Journey to a Profession in
Medicine
PREPARED BY STEPHEN GROVES FOR AHEC
EASTERN SHORE
Careers in Health Care
 There are many paths to developing the skills and
training to practice medicine
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MD – Doctor of Allopathic Medicine
DO – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
PA – Physician’s Assistant
NP – Nurse Practitioner
MD
 Traditionally trained medical doctor
 Capable of practicing wide variety of medicine
including surgery, obstetrics, psychiatry, etc.
 Roadmap:
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4 years of college
4 years of medical school
3-7 years of residency training in specific field
1-3 years of fellowship training
DO
 Osteopathic Medicine similar in scope and training
to MD
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added emphasis on holistic approach
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (moving joints and bones
to alleviate systemic symptoms)
 Also practice wide variety of medicine, including
surgery
 Roadmap: virtually identical to MD
PA
 Physician’s Assistants also learn art of physical exam
and diagnosis
 Typically work in conjunction with practicing MD or
DO, less likely to perform surgery
 Roadmap
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4 years of college
2-3 years Master’s Degree
NP
 Similar in function to PA, but with foundation in
nursing principles
 Roadmap
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4 years Nursing degree (or 4 years college + 2 years Masters in
Nursing)
2-4 years Masters Nurse Practitioner
What does Medical School look like?
 2 years classroom science
 Physiology: how the body’s cells and organs work
 Anatomy: including cadaver dissection!
 Biochemistry: how the body uses energy
 Pathology: how the body breaks down
 Pharmacology: how medicines work
 Microbiology: bacteria, viruses, fungi
 2 years of clinical rotations
 Surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine,
neurology, pediatrics, internal medicine
What should I do to prepare in
HIGH SCHOOL?
 Volunteer in hospitals, clinics, homeless shelters
 Read books about health and health care
 Cutting for Stone (Verghase)
 Being Mortal (Gawande)
 Mountains Beyond Mountains (Kidder)
 Play Sports/Be active
 Learn about health and fitness as you will be modeling this
behavior as a health professional
 Develop Creative Passions
 Outlet for stress
 Develops character and well-roundedness
What should I do to prepare in COLLEGE?
 Complete and perform well in premedical courses:
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Biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, mathematics
 Take the MCAT medical school entrance exam
 Major in whatever you like!
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Science major helps in medical school subjects
Non-science majors help with problem solving skills and different
background knowledge
 Continue to volunteer
 Assist in performing research
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Doesn’t have to be in a lab with mice (though it can be)
Clinical Research
Quality Improvement
Other Helpful College Courses
 Biochemistry
 Human Physiology
 Immunology
 Genetics
 Statistics: essential for learning how to analyze data
and understanding relationships between different
variables
 Health Policy
 Behavioral Health
How to Study – High School
 High School:
 Complete your homework assignments
 Pay attention in class (your teachers are really trying to break
things down so that they are easy to understand)
 Review your study guides
 Take quizzes as opportunities to test your knowledge
How to Study – College
 Writing things down crucial for memory formation
 Lectures will be presented as slides
 Hand copy and summarize slides before class
 Take notes of professor’s explanations and emphasis alongside
your summaries
 Review notes
 At least 3 passes of material before exams
How to Study – Medical School
 Very similar to college, but now with more material
in shorter amount of time
 Essential to develop good study habits through high
school and college
 Physicians are a profession that requires continues
learning and recertification
 Get good at taking tests because they are integral to a
career in medicine