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Sharpest Scalpel Surveys Senior Deans and New 4-Year MD Program Students( continued)
medical school experience?“ Once we settled in, the students got a reality check,” noted Dr. Gomez. He cited an apt analogy to describe the adaptation of students to the role of medical students.“ The cliché of them drinking from a fire hydrant is an apt metaphor given the volume and pace of the work. They are now settling into the rhythm that will sustain them. It is incumbent on the Office of Medical Education to coordinate with Student Affairs to anticipate the delivery of any needed resources,” he stated.
Added Dr. Offodile,“ I think that the reality of the first exam caused the students to hunker down, so to speak. The reality of the exam made them gain more focus and deliberate effort. Overall, they had a healthy response to the exams.”
One of the primary operating strategies initially put forward was that the program be operated in a safe, welcoming space. Dr. Offodile cited the importance of that thinking.“ As the Dean of Student Affairs, I have an open-door policy. We affirm that all students’ voices should be and will be heard. This can be in a group setting or one on one in my office. All of the students have my email and my cellphone as needed. We have impressed upon the students that no concern is too small or too large and that we are here for them.
Dr. Gomez cited the care taken to ensure the safe space was an important part of the planning.“ The faculty and staff were carefully vetted to attest to our learning climate policies and procedures. Once the community of students was established, people were more than willing to accept the students in the proper spirit,” he explained.
To the question of how students were responding to non-traditional courses such as Medicine and Society, Dr. Gomez firmly declared,“ With open arms. Given the priority of drinking from a fire hydrant, the Medicine and Society curriculum allows them to pull away from the science classes. In my 30-years of experience in higher education, these students have uniquely established maintaining that balance. They are looking forward to achieving success in all of the challenges along the way.” learning experience.“ It is critical that students understand that connecting with the community is vital to their success, and the success of the care that they provide. The nontraditional courses such as Medicine and Society provide a connection for the medical knowledge that they are acquiring and the communities that they will eventually serve. They are learning with this connection in mind and framing their future practice of medicine is based on this principle,” she remarked.
Students reacted to the challenges of making the adjustment to medical school. Nicolas Hurtado Batista indicated that,“ The biggest adjustment is taking care of my mental health. I always feel like I should be studying.” Lule Deshields said,“ I’ ve learned to rely on being part of a study group, and asking for help if I don’ t understand properly.”
Sabrina Montgomery said that“ Pacing myself is very important as I learn the process of becoming a doctor.” Kevin Lopez indicated that he has made two adjustments.“ I need to manage time for personal relationships. I’ m very busy with the work and I need time for exercise and study. I’ m learning how to balance my work life with family life.”
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The nontraditional courses such as Medicine and Society provide a connection for the medical knowledge that they are acquiring and the communities that they will eventually serve.
Adding an exclamation point to Dr. Gomez’ s comments, Dr. Offodile was emphatic in her impression of the value of the course to the students’
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 22