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AW(e)SOM(e)

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This week a friend texted me a PBS NewsHour segment she saw about the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) that opened for its inaugural class this cycle. The school is located in Bentonville, Arkansas, and its mission is to provide an innovative program that incorporates art and humanities. The school shares a campus with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and medical students are encouraged to learn the “art of healing.” Importantly, for the first five cohorts, tuition is free, so the admission process is fierce. 

Take a look here at the PBS segment.

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For Those Seeking Postbaccalaureate Program Info

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Over the years, I have strongly recommended the AAMC database for those applicants seeking postbaccalaureate programs. On the left you can filter by public or private, undergraduate or graduate, and special focus. Importantly, for the latter, distinguishing whether you need a career changer or academic record enhancer program is critical.

Here’s some additional information from the AAMC regarding postbaccalaureate programs – what to look for, how the curriculum prepares students for medical school, etc. 

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Federal Cuts are Forcing Academic Medicine into an Existential Mess

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I was in Boston last week for my 30th Harvard Medical School reunion. I thought it would be fun, but it was even better than I expected.

Unfortunately, the festivities were marred by a black cloud of current and threatened federal cuts to academic medicine. Harvard, in particular, is getting hit hard, but my classmates were recounting the difficulties they are facing at their current, respective institutions – Harvard and others. 

The AAMC has done a good job offering specific examples of the damage in their recent piece “The Impact of Federal Actions on Academic Medicine and the US Health Care System.” Read it and weep. 

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The Disadvantages of a BS/MD Program

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I’ve always had major qualms about BS/MD programs, especially the six and seven-year ones, perhaps because I appreciated my college experience so much. There are many other disadvantages (and a few advantages) of these programs, which are extremely well covered in podcast episode 542 of Your College Bound Kid. 

There, college counselor extraordinaire Mark Stucker does a very deep dive into the BS/MD option. Start at 10 minutes into the podcast for his extensive discussion of the (few) pros and (multiple) cons.

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Medical Debt Can Be Crushing

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I recently saw a short piece in US News that reported that the average debt among medical school graduates who borrowed for their medical education was $184,000, excluding undergraduate loans. 

There are many reasons to think hard about a career as a physician, and monetary ones are first or second on the list. For those with severe financial need, the AAMC offers their Fee Assistance Program (FAP). (Please note that I also offer a discount for those who have a current FAP grant.)

Most applicants, however, don’t qualify for the FAP and may be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt after they complete their medical education. For many reasons, make sure that a career as a doctor is the right one for you.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital. She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: