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Medical Students Present on the Strengths and Challenges in Chicago's Neighborhoods
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As part of their community health project, first-year medical students presented on the barriers populations in different Chicago neighborhoods face to lead healthy lives.
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First-year medical students explore the applied arts during a five-week seminar in medical humanities and bioethics.
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Northwestern Medicine scientists showed how the overexpression of the protein SNRK in cardiac tissue improves cardiac metabolism and is protective against ischemic conditions.
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Melissa Simon, MD, the George H. Gardner Professor of Clinical Gynecology, has been appointed to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which makes evidence-based recommendations for preventive screenings, counseling services and medications.
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Lauren Andrews, a third-year medical student and long-time knitter, started the group Fein Yarns and Healing Threads during her first year of medical school after hearing from peers who wanted to learn to knit and crochet for stress relief.
"One of the things that Feinberg is good at is emphasizing that to be a good physician, you need to take care of yourself. You can't be burned out and have the empathy reserves to care for patients and have the energy to go the extra mile that a lot of situations need," Andrews said.
The group works with patients at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago on their fine motor skills through knitting, and makes baby hats for underserved patient populations.
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Focus on the MD Curriculum
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Feinberg's curriculum incorporates simulation-based mastery learning beginning from the students' first year to their fourth.
During mastery learning, students have a predetermined mastery standard they must achieve to pass a curriculum. After taking a pretest, they perform deliberate practice where they complete multiple focused task repetitions while instructors provide immediate feedback and correct errors. Once learners feel they are performing at a high level of competency, they take a graded assessment. If they don't meet the benchmark, they continue training and retesting until they've acquired the skill. While practice time varies between individuals, the results are uniform -- eliminating performance variability.
Medical students have mastered everything from technical procedural skills to communication and interpersonal skills.
David Salzman, '05 MD, '09 GME, MEd, director of Simulation for Undergraduate Medical Education and assistant professor of Emergency Medicine, has developed courses to closely align classroom instruction with relevant, hands-on clinical experiences called Synthesis and Application Modules.
At other times, students take courses such as "Breaking Bad News" and "Difficult Conversations," where they apply mastery learning techniques to simulations with standardized patients.
"A focus on communication skills ensures that our graduates possess all of the clinical skills they need to competently care for patients starting on day one of their residency training," said Diane B. Wayne, '91 MD, vice dean for Education.
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Why Did I Choose Feinberg?
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Fourth-year medical student Karolina Kucybala |
Karolina Kucybala, a fourth-year medical student, has enjoyed the opportunity during her clinical rotations to explore different hospitals, such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
"I've had the chance to work with experts, who have been the first to perform a specific type of surgery, which is amazing," she said.
Why did you choose Feinberg?
I was accepted early to Feinberg as part of the
Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program
. I
found that the Education Centered Medical Home (
ECMH)
offered a unique environment for learning, and I valued the mentorship I received from third-and fourth-year medical students. I don't know of many schools that have an
ECMH, but it's been the best part of Feinberg for me, especially my first two years of medical school.
What has been your most rewarding experience?
Working in the
community clinics
and connecting with patients from Chicago's Polish community. I came from Poland, and Chicago has a huge Polish population. I've had the chance to use my Polish and break down language barriers, which is one of the most gratifying things I've done.
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Admissions Q&A
Do you have a student hosting program?
We do have a student hosting program at Feinberg. When you are invited to interview, you will receive additional information about requesting a student host for the evening before the interview day.
What if I have a last minute problem on the day of my Feinberg interview?
We kindly request you contact us as soon as you may anticipate a conflict in regards to your interview day (arrive late, travel issues, etc). Make sure you take the Office of Admissions phone number with you during your travels (312-503-8206). If it is after hours, please call anyway and leave a message so that we can start working through any problems as soon as possible.
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