On behalf of the graduating class of OMM Fellows I congratulate all of you on your acceptance and eventual matriculation to PCOM.
I can assure you that the remaining OMM Fellows are intelligent, compassionate and willing to work hard to guide you in your OMM education.
If I may, let me offer some advice for a successfull time at PCOM...
Relax...many of you will go through some wonderful and some awful things while at PCOM. There will be marriages, divorces, births, deaths...all surrounded by a giant cloud of uncertainty. You will all get through it if you take it one step at a time.
Help...help eachother. You are all working towards the same goal, to become an excellent osteopathic physician. Getting to the top of the class means nothing if you need to step on friends and future colleagues to do so. Remember...they will be your partners, referalls and best advertising some day.
Absorb...the information will fly at you faster than you can catch it. Taking a drink from a fire hydrant is a common analogy and that is pretty damn accurate. Take in what you can and read as much as you can. Never stop learning...your professors are still learning too.
Listen...the upperclassmen know what they are talking about. TRUST me on this one. As much as you may think you know, the premed is NOT the top of the foodchain (wait for the gasp to end). You are all the "best of the best" from college...but only a few of you will be the best at PCOM. If you want to be the best, learn from the best...those who have come before you.
Humility...you are a medical student. You are not an attending. Nurses, PAs, NPs, CNAs, EMTs...all of them have something to teach you. Be an educator and be a student. Your role is no more important than the good people who work in the cafeteria (and believe me, at PCOM those folks will tell you that straight up if you get an attitude). You are going to be a doctor...act like it. Be the leader. Set the example. Be the physician that gets a smile and nod of respect as you walk off the floor...not the one who gets a head shake and the middle finger.
Family...not only your family but the PCOM family. I was once rotating with a spunky 3rd year (while I was a 5th year) who knew she was good, but she would give you the white coat off her back. One day on rotations a student from another school (who was a 4th year) started to talk down to her...give her a little attitude. This third year stood her ground. "At PCOM we treat eachother with respect...we're a family here and if you can't act properly, then you're not welcome here." She was right. We take care of our own at PCOM. We welcome visitors with open arms and treat them like we would want to be treated. It sounds corny and very "Lifetime Movie-ish", but its the truth. Take care of your classmates and they will take care of you.
Give..."ask not what your school can do for you, but what you can do for your school." I said that...no one else. PCOM will provide you with the most powerful education in the world...the chance to become a physician. Give back to the school...doesnt have to be money or a new lecture hall, just your time.
Represent...remember that wherever you go you have the letters P-C-O-M on your coat. People will think better (or worse) of our school because of you. Wear the letters proudly and make your professors proud.
Just like the students who came before you worked to make things better for you by setting a positive example on rotations and in residency, you do the same.
With any luck I will have some small part in your education (as an intern and/or resident). It would be my pleasure.
If anyone ever has a question please feel free to PM me here. I will do my best to help in any way I can.
Again...you are now part of the PCOM family.
Congratulations and welcome.
Is everyone here going to be at PCOM-GA this fall. I interviewed in October, and I think most of my group got accepted. It would be nice to see some familiar faces the first day of class!!
