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Institute helps students on road to success by Cindy Abole Public Relations As most people enjoyed the fun and folly of summer, nine individuals committed half of their break to MUSC's Summer Institute Program to hone test-taking skills and knowledge that could help them become  medical doctors and practitioners.   The medical-field hopefuls traveled to Charleston from the Piedmont, PeeDee, Midlands and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina to participate in this intensive resident program that ultimately would help them increase their medical college admissions test (MCAT) scores.    Brice Williams reviews information with Jarod Suber and Quyen Phan during the Aug. 10 luncheon. For six weeks students immersed themselves in scientific study,  leaving behind family, friends and jobs to refine their study strategies and learn time management and other techniques to improve their performance on the MCAT. Throughout the program’s duration, students shared living and dining arrangements at the College of Charleston.   On Aug. 10, their hard work and efforts culminated in a closing program that included a presentation of certificates, words of recognition and a luncheon sponsored by the 2007 Summer Institute Planning Committee involving faculty, students and staff from the College of Medicine, College of Graduate Studies and Center for Academic Excellence (CAE).   MSTP student Parker Wilson conducts a physics lesson with participants,which include Nicole Buzzell, Seneca; Susan Gray, Seneca; Jamaeka Holmes, Union; Heather Mathis, West Union; Quyen Pham, Columbia; Jilian Rinehart, Murrells Inlet; Sybil Sobajo, Central; Jarod Suber, Columbia; and Kelly Tarleton, Cheraw.   For the past decade, MUSC’s Summer Institute Program  helped students from around  South Carolina to achieve success through academic excellence. Originally, the institute, working with the Office of Diversity and CAE, helped students who were interested in careers in the health professions and were enrolled at South Carolina’s historically black colleges and universities. Since then, the program has evolved by partnering with the College of Medicine (COM) in 2006 to assist minority candidates and individuals from medically underserved areas of South Carolina who seek careers in medicine. CAE remains the only program of its kind among academic health centers to assist medical and allied health students in this capacity.   Myra Haney, COM director of academics and student support, manages the program and worked with this year’s seven-member Summer Institute Planning Committee.   “This is a unique opportunity that blends the strengths of people from different departments who share a unified goal of providing resources to medical school candidates,” said Haney.   So far, MUSC is the only accredited medical school in the United States that provides this level of service and support for potential medical students while addressing the needs of the country’s growing doctor shortage.      According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, America faces a doctor shortage within the next 20 years due to a growing population, an increase of elderly Americans, an aging physician workforce and expanding needs for health care services.   The program concentrates on the further development of knowledge and skills for medical school candidates, offers supplemental course instruction, time management, study strategies, skills development, and test preparation/MCAT review. For the second year, Andre Eaddy and Brice Williams, both  Medical Scientist in Training Program (MSTP) students in the College of Graduate Studies, coordinated the program from teaching courses to conducting the MCAT study review and other activities with participants. Additional instruction was offered in interviewing skills and application support.   Kelly Tarleton, 38, left his home and family in Cheraw to participate in this year’s institute. Invited to the program in April, Tarleton was impressed by the instructors expertise.   “Each of the course instructors were experts in specific areas of science,” said Tarleton, who focused on improving his MCAT physics score and re-took the test Aug. 14. “It’s difficult studying for a test like the MCAT where topics are presented on a broad scale. The instructors broke down the topics into manageable parts which made it helpful for me to learn.”   “This has been a great experience for everyone involved,” said Eaddy, a fourth-year MSTP student from Columbia. In turn, Eaddy, Williams and other graduate volunteer instructors receive valuable teaching experience working with institute participants and collaborating with faculty. “This year’s students are the best students yet and show lots of potential to do well on their MCATs and emerge as viable medical school candidates.”   Both Eaddy and Williams organized the intense, daily schedule for participants. Students attended morning review classes focusing on physics, general and organic chemistry and biology—topics covered in the MCAT exam and taught by fellow MSTP student-instructors. During afternoons, the group reviewed test problems and questions from old MCAT tests originating from the Princeton Review book, focused on test-taking skills and reviewed a study plan to help meet each student’s needs.   In addition to the daily instruction, students attended lunch lectures and workshops featuring speakers including Deborah Deas, M.D., associate dean for COM admissions, Wanda Taylor, COM admission director, and others. Guests spoke about the school admissions process, performed mock interviews, reviewed financial aid and professional ethics information.   “After 10 years of working with this program, I believe the program is one of the more successful MCAT review programs in the country,” said Tom Waldrep, Center for Academic Excellence director. “Most students pay several thousand dollars to professional programs for MCAT review. Students from South Carolina are fortunate to have a College of Medicine dean who supports and enhances diversity by financing such a program to ensure that the qualified, underrepresented minority student population will continue to grow.”     Friday, Aug. 17, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.