Photo Credit: Drazen Zigic

Match Day is a highly anticipated event where graduating medical students find out where they will complete their residency training. How did 2024 measure up?

Match Day is a highly anticipated event where graduating medical students find out where they will complete their residency training. The Match is facilitated through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), which facilitates these matches and acts as a centralized clearing house to help medical students and residency programs find the right fit that meets their needs. While the system is not perfect, its pretty darn good, and after 72 years, NRMP has dialed in the process well. The Main Residency Match typically has 47,000 applicants and 39,000 residency positions, and the fellowship matches for more than 70 subspecialties are offered through its Specialties Matching Service.

Match Day typically occurs in March, and students across the United States gather with friends, family, and faculty to nearly simultaneously open the envelopes that contain their residency placements. Match Day marks the culmination of years of hard work and preparation for medical students. Like many rites of passage on the long road to becoming a physician, we all have memories and stories of Match Day.

I did not match right away at the end of medical school. Instead, I took some time to train and race as a professional triathlete, so I felt like I was missing out when my classmates opened their match envelopes and found out where they would spend the next few years of their training. It is a bittersweet memory, and I didnt feel celebratory. A few years later, when I entered the match, I was on call in the resident workroom, where I learned where I would be continuing the rest of my medical training. That, too, felt anticlimactic.

Some have memories of the devastation of not being matched into their top choice program or matched at all. Some remember a week of panic going through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), formerly known as the scramble process, and even then, feeling like they were failures. We have these important memories of when and where we were and memories of mostly joy or heartache. However, I think most physicians look back on match day with fondness and perspective, knowing it was an important step in their careers. At the time, it may feel like the best or the worst day of our professional lives, but with time and perspective, I truly believe we all end up where we need to be.

There were 50,413 applicants, of which 44,853 were certified in a rank list for 41,503 certified residency positions in 6,395 residency training programs. This represented an increase of about 2% in total residency positions compared with 2023. This is a record of total applicants and certified rank lists by about 4.5%, primarily driven by an increase in non-US citizen international medical graduates (IMGs) and osteopathic (DO) seniors. US-based DO and MD applicants achieved a 92.3 and 93.5 percent match rate, respectively, which has remained stable for the past four decades. US citizen IMGs and non-US citizen IMGs achieved a 67.0 and 58.5 percent match rate, respectively, about half to a full percent lower than in past years.

Another notable trend was a rebound in Emergency Medicine (EM) match rate to 95.5% after two years of match rates far below the historical average, likely primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. This EM match was an increase of 13.9%. OB/GYN achieved a 99.6 percent fill rate. Two years after the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision, there remains strong and continued interest in providing obstetrical care. Further court decisions are expected this summer, and more potential changes are on the horizon for the specialty. However, this has not deterred medical students. Specialties with the highest percentage of US MD and DO seniors were Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine (96.8%), Thoracic Surgery (95.8%), Otolaryngology (95.8%), Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (94.6%), Orthopedic Surgery (92.1%), Interventional Radiology-Integrated (91.4%), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (90.7%).

A point that needs to be pulled out is the fluctuations in primary care. There is an existing shortage of primary care physicians in the US, and the shortfalls are expected to widen to more than 52,000 primary care physicians by 2025, with more significant shortages in rural communities. This year, the Match offered the largest primary care residency positions at 19,423, which accounted for 46.8 percent of total match positions. Although the fill rates for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, and Pediatrics were 92.9 percent, this decreased by 1.4%. The primary care fill rate fell mainly due to changes in Pediatrics, with more residency positions offered to fewer applicants. In addition, according to the American College of Physicians, most Internal Medicine residents go on to a subspecialty fellowship, and only between 20% and 25% practice primary care. As a result, the number of those matching into primary care is likely falsely elevated, and many believe that we are not preparing the primary care and preventative physician workforce that our nation and communities require.

A total of 2,575 positions were not filled initially and placed in SOAP, including positions in programs that did not participate in the algorithm phase of the process. This was a decrease of 3.1 percent. We do not yet have data on how many positions were filled; however, historically, very few residency positions were left unfilled after SOAP.

The Match data is interesting to slice, dice, and ponder. Still, it leads me to think about more significant questions regarding how we expose medical students to different medical specialties, which may or may not impact their desire to enter a specific field of medicine. Furthermore, are we training the physician workforce we need for our communities today and tomorrow? What factors are involved, and are there minor or wide-sweeping changes we must implement in the medical school and residency process?

There has been a 33% increase in US medical school positions since 2020, and new medical schools opening across the US bring the promise to supply physicians to communities in need. Positions in medical schools are great, but they do not create doctors in those communities. Compounding the problem, the increase in residency positions has not kept pace with the increasing number of medical school graduates. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, 54.2%of the individuals who completed residency training from 2008 through 2017 are practicing in the state where they completed residency, with 56% practicing within 100 miles of their residency location. Resident retention rates range from 27.2% in Wyoming to 77.7% in California. Suppose we want to ensure that rural and underserved communities have an adequate physician workforce. In that case, we need to create policies and systems that will enable and support the certation residency programs in those geographic areas with the highest need and with the right mix of specialties.

Graduate Medical Education (GME), also known as a residency, is a decentralized system that favors hospital and health system needs and individual medical student choice, which is vital to maintaining professional wellness and a long and rewarding career in medicine. However, multiple policies incentivize residency type and the culture of medical school and systems that emphasize positive or damaging exposure to different medical specialties, which may influence medical student choice.

Perhaps, the biggest policy that needs to be considered, or reconsidered, is Medicares GME funding formula, which has undergone little revision since its inception in 1965. Medicare is the largest funding source for graduate medical education, accounting for $16.2 billion in 2020. GME funding is complicated, and there is a patchwork of programs and systems with various incentives. The total number of residency positions funded through Medicare is capped, and GME-funded resident locations and specialties are unevenly distributed and heavily favor the northeast and specialty practice. Rural and underserved communities have fewer residents and Medicare GME-funded programs than urban and suburban communities. Additionally, Medicare GME funding skews heavily towards hospitals and subspecialty care. Medicare has historically played a minor role or has not funded residencies for childrens hospitals, psychiatry, and primary care, where there is the greatest need.

Overall, medical education is a continually evolving field, and stakeholders in healthcare, including medical schools, residency programs, policymakers, and healthcare organizations, must collaborate to ensure that doctors training aligns with our communities evolving needs.

Congratulations to all the medical students and residency programs who recently participated in The Match, and welcome to the next stage of your career! Regardless of whether this process yielded your dreams come true or left you feeling like your match was less than ideal, please remember that life has a funny way of helping you be just where you need to be, and your attitude and how you take advantage of what events and opportunities is perhaps most important.

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Reflections on Match Day 2024 - Physician's Weekly

[Photo courtesy of Cal Poly Humboldt]

The Huwighurruk (pronounced hee-way-gou-duck) Tribal Health Postbaccalaureate Program seeks to enroll pre-med students passionate about providing health care to American Indian and Alaska Native communities in rural and urban areas.

In the Wiyot language, huwighurruk means plants, grass, leaves, and medicine. Huwighurruk scholars will be immersed in a culturally-focused framework intertwined with science courses at Cal Poly Humboldt. The program will provide eligible students with a stipend for living and tuition costs, including those associated with MCAT preparation, and mentorship with local Native physicians.

The hope is that once students graduate from the UC Davis School of Medicine, theyll become doctors for Native American communities in rural and urban areas that are often medically underserved due to a lack of primary care physicians. According to research from the Association of American Medical Colleges, about 50% of Native American students who apply to a medical school are not admitted; and of that, 43% never apply again. Fewer than 1% of doctors in the United States are Native American.

The Huwighurruk program is the first postbaccalaureate program in the state aimed at helping Native American students in California get into medical school while keeping a focus on Tribal traditions and values through mentorships and connections.

In Native culture, one of the most important things is community and connection, especially feeling that connection with your family and tribe. With Indigenous peoples, we talk about the Earth, the plants, and the medicine and ceremony. Its that connection with Native culture and the sense of community itself that students can relate to through the Huwighurruk curriculum, says Dr. Antoinette Martinez (94, Psychology), a Family Medicine/OB physician at United Indian Health Services in Humboldt County and co-director of Tribal Health PRIME for UC Davis School of Medicine.

Students who complete the year-long Huwighurruk program with a 3.7 GPA or higher, score 499 or higher on the MCAT, and complete all the prerequisite courses for the UC Davis School of Medicine will receive conditional acceptance into the school, with additional funding towards tuition.

Its tough to get into medical school. This program aims to break down the barriers associated with applying to medical school. Its disheartening to know that 43% of Native students never apply again, so we want to connect with those aspiring medical students to successfully recruit, retain, and train them to accomplish their goals, Martinez says.

Martinez, along with Cutcha Risling Baldy, former chair of the Native American Studies department, will co-direct the Huwighurruk program. Biology Professor Amy Sprowles will assist with the programs science courses. The Indian Teacher and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) will be the designated hub for the Huwighurruk program, which is set to begin next fall.

To apply, eligible students must be citizens or descendants of a federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribe or California Indian Roll of 1971, are residents of California, and have demonstrated a history of commitment to practice in the American Indian/Alaska Native community.

Huwighurruk is supported by a grant from the Northwest Native American Center for Excellence and funding from the UC Davis School of Medicine. In establishing the new program at Cal Poly Humboldt, UC Davis drew on its experience with a similar program calledWyeast Medicine, which is a partnership between Washington State University, Oregon Health & Science University, and UC Davis.

We were thoughtful about choosing the right place for this program, where we knew students would be supported, where students would be able to engage with local tribes and community members, and where we would be able to come in and help support them as best we can in the building of the program. So we elected to do our program at Cal Poly Humboldt because of all the existing student resources and support, says Charlene Green, assistant dean of admissions, outreach, and diversity at the UC Davis School of Medicine. For us, it felt like the right decision.

As an alumnus, Martinez attests to the excellent student resources and mentorship she received as a student at Humboldt.

I credit Humboldt and ITEPP for supporting me through the process of completing my science coursework and believing that medical school admission was attainable. Without them, I might have given up, Martinez said. The connection to the ITEPP community and coursework on Native American issues helped me get through the pre-med coursework. The community and cultural integration at Humboldt are huge pluses for Huwighurruk students going through this process.

UC Davis has been offering a successful post-baccalaureate premed program for years to assist college graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds in becoming more competitive applicants for medical school.

UC Davis California Postbaccalaureate Consortium will be hosting avirtual informational sessionfor special reapplicant sessions for medical school applicants on Monday, April 22, from 3-4 p.m. For more information about the Huwighurruk program, contact[emailprotected].

Originally posted here:
CPH and UC Davis Create New Native Physician-track Program - Redheaded Blackbelt

After she became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in fencing during the Olympics in Tokyo at age 27, Lee Kiefer of Lexington was not sure what she would do about the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Both Kiefer and her husband, accomplished fencer Gerek Meinhardt, are both in medical school at the University of Kentucky and will restart their third year of med school after the Paris Olympics this summer.

I was trying to figure out what direction my life was going after Tokyo. I really wanted to keep fencing because I still love it and enjoy doing it. I felt like I could keep growing my skills, my routine, said Kiefer, a Paul Laurence Dunbar High School graduate. However, the biggest obstacle was the UK College of Medicine. I was not sure they would let me continue, which would have been totally understandable.

Kiefers friends told her she needed to ask UK officials rather than panic since she obviously wanted to compete in her fourth Olympics.

My husband also felt the same way. We thought through the timeline and decided to keep fencing and came up with a logical proposal. We talked to the dean and here we are (still competing).

Kiefer took foil bronze at the world championships in Italy last summer, matching her bronze medals from 2011 and 2002. She also had four team medals in worlds and her seven total world medals ties her husband for second most for any U.S. fencer.

Her first two years of med school were mainly classroom lectures. Both Kiefer and her husband had completed about half of their third year when they took a leave for the Tokyo Olympics.

Your last two years are in the hospital, so I will come back and restart my third year. We plan to rematriculate in June of 2025 when the semester starts after we have had some to re-study, the Olympic gold medalist said. We know it wont be easy, but thats what we plan to do.

Kiefer has never backed away from a challenge. She has won 22 World Cup medals, including five golds. She was a four-time NCAA champion at Notre Dame and nine-time individual Pan American champion. She entered 2024 ranked No. 1 in the world.

Ive had some of my best seasons since Tokyo. I am competing with a lot of confidence and joy, she said. I have really been able to train and treat fencing professionally. I am eating healthy, doing my strength and conditioning training.

However, preparing for a fourth Olympics her first one was 2012 in London is a bit surreal considering the year-long qualification process involving 13 tournaments where past results dont lock anyone into an Olympic berth.

Thats why you have to keep grinding and cant think about Paris until it is ready to happen, she said.

When Kiefer does compete in Paris, she admits she has changed in some ways since winning the gold medal but not in other ways.

I dont know if it is applicable to other sports, but sometimes it can be how your body is or how referees are and then you tend to do certain things more often. Compared to when I was younger or even a few years ago, I do more defensive action. I am still an aggressive attacker in my heart and soul and think I am a little more versatile fencer.

Kiefer and Meinhardt have been featured by NBC-TV in the promotions for the Paris games where Kiefer has a chance to become only the second U.S. fencer to win multiple Olympic gold medals in any individual event. If she just medals, the Lexington resident would be just the third U.S. fencer to win individual medals at multiple Olympics.

I have the belief and skills to do it (win gold). I am not going to put pressure on myself, but I will admit I wear my heart on my sleeve more than when I was younger, she said. I know I can do it, and its going to be hard, I want to freaking go for it.

When I was more of an underdog, it was like, I can beat anyone. And now that Im the old one, I am still like, I can beat anyone, but I also know anyone can beat me. Im not scared of it, but its just a reminder to not get comfortable.

Kentucky signee Boogie Fland made a favorable impression at the McDonalds All-American Game when he went 6-for-14 from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, and scored 17 points in his teams 88-86 win. He also had five rebounds and three assists and his follow basket gave his team the win in Houston.

However, even before the game Fland made a big impression that UK fans should like.

"Boogie Fland had his best session of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, and it was because his impact on the game extended beyond whether or not he was making tough shots," wrote 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein about the future UK point guard.

"The Kentucky commit was engaged and competitive defensively. He used the threat of his jumper to be effective in ball screens and threw some clever pocket passes. He also scored at different levels, showing pretty good lift into his mid-range pull-up and a couple of tough rim finishes with both hands over contesting interior defenders."

Fland averaged 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game last season and was named New York High School Basketball Player of the Year by MaxPreps. He shot 46% from the field, 36% from 3-point range and 83% at the free-throw line. He scored 1,418 points in his high school career.

Fland will also play in the Nike Hoop Summit April 13 in Portland along with UK signee Jayden Quaintance.

The 6-2 Fland is consensus top 20 player in his recruiting class who helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2022 Under 17 World Cup. He knows what Kentucky fans will expect from him and his teammates next year.

"Kentucky fans, they want to win. That's what they're used to. I feel like the reaction (to Kentucky's loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament) was the right reaction," Fland said at the McDonalds pre-game press conference. "They came up short. I felt like they thought they had another game. It's March; you're gonna get everybody's best shot.

I don't feel like there's no pressure. I feel like we chose Kentucky because we knew what it came with and you've just got to go in there and do what you got to do."

Soon former University of Kentucky legend Tim Couch will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. However, the former Leslie County star really wanted to play for Tennessee, not Kentucky.

I committed to Tennessee in high school and backed out of the verbal commitment. I went to UK because of my dad. He wanted me to go there. At the time I did not understand why, Couch said. It wasnt a great fit for me. Me and dad, there was some tension and arguments.

Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer came to Hyden for a home visit and Couchs father walked out of the meeting.

It was one of the most awkward situations ever. We were sitting in the living room. I told coach Fulmer I was ready to come and commit. He said, Great, and dad leaves the room and takes off. They were stunned and told me they had never had a parent leave like that before.

My dad was one of a kind. He had a unique personality. He was stubborn and hard-headed. He believed I should be at Kentucky and fortunately it all worked out.

They reached an agreement where Tim would go to Kentucky, but if year one did not go well under coach Bill Curry he could transfer to Tennessee.

I called Dad halfway through the year and told him I was going to Tennessee. My brother called Tennessee and said I was transferring. They told me I could come, redshirt and then take over as the starter, Couch said.

Kentucky went 4-7 in 1996, Couchs freshman season and Currys last season. Athletics director Mitch Barnhart knew Couch was going to transfer and he asked Couch to give him time to find a coach that could better utilize his passing talents.

I waited and he called me and said, I got a guy, Hal Mumme. I wonder who is Hal Mumme. I had never heard of him or Valdosta State (where Mumme was coaching). But the first time I met him I knew it would work. He described his system and it looked like what I ran in high school. I told C.M. I was staying.

I had so much confidence in coach Mumme. He made you believe in him. I knew we had the talent on the team to run that shotgun, spread offense. We just had not been able to go out and be the type of players we were.

Couch said he was lucky not only to play for Mumme but assistant coach Mike Leach, Tony Franklin, Chris Hatcher and Sonny Dykes.

Those guys were all great to me and they all went out and did great things, Couch said. That system is still thriving thanks to them and others using it now.

Couch noted that successful NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield are in systems with Air Raid tendencies.

Coach Mumme and those guys at Kentucky were ahead of the times and that really benefited me, Couch said. It was a loose atmosphere, but he (Mumme) would absolutely get on people. He had a great sense for when to push guys and when to back off. There were very few people then who believed in the Air Raid, but we knew we could go into a game and light up people because we had one of the best offenses in the country.

New Kentucky womens basketball coach Kenny Brooks knows that three of the nations top juniors Sacred Hearts ZaKiyah Johnson (No. 5), Bethlehems Leah Macy (No. 8) and George Rogers Clarks Ciara Byars (No. 37) are in the Bluegrass.

Theres also rising star Grace Mbugua, a 6-5 center at Danville Christian Academy who has received 15 offers, including Kentucky, since her play at the state tournament.

At his introductory news conference, I asked Brooks what his philosophy would be about in-state recruiting as he tries to restock the Kentucky roster.

When you think about Kentucky, you think about basketball, the former Virginia Tech coach said. We definitely understand the importance of keeping in-state players at home.

We also understand the importance of fit. We will look at all of it and make sure its going to be a great fit. Because sometimes situations, some kids just want to get away. Weve encountered that in the state of Virginia where we have recruited and we want to make sure everythings going to be a good fit.

We know it is a rich country with basketball. And we definitely are aware of the young ladies (in Kentucky). Weve actually been recruiting some of the young ladies to the point that we had conversations. We understand the importance of it and thats going to be a priority for us, but it will also be very important that we make sure everything is a good fit for our program.

Brooks quickly found four familiar good fits for his first UK team when all-ACC guard Georgia Amoore and 6-5 center Clara Strack both transferred from Virginia Tech to UK and junior college standout Amelia Hassett and high school senior Lexi Blue flipped their commitments from Tech to UK.

Quote of the Week: It was crazy, as a little kid watching the game and seeing him in the McDonalds game. Best of the best in the world, seeing him selected touched my heart. Thats what really inspired me to play basketball and keep going hard the way I do, UK signee Karter Knox, on playing in the McDonalds All-American Game like his brother Kevin also did before coming to UK.

Quote of the Week 2: Its been a solid group. Not necessarily one guy just day in and day out jumping off as the clear favorite. That groups got some guys that have a lot of ability. We just gotta bring them along, UK assistant Jay Boulware, on UKs running backs.

Quote of the Week 3: Nothing but happy memories and just very special to have the opportunity. Especially three years. One year is a great opportunity, but three, its just even more surreal and special honestly, UK senior golfer Jensen Castle, on playing in the Augusta National Womens Amateur.

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Kiefer ready to pursue Olympic gold, then restart med school at UK - Bowling Green Daily News

A $2 million estate gift to the WVU School of Medicine will create a chair in pediatric nephrology position while further supporting WVU Medicine Childrens as a leader in world-class pediatric care. (WVU Photo)

A West Virginia University alumnas $2 million estate gift to the School of Medicine will enhance education for future physicians and strengthen renal care for Mountain State children.

The planned gift from Dr. Dianne G. Muchant, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, establishes a namesake chair in pediatric nephrology. Muchant received her medical degree from WVU in 1986 and worked as a pediatric nephrologist for more than 25 years before her retirement.

Dr. Charles J. Mullett, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, said he appreciates Muchants generosity.

Dr. Muchant and I shared many memorable patients here early in my career and I recall those days fondly, Mullet said. This gift will help us plant the flag and solidify the base of support necessary to grow pediatric nephrology as a specialty in our state. Not only will the endowed faculty physician benefit, but so will the patients with kidney diseasesand also the next generation of medical students and pediatricians being taught. This gift will raise the profile of pediatric nephrology at WVU and will serve as a model for advancing care in our other specialties.

Muchant grew up in rural Deemston, Pennsylvania, where she was always interested in health care but questioned whether she was smart enough to become a doctor.

She first came to West Virginia as an undergraduate student at Alderson Broaddus University, where she earned her bachelors degree in medical science. She practiced as a physician assistant in West Virginia for six years before returning to school for her MD.

Muchant said WVU faculty members Dr. Martha Mullett and the late Dr. Bill Neal were instrumental in her career, inspiring her and guiding her even after she left the University. Neal was a pioneering pediatric cardiologist who led the Department of Pediatrics before serving as the founding medical director for what is now WVU Medicine Childrens. Martha Mullett is a retired neonatal medicine specialist who helped establish the neonatal intensive care unit at WVU Medicine Childrens and expand perinatal care services statewide to reduce infant mortality.

Bill Neal dedicated his life to improving care for children in West Virginia, and Martha Mullet inspired me with her pragmatic approach to care of children, Muchant said. Both of these people shaped how I practiced medicine.

Muchant completed her residency in internal medicine/pediatrics at WVU from 1986-1990 and went on to a fellowship in pediatric nephrology at the University of Virginia. She returned to West Virginia in 1993 and practiced as a pediatric nephrologist at WVU for about eight years, during which she was on call around the clock as the only such specialist at the time.

She later worked at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, and Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Im hopeful that my gift will help to provide permanent funding for pediatric nephrology, Muchant said. If the department is financially stable, you are able to attract more people who want to practice in West Virginia and continue to provide outstanding care for the children of the state.

Muchant said she wanted to build upon her legacy where it was most meaningful to her.

My heart is in West Virginia, she said. Im hoping that, down the road, more endowed chair positions are generated in the Department of Pediatrics. Thats how the department really grows and gains a great national reputation.

Muchants gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University, in conjunction with WVU Day of Giving. This years event, held March 20, raised a record $30.4million from more than 8,500 gifts.

-WVU-

cr/4/8/24

MEDIA CONTACT: Cassie Rice Senior Communications Specialist WVU Foundation 304-554-0217; crice@wvuf.org

Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.

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WVU Today | $2M estate gift to WVU School of Medicine aids pediatric nephrology care and education - WVU Today

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Medical students look to helping future doctors | Education | newspressnow.com - News-Press Now

Artificial intelligence is upon us and likely will forever change the way we interact with learning and education. Despite this reality, educational institutions seem to fall into either of two camps. One camp seems loath to acknowledge that AI exists. A faculty member who helps with curriculum development at one medical school recently shared, We dont know what to do about AI. Do we act like its not there, or do we acknowledge it?

The other camp embraces AI and encourages students to employ AI resources, such as ChatGPT. Given the possibility of plagiarism or simply allowing students to bypass any learning whatsoever, its understandable why medical schools and other institutions might be conflicted about AI. But even though AI is no replacement for a novel idea or human thought or in medicine placing ones hands on patients, AI has value in medical educationand not just a little bit. AI may be used as a supplement, resource, or aid when we are learning, teaching, or creating something new.

Just how could medical schools and medical students use AI to assist in educating students? Prior articles have suggested how medical students can utilize chatbots, like ChatGPT, as online tutors to help answer questions or to create quizzes to test their knowledge. For example, bots like ChatGPT can help compare differences in diagnoses, treatments, or procedures that students may be confused about. Those same AI sites can offer a personalized learning experience that schools ought to acknowledge or promote. NYU Grossman School of Medicine has run with this idea and has fully embraced the idea of precision learning from AI by incorporating a precision education tool. Each NYU medical student is offered a personalized medical education, with an AI algorithm tailoring subject matter and content format.

In the research space, AI can also be invaluable in medical education. For example, faculty and students alike can also utilize AI to help create data analysis plans, code for various computer languages and scan literature. An online website called Elicit lets users pose a question and then, through AI, scans the internet to find papers and synthesizes their findings into a summary.

Outside of the student experience, professors may also use AI to create lecture outlines and predict the questions that students are most likely to have about certain material. Additionally, professors and faculty must be able to set standards and address the use of AI in the classroom. If they dont, students may misunderstand the expectations for AI and when or if its use is permissible.

In our own experience, we have used AI to create study guides for courses, create outlines for lectures and book chapters, analyze CVs, and write initial drafts of promotion letters for fellow faculty members. We are certain that the uses of AI that will further simplify our work and assist in medical learning will become clearer and only be seen as greater assets going forward.

Medical schools already offer courses on a wide range of learning and research topics, such as best study practices or how to conduct a literature review. Going forward, AI-based tools should be included in these lectures and within the list of online resources for student learning and research. Additionally, schools should teach students what to watch out for when using AI, like bias or flat-out false information and/or non-existent references. Teaching how to use AI in ones learning promotes a more prepared generation for future technological innovation. This approach may complement courses that explore innovation and AI in medicine.

To those who are hesitant to incorporate AI into education even after reading about NYUs approach and our own ideas, we encourage them to look at how AI has improved other aspects of medicine. From image analysis in radiology and pathology to quick retrieval of medical information and tracking infectious disease outbreaks, this technology has created greater efficiency in health care. Other studies have found that AI can help reduce racial disparities in health care, with one investigation finding that AI better predicted pain from X-rays for underserved patients when compared to radiologists. The technology can be used for good, including in education.

To illustrate that we are not just talking about the potential values of AI in medical school education, in thinking about writing this essay, we asked ChatGPT, how can artificial intelligence be used to teach medicine and enhance learning in medical schools. The answers ChatGPT provided included personalized learning, virtual patients, data analysis and research, smart tutors, and educating students about the limitations, biases, and potential risks of AI tools.

As anyone ought to do when using AI, we analyzed ChatGPTs response, and ultimatelyalthough this might not always be the casewe agree with its recommendations. Therefore, given that we are intent on practicing what were now preaching, we couldnt have written our piece without emphasizing those elements, among others.

Amelia Mercado is a medical student.J. Wesley Boydis a psychiatrist.

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The role of AI in medical education: Embrace it or fear it? - Kevin MD

The big question is, do pills expire? With a splitting headache, you reach into your medicine cabinet for some aspirin or ibuprofen only to find the stamped expiration date on the medicine bottle is more than a year out of date. So, does medicine expire? Do you take it or don't you? If you decide to take the medication, will it be a fatal mistake or will you simply continue to suffer from theheadache? And how long is a prescription good for?

This is a dilemma many people face in some way or another. A column published inPsychopharmacology Todayoffers some advice.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Drug Expiration Dates Do They Mean Anything? - Harvard Health

The ability to train incoming healthcare workers to embrace and interrogate this new technology will better determine its influence and how it can be used in a positive way to promote health outcomes, says Dr. Aditee Narayan, associate dean for curricular affairs at Duke University School of Medicine.

It is important to tie education on AI to the reasons that folks went into medicine in the first place, she says.

For medical schools to be most effective in teaching future physicians about AI, they must support the clinical and research missions of the institution in the AI space, she adds.

What will work best is to see the ways that our institution is going to prioritize the use of AI in clinical operations and patient care, and then to align our curricular additions with those new initiatives, Narayan says.

LEARN MORE: Organizations can start preparing for the future of AI in healthcare now.

At the University of Texas at San Antonio, students can choose to take a break from the medical program to spend a year in an immersive experience in the AI field. They take foundational courses in AI and elective courses based on their specialty focus.

Physicians need a good understanding of the AI models being used in different clinical scenarios, says Dr. Dhireesha Kudithipudi, founding director of the universitys MATRIX AI Consortium and leader of the team that developed the AI courses for the unique doctor of medicine/Master of Science dual-degree program launched by the university last year.

Whether it is in anomaly detection, image processing or decision-making, students need an understanding of where the models are coming from and what types of AI models are being used in these scenarios, Kudithipudi says.

From her perspective, students must also understand how AI models are used to develop certain solutions.

Quite often, these AI models are not designed in an inclusive way, or they have some hidden biases in the models, she says. In those contexts, human intervention becomes important to mitigate the blind spots that AI has and avoid these biases being translated into actual impact.

UP NEXT:Discover how to pick the right AI solution for your healthcare organization.

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Medical Schools Train the Next Generation of Clinicians to Better Understand AI - HealthTech Magazine

A Louisville nonprofit is giving JCPS high school students an up-close look at what medical school is like.SOS International teamed up with "Project Heal," a club at UofL School of Medicine, to host a free mini-med school for students on Saturday. Students got CPR training, learned how to give medical exams and communicated with patients.This program will not only give these students an introduction to the many different types of careers in health care but it will also introduce them to the idea that they can do this that a career in medicine doesnt have to be just for someone else," said SOS education manager Chanda Fowler.The goal of the program is to offer students resources and options to help getting started in a career in medicine.Organizers say 55 JCPS high school students were accepted into Saturday's program.This is the second mini-med school. The first was held in October, and about 60 students attended that program.

A Louisville nonprofit is giving JCPS high school students an up-close look at what medical school is like.

SOS International teamed up with "Project Heal," a club at UofL School of Medicine, to host a free mini-med school for students on Saturday.

Students got CPR training, learned how to give medical exams and communicated with patients.

This program will not only give these students an introduction to the many different types of careers in health care but it will also introduce them to the idea that they can do this that a career in medicine doesnt have to be just for someone else," said SOS education manager Chanda Fowler.

The goal of the program is to offer students resources and options to help getting started in a career in medicine.

Organizers say 55 JCPS high school students were accepted into Saturday's program.

This is the second mini-med school.

The first was held in October, and about 60 students attended that program.

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Local nonprofit teams with UofL club offering mini-med school to JCPS students - WLKY Louisville

Anti-Israel protesters recently disrupted a celebration at Harvard.

On March 15, more than 50 pro-Palestine demonstrators, including both students and staff members from the Harvard Medical School (HMS), came to the schools Match Day--when applicants learn of the [medical] residency programs in which they will train--in order to express their anger at the American Medical Associations (AMA) neutrality regarding the Israel-Hamas war, according to theBoston Globe.

AMA leader Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld was giving a speech for the occasion of Match Day on campus, theGlobe reported.

[RELATED: Anti-Semitic speaker doubles down on pro-Hamas comments during Harvard event]

The protesters held up signs with the messages Let Gaza Live! and AMA is complicit in genocide, placed red tape over their mouths to protest alleged censorship from the HMS, and demonstrated both before and during Ehrenfelds speech, theGlobe wrote.

As the Globe related, the AMA released an announcement following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre of Jewish civilians. Thestatement noted: The conflict unfolding in Israel and Gaza has caused suffering and death on an immense scale. We have heard from many of our physician and medical student members expressing heartbreak and outrage about the human toll afflicting Israelis, Palestinians and others, and also noted that [i]t is critical that medical neutrality is observed because physicians and health care professionals must have the ability to carry out their work and administer urgent care to those in need.

Hibah Osman, a professor at HMS and one of the protesters, claimed that the AMA is usually very vocal about what happens to health care workers overseas, adding that the AMA has refused to make any comments about whats going on in Gaza despite the killing of hundreds of doctors and nurses and dentists and medical students, wrote The Harvard Crimson.

[RELATED: Stanford activists disrupt Family Weekend event with anti-Israeli chants]

HMS Dean George Q. Daley warned in an email before the event that those who do not respect the guidelines expressed in the HMS statement, the University-wide statement, and the January 19 guidance will be subject to review and possible disciplinary sanction, which made Osman react, saying: To threaten students who want to protest a genocide is awful,The Harvard Crimson reported.

One of the protesters, commenting on the fact that the AMA spoke out against Russias invasion of Ukraine, seemed to blame the AMA of racism: It shows that the AMA doesnt value Palestinian lives as much as Ukrainian lives, or non-white lives as much as white lives, she said, according to theBoston Globe.

In a statement toCampus Reform, the HMS insisted that the protestors followed the schools guidelines and community values on peaceful and respectful expression of ideas.

Campus Reform has reached out to the Harvard Medical School for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.

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Students, profs interrupt Harvard Med School celebration to protest AMA's neutrality in Israel-Hamas War - Campus Reform

Students interact with the table about skin diseases. (Sariah Adams/The Hilltop)

The Howard University School of Medicine partnered with several skincare companies last week to raise awareness about dermatologys importance and encourage student interest in the field.

Students were welcomed as they walked upstairs of the Blackburn ballroom, with table after table introducing students to the various skin and hair conditions that are common within the Black community.

Some of the tips given, like those from Ayana Crawl-Bey, a second-year medical student, emphasized wearing sunscreen every day to protect against not only the suns rays but also from the UV rays that come from constantly looking at your phone or computer screen all day.

The informational event occurred in part through the work of Skin Scholars.

Shanae Henry and Ugonna Nwannunu, both rising third-year medical students and Howard University alumni, launched Skin Scholars at Howards Medical School. Their initiative aims to raise awareness of skin and hair conditions prevalent in communities of color, assist in devising personalized, gentle skincare routines, and offer insights into the journey toward medical school and dermatology.

According to Henry, despite Black people comprising 13 percent of the United States population, only 3 percent of dermatologists in the country are Black.

As dermatology remains relatively underexplored and represented, especially for communities of color, according to the National Library of Medicine, initiatives like Skin Scholars aim to increase representation through exposure and mentorship and offer a pathway to contribute to a more inclusive landscape.

Howard is home to the only HBCU dermatology department in the nation where the majority of the skin cancer patients are non-Hispanic white patients.

Even very common conditions often go underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed when it comes to, not just Black skin, but skin of color in general, Nwannunu said. Thats one of the most prevalent issues and that honestly relates to just about everything else we could talk about.

Henry and Nwannunu embarked on a two-year journey to bring Skin Scholars to fruition. They secured sponsorships from Vituity Inc. as the event sponsor and brands such as CeraVe, La Roche Posay, Vaseline, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Elta MD, Byoma, and Zen in a Jar all brands that dermatologists recommend using for skin care.

The event featured seven stations, each providing insights into effective skincare routines and various skin and hair conditions from a dermatologists perspective. Interactive elements at each station, such as painted Black faces to show what certain skin conditions look like on Black skin, to the poster boards with the different condition symptoms, helped students engage in learning how to identify these conditions and understand the methods dermatologists use for examination.

Emmanuel Ike, a second-year medical student, answered students questions regarding Eczema, a skin condition causing itchy patches of the skin, and advised on methods to prevent dryness of the skin.

I believe one of the main issues is just education as well, Ike said. I feel like usually, in the medical system at large, were not introduced to dermatologists until there is an issue, and so many people might not know what a dermatologist is.

Feedback from attendees like Zoie James, a junior health science major, and Danya Hood, a sophomore psychology major from Hampton, Virginia, underscored what they said was the events success in imparting valuable knowledge and fostering interest in skincare, with an emphasis on preventive measures against skin cancer.

I gained a lot of knowledge in the past 10 minutes that I was here. It was very informative, I had a good time, James said.

Hood echoed those sentiments and added how important an event like this is as she gets more into skincare for preventative purposes.

Ive been really getting into skincare these days because I dont want any skin cancer when Im older, Hood said. So Ive really been paying attention to all the tips and tricks theyve given me and theyre very helpful.

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Medical students discuss skin care importance with community - The Hilltop Online

AUSTIN, TX -- Hands-on training that works better with medical students' schedules can improve practical skills and foster mentorship for promoting ultrasound use, according to research presented April 7 at UltraCon.

In his talk, Ernest Fonocho, MD, from the University of Texas Health McGovern Medical School in Houston presented findings indicating that a three-day curriculum with smaller class sizes improved image acquisition skills for students in several areas of the body.

We think organizing these workshops is really good for medical students, Fonocho said. It sparks their interest in radiology and helps them learn how to use ultrasound probes, which I think most people including myself fumbled the very first time when using a probe.

Ernest Fonocho, MD, from the University of Texas Health McGovern Medical School in Houston presents his institute's ultrasound training curriculum at UltraCon.Amerigo Allegretto

Ultrasound offers a safe, cost-effective method for real-time imaging capability. A 2021 report that Fonocho cited outlined how over 72% of medical schools indicated that they have an ultrasound curriculum. However, the report pointed out that there is a lack of formal, consistent ultrasound training.

Fonocho outlined McGoverns previous ultrasound training method, which consisted of a week-long radiology course for second-year students. While this method provided hands-on learning and dedicated radiology and ultrasound lectures, Fonocho said it had a student-instructor ratio of 15-to-1 as well as its share of limitations. These included time constraints, a hectic curriculum, and inconsistent personnel availability.

The institutes current curriculum consists of a three-day workshop during the musculoskeletal and dermatology block of the medical students coursework. It includes the following features: prerecorded videos introducing ultrasound, promoting independent learning prior to the workshop; radiology trainees as instructors; three workstations with ultrasound equipment and standardized patients; 50-minute learning sessions; and a student-instructor ratio ranging from four-to-one to five-to-one.

Fonocho and colleagues compared Qualtrics scores before and after the workshop for several areas of the body. These included the calcaneum, peroneal tendons, nerves, muscles, and tendons. The team found that the students scores improved after the three-day workshop.

Fonocho highlighted that the current curriculum has several benefits. These include introducing and familiarizing students to ultrasound, creating long-term interest in radiology, having radiology trainees serve as mentors, and increasing confidence in using ultrasound in clinical practice.

Having us there and giving the students opportunities to ask questions and register for the course helps them explore radiology as an option, Fonocho said. We run the radiology courses for medical students, so when they meet us, its easier for them to approach us.

Moving forward, Fonocho said the institute will incorporate ultrasound and imaging lectures in each standardized block during years one and two, allow time for associated interventional procedures practice by using gel models, and incorporating a longitudinal study to assess student knowledge and retention in the third and fourth years of medical student education.

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Hands-on training promotes confidence in ultrasound for students - AuntMinnie

California Health Sciences University has hit a significant milestone for its College of Osteopathic Medicine by receiving a coveted seven-year accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the Clovis universitys journey toward establishing a robust medical education program, CHSU officials said.

We are immensely proud to have earned this seven-year accreditation from COCA, which reflects the dedication and excellence of our medical school, said Dr. John Graneto, Dean of the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our faculty, staff, and students who have contributed to our success.

COCA, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, is the accrediting body for colleges of osteopathic medicine nationwide.

Since its start in 2020, the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine has worked towards obtaining full accreditation. Its efforts are bolstered by state-of-the-art facilities.

Related Story: Clovis Medical School Students Celebrate First-Ever Match Day for ...

CHSU recently celebrated its inaugural cohort of medical students from the class of 2024. Notably, 100% of these students were successfully matched to residency specialty programs.

The residency match results: 100% match rate achieved 65% of residencies in Primary Care 34% of residencies in the Central Valley 65 medical students set to graduate in May

Looking ahead, CHSU medical students will complete their training by passing final board licensing exams and embarking on residency programs across hospitals, clinics, and health centers. These experiences will equip them with the skills and expertise to practice independently in their chosen specialties.

CHSU will celebrate the graduation of its inaugural class of 2024 medical students at the Save Mart Center on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Disclosure: GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi is one of the founders of CHSU and a member of its board of trustees.

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Clovis Medical School Hits Huge Milestone: 7-Year Accreditation - GV Wire

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Popular alternative to CPAP machines may not be appropriate for all

A sleep apnea treatment known as hypoglossal nerve stimulation is less effective in people with higher body mass indexes (BMIs), according to a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

A nerve-stimulation treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that originally was approved only for people with body mass indexes (BMIs) in the healthy range recently was extended to patients with BMIs up to 40, a weight range generally described as severely obese. A healthy BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9.

The expanded eligibility criteria for the treatment provide more sleep apnea patients with access to the increasingly popular therapy, known as hypoglossal nerve stimulation. However, new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that the likelihood of successful nerve-stimulation treatment drops significantly as a patients weight rises above a healthy range.

The study, which appears April 4 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, is based on a retrospective analysis of treatment success in 76 sleep apnea patients with BMIs of less than 35.

Our study shows that the more overweight you are, the less likely it is that nerve-stimulation treatment will be effective in treating your sleep apnea, said senior author Eric C. Landsness, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology.

Im not saying that we shouldnt put this device in patients with a BMI of 38 or 40. But my job as a physician is to help overweight patients make an informed decision, to better understand their odds of success and realize that the chances of it working for them may be a lot less.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by relaxation of muscles in the mouth and throat when a person is asleep. Muscle slumping can cause a partial or complete blockage of airflow and oxygen supply, especially in people with large tongues, thick necks and narrow airways. Blockages may cause people with sleep apnea to stop breathing for seconds (sometimes more than a minute), until they startle themselves awake and gasp for breath, a cycle that often repeats through the night. Untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health problems, including excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches, strokes, irregular heart rhythms and other cardiovascular issues.

Sleep apnea most often is treated with a bedside continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which maintains open airways via a breathing hose and tightly fitting face mask. CPAP machines are effective, but they can be loud and uncomfortable and are largely unpopular. About half of those who try the approach fail to stick with it.

To many patients, hypoglossal nerve stimulation looks like an appealing alternative to CPAP machines. The therapy is driven by a small, battery-operated device implanted just above the ribs. A small wire is run internally up the chest and into the jaw, where it connects to the hypoglossal, a nerve that controls tongue muscles responsible for keeping the upper airway open during sleep.

Each time the patient takes a breath, the device delivers electrical impulses to the hypoglossal nerve, causing the tongue to move forward just far enough to avoid the airway blockages that drive sleep apnea.

The first hypoglossal nerve-stimulation device (brand name Inspire) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 for use in patients with BMIs less than 25 whose moderate to severe sleep apnea has failed treatment with other, more established therapies. Since then, eligibility requirements have loosened, with the FDA now allowing the device to be used in patients with BMIs as high as 40 and Medicare providing coverage for patients with BMIs up to 35.

Landsness, a sleep researcher who treats patients with sleep apnea, was surprised by the changes in the eligibility criteria. To understand how the device performs in people of varying sizes, he and colleagues performed an independent evaluation using data from 78 people with BMIs up to 35 who received implants of the nerve-stimulation device at the Washington University Sleep Medicine Center from 2019 through 2023.

The primary study finding was that, overall, the device works. Three out of four patients showed significant improvement in apnea symptoms in the year following implantation. Most study participants experienced symptom reductions of at least 50%, with many showing dramatic reductions to near normal or mild levels of sleep apnea.

However, among overweight study participants with BMIs of 32 to 35, the results were less positive, with the likelihood of successful treatment estimated to be 75% lower than those of study participants with lower BMIs.

Body mass index is clearly an important factor in predicting whether hypoglossal nerve stimulation will work for an individual patient, Landsness said. Our study shows an almost linear relationship between BMI and treatment success. For every unit of BMI increase over 32, the odds of successful treatment decrease by about 17%.

Inspire is the only FDA-approved hypoglossal nerve-stimulation device available in the United States. The company also markets the device in Europe, Japan and other countries. About 50,000 patients worldwide have been implanted with it.

Implantation of a hypoglossal nerve-stimulation device is a relatively simple outpatient surgery. Among the biggest concerns for patients are in terms of money and time. Landsness estimates that the therapy can cost from $50,000 to $100,000 out of pocket without insurance and take a year to be fully optimized.

We have patients coming to us who really want this treatment, because they view it as a life-changing alternative to CPAP, Landsness said. It certainly can work for some people, but we dont want to recommend it to patients if theres a chance their BMIs will affect the devices usefulness.

Patel R, Wang H, Jamro E, Lindburg M, Jackson R, Malhotra R, Lucey B, and Landsness E. Response to hypoglossal nerve stimulation changes with body mass index and supine sleep. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. April 4, 2024. DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2024.0261

Preparation of the manuscript was supported by the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, grant UL1TR002345 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and K08 NS109292-01A1 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

This study is not part of a clinical trial. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare and no off-label investigational use. The content of this paper is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

About Washington University School of Medicine

WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.

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Nerve stimulation for sleep apnea is less effective for people with higher BMIs Washington University School of ... - Washington University School of...

Cold, cough, and flu season is a good time to revisit the risks of acetaminophen the pain and fever reliever in Tylenol and many other over-the-counter medications. Billions of doses of acetaminophen are consumed safely every year, but deaths still occur from accidental overdoses and thousands of people end up in the emergency room. More than 600 products contain acetaminophen, and inadvertently combining them can nudge you into the red zone.

People don't realize that these doses all add up, and before you know it you've exceeded the recommended dose of acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen controls pain and fever but does not reduce inflammation, as doesaspirinand the other widely consumed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, generics) and naproxen (Aleve, generics). But unlike NSAIDs, acetaminophen does not irritate the stomach and intestinal lining. That means a person who cannot tolerate NSAIDs can still take acetaminophen. It's an important drug for controlling chronic pain in older adults.

The hitch is that acetaminophen also has a narrower window of safety compared with ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs can make you sick, too, but it takes a larger amount to reach a dangerous overdose. Taking too much acetaminophen can damage the liver, sometimes leading to a liver transplant or death.

The body breaks down most of the acetaminophen in a normal dose and eliminates it in the urine. But some of the drug is converted into a byproduct that is toxic to the liver. If you take too much all at once or over a period of daysmore toxin can build up than the body can handle.

For the average healthy adult, the absolute maximum daily dose is no more than 4,000 milligrams (mg) from all sources. But in some people, doses close to the 4,000 mg daily limit for adults could still be toxic to the liver. It's safest to take only what you need, and to not exceed 3,000 mg a day whenever possible, especially if you use acetaminophen often.

If you ever have concerns about how much acetaminophen you can tolerate based on your age, body size, and health status, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Here are some general precautions for avoiding an accidental overdose of acetaminophen.

Tens of thousands of people become ill every year from taking too much acetaminophen. In a smaller number of casesseveral hundred per year it leads to death. But it need not happen to you. Read the labels in all your over-the-counter and prescription drugs to look at the specific amounts of acetaminophen in each, and stick to the guidelines.

325 mg

500 mg

650 mg extended release

Take how many pills at a time?

1 or 2

1 or 2

1

Take how often?

Every 4 to 6 hours

Every 6to 8hours

Every 8 hours

Safest maximum daily dose

for most adults

8 pills

6 pills

4 pills

Never take more than this in a 24-hour period

12 pills (3900 mg)

8 pills (4000 mg)

6 pills (3900 mg)

It's best to take the lowest dose necessary and stay closer to 3,000 mg per day as your maximum dose. If you need to take high doses of acetaminophen for chronic pain, check with your doctor first.

For therapy options beyond the standard approaches to managing pain, buy the Harvard Special Health ReportPain Relief Without Drugs or Surgery .

Image:AntonioGuillem/Getty Images

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Acetaminophen safety: Be cautious but not afraid - Harvard Health

"Squeamish" is certainly not a word associated with physicians.

Future medical doctor Oreoluwa Olorunlogbon wants to keep it that way.

"My dad was a pharmacist in Nigeria, and he used to tell me he wanted to be a doctor. But, he didn't like blood," he said, laughing. "I was always worried ... but I'm really fascinated by the science of it all. It's like a puzzle, not only how to unravel and solve, but to create new things.

Young Ore with his mom in Nigeria.

"It's a little morbid, I guess. But the fascinating part of medicine is that once you learn how all the individual pieces work, you learn not just how to treat them, but to prevent them and enhance what we already have to make it better."

"Ore," as he is fondly referred to, joins Florida International University classmate Brooke Schwartz as this year's winners of the Robert Kemper Award for Professionalism in Medicine, bestowed annually by faculty to superior students studying medicine at FIU.

The ceremony, presented by the Key Biscayne Community Foundation and the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at FIU, takes place from 6-8 p.m. on April 10 at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club.

Schwartz, 26, grew up in Parkland and knew, by middle school, she wanted to be a doctor.

"I really liked doing fun science experiments," she said. "My mom always liked science and would give me fun things to read."

She said dissecting frogs was "definitely a fun part of high school," but her oldest brother, Brandon, was applying for medical school at that point, so that kept her interest, too.

But she's not planning to be a surgeon. After she graduates in May with her doctorate degree, she will attend Texas Children's Hospital in Houston for her three-year residency, which is associated with the Baylor College of Medicine.

Kemper Award winner Brooke Schwartz.

"It's my first time leaving Florida ... I'm looking forward to it," she said. "It's good to branch out and it will be good to see how a medical center functions, but I definitely want to come back (home)."

Schwartz completed her undergraduate education at the University of Florida, where she majored in Biology. Before matriculating into medical school, she earned a Molecular and Biomedical Sciences certificate at FIU. Her dedication to providing humanistic patient care earned her Gold Humanism Honor Society membership.

One of her most meaningful medical school experiences was rotating at a free clinic, UHI CommunityCare, in Miami Gardens. There, she fell in love with pediatrics and was able to connect with and help treat underserved families.

During medical school, she also led a research project on firearm violence prevention in honor of her alma mater, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

"I was a sophomore in college when I knew I wanted to go into pediatrics," Schwartz said. "A lot of children die annually from gun violence, and I feel comfortable talking (on a subject) geared toward educating my peers for gun safety."

Kemper Award winner Brooke Schwartz with her parents.

She said she did not pursue pediatrics for the gun violence connection. Still, after the massacre at her high school (after she had graduated), she felt it was necessary to incorporate that part of the curriculum into medical school, hoping others would follow.

She and her boyfriend, a Miami lawyer, occasionally visit the Key Biscayne area, bringing their golden retriever, Arthur, to dog-friendly Hobie Beach. They also enjoy kayaking and watching Miami's pro and college sports teams.

The Kemper honor is named in memory of Dr. Robert Kemper, who exemplified the highest qualities of medical professionalism until his life was cut short by cancer, and it means a lot to Schwartz.

"It's definitely special that my faculty views me as a professional and someone they can trust," she said. "I hope I can keep giving off that impression to my patients."

"Match Day," on March 15, in which graduating medical students were assigned (through certain algorithms) medical facilities for their next level of expertise, will take Olorunlogbon, 27, to Texas. His is a four-year residency in Houston, at the University of Texas-Houston, where he will focus on a joint specialty of internal medicine and pediatrics.

It's also his first time out of Florida, he said. Well, not exactly.

Born in Ibadan, Nigeria, he and his parents immigrated to the U.S. in 2001, when he was just 4.

Oreoluwa Ore Olorunlogbon with his mom and dad.

"My mom (who worked as a health inspector and is now a nurse) won the visa lottery," he explained, a lottery for some 25 years that has granted nearly a half-million Nigerian residents the luxury to travel the world with proper credentials.

"Our parents brought us here for a better life and a better opportunity," Ore said. "I'd like to think they made the most of it, and so did I."

It wasn't easy at first. They lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Ocala, an area known for its horse farms.

"I rode one once. It was a humbling experience," he joked.

The eldest of three siblings (sisters Anuoluwa, 20, and Ifeoluwa, 18), Ore assumed responsibility at a young age, a trait that has carried into his adult life and career goals.

Despite those challenges, he excelled in advanced programs throughout his schooling and enrolled at the University of Florida's honors college in 2015. There, he earned his bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in Health Disparities and developed a passion for working with teenagers and young adults suffering from chronic conditions.

Oreoluwa Ore Olorunlogbon with his loved ones.

"My interest lies in cancer treatments and management," he said. "Literally, it is the hardest and most difficult chapter of a person's life (trying to) handle the physical and emotional burden at the same time. They need someone they can trust."

His passion for hematology, oncology, and palliative holistic medicine is just some of what he offers. He also recognizes the importance of being a source of strength, reassurance, and competency for patients.

"Ever since I was young, I was fascinated trying to help people, but I didn't know in what capacity," Ore said. "Until I grew older, I could show compassion and care and be there in their most challenging times. There's none more challenging (area of the medical field) than sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis or cancer."

He spent the summer of 2016 in a volunteer program at the University of Florida's Shands Children's Hospital. He spent a year in FIU's graduate program, started medical school in 2020, and now will graduate with a doctorate in May.

Like Schwartz, it's a little early to imagine where his career will land.

"I'm leaning toward (working in a hospital), but I do like the idea of having a small, private clinic for under-insured people," Ore said. "It's very important work that doesn't get done enough."

Oreoluwa Ore Olorunlogbon with friends and family at the award event.

Ore is a "big fan" of soccer "when I get a chance to play," he said. But he's also an avid photographer and played the guitar for eight years at one point. He and his girlfriend, Sophia Perez, 26, who has family on Key Biscayne and is also interested in the pediatric field, enjoy going to different restaurants in Miami or cooking cultural food at home.

Beyond the Kemper award, Ore often reflects on what his parents have done for him and his sisters.

"They put food on the table," he said, "and they taught us the importance of hard work."

Originally posted here:
Meet the 2024 winners of the Robert Kemper Award for Professionalism in Medicine - Islander News.com