Paul Singh MD, FACC

Harpreet Singh MD

Catie Adamson - University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Class of 2012
Ethics and Mannerisms Trainer.

Adelynn Vilmann, Physician Assistant -
C, SP trainer and Manager.

Emily McAlpine

Stephanie Cutcher

I graduated from DMC Ludhiana in 1981(MBBS). I did my internal medicine residency and received MD from Punjab University, Chandigarh in 1984 and practiced medicine for 2 years.

I was training to become gastroenterologist in India before migrating to the USA. I started residency in internal medicine in November 1987 in Maryland and did cardiology fellowship from 1990 to 1993 and during my last year of fellowship was promoted to the position of instructor/lecturer at West Virginia University. It was during this time, I developed passion for teaching medical students, residents and fellows.

I started practicing in interventional cardiology and vascular medicine in 1993 (visit- www.wmcardiology.com) and have trained many medical students, residents and physician assistants.

I bring unique experience from two different subcontinents , different way of teaching and then merging them together for better patient care. Ultimately for a doctor there is nothing more satisfying than a happy patient. My goal for the past 25 years has been to teach residents , medical students and physician assistants to be the best at what they do.

I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with medical students of 99 Percentile.
 

As I was preparing for my Clinical Skills Exam in 2003, I had a hard time arranging for Standardized Patients (SP’s). I joined a lot of forums and visited various websites to seek help and arrange for SP’s, however, I was not able to do so. I came to the United States in 2003 and worked in an outpatient medical office where I learned history, physicals and counseling the patients. I completed my internal medicine residency and is presently working as the hospitalist in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the process, I learned the most important thing - Patient Satisfaction. I have always strived to attain the goal of patient satisfaction. If you satisfy SP’s during your exam, you would be accomplishing your goal. I always used to wonder, “Why one more exam?” (Step 2-CS) Now, being a hospitalist, this makes a lot of sense. In our hospital, patients and patient families rate physicians on these principles:

1. Time physician spent with the patient.

2. Physician concern for patient questions and worries.

3. Physician kept the patient informed.

4. Friendliness/Courtesy of physician.

5. Skill of physician.

6. Physician used layman language.

7. Physician informative with family.

Basically, all these principles when translated constitutes Step 2-CS Exam on which medical students and international medical graduates are tested.
99 Percentile has arranged SP’s with sound medical knowledge and who have been trained by Paul Singh, Harpreet Singh and Adelynn Vilmann.
 

Catie Adamson received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Hillsdale College and is currently attending the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. She will graduate with her DDS in 2012. In 2009, Catie received the Class of 1952 Scholarship for ethical behavior, caring behavior toward her patients, and leadership in her school and community.

About patient care, Catie states, “I believe that patient care begins with the relationship you form with your patient before treatment is even started. Learning to understand each individual patient and react to the myriad of situations you will find yourself in as a healthcare provider is an extremely important skill to learn. Having a strong doctor-patient rapport will only better your success with patients.”

Catie is presently involved in several extra curricular activities; she is the President Elect of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), an ADSA Eighth District Representative, and also the Fundraising Chair for Buffalo Outreach and Community Assistance (BOCA). Catie is pleased to be joining the 99 Percentile team and will be teaching and sharing her expertise in the area of Mannerisms.
 

As I was obtaining my physician assistant education at Duke University I had many opportunities to work with standardized patients. I remember my first experience as I struggled to work through a standardized patient coming in for a follow up appointment for hypertension.

I had difficulty in organizing my questions. Through clinical instructors and feedback from the patients, I was able to mature as a provider and improve on patient relations. Upon graduation of the physician assistant program, we had a similar skills exam where we had multiple standardized patients. If it had not been for the previous practice with the SPs that I had throughout schooling, I would have struggled through this examination. When I entered the working world in 2008 I continued to grow as I worked alongside attending physicians who loved to teach. I would love the opportunity to pass down the knowledge that was so generously given to me.

Patient relations is a huge component of health care and there is nothing more valuable than a good history and physical. This course will allow you to fine tune your skills, not just for the USMLE STEP 2-CS examination but also for improving yourself as a provider.
 

Emily McAlpine comes to us as a resource to aid in writing and editing your personal statements.

Emily has been an educator for over a decade, spending a significant amount of time in the collegiate classroom. She earned her undergraduate degree at Michigan State University and two subsequent master degrees at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Her primary focus in the world of education is content writing and coaching the struggling writer.

You personal statement is an initial impression of who and what you are – you want that statement to be as clear, precise and accurate!
 

Stephanie Cutcher received her B.A. in English with a Studio Art Minor from Calvin College in 2006. During her education there she was privileged to work with inspiring writers and teachers who deepened her commitment to writing and editing. She spent time in Maine and Massachusetts studying the transcendentalist authors of the New England area, and later had the opportunity to work with the Festival of Faith and Writing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is a festival that brings well-known authors from many backgrounds and faiths to west Michigan for discussion and a celebration of both reading and writing. All of these experiences have deepened the respect that she has for the role that writing and reading play in our society.

Currently, Stephanie is working for the American Heart Association in Grand Rapids as a Corporate Development Associate, a fulfilling position that brings awareness and research funding to cardiovascular disease. If you have attended the Grand Rapids Start! Heart Walk, the Go Red For Women Luncheon, or the Heart Ball in our area you have probably seen her there. Outside of that she is a freelance proofreader and editor, trying to help bring order and beauty to the writing of west Michigan. She also writes short stories and poetry, and is attempting to learn how to cook and knit. The latter projects can only be described as “in progress.”

Stephanie welcomes any challenge and loves working on new projects with new people.