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.
To wrap up Black History Month, the School of Medicine would like to recognize Vivien Thomas. Vivien Thomas designed groundbreaking surgical equipment, developed lifesaving surgical techniques and trained countless doctors, but never went to medical school and remained relatively unknown for his contributions. Click here to learn more about Thomas’ amazing life story and his many achievements.

We also have a final inspirational video of one of our students, Veronica Prince. Watch it below.

Become a Mentor at Dalton Med Camp and Inspire Rural and Underserved Students
Dalton Med Camp is a week-long summer camp held in Dalton, GA where middle and high school students can interact with medical students. This year it has gone virtual! 
 
At Dalton Med Camp, medical students act as mentors and teach middle and high school students about the healthcare field. Some of these students don’t think it’s an attainable goal and it's a great opportunity to show them that they can do it. Approximately 90% are Latino students with English as their second language so speaking Spanish would be a plus, BUT NOT REQUIRED
 
The tentative camp dates are June 28 - July 2 and would involve a daily commitment of 2 hours for a Zoom session.

 
For second years, this might interfere with your POH rotation. If you are interested there may be a way to make it work with your schedule.
Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest is Now Open
The annual Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest asks medical and nursing students to engage in a reflective writing exercise that illustrates an experience where they or a team member worked to ensure that humanism was at the core of care. First-, second-, and third-place essays for both nursing and medical students will be chosen by a panel including healthcare professionals, writers/journalists, and educators.

All submissions are due March 15, 2021.

Summer Institute for Medical Students (SIMS)
Learn about addiction treatment for substance use disorders directly from clinicians, patients and families in this immersive, week-long educational program.

The 2021 Summer Institute for Medical Students (SIMS) application form is now open with 225 full scholarships available. These scholarships include airfare (up to $500), a hotel room for six nights and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of gaining an insider's view of addiction treatment at the world-renowned Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

Applications for this year's program must be submitted by March 1, 2021.

First-Hand Experience with an Arteriovenous Malformation
February 24 | 12 pm EST
The Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry Interest Groups would like to invite everyone from the Savannah, Macon, and Columbus campuses to this special event! Dr. Kain Weaver, a MUSM graduate, will share his personal experience with an arteriovenous malformation, subsequent hemorrhagic stroke, and his life during recovery. This is an excellent opportunity for you to gain first-hand knowledge of what patients with AVMs go through.
 
 
Meeting ID: 874 2367 8002
Passcode: neuro
Learn More Than Your Score: Upcoming Improvements to NBME® Self-Assessments 
March 2 | 2:30 pm EST
Join this webinar to learn about upcoming improvements to NBME® Self-Assessments. Presenters will share information on how new in-depth answer explanations can help inform your study, reinforce knowledge and save time as you prepare for your exam. They will also cover changes to the Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessments, which will better align with last August’s amendments to the USMLE® Step 1 Exam. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.

Home Financing for Graduating MUSM Medical Students
March 3 | 5:30 pm EST
This popular home buying and home financing session will be beneficial to any graduating MUSM medical students considering a home purchase after graduation. It is a highly informative, non-sales workshop explaining the ins and outs of obtaining the best home financing. Emphasis is placed on proper steps to take when applying for a loan and exact questions to ask loan officers. Specific details such as loans available for doctors, understanding debt ratios and estimating funds required to close and the overall timeline will be discussed.


Presented by Tal Frank
President of PhysicianLoans
Dedicated Calendar-Making:
A Panel
March 9 | 5:00 pm EST
Hear perspectives from five upperclassmen on how to best organize your resources and build a comprehensive study plan, which will help you to prepare for Step 1.
 
 
Meeting ID: 973 5057 1332
Passcode: STEP
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.
Planning is underway for the Class of 2021 ceremonies and events. Click here for details.
 
Match Day
ALL CAMPUSES
Friday, March 19 | 12:00 pm
Each campus will have its own ceremony.
 
Honors Ceremony
COLUMBUS
Friday, March 19 | Following Match
First Baptist Church
 
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.

Commencement Ceremony
ALL CAMPUSES
Saturday, May 8 | 2:00 pm
Hawkins Arena
University Center
Macon, GA
Savannah Class of 2024 Fundraiser

Check out a wide variety of fleece jackets and hoodies including North Face branded items.

Ordering is simple. Just follow the steps below to make your selections.
  • Visit the MUSM Merchandise page and make your selections. 
  • Items can be purchased and paid for directly on the site.
  • Purchases will be shipped directly to your home.

Orders must be placed by 11:59 pm on Monday, March 1.
Macon Class of 2022 Fundraiser

Check out a wide variety of School of Medicine t-shirts, sweatshirts and 1/2 zips.

Ordering is simple. Just follow the steps below to make your selections.
  • Visit the Google Folder containing order forms for each item.
  • Make your payment via Venmo at @musm2022.
  • You must complete BOTH steps for your order to be completed.

Orders must be placed by 11:59 pm on Sunday, February 28.

If you have questions, email Jay Tyson.
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
Healthcare for Homeless
Healthcare for Homeless is having a drive for commonly used necessities to help the homeless population in Savannah. Donations for the following items are being collected between February 15 - 26 in the box located in the atrium on the Savannah Campus.
  • Batteries
  • Bug Spray
  • Deodorant
  • Wet Wipes
  • Masks
  • Sanitizer
  • Canned Meat
  • Feminine Products
  • Dry Snacks
  • Flashlights
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.