Sept. 2013, Issue 1

UPCOMING CHANGES TO the mcat?

By: Chase Clark

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For all of us aspiring medical students, the MCAT is an inevitable step in a long and challenging process. Considered to be the toughest standardized test out there, it will test your abilities in physical, biological, and social sciences as well as verbal reasoning skills. Due to an evolving health care system, the MCAT will be changing in the near future to expand the testing sections. It will have a larger emphasis on the social and behavioral sciences. This is being done to recognize the importance of socio-culture and behavioral determinants of health. The changes are expected to debut in 2015.

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Recently a change has been implemented in which the essay section has been removed. Replacing this part of the exam is a new “trial section.” It is optional and comprised of thirty-two questions pertaining to either biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physics OR psychology, sociology, and biology. The amount of preparation necessary for this part of the exam is minimal considering that one’s scores will not be seen by medical school admissions staff. It will however, serve to determine which sections will be implemented on the new test.

As always, you should not choose to take the exam if you are not prepared, regardless of future changes. Do not worry if you cannot take the test before the spring of 2015. However, be sure to spend a little extra time covering material that pertains to social and behavioral sciences. If you use an older review for the newer version, be sure to supplement the necessary review information as well. Of course, an additional few courses of psychology and sociology couldn’t hurt to prepare you for the MCAT. Whichever test you are on track to complete, try not to overstress yourself, and good luck.

Sources: American Association of Medical Colleges (aamc.org)

Medical College Admissions Test (e-mcat.com)

AED NEWSLETTER

Alpha Epsilon Delta is a national pre-health honor society for

distinguished students who wish to pursue a career in one of the

healthcare fields.

Lorem Ipsum During the month of September: On September 8th, AED hosted a USC medical school discussion panel. Each speaker provided wonderful information about the admissions process, how and when to begin preparing for the MCAT, and time management skills. Each student also gave accounts for their journey as a pre-med/medical school student.

On September 22nd, AED also hosted an osteopathic medical school discussion panel with students from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). They, too, provided a plethora of information regarding the medical school process. They also explained the major differences between D.O. and M.D. programs and how to prepare for a career in osteopathic medicine.

On September 27th, AED members were privileged to visit and tour the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville campus. This was a wonderful opportunity for everyone, especially those considering attending USC School of Medicine post graduation of undergraduate studies. Once again, students that attended received valuable information, not only about the campus, but medical school in general.

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International Service Learning (ISL) was founded by Michael Birnbaum in Costa Rica in 1994. The program partners with student groups to unite meaningful service, hands-on medical experience and unique adventure in a single mission.

Since 1992, ISL has served in-need communities by providing:

Over a thousand medical teams Healthcare for hundreds of thousands in underserved communities in over a dozen countries Meaningful and socially responsible service learning experience for almost two thousand students annually

ISL would like to invite you to participate in opportunities to provide healthcare to underserved populations in the Caribbean, Central America, Africa, or South America. As an ISL volunteer,

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depending on location, you will have the unique experience to work with local physicians and nurses to triage patients in a clinical setting, shadow doctors in hospitals, observe hospital procedures, and proctor patient history evaluations during house visits. In addition, you will be immersed in the local culture and will be able to experience unique sights and sounds of the region.

The ISL University of South Carolina Chapter is currently developing three missions this upcoming year:

1. Nursing trip to Nicaragua January 3rd-11th (nursing students only)

2. General medicine trip to Belize through OPPA March 8th-16th (all pre-med students are eligible)

(Continued on page 3)

International service learning

By: Katie Lucas

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Upcoming Events:

October 6th Induction (1 pm -

2 pm at Rutledge Chapel), cookout

(directly after at the Russell House)

October 20th D.O. Physician

speaker (6:30 pm in PSC 002)

October 24th Bake sale

hosted by the fundraiser committee

from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on the

Pickens street bridge. Needed:

Donations (baked goods)

Volunteers

November 3rd Physician

Assistant speaker (6:30 pm in PSC

002)

November 17th Medicine

through the Military (6:30 pm in

PSC 002)

December 1st Potluck –

open to all members (6:30 pm in

PSC 002)

FROM THE Grocery store TO THE HOSPITAL

BY: DRASTI PATEL

When you think of animal food, do you think about a possible treatment for nerve damage caused by chemotherapy? Me neither. A group of researchers from Johns Hopkins led by Dr. Ahmet Hoke discovered that a chemical commonly found as a preservative in dog food could prevent the development of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a result of nerve damage, which is a common problem in people with diabetes. Dr. Hoke and his team administered two thousand compounds for neuro-protective effects in various cell lines and found that the antioxidant, ethoxyquin, which is used in animal food, had the most pronounced effects. When they administered ethoxyquin with an injection known as paclitaxel, they discovered that a common type of nerve fiber damage that occurs in animal’s paws did not develop.

With this discovery, Dr. Hoke and his team were able to identify that heat shock protein 90 was the molecule that was responsible for mediation of the neuro-protection by its effects on the levels of the proteins known as ATXN2 and SF3B2. These findings indicate that the antioxidant, ethoxyquin, might be suitable for development to help prevent chemotherapy-indicted nerve damage in a clinical setting.

Source: Medpage Today (medpagetoday.com)

3. General medicine trip to Nicaragua through Capstone March 8th- 16th (Capstone Scholars/Fellows pre-med students only)

Other trips may be planned in order to facilitate all needs of interested students. More specific trips are available to pre-dental, pre-vet, PT, or pre-pharmacy/pharmacy students.

For more information regarding ISL trips, contact ISL USC campus representatives Emma Robl and Katie Lucas, or go to the ISL website www.islonline.org.

roble@email.sc.edu lucaskd@email.sc.edu

Sept. 2013, Issue 1

MEET THE WRITERS

Katie Lucas Senior biology

major/international studies minor

Chase Clark Sophomore business major/biology minor

Drasti Patel Junior biology major

Aed contact info

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Handy (handy@mailbox.sc.edu) President: Andy Lin (lin37@email.sc.edu) Vice President: Adam Richardson (richa384@email.sc.edu) Secretary: Shalini Tailor (tailorsp@email.sc.edu) Treasurer: Zach Buchanan (buchanaz@email.sc.edu) Historian: Humna Fayyaz (fayyazh@email.sc.edu) Reporter: Katie Lucas (lucaskd@email.sc.edu) Service Co-Chair: Milan Shah (shahmj@email.sc.edu) Service Co-Chair: Amy Hartman (hartmaae@email.sc.edu) Social Co-Chair: Kelsey Williams (will3464@email.sc.edu) Social Co-Chair: Paige Schroder (schrodep@email.sc.edu) Fundraiser Chair: Jennifer Grimm (grimmjl@email.sc.edu) Induction Co-Chair: Tyler Goodwin (goodwitn@email.sc.edu) Induction Co-Chair: Dan Robertson (Robertdo@email.sc.edu) Newsletter Chair: Cole Mumpower (mumpowej@email.sc.edu) For more information about Alpha Epsilon Delta and how you can get involved, visit our website http://www.uscaed.com