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.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The Impact of the CARES Act on Student Loans

Tuesday, December 8
1:00 pm
Join the AAMC to learn the details of the CARES Act as related to federal student loans, the current landscape of implementation, and an analysis of the quantitative impact on a 2021 graduate's loan portfolio.

MedSpanish

Wednesday, December 9
2:00 - 3:00 pm
LMSA is having its last Medical Spanish session of the fall semester. Join us in the Savannah Auditorium for a final review of everything we've learned so far: introductions, basic history phrases, anatomy and key phrases to take BP, glucose and BMI. LMSA will be running health fairs next semester so if you're interested in volunteering, please come learn the key phrases!
National Chats for Change

Wednesday, December 9
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Join the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai's Chat for Change, a series of monthly dialogues focused on racism and bias. The December chat is focused on colorblindness.


LMSA National Town Hall

December 13
7 pm CST
LMSA is hosting a general membership town hall to share what your LMSA National leadership team has been up to, discuss feedback and future directions for LMSA, and provide more information on how you can get involved at the national level.


LMSA National Conference

March 12 - 14, 2021
Registration for the 16th Annual LMSA National Conference is now open! Please visit the LMSA National Linktree for links to the Eventbrite registration page, the national website, and much more.
SMA Physicians-in-Training Leadership Conference

April 16 - 18, 2021
You are invited to participate in the SMA's Inaugural Physicians-in-Training Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana! This meeting will be fully planned by physicians-in-training and will feature digital posters, oral presentations, and other interactive sessions. The deadline for submission of abstracts is January 8, 2021 at 4:30 pm CST.

WELL BALANCED
Make This Season Bright
As the New Year approaches, we’re all ready to put 2020 in the rearview mirror and turn the page on the pandemic. Unfortunately we can’t do that just yet. It’s important that we continue to stay vigilant during the holidays and remain socially-distanced and masked for the protection of ourselves and others. So how do you get through this season when you can’t spend it with all of the people you love?

  • Accept and acknowledge the things you can’t change. This year the holidays will be different, and that’s okay. Keep an open mind. This might open up new possibilities and traditions.
  • Take time for yourself and enjoy the small things in life like savoring a warm cup of coffee or feeling the warmth of your bed before you drift off to sleep.
  • Give back to the less fortunate. You can take part in the canned food drives that are being hosted on the Macon, Savannah and Columbus campuses. Donate food and blankets to local animal shelters. Or volunteer your time to deliver meals to the elderly.

There are many things you can do to make this season brighter for yourself and others. Remember even though this holiday season looks a lot different this year, you can still find ways to create wonderful memories for yourself and others.
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Resources for First-Generation Medical Students
Medical students who are the first in their families to graduate from college bring unique strengths to medical school. These first-generation college graduates, and others who come from backgrounds with limited exposure to medicine, may also have unique needs and face challenges that are not always readily recognized by their schools. Compiled by a broad group of students, faculty and staff these new toolkits include resources for students in medical schools to support and celebrate first generation students.

MUSM Social Media Policy
Social media can be a powerful communications tool, but it can have a significant impact on organizational, professional and personal reputations. As a result, Mercer University School of Medicine has created a policy to offer specific guidelines for use as a representative of our University. Please refer to the policy in the School of Medicine Handbook. Specific policy information can be found on page 53.
Outside Scholarship Opportunities
Looking for a way to help fund your medical education? You may qualify for one of the many outside scholarships available. Check out the full listing on our website or download the document here. The list includes deadlines and general scholarship information. If you have further questions about these please contact the Office of Financial Planning.
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Medical Students: Join Aquifer to Make an Impact
Aquifer is excited to announce an opportunity to join a national board of interprofessional students tasked with providing critical feedback on the development of Aquifer’s new learning tools. Medical students are invited to apply to serve on the 2021 Student Advisory Board. Help us build the best possible tools to advance your clinical learning.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Required Debriefings
Over the course of your Mercer education, you will complete many surveys. Your feedback helps us to gather data that will affirm the strengths of our programming, but also identify areas for improvement. During your pre-clinical years, you will also participate in post-module debriefings. Small numbers of students have been randomly assigned to one of 18 groups. Each of you is REQUIRED to participate in only one debriefing. Click here to see your group assignment. Debriefings are conducted via ZOOM, and typically last around 40 minutes, but no more than an hour. ZOOM debriefings feature a very brief online poll after which you are invited to share your thoughts about what worked well and what needs improving.
Request Fall Loans
The last day to request additional loan funds from your portfolio (i.e. your Challenge Funds) for calendar year 2020 is Thursday, December 10. Funds requested after December 10 will not be received until January 2021. If you have questions about your personal budget and when you can expect your spring disbursements, please review the disbursement dates on the Canvas Financial Aid Module or let us know at musmfinancialaid@mercer.edu.
LIBRARY NEWS
Under Construction
Please excuse the noise in the medical library in Macon while work is done on the shelving units. Work will be completed between December 7 - 12 from 8am - 5pm. If you need a quiet place to study, the Tarver library is available during these hours. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Visible Body Anatomy Apps
The School of Medicine library has acquired a new mobile anatomy learning app. Called Visible Body Anatomy, this new app will be especially helpful during the first years when students are often in search of sources for learning anatomy.

IN THE NEWS
Atrium Health Names Delvecchio Finley President and CEO...

Emory graduate and experienced healthcare leader returns to Georgia to lead health system CHARLOTTE, N.C., and MACON, Ga., Dec. 3, 2020 - Atrium Health announced today that Delvecchio S. Finley, FACHE, has been named the next president and chief...

Read more
www.navicenthealth.org
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.