So, You Want to Be a Physician: Getting an Edge in the Pursuit of Becoming a Physician or Other Medical Professional

Dear Reader: So, You Want To Be A Physician: Getting the Edge in the Pursuit of Becoming a Physician or Other Medical Professional by Edward M. Goldberg is the book to have on your side, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to join the medical profession. I know the author so I bought the book and got started reading. Yes, I had preconceived notions about the book; the book would read like a manual, robotic, mundane but thorough. How else could a book about getting into medical school be? I was a little taken aback by the cover drawing. It reminded me of primer out of the sixties with the hairstyles updated. I couldn’t have been more wrong. There are several things that strike me as I read this book: 1. This book is an easy read, concise and to the point. 2. This book is focused on the topic and keeps you there. 3. This book has good and bad examples of essays about who you are, your interest in the field, and your choice of schools. 4. This book is methodical and covers all the bases. 5. This book tells you that you can succeed as a healthcare professional because all the tools are in these 115 pages. I have known the author, Ed Goldberg, for 30 years and worked with him during the chunk of time when he was a psychiatric hospital and services administer which was between his years of his inception as a hospital administrator in Florida to his most recent administrative gig at St Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, IL. So, it came as no surprised to hear that he wrote a book. Interestingly, it wasn’t; How to Become a Hospital Administrator. I worked for Ed as a psychiatric and mental health nurse, starting as a unit head nurse and moving into the Director of Quality Improvement. As the DQI, I coordinated all the medical staff committees, which entailed working with each physician group to address the specific standards of compliance, and move the hospital forward to improve patient care and appropriate utilization in a significantly changing healthcare climate. I think I know a little bit about the workings of a hospital and it’s medical staff. But what I really learned, I learned from Ed. I can thank Ed for my professional evolution. He made me a better business writer and nurtured my abilities to assess and evaluate any difficult situation to a positive conclusion. He was my mentor and I still call him for advice or to check in. He trusted me to do the job and with his full confidence, I am the health care professional and the writer today because of him. He is a man with foresight and vision and everyone is invited. The physician is always, I mean always comes first and that is why he could write this book. He knows the profession. It has been his job for his some 40 years to facilitate the work, the care, and the business. He endeared himself to everyone and even when he was a bit of a pain, he was all the more lovable. But I digress. I can hear Ed’s voice clearly in his writing; his candidness, putting it out there in simple terms, and his belief that you can do anything you set your mind to. These three traits may describe the man but they also describe this book. Ed gives you the pieces needed to getting into medical school. You just have to put the them together. This book is methodical and thoughtful and I was surprised that someone could take such a stark and sometimes dull and mechanical subject and turn it into a passion. And that’s how Ed lives his life. Ed knows about physicians because he realized the importance of their role in finding answers to our difficult problems - our health. Knowing his perspective, this book will help you get into medical school or any healthcare profession you may be considering including veterinary medicine, advance practice nursing, dentistry and so on. So, You Want To Be A Physician: Getting the Edge in the Pursuit of Becoming a Physician or Other Medical Professional not only gives you the right questions to ask yourself in assessing your own passion for becoming a healthcare professional but gives you the tools to finding the right answers to your true calling. This book is individualized for the reader. It speaks to everyone regardless of your professional focus. I recommended this book to my 21-year-old son before he applied to graduate school. Although in a different field (Environmental Sciences), he was accepted to the Masters of Science program in Environmental Justice at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. This book gets 5 stars – you can’t get any better than So, You Want To Be A Physician: Getting the Edge in the Pursuit of Becoming a Physician or Other Medical Professional. Sincerely, Robin Bruscato

I am glad that I was able to read this book, even though I had already been accepted into medical school. I was introduced to Mr. Goldberg very late in the game; the day I was to leave on a flight to Arizona for a school interview in fact. We had been corresponding via email during the week prior working on the answers to the three most frequently asked questions - as stated in this book - and worked very quickly to perfect my materials and then meet the day of to practice my interviewing skills. Even though I had never been in an interview before, Mr. Goldberg allayed many of my concerns and sources of self-consciousness, but also raised awareness to areas of improvement that I had not even considered. That was by far the most impactful aspect of working with him. If I had access to a book such as this in high school, I know that I would have done several things differently. Even though I would have achieved the same end, I realize now just how lucky I am to have been accepted. I had good grades, but not stellar; I had a slightly-below-average MCAT score; I had no medical research (only psychological) and no direct clinical experience. However I did have three majors, several honors societies, honors and scolarships, athletics, an internship, volunteer service (with a hospital and in a shelter for battered women) and I presented well. I am an outlier and likely not a good exemplar for the best path to take, however it can be done. This book is very succinct, direct and short, yet covers the entire journey from the first desire to be a physician (or other healthcare worker) all the way through residency at the end of medical school and can easily be read in a day or two. It is engaging and therefore I recommend that all people considering these professions should read this early on to receive the most benefit. Working with Mr. Goldberg directly was a boon not only to my professionalism, but also to my self-esteem. He was the first experience that I had with the interviewing process and, as previously mentioned, alleviated much of the self-doubt that I had. He takes matters seriously and is a successful man with likely very little time to give, yet he made me feel important in the time that he set aside for me. The biggest advice I could give is to take matters seriously. Treat school, interviews and your future goals as matters requiring precision and effort, but be flexible. Have humility and recognize that there is always room for improvement. I feel that every young person should have the opportunity to practice interviewing before they apply for schools, jobs, or anything else. I am greatful that I was able to practice with a man like Mr. Goldberg.

...this is the one. As a physician, a battle-scarred veteran of the application and interview process, and as a regular participant in interviewing young applicants for my alma mater, I found the insights and clearly worded guidance in this book exceptional. The author has tremendous practical knowledge of the challenges involved in navigating the long path travelled in becoming a physician. He expresses his message clearly, with humor, and without sugar-coating. The chapters begin with concise examinations of important questions that every potential physician should face before even considering taking this road, and then head off into nuts and bolts explanations of each step that an applicant must take in preparing for and taking the journey. The appendices containing real life examples of personal statements, interview questions, and common errors made in these responses are particularly helpful, and demonstrative of the deep practical experience that the author has gained in helping dozens of successful medical school and residency applicants. Medicine is not only not for everyone, it is only for a few. Mr. Goldberg advises potential physicians on how to get there, but also takes the very useful and honest step of advising those who should not embark on this quest. In all honesty, far more people belong to this latter group than to the smaller group who will succeed. They too can benefit from this book, not only because it may save them from fruitless effort and disappointment, but also because it can help them to understand that there are other, potentially more productive choices for an individual with compassion and determination who wants to make a career of helping others in the world of health care. This is an exceptional book from a real world health care professional who knows doctors, who knows the game, and who communicates with clarity and kindness. A treasure.

As someone who's been in the healthcare field for over 35 years as a candy striper, RN, hospital COO &CEO, system VP, healthcare entrepreneur/consultant, coach and mentor -- this is a must read for visionaries of medical schools as well as young and old in other disciplines! It’s not only a great book, but written by an "awesome" author. "Physician Friendly" is an understatement as I've had the pleasure of working with him, competing against him and at the same time he has been an extraordinary friend. There's no one who knows the subject better. Ask any physician who’s been around him! The book is a great read, easy to understand and easy to put his advice into your vision, and a written plan into practice. His book reflects that if it's one thing he's highly rated for all over the world is his physician acumen and the techniques to get there! Buy this book! It's a great read all the way through the first time, then use as a resource to refer to when certain chapters are needed i.e. writing personal statements, interviewing skills, testimonials, etc. If you are interested in medical school or any healthcare provider position, I highly recommend you buy this book. I bought 6 – they make excellent gifts!!

If you are struggling with whether or not medicine is right for you, or have known your entire life that you wanted to become a physician, the first thing to do is take a realistic look at what it takes to get there and what the job of becoming a physician is actually like. Many factors must be considered when making the decision. Do you have the right personality to be a physician? Do you have the perseverance to complete the training? Do you have the ability to get good grades? Are you a good test taker? Is your personal statement one that separates you from equally talented applicants? Do you know what to expect during the interview process? Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices to get through medical school and residency? And finally, do you have a strong desire to help people? All kinds of people - from lawyers to indigents, grandparents to babies. Mr. Goldberg’s book will help answer these questions for you. His pragmatic approach is easy to read and understand with specific examples made available for the reader to gain the edge in the competitive process of becoming a physician. Mr. Goldberg adds humor throughout the seriousness of his counsel, an attribute that proves useful in any pursuit in life. I especially liked the example of the student determined to become a dermatologist, whose father was close to the author, but who refused help till after several disappointments turned to Mr. Goldberg for assistance. The story has a happy ending with the student gaining admittance to a dermatology residency program with the invaluable assistance of Mr. Goldberg. There are many other success stories used as examples and yours could be one as well with the help of this excellent book.

I enjoyed reading this book, as I am a college student preparing for medical school. However, I can't help but notice the promotion of Mr. Goldberg's services throughout the book. I feel that the comments he adds about his services somewhat detract from the book. This book definitely offers some great advice and helpful pointers, but I thinks it's also very important to base your preparation off several resources, and not just one book. All in all, this book is a great resource for med school prep!

I have been a general Internist for over 35 years, and had the pleasure of working with Edward Goldberg for 18 of those years when he served as CEO of St. Alexius Medical Center. I retired about 18 months after he did, but he was probably one of 25 administrators who I worked with throughout my career. Mr. Goldberg was passionate about being physician and employee-friendly in everything he did. Mr. Goldberg was always the first one in and the last one out, and many times he would be coaching aspiring Medical School students after hours. He had an interesting teaching manner, in which he would work with the students on several interview questions that prior students had been asked, and have them write a script that they felt comfortable with, and then practice it, including eye contact and posture. As I used to walk by his office on my way home, I saw how much he cared for his students success, the same as he did his employees and physicians. Many of his students were sons or daughters of physicians on the medical staff or employees of the hospital. After I retired, I bought a copy of the book, and could actually hear Mr. Goldberg’s voice through the pages. Mr. Goldberg sheds light on many of the issues facing physicians, but most importantly focuses on those students in High School or college who have a good shot at getting into Medical School, and then making sure they have the best possible personal statement and interview that shows the Medical School the very best components the applicants have to offer. I would highly recommend this to anyone considering applying to any of the healthcare professions.

This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in a career in a medical field! I had the pleasure to work with Mr. Goldberg personally before this book was published and I can say, unequivocally, that his guidance made the difference in my medical school application. Before working with Mr. Goldberg I had applied to medical school twice and had never been invited for an interview. After working with Mr. Goldberg to revise my personal statement and strengthen my application I was invited to the earliest round of interviews. Before my interview, Mr. Goldberg worked tirelessly with me to ensure that I was both well prepared and absolutely confident. I left my interview knowing that I had done my absolute best and less than a month later I was admitted to the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Currently I am starting my second year of medical school at the University of Illinois and look forward to working with Mr. Goldberg again when applying for residency. This book contains all of the essential advice that Mr. Goldberg gave me during the time we worked together. My personal statement has even been included as an example in this book. Mr. Goldberg has created an excellent resource for applicants to the medical field that provides invaluable tools, tips, and tricks grounded in years of experience.