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.
This week the Skelton Medical Libraries would like to recognize Dr. Leonidas H. Berry. Dr. Berry was a pioneering physician and a fierce advocate for civil rights. He fought to end discrimination in medicine and shined a light on medicine’s vast inequalities and racial disparities. The National Library of Medicine has more than 1,600 materials selected and digitized from the Leonidas H. Berry Papers, 1907-1982. Click here to learn more and access to the Berry papers.

This week we also have another inspirational video of one of our students, Dante Zanders. In addition, the Literature in Medicine Interest Group has curated a list of 28 books worth reading to celebrate Black History Month. Check out both below.
Help Us Find Your Future Colleagues
Every year, we collaborate with Undergraduate Admissions for the Special Consideration Program (SCP). This program allows incoming Mercer freshman an opportunity to interview for a future spot in our MD class. This year we will be interviewing 40 exceptional high school students for the Class of 2029, and we need your help!

This virtual event will be on Friday, February 12. We will have two separate groups of students and need interviewers for each group. There will be two interviewers per applicant and each interview will take approximately 30 minutes.

GROUP 1 SCHEDULE
Waiting room will be open by 9:30 am. Everyone participating needs to sign in by 10 am. 
10-10:15 am | Welcome (Dean Sumner)
Breakout rooms will be set up during the welcome.
10:20-10:50 am | Interviews in Breakout Rooms
 
GROUP 2 SCHEDULE
Waiting room will be open by 11:30 am. Everyone participating needs to sign in by 12 pm. 
12-12:15 am | Welcome (Dr. McCann)
Breakout rooms will be set up during the welcome.
12:20-10:50 am | Interviews in Breakout Rooms

If you would like to participate, please add your name to the spreadsheet or email Amira Jenrette.
Attention all pet and non-pet owners! 
Join MUSM’s chapter of the American Medical Association on Monday, February 15 at 5:30 pm for a Pet Superlative Contest & AMA Informational Meeting. You're invited to show off your best friend over Zoom and learn more about the AMA and how to get involved. To participate in the contest, submit a photo of your best friend and what category(s) best fit them. Categories include:
  1. Best dressed  
  2. Looks most like their owner  
  3. Most photogenic  
  4. Silliest

Submissions are due on Wednesday, February 10 by 11:59 pm. A voting form will be sent out to the classes on Friday, February 12. Winners will be announced at the meeting on February 15.

Doctor for a Day Conference
The Doctor for a Day conference provides high school and college students the opportunity to meet with accomplished physicians, medical admission board directors, and medical students from all over the state! It provides a unique opportunity to network, establish mentorship, and provide guidance for students at all stages of their premedical journey. 
 
Doctor for a Day Conference  
Saturday, March 13, 2021 
 
Networking Lunch 12:40 - 1:20 PM
Virtual Zoom 
  
 
If you are a medical student, here is how you can support the conference: 
Attend the VIRTUAL networking lunch segment (12:40-1:20) and meet students from underserved backgrounds interested in medicine. We ask medical students to either wear white coats or scrubs so the students can recognize you.  
 
**If you are interested in volunteering your time, please register using this link.

If you have any questions, please contact Heather Grace, Angie or Lindsey.
Step 1 Review Sessions
Join us in the DLR every Wednesday from January 20 - April 28 from 5 - 7 pm for Step 1 Peer Review Sessions offered via Zoom. The first hour will be a review of year one material and the second hour will review year two material. The entire series is geared toward the Class of 2023, however, MS-1s are welcome. If attending in the DLR, please follow social distancing and masking requirements.
 
 
Meeting ID: 930 2934 6503
Passcode: STEP
Literature in Medicine (LIM)
February 14 | 10:00 am EST
Introducing Literature in Medicine, a new interest group where students read books that emphasize humanity in medicine. Join us at the first meeting where we’ll discuss the first book, "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," by Anne Fadiman. The first 58 pages will be covered, but don't stress if you can’t read that much. There will not be required page count or prepared discussion questions.


Meeting ID: 916 5187 2920
Passcode: LiM2021
Human Trafficking Meets Healthcare: An Opportunity for Intervention Virtual Training 
February 20 | 10 - 12 am EST
Join Mercer University School of Medicine’s Physicians for Human Rights Student Chapter to learn more about how to recognize and encounter patients affected by labor or sex trafficking/sex exploitation through an interactive case-based training provided by Jordan Greenbaum, MD, Director of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Institute on Healthcare and Human Trafficking. We have a limited number of spots for the training, so RSVP today!
Home Financing for Graduating Medical Students
March 3 | 5:30 pm EST
Join Tal Frank, PhysicianLoans President, as he explains the “ins and outs” of home financing. Emphasis will be placed on the proper steps to take when applying for a loan and the exact questions to ask mortgage officers. Details covered during this webinar will include what loans are available for doctors, understanding debt ratios and estimating funds required to close on a mortgage. This is the perfect opportunity to have your most pressing home ownership questions answered by an expert in the mortgage field.

Students as Teachers
March 12 | 4:00 pm EST
Join us for Module 3: The Five Microskills where you will have the chance to employ the skills we've learned so far. This will be an active and informative session. Even if you don't have a topic you want to practice teaching for the purpose of receiving feedback, feel free to join and simply listen. These sessions are great for building confidence even for those who are not going into academic medicine. As future physicians, you'll be teachers of colleagues in other specialties, other health professionals and undoubtedly of patients.
 
Instructions for what to focus on in the readings are included here. You are also able to catch up on past sessions by watching our recordings.
 
If you have any questions or issues with accessing these documents, please contact Edwina Smith.
Mark your calendar! Planning is underway for the Class of 2021 ceremonies and events. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer.
 
Match Day
ALL CAMPUSES
Friday, March 19 | 12:00 pm
Each campus will have its own ceremony.
More details to come.
 
Honors Ceremony
COLUMBUS
Friday, March 19 | Following Match
Location TBD
 
SAVANNAH
Thursday, March 25 | 2:00 pm
Campus Auditorium
 
MACON
Friday, March 26 | 2:00 pm
Campus Auditorium
 
Hooding Ceremony
ALL CAMPUSES
Friday, April 30 | 2:00 pm
Each campus will have its own ceremony.
More details to come.

Commencement Ceremony
ALL CAMPUSES
Saturday, May 8 | Time TBD
Hawkins Arena
University Center
Macon, GA
Class of 2023:
Career Counseling
It's time to schedule your Individual Career Counseling and Academic Advising meeting with the Dean of Student Affairs on your home campus. At this meeting you will discuss your career plans, desired specialty and any other issues that you may have. Appointments can be made through calendly.
Class of 2021:
Rank Order List
Your Rank Order List (ROL) must be completed and certified by 9 pm on Wednesday, March 3. If you need a sounding board before submitting your ROL, you can meet with the Dean of Student Affairs on your home campus. For details about the ranking process, visit the NRMP website.
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.