Advice that makes
AZCOM more DOable.

For students with families that do not have health insurance and need a Primary care provider there are two great options in the Phoenix area that I know about and have been a part of! Vineyard Church North Phoenix will hold appointment-based PCP clinics every other week M-F. The Neighborhood Christian Clinic is another great option, although a bit further away from school (20-25 minute drive). They provide PCP care and Dental to anyone without insurance through a daily lottery system. They also provide medications free of charge and free lab work. The Neighborhood Christian Clinic requires you to be present for the Random Drawings to get an appointment for that day at 8:45am / 12:45pm / 5:45pm.

If you're on APS for electricity, look into the APS Energy Support Program, as it gives you a monthly discount if you meet their "income" requirements. To apply, you need active APS service and submit an application online. For us med students specifically: instead of the usual proof of income or Medicaid/food stamps documentation (which I no longer qualify here as an out-of-state student), I submitted my financial aid award letter showing my loan amount as proof of income and got approved.

Hi! I wanted to share this because I genuinely want you to have a great experience at AZCOM. Whatever program or rigorous path you’ve joined, first of all, congratulations! These tips are pretty universal and can help no matter what you’re studying. The reality is that it’s going to be hard and draining at times, and you’ll quickly realize that time is your most limited commodity. So, here are a few things that I genuinely think can change your experience for the better: 1. Invest in a walking pad and a standing desk ( this is a MUST). I know, you probably think I’m crazy, but don’t knock it until you try it. It might feel weird at first, but after a few days to a week, you’ll get used to studying while walking. It feels amazing knowing that you’re taking care of your health while still getting your studying done. Weirdly enough, I’ve also found that it can really help with cognitive fatigue. Instead of sitting in a chair for hours on end, you’re moving, getting your blood flowing, and still being productive. 2. Hit the gym at least 2–3 times a week. Your brain is an engine don’t burn it out. Make sure you’re exercising and taking care of your physical health. Exercise supports neuroplasticity, cognition, mood, and overall brain health. More importantly, you owe yourself that time to take care of your body. Healthy body = healthy brain. I know what you might be thinking: “I don’t have time to go to the gym.” Instead, think of exercise as an investment in your studying time. One hour of focused, high-quality studying when you feel energized and mentally refreshed can be worth so much more than several hours of exhausted, unfocused studying. You’re not necessarily losing an hour by exercising and you may be making the rest of your hours more productive. 3. This last one is a little niche: combine Anki with cardio. If you use Anki and have an iPad, hop on a cardio machine ( treadmill, bike, or StairMaster if you’re brave ) and knock out some cards. It’s a great way to pair two habits together. You can stay ahead academically while also taking care of yourself physically. It makes getting through a big stack of reviews feel a lot less painful too. Bonus tip: Angie’s Grill. Angie’s Grill is super affordable, tastes great, and has some solid nutritional options. Definitely check it out! At the end of the day, school is important, but taking care of yourself is part of succeeding in school. Protect your health, protect your energy, and use your time wisely. You’re going to spend a lot of hours studying, so finding ways to make those hours healthier and more sustainable can make a huge difference. Good luck, and welcome to AZCOM!

I came into medical school wanting to be actively involved with research. I had worked in a basic science/translational research lab for 4 years (undergrad and gap years) before moving to AZ so I had a solid background. I knew I wanted to do some clinical research since I had less experience in this realm and figured it would be more applicable to my future career. My advice for people wanting to get involved with research is to seek out a mentor early. By doing this early in your first year, you will have the option to join nearly any professors lab you are interested in. If you wait until 2nd year, most labs are already full and cannot accept more students. There is a canvas page specifically for finding a lab so I highly recommend looking there first to see what each lab is working on. By no means do you have to do research in the field you want to pursue. Any research is good research if it is meaningful to you. You will also have more opportunities to pursue research while you are doing rotations so if you don't have the time for research or aren't planning on pursuing a highly competitive specialty, don't sweat it!

Do not feel like you have to have X number of publications/abstracts/poster submissions/etc. in order to get into your dream residency. Residency directors want to see that you are passionate about the research you did and can speak on it at length. Additionally, working alongside a PI/Mentor that can speak to your character and work ethic in a positive light will bid you far better than a PI/Mentor you barely interacted with or got to know outside of the lab.