Club encourages women in medicine
Utah State University is behind the national average for women applying to medical school and a campus club is trying to change that.
This year, about 80 USU students are applying to medical school with the help of the pre-health program advising committee and only four are women, said Linda Woertendyke, a biology academic adviser. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, this number puts USU far below the national average, which has a 50 to 50 split between the genders.
The difference may be caused by the state culture, which does not encourage women to seek degrees beyond a bachelors, Woertendyke said.
The campus club Women in Medicine aims to help female students be successful in their studies and realize that a woman can have a successful career and a successful family as well, said Stephanie Chambers, the club president.
“Many female students are trying to choose a career so they can balance family and a career ,” Chambers said, “and many haven’t had enough exposure to the [medical] field to know that it’s possible.”
The club matches beginning students with those that are further along in the medical courses, Chambers said.
This mentoring program allows students to ask questions of someone who has experience and understands what is expected in the program.
Chambers said she hopes the club will be able to retain younger students who, without the help, would possibly become discouraged or give up.
Jo Seargent, a senior majoring in biology, said the help from her mentor was “extremely beneficial.” Seargent said her mentor helped her apply to medical schools, choose teachers and programs, write her personal statement and was a great resource of support during stressful moments.
Seargent has already been accepted to three different medical schools and is still waiting to hear on others before she makes her final decision.
The number of female USU students who apply to medical school has fluctuated over the past few years, from anywhere between three to 10, Woertendyke said. On average, between 60 to 70 percent of USU applicants are accepted for medical school and it’s likely the average for women is higher, she said.
“The women who come through our committee are very highly qualified,” Woertendyke said.
The advising committee is designed to, through interviews and personal information, write a committee letter for students applying to medical school that gives more information than required on an application.
March is Women’s History Month and Chambers said the Women in Medicine club hopes to bring women speakers to the university who are successful in the medical field and also have families.
“Many women have great things to contribute, but are hesitant,” Chambers said. “They get their feet wet, but are scared to throw their whole bodies in. We want to encourage them to throw their whole bodies in.”
Women in Medicine does not want to exclude men and their contributions to medicine, nor do they want to exclude them in family responsibilities such as cooking dinner, Chambers said.
“Gender roles have changed since the ’50s and will continue to change until there is more of an equal sharing,” Chambers said.
Women in Medicine meets every other Thursday in the Biology and Natural Resources Building Room 315.
Those interested in the club can e-mail Chambers at sjchambers@cc.usu.edu.
-hilaryi@cc.usu.edu