Caldwell College student Bryan Broderick (second from right) getting hands-on experience in the UMDNJ Anatomy Lab as part of the MedPrep Program. |
Caldwell College Student Spends Summer Preparing for Medical School
Caldwell College student Bryan Broderick began his freshman year in Fall 2007 as an undecided major. He now has his sights set on medical school, thanks to a supportive, engaged professor and the opportunities provided by the Northeast Regional Alliance (NERA) MedPrep program.
It all began during a "core requirement" course The Human Body, during which Caldwell College Professor Sook Choi, Ph.D. noticed Bryan's strong abilities in the subject area. She encouraged him to consider a career in medicine and introduced him to MedPrep, a three-year summer program designed to prepare students in New Jersey and New York for success on the MCAT, admission to medical school, and medical school itself.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, MedPrep is a partnership between four distinguished medical schools in the NJ-NY area, including the New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) at UMDNJ in Newark, NJ. Bryan was accepted into the program and began his first summer semester at NJMS on June 1, 2009. Along with 32 other students, including some from Ivy League schools, he is studying Gross Anatomy, Physiology, and Organic Chemistry. The students are also receiving intense training on the MCAT and practical advice on academic skills, including study habits, time management, and writing techniques.
Bryan recognizes the unique advantages of his enrollment in MedPrep. "I'm only a few weeks into the program and already I have learned several aspects and truths about medical school through interactions with doctors and medical students," he said. The next two summers will afford him the opportunities for clinical experience, medical research, and preparation for medical school interviews and the application process.
Upon graduation from the program, and Caldwell College, Bryan will have the skills and knowledge required to pursue his career in medicine and eventually care for a diverse population of patients. He credits the special attention of his Caldwell College professor for getting him this far. "All of this wouldn't have been possible without the help of Dr. Choi," said Bryan. "Not only did she help me uncover my passion for medicine, but she is constantly pushing me to achieve my goal of attending medical school."
Dr. Choi is confident that Bryan is on the right track for a successful medical career. "I am very happy that I was able to play a small part in helping Bryan to find what he really wants in life" she said. "I know for sure that with a Caldwell College education he will become a real, caring, humanistic physician."