The pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways. And for some, it has inspired them.
Admission officials say they’re seeing a spike in medical school applications in what’s being called “The Fauci Effect.”
“When we hit 5,000 we were like, ‘Wow,’ and then 6,000 and then we hit 7,000,” said Cristina Arabatzis with the Florida International University College of Medicine. “And we were like, ‘Oh my God.’”
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Across the country, medical school applications are up 18% this year. And in Florida, a few schools actually top the nation’s average.
So what is the Fauci Effect?
“It’s the prominence of what medicine actually can do, and how fragile our lives are,” said Dr. James Lynch with University of Florida College of Medicine.
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Some admissions officers said people are wanting to become physicians after watching the hard work of health care workers and the example public health figures have set during the COVID-19 crisis.
They’re wanting to join the frontline workers who have become real-life heroes.
“This generation just wants to help,” said Dr. Elaine Wallace, dean of Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.
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But there are also some other reasons these admission officials have cited.
“They’re very likely not being able to take a gap year and go around the world and enjoy themselves or take a year off,” Wallace said.
Another cause could be the job stability and security in health care.
“We’ve always seen that when there’s an economic downturn, there’s a typically an increase in applications,” said Adrian Jones with Florida International University’s College of Medicine.
Experts said this trend could continue into 2021.