We are proud to present the Spring 2004 issue of the Journal for Pre-Health Affiliated Students (JPHAS) at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In this issue, you can read about what life as a medical resident really may feel like (Features); how to train in homeopathic medicine today (Features); the process of gastric-bypass surgery (News); a relatively new teaching method called Problem-Based Learning, used in a growing number of health professional schools today (Pre-Health Outlook); and many other topics of interest to UIC students.

A new group of undergraduates has produced this impressive set of intriguing articles, and we would like to congratulate all the writers, artists, and editors for their excellent work.  We also strongly and sincerely thank all our supporters and sponsors who again made this issue possible, including UIC Publications, the Department of Biological Sciences, the Honors College, Undergraduate Student Government, the College of Medicine, the College of Applied Health Sciences, the College of Dentistry, and our many individual advisors.

JPHAS was conceived as an expansion of the UIC undergraduate journal formerly known as the Pre-Med Journal.  JPHAS had broadened the scope of the journal to include a variety of health-related disciplines, including nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, the applied health sciences, bioengineering, and others.  This publication today recognizes the diverse interests of UIC students pursuing a career in the health fields; and it attempts not only to present a more comprehensive perspective of medicine and health science, but also to strengthen the ties among the pre-health communities at UIC.

Due to several factors, including funding concerns and new chief editorship, JPHAS unfortunately will publish only one issue this academic year. However, in the next academic year, we will continue to produce two issues per year, and we will also institute other important changes in the structure of the publication and the student organization.  Until our next publication, we appreciate and encourage all letters-to-the-editor, suggestions, and other expressions of interest in JPHAS.

Sincerely,
Kamala Saha & Pius Wong
Editors-in-Chief