ALTERNATIVE MAJORS FOR PRE-HEALTH STUDENTS: PART TWO
BY KATIE LUQUIRE – While most pre-health students major in some form of biological sciences, a study by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has shown that when average GPA and MCAT scores are compared between pre-health majors, both are fairly consistent, regardless of major. These results display that for the most part, the major you choose is less important than how well you do in those classes. Additionally, you are more likely to perform better in classes that you are interested in, so if you have a desire to learn more about another subject it may be in your favor to do so. The purpose of the Alternative Majors Series is to introduce pre-health students to majors that they may not have considered otherwise. Exercise and Sport Science and Biological Engineering will be featured in this installment of the series.
EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCE
How would the major be beneficial for pre-health students?
Dr. Kevin McCully, Professor, Kinesiology – There are three things about the Exercise and Sport Science major that are appealing to pre-health students. One benefit is that our classes are based on human physiology, which is a large component of medicine. We also have smaller classes which allow you to get to know the professors, including the Introduction to Wellness Class for People with Disabilities. Finally, there are many opportunities for undergraduate students to do research within the Department of Kinesiology.
Ellie Pryor, Exercise and Sport Science Student – I chose Exercise and Sport Science because I am passionate about the human body and how exercise affects human functionality. As a pre-health student, I believe that my ESS classes prepare me for a career as a physician. I take labs where I practice developing bedside etiquette, patient-practitioner relationships, and other important ethical standards. Exercise as medicine, or exercise prescription, is a preventative approach to a long, happy life, and I believe that my ESS major taught me the importance of obtaining physical activity in our daily lives. This approach to medicine will resonate with me as I pursue a career as a physician. I still take all of the requirements for the MCAT, such as organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, etc., yet I see the body in a different light as I learn about how physical activity and exercise affect every organ system.
Study Abroad Options?
Katie Luquire, Exercise and Sport Science Student – Two years ago, I studied abroad in Taiwan on a Athletic Training Maymester through the Department of Kinesiology. In Taiwan, I learned Traditional Chinese Medicine, including cupping and acupuncture, and I observed medical practices used to treat Taiwanese athletes at the National Taiwan Sport University. This clinical program allowed me to expand upon my knowledge of Western medicine to include components of Eastern medicine, which is generally more holistic.
Research or Patient-Care Opportunities through the major?
Dr. Kevin McCully – I teach the Disability and Wellness Class, which allows students to work directly with someone who has a disability for somewhere between 15-45 hours per semester. Students are able to practice patient skills and obtain patient care hours with someone with an intellectual and/or physical disability, which is probably the only opportunity you have on campus to do that. Many students even say it is the best class they have taken in college. Another benefit of the class is that it allows you to put something on your personal statement and is also a point of interest to talk about in your interview.
Labs in our department study topics such as motor control, metabolic flexibility, mitochondrial function, and sports psychology. My Non-Invasive Muscle Physiology Lab is unique in that undergraduate students can be involved in all phases of an experiment, which is actually very valuable. In fact, a lot of the labs in our department are non-invasive and work on humans, so it is easy for an undergraduate student to be involved meaningfully. Students may also receive course credit for research and many of my students have completed theses and some have also gone on to publish them.
Ellie Pryor – The major also introduced me to a research lab where I spent the past three years, which is Dr. McCully’s Non-Invasive Muscle Physiology Lab. After five semesters in this lab, the major and the department has supported me to travel to two scientific meetings, present three poster presentations, and write a thesis. With this being said, research allowed me to dive deeper into the science of the musculoskeletal system and pursue the endless opportunities for exploration. While the majority of pre-health students do research, I believe that I loved being in lab every day because I was doing research on something I’m truly passionate about. It also helped that Dr. McCully welcomes a plethora of undergraduate students into his lab, creating a warm, welcoming environment.
BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
How would the major be beneficial for pre-health students?
Dr. Hitesh Handa, Assistant Professor, Engineering – Some of the important topics in Biological Engineering include cancer research, drug delivery, drug development, stem cell therapy, and tissue engineering to try to grow organs. All are very relevant to a career in medicine. Additionally, working in a lab allows you to stand out on your application outside of a good GPA. Working in a lab and potentially having a publication gives the application reviewer more confidence about you. You have an edge. Students also get recommendation letters from their mentors, which is required for most applications.
Ryan Boykin, Biological Engineering Student – Biological Engineering, though nontraditional, has been extremely helpful as a pre-health student. The major introduces very specific topics about engineering that can be easily applied to medical sciences, including Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Tissue Engineering, and Engineering Physiology. The major presents an interesting take on traditional biochemical information and has provided me with the ability to think about topics in an interdisciplinary way. I think that this kind of curriculum and background is a major aspect of what makes the crossover between a non-traditional major and a pre-health career unique, as it allows students to stand out when applying to programs. There is a large overlap between major required courses and those required for careers in healthcare, which can be a concern for students when choosing this major. In addition, studying engineering provides students with a different outlook and a broader range of application for biomedical topics.
Study Abroad Options?
Ryan Boykin – The study abroad opportunities in the major include an exchange program in Italy and an internship experience in Germany. Though there are few engineering-specific study abroad opportunities, I was able to study sustainability in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji through another UGA college. Though not provided through my college, this experience satisfied the experiential learning requirement as well as an elective course requirement.
Research or Patient-Care Opportunities through the major?
Dr. Hitesh Handa – My Biomaterials Research Lab is very translational in nature where we are trying to move the technology from benchtop to bedside. Many of the results we are getting in the lab are so applicable that we are making materials that can be made into a medical device to be used on patients in the near future. My lab works on materials that can prevent infection in medical devices such as catheters, stints, vascular grafts, and implants. These findings are crucial because there are billions of dollars spent every year because of infection. More than 100,000 people die in the US every year because of healthcare-associated infections and hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, having a product that prevents infection would be useful. We also work with private companies, the US army, the NIH, and the CDC to try to commercialize the products that we create.
In my lab, I have nine undergraduate students who are helping the graduate students. However, I do have some older undergraduate students who have their own projects and several students who have published as well. Students in my lab have gone on to medical school, industry, and academia, so your options are open.
Ryan Boykin – Research opportunities in the UGA College of Engineering are vast. Many engineering professors conduct their research in the Regenerative Bioscience Center, including two engineering professors that I had the opportunity to learn from last semester. Dr. Cheryl Gomillion, who teaches a Tissue Engineering course, researches tissue engineering, while Dr. Hitesh Handa, who teaches a Biomaterials course, researches the interaction between blood and biomedical devices. I participated in tissue engineering research as part of the Harbor Lights Lab in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon entering into my senior level Tissue Engineering course, I had this background that greatly enhanced the learning experience, and I was grateful for the opportunity to both learn and apply the information.
In addition, all engineering students participate in a Senior Capstone Design project in which groups of students (4-5) choose from a list of projects proposed by actual clients. Teams work through the entire design process from the conception of an idea and a complete stakeholder description to a cost analysis and, ultimately, the realization of a final product. This opportunity allows students to actively engage in research and design that is typically relevant to future careers. My team’s project focuses on redeveloping the design of a bioreactor, or expansion chamber, for CAR T cells for use in targeted cancer therapy. I look forward to utilizing the skills and information I have gained from this project in my career in medicine.