“Being a part of PSDO230  gave me access to so many connections and opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. It has allowed me to see medicine from all different angles and specialties, while keeping me both excited and wary of the challenges of a career in medicine. This class has not only helped bolster my shadowing experiences, but it has also allowed me to see the realities of applying to medical school, financing medical school, and dealing with the harsh circumstances doctors can be subjected to. I knew well before this class that I was interested in medicine, but being involved with this program has given me confidence that I have prepared, to the best of my ability, to apply to medical school.”

“PSDO 230 equipped me with the knowledge to better understand not only my role as a physician but also my role in the healthcare setting overall. From the honest discussions in the classroom to the tours of UAB's hospitals to the incredible shadowing opportunities, I am grateful to Dr. Erdmann and the teaching assistants for the increased perspective they offered me. Overall, the course was super helpful in learning more about medical school and other fields of medicine. Big Tip - I took this class as a junior, but I would recommend taking it during your sophomore year.”

“Are you interested in having all of your prior assumptions about the medical field be torn away? Are you interested in embarking on a personal journey where you will seriously reconsider all of your career goals as a pre-health applicant? Along with your experiences in shadowing, you and your classmates will discuss hot topics in medicine and policy affecting healthcare today. Overall, this class is invaluable and will help you along the journey of deciding if medicine is truly for you.”

“As one of the kids that grew up knowing I wanted to be a physician, this class showed me just how much I didn’t know. Being strong in math and science subjects, becoming a physician seemed like the default career path. However, through this class I was able to see the true physician’s exeprience. The weekly panels prompted profound introspection and self-assessment, which are crucial aspects to consider when contemplating a career in medicine. It offered a candid insight that one wouldn't typically encounter until medical school. The class surrounds you with invaluable mentors, each at different stages of their journey in medicine. By making the most of this opportunity, the class equips you with abundant resources to develop an outstanding medical school application. Ultimately, your dedication will determine your progress.”

“As a first generation college student, I had very little knowledge of the wide variety of career paths related to healthcare/medicine. PSDO 230 not only gives students the opportunity to shadow various medical specialties and providers (e.g., doctors, nurses, physician assistants, etc.), but also gives students the chance to hear from individuals at various training stages first-hand. The course directors, teaching assistants, and guest speakers do a wonderful job of explaining the vast array of career options available to you in a clear, honest way so that you can make a well-informed decision about your future. This course was one of my first exposures to pathways outside of the "traditional" MD, including dual-degree pathways such as MD/PhD, and ultimately played a role in my decision to apply as an advance transfer to UAB's Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). I highly recommend this course to anyone on a pre-health track, regardless of if you're a first generation student like me or are coming from a family full of physicians, for an unbiased view of the careers available to you.”

“I spent most of my undergrad career focused on reaching my next goal, to become a physician scientist. Before PSDO 230, I felt like I was mainly checking off a list of, take these classes, make this score, volunteer here, and do research. All  these things are important but  I was missing a key part, what is it really like to be a doctor and  to work in a not so perfect system. It provided a more realistic picture of what medicine was than the romantic career I created in my head. I think it was important to have that reality check because it better prepared me in recognizing what I will be faced with entering this career and question is this right for me.”