View allAll Photos Tagged FutureDoctors
and according to this [brandishes sonic loupe with which she's just analysed whatever's coming] we should probably... RUN!
If I could reach back across time and hand my father a gift , I would give him the gift of Self-Forgiveness. If he had had that quality, life would have been much easier for him---he could have lived with other people and forgiven them too---their slights, their pettinesses, their faults, their imperfections. For my wonderful father (when he was wonderful, which was not most, or even very much of the time, though when he was, there was no one more wonderful), sometimes it seemed that all of life was a falling away from perfection, and finally he himself was pulled away, pulled down, pulled under.
He spent much of his adult life, literally, listening to the human heart. He became, after long years of study, a doctor of internal medicine, specializing in cardiology. Once, in my parent's bedroom in our house on North Seventh St., he took a belt and doubled it, and used it to demonstrate the beating of the heart for me, the systole and diastole (I think those are the terms). I'm fairly sure that his ear was tuned like some magnificent instrument, a Stradivarius violin, to detect even the slightest variation from what he considered normal.
It's funny how someone who focussed on prolonging life, and who was quite good at it, should have thought himself falling so far short of the ideal. One afternoon when we lived on North 8th Street, my father was upstairs in the bathroom shaving, getting ready to go to a party. He heard the sound of brakes applied outside, and maybe a scream. Without stopping for anything, in his underwear, his face covered with shaving cream, my father ran outside. Mike Zumbrunnen, who lived on our block but up the hill behind us, had come running down to go the the neighborhood grocery, which was across the street from our house. Without looking, Mike ran into the street, directly into the path of a milk truck . There he lay, in the street, a bloody mess, convulsing.
My father forced his mouth open and grabbed his tongue and held it, so he wouldn't swallow it, and someone called an ambulance, and, I imagine (some details I never knew or can't remember) rode in the ambulance to the hospital.
And Mike survived that horrible accident, though he missed a year of school. We had a cleaning lady, Ida Mae, and my mother sent her out to clean up the blood in the street. I remember that (or maybe my mother told me).
Once when I was walking down the main street in our bucholic Middle-American town, a man stopped me and said, simply, "Your father saved my life." He had come in to the office on a Friday complaining of this or that, and my father examined him and said, "We've got to get you to the Cleveland Clinic." And they put him in an ambulance and rushed him to Cleveland, and on Monday he had whatever lifesaving procedure he needed, whatever state-of-the-art treatment my father might only have just learned about.
Of course, now, looking back, it's easier to guess (one can never know) that the one life my father could not save (besides his own, of course) was that of his own father. And now that I've seen a picture of that man, my grandfather, my father's father, it's tempting to imagine how that loss must have affected my father. You can look at my grandfather and my grandmother together and see that he made her whole and that, after he was gone, something was lacking, forever after.
In fact, it occurs to me now that my grandfather could well have taken this photograph. There is a woman sitting in the rocker on the porch who could be my grandmother. That might explain the golf club lying on the ground beside my father. My father joined the country club in my hometown, but he was never much good at golf, to my knowledge. Maybe my grandfather played golf, maybe he was good at it. My grandmother never talked about him, to me, at any rate. I think it was just too painful for her to talk about him.
That's enough, for now. (Of course, there can never be enough. Nothing can ever bring him back.) I'll have more later, perhaps with another photograph.
Updates of November 7, 2018
Jean de Dieu Ngirabaganwa Jardon is a filmaker in Rwanda. He and I remain in contact and I want to share his work with the world! Years ago, Films Without Borders/ filmswithoutborders.org brought him to study in London.
To read more about John's work and to contact him, please go to ngjadon.wixsite.com/home
________
I am posting this message here as the power of Flickr has proven
a tremendous social-networking tool to creatively collaborate and
cross-support missions both in the field and at home.
I will be returning to Rwanda and Uganda August - September this year (2011).
Please get in touch with me if you or someone you know might like to
collaborate--I photograph and write and help bring awareness, raise
funds for good work being done by good people for good people.
--Kresta King
John de Dieu. 10.
John is first in his class. Gifted in mathematics, he wants to be a doctor one day. A few years ago, he lost his mother to heart disease. His father is still alive and lives in Kigali, but he is unable to care for his three sons. John's younger brother Eddie (6) also lives at Gisimba Memorial Center, but his other brother lives elsewhere.
Gisimba Memorial Center
An orphanage on the outskirts of Kigali in Nyamirambo.
Kigali, Rwanda. Afrika.
August 2, 2006.
Support Gismba Memorial Center. Buy the book!: www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/559906
If you are interested in sponsoring an orphan at Gisimba Memorial Center, direct contact information is listed below.
Ildephonse Niyongana - Director
Damas Gisimba - Founder
gisimbacmg@yahoo.com
Gisimba Orphanage
B.P. 1433 Kigali Rwanda
Ave de la Nyarugenge
Nyamirambo
District of Nyarugenge
tel +250 08524515 or +250 08532596
Bank of Kigali 040-0013914-76
swift BK IG RWRW
Additional information can also be found on www.orphansofrwanda.org
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48479462459#/group.php?sid...
www.ushmm.org/conscience/analysis/bios.php?content=gisimb...
The text below is from www.orphansofrwanda.org
"Centre Memorial de Gisimba (Gisimba Memorial Center)
The Gisimba orphanage, located in the Nyamirambo quarter of Kigali, is led by Damas Mutezintare Gisimba. Damas's father founded the orphanage in 1980 with 18 children living in one house. Damas took over in 1986 after the death of his father. During the genocide Damas sheltered over 400 children and adults in the small orphanage compound from the predations of the interahamwe [the Hutu paramilitary squads that carried out much of the genocide]. Though the orphanage was repeatedly menaced, Damas and his colleagues held their ground and did not give in to the genocidaires. He has been honored for his heroism by the Rwandan government and many other organizations.
Nick is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight. Nick went to high school and college in Rhode Island, graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2015 with a major in philosophy and a minor in political science. Originally interested in law, it wasn’t until the very end of his time as an undergraduate that Nick realized he might want to work in medicine. Like many people considering medical school, the process of becoming a physician was at first overwhelming and felt like an impossible barrier. But after shadowing various physicians and learning about one-year postbac programs, Nick decided to delve into the process of becoming a physician at Bennington College.
What made you change your mind from wanting to become a lawyer to becoming a physician?
“During college, I was considering going into law and had an internship at a courthouse. That internship helped me to understand what the work of a lawyer is like, and ultimately I realized that I didn’t want to go into the legal field. As I was finishing my last semester in college, I started shadowing a primary care physician. I was able to compare the relationships between attorney and client and physician and patient, and I realized that the work of a physician suits my personality. Through shadowing, I came to really value the patient-physician relationship and the types of problems that physicians deal with daily.”
Even after you realized that you were interested in medicine, you were still hesitant to go back to school. What finally persuaded you to go for it?
“I started to volunteer at a hospital and I quickly learned that I wanted to be in that type of environment regularly. The hospital felt exciting to me. I continued to shadow physicians and specifically shadowed a pediatrician. Witnessing how physicians can advocate for patients and how they manage various important relationships had an impact on me as well. All of these experiences helped me make up my mind and finally encouraged me to start the premed track.”
Why did you choose the Bennington postbac program?
“Before deciding to do a postbac program, I was very hesitant because the process of becoming a physician felt overwhelming. I didn’t have a science background, and had specifically avoided science classes up until this point. I wanted to go somewhere that guaranteed me a seat in the classes that I needed, and I wanted to get all the prereq courses done in one year as a full-time student. Bennington was in the geographic radius I drew for myself, and as I learned more about the program I was attracted to the small class size and seminar style classes. My visit to Bennington’s campus helped seal the deal for me.”
What was your experience of visiting Bennington’s campus like?
“If you have the opportunity, I would recommend visiting. I was able to sit in on a postbac class, talk to students, and overall, get a feel for the vibe of the program. I could tell that the students were happy and cohesive.”
What have been the highlights of your postbac year?
“Academically, I am motivated by those around me and being part of the postbac group has been great. We have all done a good job of helping each other out. It is not a competitive environment—just the opposite in fact. I live close to Albany, so I have also enjoyed exploring upstate New York this year.”
What did you do during the winter Field Work Term?
“I worked at a medical group in Albany in the clinical quality department. The project I worked on gave me insight into the business of medicine, and public health. I think it was important to learn about the broader system that I’ll eventually be working in. The FWT was a great opportunity to gain further experience in healthcare, and I’m happy I took advantage of the time away from the classroom.”
Any parting words of advice for those considering a postbac program?
“It’s a hard process, but one that thousands of people go through and is completely doable with some dedication. This year, I have embraced learning how to be a better student. The postbac year is perfect practice for medical school. As a postbac, I’ve learned how to learn the sciences, and I’ve realized that this is not a barrier to medical school but the beginning of my medical training.”
www.bennington.edu/academics/graduate-postbac-programs/po...
Charlotte is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight. Charlotte grew up in France, attended high school in the US, and spent several years traveling the world and working in South America before moving to Bennington. With a love for people and a passion for the sciences, Charlotte has decided that a career as a physician is the right path for her. Here are details on Charlotte’s journey to Bennington, her experience so far in the postbac program, and some wisdom for others considering a similar trajectory.
What experiences led you to wanting to become a medical doctor?
“I have always found medicine interesting and as a child thought I might want to be a doctor (as well as an Olympic gymnast and a Nobel Peace Prize winner). I took lots of science courses in high school, and had my first medical experiences on medical missions abroad and volunteering at a free clinic. I initially planned on following the premed track in college and spent time working at a hospital in Germany and teaching wilderness first aid; I then became very interested in international affairs and ended up focusing on political science. I spent the years after graduation exploring the world and different careers, which led to me circling back to medicine. It's such a unique combination of science and humanism.”
Where did you go to college and what did you do after graduating?
“I attended Princeton and majored in politics with a focus on comparative politics, and a minor in Near Eastern studies. After college, I taught French and Spanish at boarding schools in Massachusetts and California for three years. I went traveling for a year in South America, and eventually settled in Peru and worked there for a year and a half.”
Why did you choose the Bennington postbac program?
“After researching several programs, I chose Bennington for its small class size as well as its focus on learning science for its own sake, not just as a hoop to jump through to get into medical school. I appreciate that scientific curiosity is genuinely encouraged at Bennington.”
What have been the highlights of your postbac year thus far?
“The summer session was a great transition period. I was nervous about being back in school after such a long break, and was grateful that the professors who taught us this summer offered lots of support and extra help.
“I have also been working as a pharmacy tech at a pharmacy in Bennington. I’ve learned a lot about the role of the pharmacy in delivering health care, about insurance in the US, and about the Bennington community and the health issues that broadly affect the area.
“I've also really enjoyed my time shadowing at the local hospital in the emergency and OB-GYN departments. The doctors there are very enthusiastic about having students shadow, encourage me to ask questions, and will even print out journal articles for me to take home and read. I've learned a lot from them.”
What did you do over the Field Work Term?
“During FWT, I stayed in Bennington and continued working at the pharmacy, and also worked at the Hawthorn Recovery Center, which provides medication-assisted treatment for patients seeking recovery from opioid addiction. Working at Hawthorn was an eye-opening experience for me, so much so that I'll be continuing to work there during this spring term. It is one thing to read about the phenomenon of opioid addiction in the US in the news, and another entirely to confront the issue directly. I really admire the staff at Hawthorn, and working there has been a formative experience for me in terms of practicing non-judgment and compassion in a medical setting.”
What advice can you offer to others considering a postbac program?
“I'd say to try to make the most of this year as a valuable experience in its own right, and not just a slog to get through the prereqs to apply to med school. Being involved in the community has made my year much richer, and I'd certainly encourage others starting a postbac to find a few activities of interest outside the classroom.”
Julia is this week’s Postbac in the Spotlight. Julia is 22 years old and from Long Island, New York. She earned her bachelor's degree in Sociology/Women's Studies from Princeton University this past summer. At Princeton she was a 4-year varsity athlete on the women’s swimming and diving team. She wrote her senior thesis on the prevalence of reproductive health disparities among low-income Latina women in Queens, New York who receive Medicaid Managed Care. Both her senior thesis work and earlier experiences volunteering at Bellevue Hospital in NYC have greatly influenced her decision to pursue a degree in medicine. Here, Julia answers some questions from her fellow students:
What influenced you to pursue a career in medicine?
“My experiences at Bellevue Hospital, the independent research I did my senior year, and my background in sociology and women’s studies have all increased my desire to help those in underserved, low-income communities as a physician. My experiences have shown me that the social environment of an individual can have a huge impact on his or her health, and I hope that one day I will use these experiences to be a sociologically conscious physician that caters to the unique needs of low-income patients.”
What is your favorite aspect of the program?”
“Coming from a school that often times had large class sizes, I really appreciate the small classes sizes at Bennington. The small class sizes allow professors to engage with you and sometimes they will even ask you to do a problem up on the board while you get advice and comments from your classmates. I have found that this type of learning style has helped me tremendously in grasping the material.”
What’s your favorite science word or term?
“Van der Waals Forces.”
What do you do in your spare time in Bennington?
“I enjoy going to the gym! The gym on campus is very nice and has great hours. As postbacs we have free access to it!”
Favorite food:
“Italian!”
Anything else to add?
“Coming into this program I was incredibly worried that I would not be smart enough or able enough to take all of the pre-med sciences in one year. The support from the staff is incredible and they make sure you stay on track and understand the material. They make taking all of the pre-med sciences in one year a very accomplishable and reasonable task!”
“I started working as a research assistant at Yale University School of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine a few weeks after finishing the postbac year at Bennington. The work that I do at Yale is focused on HIV treatment and prevention in the New Haven community. In one lab, I work with a multidisciplinary team to develop digital games aimed at decreasing the risk of HIV for at-risk youth by increasing health-positive behaviors. In another lab, I am working on a treatment trial with HIV-positive alcohol dependent patients to determine how treatment with an injectable opioid receptor blocker may cause a decrease in alcohol consumption and a subsequent increase in antiretroviral adherence.
“Working at Yale has been a great glide year experience—being part of a medical school environment allows me to shadow physicians, go to Medical Grand Rounds, and take advantage of other fantastic resources. Additionally, it helped me stay grounded and focused throughout the medical school application cycle—I am reminded every day of why I want to be a doctor. I also teach Spinning classes at Yale’s Payne Whitney Gym, which is a fun way to stay balanced and blow off steam!
“I have also been working with current Bennington College postbac students on a qualitative study regarding access to sexual health testing services for adolescent women in the Bennington community. This is a follow-up study to a survey that I did last year in Bennington on access to health services for pregnant and parenting teenaged women in the community. I have continued this line of research into my glide year because I am interested in issues of access to care that impact women in rural communities.
“At the same time that I was starting my job at Yale, I hit the ground running on the medical school application cycle. After about two exhausting months of writing and submitting numerous admissions essays, I was finally able to see the payoff of a year’s worth of hard work. Flying around the country to interview at different schools was both humbling and exciting. I quickly realized that, as a postbac student, I had the advantage of maturity and more “real life” experiences, which I believe gives nontraditional students a leg up in the admissions process.
“As my glide year is drawing to a close, I am excited to be able to report that I will be attending the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine starting this August!”
Ron is this week’s Postbac in the Spotlight. Ron is 29 and from Highland Park, NJ. He earned his BA in political science from Rutgers University after which he served as a Combat Medic Team Lead and Infirmary Manager in the Israel Defense Forces. This experience highly motivated him to pursue an MD. Since his release from service, Ron has worked as an English teacher and CPR & First Aid course instructor. Here, Ron answers some questions from his fellow students:
What influenced you to pursue a career in medicine?
"While serving in the infantry, it came time for me to choose a specialization after basic and advanced field training was completed. I chose to become a field medic because I knew that what was most important to me going into combat was to make sure that everyone came back. That was the responsibility I was willing and wanted to shoulder for my community, but even more so, I was very intrigued by what medicine could offer me intellectually and how it could provide the basis for a meaningful service. Ultimately, it was an indelible experience that taught me many compelling lessons on how I could make a serious impact on the quality of life of my friends and community, and for me, this experience has left no doubt in my mind that my future lies in a career in medicine."
What is your favorite aspect of the program?
"I think the faculty and the style of education here at Bennington are unique and simply outstanding. The faculty are bright, engaging and passionate about molding their students into true scientists. I’ve felt that an emphasis on long term research projects and extensive lab-work has helped me synthesize all the information covered in lectures and textbooks; but, as we continually read up on current studies in the literature, I’ve learned a great deal on how concepts and theories in class are being applied in the technological forefront of today."
What’s your favorite science word or term?
"Receptor promiscuity."
What do you do in your spare time in Bennington?
"I usually spend my free time either exercising or cooking. I like cooking Indian food, and I run, and play basketball and soccer."
Favorite food?
"Falafel from Boaron’s in Ashkelon, Israel."
Anything else to add?
"The Bennington College community is really tight knit and I find it to have an air of inspiration. Up at Bennington lives a community of believers and can-doers; folks who are excited to learn and teach, and I feel very grateful for the opportunity to be here and for the experience I’ve had."
Shane is 22 and from Sacramento, CA. He majored in Integral Liberal Arts at Saint Mary’s College of California where he studied Philosophy, Math, Language, Religion, and Natural Science. He is a certified EMT and led a CPR/First aid series at Bennington in tandem with a fellow postbac student last fall (soon to begin again this term). Here, Shane answers some questions from his fellow students:
What influenced you to pursue a career in medicine?
"Before going to Saint Mary’s, I wanted to study Biology and pursue the traditional pre-med route. I ended up studying the liberal arts curriculum in which I learned about myself, the world, and the people in it. The desire to pursue medicine was always there, even though I looked into other options. Two summers ago I took an EMT course and earned my national certification, and subsequently volunteered as an EMT in various settings. This was my first experience in delivering care. This experience combined with the worldview and set of values I developed in my studies at Saint Mary’s ensured me that service through medicine was the path for me."
What is your favorite aspect of the program?
"It’s hard to overstate the value of learning science by doing science. The small class sizes and hands-on approach provide the ideal environment for, firstly, becoming a scientist, and consequently, preparing to do well on the MCAT. I enjoy the emphasis on work in the lab, which helps tie down the concepts we learn in the classroom and ground them in something tangible."
What’s your favorite science word or term?
"Hydrophobic effect."
What do you do in your spare time in Bennington?
"I’ve found myself enjoying the scenery and taking pictures throughout the seasons. I spend my spare time staying active by going on runs or playing sports with other students. I’ve also tried to keep up on reading for pleasure to give my mind a break from the sciences."
Favorite food?
"Anytime I can eat a nice steak with some potatoes and veggies I’m happy. Though this year I’ve frequently eaten at Kevin’s (Sports Pub & Restaurant- a favorite postbac haunt) in North Bennington where I religiously get the Kevin’s burger."
Anything else to add?
"In trying to pick my favorite science word/term I realized just how much material we’ve covered since we started in June. The pace is fast and the material is tough, but the environment and structure of the program make the process manageable. I’ve really enjoyed the community that has developed among the postbac cohort and which has spread to include the faculty and undergrads."
Seychelle is our last Postbac in the Spotlight for the fall term. Seychelle is 26 and from Santa Cruz, CA. She earned a degree in Social Change Through Art from Scripps College. She then worked as an artist for an interior design company in Los Angeles, in social media management for the San Francisco Chronicle, and in grants management for the International Rescue Committee in South Sudan. Here, Seychelle answers some questions from her fellow students:
What influenced you to pursue a career in medicine?
“While working in South Sudan, I had an opportunity to join one of our field-based teams in a refugee camp on the border to Sudan. There I was able to visit clinics where doctors worked alongside midwives with very few resources, delivering hundreds of babies a month. Even with the supplies and staff afforded by generous donors, the conditions in the clinic were severely limited. It became clear what an incredible difference committed care providers could make in caring for women and babies. Upon returning to the United States, I volunteered at the San Francisco General Hospital as a doula. My experiences on the labor and delivery floor of SFGH convinced me that my heart was in medicine.”
What is your favorite aspect of the program?
“The location. When school becomes overwhelming, nothing refocuses me like a hike in the woods. I’m from northern California, so gorgeous trees and mountains have always been close by, but the cold weather is new. Our first snow day was thrilling. I love watching snowflakes land on the frozen lake in front of our apartment.”
What’s your favorite science word or term?
“Electrochemical gradient.”
What do you do in your spare time in Bennington?
“What spare time? Hah, kidding. I like to run and paint.”
Favorite food:
“Thai food.”
Patrick is our first Postbac in the Spotlight this year. Patrick is 25 and from Pelham, NY. He earned a degree in American Studies from Williams College in 2012 and played varsity hockey. Pat loves to cook and began exploring the relationship between diet and good health and ways to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to urban settings with limited access to healthy food options. After working as a Litigation Paralegal post-graduation, Pat began volunteering as a research assistant in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology division at Weill-Cornell Medical Center and made the decision to pursue an MD.
Here, Pat answers some questions from his fellow students:
What influenced you to pursue a career in medicine?
“After conversations with friends, teammates and family members I decided to volunteer in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology division at Weill-Cornell Medical College. My experience at the clinic really solidified my decision to apply to postbacs and hopefully become a physician.”
What is your favorite aspect of the program?
“The seminar style classes. I think being able to talk about and even debate science in class, really helps reinforce the concepts we are tasked with grasping outside of the classroom. I appreciate the emphasis that our professors put on reading primary research.”
What’s your favorite science word?
“Entropy.”
What do you do in your spare time in Bennington?
“If the sun is up, I will usually either be running or playing sports with fellow postbacs. At night we like to have postbac dinners and go to see movies.”
Favorite food:
“Bacon from Peter Luger’s Steakhouse in NYC.”
Anything else to add?
“The support system here is great. Your professors and classmates will always be there to help if you are having trouble with a concept. That being said, this is not a place to just cross pre-med courses off your list- at Bennington we love science.”
We’ll kick off 2017 with a Postbac in the Spotlight story. Hope everyone had wonderful holidays! Here’s Edward, postbac ‘17’s story:
A long-term Los Angeles resident, Edward’s desire to prepare for medical school within an intimate class setting, and a single year, drew him to the hills of Vermont for the Bennington Postbac Premed Program. Edward has worked as a pastor for the past 18 years and is also concurrently finishing a PhD in Systematic Theology on the topic of human flourishing in the contemporary world. Eager to serve others in a practical and holistic way, Edward is pursuing medical training to deepen his ability to impact people’s lives both here and abroad. Edward describes his journey to Bennington and experience with the program, thus far, in his own words below.
Why become a doc?
“As a college student at UC San Diego, I was in a hurry to get out into the world and make a difference. Immediately after graduating, I spent a few years in Asia working with the poor trying to help break generational cycles of poverty by mentoring and educating the children of impoverished families. Upon returning to the States, I continued that work as a pastor to the best of my ability. But the longer I worked with people, the more I came to see my need for deeper understanding to genuinely help people find wholeness and wellbeing in their lives. My burning quest to be a better resource for the wellbeing of others was one of the key factors that led me to this medical path.
“The other major factor that galvanized my resolve to become a physician was the work of some of my close friends who have gained access to the most remote places and states in the world because of their medical proficiencies. As a result of this access, their ability to make an impact for lasting change in these societies is very real—certainly beyond what I can currently offer. I believe that a medical degree will open many doors in my work to help others.”
Why Bennington?
“The Bennington program was my first choice! I hadn’t taken a math or science class in 20 years, and I was looking for a program that would offer lots of personal time with professors. I was primarily attracted to the small class size, where I would be encouraged to ask lots of questions. And the one-year completion timeframe sealed the deal for me.”
Favorite part of the program?
“The small class and intimate setting of the Bennington program has truly met my expectations. Even with a few undergraduates in our classes, our classes have remained very small and personal. Contrast that with my undergrad years where some basic science courses had 500 students at a time, and lab time was strictly limited with little personal help provided. Other postbac programs I considered boasted of small postbac cohorts during the summer, but once the fall semester came around, the postbacs would be placed in classes dominated by undergrads. At Bennington, all of the classes feel designed with the postbacs in mind and the postbacs are the dominant presence in the classroom. There are just so many opportunities to use the labs, ask professors for support, and work with fellow students. I don’t feel like just a number at Bennington.”
Most challenging part of the program?
“Although the summer session was very intense, I liked focusing on just one class at a time (chemistry). I found the fall semester to be more challenging, as we took three classes at once. Physics, in particular, was a completely new topic for me that required a very different problem-solving approach than the absolute focus needed for PhD work. Physics requires a more flexible approach that takes some time and practice to master. Although that aspect of physics was challenging, I loved it because it was such a stretch from the way I had programmed my mind to operate for years. I believe it will better prepare me for the future with a variety of problem-solving techniques in my back pocket.”
Plan for Field Work Term and glide year?
“I will primarily be writing a chapter of my dissertation during the field work term and completing my PhD during the glide year, as well as spending time with my wife and four children.”
Pearls of wisdom for others considering this path…
“If it is your dream to become a physician, then you should find a way to do it. Being in my early forties, it is rather late to pursue this path. But I will bring a wealth of previous experience and perspective to my practice, and if I get to practice for the next 25 or 30 years, then it’s absolutely worth it. Because it is my lifelong passion to help others find wellbeing in their lives, I anticipate I will do that until my very last breath on this good earth.
“In order to succeed in a postbac program you need to love learning, and challenges, and be self-motivated. For somebody who is willing to grab hold of opportunities, Bennington offers a depth that is unique.”
www.bennington.edu/academics/graduate-postbac-programs/po...
Alexander is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight. Alex answers questions from fellow postbac student Jonathan here about his path to an MD and his postbac year at Bennington:
Where did you go to undergrad/grad school?
“I went to Johnson State College—a small state-funded liberal arts college in Vermont, where I received a degree in music.”
Future career goals?
“I have a short list of medical specialties that really interest me—emergency medicine, neurology, radiology, and general surgery. I realize it's kind of an eclectic mix! Beyond that, I just want to make as positive an impact on the world as possible, while working in a career that challenges me and pushes me to always learn something new.”
Why Bennington College for postbac?
“Bennington is situated in a quiet, beautiful part of Vermont. Aside from being a lifelong Vermonter, I'm particularly partial to the peaceful atmosphere—it's very conducive to studying, but there are all the necessities of civilization only a few miles away. And of course, Bennington's faculty are all incredibly knowledgeable, and I always feel like my professors love teaching, which always makes learning more fun.”
What is your favorite aspect of the program?
“Bennington's postbac program is geared toward students who come from a non-science background, and who want to jump straight into the thick of pre-med studies. It was very nice being able to arrive in June with a small group of postbac students on campus, focusing on unfamiliar material being presented in an interesting and comprehensive light.”
What’s your favorite science word/phrase?
“Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis! It's the full name for silicosis, a disease that workers in certain types of mines get. (And it's the longest word in the Oxford English Dictionary!)”
What do you do in your spare time in Bennington?
“These days it's a lot of MCAT studying! However, to my great satisfaction, the town of Bennington offers miles of trails and scenic roads to walk, hike, and run on.”
What made you want to become a doctor?
“While I was studying to earn my music degree, I found that I had some spare time in my schedule, and opted into some elective science courses—nutrition, physiology of exercise, and chemistry. While taking these courses, I found that I really loved science, and the health sciences in particular. After graduation, I knew I wanted to go back to school some day to pursue this interest, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to study, or how to get there. Medicine was very appealing, offering the satisfaction of continuing to expand my science horizons, with the awesome benefit of contributing something meaningful and fulfilling to the world. It took a little bit of deliberation, and dipping my toes into other fields of study, but I kept coming back to this path, and now that I've settled I'm very glad with my decision!”
Do you have any advice for anyone going through the application process to postbac programs or for those thinking about it?
“Just be confident about what you want! Entering into a postbac program is a commitment in time, money, and energy. The obvious reward is reaching medical school quickly, despite a non-science undergraduate background. If a medical career is what you want, then the postbac path is awesome.”
Jordan is this week's Postbac in the Spotlight. Jordan answers questions from fellow postbac student Shelby here about his path to an MD and his postbac year at Bennington:
What made you want to become a doctor?
“When I was about sixteen I went to a boarding school called “High Mountain Institute” that had students spend half-months outdoors in Utah’s Dark Canyon, the Mosquito Mountains in Colorado and the deserts of Arizona. In order to prepare students for the unexpected while backpacking we were offered the opportunity to receive Wilderness First Aid and, later, Wilderness First Response training. I must have been a little bit of a jinx, because out of the three excursions I went on my group had emergencies twice! It was during these hairy situations that I got to apply what I had learned, and I found that I reacted well under pressure. After returning home, I became an EMT and I really enjoyed it. This experience and my passion for learning made me consider medicine as the next step in my academic career.”
What are you most excited about for when you become a doctor?
“Using a specialized education to achieve a specific, tangible, social good. I have a very open mind concerning where in medicine I will land, so it’s hard for me to be more specific than that. But in general, I like that medicine is a mix of immediately practical, and academic pursuits.”
What do you do in your spare time?
“When I do have spare time I play lots of music. I’ve had a passion for blues and jazz since I was about fifteen, and during the last year of completing my undergraduate degree I supported myself by teaching guitar and playing small gigs.
“I also have a dog. When the weather permits I like to take him on campus to run around or take walks. Other than that I read a fair amount; I am finishing Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods” right now and looking for a good book on chess tactics.”
What is your favorite science word?
“I’m going to cheat and use a phrase: ‘hydrogen bonding’.
It’s the answer to everything in chemistry and biology.”
Why did you choose Bennington?
“I completed my undergraduate education at St. John's College in Annapolis, a school that exclusively follows a ‘Great Books’ curriculum. For this reason I had never taken a ‘proper’ exam, or worked out of a textbook, or even really attended a lecture. The unique program at Bennington seemed to me a way to bridge the gap between my undergraduate training and the skills I will need in medical school. The professors are very involved in the curriculum, they encourage meeting for office hours, and they give ample amounts of feedback. This is the type of direction I needed while I developed study habits earlier this year. The first two terms for me were like being a freshman in college all over again.”
What has been your favorite moment at Bennington so far?
“So there was a lab in Chemistry 2—anyone who took the class will remember it because I absolutely made the whole laboratory smell like compost. Our professor, Janet Foley, had allowed us to design our own elimination/substitution reaction, and I had worked very hard to design what I thought was a very original and plausible procedure. When I showed it to Janet she wasn’t sure it would work, but encouraged me to try anyway. The procedure relied on introducing heat to a solution and then collecting one of many possible products because that product would evaporate as the solution boiled. Luckily, I ended up with something that was definitely different than what I started with, but that product didn’t have the structure I expected. I kept the NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer) results in my apartment because I’ve never solved what the compound was.”
Let us introduce Class of 2016 postbac students Julia, Jonathan, and Shelby—they are happy to answer your questions throughout the year. Get in touch with them through the ‘Ask a Postbac’ tab at our Tumblr blog (link below) and look for postbac student spotlight features in the coming weeks—they’ll be checking in with their fellow students and sharing their stories.
JULIA: “Hello, and welcome to the Ask a Postbac feature! My name is Julia and I received a BS in Athletic Training from Western Carolina University. During my undergrad career I worked in sports medicine at Trinity College in Hartford, CT and at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. Because of these extracurricular experiences, I was unable to obtain the prerequisites required for medical school. I came to Bennington because of the small class size and accessibility to the faculty and staff, and I am loving every minute here.”
JONATHAN: “My name is Jonathan and I’m from San Francisco, CA. I graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a BA in Psychology, but decided to pursue medicine after volunteering at clinics for the homeless in Orange County, and working as a research assistant for a physician at UC Davis who was investigating screening tools for depression. When not in class, I enjoy going to festivals and museums in the area and finding new and beautiful trails to hike. I’m happy to be a postbac here at Bennington and excited to answer any questions you may have about the program.”
SHELBY: “Hi, my name is Shelby. I am originally from Cleveland, OH, the home of LeBron James (go Cavs!). I recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where I pursued a degree in Psychology. In the summer of 2012, my mother became very ill. She regained her health and it was my experiences in the hospital during that time that sparked my interest in medicine. Through shadowing emergency room physicians, an oncologist, and a breast surgeon, my passion for medicine was deepened. Additionally, after volunteering at Wisconsin's American Family Children's Hospital, I knew becoming a physician was what I wanted to pursue. Studying at Bennington's Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program is exactly what I was looking for in a program. Its small class sizes, cooperative learning environment, and impeccable teaching style has reinforced my interest in science and medicine. I am excited to be here, and excited to answer your questions.”
James is our second Postbac in the Spotlight this year. James is 28 and from New York, NY. He earned an accounting degree from Bucknell University and his CPA license while working in consulting firms with a focus on the financial sector. During the weekends, James began volunteering at Beth Israel Medical Center before making the decision to pursue an MD. Here, James answers some questions from his fellow students:
What influenced you to pursue a career in medicine?
“Volunteering at the local hospital reignited a long dormant interest in the sciences, and consulting provided me with the desire help others to apply that knowledge in a patient setting. It was through my volunteering experience that I observed the positive impact medical care can have if it is delivered carefully, competently, and compassionately. As a first-generation American I hope to help bridge some of the healthcare quality, communication, and cultural gaps I experienced and observed growing up.”
What is your favorite aspect of the program?
“If I had to choose, it would be the small seminar-based classes. The summer session is exclusively postbac students and during the school year the class sizes do not exceed 20 students. The atmosphere is collaborative with an emphasis on applying what we learn in the lab through team research projects and lab partnerships.”
What’s your favorite science word or term?
“Hydrogen bonding.”
What do you do in your spare time in Bennington?
“Many of the postbacs decided to live in the same apartment complex so we regularly get together and cook dinner. We’ve also taken advantage of our opportunity to explore the many hiking trails in the area.”
Favorite food:
“Sushi / the Porterhouse steak at Peter Luger’s Steakhouse in NYC.”
Anything else to add?
“In a compressed program, the material can be challenging but the teachers are very accessible and the program has so far provided a good support network. I can’t believe the amount of material we have covered in the last 6 months.”
Have a question about the Bennington Postbac Premed Program? Let us introduce Class of 2017 postbac students Jamie and Christian—they are happy to answer your questions throughout the year. Get in touch with them through the ‘Ask a Postbac’ tab at our Tumblr blog and look for postbac student spotlight features in the coming weeks—they’ll be checking in with their fellow students and sharing their stories.
JAMIE: “My name is Jamie and come from the land of cheese and bratwurst - also known as Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I graduated from Georgetown University in 2011 with a degree in healthcare management and policy, and then went to work with the global health NGO Partners in Health (PIH). With PIH, I worked in Boston, Rwanda, and most recently Sierra Leone, and filled a mix of development, operations, and policy roles. My work in Sierra Leone was focused on the Ebola epidemic, and I served directly under the national Chief Medical Officer as the country began rebuilding its shattered healthcare system. Many experiences abroad showed me how fortunate I am to be a well-educated American, and also how direly underserved populations need, and deserve, quality healthcare. I hope to continue working for healthcare equity, especially for the world’s poor, and I believe that the best foundation I can have for doing so is by becoming a physician.
“I chose to attend Bennington’s postbac program because of it’s outstanding reputation, small class size, and beautiful setting. I’ve loved exploring Bennington and the surrounding areas (in between studying, of course), and am happy to answer any questions you may have about the program!”
CHRISTIAN: “My name is Christian and I grew up in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. I graduated from Vassar College in 2014 with a BA in psychology. After graduating, I interned with developmental pediatricians, did clinical research at the University of South Florida, facilitated a social skills training program, and tutored children in several subjects --all of which revolved around my enduring interest in ADHD and related disorders. I embraced medicine when I discovered developmental pediatrics to be the ideal commingling of my passions.
“After my liberal arts education, this program has been a natural fit for me. My fellow postbacs have formed a social circle beyond the classroom, with day trips, movie nights, and weekly trivia at the local brewery becoming highlights of my experience here. I also play on the college's soccer and Ultimate Frisbee teams (which is surprisingly manageable). I look forward to answering any questions you might have!”
Check in with Jamie and Christian at the Ask a Postbac tab on our Tumblr page: