Tommy Said:

Could You Suggest an Alternative Healthcare Bill 10% the Size of the Present One?

We Answered:

This is one of those 'you can't get there from here' situations. First of all, we are depending upon our elected servants. Yes, servants. We are paying them to do the jobs they campaigned for. We, the people, can't do much more.

The biggest problem is that once upon a time, we had a medical profession. It became a medical industry. Industry. Big business. Big profit maker. That is a bastardization of everything the healing art was intended to be. It used to be that way, an altruistic calling to help humanity.

And so now we have on our hands an industry that is greedy for maximum profit.. Weaning the investors away from sucking the well dry, while increasing the care factor.. quite a task. The addiction for utmost profit from minimal service has been entrenched for decades now.

Our capitalistic country has lost it's 'checks and balance' structure. Capitalism is like a fire. Both can serve us well. But like a fire, capitalism is extremely and endlessly 'hungry' in it's eternal quest for 'growth' - growth.. a favorite term of any capitalist. With the fire, we need a furnace.. else the house becomes the source of 'growth' - not a desirable long term plan. As it is with capitalism.. the hunger for 'growth' has consumed our nations GNP to an alarming extent. Capitalism has no 'furnace' - aka: checks & balances' to contain it, like it once had, circa 1960's. And at the same time the benefits have dwindled. The law of diminishing returns has presented itself to the patient.

The only way I can see for us is to make medical care a right for all. Medicine must be a profession. Everything but elective procedures should be provided cost free. Elective medical care must be left to the 'medical industries' business. That, of course, is a pill the 'industry' will fight tooth and nail. They have the bottomless pockets to fund the battle. We only have our elected servants to fight for us.

Yes, wars are stupid and senseless. But there too.. war became a vast enterprise. It is our monster that lurks below our radar. Most Americans aren't aware of the vast, worldwide network of bases and manpower that have grown out of World War 2, never to be closed but to expand and expand.. the 'defense' industry is immense. For the 2009 fiscal year, the base budget of the Department of Defense rose to $518.3 billion. Adding emergency discretionary spending, supplemental spending, and stimulus spending brings the sum to $651.2 billion. Defense-related expenditures outside of the Department of Defense constitute between $274 billion and $493 billion in additional spending, bringing the total for defense spending to between $925 billion and $1.14 trillion in 2009.

Trying to 'apply the brakes' to either 'industry' is like trying to drag ones shoe in order to stop a runaway freight train. We are in quite the pickle..!!

Deborah Said:

Internist/Immunologist?

We Answered:

That doctor would be eligible to become boarded in general internal medicine and would be able to practice as such. Internists are perfectly capable in diagnosing and managing some forms of immunological disease on an outpatient basis, however s/he would likely refer more severe or complicated patients as appropriate. It's important to note there is no single clinical equivalent of the academic term 'immunologist'. There exists fellowship training in infectious disease or rheumatology, and dermatologists and pathologists for example also get a good dose of immunology in their respective training.

Clyde Said:

Do I have a good shot at getting into University of Maryland, College Park?

We Answered:

It's not hard to get into that school they take almost anybody. You have a good chance of getting accepted.

More importantly, what do you want to major in ?

Barbara Said:

What university could I get into?

We Answered:

I don't work in college admissions, however your background sounds like one that many colleges would welcome. Your grades are solid and your SAT practice scores are great, though the reading could use a little boost compared to the others. Hopefully they will transfer well to the real thing.

Unless the application fees are a problem, I would apply to all the schools you mentioned, if they have a strong pre med program--I am not sure about St. Mary's College. Since you're in Maryland, don't overlook Johns Hopkins, either. There are many great colleges in Maryland.

Additionally, consider applying to a smaller- lesser known college with a strong program. You are more likely to receive a scholarship if you are the 'big fish in a small pond' as compared to a Harvard or Georgetown (or in Washington University) which have extremely competitive admissions. Just be sure to speak with someone about the percentage of students who go on to medical school from the college.