This Week @ MUSM is the official student newsletter of Mercer University School of Medicine designed to keep students up to date on key information and events.
Honor the Life and Legacy of
Martin Luther King Jr.
January 13 | 3 pm | Macon
Mercer University's Office of Minority Affairs, Minority Mentor Program, and Office of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives invite Mercer students, faculty, and staff to participate in the MLK “Living the Dream” March and Tribute on the Macon campus Thursday, January 13, 2022, to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. T-shirts will be given away to the first 100 participants who show up at the University Center Bear Statue at 3:00 pm.

The event will officially start at 3:30 pm, with faculty, staff, and students marching from the University Center Bear Statue to Willingham Auditorium. Following the march, a keynote address will be given reaffirming the University's commitment to racial equality and justice. Masks are required and social distancing must be maintained.

If you are interested in participating, please register for the event via this link. If you would like to participate but are not able to do so in person, a virtual option will be available by completing this registration link.
Deadline to Waive Spring 2022 Student Health Insurance Premium is Friday, February 4
All MUSM students are assessed a health insurance premium each fall and spring semester in which they enroll for 3 or more credit hours. If you have alternate coverage, you may waive the premium each semester. If you do not complete either the waiver or enrollment process by February 4, 2022 at 5 pm, you will be automatically enrolled in the student health plan. However, your insurance will not be activated until after the enrollment/waiver period. To complete the enrollment or waiver form, go to https://studentplan.corehealthbenefits.com/mercer/.
 
Know an Outstanding Faculty Member? Help get them recognized!
Developed in 2018 following Dr. Walker's retirement, the Dr. Anna N. Walker Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes a faculty member who is an outstanding teacher and mentor, and dedicated to MUSM's education mission. This distinction is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon one of our faculty.

For a candidate to be entered they must:
  • Be a full-time faculty member at Mercer University School of Medicine and be responsible for pre-clinical education (Year I and Year II).
  • Have a rank of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor.
  • Demonstrate outstanding teaching and mentoring.
  • Show a continued commitment to MUSM's education mission.

Students are invited to nominate a faculty member that meets these guidelines by submitting a letter of recommendation, which describes their contribution in teaching, mentoring, and advocacy for MUSM's education mission. Direct all letters of recommendation or inquires for additional information to Bonny Dickinson, Ph.D., MS-HPEd.

Deadline for submission of nomination letters: February 11, 2022
Class of 2023 T-Shirt Fundraiser
Deadline | January 21
The Savannah Class of 2023 is selling Comfort Colors Long Sleeve T-shirts for $25. If you would like to purchase one, please follow these steps:
 
  1. Click THIS LINK to sign up with your name, email, and size
  2. Venmo $25 to @MUSMClassCouncil2023 
  3. Wait for the confirmation email of your purchase
 
The deadline is 5 pm on Friday, January 21, 2022. Columbus and Macon students will have their shirts shipped to their respective campuses. The shirts are expected to be here by February.

If you have any questions, concerns, or want to pay using another method, please contact Sai Nagula.
Volunteer at the Upcoming
COVID Vaccine Clinics
January 14 | January 21
Boosters have become crucial to maintaining our communities' defenses against COVID-19. Mercer Medicine - Campus Health will be offering 1st, 2nd, and booster doses and they need your help.

In order to volunteer, you must be signed off in EMR for vaccination (only applies to M1/M2).

If you would like to administer vaccines, and have not done so with a real patient, you can be signed off on-site by Mercer Medicine staff after observation of you administering two vaccines. If you prefer not to administer vaccines, there are several alternative volunteer options.

Sign up today! For more information, contact the COVID-19 Liaison and Vaccine Site lead, Todd Wood.
Apply to the Primary Care ACT Program Today
Deadline | February 4
This innovative three-year program prepares students for early entry into a traditional primary care residency. It has three tracks: Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. After completing residency, three years of continuous, full-time, medical practice in a medically underserved rural area of Georgia is required.

To qualify, you must be a Year I student, be in good academic standing, and have a strong desire to practice primary care in a rural area.
Apply for the Nathan Deal Scholarship Today
Deadline | March 4
This scholarship is awarded to students committed to practicing medicine in rural and medically underserved areas of Georgia. After completing residency, four years of continuous, full-time, medical practice in a medically underserved rural area of Georgia is required and the practice must accept Medicaid.

To qualify, you must be a Georgia resident with strong ties to rural Georgia and enrolled in MUSM's four-year MD program.
Student and Faculty Musicians Needed March 8
The Class of 2025’s IPE week (March 7-11) will feature a special session on music and healing on Tuesday, March 8. We are looking for musicians on all campuses who are available to play during breaks and lunch. This will be a low-pressure performance. Each performance will last just a few minutes as we change presenters and while the students eat lunch. If you are interested in sharing your talent, please email your student affairs dean: 
Dr. Hughes (Columbus), Dr. Nobles-James (Macon), and Dr. Shelley (Savannah).
Memorial Health Research Day
May 19 | Savannah
Save the date for this year's Interprofessional Research Day at Memorial Health. This event is designed to provide academic learners with a platform to present publication-ready scholarly products to the local audience. Look for more information soon.

Abstract Deadline: March 4 by 5 pm
Poster Content Deadline: April 29 by 5 pm
Presentation Deadline: May 13 by 5 pm
Tips for a Healthier New Year
Happy New Year and welcome back! Now is the perfect time to consider your health goals, but sticking to a New Year’s resolution may be difficult to achieve as a medical student or while in graduate school. Remember that small changes can have a lasting effect in improving overall health and wellness so it’s important to make healthy choices whenever possible.

Below are some tips for achieving better health in 2022:

  • Learn your risk for diabetes. According to the president of the AMA, Dr. Gerald Harmon, “As many as one out of three may have prediabetes and not even know about it. Which left untreated, will almost inevitably advance to full-blown diabetes.” Click here to calculate your risk.
  • Know your blood pressure numbers. When diagnosed with both high blood pressure and diabetes, there is a greater risk of stroke and heart attack.
  • Eat healthier and “smarter” by limiting processed foods.
  • Be more physically active by committing to at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
  • Find ways to reduce stress. You might try meditation or yoga.
  • Get enough sleep. Aim for at least 7.5 hours of sleep each night.

Click here for the complete AMA list of recommendations.

Source: American Medical Association
The Effects of Extreme Weather Events on Child Mood and Behavior
January 13 | 6 - 7 pm
Join Dr. Jennifer Barkin as she presents on mental health in relation to climate change. This event is presented in collaboration with the NH Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, New Hampshire Psychiatric Society, New Hampshire Psychological Association, and New Hampshire Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
 
The event will take place over Zoom.
SOARS Savannah Student Research Symposium
January 28 | 1 - 4 pm | Mercer Auditorium | Savannah
All MUSM and Memorial learners and faculty are invited to view student poster presentations.To learn more, contact Alexis Strahan or Caitlin Balno.
This Week@MUSM is the official student newsletter of the Mercer University School of Medicine. Visit our website to learn more or view past issues.