Research on Career

Jenna Pollock

Introduction• Pre-Professional Health concentration• My O-Net Profile top results include

• Artistic (30)• Social (24)• Investigative (24)

• Hobbies and extra curricula I enjoy• Painting, piano• Emergency Medical Response• Volunteering with my service sorority

• Career I am most interested in• Emergency Medicine Physician

History of Emergency Medicine

• The first emergency department was created in response to American dissatisfaction with emergency medical quality and an increase in health insurance rates.• James Dewitt Mills started the first 24/7/365 department in

1961.

• Emergency medicine was officially recognized as a specialty in 1979.

• EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act) was passed in 1986.• It requires emergency physicians to see all patients

regardless of their ability to pay.

Description of Emergency Medicine

• An emergency medicine physician is a specialist who is trained in treating acute and life-threatening medical problems.

• This physician is the first point of contact for most patients seen, they help to create medical care plan and refer patients to appropriate physicians for follow-up medical visits.

Growth Potential and Salary Range

• According to CNN Money, the 10-year job growth rate for emergency medicine physicians is expected to be 24.4%.

• The salary ranges between $222,119- $305,223 with a median of $287,722 my hometown of Annandale, VA.

• It is unclear at this point how the Affordable Care Act will impact physician salary.

• It is important to account for average medical school debt of $180,000 when considering salary benefits.

The Academic Path• 4 year Undergraduate Degree

• The undergraduate degree must be focused in science based courses and labs, clinical and non-clinical volunteering, shadowing, and research.

• 4 years of Medical School • The medical school model usually consists of 2 years of

heavy bookwork followed by 2 years of clinical study.

• 3-4 year Emergency Medicine Residency • Fellowships for emergency medicine include:

pediatric, toxicology, sports, and hyperbaric medicine.

Programs of Interest• One program of great interest to me is

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) medical school located in Richmond, Virginia.

• In-state tuition and fees are $33,500.• The average science GPA of admitted

students is 3.65. • The average MCAT score of admitted

applicants is 30.

Course Requirements• The course requirements for Virginia

Commonwealth University medical school include:• 6 credits of writing intensive courses• 6 credits of college level math/statistics• 8 credits of biology including laboratory• 8 credits of general chemistry including

laboratory• 8 credits of organic chemistry • 8 credits of physics including laboratory• 3 credit hours of upper level science courses

• Examples: biochemistry, Anatomy, and Genetics

O*Net Characteristic-Social

• As both a resident assistant and older sibling I enjoy giving advice.• This could translate to helping patients figure

out best course of action for their ailment.

• I gain satisfaction through helping people. • I enjoy explaining difficult concepts to

people.• This would help me in being able to speak

about medical issues to people that have not had medical training.

O*Net Characteristic- Artistic

• I dislike routine.• This is a positive for emergency medicine

because there is something new every day at emergency departments.

• I find comfort in unconventional systems.• Shift work is appealing to me, I enjoy the idea of

working odd hours such as 1pm-9pm or 5pm-3am like I saw at my home emergency department.

• I enjoy working in chaotic spaces.• I would most likely supplement any career with

hobbies as well.

O*Net Characteristic-Investigative

• The investigative trait means that I am good at putting together pieces.• This would help as an emergency medicine

physician to gather facts to find best course of treatment for patient.

• I enjoy deeper thought about complex problems.

• I like operating via concrete information and facts.

Why I am a Good Candidate

• My extracurricular activities and academic progress meet averages for many students accepted to medical school.

• Personality traits expanded upon by O*Net indicate I would thrive in emergency department settings.

• I have experience in handling emergencies through being a resident assistant and a first responder.

Why I am a Good Candidate

• My GPA is within ranges for most medical schools.

• I have taken a host of related coursework including chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physics, immunology, and English.

• I have research and volunteer experience in clinical settings.

Conclusion• Emergency medicine requires 7-8

years of post-baccalaureate training. • This occupation features good growth

and salary ranges. • Emergency medicine as a profession

works well with my personality traits.

Sources• http://schools.studentdoctor.net/selector/details/6• http://www.saem.org/membership/services/fellowship-direct

ory• http://money.cnn.com/pf/best-jobs/2012/snapshots/89.html• http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/ER-Doctor-Salary-Details-

Annandale-VA.aspx• https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/julyaugust2015/4

39854/medicalschoolstakingactiveroleinhelpingstudentsmanagedebt.html

• https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EMTALA/

• http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Pages/emhistory.aspx• http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/prerequisites/