A monthly newsletter for prospective and accepted students of the Feinberg School of Medicine.
Celebrating Match Day 2016
On Match Day, fourth-year medical students tore open their envelopes to learn where they will be spending the next several years of residency training.
EDUCATION
Feinberg has moved up two spots to become the 17th best medical school in the country for research, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Medical Student Receives Fellowship to Study Smoking Cessation in India
    
RESEARCH
MPH/PhD student Erin Lambers identified mechanisms that shed light on how cardiac cells develop from stem cells, which can help scientists better understand how the heart grows and regenerates.
Crucial Step in Red Blood Cell Development Discovered

CLINICAL
The Institute for Public Health and Medicine hosted a seminar on the epidemiology and virology of Zika virus, risks associated for travelers and possible links between the virus and microcephaly in infants.
Low Vitamin D Predicts Aggressive Prostate Cancer 
Focus on the MD Curriculum

As part of medical degree program at the Feinberg School of Medicine, a number of new teaching modalities have been put in place. Along with simulation technology and Problem-Based Learning, which have become mainstays of the curricular model, Team-Based Learning and screen casting have been introduced. These new learning strategies also incorporate role modeling and peer-to-peer teaching.
 
On March 18, a group of nearly 300 students in Feinberg's MD, Physician Assistant and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, plus nursing students from DePaul University, participated in the schools' first-ever interprofessional teamwork learning initiative.
 
During the session, students worked in groups to talk over strategies for preventing falls in the geriatric population.
 
"This is an interactive session that tries to mimic how you all will work together when you're in clerkships," says faculty leader Brigid Dolan, MD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. "The goal is both to learn a bit about falls and also to think about how all of you will be working in a team and what each of your roles are when caring for this patient."
 
The groups practiced role-playing during the stages of the patient journey, from hospital admission to safe discharge, and discussed how to decrease the risk of a patient falling while in the hospital.
 
"It was interesting to collaborate with students in all of the other professional schools and to see what role each person brought to the table when we talk about the topic of falls," says Matthew Mosquera, a t hird-year medical student.

Read more about student experiences and perspectives here
Why Did I Choose Feinberg?
 
Alex Ireland is a fourth-year medical student.  
Fourth-year medical student Alex Ireland's favorite memory at Feinberg was participating in a mentorship session for incoming third-year medical students.
 
"They were, of course, very nervous to be entering their first clinical year and it was our job to ease them through this transition," he says. "While we initially felt unprepared for the responsibility, by the end of the afternoon, we as a class were shocked at how much practical knowledge we had learned in the past year and were delighted to pass on this wisdom to the next class."
 
Why did you choose Feinberg?
Feinberg's national reputation for academic excellence is what originally drew me to the program. In delving deeper, I liked the focus on independent and self-motivated learning, as well as peer education and mentorship. It is an expectation that as a senior student you will take part in the education of younger medical students. I've always found that I learned best by teaching others, so this model really appealed to me.

What parts of the curriculum did you enjoy the most?
My favorite parts of the curriculum have always been simulation sessions. The act of practicing a clinical encounter on high-fidelity mannequins before being thrust into the real-life situation is such an invaluable experience. I take every opportunity I get to perform simulation, from practicing central-line insertions to running cardiac resuscitations. I know that when I need these skills in the real clinical environment, I will be better prepared for having practiced.
Admissions Q&A

Are diversity-related health issues part of the Feinberg curriculum?
We integrate diversity initiatives throughout our teaching, research and clinical activities. Chicago offers an incredible backdrop for training. The size and cultural diversity of our city allows us to infuse cultural competency training into our students' clinical experiences, including our clinics in Chinatown and on Devon, where they volunteer with the Indian American Medical Association Charitable Foundation.
 
Learn more about how Chicago plays a part in the MD Curriculum.
 
How open and inclusive is the Feinberg environment to LGBT students, faculty and staff?
The Feinberg School of Medicine is welcoming to all groups from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Feinberg is home to the Northwestern Chicago Out Network , a social network of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Participants include students, faculty and staff from Northwestern University schools and clinical affiliates on the Chicago campus. In addition, the Feinberg student group, Queers and Allies , offers educational and other resources to students, faculty and staff. The group also provides information for prospective students.