University of Virginia Values and Mission Statement

University of Virginia

Mission Statement

The University of Virginia aims to be a premier public institution dedicated to discoveries, innovation, and nurturing talent from various backgrounds. Its focus includes serving the Commonwealth of Virginia and contributing significantly to society by producing well-rounded graduates equipped with practical knowledge and skills.

Values

UVA emphasizes several key principles:

• Compliance: Adhering to ethical conduct and complying with all relevant rules and regulations.
• Use of Resources: Utilizing university property solely for authorized purposes related to the institutional mission.
• Conflict of Interest Avoidance: Prioritizing commitments to the university and avoiding situations that could compromise objectivity.
• Gift Restrictions: Refraining from seeking or receiving items of monetary value that might bias decision-making.
• Reporting Violations: Encouraging whistleblowers to come forth about misconduct without fear of punishment.
• Equal Opportunity: Promoting inclusiveness and valuing different viewpoints.
• Work Environment: Maintaining a workplace characterized by courtesy, civility, and mutual respect.
• Professional Development: Continually improving one's expertise and expanding skill sets.

UVA School of Medicine

Mission Statement

UVA Health focuses on comprehensive patient care, innovative medical training, groundbreaking scientific investigation, and active involvement in the local community.

Values

UVA Health operates according to six guiding pillars known collectively as "ASPIRE":

• Accountability
• Stewardship
• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Respect
• Equity

These tenets drive a culture centered around transparency, continuous growth, high-quality services, and equitable practices.

Important Healthcare Issues for Interviews

For prospective applicants considering admission to the University of Virginia Medical School, understanding current healthcare trends and developments specific to Virginia would demonstrate awareness and readiness for the program. Some topics worth studying prior to an interview include:

• Opioid Crisis Response: Given the national opioid epidemic, discuss how you envision addressing this issue locally, particularly given Virginia's history with prescription drug abuse and overdose rates.
• Rural Health Accessibility: Discuss strategies to improve rural healthcare delivery systems due to disparities between urban and rural populations regarding access to quality care.
• Telemedicine Advances: Explore advancements in telemedicine technology and how they can bridge gaps in remote patient monitoring and virtual consultation capabilities.
• Population Health Initiatives: Examine population health approaches aimed at preventing disease and promoting overall wellbeing within communities served by UVA Health.

University of Virginia Values and Mission Statement

UVA Health

UVA Health's mission is "Transforming health and inspiring hope for all Virginians and beyond." Their vision includes being recognized as "the nation’s leading public academic health system and a best place to work." They aim to excel in clinical care, education, research, and engaging with diverse communities served.

UVA Facilities Management

UVA Facilities Management focuses on serving the community now while anticipating future needs. Its guiding principles emphasize respect, integrity, stewardship, and collaboration. This division aims to maintain a strong sense of community by valuing all members equally.

University of Virginia

The broader University of Virginia holds dear the ideals of honor, integrity, trust, and respect. It seeks to advance society through innovative scholarship, creative experimentation, and rigorous training of student scholars. The University also fosters a dynamic atmosphere focused on continuous growth and intellectual exploration.

Key Healthcare Issues for Interviews

For medical applicants interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine, understanding key healthcare issues relevant to the area could prove beneficial during interviews. While specific topics might vary year to year, some general themes worth exploring include:

1. Accessibility: Addressing barriers to healthcare services in rural areas due to geographic isolation and limited provider availability.
2. Health Disparities: Understanding and addressing disparities related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, etc., particularly given Virginia's history regarding slavery and segregation.
3. Public Health Initiatives: Promoting preventive measures against chronic diseases prevalent in the population, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, COPD, kidney disease, Alzheimer's Disease, arthritis, asthma, liver disease, depression, suicide, HIV, substance abuse, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson's Disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, osteoporosis, migraines, multiple sclerosis, deafness, blindness, cystic fibrosis, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, ADHD, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Huntington's Disease, sickle cell disease, thalassemias, hemophilia, Tay Sachs Disease, Turner Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, Prader Willi Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Phenylketonuria, Galactosemia, Cystinuria, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Homocystinuria, Maple Syndrome, Mucopolysaccharidoses, Mucolipidoses, Niemann Pick Type C, Sanfilippo Syndrome, Sjogren Larsson Syndrome, Smith Lemli Optiz Syndrome, Trimethylaminuria, Tyrosinemia, Wilson Disease, Zellweger Spectrum Disorders, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Marfan Syndrome, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Hemochromatosis, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Familial Mediterranean Fever, Fabry Disease, Hunter Syndrome, Hurler Syndrome, Morquio Syndrome, Scheie Syndrome, Usher Syndrome, Bardet Biedl Syndrome, Joubert Syndrome, Meckel Gruber Syndrome, Jeune Syndrome, Ellis Van Creveld Syndrome, Diastrophic Dysplasia, Achondroplasia, Chondrodysplasia Punctata, Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia Schmid Type, Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia, Cartilage Hair Hypoplasia, Acromesomelic Dysplasia, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, Thymic Dysplasia, T Cell Deficiencies, Neutropenia, Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency, Glanzmann Thrombasthenia, Hermansky Pudlak Syndrome, Von Willebrand Disease, Hemophilia Carrier Status, von Hippel Lindau Syndrome, Gorlin Syndrome, Peutz Jeghers Syndrome, Li Fraumeni Syndrome, Cowden Syndrome, Gardner Syndrome, Turcot Syndrome, Lynch Syndrome, Fanconi Anemia, Bloom Syndrome, Werner Syndrome, Rothmund Thomson Syndrome, Progeria, Lowe Syndrome, Menkes Syndrome, Krabbe Disease, Canavan Disease, Alexander Disease, Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease, Refsum Disease, Lesch Nyhan Syndrome, Friedreich Ataxia, Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, Myasthenia Gravis, Muscular Dystrophy Types 1-10, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Peripheral Neuropathies, Central Nervous System Demyelinating Conditions, Encephalopathies, Brain Malformations, Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Nephronophthisis, Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease, Renal Tubular Acidification Disorders, Bartter Syndrome, Gitelman Syndrome, Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis, Primary Hyperoxaluria, Oxalosis, Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency, Red Blood Cell Membrane Abnormalities, Alpha And Beta Thalassemias, Sickle Cell Traits, Iron Overload States, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, Cold Ag Unstable Hemoglobins, Nonspherocytic Hemolysis Due To Hexokinase Deficiency Or Other Defects Of Energy Production Within The Red Cell, Microcytic Anemia With Decreased Serum Ferritin Levels But Normal Transferrin Saturation Index, Megaloblastic Anemia From Vitamin B12 Deficiency Or Folate Deficiency, Macrocytic Normochromic Anemia Not Associated With Either Vitamin B12 Deficiency Or Folate Deficiency, Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia Secondary To Iron Deficiency, Nutritional Anemia Resulting From Insufficient Intake Of Dietary Protein, Excessive Loss Of Body Fluid Via Persistent Diarrhea Or Urine Output, Endocrine Disorder Such As Addison's Disease That Impairs The Functionality Of The Kidneys, Genetic Mutations Which Prevent The Formation Of Certain Essential Substances Like Coenzyme Q10 Or Carnitine, Drugs Including Antibiotics That Damage The Structure And Function Of The Kidney Filters Called Podocytes.

University of Virginia

Medical School Interview Questions:

• "What would you do if you couldn't get into medical school?"
• "Tell me more about this activity."
• "What are the problems with medicine today?"
• "Volunteer activities"
• "Tell me in your own words how you got interested in medicine."
• "If you were asked to spend only 10 minutes with patients instead of 15, what would you do?"
• "Why UVA?"
• "What problems do you think exist with the health care system?"
• "The second interviewer was a fourth-year who knew a TON about my application…he asked some questions from there."
• "Why would I want you as a classmate?"
• "What do you do to relieve stress?"
• "How do you like Charlottesville?"
• "What are your support systems?"
• "Tell me about your research."
• "Is there your first interview? Where else do you have interviews?"
• "Why UVA?"
• "What have you learned from independent research?"
• "Tell me about the SMEP program. What challenges do you expect as a doctor?"
• "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
• "Do you have any questions for me?"
• "What did you learn from the tour?"
• "What are your hobbies?"
• "As a pediatrician, how would you deal with parents who are non-compliant and interfering with your treatment of their child?"
• "How do you think you can create time for family when you have a career?"
• "General questions about my application and coursework as an undergrad. Along with these questions went the question about what I want/expect out of a medical school."**
• "Name one problem in healthcare and tell me how you would fix it."
• "What are you looking for in a medical school?"
• "Describe your passion for medicine."
• "Tell me about the clinical experience you had."
• "When did you receive your medical school epiphany?"
• "So you shadowed a surgeon in Scotland...what do you think about socialized health care?"
• "Is healthcare a privilege or a right?"
• "Why UVA?"
• "Name a few strengths and weaknesses you believe you have."
• "What is your role in research..."
• "Do you feel comfortable at this school?"
• "What are your parents' opinions of you going into medicine?"
• "Tell me about what you do outside of studying/work?"
• "Tell me about your research... do you see yourself going into research?"
• "Why UVA?"
• "What do you look for in a medical school?"
• "Why medicine?"
• "What do you think of the current health care crisis and being monitored by insurance companies? How will that affect your quality of life/job enjoyment?"
• "What do you think is the biggest problem facing American health care?"
• "Is there something you are afraid of about entering medical school?"
• "Why do you want to come to UVA?"
• "What do you think will be the biggest challenge you'll face in medical school?"
• "With such little clinical experience (he actually misread my application), how do you know you really want to go into medicine?"
• "Really, no tough questions!"
• "Liver transplant ethical situations"
• "Reviewed website (#1), SDN (#2), My App (#3)
• "Told him about my interest in becoming a primary care provider focusing on underserved rural areas."
• "He talked about his love for teaching and helping others succeed."
• "We chatted about the importance of cultural competency in medicine."
• "She mentioned her passion for global health initiatives."
• "They told me about the strong emphasis on teamwork and communication skills among physicians at UVA."
• "I shared stories about volunteering at free clinics during my gap year."
• "University of Virginia School of Medicine Interview Feedback".