Live Still Points October 2013 | Page 17

Organizational Growth: An Approach

Justin Ezell, President TCOM

As the SAAO President at TCOM, I am proud to report we had 70% of our first year class join our SAAO chapter this year. This far exceeded our expectations. How did we exceed prior recruiting drives for our organization this year? It is my goal to share how the officers prepared and set the stage for an excellent year.

“The rule of the artery is supreme” – A.T. Still

The first thing to focus on is the importance of recruiting into an organization. Just as a college football team needs a constant influx of new talent to win a championship years later, a SAAO chapter needs new first year students to prepare tomorrow’s diplomats of osteopathy and leadership in the medical community at all levels. Dr. Still’s quote reminds us that just as tissue needs adequate blood flow for cellular respiration, an organization needs “new blood” to regenerate and promote health of the organization.

During the summer break, our focus was on how to best promote our club and its values. First we decided to do as much promotion of SAAO during the orientation week at TCOM. We sponsored a lunch where we utilized pictures and music to emphasize the fun and service provided over the past year. We addressed the importance of learning OMT as a student and how SAAO provides opportunities to practice OMT outside of the classroom. In particular, emphasis was placed on how these opportunities are great at not only demonstrating the value of Osteopathic Medicine in the Fort Worth community, but also the chance to see various levels of somatic dysfunction and make a difference in peoples’ lives.

Additionally, we had a demonstration of cervical manipulation followed by awarding door prizes for playing OMM question based Jeopardy. Our orientation leaders helped us by talking up the value of the competency reviews sponsored exclusively for our first year members. And of course, we also offered T-shirts for joining.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” – Zig Zigler

Beyond just the material and educational benefits, recruiting needs a touch of humanity. A huge “X-factor” is having the leadership display why they joined the organization and how it has personally benefited and changed them. Just as Mr. Zigler emphasized, people must know why you have personally decided to “own your own product”. People want to know that you have a passion for what you do. If you don’t care about what you do then why should they do it? We shared in our presentation and with individuals our personal stories. And though we all have different reasons for wanting to be in SAAO, we all agree that SAAO is one of the best modalities to improving OMT skills. We demonstrated SAAO is more than just a club. It is an opportunity to learn and grow above and beyond the classroom. And by showing how much and why we care lead to multiple questions and growing interest among the student body.

“I’m not telling you it is going to be easy – I’m telling you it is going to be worth it.”

– Art Williams

Now that we have succeeded in our first step, we now are doing the next part…delivering on our promise. This year we have a much greater emphasis of early integration of first years with volunteering events. Already we have included the first year class in a wellness fair and soft tissue training offered to the employees and students at UNTHSC. We are evaluating our current programs and how to improve them. We are developing a better communication program to reach out to our 3rd and 4th year students and alumni. We routinely have residents from the NMM/OMM program attend our events and meetings to share their experiences. Though this time invested competes with studies, family, and board preparation, it is an investment which pays high dividends over the course of a career. It creates a culture of cohesiveness and growth in osteopathy.

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