Lewis
Associates e-Newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 3
March 2008
Published by Lewis Associates. Dr. Cynthia Lewis, PhD., Editor
Email imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
with your comments. Enjoy!
What's inside:
Welcome to Success Stories Newsletter!
Lewis Associates Now Has The Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants' Stamp of Excellence
Current Students' Progress
How to Communicate With Us
Changes in Services
Your journey to a health profession
Are You Ready for the Class of 2009?
Testimonials
Track Record
Be Competitive
Getting Started
Featured News:
New medical school electronic Letter Service AMCAS 2009
Wal-Mart partners with hospitals to rapidly expand in-store clinics
Medicare Advantage sales tactics draw fire as Senate panel investigates
...and More
Useful Links
International Medical Volunteerism
Article from December 2007 The New Physician
The AAMC has a complete website on State and Loan Forgiveness Programs
Alumni Update
Dr. Rene Bravo, Pediatrician, Class 1983 UC San Francisco
Dr. Sam, Plastic Surgeon, Class 1996, UC San Francisco
Success Story of the Month
June Yoshii, Tri-cultural Japanese-Mexican-American, Medical Student Year 1, University of IowaQuestion of the Month
Our Services
What is this new electronic letters feature at AMCAS?
Contact
Welcome to Lewis Associates!
Stamp
of Excellence
Lewis Associates is now a member of the Association
of International Graduate Admissions Consultants' with
their Stamp of Excellence, issued based on education,
professional experience as a graduate admissions consultant, and
commitment to the AIGAC's principles of good practices.
Current Students'
Progress
Advisees applying for the entering Class of 2008 are making fantastic
progress. 96% of Lewis Associates 2008 Applicants are interviewing!
And, 81% are accepted into medical, and pharmacy, school, 3 into
their top choice school! Our
advisees are doing wonderfully. Congratulations to all!
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!
Dr. Lewis' note: Dr. Linson has just installed the newest, most advanced Radiation Surgery machine in the world in his Vista, California, medical office…even a step up from the ones at Stanford and Harvard! Congratulations to Dr. Linson. Click here to see the news video.
| Mailing Address 1885 Laguna del Campo, Templeton, CA 93465 | |
| Phone 805-226-9669 and 805-237-7656 | Fax 805-226-9227 |
Lewis Associates absorbs Long Distance Charges
All appointments/phone conferences are made from our office to you. Meagan, our Administrative Assistant, calls YOU at your appointment time.
Changes in Services
- After September 1, 2008, Year-Long Packages will be discontinued for new Advisees. If you are considering long-term advising, this is the year to lock in your Advising Agreement with us.
- After September 1, 2008, Applicants will still be able to select from our highly effective Assessment, Essay, Hourly, and Interview Packages.
- Current Advisees will continue working with Dr. Lewis until Matriculation.
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 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 2009?
How do you know?
Use our Personal Assessment--and you will be given
your personal strategy and path to your future!
Many whom I 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…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
Margaret Jolley, Accepted to UCSD Class of 2008 medical
student
"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!"
Ariel Chairez,
Scholarship Awardee, University of Wisconsin Medical School Class 2004
Dr. Lewis, I would like to thank you for all of your help. I
have decided to attend the University of Wisconsin and have
withdrawn my applications to other schools. I will
be taking anatomy in the summer to lessen my course-load the
first semester. 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, University Of Illinois at Chicago College
of Medicine Class of 2005
Dr. Lewis' note: John was an Assistant State's Prosecuting Attorney in Chicago,
Illinois, when he contacted me in 2004. Now in his 4th year of medical school,
he says: "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."
Thanks from Lily Marouf, Sackler University
Medical school (Tel Aviv) Class of 2007
"Dear Dr. Lewis, Thank you for all of your help the past year. It
was one of the most challenging years of my life, and I could not have been successful
without you. I appreciate all of your support and patience, and look forward
to sharing many memories with you when I come back to the States."
Track Record
CLASS OF 2007... 97% acceptance to medical, dental and MS/MPH programs,
one Class of 2007 applicant accepted into 2008 Class and all applicants
accepted into medical and dental Residency programs of their choice.
Be Competitive
In order to be a competitive Class of 2009,
or 2010 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 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.
Getting Started
Read about Dr. Lewis doing your Personal Assessment on
our website,
then phone or email us
to get started! We spend on average 7 hours developing an effective
strategy of taking you from where you are to where you want to
be.
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.
If you are serious about making your dreams to become a physician,
dentist, physician assistant, veterinarian, optometrist, podiatrist,
naturopathic physician, or pharmacist a reality--Lewis
Associates can help you. We have made the difference for
almost 800 alumni now practicing in medicine 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.
news
Featured News
New medical school electronic Letter Service AMCAS 2009
AMCAS will launch an electronic AMCAS Letters pilot for the 2009 entering
class admissions cycle. AMCAS Letters represents a new service expansion of AMCAS
to include the receipt and processing of letters on behalf of participating medical
schools. Twenty medical schools will participate in this pilot, whose names
will be provided by March 1, 2008. This service will launch in early May with
the opening of the AMCAS 2009 entering class application, and AMCAS will begin
to accept letters at that time. (see Question of the month about this new feature)
News
Wal-Mart partners with hospitals to rapidly expand in-store clinics
Analysts say the giant retailer wants the good will a trusted hospital name can
provide. Hospitals, meanwhile, say they don't intend to compete with physicians.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/02/25/bil10225.htm
Medicare Advantage sales tactics draw fire as Senate panel investigates
Lawmakers consider taking further action to regulate Medicare private
health plans.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/02/25/gvl20225.htm
UCF medical school to start recruiting
The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine recently
received preliminary approval from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
to start recruiting students for its first class of 40 students in 2009, according
to an article in the Feb. 7 issue of the Orlando Sentinel. The school
still needs to receive full accreditation, but preliminary approval means
the UCF College of Medicine can start talking about the program to prospective
students, all of whom have been promised a full, four-year scholarship worth
$160,000. View the Orlando
Sentinel article.
New emphasis in medical schools on care of seniors
The new emphasis on aging is part of a wave of change sweeping medical
schools nationwide as they focus on preparing future physicians to treat the
growing population of older Americans, according to an article in the Jan.
28 issue of the Boston Globe. Until recently, the vast majority of
medical schools had few geriatric programs. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
has awarded nearly $60 million to 30 schools to help meet the need for geriatric
expertise. View the Boston
Globe article.
Ethics in brief: Financial incentives and generic drugs
Pharmaceutical companies are often identified as the industry that most
attempts to sway physician prescribing decisions. They are not, however, the
only ones making efforts to influence drug choices.
Recently, some health insurers have implemented financial incentives for physicians who switch patients to generic drugs from more expensive brand-name drugs. One method of attempting this is to pay physicians for each patient who makes the change. But is this much different than a pharmaceutical company trying to influence prescribing by offering meals, gifts or other incentives?
Physicians are ethically obligated to place the interests of their patients first. Certainly, prescribing a cheaper, yet still effective, generic medication can serve the patient’s interest by lowering costs. A payment to the physician for doing so, however, may cause more harm than good.
View the AMA’s question-and-answer document which addresses the legality and ethical propriety of receiving compensation for moving patients from brand-name drugs to generics.
Lawsuit hits medical access post-Katrina
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/03/gvsb0303.htm
Program helps Hispanic IMGs qualify for U.S. residencies
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/03/prsb0303.htm
Ethics Forum - How to handle a prejudiced patient
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/03/prca0303.htm
links
International Medical Volunteerism
http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2006/12/toc-0612.html
The December 2006 Issue of the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics
The entire issue is devoted to this subject
The New Physician: International Volunteerism
http://www.amsa.org/tnp/articles/article.cfx?id=3D407
The AAMC has a complete website about State and Loan Forgiveness
Programs
http://services.aamc.org/fed_loan_pub/index.cfm?fuseaction=public.welcome&CFID=7083349&CFTOKEN=32a27b7-62f55b11-e458-4c47-8fc0-a74ac4af52d8
Click on each program for direct website detailed information
Find these and other useful links on Lewisassoc.com's Links Page.
alumni updates
 Rene Bravo Pediatrician www.calmedfoundation.org/about/rbravo.aspx |
 Dr. Sam Plastic
Surgeon Dr. Sam recently emailed from Kathmandu, Nepal, where he spent a few weeks on a medical mission. He will be completing a Fellowship in Cleft Lip and Palate surgery next year (See March 2005 Success Story) |
Watch for Success Stories coming for some of these alumni!
success stories
Japanese Mexican American in Medical School: June
Yoshii
University of Iowa, 1st Year
 |
| June
Yoshii |
June was born in Mexico City, half Mexican, and half Japanese. Her parents divorced and June has 2 younger half brothers who live in Japan. June's mother remarried and they moved to San Diego. In 7th grade June entered ESL classes in Chula Vista, where she did not learn much. In 8th grade, her mother fought to put June in a regular class, which she liked and learned English although it was hard. In high school June took AP Spanish language and literature, and honors in all of her other classes. Her uncle who had ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), lived with June's family and June was his caregiver for months, before he went into hospice. June graduated in 1995 with a strong GPA, no SAT scores, and no college. June took general education classes at a local community college for 3 years, but was given poor advising.
In her first year of college, June lived at home and worked. She worked 35 hr/wk in a pharmacy to pay for her college tuition, books, and her living expenses. Her physiological psychology course interested June in studying the brain and medicine. In June's second year, she joined the MESA club, which provided academic and personal support. In her 3rd year, June completed the prerequisites and applied to transfer, selecting UCLA. Once in UCLA, June attended a summer transfer program for minority/ disadvantaged students, then selected neurosciences as her major because of her interest in the brain. In summer 1999, June's maternal grandmother became ill and June visited her in San Diego while taking classes. The constant commuting and missing classes began to show in her grades. She also worked 16 hr/wk as a pharmacy tech at UCLA hospital. She found the neurosciences major students to be non-collaborative, and question her choice of major. Thus, June considered changing her major to cybernetics, and was encouraged to take more upper division math that were not part of her major, but in the end her GPA was too low to change.
June's grandmother health was deteriorating. She had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, yet treatment was not working. June ask one of her professor in UCLA, who did research in Parkinson's, about her grandmother. Her professor told her if the treatment did not work, then it was not Parkinson's. After that, June told her mother to stop the treatment and she began looking into other diseases. In fact, June diagnosed her grandmother's illness as PSP (progressive supra-nuclear palsy). The doctor did not agree until after several more months, and then her grandmother died that summer in hospice.
That summer, June began studying for the MCAT, but stopped once her grandmother was in hospice. June was promoted to work in the ICU pharmacy and work there until she graduated. June graduated in 2001 from UCLA with a low GPA and no MCAT.
TO BE CONTINUED IN APRIL....FOR THE ...REST OF THE STORY
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
By
Dr. Cynthia Lewis, PhD
What is this new electronic letters feature at AMCAS?
Step 1: Through the AMCAS application, the applicant: 1) enters information
regarding letters that AMCAS can expect to receive on behalf of medical
schools, and 2) selects the participating school(s) to which each letter
should be sent.
•
The applicant will enter information about the letter and the author(s)/contact/institution,
including whether the letter is a committee letter or letter packet or an individual-author
letter.
• The applicant can complete step
one either prior to or after the initial submission of the AMCAS application.
• The applicant's AMCAS application
will be processed by AMCAS and sent to medical schools with or without
letters. In other words, AMCAS does not "hold" applications
until all letters are received.
• AMCAS will provide
applicants with each school's letter requirements.
Step 2: Through the AMCAS application, the applicant prints an AMCAS
Letter Matching form and provides this form to the authors/offices
who will be sending a letter to AMCAS.
• This matching form is a key
ingredient in helping AMCAS correctly match the letters we receive
to the correct applicant, author and destination school.
Step 3: Confirm receipt via the AMCAS application.
• AMCAS will provide
applicants with a letter status view that enables the applicant to
determine whether or not a letter has been received.
• If AMCAS receives a letter for
which the applicant has not entered information in Step 1, information
about the letter (never the letter itself) will be presented to the
applicant, who will be directed to either 1) create information for
the letter or 2) match the letter to existing information.
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 advising services
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.
contact
"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 23 years of a successful
track record.
Call or email today to set your first appointment!
805.226.9669 imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
Copyright 2009, Lewis Associates. All rights reserved. Please do not repost on any website without direct permission from Lewis Associates.
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