There is a relatively new service being offered by
several services that prepare a student to apply
to medical school. Some of them are engineered to
begin the preparation for medical school from day
one of the undergraduate college experience. They
offer one-on-one advice to the 18 year old and
advise him or her on everything you can think of
to make the undergraduate student more desirable
to medical schools when the application process
gets into full swing.
For example, it tells the student what college
within each university to enroll in as a pre-med
student, how to stage scheduling of science
courses, what electives to take, taking difficult
heavily weighed classes like organic chemistry
over the summer so the student can devote full
time to one course whether to take calculus
required physics or non-calculus physics. Should
the student take courses in nutrition or physical
chemistry, or both? The company also advises the
student about extra-curricular activities and
research opportunities. Should the student look
for part-time employment at the university and in
what department? In some instances the service
will also advise the students which professor’s
class to enroll in and whether it is advisable to
become a laboratory assistant.
These services concentrate on pre-med students who
are interested in MD or DO school. There is no
reason they cannot introduce the students to
podiatry school and the DPM degree. As we all
know, many pre-med students claim they have never
heard of podiatry school or DPMs because they have
never seen a podiatrist as a patient nor has an
immediate family member. There are no TV
advertisements, no newspaper or on-line ads for
podiatry, but students are willing to pay a few
thousand dollars extra to sign up for this
service.
I have made a unilateral decision to send the
following to Patrick DeHeer, DPM, President of the
APMA, suggesting that APMA, CPME and AACPM contact
the numerous pre-med services and ask them to
include podiatry schools with MD and DO schools as
possible choices for students. I am including the
email below and ask for the support of PMNews
readers in supporting this idea. Afterall, it is
possible these services, usually run as a cottage
industry by young MDs or DOs who have run the
gamut or have failed to gain admission or in one
case dropped out of medical school may help with
podiatry school enrollment.
The email to Dr. DeHeer begins with APMA, CPME and
AACPM should… I have also included a short
advertisement for a concentrated course by one of
the services as seen through the eyes of AI
(merp), for Ross University and AUC in the
Caribbean. The merp program is probably exclusive
to these two medical schools. You might even think
about approaching Dr. DeHeer at the National and
suggest contact with these preparation programs be
initiated as one of his first acts as President of
APMA. What follows is my communication with Dr.
DeHeer:
APMA, CPME, and AACPM should be contacting EVERY
one of these programs that starts preparing
students for medical school application and making
them aware of podiatry the first day they sign up
for the program. This particular program
guarantees acceptance to Ross and AUC in the
Caribbean. I turned down a position at Ross when
the dean was a former Ohio State faculty member. I
am very familiar with the two schools that are the
focus of MERP and own this particular prep
program. Both these schools are hurting for
suitable candidates because of the increased
number of DO schools. That should sound familiar
to anyone with an ear to the ground. A new DO
school opens next week in Greely, CO.
Other med school admissions prep programs are
generic and if APMA (which is now you as
President) should be getting in touch with these
programs to make them aware of podiatry and
alerting premed students that podiatry exists,
what it does, and should it is in the mix for
qualified students. This allows for direct contact
with the students rather than a brochure in an
office or trying to alert every college in the
U.S. and Canada that podiatry schools are open and
taking applications. Hopefully, APMA membership is
doing its best to save the profession rather than
politicizing approval of mycotic nail solutions.
As Kierkegaard said, "Life can only be understood
backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
You are welcome!
Medical education readiness program (MERP)
MERP is a 15-week preparatory course designed to
equip students with foundational knowledge and
effective study techniques necessary for success
in medical school. It aims to bridge knowledge
gaps and enhance academic performance, allowing
students to transition smoothly into their medical
education.
Ross University School of Medicine Overview of
MERP
MERP offers various benefits to prospective
medical students.
• Duration — The program lasts for 15 weeks,
providing an intensive review of essential topics.
Ross University School of Medicine
• Focus Areas — It emphasizes basic sciences and
study strategies to prepare students for medical
school challenges. iamse.org
• Support System — Students receive personalized
instructional support tailored to their individual
needs. medschoolprep.com
•
Outcome — Successful completion allows
students to matriculate into the first
Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
For example, it tells the student what college
within each university to enroll in as a pre-med
student, how to stage scheduling of science
courses, what electives to take, taking difficult
heavily weighed classes like organic chemistry
over the summer so the student can devote full
time to one course whether to take calculus
required physics or non-calculus physics. Should
the student take courses in nutrition or physical
chemistry, or both? The company also advises the
student about extra-curricular activities and
research opportunities. Should the student look
for part-time employment at the university and in
what department? In some instances the service
will also advise the students which professor’s
class to enroll in and whether it is advisable to
become a laboratory assistant.
These services concentrate on pre-med students who
are interested in MD or DO school. There is no
reason they cannot introduce the students to
podiatry school and the DPM degree. As we all
know, many pre-med students claim they have never
heard of podiatry school or DPMs because they have
never seen a podiatrist as a patient nor has an
immediate family member. There are no TV
advertisements, no newspaper or on-line ads for
podiatry, but students are willing to pay a few
thousand dollars extra to sign up for this
service. I have made a unilateral decision to send
the following to Patrick De Heer, DPM incoming
President of the APMA suggesting that APMA, CPME
and AACPM contact the numerous pre-med services
and ask them to include podiatry schools with MD
and DO schools as possible choices for students. I
am including the email below and ask for the
support of PMNews readers in supporting this idea.
Afterall, it is possible these services, usually
run as a cottage industry by young MDs or DOs who
have run the gamut or have failed to gain
admission or in one case dropped out of medical
school may help with podiatry school enrollment.
The email to Dr. DeHeer begins with APMA, CPME and
AACPM should… I have also included a short
advertisement for a concentrated course by one of
the services as seen through the eyes of AI
(merp), for Ross University and AUC in the
Caribbean. The merp program is probably exclusive
to these two medical schools. You might even think
about approaching Dr. DeHeer at the National and
suggest contact with these preparation programs be
initiated as one of his first acts as President of
APMA. What follows is my communication with Dr.
De Heer:
APMA, CPME, and AACPM should be contacting EVERY
one of these programs that starts preparing
students for medical school application and making
them aware of podiatry the first day they sign up
for the program. This particular program
guarantees acceptance to Ross and AUC in the
Caribbean. I turned down a position at Ross when
the dean was a former Ohio State faculty member. I
am very familiar with the two schools that are the
focus of merp and own this particular prep
program. Both these schools are hurting for
suitable candidates because of the increased
number of DO schools. That should sound familiar
to anyone with an ear to the ground. A new DO
school opens next week in Greely, CO.
Other med school admissions prep programs are
generic and if APMA ( which is now you as
President) should be getting in touch with these
programs to make them aware of podiatry and
alerting premed students that podiatry exists,
what it does, and should it is in the mix for
qualified students. This allows for direct contact
with the students rather than a brochure in an
office or trying to alert every college in the US
and Canada that podiatry schools are open and
taking applications. Hopefully APMA membership is
doing its best to save the profession rather than
politicizing approval of mycotic nail solutions.
As Kierkegaard said,
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it
must be lived forwards."
You are welcome!
medical education readiness program (merp)
The Medical Education Readiness Program (MERP) is
a 15-week preparatory course designed to equip
students with foundational knowledge and effective
study techniques necessary for success in medical
school. It aims to bridge knowledge gaps and
enhance academic performance, allowing students to
transition smoothly into their medical education.
Ross University School of Medicine
Overview of MERP
MERP offers various benefits to prospective
medical students.
• Duration — The program lasts for 15 weeks,
providing an intensive review of essential topics.
Ross University School of Medicine
• Focus Areas — It emphasizes basic sciences
and study strategies to prepare students for
medical school challenges. iamse.org
• Support System — Students receive
personalized instructional support tailored to
their individual needs. medschoolprep.com
• Outcome — Successful completion allows
students to matriculate into the first
Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD
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