In the last few weeks, signs around campus have solicited submissions for TuftsScope, a new Journal for Health, Policy, and Ethics that is being sponsored by the Tufts Pre-Medical Society. The publication is a small part of a larger effort by the Society to shed its label as a strictly pre-professional group by attracting students with interest in the field who may not necessarily be looking for a profession in medicine.
The Pre-Medical Society has spent the semester trying to redefine itself as an umbrella organization for bioethics, community health, and community outreach. They are currently searching for a new name that better represents their new role.
One of the main draws of the Pre-Medical Society is its new journal, TuftsScope, which discusses current issues in bioethics as well as other healthcare related topics, especially those that deal with government and policy. TuftsScope will be published for the first time in late January or early February.
In addition to the creation of TuftsScope, the Pre-Medical Society has brought in several speakers and organized campus activities with the goal of giving students a chance to pursue their interest in medical and health care issues. The Bioethics committee organized a "Campus Center Kiosk Series" to facilitate discussions on various bioethical issues, and the Society plans on sponsoring a Tufts Health week next semester.
"Many people on the Tufts Campus are interested in these things already, they just don't want to be lumped into the pre-med label," President Brad Crotty said. "Most of these people are community health participants, but some are also econ majors, political science majors, etc. who are interested in the many other aspects of health care besides medicine. Our hope is that by breaking down the label of 'pre-med,' we can have a multi-faceted student organization that accomplishes all of those things."
The Pre-Medical Society created several different committees that work with the various areas included under the club's umbrella. According to Co-President Anna Zelfond, breaking the large group down into smaller committees has generated more interest in the club because it gives students more opportunities to participate in its activities.
"The cool thing about it is that anybody who wants to get involved and be a leader on campus can," she said. "It's very open to new people coming in and contributing their ideas and making a difference.
The Society also revamped its website this fall, and according to Zelfond, it has served as a useful resource to students interested either in the club or in a medical career. It provides members with information about the medical school admission test, the MCAT, the admissions process, and volunteer and research opportunities in the health care field. The group will soon become a chapter of the American Medical Student Association.
Students have responded positively to changes in the Pre-Medical Society, and Zelfond said that she has seen a sizeable increase in interest in membership.
"At the beginning of the semester, for the first month and a half, I was getting e-mails almost every single day asking to be put on the list or for the website," she said. "I definitely think that the Society is a great source of information for people. I think we're a really good source for people.
"It's a good group because it helps you prepare to be a doctor, not become a doctor; they get involved in the community, and prepare you to be involved in all the issues that come with being a doctor," freshman Milani Patel said.
