Lewis Associates e-Newsletter
Volume 9 Issue 3
March 2010
Published by Lewis Associates. Dr. Cynthia Lewis, PhD., Editor
Email imaclewis@lewisassoc.com with your comments. Enjoy!

By March, most applicants (Class of 2010) are in the Last phase of interviews, and potential applicants for the entering Class of 2011 should be close to completing their application essay and other application experience drafts, as well as assembling all letters of recommendation into a confidential letter file. Lots to accomplish ... and sooner is better!

This month's question (on Dr. Lewis' Facebook page) is:  "How is medicine a business?"

Getting into medical, dental, pharmacy and the other health professions schools is getting HARDER!

As usually happens in an economic downturn, more people are attracted to stable careers like the health professions…competition is fierce!

How are YOU going to stand out from thousands of applicants?

Warning about student-run websites from Cornell Medical School Admissions staff:
"PLEASE do not encourage students to get information from web sites administered by other students. From time to time, I look up the studentdoctor.net site (for interview ratings) and I am appalled at the amount of misinformation there. Most of the information given there will hurt students more than help them."

Sick of rumors and false reports? Lewis Associates website has factual information that you can trust.

What's inside:

Welcome to Success Stories Newsletter!
How to Communicate With Us
Changes in Services
Your journey to a health profession
Are You Ready for the Class of 2010?
Testimonials
Track Record
Be Competitive
Getting Started

Breaking News:
• Expecting a Surge in U.S. Medical Schools

News:
• Obama readies final push for health-care overhaul
• Profiling the 2009 Entering Class of Osteopathic Medical Students
• National Health Service Corps and Indian Health Service Provide Financial Resources for Osteopathic Medical Students
• 2010 Osteopathic Match Results
• Medicare pay overhaul heats up
• Medicaid safety net: Strong enough to hold?
• "I'm sorry": Why is that so hard for doctors to say?
• First national health security strategy released by HHS
• Modest and Uneven: Physician Efforts to Reduce Racial/Ethnic Disparities
• Macy Foundation Holds Primary Care Conference

Useful Links
• New, better CPR by Mayo Clinic
• Optometry admission test
• Financial Literacy 101
• International and Appalachian Outreach by Osteopathic school

Alumni Update
• Ashley, Entering Class of 2008, Pudue University School of Veterinary Medicine
• Dayna, M.D., Entering Class of 1990, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rehabilitative medicine doctor in Minnesota

Success Story of the Month
• O. H., Entering Class of 2010 Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)

Question of the Month
• Dr. Lewis' answer to this month's question on Facebook. "How is medicine a business?"

Our Services

Contact

Welcome to Lewis Associates!

Nearly one in ten Americans ages 20 to 24 is unemployed. But, health care jobs remain an economic bright spot. The U.S. Department of Labor expects the health sector to add more than 1.4 million workers over the next ten years. Students in college and even high school can start preparing now for a rewarding health career.

Are you ready?

Our Track Record
Entering Class of 2009...96% acceptance
Entering Class of 2008...96% acceptance
Entering Class of 2007...97% acceptance
Entering Class of 2006...89% acceptance
Entering Class of 2005...100% acceptance
Entering Class of 2004...100% acceptance

We have restructured our Advising package so you can become competitive during the entire application process!

Our one year package addresses ALL preparation and application activities, no matter when they occur for you. We advise all applicants to begin preparation for their application process at least 18 months prior to expected matriculation . But, real preparation to become a strong, competitive applicant starts when you enter college (and even before!) So, get started NOW!

If you are interested in personalized advising from “The Best in the Business,” (quote by Dr. Patrick Linson, Harvard Medical School Alum who is the only Native American Radiation Oncologist on the planet!), call Lewis Associates today to schedule YOUR personal assessment. Dr. Lewis invests in you, so you may live up to your potential to be the best applicant you can be!

How to Communicate With Us

Phone: 805-226-9669 Fax: 805-226-9227
Mailing Address: 1885 Laguna del Campo, Templeton, CA 93465

Lewis Associates absorbs Long Distance Charges
All phone conferences are made from our office to you. Marcia, our Administrative Assistant, calls YOU at your appointment time.

Changes in Services

• New Services: PHARMCAS and SOPHAS personal statement.
• New Service: Resume development.
• New preparation and application package: Ultimate Commitment package covers ALL advising.

Where are you in your journey to a health profession?
In high school? Yes, we advise high school students, particularly, those interested in BA-MD programs!

Just starting college? This is a scary time.  Everything is new…how do I meet all those new expectations?

Moving into your difficult upper division sciences as a college junior? Possibly, the "dreaded organic chemistry"…

Re-entering as an "older" non-traditional student? Re-establishing academic discipline…

We help prepare those of you submitting applications for medical and dental Residency programs, too!

Whatever niche you fit, we advise students just like you.

Are you REALLY ready to apply for the Class of 2011 or 2012?
How do you know?
Use our Personal Assessment--and you will be given your individual strategy and path to your future! Then, if you use our advising, we help implement your strategy! And if you start the ultimate Commitement Package within 6 months, we subtract your Personal Assesment Fee from the total. If it were easy to do, all applicants would be accepted...and, that is not the case.

Many whom we advise may not yet be ready, and need to develop some aspect of their background to become competitive. Best to apply when you are ready, be competitive, and do it ONLY ONCE!

Let's work together to make that one-time application successful…contacting us earlier is better so we can develop your strategy and address all those difficult problems…months or years prior to application. Why not set yourself up for success, rather than toy with the proposition of failure?

Testimonials
Gail Ruth, mother of Todd Ruth, Entering Class of 2010, Jefferson University Medical School
Just a short note here to let you know how appreciative we are of all the wonderful help you gave to our son, Todd. He just received his first 2 acceptances from his top choices, so we couldn't be more pleased.! You were instrumental in guiding him as to which courses to take and gave him invaluable help with his essays. Thanks once again for all your help and guidance.

David and Maureen Lee, parents of Eric Lee, Entering Class of 2009, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
June, 2009: "Dr. Lewis, We just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you for all of your strategic guidance, wise counsel, encouragement, and mentoring to our son Eric on his journey to get into medical school. That is quite a process!! Eric definitely took the "road less traveled", majoring in philosophy, but he worked really hard to get his science prerequisites under his belt. He benefited so much from your experience, insight, and when needed, "tough love". You kept him on track, and we thank you. We think he will be an excellent physician. Perhaps some day we will meet. Again with gratitude, David and Maureen Lee."

Michael Nevarez, Entering Class of 2006, Harvard University School of Medicine, his first choice school
"Dr. Lewis was a wonderful guide and mentor as I embarked on a medical career a number of years after graduating from Cal Poly (graduated 2001, applied to med school in 2006). She gave an honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of my profile, and more importantly provided specific and personalized ways in which I could address my application and the process going forward. Her advice and experience was invaluable and I am very happy to have worked with her."

Margaret Jolley, Entering Class of 2008, UC San Diego School of Medicine, her first choice school
"I never would've made it without my weekly conference with the calm, experienced Dr. Lewis. She kept me sane. I am so grateful for her guidance, for her editing help, and for the confidence she instilled in me. She is a genuinely caring committed Mentor who takes pride in helping our dreams happen. I have urged every fellow student I know to call her. Let her help you, too!"

Austin Yoder, Entering Class of 2009, Accepted to Uniformed Services University for Health Sciences, Philadelphia Osteopathic-GA, West Virginia Osteopathic, Tennessee Osteopathic, and Kansas City Osteopathic
"I am utterly grateful to Dr. Lewis for all her help, guidance and mentorship through the application process. I owe a great deal of my success to date to her team."

Ariel Chairez, Entering Class 2004, Scholarship Awardee, University of Wisconsin Medical School
"Dr. Lewis, I would like to thank you for all of your help. Without your guidance, I would not have been accepted into medical school this year. I am extremely happy to have been accepted to one of the top medical schools in the country, and to have received a scholarship of $130,000. For any student who questions the value of your services, I can say that you have saved me $130,000 in tuition!  Thank you."

John Fiszer (Lawyer), Entering Class of 2005, University Of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
Dr. Lewis' note: John was an Assistant State's Prosecuting Attorney in Chicago, Illinois, when he contacted me in 2004. Finishing his 4th year of medical school, he said: "I am really enjoying med school, and I am thankful to Dr. Lewis for her help. Her methodical, disciplined approach to the med school application process, as well as her insight into the transition to med school were right on target."

Ali Warrick, Entering Class 2011 Advisee
"Dear Dr. Lewis,
I appreciate your help in my transfer process to UC Berkeley. You have been an integral part of the transition, and I would like to thank you for your time and efforts.  I know that your work is very thorough and well thought out. In addition, I believe that you really care about your students, and believe in each student's "right fit" in a school. You lead many people toward a brighter future, and I would like to say, 'Thank You!' for your contribution toward my academic goals. This process has been much more enjoyable with your guidance. Thank you for being so good at what you do."

S, Entering Class 2008, accepted with full scholarship to Mayo Medical School
"I cannot thank Dr. Lewis enough for her support and invaluable advice. When I came to her, I was apprehensive about the formidable task of applying to medical school especially with my past academic and personal hardships. She helped me see that overcoming these difficulties was a testament to my strength, dedication, and diligence. One of the most surprising outcomes of our relationship was that she was effective in helping me develop a more positive self-image and conquer many of my insecurities. Without her guidance and letter of evaluation, I would not have been able to earn an acceptance to Mayo Medical School, which granted me a merit scholarship that covers almost all of my tuition. I truly appreciate all of her help. She went above and beyond her role as an Advisor by becoming a Mentor to me. She is absolutely the best in the business!"

Be Competitive
In order to be a competitive Class of 2011 or 2012 applicant, you need to submit a quality application as evaluated by your clinical, service and other experiences and your GPA-MCAT/DAT/GRE, etc. profile in a timely fashion. This requires a well thought-out strategy to carry you through the difficult year-long application process. If you use Dr. Lewis' advising, we begin preparation early in the year BEFORE submission of your application!

EARLY is always better, removes much of the pressure, and allows time to solve unforeseen problems and challenges.

What are your chances?
If you want to change your career, or reach your present career goal, but do not know how to begin, or how to jump over all those hurdles, Lewis Associates will advise you and implement strategies to change your life. Dr. Lewis is thorough and professional.

Getting Started
Read on our website about getting your Personal Assessment done, then phone or email us to get started! Dr. Lewis spends, on average, 7 hours developing an effective strategy of taking you from where you are to where you want to be. Added Benefit: We will subtract the cost of your Personal Assesment from an Ultimate Commitment Package if you choose it within 6 months.

You may be like our other Lewis Associates Advisees -- highly motivated and intelligent -- but needing focus, guidance and specific technical expertise. Dr. Lewis solves problems for her Advisees and finds opportunities for them. Or, you may wish to use hourly advising to solve one specific problem.

Dr. Lewis is a trained Biologist, having taught and directed her own research programs for many years at two universities. She earned two postdoctoral fellowships (one at NIH), received the 1990 NACADA Outstanding Institutional Advising Program in the U.S. and directed her own Health Careers Opportunity Program grant for 6 years, bringing $1 million to her university while helping hundreds of disadvantaged students enter health professions.

If you are serious about making your dreams to become a physician, dentist, physician assistant, veterinarian, optometrist, podiatrist, naturopathic physician, or pharmacist a reality--Dr. Lewis can help you. We have made the difference for more than 800 alumni now training or practicing in medicine over the last 23 years.

Dr. Lewis teaches Professionalism, Leadership, and Quality, and sets high standards for her Advisees.

Lewis Associates will save you money and heartache on your preparation and application process.

Contact the Health Career experts! For more information email imaclewis@lewisassoc.com. Call 805-226-9669 to set up your first appointment.

breaking news

Expecting a Surge in U.S. Medical Schools
New medical schools are seeking to address an imbalance in American medicine that has been growing for a quarter century.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/education/15medschools.html?emc=etal


news

Obama readies final push for health-care overhaul
President Obama has released a health-care reform proposal that combines the House and Senate bills -- and adds some of his own priorities.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/22/AR2010022201731.html?hpid=topnews

Profiling the 2009 Entering Class of Osteopathic Medical Students
The nation’s colleges of osteopathic medicine report a total of 4,872 2009 first-time matriculants to the 24 osteopathic colleges and three branch campuses that are part of the AACOMAS application process.
http://www.aacom.org/resources/ome/2010-02/Pages/2009class.aspx

NHSC and IHS Provide Financial Resources for Osteopathic Medical Students
A closer look at the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) scholarship and loan forgiveness programs.
http://www.aacom.org/resources/ome/2010-02/Pages/nhsc.aspx

AOA Announces Pre-Scramble 2010 Osteopathic Match Results
2010 COM graduates prepare to enter the next stage of their professional lives following the February 8 release of the National Matching Programs osteopathic match results. http://www.aacom.org/resources/ome/2010-02/Pages/match.aspx

Medicare pay overhaul heats up as health reform moves to back burner
In a newly uncertain political environment, physicians and seniors try to refocus debate on Medicare doctor pay. Without action, cuts will take effect March 1.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/01/gvl10201.htm

Medicaid safety net: Strong enough to hold?
Many state Medicaid programs provide better preventive care access for kids than private insurance. Would any future federal expansions change that?
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/01/gvsa0201.htm

"I'm sorry": Why is that so hard for doctors to say?
Concerns about medical liability, insurance coverage and a lack of training for doctors mean an apology after medical errors is the exception.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/01/prsa0201.htm

First national health security strategy released by HHS
The intent of the four-year plan is to bolster response systems for widespread health emergencies.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/01/prsb0201.htm

Modest and Uneven: Physician Efforts to Reduce Racial/Ethnic Disparities
While many U.S. physicians identify language or cultural barriers as obstacles to providing high-quality patient care, physicians' efforts to overcome communication barriers are modest and uneven.
http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/1113/

Macy Foundation Holds Primary Care Conference
The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation recently held its 2010 Conference on Primary Care, addressing the nations primary care workforce shortage and rising health care costs.
http://www.aacom.org/resources/ome/2010-02/Pages/macy.aspx

links

Mayo Clinic Presentation of Continuous Chest Compression CPR
Cardiocerebral resuscitation (CCR) is a new approach to patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5huVSebZpM

Information and resources on the optometry admission test
http://www.glassescrafter.com/information/passing-the-optometry-admission-test.html

Financial Literacy 101
Help members of the academic medicine community navigate the complexities of student debt.
http://aamc.financialliteracy101.org/welcome.cfm

International and Appalachian Outreach
Medical Missions at VCOM providing care to underserved and disadvantaged populations throughout rural Virginia, the Appalachian region, and globally in developing countries.
http://www.vcom.vt.edu/outreach/

Find these and other useful links on Lewisassoc.com's Links Page.

alumni updates

Ashley Ashley, Entering Class of 2008, Pudue University School of Veterinary Medicine Jan. 24, 2010: "Hi Dr. Lewis, I hope all is well with you. Vet school is going fairly well - of course it's very challenging, but I am doing well enough. I think I'll probably track small animal medicine at this point. We choose our tracks in April of this year. I am not sure yet if I'll do an internship, but I don't think I want to specialize, so no residencies for me! Hope to talk to you soon. Ashley."

Dayna Dayna, M.D., Entering Class of 1990, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rehabilitative medicine doctor in Minnesota - volunteer for Haiti Relief Jan. 26, 2010: "Dear Dr. Lewis, Within the next few weeks I will be joining a medical team, being deployed to Haiti to assist in caring for injured earthquake survivors. I will be gone 10 days at most, possibly 2 weeks, but no more. I have a lot of work to do here in Minneapolis, so can't be away for much longer. I'll keep you posted. Dayna"

Watch for Success Stories coming for some of these alumni!

O. H., Entering Class of 2010, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)

Dr. Lewis with O.H.

It was the first day of my freshman year, and I was sitting in an auditorium of 300 other premeds---yes, I was one of them.  Flipping through my chemistry textbook, I assumed it would be easy. After all, high school was a breeze, and I graduated at the top of my class.  It took only 1 month and two quizzes for me to realize how wrong I was. I received more B’s that first semester than I had ever seen in my entire high school career, and like so many other aspects of my freshman life, I needed to adjust.

But it wasn’t just about restoring my grades, it was about restoring my dignity, too. In high school, my academic excellence was a point of pride for me… now, without that, I needed to find a new way to distinguish myself. I dabbled in all sorts of clubs and activities that year: I became a licensed EMT, fundraised for a medical inequality club, and even joined the Premedical Society. But, it wasn’t until sophomore year, when I joined a developmental biology lab, that I found my place.

In research, I discovered what I had never known I was looking for, a fun environment for doing and discussing science. I looked forward to spending hours in our windowless tissue culture room, manipulating mouse embryos that were only hours old. It was both peaceful and exciting, and I loved every moment of it.

By junior year, I was deeply immersed in research. With an extremely supportive mentor blowing wind at my back, I was presenting posters, winning scholarships to attend conferences, producing a science magazine, and preparing to write my senior honors thesis.  Along the way, I had stumbled into the subject, which would become my scientific obsession: stem cells. I read about them, wrote about them, and even did research pertaining to stem cells.

By the end of my junior year, the rest of my premed class was preparing their applications to medical school. But, I wasn’t ready to choose between research and medicine just yet. Following a long discussion with my mentor about whether I would be better suited for medical school or graduate school, I arrived at the conclusion that neither---or more appropriately, both, was the only way I could go.

After graduation, I joined a human embryonic stem cell lab as research assistant, where I was up close and personal to the subject I loved best. I also shadowed MD/PhDs, and really got to observe the interface of medicine and stem cell science.

Then, the twist--- I took my MCAT and scored only so-so, not even average for competitive MD/PhD applicants. I was crushed. I thought that after everything I had done to be competitive for the dual degree program, in the end it would all come down to a mediocre MCAT score. Luckily, at this exact moment, I had decided to seek professional help. I called Dr. Lewis, and she assured me that I would be able to apply competitively to MD/PhD programs as long as I emphasized my experiences in my personal statements. She kept me on track, motivated me when I needed it (which was very often), and gave me the confidence to pursue my dream goal.

This December, when I opened my email and saw that I had received an acceptance to the MD/PhD program  at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I actually cried from happiness. I hope that upon my graduation, I will be a physician-scientist prepared to study and apply treatments for human disease using stem cell based technologies. All of these years of hard work have finally culminated into one beautiful acceptance, and I almost wouldn’t have made it, if it wasn’t for Dr. Lewis

.

Email to Dr. Lewis if you wish to communicate about medical schools or other issues or to contact those profiled in Success Stories: imaclewis@lewisassoc.com

question of the month...see Facebook, Advising Tips tab (link)
By Dr. Cynthia Lewis, PhD

"How is medicine a business?"

We will feature an important question each month. Please submit one that interests you for Dr. Lewis to answer. Send your questions to imaclewis@lewisassoc.com with 'Newsletter Question' in the subject line.

The Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants' (AIGAC) Stamp of Excellence is issued based on education, professional experience as a graduate admissions consultant, and commitment to the AIGAC's principles of good practices. AIGAC exists to define and promote professional excellence in serving graduate and professional school applicants worldwide.

Lewis Associates specializes in personal, effective and professional premedical advising and placement for traditional and non-traditional applicants. Often, non-traditional students are older than 21 years of age, career changers, international applicants or second-round applicants for admission to health professions school.

Lewis Associates' services meet the needs of all types of students from pre-applicants to applicants, including hourly advising support for specific needs. Click here.

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."

If this is how YOU feel, then, maybe Lewis Associates is the place for you. Lewis Associates provides Mentoring and Coaching through the rigorous and often circuitous pre-health preparation and application process. Other consultants may support programs like Law and Business or graduate school -- not Lewis Associates. We are the experts in Health Professions based on 26 years of a successful track record.

Call or email today to set your first appointment!

805.226.9669 imaclewis@lewisassoc.com

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any friends, classmates, or colleagues you feel would find its contents beneficial.