Sharpest Scalpel Surveys Senior Deans and New 4-Year MD Program Students
Associate Dean Regina Offidile Senior Associate Dean Arthur Gomez
As the new 4-year MD program has been launched to a massively receptive campus and community-wide response, we asked two of the leading initiators for their impressions. Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Dr. Arthur Gomez and Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions Dr. Regina Offodile weighed in on the first quarter of operations.
“ The start of the new 4-year MD program has been very successful, exhilarating even,” stated Dr. Gomez. It’ s a great opportunity to mold these young minds to become excellent physicians. Their arrival transformed something that was only on paper into a real experience and journey with challenges,” he added.
Regarding the opening that finally occurred after many years of anticipation and the subsequent days of hitting the ground. Dr. Gomez continued,“ Something on paper doesn’ t have heart, emotions, or even humanity. When the students came, they turned this into a reality, the realization of our dreams. This program has by now exceeded our expectations.”
Dr. Offodile gave an assessment regarding students’ first impressions.“ I would say that the start has
gone according to plan. We have had to make small adjustments regarding space and study areas. But overall, it has gone well.”
Regarding the challenges of operating in the temporary space erected in the Cobb Building, Dr. Offodile verified the need for participants’ patience and flexibility.“ I understand that this is a time where we must be flexible and amendable to change. One can plan for things in theory but when the students arrive, we learn of needs, preferences, and restrictions that we must be flexible in addressing. Most have to do with space and fitting 60 students in that space. Spaces for the students to study on campus after class, using the halo lens,” she added.
Dr. Gomez concurred.“ Ideally it would be lovely if the students had the HPEB building from the get-go. But our many allies in the community were willing to make this transition easier by providing resources to make things work. Our colleagues in mental health, and health services, and the entire MLK hospital campus, opened their arms for this endeavor. And we were pleased at how COSH and the Mervin M. Dymally College of Medicine participated,” he said.
And how have the students responded to the initial
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 21