Dyslexics pursuing a career as a medical doctor.

I am dyslexic and am currently applying to medical school. I was wondering if there is anyone who may have some advice that has gone through or is going through this process.

Tags: doctor, physician

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Permalink Reply by Justin Shiner on March 23, 2012 at 1:54pm

I am also trying to increase my sciences to offset my verbal score. I was reading one article a day in each magazine. I would read the same article three or four times. I read the articles not only to understand what the writer was saying but what their style of writing was. Now I know nothing about styles of writing however I did start developing a sense for structure in writing. I found that I would read verbal passages from my practice books and I would start relating the style to what I have previously read. I believe it allowed me to start anticipating what was going to be said as I was reading. So I do not think you should just prepare for the verbal just by doing VR passages.

All I can tell you about dyslexic friendly schools that will overlook the verbal section is that there are none in New York State. I applied to every school in New York State except for Columbia and Einstein. Out-of-state I applied to John Hopkins, Yale, Drexel, and Jefferson. Out of the 17 schools I applied I did not receive any interviews. I honestly believe that the only way that a school will overlook a low verbal score or any section for that matter is if you have a Masters or PhD. That all being said I applied to SUNY Upstate and they have a rural medicine program but I did not apply for this program. On their secondary application there are several optional questions for people wanting to do rural medicine but I did not have the experiences to answer them. I believe they are more lenient with students wanting to go in to this program. Maybe they would overlook your score if you wanted to go into that program. Also they gave me a pre-interview hold with a 9ph-5vr-10bio (24j) but I do not know if they gave me a hold because they were considering me.

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Permalink Reply by Alison Carter on March 23, 2012 at 4:42pm

Hello

I am not a medical doctor but im an occupational therapy student in my final year , it hasnt been easy at times but it never is but you do get there , however if you are stuggling the university will help you and give you extra support , im happy to help if I can if you have any problems or need any ways to deal with things alison

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Permalink Reply by Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide on March 23, 2012 at 6:10pm

Another story came to mind - I knew an unconventional student who applied to get into medical school for 3 years in a row - and he kept getting rejected. He was a technician in my lab, he went down to South America and OR assisted in surgery, he trained as an EMT. Then after the 4 year applying, he didn't get in - he said - forget this and got into a PhD program. About a year into this, the applied to med school yet again - and this time he got in. He trained in Orthopedics and now is part of the clinical faculty in orthopedics.

My personal feeling - he grew into his brain a little bit - things came much easier as time went on - also all these experiences made him better as a person - and later as a doctor. With more experience and more people to vouch for him over the years - he was able to get his degree when the time was right.

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Permalink Reply by Alison Carter on March 24, 2012 at 3:24am

I quite agree Drs Fernette , It does become easier as time goes on , I have found it easier as times has passed because you learn way to doing things that make things easier for yourself , also I dont see dyslexia as an obsticle you have to work with it not against it !!

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Permalink Reply by Nolan on April 5, 2012 at 7:01pm

Hi Justin,

I am an MD with dyslexia. It is going to be difficult for you, but you can get through. Memorization as you know is the killer, but there are ways to compensate. The CEO of Mayo clinic is dyslexic as well as the chairman of psychiatry at Baylor. It is ultimately a great advantage, but I have had to spend the last 8 years telling myself that talents would eventually pay off. They now have and I am in a better place than many of my peers. Continue to try and do not be afraid to leave the country for medical school if needed. You can be a great physician.