"The 'C' Factor"
By Stephanie Minter, VCOM Carolinas Chapter President
Before elections took place, every candidate knew it was going to be expected of the incoming Chapter President (at least) to attend Convocation. To some it may have even been the deciding factor in accepting a nomination. In the end, the “gavel” was passed to me and so began the internal conflict. Convocation was going to land in the middle of our end of block exams. I was comfortable with my grades heading into finals week, but still had reservations about being able to attend the conference workshops and meetings, try to study, be social, and still enjoy the experience.
I will admit, I waffled more and more as Convocation drew nearer. However, my financial investment and professional duty to my predecessors, peers, and professors kept me committed. I am so glad I went! Yes, I had to sacrifice a couple exams, maybe didn’t get to keep the letter grade I had been aiming for, but it only effected my GPA by .01, a sacrifice I’d be willing to make again. I can only begin to share with you how important attending Convocation was for shaping my understanding of OMT clinically, our role as an SAAO Chapter, and my role as their President. So, the “C” isn’t about the internal “conflict” in deciding to attend, or the “commitment” to follow through, or the dreaded “C” letter grade. No, the “C” factor is Convocation! Attending has made all the difference.
Even entering medical school with a background in massage and soft tissue therapy, I could not have appreciated the clinical scope and relevance of OMT without attending Convocation. As a first year student, I would not have been able to extrapolate the relevance of OMT for Trauma as well as Convocation taught me it could. Prior to attending conference OMT seemed like an abstract concept in the realm of emergency medicine and trauma. But now it all makes sense, OMT makes sense, and it can be relevant in many medical specialty fields, not just NMM/OMM. OMT is Comprehensive!
So, I returned to my campus and chapter with a clear sense of how our programming would unfold. Our challenge, as I see it, is to make OMT relevant and reinforce its use in any specialty. We are beginning the first block of this year with the integration and reinforcement of OMM in our other student interest groups. Currently we are preparing joint activities with our ACOEP (Emergency Med) and AOASM (Sports Med) chapters. Soon I will be approaching our ACOP (Pediatrics), OB/GYN, Physical Medicine, and Neuro/Psych groups. Heck, I bet I could figure out a way to get my SAAO members working with our Surgery interest group! OMT is relevant, it is important, it is what we do that makes us different and effective!
I hope, like me, you are not satisfied with “average” or maintaining any status quo. I hope you realize, or will seek to understand, how OMT can be used in any medical specialty. I hope you challenge yourself and your members to teach and share the passion for OMT and make it relevant for your other student interest groups. Make the “C” factor work for you, make OMT comprehensive within your student groups. Plan to send as many members, especially your incoming officers, to Convocation next year. I’ll see you there, looking for the next “C” factor!
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