Lives in Medicine Conference

August 23, 2014

Schedule
8:00-
8:45AM
8:45-
10:00 AM
10:00-
10:45AM

Arrival/ Breakfast; Opening Session- Board Introductions

Grand Hall

Representing Yourself
Perfecting the elevator speech, interviews, and advancing your professional
development.
Speaker: Khaled J. Elkhatib, J.D.
Considering Your Options Before the Match
Are you considering medical school abroad? Dr. Krol will discuss what to consider
when making this important decision as well as how to have a successful match.
Speaker: Dr. Kornelia Krol, President, Polish American Medical Society
Break

Grand Hall

10:45-
11:00AM
11:00AM- Session A: Graduate Students Panel
12:00PM Listen to 5 current graduate students discuss their experiences applying to graduate
programs as well as some of the lessons they have learned along the way. The following
will be represented: MD, MD/PhD, PA, Health Systems Management.
Moderator: Caroline Kielczewski, M.G.C Student, Arcadia University
12:00-
Healthcare: An Industry and its Professions in Transition
12:45PM Mr. Chet Szerlag, Vice Chair for Finance and Director of Administrative Operations at
the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System will discuss the business
of healthcare with a specific focus on assessing, identifying, and preparing for a career
pathway in the healthcare field.
Speaker: Chet, Szerlag, MBA, FACHE, CMPE
12:45-
Group Mentoring Lunch
2:00PM
2-3 conference participants will be paired up with a mentor to learn more about what
it really means to live a life in medicine. Mentors include students, residents and
professionals representing fields in medicine, health systems management, physician
assistant, dentistry, and nursing.
2:00-
Resource Fair
3:00PM
The resource fair features representatives from various medical institutions and
organizations, including but not limited to medical schools, PA schools, health systems
management programs, and clinical volunteer programs.
3:15-
Break Out Sessions
5:30PM

MD/DO Workshops:
3:15-
So you are thinking of becoming a doctor?
4:00 PM Listen to Dr. Josepine Dlugopolski-Gachs personal account of what it
really means to lead a day in the life of a physician.
Speaker: Dr. Josephine Dlugopolski- Gach, Assistant Professor of
Internal Medicine, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine

Society of Polish American Pre-Health Professionals

Grand Hall

Grand Hall



Grand Hall

Social Hall

Grand Hall

Grand Hall

4:00-
4:45 PM

Medical Doctor (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

Learn about the differences between an MD and DO physician and how
to decide which degree is a better fit for you. Learn about how the
osteopathic application differs from the allopathic application.
Speaker: Gina M. Moses, M.Ed., Associate Director of Recruitment and
Application Services, American Association of College of Osteopathic
Medicine
4:45-
MD/DO Admissions
5:30PM This session will discuss how to prepare for successful medical school
admission, including prerequisite coursework, the MCAT,
extracurricular activities, and the application timeline.
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Plachta, St. Louis University School of Medicine,
Orthopaedic Surgery Program
Physicians Assistant Workshops
3:15-
What is a Physician Assistant?
4:15 PM Learn about what you can expect from a career as a Physician Assistant.
Speaker: Ziemowit Mazur, Associate Program Director, Rosalind
Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Physician Assistant
Program
4:15-
Physician Assistant Admissions
5:30PM This session will discuss how to prepare for successful Physician
Assistant program admission, including prerequisite coursework, the
GRE, clinical hours, and the application timeline.
Speaker: Ziemowit Mazur, Associate Program Director, Rosalind
Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Physician Assistant
Program
Health Systems Management Workshops:
3:15-
Health Systems Management: An Overview
4:15 PM Learn about the Health Systems Management path and the various
career opportunities available in the field.
Speaker: Beth Culter, Senior Manager Care Transformation,
NorthShore Health System
4:15-
Integrating Health Systems Management With Your Career in
5:30PM Nursing
A nursing candidate discusses how health systems management has
given her a new perspective on nursing and healthcare.
Speaker: Beata Palarz, RN Candidate, Rush University
Break

Social Hall

PMA
Conference
Room

5:30-
5:45PM
5:45-
6:15PM
6:15-
7:15PM

7:15-
7:30 PM

Social Hall

Dinner Buffet

Grand Hall

Keynote Address: Dr. Maria Siemionow, MD/PhD

We are honored to host Dr. Maria Siemionow, world-renowed Polish-American
surgeon, and listen to her inspiring path to medicine, some of the challenges she faced,
as well as her experiences leading to the first face transplant in the United States in
2008.
Closing Remarks

Grand Hall

Society of Polish American Pre-Health Professionals

Grand Hall