From liberal arts to medical school

By Daniel Luisi Contributing Writer University College student Trevor Baybutt earned an undergraduate degree in music. But he spent the summer working on project entitled, "The Implications and Impacts of Congestive Heart Failure After Ischematic Stroke." No, Baybutt doesn't just have a lot of spare time on his hands. He participates in the Postbaccalaureate Pre-health Professions Program at University College. The program was designed to prepare college graduates with bachelor's degrees in non-medical fields for entry into medical school. University College officials held an informational dinner Friday night for students enrolled in the program. "This program brings together one of the most unique populations of students at University College," said Emmet A. Dennis, University College dean. The goal of the program is to "prepare students with bachelor's degrees in various fields who want to change their career direction for the requirements of medical school admission," said Victoria Ukachukwu, vice dean of University College and program director. She said this is accomplished through the community atmosphere of the program, as well as through structured, individualized advising support that can cater to the specific needs of the students enrolled. Before the program was established in 1997, students with alternative degrees felt isolated when they had to enroll in undergraduate classes students to fulfill the curriculum requirements needed for admission into medical school, Ukachukwu said. The Postbaccalaureate program provides these students with a sense of community and support so they do not feel they are all alone in making the difficult decision to re-enter undergraduate level courses in their efforts to change careers, she said. In this program, students enroll in the undergraduate courses they did not take while completing bachelor's degrees in various fields. Topics covered by the program's curriculum include organic chemistry, genetics courses, liberal arts courses, and mathematics and biology courses. Ukachukwu said the Special Topics on Medical & Health Issues seminar is an important part of the liberal arts curriculum. The duration of this course is 10 weeks, and is composed of two-hour, weekly meetings in which "the students address pragmatic and controversial issues that are debated in the medical profession today." Topics include medical ethics, technological ethics, escalating healthcare costs and the cost of supplying medical care to the aging population, she said. The seminar is designed to help develop leadership in the profession, Ukachukwu hopes the program might help future doctors to see themselves not just as consumers, but as active participants in transforming the profession, she said. After Baybutt presented his project Friday, Sebastian Lesniak, a PBPH alumnus, gave attendees advice night about how to prepare for the MCAT exams, as well as some hints about acquiring letters of recommendation from former professors. He recommended when taking practice MCAT exams, students should always time themselves as failing to comple test questions in the given time can have adverse effects on scores. He also recommended that students "start early" in both preparing their medical school applications as well as in their preparations for the exams. taking MCAT exams and applying to medical schools. Lesniak already had a degree in engineering and had been working in this field for five years when he enrolled in the PBPH. The third and final speaker was Alumna Lata Cherath, who described her decision to apply for medical school and the experiences that she had while enrolled in the PBPH program. She talked about the straining effects that her decision had on her family and social life, but said that she was glad that she applied for medical school. The night's concluded with the presentation of certificates of completion of the program to Mr. Lesniak and Ms. Cherath.

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