The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State

What are the ethics and implications of Brain-Computer Interfaces? This technology can completely change the way that we think about the treatment of things like nerve damage, loss of limb, neurological conditions, and even mental health disorders. In this episode, we explore what Neuralink is, how it works, and other big questions surrounding the technology. Thanks for joining us!

This is a rebroadcast of a previous episode. What is required to be a competitive applicant starts with your preparation years. In the past, students with great grades and good MCAT scores were shoe-ins for admission. We know that the admissions process now in 2023 is far more complex and competitive for even the most incredible students to navigate. This episode breaks apart some of the common, myths, misconceptions, and barriers to preparing yourself for the health professions and gives some advice on ways to adjust your thinking to improve your approach, and ultimately, your enjoyment in preparing for this journey.AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

Gun Violence and Mass Shootings, while not unique to the United States, is a uniquely US American problem in how it is viewed and treated. In this week's episode, we are once again joined by Dr. Mekel to discuss this ethical concern, its impact on healthcare, and what future providers should be thinking about and considering to positively influence this issue in their future work - especially for primary care providers. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student, at every institution, or for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

In this episode, we discuss semaglutides, more commonly referred to by their brand names (Wegovy, Ozempic, etc.) have grown significantly in popularity. Originally designed and intended for managing diabetes in a more efficient and effective manner, they have begun to be prescribed for weight loss and have been heralded as a miracle cure for obesity. As with all miracle cures, the other side isn't as glamorous as we'd like to think. This episode digs into the science, culture, and sociology (and of course the ethics) of this pharmaceutical marvel and what it means for future care providers. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student, at every institution, or for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine joined the podcast this week to discuss their school, curriculum, community engagement, longitudinal research project, and more. Clayton Steup, Director of Special Programs & Recruitment, joins us to share his perspective and help all applicants understand how they may find their fit or home at Pitt Med. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of Prehealth Advising in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the Prehealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student, at every institution, or for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving prehealth students across the university system.

In this week's episode, we welcome back Dr. Michele Mekel to discuss CRISPR-Cas9 which enables scientists to edit parts of the genetic material of living organisms. This discussion focuses on the ethical, anthropological, and biological implications of this technology. For future healthcare providers, we talk about things to think about as this technology begins to be used in applications never before thought possible. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

In another entry in our STUDENT STORIES series, we welcome a Penn State student who will be attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. We talk to him about his journey to dentistry, what he has done along the way to prepare, and what he has done to feel ready. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

SHPEP is a free summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and those with demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations to prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. Students from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences are encouraged to apply. This episode shares the stories of two participants from the summer of 2023. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This week, we welcome back a friend of The Prehealth Podcast at Penn State, Michele Mekel to talk with us about the ethical concerns of Long Covid. As future care providers, all prehealth students should be thinking about what these bigger health issues mean for their future patients, practices, and the healthcare industry as a whole.

For students developing their school lists, starting their journey to their future health profession, or wanting to make a personal connection to admissions officers at schools that you may be interested in the Penn State Health Professions Expo can be a useful tool. This episode will talk about what the expo is, how to prepare for it, and make the most out of this exciting opportunity. The 2024 Expo is on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024 from 10 am to 2 pm in Alumni in the HUB. Below are some links to help you prepare: First- and Second-Year Students:Plan to use this event to explore all the possible opportunities in the health professions. Use our foundations guide to help you prepare for before, during, and after the Health Professions Expo.Juniors, Seniors, and Upcoming Applicants:Plan to use this event to learn more about schools in your desired profession. Use our upcoming applicants guide to help you prepare for before, during, and after the Health Professions Expo.AND, you can look at the programs that are attending.AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Nick DeMario, a current M1 at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University sits down with us to talk about his journey to medicine, the help he received along the way, and how he found the right place for him with Sidney Kimmel. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

For most applicants, their worst case scenario is a cycle that does not result in an acceptance. It is hard to experience a "failed" application. It can feel dehumanizing, like you aren't a good applicant, or that you won't ever get an acceptance. However, there is power in learning what went wrong and taking the steps to improve yourself and what you can offer to a health professions program. This episode overviews what students who haven't not had a positive result in their cycle to consider to improve their overall application. Reapplicants can be some of the strongest applicants in the cycle. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier episode being re-released because of its timely relevance for the upcoming application cycle.In the admissions cycle for the Health Professions, there is no part of the application that a student has more control over than the personal statement. And, it is essential to get right if you want to move through the admissions process and get an interview invitation. In this episode, we discuss the Personal Statement and how it is used in the application from both the applicant's and admissions officer's viewpoint.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This week's episode is geared toward our students at Penn State. In this episode, we give advice for those working toward completing a comprehensive review this semester in preparation for the upcoming admissions cycle. The Comprehensive Review is a process that Penn State uses to help students feel more ready for their application and to put forth the best possible version of themselves in the competitive application processes for the health professions. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

For applicants in the current application cycle, January can be a difficult time. Some of you may have not heard from schools at all, some of you may be waiting on decisions post-interview, and some of you may be on waitlists possibly even at your dream program. This week's episode talks about reasons students may be communicating with Admissions Offices during this time of the cycle, what the nature of those communications might be, and best practices for applicants considering this option. AUDIO:INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-MediaOUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-MediaACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This week we are thrilled to welcome back Dave Cassiday to walk you through a guided writing exercise focused on the reflection of your experiences in your pursuit of your intended health profession. How students communicate their thoughts, insights, and ideas through their application can make or break their candidacy regardless of their metrics. This exercise will give students the space and time to explore those thoughts in an organized consistent way which will also give students a bank of content to use in future applications. AUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The PreHealth Podcast at Penn State is a production of the Prehealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

One part of your application process that has the greatest influence on your success, is selecting a great school list. In this week's episode, we talk about the important aspects to consider when crafting your school list and the ways in which this list can impact the success or failure of a cycle. AUDIO: INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSounds OUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSounds ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Sometimes viewed as the "resume" section, the Work & Activities (or Experiences and Achievements section depending on your application service) couldn't be further from a simple resumer. In this section, we discuss the anatomy and physiology of the work and activities section and how this section is used by Admissions officers to make decisions and better understand an applicant. We also provide some strategies for students to help these entries better tell their story.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

One of the largest changes over the past decade in admissions for health professional training programs has been the widespread adoption of holistic review. In this episode, we dive deeply into the history of admissions, how holistic review became more and more commonplace in admissions over time, and also how holistic review MAY come in to place when reviewing and evaluating a student's application.AUDIO: INTRO Song is This Science by Coma-Media OUTRO Song is Screening by Coma-Media ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

This section can be EXTREMELY tedious. But, it is important to do right. This week, we discuss the grade entry and standardized test portions of the application. These items "open the doors" for schools to want to look more deeply at your application and can influence how schools interpret you as an applicant.AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT:The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.