Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu
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THE BLOG

The Intima is open for submissions for Spring 2013!

11/4/2012

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The Intima is an electronic journal founded in 2011 to stimulate thought, reflection, and conversation about the intersecting worlds of medicine, humanities and art. We welcome submissions from patients, family, and clinicians, about their experiences in health care. Please visit http://www.theintima.org to read selections from our previous issues.

Submission Guidelines: The deadline for submissions for the upcoming issue is January 31, 2013; our target publication date is March 1, 2013. F
inal notification of acceptance or regret will be given by February 17th, 2013.  We only accept electronic submissions through our website. Full submission guidelines can be found on http://www.theintima.org/guidelines.html and feel free to contact editor@theintima.org with any questions. See below for a brief overview of what we are looking for.

Submissions can include:

  • Scholarly essays or articles geared towards educating a general audience about Narrative Medicine
  • Non-Fiction, personal narratives or perspective pieces
  • Fiction, Short Fiction
  • Field Notes, reflections on working in the field
  • Poetry
  • Studio Art, in any medium such as paintings, photographs, or prints
  • Audio or Visual Multimedia

Subject areas might include but are not limited to:


  • personal narratives of illness from the patient and/or clinician perspectives
  • grand narratives of public health, epidemics, and the globalization of disease
  • analyses of historical or contemporary representations of illness and the body in literature, art, popular culture, and the media
  • discourse on the role of narrative in the greater health care reform debate

Submission Requirements


  • 12 point times new roman font, double-spaced
  • submit as a Word document (.doc, .docx); media/art should be in .jpg, .png, or .mp3 format.
  • No identifying information in the submission document
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The Intima  -- A Call for Submssions ( Aug 1st deadline)

7/10/2012

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The Intima: Spring 2012

Overview: The Intima is an electronic journal founded in 2011 to stimulate thought, reflection, and conversation about the intersecting worlds of medicine, humanities and art, in the context of individual clinical experiences across the spectrum of health and illness. Narrative Medicine thrives on dialogue. Thus, we are pleased to invite you on this journey by welcoming you to www.theintima.org. We hope that you enjoy the journal and become a contributing member of The Intima Community.

Mission: The Intima is an electronic journal dedicated to promoting the theory and practice of Narrative Medicine, an interdisciplinary field aiming to enhance health care through the development of effective communication and understanding between caregivers and their patients.

Vision:By providing an online venue for the expression of personal experience within the medical arena, The Intima creates space for caregivers, professionals, patients, and families to share their narratives in a format that fosters empathy, reflection, and deeper understanding of the diversity inherent in effective delivery of care.

Submission Guidelines: We have a rolling admissions policy for the Fall 2012 edition, expected to be published in September The final deadline is August 1st. Please consult http://www.theintima.org/guidelines.html for more information and feel free to contact editor@theintima.org with any questions.

Submissions can include:

  • Scholarly essays or articles geared towards educating a general audience about Narrative Medicine
  • Non-Fiction, personal narratives or perspective pieces
  • Fiction, Short Fiction
  • Field Notes, reflections on working in the field
  • Poetry
  • Studio Art, in any medium such as paintings, photographs, or prints
  • Audio or Visual Multimedia

Subject areas might include but are not limited to:
  • personal narratives of illness from the patient and/or clinician perspectives
  • grand narratives of public health, epidemics, and the globalization of disease
  • analyses of historical or contemporary representations of illness and the body in literature, art, popular culture, and the media
  • discourse on the role of narrative in the greater health care reform debate

Submission Requirements
  • 12 point times new roman font
  • double spaced
  • submit as a PDF or Word Doc
  • No identifying information in the submission document
  • Page numbers centered at the bottom




we look forward to receiving your submissions!

Best,

Editors, The Intima
The Intima
www.theintima.org

editor@theintima.org

@The_Intima

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Med App Q&A: Other than a 45, what  MCAT score can get you noticed with admissions officials?

6/6/2012

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Educating medical students is expensive-- it costs time and a number of resources. When students fail to meet the demands of medical school and drop/flunk out, the school's investment has essentially gone to waste. The MCAT is a standardized test that allows admissions officers to quantitatively compare applicants to each other and determine which applicants are most likely capable of meeting the demands of medical education.

Tens of thousands of premeds apply to medical school each year. Many of these applicants score well on the MCAT. Generally speaking, a good score will not get you into medical school, but a bad score will be more likely keep you out. Sometimes, it is impossible for every single application to be read from start to finish. As such, many schools use the MCAT as a screening tool. Applicants with scores above a certain number will be considered and those below the cut off will not. Different schools have different score cut offs, but the average score of successful applicants ( students admitted to at least 1 school) hovers around a 30. 

While the MCAT is an important component of the medical school application, it important to note that it is only one of many factors. In terms of gaining admission to medical school, a 45 may not make you any more "special" than a 35 because it is obvious that you are capable of doing the work. Once you have passed the initial screen the other parts of your application-- your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and interview-- are probably more likely to "get you noticed".  
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Med App Q&A: How important is volunteer work /working in a hospital on an application? Do admissions officers give a lot of attention to that when it comes to making a decision of who to choose for an interview.

6/5/2012

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Medicine is a service profession. According to HMS commencement speaker, Dr. Donald Berwick, "we [get] our compass the day we decided to be healers. Our compass is one, simple question, and it will point us true north: How will it help the patient?” Those who enter the profession are committing themselves to a lifetime of helping others. In my opinion, a history of volunteerism is an important component of your application to medical school. How else are you going to demonstrate your commitment to helping patients unless you have given your time and used your talents to serve people in the past? ( I can't really speak for MD/PhD applicants, as their applications may call for different things). 

You NEED clinical experience when applying to medical school. Many applicants gain clinical experience by volunteering at hospitals or staffing free clinics. That being said, working in a hospital is not the only acceptable form of community service. There are many ways to spend your time helping others in need. These service activities can be clinically focused, but that does not always have to be the case. Make sure that you are passionate about the causes to which you dedicate your time, especially if you write about them in your applications. You you will definitely be asked about these activities on the interview trail. If you choose non-clinical activities however, make sure you are able to get clinical experiences in as well. Shadowing a local physician is an easy way to learn more about the profession. 

It's hard to say what will get you chosen for an interview at one school or another. Each school is really looking for something different and emphasize unique things when filtering a pool of applicants. My best advice is to find your passion and pursue it. The path to becoming a physician begins long before medical school matriculation. This path entirely too long to "fake it till you make it." Spend time doing what makes you happy and articulate that passion during every step of the application process, from your AMCAS to your interviews. Schools that appreciate your spirit and value what you have to offer will pick up on that! 
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Med App Q&A: How should you approach the descriptions of the work/activities section on AMCAS?

6/2/2012

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Function: The work/activities section of the AMCAS is an excellent opportunity for medical school applicants to shine. This collection of mini essays really gives you an opportunity to showcase your interests and illustrate the depth and breath of your extracurricular involvement. Fill out as many as you can, but make sure you only describe the activities in which you invested significant time, energy, and effort. These essays are a prime hunting ground for interview questions. Make sure you know everything you write there by heart because you WILL be asked about these activities on multiple occasions. 

Structure: I viewed this portion of the application as an extended resume which highlights skill and demonstrates commitment. Make sure you cover these points in the essay: 

1. What is the activity? What's the purpose of the organization? Give a sentence or two of background information.

2. What was your involvement? What did you actually do? Who did you work with? What was accomplished? Just like you would in a real resume, make sure to use action  words that really depict your contribution to the activity. Make a brief note of the time commitment as well. 


These essays don't really provide room for fluff or poetic prose, its all about the business. It's your opportunity to detail your entire resume, especially those activities unrelated to medicine.  In these essays you really want to cover the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, and HOW of each activity. 

It is important to note however, that you cover the WHY of your most important or meaningful activities in  your personal statement and secondary essays. That's when you really need to connect those activities to your desire to become a physician. 

As always, its important to make sure everything is well written. Have at least two people proof your work for clarity. They should be able to tell you the WHO, WHAT, WHERE and HOW of each activity with relative ease. Admissions officers don't have time to dig for that information so make it easy for them to like your application.

Here is an example from My AMCAS:

Harvard Society of Black Scientists and Engineers
The Harvard Society of Black Scientists and Engineers (HSBSE) is an organization that provides mentorship and career development opportunities for students interested in science, medicine, and engineering. I joined HSBSE my freshman year and in my sophomore year was elected to the board. As Social Chair I planned and moderated events for the organization which included a speaker series, study groups, and general meetings (6 hours/week). In my junior year I was elected Vice- President of the organization and led a board of students in organizing events that catered to our membership (12 hours/week). As Vice-President I was the executive producer of HSBSE’s annual intercollegiate charity step show which raised money for our affiliate mentorship program. I also helped fund-raise, plan and execute HSBSE’s other large events which include a Mentorship Luncheon, and a senior award banquet called Celebration of Excellence. 

Do you have a question about medical school applications? Ask me by submitting a comment or contacting me via twitter @JenniferAdaeze.
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Med App Q&A: Should you apply with a low MCAT score while waiting for the retake, just to get the app in early?

5/30/2012

1 Comment

 

There are a number of issues to consider when making this decision. 

1. How low is "low"?  The average MCAT score of successful applicants is around 30. If your first score was 1 or 2 points below this, your application should be fine, especially if you are retaking the exam. If you scored below the national average (25), I'd definitely consider holding off on applying this cycle all together. You may not have enough time to complete a solid application and study enough to significantly improve your score. 

2. Are you being honest with yourself? Based on the full length practice tests I took, my MCAT score was exactly what I expected it to be.  You should be absolutely confident about your score going into the exam, especially if you plan on submitting your scores late. A second poor score will be detrimental  to your application. One low MCAT score could be a fluke or explained in interviews, two or more cannot. In my opinion, taking the MCAT more than twice looks bad. Scores are valid for three years, so schools will see all the exams you've taken within that window. Use your test opportunities wisely!

3. Its important to remember that the MCAT is only one component of the entire application. Its always important to put your best foot forward, but if your exam scores are on the lower end of acceptable, you need to make sure that you have stellar recommendations, extracurriculars and a personal statement. 

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Medical School Applications Q&A

5/30/2012

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In the past I've given away MCAT books and helped pre-med students with their personal statements. This year I've decided to do a "Medical School Application Q&A"  to help students navigate their way through the process.  I'll try to answer as many questions as I can-- so ask away!

Submit a comment or contact me @JenniferAdaeze, hashtag twitter questions #askJenn! 
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One of my Favorite Poems

6/9/2011

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 This is one of my favorite poems. It really speaks to the learning that happens for me in Narrative Medicine <3 

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry-
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without offense of Toll ─
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul.


-Emily Dickinson
1 Comment

HCSMGate & "Microbullying"

6/1/2011

5 Comments

 
During the HCSMgate debates and @mommy_doctor’s subsequent departure from twitter, I was really shocked to find that many people refused to believe that an act of bullying had occurred. I struggled to articulated my thoughts to those engaged in the debate until I realized that our community does not even have the vocabulary to accurately describe the unrecognizable violence committed against one of our colleagues. The “bullying” referred to in HCSMgate shall be hereafter referred to as “microbullying.”  This is a term derived from the words "microagression" and "bullying." I explain the etymology of the term and more specifically, how it applies to HSCMgate below.

According to Columbia University psychologist Derald Wing Sue, PhD microagressions: 
  •  “[are] everyday insults, indignities and demeaning messages sent to people of color by well-intentioned white people who are unaware of the hidden messages being sent to them"
  • “hold their power because they are invisible, and therefore they don't allow us to see that our actions and attitudes may be discriminatory."

According to the Department of Health and Human Services bullying involves:
  • “Imbalance of Power: people who bully use their power to control or harm and the people being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves
  • Intent to Cause Harm: actions done by accident are not bullying; the person bullying has a goal to cause harm
  • Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same the person over and over by the same person or group"
Anything put into the digital space has the potential to grow and take on a life of its own. That is to say, content can "go viral." The power of social media and viral content has long been recognized. 

Microbullying is the INTENTIONAL and REPETITIVE use of social media POWER by WELL-INTENTIONED people who are UNAWARE of the HARM that is caused by SUM of each deliberate reaction, which may have been "harmless" or even constructive criticism on its own.

There is no single person to blame for @mommy_doctor’s departure from twitter. Yet to say she left twitter “because she wanted to” is to deny that any sort of violence was committed against her. I believe @mommy_doctor was the target of microbullying. If we each throw a pebble, eventually we have the power to crush with the mass of a boulder.  Despite the fact that some members of the community defended @mommy_doctor, perhaps her instant celebrity and infamy were too much of a burden to bear. 

As members of a community, we must be sharp in perceiving larger context and implications of our individual actions. In order to use Social Media mindfully we must exercise a greater sense of awareness and respect the magnitude with which our actions can influence others, for better or worse.
.
5 Comments

Social Media in Medical School Applications

5/31/2011

6 Comments

 
I started my first blog, Chick Lit MD, in December of 2009. By the time I began filling out my medical school applications I had been actively blogging for approximately 7 months. As someone interested in the intersection between medicine and media, the use of social media was integral to my exploration of both fields. As such, I included my adventures in social media in my application in a tactful and strategic manner.  Now that I have actually been accepted to medical school, I’d like to to offer current and future applicants a few tips!


Be Professional -  If you are listing social media amongst the activities that have reinforced/ strengthened your interest in medicine, make sure you put your best foot forward. I wrote about ChickLitMD.com in my AMCAS essay and a number admissions committees definitely checked it out.  Some told me that they looked at the blog before the interview, and others informed me that they would check it out after the interview ( but before an admissions decision was made).  I’m proud to have my name on my website - make sure you are too!

Be Aware of Skeptics- Many physicians are quite conservative about physician exposure on the Internet. Make sure you understand these concerns and anticipate skepticism. I only encountered one interviewer who was skeptical to my face on the application trail. Thankfully I had read Dr. Brian Vartabedian’s advice on including social media in medical school applications before hand, so I was prepared for this sort of criticism. Above all, you should also be able to articulate the fact that you understand your responsibility to both the medical profession and patients and choose to use social media mindfully.

Believe in what you Blog - Did I mention that admissions officers will read any website you list in your application??? That makes all the content you post fair game for the interview.  Be prepared to speak intelligently about any of the material on your website. For example, during one of my interviews I was asked about an article I wrote on the health hazards of smoking Hookah. Despite the fact that I had written the article many months ago, I was asked to discuss the topic and  explain my rationale for including this content on my site.

Present Social Media as a Means to an End-  I found that interviewers interested in my social media presence were less interested in WHAT I was doing, and more interested in WHY I was doing it. If you blog about health, why are you doing it? What do you hope to achieve? How is social media helping you achieve these goals?  It's important to keep these questions in mind when writing about social media in your applications. In your descriptions you should aim to demonstrate ability, interest, and participation in the promotion of health and wellness. At the end of the day, each activity you describe in your medical school application should illustrate learned skills and demonstrate your potential to be an excellent physician.
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