March Book of the Month

I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse

By: Lee Gutkind & Karen Wolk Feinstien 

This month we will be reading I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse by Lee Gutkind & Karen Wolk Feinstein. We will be reading this book to explore nursing careers and to celebrate National Nurses Day on March 19th!

This book contains a compilation of true stories from many nurses throughout their careers. Each story is unique to the individual and highlights a different aspect of the nursing profession from the successes to the difficulties that nurses will encounter during their careers. Gutkind uses his style of creative nonfiction writing to seamlessly combine the narratives of each author into one story to give the reader diverse perspectives of the responsibilities and experiences of nurses. 

This book allows the reader to explore nursing through different lenses to see if they could see themselves being a fit in this profession. If you are considering a career in healthcare, nursing is an excellent option. Less schooling is required in comparison to medical or dental school which is a plus for some students. Nurses also work very closely with patients and are able to have more personal interactions compared to other health professionals. 

If a nursing career seems appealing, be sure to check out all of our resources for careers in nursing and swing by the CEC in MVR 1203 to learn more!


February Book of the Month

Volunteer: A Traveller’s Guide To Making A Difference Around The World

By: Lonely Planet

Studying and volunteering abroad are valuable experiences for many students, so in February, we will be reading Volunteer: A Traveller’s Guide To Making A Difference Around The World written by Lonely Planet. This book provides students with a resource to learn about volunteer opportunities abroad in a variety of fields such as conservation and emergency relief. 

The book has ten sections each focusing on a different stage of the international volunteering experience. They are: (1) International Volunteering an Overview, (2) Choosing Your Volunteer Experience, (3) The Practicalities, (4) Tying Up Loose Ends, (5) Organized Volunteer Opportunities, (6) Structured & Self-Funding Volunteer Programs, (7) Religious Organizations, (8) Do-It-Yourself Volunteer Placements, (9) Coming Home, and (10) Start Your Own Charitable Project. Each of these sections includes further information on the specifics of the logistics of that area. 

One main theme in the book is the benefits of volunteering for you personally and in the area that you are working in. Being able to see the impact that you can have firsthand while volunteering abroad is very powerful and volunteering abroad can also open doors for future work abroad. 

Going abroad to volunteer can be very feasible if you know where to look. Volunteer includes many organizations including AFS Intercultural Programs, Global Volunteers, and Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) that potential volunteers can connect with to find placement with funded programs as well as ways to find funding for themselves which is a key factor for a successful experience. 

If you are looking for summer opportunities including volunteering abroad, come check out the book in the CEC in MVR 1203 as well as our other helpful resources!

November Book of the Month

Intern: A Doctor’s Initiation

By: Sandeep Jauhar

Written by Dr. Jauhar, a cardiologist and director of the Heart Failure Program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, this book details the trials and tribulations of being a medical intern. Starting off as a physicist, Dr. Jauhar had a slightly different path towards medicine, making him reflect on the field in a new perspective. 

Starting medical school after receiving a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Jauhar had a different experience than many typical pre-medical students have. He was very unsure of his passions and motivations in medical school even up until having to choose his specialty, making his whole journey through medical school very confusing and emotionally distressing. Even while in residency, Dr. Jauhar found several medical procedures highly disturbing. Having all these doubts and feeling uncertain about many aspects of medicine, Dr. Jauhar struggled to come to terms with being a doctor for many years. 

Continuously doubting his abilities to become a doctor, Dr. Jauhar reveals different aspects of medicine that he finds questionable and discusses his thoughts on them. And at some point, Dr. Jauhar himself becomes a patient with a herniated disc, and he’s able to experience the patient side of the work he is doing. By the end of the book, he develops the love for medicine and patient connection Dr. Jauhar needs to continue his journey to becoming a doctor. 

To read more about Dr. Jauhar’s story and further explore your interests in medicine, come check out the book at MVR 1203!November Book of the Month: Intern: A Doctor's Initiation by Sandeep Jauhar

October Book of the Month

How to Find Fulfilling Work 

By Roman Krznaric 

In the first few months of school, students often scramble as they try to figure out their life before applying to clubs and extracurricular activities. However, before doing all of this, it’s important to evaluate what your values are, what you want out of a potential career, and how you should navigate your career path to align with your goals. For October’s Book of the Month, we will be reading How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric, to help students really understand how they can be fulfilled with their career path and how they can find joy in the work they’ll be doing for most of their lives. 

The book is divided into a few chapters, titled (I.) The Age of Fulfillment, (II.) A Short History of Career Confusion, (III.) Giving Meaning to Work, (IV.) Act First, Reflect Later, (V.) The Longing for Freedom, (VI.) How to Grow a Vocation, and Homework. Focusing on how to maximize fulfillment within our careers, Krznaric discusses critical advice on evaluating work-related choices and getting used to the idea of change. The topics and details Krznaric discusses are based on various fields of research, including sociology, psychology, history, and philosophy. 

A large emphasis on the book is having the courage to change careers when one’s current job doesn’t match their career goals. Considering the various steps and experiences involved in developing a career, it can be daunting to students to think about a whole career change. Krznaric encourages individuals to take that risk and do whatever career may fulfill their goals and aspirations. 

Especially in a society that prioritizes money and status so much, it may be difficult really understanding what you specifically want out of a career. Reading this book can give insight into evaluating your true goals and aspirations and taking action to fulfill them. If you are ever wondering how to navigate your own career, feel free to stop by MVR 1203 to check out the book or get direct help from career assistants here at the Career Exploration Center!

Advertising image for October Book of the Month (How to Find Fulfilling Work).

April Book of the Month

To celebrate National Food Month this April, we will be reading Careers in Nutrition by Linda Bickerstaff for the Book of the Month.

The book contributes to a series called “Careers in the New Economy,” which consists of several career-specific books including Careers in Fitness and Personal Training, Careers in Teaching, Careers in the Building and Construction Trades, and Careers in the Computer Game Industry. Careers in Nutrition covers a wide range of jobs that students interested in nutrition may pursue or explore. 

Bickerstaff starts off with an introduction to the basics of nutrition, what type of work or jobs it entails, and further information on nutrition in the U.S. through insights on the American Dietetic Association. Then, he goes on to further descriptions of nutrition-related career paths.

Careers discussed in the book include Clinical Dietitian, Food Service Manager, Sports Nutritionist, Nutrition Support Dietitian/Nutrition Support Pharmacist, Chef, Dietetic Technician (Registered), Food Scientist, Genetic Engineering Research Scientist, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and Journalists. For each career, the book includes an example college course plan, an interview with a professional in the field, education and credentials, salaries, work environment, and more. 

If you are interested in a career path that relates to nutrition, come to MVR 1203 and check out Careers in Nutrition to explore your options!

March Book of the Month

This Side of Doctoring: Reflections from Women in Medicine By Eliza Lo Chin

For Women’s History Month this March, we will be reading This Side of Doctoring: Reflections from Women in Medicine by Eliza Lo Chin. In the male-dominated field of medicine, women have unique experiences and challenges. In this book, Eliza Lo Chin compiled the writing of 100 women in medicine, sharing poems, stories, and essays of the female experience in medicine. 

Stories range from experiences in medical school where many of the female physicians were discriminated against for their gender to essays about why they decided to pursue medicine. The book is divided into 12 overarching chapters, labeled “Historical Perspective, Early Pioneers, The Formative Years, Life in the Trenches: Internship and Residency, On Doctoring, Mothering and Doctoring, Making Choices, Barriers, Connections, Balancing, Our Families’ Perspectives, and Reflections.” A large part of the book is focused on the experience of female physicians being a mother. With work-life-balance being difficult for all doctors, females share the unique experience of being a mother, which constitutes the same amount of time, if not more, as an additional full-time job.   

The stories encased in this book are unique to each of the women’s experiences. From medical students to veteran physicians, a wide range of perspectives is included. Despite this diversity in the writers, there are still central themes and experiences that most of the women experience in the medical field, whether it be the challenges of maintaining courage when faced with gender discrimination, or persevering through the difficulty and fatigue of being a doctor while raising your own children. Reading this book can give you a glimpse of the experiences women face in medicine, helping you obtain a broader perspective of female physicians and greater respect for them. 

To read more about these successful women in medicine’s experiences in the field, come visit MVR 1203 and check it out!

February Book of the Month

Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity

By Ella L.J. Edmondson Bell and Stella M. Nkomo 

In honor of Black History Month this February, we will be reading Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity by Ella L.J. Edmondson Bell and Stella M. Nkomo. For many years, the issue of not having enough women and Black people in executive and managerial positions in the corporate world has highlighted ongoing prejudices based on gender and race. Bell and Nkomo provide perspectives of Black and white women in corporate America, emphasizing the different experiences that individuals face in the workplace based on their race and gender. In an attempt to help corporate workers understand the various perspectives in their workplace, Bell and Nkomo promote conversations regarding topics such as whether Black women associate more with white women or Black men. The book brings up a diverse array of topics and ideas that can help corporate America promote a more inclusive and supportive environment for their workers, especially those of whom face prejudices based on race and/or gender. 

The book is divided into three parts that each highlight different aspects of Black and white women in the workforce:

  • Part I: Flashbacks. This section provides the perspectives of 14 women in the corporate world. They share their experiences starting from childhood and detailing their family life, education, and more. 
  • Part II: Flashpoints. This section highlights common challenges faced by females with executive or managerial positions. While everyone has different experiences, some moments and mindsets are shared by many women in these positions, helping emphasize points of concern and areas in need of improvement in the corporate world. This part of the book also explores the impact of race, gender, and social class on women’s experiences. 
  • Part III: The Self and the Other. This section details the experiences of white and Black women separately, exploring their perspectives, opinions, and more, highlighting the impact of race between the two groups of women. 

Finally, the Epilogue provides a “call to action,” starting conversation topics regarding bridging the gap between white and Black women in the corporate world and helping them understand how to best share their personal experiences with each other. The Epilogue also lays out advice on how companies can go about using the information provided by this book to improve their workplace and make it more inclusive and accessible to everyone. 

If you would like to read the book or know more about it, feel free to come to MVR 1203 and check it out! February book of the month poster

November Book of the Month

Earlier this month, the Global Health Student Advisory Board held their annual Global and Public Health Experiential Learning Symposium, where students shared their experiences from studying abroad. Students interested in global and public health came to the symposium to explore different opportunities abroad and learn about the research projects students conducted this past summer. As students think about what topics in global health interest them, and what related research projects they might want to conduct later on, we will be exploring a unique sector of public health for our November Book of the Month. 

This month, we will be reading Law in Public Health Practice written by Richard A. Goodman, Richard E. Hoffman, Wilfredo Lopez, Gene W. Matthews, Mark A. Rothstein, and Karen L. Foster, all of whom are public health professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public health organizations, medical schools, and university public health programs. 

Law in Public Health Practice introduces readers to the intersection between public health and law. The book is covered in three main sections–“Legal Basis for Public Health Practice,” “The Law and Core Public Health Functions,” and “The Law in Controlling and Preventing Diseases, Injuries, and Disabilities.” 

  1. Legal Basis for Public Health Practice: This section gives an overview of the fundamental connections between law and public health. Many public health topics such as smoking, vaccines, and disease control are largely addressed through policies and legal actions. Public health is also very applicable to criminal law–especially as technology improves, criminal law investigators can use public health-related topics like epidemiology and genetic analysis to identify causes of crimes as well as to identify potential suspects. 
  2. Law and Core Public Health Functions: Many public health officials work directly with the government through jobs like “the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Surgeon General of the United States, and the Director of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to the commissioner of a state or local health department, deputy and assistant commissioners, bureau directors, epidemiologists, public health advisors, and inspectors” (Goodman et al). These officials work with legal advisors to properly address issues like disease outbreaks. This section also discusses legal issues in public health research, as well as managed-care organizations in the U.S. like health insurance companies.
  3. The Law in Controlling and Preventing Diseases: The last section of the book reviews disease prevention and control. Through the use of genomics and public health-related scientific knowledge, policies can be developed to address issues like foodborne diseases, vaccination mandates, bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections, tobacco usage, and environmental health in the most effective way possible. 

Overall, the book goes into detail on the vast field of public health and law, and explores career options for anyone interested in the field. Come over to the Career Exploration Center in MVR 1203 to read the book or talk to a career assistant about exploring this career field!

October Book of the Month

To celebrate American Pharmacists Month, we will be reading Pharmacy: What It Is and How It Works for our October Book of the Month. With so many of our undergraduates following the pre-med track, it is often difficult for other pre-health students to find helpful information and opportunities related to their career paths. This month, we will be highlighting pathways in the pharmaceutical industry, exploring the wide variety of career titles in this vastly diverse field. 

When thinking of a pharmacist’s main role, many imagine individuals in lab coats handling prescriptions and providing medications for various healthcare conditions. However, individuals in the pharmaceutical industry hold many roles, including but not limited to: 

  1. Medication quality controller: Ensuring that the medications they give patients are the most appropriate and efficient for their conditions. In a hospital or clinical setting, the chief pharmacist acts as a quality controller by confirming that their drug-use process is legal and follows all government regulations. 
  2. Caregiver: Pharmacists have to communicate with patients to explain the purpose of their medication, instructions for taking the medication, potential side effects. In addition to these jobs, pharmacists also need to show compassion and support for the patients. 
  3. Clinical pharmacist: Rather than providing patients with medications, clinical pharmacists usually work with patients and their physicians to determine the best medication and dosage, as well as studying side effects and proper usage of the medication. Therefore, clinical pharmacists need proper knowledge of the more chemical and biological aspects of pharmacy. 
  4. Teacher: Many pharmacists go on to teach pharmacy students, technicians, and nurses.
  5. Business pharmacists: Many pharmacists follow a more business path in their careers. Whether it is managing finances in healthcare clinics or hospitals, or working in human resources, pharmacists can continue advancing and becoming managers of companies—even their own. To fully advance in this field, some pharmacists earn a masters of business administration. 
  6. Researcher: Pharmacists can enter academia or continue researching medications through scientific research—clinical drug research, laboratory, and animal studies. Many of these pharmacists hold advanced education degrees including Ph.D., M.A., and Pharm.D.

In addition to several other roles that pharmacists can hold, this book goes into detail on career planning for pharmacists, supply and demand in the workforce, basic information on medical drugs, pharmacists in relation to the U.S. healthcare system, information on pharmaceutical care, pharmaceutical technology and automation, and much more. 

If you are interested in the pharmaceutical industry, come over to the Career Exploration Center at MVR 1203 during our open hours to read or check out Pharmacy: What It Is and How It Works for more information!October Book of the Month: Pharmacy: What It Is and How It Works. Interested in the pharmaceutical industry? Curious about the various roles workers in the pharmaceutical field hold? Check out Pharmacy: What It Is and How It Works to learn more about the type of work pharmaceutical workers do, the different career pathways in the field, and how pharmacists work in a medical, legal, and business context. Come to the CEC (MVR 1203) to check out the book!

September Book of the Month

As we start off the school year, students of all grades are returning to the hectic routine of studying, attending classes, participating in extracurriculars, and spending time with friends. For our September Book of the Month, we will be reading Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus & Sharpen Your Creative Mind, which guides readers through building productivity and making the most of our resources amidst all the distractions we have around us. 

  1. Building a Rock-Solid Routine

The first section of the book emphasizes forming habits and building a productive daily routine, which can be accomplished by allocating a certain amount of time everyday to do work, surrounding yourself with a familiar work setting, and completing manageable to-do list tasks. However it’s just as important to make time for exercising, eating meals, and getting enough sleep to have the energy to be productive. 

  1. Finding Focus in a Distracted World 

The second section of the book hones in on how to maintain your focus and maximize productivity when surrounded by distractions like social media. Especially with how easily accessible our phones and computers are to us while working, author Cal Newport advises readers to set a block of time everyday just for creative work. 

  1. Taming Your Tools 

To minimize distractions while working, the third section discusses how to stay away from social media and how to avoid addiction to technology. From simply unplugging from social media accounts to learning to build your own ideas and minimizing reliance on technology, this section emphasizes the importance of focusing on yourself and less on other people through a screen. 

  1. Sharpening Your Creative Mind

The fourth section of this book focuses on how to stay creative. This section goes through a variety of helpful tips for creative individuals, including getting past creativity blocks, how to not get caught up with perfectionism, and taking time to wander and explore your curiosities.

  1. Coda: A Call to Action

The last section of the book gives an easy three-step guideline to living a productive and habitual lifestyle. The first step is to just “sit down and work.” The second step is to repeat simple actions multiple times everyday, whether it’s reading a chapter of your textbook or solving one practice problem. The last step is to continue building our habits and finishing our work. Ultimately, the book calls you to “cross the finish line.”

If you’re looking for tips on building your rock-solid routine, come check out the book at the CEC (1203 MVR)!