TMDSAS Podcast

When you think about a mission statement, it often reads like a fluff piece. However, we explore how the mission/vision/values statements for professional schools have common threads that are linked to Core Competencies. Don't forget that the role of the admissions committee is to find applicants who support their mission/vision/values. In this episode, we’ll focus on the defined medical school core competencies as they provide a framework that nicely overlaps with the desired competencies across the health professions. Join our online communities to receive early access to the podcasts, ask questions and receive information directly from TMDSAS, professional schools and advisors. * The TMDSAS Hub is open to all applicants in the EY2019 cycle. (www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASHub/) * The Non-Traditional Applicants group is open to all applicants who identify themselves as non-traditional and would like to connect with other applicants.(www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/) If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, reach us at podcast@tmdsas.com. =============================================== Links to other resources on Core Competencies: Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students https://www.aamc.org/admissions/admissionslifecycle/409090/competencies.html What Medical Schools are Looking for: Understanding the 15 Core Competencies https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/med-schools-looking-for-15-competencies/ Real Stories Demonstrating Core Competencies https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/student/courtneys-path-medical-school/ Behavioral and Social Science Foundations for Future Physicians https://www.aamc.org/download/271020/data/behavioralandsocialsciencefoundationsforfuturephysicians.pdf DENTAL COMPETENCIES Competencies for the New General Dentist http://www.adea.org/about_adea/governance/Pages/Competencies-for-the-New-General-Dentist.aspx UT Health Houston SOD Competencies https://dentistry.uth.edu/students/docs/ddscomp.pdf VETERINARY COMPETENCIES Entry-level DVM Core Competencies http://www.aavmc.org/data/files/navmec/1/dr.janilkiw-entryleveldvmcorecompetencies.pdf

Interviews are in high gear right now, and will continue until the TMDSAS Match (which we will discuss in more detail later). If you haven’t heard from a school, don’t despair! There’s still time! 5 steps to figuring out your next move in the application cycle. 1) Research the schools 2) Research the profession 3) Practice your interviews 1) Research the schools *Do some research about the schools you applied to: *When were they established? *What’s their history? *What is the school’s mission? *What are their values? *What does the curriculum look like? *Why did they choose this curriculum? *What makes this school unique? Now think – how do I fit in? 2) Research the Profession *Are you up on changes to healthcare? *Is there a philosophy that strikes you? *Why does Osteopathic medicine speak to you? *Why do you want to help people as a dentist? *What breakthroughs have helped veterinary medicine? Read Journals and articles on changes to healthcare 3) Practice for your interviews The interview invitation is coming – are you ready? *Practice your handshake – firm, confident, not overbearing! *WHY DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A DOCTOR/DENTIST? *See if your advisor or career center offers mock interviews *Find questions online you can practice with a friend *Practice your reaction when you get caught with a question you have to think through. *Keep control of body language! Avoid: Nervous ticks Saying um Laughing/Crying Fidgeting Always practice patience, kindness, and courtesy. Make sure to join our online communities: "Non-Traditional Applicants"(www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/) and the "TMDSAS Hub" (www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASHub/). You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Ms. Shannon Gutheil shares some strategies that can help future healthcare professionals manage stress and anxiety. Learn how the five finger breathing exercise can be implemented in your daily routine, and start thinking about how you can begin practicing mindfulness to help you be present and ready for your patients. Register for the Texas Med/Dent Roundup in San Marcos, TX on October 7 here: www.cvent.com/events/texas-medic…90b064a6d5e44.aspx. Make sure to join our online communities: "Non-Traditional Applicants"(www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/) and the "TMDSAS Hub" (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASHub/). You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Mr. Matthew Meeks, Director of TMDSAS, joins us on the podcast again to discuss some application statistics, the status of application processing, and we identify the top 5 schools that feed into the medical schools as of the Entry Year 2017. Register for the Texas Med/Dent Roundup in San Marcos, TX on October 7 here: www.cvent.com/events/texas-medic…90b064a6d5e44.aspx. Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/). If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Dr. Barbara Miller from the Texas A&M College of Dentistry joins us again to discuss considerations for non-traditional applicants to dental school. While the criteria remain the same for non-traditional applicants, they must take into consideration that the rigors of dental school require more academic engagement than medical school. We also discuss how life experiences align with what dental schools are looking for in their applicants. Make sure you visit the Texas A&M College of Dentistry website for additional information on meeting requirements: https://dentistry.tamhsc.edu/admissions/index.html. Register for the Texas Med/Dent Roundup in San Marcos, TX on October 7 here: www.cvent.com/events/texas-medic…90b064a6d5e44.aspx. Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/). If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Mr. Matthew Meeks answers questions from the Non-Traditional Applicants Facebook Group about Texas' Academic Fresh Start program, and how it applies to medical, dental, and veterinary school admissions. We also tackle a question about what applicants can do while they wait to hear back from schools. Register for the Texas Med/Dent Roundup in San Marcos, TX on October 7 here: http://www.cvent.com/events/texas-medical-dental-roundup/event-summary-bad2a70010474e0aa5490b064a6d5e44.aspx. Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/). If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Dr. Kellaway joins us again to talk about the unique challenges facing different non-traditional applicants, and how statistics show this group is a growing demographic. We discuss self-improvement, and how it can mean the difference to help you stand out by being the best YOU in the application process! Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/). If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Dr. David Jones realigns our thinking about "gap years" and why they should be regarded as "Enrichment Years". We also discuss time management, involvement in organizations, and how an admissions committee reads into your activities. Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TMDSASNontraditional/). If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Ms. Shirley Anderson and Mr. Doyen Rainey are advisors at The UT Dallas Health Professions Office. They join us to talk about how applicants can decide if post-bac coursework is a viable option, and how life experiences come into play when applying to professional school. They mention several resources and book recommendations for applicants. Here they are: *Atul Gawande, Complications - surgery *Oliver Sachs, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat - neuroscience *Pamela Grimm, Just Here Trying to Save a Few Lives – ER *Atul Gawande, The Checklist Manifesto – healthcare systems and patient safety *Atul Gawande, Being Mortal – medical compassion and end-of-life care Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group. If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Ms. Lesley Riley, Director of the UT Austin Health Professions Office, walks us through some of the academic considerations a non-traditional applicant needs to consider when thinking about applying to medical, dental, or veterinary school. We focus on preparing to meet pre-requisites and preparing for the MCAT and DAT. Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group. If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Dr. Karen De Olivares, Director of the Health Professions Advising Center at The University of Texas at Dallas, joins us to discuss the first steps non-traditional applicants need to consider when thinking about a career in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine. We discuss common topics that come up in her discussions with non-traditional applicants, and she offers suggestions for resources available. These include: *NAAHP Advisors: http://www.naahp.org/StudentResources/FindanAdvisor.aspx *The TMDSAS Non-Traditional Applicants Resource Page:http://tmdsas.com/Nontraditional.html *Khan Academy MCAT Preparation Videoshttps://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group. If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Dr. Love joins us once again on the podcast to support non-traditional applicants. We discuss how applicants can show admissions committees that they are prepared to handle the rigors of medical school, how life experiences can be directly applicable to practicing medicine, and what all applicants must do to make sure they avoid common setback in medical school. This episode is part of the Non-Traditional Applicants series, which also offers advice for all applicants. Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group. If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com. You can send us your questions or comments about the podcast at podcast@tmdsas.com.

Now that we’ve met the admissions deans at the TMDSAS participating schools, we’re moving into a new series that aims to help a population of applicants that don’t typically have as much support: non-traditional applicants. Make sure to visit our website: www.tmdsas.com and click on the Non-Traditional Applicants link to find these resources and join the Facebook group. If you have any questions, you can reach us at nontraditional@tmdsas.com.

As the only Veterinary School in Texas, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine stands out on its own. In this panel discussion, we discuss what a veterinary curriculum covers, the importance of prerequisites and veterinary experiences, and we discuss myths about the profession and the school. Joining us in this episode are: *Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon – Clinical Associate Professor *Dr. Gwen Levine – Clinical Assistant Professor *Ms. Yolanda Brinkman – Academic Coordinator You can find more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine at http://vetmed.tamu.edu/dvm/future. If you have any questions or concerns about this episode, email us at podcast@tmdsas.com.

We discuss The UT Southwestern Medical Center curriculum, student progress, and how to excel in the interview process. Our panel of guests includes: *Dr. Kathleen Wilson, Professor of Pathology and Admissions Committee Chair *Dr. Dennis Burns, Professor of Pathology *Dr. Jim Wagner, Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Dean for Admissions *Dr. Shawna Nesbitt, Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean of the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion You can find more information about The UT Southwestern Medical Center at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/education/medical-school/. If you have any questions or concerns about this episode, email us at podcast@tmdsas.com.