healthcare system is extremely
end-of-life care for chronicostly and has earned the repucally and terminally ill patation of being a silos,” said Dr.
tients dramatically alters
Enguidanos. “The only place
palliative care. The quality
there is any care like this is priof hospice care traditionally
mary care, but specialists don’t
offered only after aggressive
communicate with primary
medical treatment is now
care physicians. Palliative care
available in the patient’s
can cut across this silos.”
home and provides extra
Dr. Enguidanos’ work has
services like physical and
music therapy to enhance Dr. Susan Enguidanos truly changed healthcare for
the elderly and those who are
quality of life.
Assistant Professor of
in need of end-of-life care. She
In addition, this option
Gerontology
currently teaches Psychologiis offered to patients with a
cal and Social Aspects of Death and Dying,
prognosis of under a year, instead of the six
End-of-Life Care and Continuum of Care:
months that hospice care requires. Patients
Systems Perspective and has a joint apwho choose this option do not have to abanpointment with the USC School of Social
don aggressive treatment; instead, they can
Work. 
receive the benefits of both. This gives them
Specialists don’t
communicate
with the primary
care physicians.
Palliative care
can cut across
this silos.
USC Professor Makes Strides in Diabetes and Obesity Research
By LU TIAN
Writer
Dr. Alan Watts, USC professor of biological sciences, neuroscience, physiology and biophysics, leads
a research team that focuses on the interactions between the brain and glucose metabolism.
“I sort of came in a full circle,” said Watts. His current research investigates how the brain responds to
various changes in glucose levels and how the brain
itself can alter glucose levels by activating epinephrine secretion or controlling pancreatic secretion. He
switched from his original research on hypovolemia
to hypoglycemia, and that brought him back to thinking about how the brain controls glucose and how it
is involved in various aspects of diabetes and other
complications.
“A lot of our work revolves around CRH neurons,”
said Watts. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
is a peptide hormone and neurotransmitter made by
the hypothalamus that stimulates the release of corticotropin by the anterior pituitary gland. These secretions stimulate the adrenal cortex to release glucocorticoids, steroid hormones that are involve in the
regulation of glucose metabolism. Watts’s research
investigates how CRH alters gene expression and how
neurotransmitters interact with them to control
glucose level.
Watts
identified
a
biochemical
signal
that helps regulate the
amount of glucose in the
blood. Watts and his team
discovered that nitogenactivated protein kinases
are key enzymes that link
changes in blood glucose
levels to certain neurons
in the hypothalamus and
Courtesy of uscnews.usc.edu
the release of glucoseDr. Alan Watts, USC Faculty controlling
hormones.
This novel discovery by Watts and his team provides
a better understanding of how the body balances between hyperglycemia, too much glucose in the blood,
and hypoglycemia, too little glucose in the blood.
Most of Watts’s work is not intended to produce immediate commercial benefit, but rather to increase the
general understanding of fundamental physiological
mechanisms. “We don’t do work that’s got a direct
clinical application, so we’re not developing drugs to
try to reduce blood glucose for example. We are trying
Spotlight: One In 17,414
Officially titled Assembly Bill 32,
the plan outlines the state’s wish to
Editor
reach greenhouse gas reduction goals
Out of all the outstanding pre-health
highlighted by AB 32. AB 32 is currently
students on campus, junior Otana
under attack by the oil industry and
Jakpor stands out with her work in the
Jakpor is working with the ALA to keep
interdisciplinary fields of Global Health
support for AB 32 from both the public
and
Environmental
and California legislators.
Science.
In addition to her
Since coming to
research,
Jakpor
has
college, Jakpor has
won numerous accolades
developed a passion
including the President’s
for connecting current
Environmental
Youth
environmental issues
Award and was most
to health and wellness
recently named as one of
issues by interning and
Glamour magazine’s Top 10
researching with major
College Women of 2013.
institutions both in the
Jakpor hopes to pursue a
states and abroad.
career in pediatrics in the
She studied abroad
future. She would also like
in Oxford through
to go on regular medical
Problems
Without
mission trips and make
Passports in Summer
service a regular part of
2011, where she learned
her life.
about how cookstoves
Jakpor also prioritizes
in third world countries Courtesy of Astrid Stawiarz
outreach.
“Doctors
are
contribute to indoor air Junior Otana Jakpor
needed to testify and speak
pollution.
out about public health,” said Jakpor.
During the spring break of her
She began by doing research on tobacco
sophomore year, Jakpor shadowed a
advertising and mass media influences,
plastic surgeon at Children’s Hospital Los
which was the source of her interest in
Angeles. She was able to learn about ear
Health Communications.
construction for children diagnosed with
She is now trying to make health
microtia, a congenital deformity in which
issues “more accessible to low literate
the external ear is underdeveloped.
communities” by “looking at medical
Just last semester, Jakpor conducted
literacy and how to communicate health
research at Cedars-Sinai where she
issues,” said Jakpor.
was able to look at air pollution,
Her advice to students is to “cross the
especially particulate matter in the air,
sidewalk, and get out into the community.
and its connection with brain cancer.
Do volunteering work and do practical
Currently, she has an internship with
internships. The major challenge is to
the American Lung Association (ALA).
work with populations that are needy.
She is researching public policy tactics
Once you experience firsthand how
and using educational strategies to help
tenacious their lives are, you become very
the ALA protect the California Global
dedicated to the field of public health. It’s
Warming Solutions Act.
very humbling.” 
By JANIE CHEN
to understand how these brain systems work under
normal circumstances and also pathological circumstances,” said Watts, “By working out the mechanisms, you now have a chance to figure out what is
there when things go wrong.”
Watts has been a USC faculty member for more
than 20 years. He was the director of NIBS Neuroscience Program, head of Neurobiology section, chair of
USC Neuroscience Executive Committee, and director
of Neuroscience Research Institute. He is currently
teaching several BISC and NEUR classes.
Besides exploring how the brain works, Watts enjoys mentoring students on his research team. “I like
interacting with students, bringing them into the lab,
and seeing them develop within a project,” said Watts.
Watts does not require students seeking to join his
team to have prior experience. However, he prefers
students who are genuinely interested in the topics he
is researching about and can stay long term, preferably around two years.
Watts said, “I always find two qualities that I think
are important in science, one is imagination...The second is initiative...You need to be able to turn thoughts
into actions. The most important advice is to be...really interested. Enjoy it and don’t be afraid to take
chances.” 
Pre-Med Activities
May 1, 2013
Page 4
Follow Us on Twitter! @THCatUSC
New Environmental Studies Major for Pre-Health Students
By EINAV NACHMAN
Writer
With a fresh start to the semester comes a brand new major
oriented towards pre-health students: Environmental Science
and Health.
The new major seeks to prepare students for the 2015
MCAT while presenting them
the opportunity to take classes
in countries around the world.
As an Environmental Science
and Health major, students
can fulfill their pre-health
requirements while learning
about the human health effects
largely caused by environmental
pollutants.
Professor Jim Haw is a professor of Chemistry at USC and the
director of the Environmental
Studies program on campus.
Frustrated by the lack of prehealth emphasis in the environmental sciences major, he
launched the Environmental
Science and Health major this
spring.
Haw said the Environmental
Studies major is “intended more
Work - Life Balance
important thing for me to do is to
keep my work life and my family
Writer
life separate. That way, I can
Dr. Sarkis Kaakijian, a
spend more time with my family
pediatrician
and
internist
instead of discussing work when
practicing in Glendale, CA, truly
I’m at home.”
loves his occupation.
He also encourages his kids to
For Kaakijian, balance is the
come with him to his biweekly
key to success. This phrase
rounds, where they have the
exemplifies the meaning of
opportunity to see their father
his life both in and out of the
in action.
hospital.
He said, “I tell them what each
Kaakijian said that a typical
of the different instruments are
day for him is often exciting and
and exactly what they do.”
eventful. He believes that his
In addition to the patients
practice “needs to operate like a
that he sees everyday at his
normal business would.”
practice and at the hospital,
He opens his office each day
Kaakijian also enjoys taking
at 9 AM, and works until 1 PM,
part in some personal activities
seeing mostly kids and on some
with his family.
occasions, adults. He then takes
He said, “One of my favorite
a break from
pastime
1 PM to 2 PM,
activities is
where he goes
to go to the
to the doctor’s
movies with
lounge
at
my kids. I
the Glendale
feel closer
Memorial
to my kids
Hospital
to
every time
eat lunch with
I go to see a
colleagues.
new movie
After
his
with them.”
one-hour
Also, he
break,
he
likes to take
resumes work
them
to
until 6 PM.
educational
He then goes
places, such
to the gym Courtesy Marie Kaakijian
as
Olvera
shortly before Dr. Sarkis Kaakijian
Street
and
coming home
the La Brea
to his family at around 7:30 PM
Tar Pits Museum.
and helping his children with
Kaakijian said, “If I know
their homework.
that my kids have learned at
least one thing from the visit,
Kaakijian mentions that he
then I know that it has been
does not let his dedication to his
worthwhile.”
job and his love for what he does
A doctor’s balance between
control his life.
life at home and work life is the
He said, “I have a lot of time
key to happiness, according to
dedicated to my family outside
Kaakijian. 
of my work schedule. The most
By MARIE KAAKIJIAN
for people who are on the social science side of being interdisciplinary,”
while
the
Environmental Science and
Health major is “intended for
students on the natural science
side of being interdisciplinary.”
Additionally, he said,“The two
majors share a common set of
core courses. If somebody is doing the BS in Environmental
Science and Health, they will
do all the standard pre-med prerequisites for biology, organic
chemistry, physics, and calculus
required for medical school.”
On top of guiding students
through the pre-med classes
while exposing them to environmental science classes, the 72unit major has a statistically
based decision making and human behavior emphasis to better prepare students for the revised 2015 MCAT.
According to Haw, this is “a
major designed for pre-meds.”
“The environmental studies
courses are intended to give the
pre-health student a community and a major experience,” said
Haw.
Allowing freshman students
the opportunity to take general chemistry and biology the
first year, this major is built
so that the first environmental health class is not taken until sophomore year. This gives
current students the opportunity to switch majors easily without worrying about whether they
will graduate on time.
All that is needed to make the
switch is a change of major form
found in the Environmental
Sciences office (SOS B15) or any
academic major’s office. 
A Day in the Life of Pre-Med Athletes
By ANNETT EOM and
MORGAN ROGERS
Writer and Editor
Think being pre-med is difficult enough? THC had the
chance to sit down with three
pre-med athletes to ask them a
bit about how they manage to
stay on top of things.
facebook.com
Zade Shakir, Soccer
Editor Morgan Rogers
Jeff Miller, Football
Courtesy USC Cycling
Tony Yang, Cycling
Q: Why are you interested in
becoming a doctor?
A: I plan on being a psychiatrist because I am a people’s person and I like to learn what and
why people do what they do.
Q: How do you manage your
time?
A: Admittedly I’m horrible
at managing my time. I usually cram for my pre-medical class
tests the last two days before the
exam.
Cycling is incredibly time intensive. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare tire pressure,
put on uniform, and mix drinks
every ride. Then the actual ride
can take around three to seven
hours, depending on distance.
And finally you tend to pass
out for at least two hours because of weariness after.
Q: How is being premed different for an athlete?
A: Obviously being premed
is a huge commitment to the future just as being an athlete is.
While most people in premed
do not have other obligations
that are outside of focusing on
pre-med, I have a huge obligation to football.
Being an athlete and managing school is difficult enough,
but balancing being a biomedical engineer and football with
pre-med is a even bigger task.
With being pre-med and an
athlete, you really have to find
a balance between school and
work while trying to do your
best at both.
Q: In terms of timing, how are
you able to fit in classes (especially labs) and practice?
A: My schedule sucks. We
have blocked off times for football in which we aren’t supposed
to schedule classes due to practice.
However with the requirements for class and labs, they
overlap with practice. This semester, I have two class conflicts
with practice.
Q: Why are you interested in
becoming a doctor?
A: I really want to be an orthopedic surgeon and work with
athletes. I have had my fair
share of injuries over the years
and have been fortunate enough
to work with some really great
sports doctors.
I was inspired by my dad to
be a doctor. He’s the most intelligent person I know. Seeing the
way he changes peoples’ lives is
remarkable, and something I aspire to do one day.
Q: How do you manage your
time?
A: There are definitely some
intense weeks, but everything
is manageable. I just don’t put
things off until the last minute.
I try to capitalize on every free
minute I have – whether it be
studying, playing soccer, lifting
weights, eating, or sleeping.
I am proud of how well I have
been doing in the classroom, but
just like on the field, I am always
looking for ways to improve myself, and I never settle for being
average.
For the full interviews, check
out our website at
trojanhealthconnection.com. 
Demystifying the Medical MMI: Multiple Mini Interviews
By NATASHA SOSA
Section Editor
Today’s the day.
All those years of cramming for
chemistry and prepping for physics have
led to this moment: your chance to prove
yourself to your dream medical school.
The two minutes seem like hours
as you review the prompt on the door,
which asks you to discuss the ethical
implications of embryonic stem cell
research.
Eventually, the door opens, and you
step into the room. Time’s up – your first
mini interview has begun.
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs),
such as the one described, are part
of a relatively new type of interview
technique. While most medical schools
conduct typical interviews, some medical
schools here in the US, in addition to
many Canadian medical schools, have
adopted this new format.
American medical schools that use
the MMI format include Stanford, UC
Davis, UCLA, University of Cincinati,
Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Oregon
Health Science University, and more.
In contrast to the traditional oneon-one interview, the MMI format has
interviewees travel to multiple stations,
where they will encounter a prompt they
will discuss for several minutes. Students
are given a few minutes to read over the
prompt, which can deal with anything
from ethical dilemmas to roleplaying
scenarios that physicians may encounter.
They will then either discuss the topic
with the interviewer or interact with
actors while the interviewer grades them
on their performance.
As these are meant to be “mini”
interviews, candidates are given a set
length of time in which to complete the
task, after which they must move on.
Each station has a different topic and
rater, so if one station doesn’t go well, the
candidate gets a fresh start on the next.
The movement away from the
traditional interview is spurred in part
by its inability to accurately predict
which candidates will become good
doctors.
According to a report released by
McGill University in Canada, over half of
the variation in the ratings of traditional
interviews was due to interviewer
differences.
The MMI format tries to reduce
the effect of interviewer bias by using
a greater number of interviewers in
shorter interviews.
Furthermore, the MMI format seeks
to test personal factors that are believed
to make up good physicians.
At the Medical School Admissions
Panel last semester, a representative
from Stanford Medical School explained
that they seek to identify qualities such as
verbal skills and empathy, both of which
are important for patient interactions.
The evidence seems to support the
MMI format. According to The New
York Times, scores on MMIs have been
highly correlated with scores on medical
licensing exams in Canada.
As a result, applicants may have to
undergo one or more interviews in this
new format. While the actual questions
used in MMIs are confidential, that
doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to
prepare for the interviews themselves.
The first thing to consider is that,
despite the change in format, this is
still an interview for medical school.
Candidates will still need to present
themselves in the proper manner –
dress nicely, avoid swearing, turn off the
phone, and treat everyone with respect.
One can also prepare for the types of
scenarios presented in an MMI by doing
mock-interviews with a counselor or with
friends and family. Practicing the ability
to think critically about topics and speak
clearly and efficiently on the subject will
improve one’s chances of succeeding in
the actual interview.
Lastly, an admissions officer from
Stanford recommends that students
focus on analyzing the topic presented
to them, rather than trying to find the
“right” answer. Admissions officers just
want to see the kind of critical thinking
that goes into your opinion.
So on the day of the interview, don’t
stress. Just take a deep breath, stay
calm, and focus on your prompt. 
May 1, 2013
Page 5
www.TrojanHealthConnection.com
Pre-Med Activities
Army Doctors Graduate School Without Debt
— from HPSP, page 1
Rico.
HPSP’s
compensation
structure
is
generous,
beginning with a $20,000
signing
bonus.
Program
members enjoy a $2000 or
greater
monthly
stipend,
officer’s pay during school
breaks, and are promoted
to the rank of
Captain
upon
graduation.
Acceptance
requires
U.S.
citizenship, an
underg raduate
degree,
an
admission
to
a
graduate
program,
and
the ability to
qualify as a
commissioned
officer.
The
physically inept need not
apply.
Sounds too good to be true,
no? HPSP is not without its
drawbacks. It requires a year
of active duty service for each
year in school the program
pays for.
Spend four years in medical
school on the military’s
dime, and they own you for
the next four. HPSP covers
residency
and
fellowship
training as well, but it comes
with an additional service
requirement,
and
your
residency
generally
must
occur at a military hospital.
Your service is not free,
of course; you receive full
officers’ pay, complete with
pay increases as you advance
in rank.
Nonetheless, your life and
your future are no longer truly
your own. During breaks,
instead of visiting family you
will participate in grueling
t r a i n i n g
regimens
to
prepare
for
active duty.
The greatest
advantage
of
HPSP,
aside
from
its
financial
considerations,
is the sense
of
stability
it
ensures.
Participants
never have to
worry about their finances,
and can rest assured that,
provided they hold up their
end of the deal, they will
complete school and embark
on the medical career of their
dreams.
HPSP is hardly free money,
however. After completing
medical school a military
physician
makes
about
$90,000 per year, and that
figure increases to $120,000
per year after completing
residency and becoming board
certified.
Say you opt for four years
The greatest
advantage of
HPSP, aside from
its financial
considerations, is
the sense of
stability it
ensures.
nationalguard.mil
By joining the Health Professions Scholarship Program, medical students receive free
tuition in exchange for required years of active duty service.
of medical school and no
residency, then spend the
required four years as a
military
doctor,
making
$360,000 total before taxes.
Alternately, you could take
on loans and attend medical
school
without
military
assistance, graduate, and
become a general practitioner
making roughly $150,000 per
year. Four years later you
would have made $600,000,
for a difference of $240,000.
Assuming the value of
your education is roughly
$200,000, you are left with a
difference of $40,000, which
drops below zero when you
factor in the signing bonus
and monthly stipend.
Thus, if you want to be a
general practitioner, HPSP
is a good deal. But if you
want to be a specialist, the
numbers swing in the opposite
direction.
A heart specialist would
start at around $250,000 per
year, so the difference after
four years would be $640,000.
Factor in the additional
years of required service
due to the residency and
specialized schooling you
would need, and the gap
grows even wider.
Should you pursue HPSP?
The answer depends on what
kind of doctor you aspire
to be, and whether you are
comfortable
with
giving
up a significant amount
of freedom. If you want to
be a specialist, you may be
financially better off taking
on loans. Otherwise, you
might consider HPSP. n
USC’s Post-Baccalaureates Foreign Medical Schools May
By NATALIE FRIEDRICKS
Writer
Writer Natalie Friedricks
USC Post-bacc student Daniel
Shepherd enjoys his science classes.
“Post-baccs” are nontraditional medical
school applicants who face no trouble
standing out.
These “post-baccs” are students who
have completed undergraduate degrees
(usually in non-science majors) and
have returned to fulfill the pre-med
requirements.
USC’s program is two years long and
requires 2 science classes per semester.
This is followed by a glide year in which
post-baccs are supposed to finish their
medical school applications and engage in
related activities.
Two USC post-bacc students, Daniel
Wilson and Wendell Shepherd, said that
before they came to USC neither one had
any clue they would end up in medicine.
Shepherd attended UCSB as an English
major, and Wilson studied Spanish and
History at Santa Clara University.
“I was a math tutor after I graduated,
I did absolutely nothing with my English
degree,” said Shepherd. “But I had a couple
surgeries from sports related injuries and
I got interested in the medical field. So I
started volunteering at hospitals and just
decided to just jump right in.”
Wilson, however, followed a different
path. “I actually had started doing
graduate work for a masters in medieval
history,” said Wilson. “Then the more I
thought about it, the more I started to
question whether that [becoming a college
professor] was really what I wanted to do.
I realized that there were aspects of it I
liked, but that if I actually thought about
doing work in medicine it just seemed to
fit what I wanted to do with my life…it
was just a better fit for me.”
Wilson said that volunteering greatly
influenced his decision making. He
shadowed and worked as a Spanish
translator at a free clinic in El Monte.
“Honestly getting that exposure has
really solidified my desire [to become
a doctor], and I’m now thinking family
medicine most likely,” said Wendell. “It
really helped me to sit back and go ‘here
are the positives and the negatives from
someone who has been doing this for 1015 years. Is this really what I want to do?’
and the answer is yes.”
With respect to the influence of their
non-science undergraduate coursework,
Shepherd said, “I just look at all of this
[science coursework] a little differently.
For four years I was trained to think
critically, almost like I’m analyzing
essays all the time.”
He added, “It has really helped a lot
for the MCAT. The way I look at it is like
a reading comprehension test. You don’t
really need to apply too much science to it
as it’s mostly looking at new information
and seeing what you can glean from it.
I think reading comprehension is the
biggest strength for that.”
About USC’s post-bacc program in
particular, both said that they really
appreciate the structure the program
gives to their studies, and the support
base the other students provide.
In addition, “I really like all the
opportunities for research and everything
that comes with a major research
institution, including access to the
medical school campus and all the stuff
happening there,” said Shepherd.
However, a major downside of USC
seemed to be the cost.
But as Wilson said, “This is to be
expected at any good university.” n
Offer Unexpected Advantages
University of New York at Buffalo.
Ailawadhi sees his foreign
Writer
education background as an
When considering where to attend
advantage, especially in his ability
medical school, it is important
to conduct physical examinations
to consider all possibilities, even
and identify rarely seen disorders.
those that seem unconventional.
He said of his training in
One such possibility that many preIndia, “It’s very hands-on…the
meds don’t consider is attending
training is very good because it’s
medical school abroad.
always focused so much on the
This prospect can quickly
core medicine…and you are more
become accompanied with thoughts
comfortable doing the physical
concerning cultural differences,
examinations.”
quality
of
In
India,
education, future
due to a lower
residency program
availability
of
limitations,
medical resources,
and
contrasting
doctors must rely
medical practices
predominantly
between countries,
on
physical
among others.
exams, meaning
Foreign medical
that
training
schools also give
for this method
different degrees,
of diagnosis is
not necessarily an
rigorous.
MD. For example,
C o n s e q ue nt ly,
UK
schools
a U.S. physician
grant
Bachelors
who
attended
of Medicine or
medical school in
Surgery.
India has a strong
eduhelpindia.com/
H o w e v e r , University College of Medical Sciences balance between
while
these in New Delhi.
his own ability to
concerns
are
diagnose patients
understandable, medical schools
and an advanced technology-based
abroad may offer some hidden
approach that allows for validation.
advantages.
Medical school abroad may afford
There is a wide variety of schools
a wider variety of diseases: a study
to attend abroad, from India to the
in Academic Medicine showed that
Caribbean. More than 25 percent
almost one in five residents who
of physicians within the U.S. today
completed a clinical rotation in
attended some form of foreign
Peru or Guatemala encountered a
medical school, 20 percent of
disease they had never seen before.
whom are American-born citizens.
By getting out of their comfort
Dr. Sikander Ailawadhi, of
zone and immersing themselves
USC Internal Medicine, Division
in a new country, not only can
of Hematology, graduated from
students broaden their knowledge,
the University College of Medical
but they also become more open
Sciences in New Delhi, India. Soon
to different ideas, techniques,
thereafter he moved to the United
and beliefs—something that every
States, successfully completing his
person should experience at least
first-choice residency at the State
once in their lifetime. n
By ALINE HESSE
Page 6
New Pre-Health
May 1, 2013
www.TrojanHealthConnection.com
‘Directed Biomedical Res
By Aisha Lodin
Writer
MEDS
MEDS 490 Directed Biomedical Research is the ideal
course for any student seeking
research experience without any previous
research experience required. Erin Yamauchi, program specialist for the minor
in health care studies, states that medical schools and many other professional
degree programs are now requiring that
students participate in some type of research during their academic tenure, and
we want students to be excited about the
unparalleled research opportunities USC
has to offer.
MEDS-490 provides opportunities for
students to engage one-on-one with expert faculty mentors in basic science laboratory and clinical research. Currently
there are two different tracks prospec-
A pair of paramedics rush a patient
to surgery at
LAC+USC Medical Center, one
of the classroom
sites for MEDS
classes.
tive students can re
clude the USC Heal
track and the Child
Angeles track.
Michelle Engel, a
tal student, describe
ing for the MEDS 4
was unsure about h
in a research projec
MEDS 490 course a
to making the conn
researchers.
Currently Michell
post-doctoral studen
School of Dentistry’s
facial Molecular Biol
She works in Dr. C
work focuses on lab
vessels, and bone t
Through her researc
use confocal scannin
bel the jaw structure
‘Drugs and the Brain’
By Gurleen
Chadha
New cadaver-based
course for undergrads
Section Editor
Drugs, both legal and illegal, are a
huge part of healthcare today. For the
pre-health student who is both fascinated by the ways in which these compounds impact the brain and looking
to get insight into how physicians, government agencies, and scientists interact to bring these drugs to the public,
MEDS 350: Drugs and the Brain is the
course to take.
The class is taught by Sean Nordt,
M.D., Pharm. D., who currently serves
as the Director of Toxicology in the Department of Emergency Medicine at
By Kelsi Chesney
Writer
While the generic premed schedule full of prerequisites
such as GenChem, OChem, Bio and Physics supplies all
the information necessary to be a doctor, it is easy to get
confused by the correlation between memorizing numberless aromatic substitutions and one’s future as a practicing
physician. But there are necessary gems like MEDS 320
that help us premeds realize why insane studying for required classes is worth all the work.
MEDS 320: Clinical Perspectives on Human Anatomy
elaborates on the knowledge a premed gains from previous classes and applies it to real clinical cases and cadaveric demonstrations. It is currently the only cadaver-based
anatomy course available to undergraduates at USC. Dr.
Habib, the professor of the course, describes MEDS 320 as
a “one semester immersion preview of medical education.”
The unique opportunity that this class gives to apply a
premed’s knowledge in real and recognizable ways under
the guidance of Dr. Habib is an advantage that provides
students with the best preparation for their first years in
medical school. Imad Awan, one student of the nine enrolled in the 2012 fall semester, appreciated that the primary focus of MEDS 320 was on learning through hands-on
demonstrations. He elaborated on the overall effect of this
class on his motivation to be a doctor;
“I’ve always wanted to be a surgeon, and feeling a human
heart in my hand was a feeling like no other. Since then,
I’ve pursued cardiothoracic surgeons at Keck to research
with and maybe even experience a surgery with them.”
MEDS 320 offers an experience of practicing skills
along with learning the medically relevant terminology in
order to provide a glimpse of a real medical school anatomy course. This practical theme seems to be present in
all MEDS classes, with variations on the type of concrete
knowledge taught in accordance with the skills focused on.
One can’t help but feel that this type of authentic experience is an absolute advantage for premeds at USC to have
for when they eventually become medical students.
the Keck School of Medicine. As a t
pharmacist, and a physician, No
ground gives him the unique vant
addressing all aspects of drug use
development in the laboratory to
that they have on the human brai
The first half of the lecture serie
sic neuroanatomy, psychiatric ill
drug discovery.
A major goal is for students to
the process of FDA approval, fro
and development in the laboratory
out drug studies.
“Most people don’t know how dr
market or how long it takes. It tak
18 years and about a billion dolla
why drugs are so expensive—the
money that needs to be recouped,”
Students also learn about drug
Class geared to preparing pre
By Ifrah Hassa
Editor
Students participate in a patient role-playing activity during class. MEDS 220
is a two-unit course and will be offered Fall 2013.
MEDS 220 is an introducto
titled, “Preparation for the Cl
ence,” for the new health care s
It is geared toward undergra
ing careers in the health scien
to prepare students for situatio
be present in clinical environm
graduates interested in a pos
reer in the health sciences will
pate in clinical environments.
Several students from v
grounds are currently enr
course, each student comes t
to learn about a topic that int
her. Hootan Omidvar, a junio
Biological Sciences said, “I rea
learn about how our healthc
changing and how it compares
the world.”
The course incorporates dis
Assistant Dean for Pre-Health Undergraduat
“
Our goal is to
provide students
with unprecedented access
and exposure to
leaders in the
healthcare sciences and practice.”
-Dr. Stuart Swadron
By Aisha Lodin
Writer
For Dr. Stuart Swadron, Assistant Dean
for Pre-Health Undergraduate Studies, no
two days of work are ever the same. Dr.
Swadron serves not only as the program
director for the LAC+USC emergency
medicine residency program, but is also
an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine, is a professor for MEDS
220: preparation for the clinical experience and MEDS 490: directed research
in biomedical research, advises medical
students, works in various departments in
the health science campus including emergency clinics at LA County Hospital and
the medical dean’s office. He enjoys the
beauty of an academic medical career that
offers him a wide variety and makes his
career stimulating. Before he joined the
Trojan family, Dr. Swadron completed his
undergraduate education at the University of Western Ontario and went to medical
school at University of Toronto.
Dr. Swadron was always interested in
practicing general medicine but realized
after an emergency department rotation
that the faced paced and gratifying nature
of emergency medicine really appealed to
him.
When asked to describe his academic
medical profession, Dr. Swadron describes
it as “a real privilege to spend time so early
in the professional develop
dergraduate students’ care
MEDS courses. Dr. Swadr
teaching doctors in practice
and enjoys seeing the great
and everyone one of his stu
As the newly appointed
for pre-health undergradu
the Keck School of Medicin
serves as a professor and a
for many of the health care
MEDS courses. The healt
minor serves to establish a
ship between faculty, hea
sionals, residents, and
students. The program aim
different possibilities throu
h Minor at a Glance
May 1, 2013
www.TrojanHealthConnection.com
sophomore pre-denes that before enroll490 HSC course she
how to get involved
ct and describes the
as a helpful gateway
nections with faculty
le is working with
nts at the Ostrow
s Center for Craniology.
Chai’s lab where her
beling the jaw, blood
tissues of a mouse.
ch she has learned to
ng technologies to laes and plans on con-
tinuing with her research after the class
is over this spring.
Natasha Sanjar, a junior studying
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, is taking her MEDS 490 through the
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles track
and describes the course as an amazing experience because her research in
the emergency department is focused in
the emergency department and she has
been given the opportunity to experience
transport medicine and has shadowed on
the helicopter pad.
Natasha enjoys being able to interact
with the doctors, learn from their experiences, and better yet have them give you
advice on what you need to do to get to
where they are.
The curriculum of the of the MEDS
490 course focuses on giving students a
unique and individualized research experience tailored to fit their interests.
The course curriculum supports this by
providing a series of didactic lectures on
hypothesis development, biomedical statistics, and training in research methodology.
“We want students to be able to take
advantage of the renowned faculty scientists and state-of-the-art facilities USC
has to offer,” said Yamauchi.
The course can be taken for 2 or 4 units
per semester. Those wishing to continue
in their research have the option of taking an additional semester of 490 (up to 8
units max.).
Research lab and clinical shift schedules are created to accommodate students’ other courses and can even be done
during the evenings or on the weekends.
If you are interested in MEDS 490 or the
health care studies minor feel free to contact Erin Yamauchi at eyamauch@usc.
edu.
’ offers insight into pharmacology
toxicologist,
ordt’s backtage point of
e, from their
o the impact
in.
es covers balnesses, and
understand
om research
y to carrying
rugs come to
kes about 17,
ars, which is
ere’s a lot of
” said Nordt.
abuse, par-
ticularly those drugs that can impact undergraduate life. In addition to “street drugs”
such as methamphetamine and cocaine, students also cover alcohol, caffeine, and prescription amphetamine-like medications, e.g.
Adderall®.
When asked how he approaches these topics, Nordt said “I talk to [students] really at a
gut level, if you will, about some of this stuff.
Particularly date-rape drugs, going out to
parties, being at raves…I see people their age
every day in the emergency department and I
try to bring that home.”
These types of personal experiences are one
of the most unique components of MEDS 350.
Nordt’s references to patient interactions allow the class to gain a deeper understanding
of dealing with drug abuse as a physician,
bringing it to a level beyond the textbook.
He said, “I try to expose them to what it’s
really like to see a psychotic patient in the
emergency department, or somebody who’s
suicidal, or somebody who’s acutely intoxicated on cocaine or something like that; there’s
the reality and then there’s what you read in
a book.”
When asked what he hoped students would
take from the class, Nordt said that in addition to knowledge of the drug pathways in the
brain and the basics of drug development, he
hoped they would come away with a sense of
empathy.
“I try to convey the empathy that you need
to have as a successful physician. Without
empathy, you are never going to be a successful physician, no matter what your paycheck
says.”
*MEDS 350 will be offered in Spring 2014.
e-health students for careers as clinicians
an
ory course, enlinical Experistudies minor.
aduates pursunces. It seeks
ons that might
ments. Understgraduate cal likely partici-
various backrolled in the
to class eager
terests him or
or majoring in
ally wanted to
care system is
s to the rest of
scussions and
touches upon several healthcare-related
topics, all taught to the students by medical
professionals—Dr. Swadron serves as the
main instructor—who enhance the learning
experience of the students and contribute to
the diversity of the course.
Sabrina Aziz, a senior majoring in Health
Promotion Disease Prevention, said “It is
different from any other course I have ever
taken and all of the teachers and aides in
this class are so ready and willing to help
the students.”
The goal of the course is to present undergrads with exposure to healthcare systems,
knowledge of medical ethics, cultural competency and interpersonal mannerisms while
still developing the necessary communication and advanced writing skills to excel in
the workplace while still exhibiting awareness of the implemented policies, measures
and even health insurance selection.
“You get personal interactions with physicians and residents,” Joy Phan, a junior majoring in Music and Biological Sciences, said.
“We learn about healthcare systems in other
countries, personality in medicine, cultural
competency, policies and regulations and
have open discussion and ethical debates.”
MEDS 220 provides a unique experience
by exposing undergraduates to a series of
topics that are the center of current healthbased debates. “We really just address anything and everything that can help us prepare to take a position in the health system”
said Sabrina.
This helps students build a foundation for
the future when they will be in charge of decisions of that sort. “I love the relevancy of
the subject matter,” Joy said.
Overall, there is a positive response to
the course from students, who suggest their
peers to consider taking the course and look
into the healthcare minor. “This class is extremely beneficial. We are being exposed to
information as undergraduates that some
medical professionals don’t even spend time
learning about” said Hootan. “This class is
amazing, take it.”
The Benefits
search’ allows for unique clinical experience
egister for, which inlth Science Campus
dren’s Hospital Los
Page 7
“As Health Care Studies minors,
undergraduates will not only have
the opportunity to take courses
at the Keck School, they will also
have the chance to receive basic
clinical experiences at Keck Medical Center at USC, Los Angeles
County+USC Medical Center,
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles,
as well as a number of other affiliate sites.”
Course Highlights
This new minor is tailored to meet the demands and interests
of pre-health students, but due to a lack of awareness and enrollment, some MEDS courses offered in Spring 2013 had to be
cancelled.
MEDS 460: Emergency Health Care
A 2-unit course that allows for an interactive experience with
ER physicians/emergency health care providers.
MEDS 465: Wilderness and Survival Medicine
A 4-unit course led by emergency physicians about medical
care under “extreme” wilderness conditions and basic
survival strategies.
MEDS 440: Introduction to Surgical Principles
te Studies explains advantages of minor
pment of an uneer” through the
ron also enjoys
e and residents,
t potential each
udents exhibits.
d assistant dean
uate studies at
ne, Dr. Swadron
a guest lecturer
e studies minor
th care studies
a close mentoralthcare profesundergraduate
ms to highlight
ugh health care
science and presents students with access to connect with leaders in healthcare
science. The program also hopes to help
students define their strengths and determine what type of health science profession best suits them and the experience
they wish to achieve.
Dr. Swadron advises aspiring healthcare professionals to be passionate about
what your interests are, whether it be engineering, pre-health, or arts. “The ones
that excel the most in the field of medicine
are those who have the passion to excel,
care for others, and demonstrate excellence and precision,” Swadron said.
If given the opportunity to relive his
undergraduate experience, Dr. Swadron
would” reincarnate himself into a USC
student and take a wide variety of courses
in history, gerontology, and declare the
healthcare studies minor”. In his undergraduate experience, he felt like just a
number within hundreds of other students
and describes the feeling of being lost and
overwhelmed. His answer to this is seeking personal individual mentorship and he
is fortunate that here at USC, where our
schools within the college are top rated, we
are surrounded by the best of the best faculty who are more than anxious to spend
time with students, and encourages USC
students to reach out to the and hopes every student will take on the opportunities
to connect on campus.
A 3-unit course led by surgeons that introduces students
to the spectrum of surgical care. This class is only open to
students of junior or senior standing.
Photo illustrations by Jackie Dinh
Photos courtesy of Dr. Stuart Swadron, usc.edu, and google.com
Study Materials
May 1, 2013
Page 8
Follow Us on Twitter! @THCatUSC
Study: Different Tests Call for Different Books
Whether you’re taking the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Dental Admission Test (DAT) or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), each test provides
enough stress on its own without the struggle to figure out the best method for how to study for it. A good place to start is with prep books that can be used to selfstudy. Though there are tons of books out there which creates another problem; choosing the correct ones. There are certain qualities to look out for like toughness of
the review or the difficulty of the practice questions, and each book is a little different. Below, each list details which books are worth studying from in order to prepare
for the big exam - whichever one it may be.
Going Over Guides to the GRE
Demolishing t he Dreaded DAT
By JUNG-GI MIN
By LU TIAN
Writer
Writer
Whether it is to further explore a passion in the humanities or a different field
in academia or to bolster one’s resume with more research experience and a better
GPA, graduate schools provide an excellent alternative for aspiring pre-medical
students who wish to postpone entering medical school.
1) The Official Guide to the GRE Revised General Test
Publisher: Education Testing Service (ETS)
Cost: $18.29 on Amazon
Review: The best quality of this book is that
it is written by the actual makers of the GRE.
This guarantees that the tips and practice problems of this book are applicable to what is on
the actual exam. Furthermore, the book comes
with a CD containing a full-length practice test
that simulates the format of the GRE perfectly, including the font style and the type of timer used on the exam. Although the book is a bit
short (less than 250 pages), this can be considered an advantage to a student trying to get a
quick overview of the test.
2) Cracking
the GRE, 2013 Courtesy goodreads.com
Edition
Publisher: Princeton Review
Cost: $14.96 on Amazon
Review: The Princeton Review’s rendition of
GRE prep can be considered to be one of the best
out there due to all the support it offers to its customers. In addition to the top-notch tips from experts of the exam that are easy to understand,
this book provides 4 practice exams (2 in the book
and 2 online) with detailed explanations of answers to every question. To top it off, Princeton
Review offers online tutorials on various strategies that can be used on the exam.
3) Kaplan 2013 GRE Premier
Publisher: Kaplan
Courtesy randomhouse.com
Cost: $22.22 on Amazon
Review: Kaplan’s prep distinguishes itself from its competitors by the sheer
amount of practice it offers. The book, although a tad pricey compared to the others listed, contains more than 1,300 practice problems, including 6 full-length
practice exams both in the book and online. Kaplan also offers some peripheral
services such as a DVD on stress management as well as tips on applying to graduate schools. n
Studying for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) can be difficult. There is a lot of
material to cover: from biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry to reading
comprehension, quantitative reasoning, and perceptual ability. It is all crammed
into a 4 hour and 30 minute test with 4 sections. Luckily, there is a plethora of
preparation materials that can help you prepare and score high on the DAT.
1) DAT Destroyer Basic
Publisher: Orgoman
Cost: $149.95
Review: It’s a comprehensive book that breaks down the general chemistry,
organic chemistry, biology, and quantitative reasoning sections. Written by Dr.
Jim Romano, this book includes challenging problems that are application based,
with detailed solutions that help reinforce difficult concepts. The only downside
is that it doesn’t cover the perceptual ability and reading comprehension sections.
Ambika Parti, Activities Chair of USC’s DDS Pre-Dental Club, says, “A lot of my
questions that were on my test were very similar to questions that I had seen in
Destroyer. If possible, go through Destroyer twice.”
2) Kaplan Kaplan DAT
Publisher: Kaplan
Cost:$62.46 on Amazon
Review: Kaplan DAT includes two full-length
practice tests with detailed answer explanations, intensive science and quantitative reviews,
a reading comprehension practice section, and
test-like exercises for the perceptual ability test.
Kaplan receives mixed reviews. While it is definitely cheaper than Destroyer, the book covers
mostly general concepts. “It’s a great starting
material,” says Parti. Studying the basics with
Kaplan and then going more in-depth with other
review books will yield better results than using
Kaplan alone.
3) TopScore Pro
Courtesy matthewsbooks.com
Publisher: ScholarWare
Cost: $54.95
Review: TopScore Pro is a software that needs to be downloaded onto a computer. It comes with 840 practice questions and 3 full-length complete sample tests.
The problems are fairly representative of the actual DAT, which is all computerized. Practicing with this program will give you a good idea of what to expect on
test day. However, the CD-ROM does have an expiration date. Buyers are guaranteed 7 months of usage. After 7 months, TopScore sends out an expiration notice. If you decide to buy TopScore, you should start practicing and reviewing as
soon as possible. n
Making the Most of the Mythical MCAT
By FAIZAN MALIK
Senior Editor
Obviously choosing a particular set of study books is no easy task
and may require some experimentation. However, any set should provide
a strong foundation, which can always
be built upon with other resources out
there. And, if self-studying doesn’t
work out, each of these companies offers a live course around Los Angeles
and Southern California, which, along,
with the prep books can be found on
their respective websites. Ultimately,
it won’t be the book or course you take
that determines your score but the
amount of work and effort you put in.
package including separate books for
biology, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry and verbal reasoning,
each with review mini-practice exams.
Though the coverage of math-heavy
subjects like general chemistry and
physics is not as thorough as other
books, Examkrackers does a good job
of removing extraneous
details and concepts
from its biology and organic chemistry books.
Examkrackers also has
a separate book titled
101 Passages in MCAT
Verbal Reasoning for
more practice, and the
Audio Osmosis which is
an extremely basic review of MCAT material in a lighthearted and
occasionally funny
of podcast format.
Examkrackers Complete MCAT
Study
Publisher: Examkrackers
Cost: $115.35
on Amazon
R e v i e w :
E xamk rackers
is a great option
for those who did
well in their science classes and
just need to survey and brush
up on all the
material
they
need to know.
E xamk rackers
review
books
can
be
purchased
as
a Courtesy matthewsbooks.com
chemistry and biology is overkill. Also,
unlike Examkrackers questions which
tend to be on the easy-to-medium side
in terms of difficulty, the Berkeley
Review passages can be very challenging.
Though it leaves you well prepared
for the MCAT, it can be demoralizing,
especially when a lot of the math requires ambiguous estimation compared to the
actual MCAT, which is
more straightforward.
The Berkeley Review
also sells up to seven
full length practice exams which are a decent
approximation of the actual exam.
toughest material. It excels, however,
at providing a variety of live, instructor-directed courses, including a summer immersion course and LiveOnline
over the internet.
Kaplan MCAT Review
Publisher: Kaplan
Cost: $82 on Amazon
Review: Kaplan is much like the
Princeton Review in terms of its content and style of practice questions.
Kaplan offers its own set of subject review books as well as its own Kaplan
MCAT 45 for students trying to perfect
their score.
Essentially, both the Princeton
Review and Kaplan are good options for
students who don’t need to relearn entire
subjects but could benefit from some indepth coverage. Choosing
one over the
other just depends on personal
preference since
each has its
own
specific
strengths and
weaknesses
depending on
the
subject
and concept
at hand. n
Cracking the MCAT
Publisher:
The
Princeton Review
Cost: $99.99
Review:
The
Berkeley Review
Princeton
Review
(multiple books defalls somewhere beCourtesy barnesandnoble.com
pending on subject)
tween the Berkeley
Cost: $65 - $200
Review and Examkrackers in terms
Review: The Berkeley Review is
of depth and rigor. Besides the subextremely detailed and thorough,
ject books, the Princeton Review
which is good for those who need
also has a book titled Cracking
to relearn subjects or those shootthe MCAT, which is a comprehening for a really high score. Except
sive combination of all the subjects
for verbal reasoning, each subject
bound together.
comes as a pair of books since the
The Princeton Review also pubBerkeley Review covers so much.
lishes MCAT Elite 45, which is
These books are ideal for physics
aimed at overachievers trying to
and general chemistry, but as menperfect their score and offers strattioned earlier, coverage of organic
egies and practice passages for the Courtesy amazon.com
May 1, 2013
Allied Health
Page 9
www.TrojanHealthConnection.com
Student EMTs: Entrusted With Saving Lives
EMTs help assess the medical needs of the sick or injured
and provide emergency care.
Courtesy of USCG
Fellow classmates practicing patient assessment during
the second week of the EMT training course.
By KAUSAR ALI
Writer
Any trauma or accident that
is called in to 9-1-1 is immediately addressed by emergency medical technicians
(EMTs)
and
paramedics.
What exactly is the difference between a paramedic
and EMT? Paramedics generally have a broader scope in
the services they can provide.
They are able to administer
necessary shots and medications and can utilize more advanced airway management
techniques to support patient
breathing. Basic EMTs are restricted to using non-invasive
methods to stabilize the patient, like oxygen bags, basic
CPR, and defibrillation.
The differences between the
two jobs depend on the three
levels of EMT training – basic, intermediate, and paramedic. Basic EMT certification requires 110 hours of
classroom learning and a 10hour ambulance ride-along
shift. The ride-along is required to ensure that students
attain first-hand experience
in emergency care. Paramedic
is the most advanced level of
EMT certification, requiring
1,200 to 1,500 hours of classroom training and ride-along
shifts. This often takes about
two years to finish since paramedics have a wider range of
skills and duties than basic
EMTs.
To complete certification for
any level, the national EMT
ER Physicians Treat a Variety of Cases
By ANJLIE GUPTA
Senior Editor
Emergency medicine is a medical
specialty in which physicians deal with the
“stabilization, management, diagnosis, and
disposition of individuals with acute illness
and injury,” according to Yale School of
Medicine. According to emergency physician
and Medical Director of Emergency Services
at California Hospital Marc Futernick,
emergency physicians see every type of
medical illness and injury.
“I am responsible for figuring out, to a
certain extent, what is causing their problem,
and then treating it,” said Futernick.
In comparison, most other medical
specialties focus on narrower aspects of
medicine.
“Family practitioners are the closest to ER
physicians in terms of the breadth of medical
issues they will handle, but in the ER we see
patients that are more acutely ill and need
immediate evaluation and stabilization,”
said Futernick.
Courtesy of azzly.com
In order to become an emergency
physician, one must complete a three to four
year residency program after medical school.
Emergency physicians do not have a
typical workweek. Instead, they work 12
to 18 clinical shifts per month. Each shift
typically lasts eight to 12 hours, but in rare
cases shifts may last as long as 24 hours.
Most emergency physicians only work
these clinical shifts. However, a minority of
emergency physicians choose to add “a few
hours a month of committee work or other
departmental projects,” said Futernick.
Futernick believes that the most important
quality to being a good emergency physician
is being calm and collected during critical
situations.
“Another quality that is necessary is
being capable of managing many patients
simultaneously, which is unique to our
specialty,” said Futernick.
What Futernick enjoys most in his work
as an emergency physician is the immediate
impact he is able to make in improving
people’s lives every day.
“My most favorite patients to treat are
those that have situations that I can really
fix, such as dislocated joints or abnormal
rhythms of the heart that I can convert back
to normal,” said Futernick. “These situations
are very gratifying.”
Futernick added, “The most exhilarating
patients are those that are close to death
but that we are able to rapidly initiate
resuscitative measures that work to stabilize
the patient, and many times will lead to a
return to normal, healthy life.”
On the other hand, Futernick least enjoys
dealing with the failures of the current
healthcare system.
“We see many patients who are very ill
but only because the system has made it so
difficult to care for their chronic illness in
terms of access to care and excessive costs for
the patients,” said Futernick.
For students interested specifically in
emergency medicine, Futernick suggests that
becoming an Emergency Medical Technician/
Paramedic or volunteering in an emergency
room would be most beneficial to learning
more about the specialty.
Ultimately, for Futernick, emergency
medicine is something that he has loved
since the first time he was exposed to it in
medical school.
Futernick said, “It was exactly what I
imagined, and it still is.” 
exam must be passed. Every
EMT and paramedic must obtain recertification every two
years.
Sheliza Kabani, a USC
alumna and EMT for three
years, said, “When I did ambulance ride-alongs as a part
of my EMT training, I loved
that thrill and excitement of
being in the back of an ambulance going on a call to save
a life. That adrenaline rush
that I got while running to the
scene, putting my gloves on,
and helping the other EMTs
was an amazing feeling.”
“
I loved that thrill
and excitement of
being in the back
of an ambulance
going on a call to
save a life.
Sheliza Kabani
USC Alumna and Certified
Emergency Medical Technician
One of her very first experiences working as a certified
EMT was at a USC football
tailgate. Kabani said, “It was
definitely my most memorable
experience. I remember when
I had to keep a young woman from aspirating until help
arrived, so I used my EMT
training to maintain composure and provide crucial emergency care. It was the first
time I was actually entrusted
with the lives of others.”
Often, people seek EMT
certification to gather handson health care experience before going to medical school.
“The entire certification
process gave me a great grasp
on medical knowledge that
I know will come in handy
when I go to medical school
in the next year or so,” said
Janice Manahan, a paramedic in downtown Los Angeles
who recently obtained certification.
When asked why she specifically chose EMT certification
to gain clinical experience,
Manahan said, “I knew I was
interested in medicine and
had already spent two years
volunteering at a hospital, but
I wanted more. I wanted to actually make a difference and
learn more about the human
body.”
Thus, the reasons behind
obtaining EMT certfication
can vary, whether it is to gain
clinical experience, work profesionally in emergency health
care, or even improve one’s
skills under high-pressure,
stressful situations.
Kabani
said,
“I
have
learned how to manage the
stress of being under pressure
and delivering quick vitals
to LAFD [Los Angeles Fire
Department]. I recommend becoming an EMT to pre-health
students because it’s a unique
way to learn how to handle intense situations while simultaneously seeing medicine in
action.” 
EMTs vs ER Physicians
EMT
Education Requirements:
EMT-B: Completion of EMT course
EMT-I: EMT-B + 30-350 training
hours
Paramedic: EMT-B certification +
Associate’s degree
paramedic programs
Required Courses for Admission:
One year biology (Paramedic)
One year chemistry (Paramedic)
One year anatomy (Paramedic)
One year physiology (Paramedic)
Application Requirements:
Completion of accredited EMT
course
CPR certification
Completion of EMT psychomotor
exam
EMT-B certification (Paramedic)
Average School Tuition (2011):
EMT: $800 - $2000 per course
Paramedic: $10,000 - $15,000 per
course
Median Salary (2011):
EMT-B: $18,000 per yr
EMT-I: $34,000 per yr
Paramedic: $56,000 per yr
Normalized Lifetime Earnings:
EMT-B: $612,000
EMT-I: $1.2 million
Paramedic: $1.9 million
Projected Job Growth:
EMT: Number of jobs in 2010:
226,500
Percent Increase: 19.2%
P: Number of jobs in 2010: 229,340
Percent Increase: 33%
Lifestyle
Regular hours with moderate
stress.
ER PHYSICIAN
Education Requirements:
4 years medical school
3-4 yrs internship and residency
National Board Examination
Board examination for specialty
Medical School:
Number of Schools: 134
Average Size of Incoming Class:
136
Applicants in 2010: 42,742
Admitted: 18,665 (43.67 percent)
Average Admitted GPA: 3.67
Required Courses for Admission
One year biology
One year general chemistry
One semester organic chemistry
One semester biochemistry
One year physics
One year statistics/calculus
Application Requirements:
AMCAS application
Medical College Admissions Test
Average School Tuition (2006-7):
Public: $16,690/year for in-state
$32,900/year for out-ofstate
Private: $34,749 per yr
Average Debt Upon Graduation:
Class of 2009: $156,456.
Median Salary (2008):
$339,738/yr
Normalized Lifetime Earnings:
$11.6 million
Projected Job Growth:
Number of jobs in 2008: 661,400
Projected number in 2018:
805,500
Percent Increase: 22
Lifestyle
Depends on specialty; can
include emergency hours and
night shifts. Moderate to high
stress.
Data was compiled from American Association of Medical Colleges, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, the National Employment Index, American Physical Therapy
Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, and Payscale.com
SENIOR EDITOR LESLIE WU, EHSUPDATE.COM
Campus Activities
May 1, 2013
Page 10
Follow Us on Twitter! @THCatUSC
The Healing Process: Transforming the Way We Think about Medicine
By Alison Yu
Editor
To many pre-health students on campus, medicine is daunting, and the process of becoming a physician even more
so. In this journey, students sometimes do
not think about why they are volunteering at a hospital or engaging in research.
A new project on campus, The Healing
Process, allows pre-health students to
take a step back to think about their experiences in medicine and share them with
others who are on a similar journey.
Founded this semester by two USC juniors, Abhishek Verma and Kush Gaur,
The Healing Process is a biannual literary art magazine that explores health
and well-being in the form of art and
New Engemann
Health Center
literature, often seen as nontraditional
means of expression in the medical field.
They said, “This definition is super
broad. But, we make it broad so that a lot
uschealingprocess.com
of people can submit whatever they want.”
“We have looked at what is offered on
campus now for students and all the clubs
fill their individual niche. However, our
vision is to build something for pre-health
students to share stories. It’s more based
on stories and narrative art, whether it is
The new Engemann Health Center,
which was built in order to better serve
the USC community, was opened on
Jan. 4. Located near the Lyon Center,
the
six-story,
101,000-square-foot
health center includes a new pharmacy, triple the number of exam rooms,
and 24-hour counseling services.
During the school year, the center
is open Monday through Thursday,
8:30 a.m-5 p.m., and Friday, 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. The center provides a range
of services from primary care - for the
common cold, checkups, and minor
sprains - to specialty and urgent care.
Any student who has turned in their
required immunizations and screenings, insurance requirements, and
AlcoholEdu has complete access to the
Engemann Student Health Center.
Funded by the $15 million donation from Roger and Michele Dedeaux
Engemann in 2011, the new center
was built to replace the old health center, which was becoming insufficient
at fulfilling the needs of the growing
USC student body.
Appointments can be made by calling the health center during business
hours at (213)740-9355 or using an online patient login system on the health
center website.
The facility includes a walk-in immunization clinic for injections such
as the flu shot and Tdap booster, but
it also provides immunizations for students who are studying abroad.
“The health center was very accomodating when I needed to get my shots
for India. They explained to me why I
needed certain shots and what I should
be aware of on my trip,” USC undergraduate Kes Rittenberg said.
Courtesy of Scott Wey
In addition to medical care, the center also focuses on the importance of
mental health and offers a wide range
of counseling services. These include
individual, group, and crisis sessions,
as well as outreach programs such as
stress management and substance use.
A “Self-Care Resources” page can be
found on their website to provide information regarding physical therapy, alcohol and drug use, depression, eating
disorders, and more.
Upcoming events by the center,
which can also be found on the website, include CPR and AED training
for adults, children, and infants. n
contribute to the wide pool of knowledge
on campus. As students share their experiences with a wider audience, the entire
pre-med community will benefit from the
greater awareness of the opportunities in
the medical world.
Looking toward the future, Verma and
Gaur are both very optimistic about its
growth.
Gaur said, “It will become a big part
of our pre-med community as well as the
community in other schools.”
Ultimately, The Healing Process attempts to give meaning and encouragement to the undergraduate experience of
pre-health students.
To find out more about The Healing
Process or to contribute your work to this
project, check out the website at
uschealingprocess.com/index.html. n
Reach for the STARs: Tutoring Program for CHLA Patients
By Jacqueline Kruglyakova
Writer
By EMILY VU
Writer
telling a story about the way you see medicine or how it has changed your view,”
Verma said.
Gaur said, “Let’s say that you are doing
a scientific article; it’s very factual based.
People will be interested in it, but it won’t
necessarily captivate the audience like a
story or a poem.”
Through contributing to the magazine,
students can have the opportunity to explore what they are doing and how a certain experience has changed the way they
see medicine.
Verma said, “It’s also a huge opportunity for self-growth, And if you are applying
to any graduate or medical schools, this
can help you understand what career direction is appropriate for you, so you can
pursue what you love.”
It is also a way for students to
School is one of the most important activities in children’s lives. It is the place to
learn lessons, make memories, and meet
friends. Sadly, many children miss out on
this essential experience when they are
diagnosed with a disease that requires
prolonged hospital stays.
Hospitals around the nation have long
established programs to support young
“
Our program helps all
of the families with
children get the services and school that
they are entitled to.
Betty Gonzales-Morkos
Clinical Coordinator for the STAR
program at CHLA
patients who must miss school for days or
months at a time. In recent years, some
hospitals have begun offering hospital tutoring programs to provide tailored oneon-one tutoring to meet patients’ educational needs. The Children’s Hospital of
Los Angeles (CHLA) and the City of Hope
Hospital in Duarte, California offer such
programs to prepare young patients for
extended hospital stays.
The STAR program at CHLA helps
children and teens living with cancer and
blood diseases succeed in school both academically and socially.
“Our program helps all of the families
with children get the services
and school that they are entitled to,” said Betty GonzalezMorkos, clinical coordinator for the STAR program at
CHLA.
The hospital offers patients
the free STAR program upon
admission. Five pre-doctoral students run the enrichment program, and they receive hours of training before
beginning work with the patients. Over the course of a
year, the STAR program assists over 200 patients and
their families.
A similar tutoring program Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
at City of Hope coordinates Over the course of a year, the STAR program asdaily one-hour study sessions sists over 200 patients and their families.
with trained academic tuSTAR work with families and schools to
tors from Duarte Unified School District.
ensure the most comfortable transition
Tutors work with the patient’s local school
back to normal life. Making sure that the
to coordinate a study plan and provide
children’s family and peers properly untextbooks. Teachers and families stay inderstand their reason for extended hospiformed on the child’s academic progress
talization is crucial to ensuring a gentle
through daily progress reports and logs.
adjustment period.
“We do see a lot of the kids who come
One STAR patient at CHLA exemplified
through our services that are either teased
the benefits of this approach: “My friends
or not understood by classmates…We go
and other kids in my grade learned about
into school and attend meetings, provide
my illness and stopped treating me as
presentations to classmates, and end up
some weird person. Now [my friends and
educating others on what’s going on with
teachers] really try and help me whenever
the patients,” said Gonzalez-Morkos.
I have to miss school.”
The STAR program’s main goal is to
These children must adapt to a chaotraise awareness for special education laws
ic academic situation, but equally imporin schools around the nation.
tant is gaining the confidence to continIn addition, hospital tutoring gives paue learning alongside their peers despite
tients a sense of normalcy and a divertheir illness or injury. The STAR program
sion from hospital life, helping the chilat CHLA seeks to assist children by makdren to successfully transition back into
their educational routine. Programs like
ing this transition less difficult. n
Science Cafés Offer Intellectual Haven for Locals
By manu gandham
Writer
Cafes have long been centers of creative
activity, whether introducing new genres
of music to the people, or displaying the
art of tomorrow’s greats on their walls.
Today, they are integral parts of a whole
new revolution – the “Science Café.”
With a mission to connect and inspire
the brightest scientific minds of our age,
Science Cafés across the nation have succeeded in drawing crowds of diverse audiences to discuss modern day issues with
scientists and researchers.
The emphasis is on free discussion
open to all in a comfortable setting that is
warmer, more relaxed, and more conversational than a lecture hall.
Many of these events have started appearing near USC and offer curious and
motivated students a chance to not only
learn something new but also to network
with scientific research professionals and
other like-minded students.
The Science Café concept first originated in France in 1992, implemented by scientists and philosophers who wanted to
inform the public about scientific research
and breakthroughs.
In 2006, PBS NOVA, funded by the
National Science Foundation, organized
the growing network of Science Café advocates in the U.S. to better manage their
communications and provide them with
resources and speakers.
The movement has taken off since then,
with over 200 Science Cafés across the
country that meet regularly, and many
more being set-up around the globe.
One Science Café organization that is
particularly prominent around L.A. is
SoCal Science Café, a group started and
managed by professionals in engineering
industries, financial companies, and public service divisions.
While diverse in their background, the
leadership team all share a passion for
scientific discovery and a thirst for learning. The group enters its 9th year this
coming April, and just recently welcomed
their 850th member into their ranks.
As SoCal Science Café founder Dr.
Brian Hart said, “That’s 850 people learning about the science that their taxes help
to fund, all served fresh with a side of
knowledge and discussion.”
SoCal Science Café is just one organization in a network of Science Café groups
managed through sites like Meetup.com.
Many of these groups are headquartered
at The Center for Inquiry in Los Angeles,
a well-known nonprofit organization that
Courtesy meetup.com/SoCal-Science-Cafe
At a SoCal Science Cafe event, author
Rebecca Skloot discusses her book.
is dedicated to promoting rational scientific thinking.
Students looking to get involved with
Science Cafés can start by attending one
of the many events nearby. Most are free
of cost but include a suggested donation
component to help compensate the speakers who travel from all around the globe.
While the audience is made up of people
from all walks of life, there is a noticeable
lack of attendance by undergraduates.
The participation of USC students
would be mutually beneficial: they would
bring a new and youthful perspective to
the discussion and they would gain both
knowledge and the opportunity to develop a professional network outside of the
school. n
May 1, 2013
Page 11
www.TrojanHealthConnection.com
Medical Consulting
By MORGAN CHEEKS
Writer
Myocardial infarction. Automated
external defibrillator. Skin grafting.
Television has introduced the general
population to an increasingly diverse
range of medical vocabulary. With
many of today’s shows, such as Grey’s
Anatomy, Scrubs, and House, focusing
on physicians, one wonders just how
realistic these representations are.
Meet Reef Karim, DO. With a long list
of achievements in both the medical and
entertainment industries, this licensed
physician has been involved in multiple
sides of medical television shows and
movies.
Not only has Karim served as a
medical advisor for Alias and Private
Practice, but he also starred alongside
Heath Ledger and Christian Bale,
currently runs a clinic in Beverly Hills,
and has his own talk show.
When asked how he finds the time to
succeed in such disparate fields, Karim
said he generally allocates a few days
a week to each career—some days are
spent on call at UCLA’s medical center,
while others are spent consulting on set.
Karim noted that the increasing
influence of popular media across the
world initially sparked his interest
in a dual career in medicine and
entertainment.
“The medium of media, such as
television and radio, is increasingly
powerful…it teaches the general public
Courtesy butterfunk.com
Karim with Terry Crews, face of Old
Spice, and Nancy O’Dell, host of ET
indirectly, without sounding preachy,”
he said.
For those interested in impacting
public health, writing or producing
medical television shows is a unique way
to do so. n
Medicine & Culture
Religion and Medicine MD for TV
Scientific research has also shown
that personal association with faith in
Web Manager
a communal setting has had improved
health effects in the general lifestyle for
In recent years, there has been an
members of the community.
increasing interest in the role of religion
“When it comes to prayer [-based]
in medical practices. Many people
healing, the evidence…is inconclusive,”
may find these two worlds of thought
said Burklo. “What is conclusive is
to be inherently exclusive. Yet only
religious participation. Being a part of a
recently has the practice of healing been
faith community is correlated with better
considered to be more scientific than
health outcomes, particularly longevity.
spiritual.
Having that spiritual support is healthy.”
In a multitude of cultures around
The subjectivity of faith is both
the world, there exists a historical
a
strength
and
a
link between the
hindrance, but it plays
clerical and the
a significant role in
healing roles of the
the
understanding
community. Various
of individual beliefs
kinds of shamanism
nonetheless.
have been seen to
“A lot of medical
play large roles in
students aren’t really
the healing process
happy about taking the
of the not-so-distant
professionalism courses,
past.
because it gets in the way
To
this
day,
of studying the science,”
spiritual
healers
Courtesy Jim Burklo
are consulted all Reverend Jim Burklo, during a trip said Burklo. “But these
over the world, from
to the Mexican border in Arizona. are humans you are
dealing with. You have
yoga
instructors
to understand them.”
at the gym to herbalists in the local
In the long run, it is not about having
marketplace, for their experience and
physicians fill the role of religious
knowledge in the art of healing.
counselors, but rather having them
Reverend Jim Burklo, the Associate
become more aware of differences in
Dean of Religious Life, has been working
beliefs and the implications on their
toward developing a stronger connection
relationships with their patients.
between the medical students at the
Different religious beliefs may have
Keck School of Medicine and this faithstrong implications for how patients
based way of thinking through his role
view medicine and the doctor-patient
as Religion Liaison to the USC Health
relationship.
Sciences Campus (HSC).
“We have a speaker series [at HSC]
called the Soul of Medicine,” said Burklo,
when asked about what programs he is
involved in the medical school.
He has also taught many courses
that instruct students on how to better
incorporate an understanding of the
place religion has in the healing process.
Burklo is also part of a committee
that will develop the USC Institute for
Courtesy practicalbioethics.blogspot.com
Integrative Health.
“[The Institute] is all about putting
Developing this understanding will
western
medicine
together
with
create a more stable ground on which to
alternative therapies, and then doing
pave the way toward better physicianresearch into the efficacy of alternative
patient relationships as well as better
treatments,” said Burklo.
medical practices. n
By SANA AZAM
A Little Chicken Soup for the Pre-Health Soul
By GURLEEN CHADHA and
JESSICA FRANKEBERGER
problems. Each one conveys a
common goal of curing the
sense of hope and determination
sick—and how they could
Editor and Writer
to live a normal life in the face of
do it better.
disability.
Gifted
Hands:
The
Ben
As pre-health students, we occasionalRebecca Skloot’s award-winCarson Story by Dr. Ben
ly get so bogged down by classwork that
ning and critically acclaimed The
Carson is the true story of
we lose sight of the bigger picture. Here
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
how an inner-city boy from
are a few books that will hopefully get
is the story of a woman who unDetroit became Director
you thinking beyond college and about
knowingly had her cells taken
of Pediatric Neurosurgery
the current and future state of medicine.
from her, cloned, and later used
at
John
Hopkins
Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine
in every major biological research
University. It is sure to inis Making Us Sicker and Poorer by
center
spire any pre-health stuShannon Brownlee
Courtesy Amazon.com
in
the
dent who
breaks down
world.
This
is stressed and needs
A mer ica’s
page-turner of a
some motivation to conconvoluted
book examines
tinue studying and workhealthcare
the social and
ing hard.
system in an
ethical
conseOliver Sacks’s humoreasy-t o -d iquences of medous and poignant An
gest way. The
icine.
Anthropologist on Mars:
book explains
For
many
Seven Paradoxical Tales
the ways
Courtesy ideas.time.com
more great sugis a collection of stories,
in
which
gestions, check
each a unique case study
institutions as varied as pharmaCourtesy Walmart.com
out our website
of someone with neuceutical companies, Medicare, and
at trojanhealthconnection.com. n
hospitals interact to achieve the Courtesy oliversacks.com rological or cognitive
By PAVITRA KRISHNAMANI
Senior Editor
Scrubs, House, Emily Owens MD,
and Royal Pains are all glorifications
of a much coveted title—Doctor of
Medicine. However, as much as they
may inspire current pre-medical
students to overcome hardships in
their chosen path, they tend not to
trigger the decision to take it.
Many would expect that these
medical dramedies serve as a catalyst
for viewers to enter the medical
profession, but instead, they have as
much of a chance of accomplishing
this as Suits has of converting a premedical student to pre-law.
“I do watch Grey’s Anatomy, used
to watch House, and I watched Scrubs
and ER when they were on. I knew I
wanted to go into medicine before
watching these shows. They’re just
entertaining soap operas/comedies that
have a medical setting,” said ‘Ismet’
on Student Doctor Network (SDN), a
popular forum for premed and medical
“
I think seeing doctors in
a real hospital is more
of an inspiration
because I know I’ll be in
their shoes someday.
‘Ismet’
SDN member
students to exchange ideas.
Students clearly find real life
experiences much more fulfilling and
motivational, as shown by ‘Ismet,’ who
continued, “I think seeing doctors in a
real hospital is more of an inspiration
because I know I’ll be in their shoes
some day. In terms of TV shows, they
are actors who are reciting lines.”
Some are even disgusted by the
portrayals of medicine that these shows
convey to the general public.
“It’s the fact that I know that things
won’t be like Grey’s Anatomy that
drives me,” said ‘TriagePreMed.’
However, despite these negative
views,
there
are
people
who
acknowledge that medical dramedies
may have an indirect influence on one’s
desire to pursue a medical career.
“Nobody decides to go into medicine
by watching a TV show. However, TV
shows have definitely influenced how
people view doctors, which could be
a factor into one’s decision to enter
medicine,” said ‘Stumpyman.’
‘El Nino’ follows up with a personal
story, saying “I was interested in
medicine before the show, but I
remember this show ‘re-sparked’ my
interest while in high school. I don’t
feel guilty saying House rekindled my
interest or set it in motion. Of course
I did my research and found out what
the medical field really entails, but it
did set some groundwork.”
This balanced perspective seems to
be the most prevalent.
‘Sunflower18’ said, “I don’t think
there is a problem with anything
fictional being an inspiration or a
point of reference, as long as it is
solidly backed up with facts, details,
shadowing, volunteering, loads of
information, and a lengthy commitment
to the process.”
In the end, it’s best to take everything
shown on TV with a grain of salt. n
Global Health
May 1, 2013
Page 8
Follow Us on Twitter! @THCatUSC
Brigaders Share Their Trip to Ghana and Honduras
progressed, we began to see that they
were giving us just as much in return.
blood pressure. Before I knew it, we had Personally, I learned so much, both in rebeen through nearly 100 patients. Yet, gards to medicine and patient care and in
when I looked outside, the line of patients regards to life: learning to appreciate all
the opportunities and resources available
did not appear to be any shorter.
In the afternoon, I was stationed at the here and to be content with life.
Reflecting on her trip to Ghana, Wu
pharmacy, where I filled out prescriptions
and delivered them to the patients. There said she gained both valuable friends and
were suitcases stuffed full with nearly ev- a rewarding experience with many lessons
ery kind of medicine one could possibly learned.
“On the clinic days, we would wake up
imagine, from amoxicillin to loratidine to
multivitamins. Delivering the medications around 8, have breakfast, leave and pick
entailed locating the patient and explain- up the doctors, dentist, and ob-gyn, and
then drive an hour to the community. We’d
ing the dosage verbally.
Day 4: Today I got the opportunity to set up and start seeing patients around 11
shadow the gynecologist, Dr. Jenny. My am. Every day when we arrived, maybe a
role was to hand her the tools she needed to hundred or more people had already lined
take pap smears. The procedure happened up under giant tents and canopies.”
She continued, “We’d see patients until 3
too quickly for me to be uncomfortable. As
she verbally walked me through the steps, pm then pack up for a while and go home.
I learned that it was a quick and simple We’d input the medical information sheets
into a database… After dinner, we would
process that could potentially save lives.
Many of us went down to Honduras do more medicine packing or counting out
with the mentality that we would be giv- the correct individual dosages of medicaing to the people there, but as the week tions. Then we were free to spend the rest
of the night how we
wished.”
Many of the elderly suffered from
joint and back pain,
and the children
were given multivitamins, cold medicine, and other
medicines commonly available in the
United States.
When asked further about the patients GMB worked
with,
Wu
said,
“Everyone in Ghana
was
extremely
friendly. There was
a slight language
Courtesy Helen Chou
barrier but we had
tra nslat ors…who
The little things in life: Honduran children bond with
assisted us. There
USC students in an entertaining local game.
— from IMPACT, page 1
USC Pre-Health Study
Abroad Options Grow
By VARUN AWASTHI
Associate Editor
Long hours in labs, volunteer work, and
countless late nights studying functional
groups or the cell cycle are just a few defining characteristics of the pre-health student’s lifestyle.
When it comes to making the course plan
of a pre-health student, it is a common belief that studying abroad is simply not possible outside of countries such as England
and Australia. However, USC has recently approved two new programs specifically for pre-health students in Botswana and
South Africa.
The Council on International Education
and Exchange (CIEE) at the University of
Botswana encourages students intending
to pursue a career in health care to participate in the Community Public Health
track.
The courses in this track cover significant public and environmental health issues in Botswana. The core requirement
includes a community health practicum in
which students are assigned to local health
sites in underserved areas of Gaborone and
the surrounding regions.
As part of the practicum, students spend
one week at a rural clinic while living with
a host family. Students can gain a firsthand understanding of the health issues in
rural Botswana. Students also have the opportunity to meet village leaders and take
part in traditional festivals.
Other components of this program include field trips and excursions to various
sites in Gaborone such as the Jwaneng diamond mine and the Kolobeng ruins. A safari to the Okavango River Delta or Chobe
National Park is part of the program each
semester and integrates activities with a
specific focus in public and environmental
health.
All students at CIEE are required to
take a Setswana Language and Culture
practicum and are encouraged to become
active in campus life through volunteer
opportunities and student organizations.
Students typically live in a University of
Botswana residence hall or with a host
family. The fall semester runs from lateJuly to December, while the spring semester is from January to May.
The Community Health and Social Policy
program, based in Durban, South Africa,
is run by the School for International
Training (SIT). SIT provides its students
with a multitude of learning opportunities
through small seminars and lectures from
policymakers and healthcare practitioners.
Some of the main components of this
program include the opportunity to shadow
community health care workers and visits to public and private clinics, health-focused NGOs and schools for children with
special needs.
Students analyze the major public health
issues in South Africa and consider the
causes behind public health interventions.
Courses in the first ten weeks of the program include Intensive Zulu, Approaches
to Community Health in South Africa, and
Provision of Community Health in South
Africa. 
Courtesy bigskyline.com
Fun in the sun: Durban, South
Africa’s coastline entices students.
Courtesy Helen Chou
Say cheese: USC GMB students in Honduras gather to take a group picture
after a hard day’s work assisting doctors and seeing patients.
was one day where we just went door-todoor and met the community members before the clinic, which was really helpful in
terms of health and lifestyle backgrounds.
After our clinic days, we also visited their
homes again and taught them about water
safety, how to take their new pills, and reviewed other public health information.”
There were several memorable events
throughout the entire service trip. One
in particular stood out. She said, “A huge
thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere and
blew over our tents… The patients rushed
into the building that we were using for
the clinic…There were at least 60 or 70
people crowded into this house, and it was
too dangerous for them to go outside and
risk getting hit by something in the storm.
The doctors who were with us, both native Ghanians, calmly continued seeing patients despite the crowded conditions.”
Wu remarked, “That really stood out to
me and reinforced the importance of the
work that we were doing. The doctors knew
that it would be awhile before the next brigade came around, and they were very determined to see as many patients as possible. These physicians travel with different
schools each week and spend every single
day seeing hundreds of new patients, yet
they still give their full effort and attention to each person. It’s really amazing and
emotional to witness.”
She said, “I met some of my closest
friends on the trip and learned a great deal
about the countries we visited, the people
we served, and about myself. The most rewarding thing was being able to provide
some basic needs to people who really deserve it. The trips encouraged me to look
beyond the science aspects of health and
to become interested in understanding the
roots of these issues, how the international
system is structured, and how we can ethically and sustainably reach out tot these
communities.” 