You Didn't Get into Medical School, Now What?

Nationally, only about 45% of medical school applicants get accepted to med school the first time they apply. This means that the majority of people who matriculate into medical schools have applied more than once. More and more applicants are applying after a "gap year." A gap year is the years(s) between college graduation and medical school matriculation.

We are frequently approached by people who want to go to medical school, but did not get in the first or second time around. Typical questions that we get asked are: should I just give up? Should I study study study for the MCAT and take it again? Should I get a Master's while trying to study for the MCAT? Should I do research while studying for the MCAT? Should I gain some life experience? Should I start working and make money? Should I take some more undergraduate courses to strengthen my GPA?

Well, there is no ONE right answer, but I do think that some answers are better than others. Here are some things to think about and to consider doing if you don't get into medical school the first time around.

1. Do you really want to be a doctor?

This may seem like a dumb question, but I promise you it's not. It's something you really need to give some serious thought. Don't just look deep within yourself for an answer, do your research. Ask the doctors you know about the joy and fulfillment they experience at work. Would they do it all over again if given the opportunity? What are some of the rewarding parts of their job? What are the not so rewarding parts? Shadow as many doctors in as many settings as you can. Really try to soak up what it's like to be an actual doctor and think about if that is compatible with what you want out of life. Yes, doctors make good money once they complete training, but typically they work 60 hours a week on average (varies widely from specialty to specialty) and at times have to be "on call." Are you about that life?

To find a doctor to shadow, start by asking your own doctor or any doctors that you or your family/friends know if you can shadow them. You can also ask professors or pre-med advisors if they know of any doctors that have had students shadow them in the past. Additionally, you can contact the volunteer office at your local hospital to inquire about shadowing opportunities.

I shadowed my pediatrician in high school and my younger siblings' pediatrician when I was in college. I saw the Mercedes Benz my preceptor was driving, I heard about the fancy parties he and his wife attended on South Beach with people like Nelly, but I also saw the amount of paperwork he completed and the large number of patients he saw each day. Ultimately, it was the difference he made in the lives of the children he cared for both medically and socially that had the largest impact on me. This opportunity also gave me one more experience to write about on my ERAS application and speak about during my applicant interview.

*Hint: Be weary of people who give you extreme answers. Try to take advice from people who live balanced lives and give balanced answers - people who tell you the good and the bad. 

2. Why didn't you get into medical school?

You have to be honest with yourself in order to answer this question and succeed the next time around. Did you apply to enough programs? Did you make the right grades? Do you have the extra-curricular activities and life experience medical schools are looking for? Did you interview well? Did you score high enough on the MCAT? These are just some of the things to consider. I can tell you that even if you are deficient in any one of these areas there IS STILL HOPE.

The MCAT can be a HUGE hurdle for many applicants. Consider a prep course like the Princeton Review, get into a study group and start studying early and often. If you don't have $$ for the prep course consider applying to summer programs that offer it for free through certain medical schools. I attended a free Princeton Review Course at my alma mater, University of Miami. Click here for more information.

3. What do I do now?

• You can always apply to more programs. If you need financial assistance to apply to more programs or to pay for the MCAT click here.
• You may have to go outside of your comfort zone to other parts of the country, but it is well worth it. Being raised in Florida, I was in complete denial about moving to Ohio for med school. In fact, I was partying in Miami without a care in the world 2 days before flying out to attend medical school in Ohio. However, leaving my comfort zone at that time was the best decision I could have made. I grew up. I was away from distraction so I could study, I went to a reputable school that future employers will recognize, I got closer to God, I traveled to different countries for medical missions and I made long lasting relationships. Weathering the cold winters was well worth it. Again, don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.
• Also consider D.O. programs if you have not in the past.
• Some people apply to U.S. Caribbean medical schools and end up doing very well in their careers. From what we have heard and seen, the upside to going to a Caribbean medical school is that you get to go to school in a tropical climate and they typically enroll year round. The downside is it can be very expensive and there is a stigma attached to them. Whether you decide to go to medical school in the states or in the Caribbean, make sure you know the board pass rates for the school. This will give you an idea about whether or not the students are being well prepared academically.
• I think the BEST option for someone who is looking to strengthen their application is to use the gap year by enrolling in a post-baccalaureate program with DIRECT LINKAGE into a medical school. Some of them are expensive and they don't guarantee acceptance into medical school- don't do those! Apply to programs that offer conditional acceptance upon successful completion of the program. The programs usually consist of science courses and MCAT prep. For more information on post-bac programs click here.

If you decide that being a doctor is for you, don't give up. Keep going and do whatever it takes. Don't waste time, it takes enough time to become a doctor already ;-). So do what is necessary now. Even if that means getting out of your comfort zone or spending a year in a post-bac program that will prepare you for med school. Trust me, the time will fly by and you'll be better for it.

This can be a sensitive topic. If you want to talk more about it. Leave a comment below or email us at ohemaasaj@gmail.com. We are always willing to answer your questions!

Love,
Ohemaa Mina

PS for info on how to survive pre-med refer to our post here.

Losing One of Us

 On January 20 Stephen Pasceri walked into Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and shot and killed cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael Davidson before turning the gun on himself. Pasceri's mother was a former patient of Davidson's and passed away last November.  Marguerite Joly, sister to the gunman told the Boston Herald "I think it comes down to the fact that my brother thought it was the doctor's fault that my mother died." It is believed that Pasceri believed a drug therapy given to his mother by Davidson was the cause of her fatality.

Source

The untimely death of Dr. Davidson brings to light the growing concern of personal safety for medical providers. Attacks by patients are truly a physician nightmare and last week's event is just one of a string of attacks against physicians in the past few years. For example, in 1999 a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital was stabbed by a patient during a therapy session before the patient was shot dead by a security guard.

Why are physicians suffering in the hands of those we have dedicated our lives to serving? I believe it comes down to perception. Point blank, many in the public think we are God. (We are far from it!). If things go wrong or not as anticipated the assumption is the doctor made a mistake. However often times the person being treated is either very sick or has a condition not amenable to treatment. Unfortunately you cannot save everyone, in spite of your best efforts.  I like to think that God uses physicians to carry out His work here on Earth and ultimately what happens to patients is His decision.  Yes, there are times when malpractice is the cause of unnecessary fatality or increased morbidity, but I don't think that warrants the death of the person who made the mistake.


Working in a high crime area, I have always been nervous about being caught in the middle of the various shootings and incidents that occur outside the hospital.  Never would I have imagined that I now need to be concerned with what happens inside the building. Hospitals and medical centers are supposed to be places of healing, not causes for anxiety and fear for your life. So what do we do now? Do we increase security at hospitals and implement hospital wide metal detectors? Should we evoke the idea of physician right to bear arms in the work place? Or do we just stand and pray that we never encounter a patient or patient acquaintance who wants to take matters into their own hands? I honestly don't know what the answer is.I do believe education should be given to medical staff on how to deal with aggressive and potentially dangerous patients.

I do feel an open discussion needs to be had on changing the public perception of physicians and health care providers. There needs to also be a dialogue on how to extensively explain to patients and family members the extent of someones illness and realistic expectations. Understanding the depth of an illness may help people realize that sometimes no matter how hard a physician may work, the outcome may not be a positive one.

Despite the tragedy at Brigham and Women's Hospital and others in the past, I still believe in the purity of human nature. I'm thankful for the opportunity to help others and believe the majority of people are grateful for the work physicians do.   We at OhemaasMD send our condolences to Dr. Davidson's family and Brigham and Women's Hospital who lost a hard working surgeon, mentor and teacher. Interventional cardiologist Dr. Andrew Eisenhauer said "You should all be assured that Michael Davidson was one of the kindest and best physicians and men that ever walked on this earth,". May his legacy live on through his wife, children, and all the patients who benefited from his work.

Natural Cold Remedies

On our previous post we discussed the most common ingredients found in popular cold and cough medications.  For those interested in alternative methods here's a list of home remedies that may improve symptoms including sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneeze, and cough:

View image | gettyimages.com

GARLIC

• Garlic is an anti inflammatory agent which is also has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. 

• Garlic can help lower blood pressure so caution should be taken by people taking medication to lower blood pressure

• Garlic cloves can be added to  food or chewed raw

•  Cloves can also be boiled in hot water and drank with honey

MENTHOL

• Menthol salves (ie Vicks VaporRub) can help with nasal congestion when placed under the nose or on the chest

• Soothing ointments like camphor and eucalyptus can aid in numbing the skin around the nose which may be raw and painful from constant rubbing with tissue

View image | gettyimages.com

HONEY

• Honey helps soothe an irritated sore throat and can be added to teas and hot fluids or taken raw

WATER and other CLEAR FLUIDS

• Water, lemon tea/water all help loosen nasal and throat congestion helping removal of mucus.

• Constantly drinking clear fluids (while avoiding alcohol, soda, and coffee) will also help with congestion and dehydration.

 SALT WATER

• Salt water gargles can temporarily relieve a sore throat

• Mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of iodide free salt with an 8 oz glass of water and gargle for 10 seconds before spitting out.

View image | gettyimages.com

GINGER

• A known expectorant and anti inflammatory, ginger is an excellent cure for the common cold
• Ginger can be added to teas, drank with boiled water, or chewed raw

MOIST AIR

• Cold viruses thrive in dry air, one of the reasons why they are more common in the winter

• Humidifiers, hot showers, and inhaled steam (by covering your face over a pot of boiling water) can all help with congestion 

View image | gettyimages.com

CHICKEN SOUP

• Everyone's favorite cold remedy, chicken soup contains anti inflammatory properties, with the clear broth helping to prevent dehydration.

View image | gettyimages.com

REST

• Resting will allow your body's immune system to fight off the infection rather than working on operating several body systems at the same time (muscular, neurological, endocrine,etc)

Why aren't Vitamin C and Zinc on the list?

• Several studies on Vitamin C have shown that contrary to popular belief, it is not effective in the prevention or reduction in severity of the common cold.

• Zinc was once thought to decrease the duration of a cold howeever research has shown that there may be no acte beenfit of taking zinc to improve symptoms of a cold
• The FDA recently released a warning against zinc containing nasal sprays due to cases of permanent loss of sense (anosmia) after use.

More remedies can be found at Mayo Clinic

What are some of your favorite remedies?

The Common Cold

Source

It's that time of the year again, the winter season has brought along what everyone dreads; the common cold.

"The cold", also known as a head or chest cold is most often caused by one of over 400 viruses, rhinovirus and adenovirus being the most common. Symptoms include low grade fever, cough, sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy/sore throat, and general fatigue and malaise. Transmission is through direct contact with air droplets containing a virus or objects (like door handles) with virus particles on them which you touch and invariable transmit to your mucus membranes (mouth, nose) by touching them.

Since the common cold is caused by a virus there is no "quick fix" such as an antibiotic which will cure the infection. Symptoms occur due to the immune response to the virus, more so than the virus' actual destruction of cells and tissues. The average course lasts about 7-10 days and can extend up to 21 days.

The #1 way to prevent getting a cold is to WASH YOUR HANDS. Washing hands after using the restroom or when hands are soiled, after contact with a sick person, and when coming home will decrease your chance of receiving and transmitting viruses. If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer is your next best option.

There are now several over the counter medications which can aid the process of recovery. Discussed below are the most common ingredients found in several cough and cold medications in stores today:


DEXTROMETHORPHAN

 An antitussive (cough suppressant), dextromethorphan is the major ingredient in the majority of cough medications helping to lessen the severity of a cough. Drowsiness is a common side effect so caution should be used when taking this medication and handling automobiles or machinery.
Dur to its ability to create a hallucinogen/"high" effect when taken in large doses, many medications with dextromethorphan (especially cough syrups) now must be bought directly from the pharmacist and with ID.

GUAIFENESIN

An expectorant, guaifenesin thins and loosens mucus in respiratory passages likes the nose and throat.This allows you to cough out the mucus in an attempt to breath easier and also suppress cough.
The most common side effect is nausea and vomiting, especially when taken without food.

ACETAMINOPHEN

The active ingredient in Tylenol (also known as paracetamol), acetaminophen is primarily a fever reducer and pain reliever. 
Generally deemed a safe drug, speak with a physician prior to taking if you have liver disease or have had an allergic reaction to acetaminophen in the past.
In the setting of possible overdose, head to your nearest emergency department as soon as possible.

PHENYLEPHRINE 

Found in both cold medicines and nasal sprays phenylephrine is a nasal decongestant used to help make breathing easier.
Side effects include increase in blood pressure, headache, rebound worsening of symptoms, and feelings of excitation and restlessness.

DIPHENHYDRAMINE

A potent anti histamine, dipenhydramine is used to combat symptoms such as itchy, red eyes, sneezing, itchy/sore throat and a runny nose either from the common cold or allergies.
Diphenhydramine's most common side effect is drowsiness, and is commonly used off label for insomina (difficulty sleeping).

View image | gettyimages.com

Since the majority of cough and cold medications contain these 5 ingredients they may all potentially help decrease symptoms.  Viruses usually have to run their course before you will notice any improvement so do not be discouraged if you feel the medicine is "not working". Rest, drinking lots of fluids, and avoiding other sick individuals will help you get better in no time.

Cough and cold medication should not be given to children under the age of 4 unless directed by a physician. If you are pregnant speak with your Ob/GYN or primary care physician prior to taking any medication.

If you or someone you know may have overdosed on cough syrup, or any cold or flu mediation, call the Poison Help Line immediately at 1-800-222-1222 or go to your nearest emergency room.

If cold symptoms persist after 21 days with worsening cough, fever, and difficulty breathing you should be seen by a health care professional as colds can sometimes progress to pneumonia or bacterial sinusitis.

Stay tuned for the next post where we discuss natural remedies for the common cold!

4 Reasons Why Setting New Year's Resolutions and Goals can be a Healthy Practice

 

1.  Stress Relieving. The very act of getting your thoughts, dreams, visions and goals out of your head and onto paper can be therapeutic and stress relieving. You may feel a sense of relief come over you as you take the first step in achieving your goals by writing them down in an organized fashion and prioritizing them. Make sure the goals you set are SMART -> Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-bound.

2. Confidence Boosting. Part of goal setting is reflection. Take time out to reflect on what you accomplished in 2014. It can be big or small, personal or professional. Knowing that you have been able to accomplish what may have looked like an insurmountable task in the past will give you the confidence to pursue your future goals. Furthermore, as you take the steps necessary to make your current dreams a reality, you will get closer and closer to bringing those dreams into fruition giving you another boost in confidence. Get into the confidence boosting cycle.

3. Productivity. Goal setting forces you to think about what you really want out of life. This is important because knowing what you want out of life puts you in a better position to go after what you want in life. It gives you a visual reminder of what you have to work towards. (Refer to our post on vision boards for more about visual goal setting).You know what you need to save for, study for, invest in, and pray about. Most people write goals down the same way the make a grocery list. There's no sense of urgency with list making. Maybe you'll go shopping this week, maybe you'll go next week. As you set goals, set actions. Write down actionable points for each day to help you accomplish the goal and give yourself a deadline. People who take action tend to be more productive and happier. Happiness and productivity are important to your mental health.

4. Healthy Resolutions! You can make resolutions regarding your health! Here are just a few points to get you started:

• Exercise 3 to 5 times a week
• Eat healthier
• Sleep better
• Meditate every morning
• Schedule in fun time 

Bonus: Click here for a goal setting worksheet from New Leaf Fitness.

What's Your Vision?

Source

As we prepare to enter the new year it is time to rethink, refocus, and re tune ideas for the future. One of the best ways to jump start the new year is to create goals and objectives you wish to complete. I would be lying if I said I never have issues staying on track with my goals. Most times I either forget them or give up hastily if I have difficulty accomplishing them.This year I decided to try something new to improve my goal setting and attaining. I had heard of vision boards in the past but after recently reading the story of Lucinda Cross, a former convict who's life was changed with the help of vision boards (read more here), I knew it was something I had to try.

Vision boards, also known as dream or inspiration boards are a visual technique for creating and pursuing your dreams. It's often said that if you see something over and over again, you are most likely to remember it and this holds true for ideas and plans. Dreams can become realities when they move from your thoughts to actions.

Source

The process of creating a vision board consists of cutting photos and phrases from magazines and catalogues. These images and quotes can represent who you are, where you are in life, and where you hope to be. Positive thoughts, words of affirmation, and visions of the life you want can all be added to the board. Great topics to envision through your board include financial prosperity, health and fitness, travel, education, and career.

 Most vision boards are created using poster board or cork board, but online versions can also be made, especially through the popular website Pinterest. One important aspect to consider when creating a vision board is where you will place it.  It should be placed in an area where it can be easily seen and offers the ability to  constantly reassess your goals (i.e. a window sill or bedroom or office wall).

Source

Source

A vision board party is a great way to get the ball rolling on this craft. When like minded people are together, they can feed off of one another's positive energy. Being with other's who want to take control of their lives may also encourage you to do the same. So grab a group of friends, put on great music, pour yourself a drink, and get to cutting!

Hear are some other tips to help set and execute your vision for 2015:

1. Congratulate Yourself- Many people say they want to change but never do the things necessary to make their ideas come to fruition. By simply stating you want to change and working towards it, you are one step closer to completing your task.

2. Don't Stress- As the old adage goes"If at first you don't succeed, try,try,try again!" If your road does not go exactly as "planned", don't fret. Many times you may have to stop, regroup, and re tune your plans to get to your ultimate goals. The great thing about a vision board is it can help you remember where you want to be and hopefully give you the drive to keep going.

3.Take Small Steps- Though your dreams may be big (and they should be!), it can sometimes be overwhelming if you try to do to many things at once. Rather, efficiency can be achieved by breaking goals down into smaller parts so they are easier to tackle.

4. Copy- There is nothing wrong with taking a page out of another person's book who is where you want to be. Often times the best inspiration comes from seeing other individuals who have what you want.A great place to start is by following blogs, read inspiration books or autobiographical, and speaking with people you admire.

5. Have Fun- Life is meant to be lived, no matter what situation you are in. Even if you are not where you aspire to be, take a deep breath and enjoy the blessing of being alive. Find enjoyment in the everyday things, no matter how small they may look in your eyes.

With the help of a few magazines (and glasses of wine) I completed my vision board.

The finished product!

Have you done vision boarding in the past or plan to do one? What will you focus on?

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS!

As busy as we all are we must remember to take time out to enjoy life with family and friends! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

HOLIDAY DINNER

Spinach  stew

PUERTO RICO

Flying in to SJU!

El Yunque National Rain Forest

Mofongo!

El Yunque National Rain Forest

El Yunque National Rain Forest

Hotel rooftop

Brunch

Brunch

Hotel rooftop

Old San Juan

Lunch

Brunch

GALAS

West African Health Foundation Gala

 

 

SEVEN SENSATIONAL MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS OF 2014

1. THE BIONIC EYE

The “Argus II” takes video from a camera built into glasses (as shown in the picture) and wirelessly transmits that image to implants in the retinas of blind patients. The technology has been available in Europe since 2011, but it was approved for use in the U.S. by the FDA in 2014. The technology is not perfect, but it does help patient's distinguish white from black or the curb from the sidewalk.


2. BREAKTHROUGH TREATMENTS FOR HEPATITS C


In the past, Hepatitis C therapies had cure rates of about 70% and would take almost an entire year to complete. Not only that, but patients may have undergone injections with interferon that produced difficult to tolerate side effects. Now, there are newer oral drugs with cure rates of 91 percent to 100 %. These therapies only last 12 weeks and have been proven to treat more difficult to cure patient populations such as those who also have HIV. One major down side to these newer treatments are the price, they can set you back anywhere from about 85k to 95k.

3. THE POOP TRANSPLANT IN A PILL FORM



I know how this sounds, but fecal transplants have been helping people who have suffered with a serious infection called Clostridium difficile (C. diff). C. diff is a toxin that can produce life threatening diarrhea and in fact about 15k people die from it each year. C. diff is typically an infection that we see in hospitalized patients, immunocompromised patients or patients who have taken broad spectrum antibiotics.

When the usual antibiotic regimens don't work, poop transplants may actually do the trick and have pretty good success rates - some studies quoting 81%. The transplants work by replacing good bacteria from the donor poop into the recipients colon. At present the transplant is preformed via an enema, but recently researchers in Canada have been able to get the good bacteria (minus the poop) into an oral pill!

 4. THE CANCER GENOME


By reviewing the mutated genome of a tumor, we can now tell whether or not some cancers will respond to current chemotherapy regimens. This is helpful because if your doctor knows you won't respond to current treatments he or she can get help you make the decision to get into a clinical trial much sooner.

5. NEUROPACE, STOPPING SEIZURES BEFORE THEY START



Although the NeuroPace has been in development for some time, it was just approved by the FDA this year. The device is a neurostimulator - a small, battery powered device surgically implanted in the skull that continuously monitors brain electrical activity. The neurostimulator delivers brief pulses of stimulation when it detects activity that could lead to a seizure, this can help to prevent the seizure before it happens. Seizure activity has been reduced in participants by 40%.

6. IBRUTINIB, MISSILE GUIDED CANCER TREATMENT


Normally, cancer treatments kill good cells along with the bad cells. Researchers have discovered that the growth of some lymphomas and leukemias is controlled by a protein called Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Now there is a new drug called Ibrutinib that blocks BTK and leaves the good cells alone.

7. 3D PRINTED BODY PARTS

 

We've all heard of using 3D printers to replicate everyday household items or make toys, but did you know that scientists are using them to make embryonic stem cells, skin, blood vessels, heart tissue, cartilage, bone and organs? Some of these advancements are still in the works, but one day researchers may be able to help thousands of people who are waiting for organ donations by printing the organs they need using biologic material. Pretty cool stuff!

There's a new Surgeon General in town. What does that mean?

On December 15, 2014 Dr. Vivek Murthy was confirmed as the 19th United States Surgeon General. Educated at Harvard and Yale, Dr. Murthy is a Boston based Internal Medicine physician and educator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He is the first Surgeon General of Indian descent and the youngest at 37 years of age.

After the confirmation, the Office of the White House released a statement stating “ Dr. Murthy will bring his lifetime of experience promoting public health to bear on priorities ranging from stopping new diseases to helping our kids grow up healthy and strong,”President Obama said in a statement , “Vivek will also help us build on the progress we’ve made combating Ebola, both in our country and at its source.” Murthy himself said as Surgeon General he would focus on preventing childhood obesity, increasing rates of childhood vaccination, and decreasing smoking rates as he is “deeply passionate” about disease prevention.

The Office of the Surgeon General is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In order to become the US Surgeon General a physician must first be nominated by the President of the United States then be confirmed by majority vote by the US Senate for a 4 year term in office.

With his new role, Dr. Murthy oversees all public health initiatives and programs for American citizens that involve the federal government's money. As the medical spokesperson for the federal government, he also represents its views on public health policy.  Referring to the prestigious role, the Office of the Surgeon General states that "As the Nation’s Doctor, the Surgeon General provides Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury. " A well known act done by a former Surgeon General was the Surgeon General Warning on tobacco products indicating it can be hazardous to health ( Rear Admiral Luther Leonidas Terry, M.D , 1964). The Surgeon General also awards several public health awards for exemplary acts of services as well as chairs the National Prevention Council, a  partnership of 20 different government agencies to promote community-based wellness programs including tobacco cessation and expanding access to healthy foods.

As the operational head of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC)  Dr. Murthy  will lead the Commissioned Corps, a group of 6,500+ uniformed health care professionals. These authorities,who are on call 24 hours a day, can be dispatched in the event of a public health emergency (such as Ebola), natural disaster, and assist in international health issues.  Along with their day to day duties which include holding offices within the NIH, CDC, FDA and other federal agencies, they also have a common  mission to protect, promote, and advance the health of the nation.

So why is a Surgeon General necessary? Essentially the Surgeon General is a leader, the American health leader. Though he can not directly affect policy making he can serve as a spokesperson and educator for critical health issues affecting physical, mental, and community well being. Important messages can be sent through the Office of the Surgeon General in a way that all people, no matter what level of medical knowledge, can understand. From obesity prevention, to the importance of seat belts this position works towards the unbiased prevention of illness, advocacy of wellness, and promotion of positive health activities.




Office of the Surgeon General

Cole Said It Best

J. Cole

Michael Brown. Eric Garner.
I Can't Breathe. Hands Up. Don't Shoot.

 These are the names and terms that have been heard from the mouths of people across the country and globe for the past several weeks. The tragic shooting death of Michael Brown by Ferguson, Missouri police and the choking death of Eric Garner by Staten Island, NY police in 2014 have resonated in the souls of men, women, and children alike. The shooting death of 12 year old Cleveland native Tamir Rice by a police officer has also ignited fury and calls for justice for those affected by police brutality and a criminal justice system that has at times not acted appropriately towards members of the community.

Hip hop artist J. Cole said it best in the lyrics of his song "January 28", off the album 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
What's the price for a black man life? I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight~ J. Cole
 
African American men are continually dying in the hands of those that have sworn to protect them. There are many correctional officers who are doing a great job of serving their community, however there are a few whom may be doing more harm than good. After grand juries failed to indict the officers involved in the Brown and Garner cases thousands of protests, marches, and boycotts have occurred throughout the nation demanding change.

#WhiteCoats4BlackLives, a coordinated protest on December 10 by medical students in over 70 medical schools in the US and Caribbean was created to not only protest against racial discrimination and police brutality, but to also shed light on the injustice which happens to blacks within the health care system.

"Die-In's consist of medical students in white coats and other individuals laying on the ground, most for four and a half minutes- representing the four and a half hours that Michael Brown's corpse layed on the ground after being shot.

The hope in these demonstrations is to open a much needed dialogue amongst health care professionals, healthcare systems, and the general public about the large disparities people of color face in receiving sufficient health care. Racial discrimination in itself has a direct impact on mental health, leading to increased stress, behavioral issues, depression and suicide. To often minorities are unable to receive the medical help they need due to various socio-economic or prejudicial constraints. The alarming low rate of African-Americans matriculating into US medical schools is also raising concerns that lack of diversity amongst providers will  affect the patients' views and possible use of the health system. 

As student doctors we are obliged to recite the Hippocratic Oath during medical school. The oath is a public declaration of our aim to uphold certain ethical standards. Do No Harm (non-maleficence)  claims a physician will refrain from providing futile treatments or act with malice towards a patient.

I believe that just as physicians are held accountable for inappropriate conduct and malpractice, police officers should be held accountable for improper handling of force and weapons, as well as discrimination. How a choke hold is not considered unlawful is beyond my understanding, but the continual abuse of members of the general public by law enforcement needs to come to an end. Both the criminal justice system and the health care system are responsible for the general well-being of the community at large.If the public can not trust us, we who have dedicated our lives to helping them, then who can they trust?

Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten ~ J. Cole


Below are photos of various Die-In's

John Hopkins School of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine

Morehouse College

Howard University School of Medicine

University of California, San Francisco

Harvard Medical School

Image Source

** OhemaasMD in no way supports the recent shooting death of two NYC police officers, in apparent revenge for Eric Garner