Instructor: Donald F. Slish (donald.slish@plattsburgh.edu) Phone: 564-5160
Yokum 205 Office: 304B Beaumont
Office Hours: Mon., & Wed. 1- 2 P.M., Wed. 9-10 A.M.
This course was designed to provide a survey of the options available in the field of health care. It is an opportunity for students who are interested in the health care to become exposed to some of the wide range of professions that are available. Each week a health care practitioner will give a 30-40 minute talk followed by a question and answer period.
Anyone is welcome to attend this class, whether they are registered or not. If you have any friends who may be interested, let them know.
Schedule of Presenters*:
Jan. 30 Donald F. Slish Introduction
Feb. 6 Jose DeOndarza Med Tech/Cytotechnology
Feb. 13 Sgt. David Dormann Army Medical Scholarships
Feb. 20 Zoanne Schnell Nursing/Nurse Practitioner
Feb. 27 Christopher Benoit Chiropractic Medicine
Mar. 5 Gerald Harrell Optometrist
Mar. 12 Milena Garcia Ross University School of Medicine
Mar. 19 Spring Break
Mar. 26 Maria Szmigiel Dentist
Apr. 2 Joseph Sorbello Respiratory Care/Allied Health
Apr. 9 Kevin McCullum M.D., General Practice
Apr. 16 Leo Maggy Pharmacist
Apr. 23 Jacuelyn Bentley Veterinarian
Apr. 30 Kristin Murner MCAT & GRE Test Prep
May 7 Jeffery Dodge D.O. - O.B. /GYN
* This schedule is somewhat tentative and may change through the semester.
Your grade will be based on two things; attendance and a short paper submitted at the end of the semester:
Grading Scale: A > 93
A- 90-92
B+ 87 - 89
Attendance 100 pts. B 83 - 86
Report 100 pts. B- 80-82
Total 200 pts/1 = 100 % C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70 – 72
D+ 66-69
D 62-65
E > 62
Attendance Policy
A large part of your grade (50%) will be attendance. Attendance is mandatory and an absence, excused or not, will cost 5 points. This class is scheduled for 6:00 – 6:50. Attendance will be taken between 5:50 and 5:55. You must be here by 5:55 to get credit for attendance. This is to show respect for our presenters, who are graciously donating their time, and to impress them with the professionalism of the students here at Plattsburgh State University. While you are in class, you should be taking notes on the presentations, even if you don’t think that you are interested in the profession (you may change your mind). These notes will be important when you write your final report.
Report
The report, which is due during our meeting during finals week, will outline your career goals, describe how you came to your decision, and, especially, how you plan to achieve your goal. Please don’t start your essay with “When I was a little boy I always wanted to be a doctor.” Even if it’s true, it’s trite and boring. What I’m going to be looking for is maturity. Do you really understand what this profession entails? Do you really know what it will take to enter the field?
It’s especially important to discuss the process of getting into the school that you want. You will need to do on-line research to so this. For example, if you want to be a veterinarian, you need to do the following: 1.) Research vet schools to see which schools you are interested in. 2.) Determine what their entrance requirements are. 3.) Find out what the typical GPA's and GRE's are of accepted applicants at that school. 4.) Discuss what types of vet sciences are there (to show that you understand the field). 5.) Discuss which specialty you'd like and why. 6.) Determine what your strategy will be if you don't get into vet school right after college. In other words, you need to show me that you are beyond having a vague notion of your career choice and have made a serious, adult decision.
If you still aren’t sure what career you would like to choose, you should treat this s an academic exercise. Write the paper on a career that you find interesting, and write it as if you have made this decision. Do all the research necessary to make a good paper. This exercise will give you the skills to succeed when you have made a decision.