When I first read about the new MCAT, many questions popped into my head. Why is the image of the ideal doctor being redefined now? Who is this ideal doctor of the future? And what can I do to prepare myself not only for the new MCAT but, more importantly, for the change in medical education that it reflects? These are the questions that lay the foundation for the shift towards the new MCAT, and these are the questions that every pre-med should be asking when choosing the path of medicine.
WHY NOW? The globalization of health is a major factor influencing the new image of the ideal doctor. Historically, the health sector has been closed and nationally focused. In recent years, as the world has become more interconnected, health issues have begun to transcend borders, and countries have begun to experience overlapping health issues like “dengue, influenza A, and HIV” along with transnational determinates such as “climate change or urbanization.” 3 The globalization of the health sector has allowed world health organizations and individuals to compare and contrast
attempt by medical schools to send out a clear message to
medicine and medical practices across the world. Globalization
their future physicians: medicine is about more than straight
of health care led those in the medical field to realize that
sciences, and new criteria will be used to judge your value as
health is not just a matter of biological systems, but rather,
an applicant.
inextricably linked with social and behavioral factors. Even on
PREPARE FOR CHANGE
a micro-scale, the domestic rise in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease has demonstrated the tight relationship between health and the social context. These are new diseases, and future physi-
For pre-meds taking the MCAT in 2015 or later, the new MCAT
cians need to understand them beyond pure pathology and biol-
should not just mean choosing a different test prep course. The
ogy. The rise of globalized medicine and the idea that medicine
new MCAT is a symbol of the dynamic nature of the field of
and health care must look beyond the biological into social and
medicine and the direction in which it is shifting. While extra
behavioral factors are relatively novel, but are largely respon-
humanities classes may feel burdensome in the short run, they
sible for the re-defined image of the ideal doctor.
are providing us with unique opportunities to educate ourselves in fields, such as psychology, global health, and sociology, that
THE IDEAL DOCTOR The ideal doctor of the future is equipped to face medicine not only as a natural science, but as a social and behavioral science as well. He/she understands the ethical implications of the constantly advancing technology used in medicine and is ready to take on the major controversies surrounding it. The ideal doctor looks beyond the clinical experience and pathology to the social and behavioral context of the patient’s life, because he/she knows that health is inextricably linked to the
will make us better physicians with improved bedside manners. We can prepare for the new MCAT by taking classes that help us understand the effects of socioeconomics on health, the ethical dilemmas behind biomedical technology, the psychological factors that influence patient decisions: classes that train us to be socially aware. This is the direction that the medical field is heading, and as pre-med students, we have a lot to look forward to. References 1) Mann S. AAMC Approves New MCAT® Exam With Increased Focus on Social, Behavioral Sciences. Rep. Association
social context. This is the type of doctor that we, as pre-meds,
of American Medical Colleges,Mar.2012.online. <https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/march2012/276588/
should strive to be.
mcat2015.html>.
The modern physician not only needs a firm understanding
2) Rosenthal E. Pre-Med’s New Priorities- Heart and Soul and Social Science. New York Times 15 Apr. 2012: n. pag. Print.
of natural sciences, pathology, and biology, but also, and per-
3) Koplan JP, Bond TC, Merson MH, Reddy KS, Rodriguez MH, Sewankambo NK, Wasserheit JN for the Consortium
haps more importantly, requires a true understanding of human
of Universities for Global Health Executive Board. Towards a common definition of global health. The Lancet
psychology and behavior. It is the combination of the two that
2009;373(9679):1993-1995.
defines the modern practice of medicine. The new MCAT is an
.
Designfreebies Magazine www.designfreebies.org The Medical Decoder Phi •Delta Epsilon Il Gamma • 17