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.

Emotional Intelligence and Why it Matters The term “emotional intelligence” was coined in the early 1990s and popularized by Daniel Goleman, PhD in his 1995 bestseller, Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. According to Goleman, the key to success might rely more on your emotional intelligence (also referred to as emotional quotient) than your IQ. Having a high level of emotional intelligence can provide you with a framework not only for your career, but for your life. Some people might innately possess more emotional intelligence (EI) than others, but fortunately, EI can be acquired and improved with practice. There are four domains of EI: Self-awareness is being aware of your emotions as you are feeling them and noticing how your feelings impact others. Self-management is noticing your emotions and regulating disruptive emotions or impulses. Social awareness is caring about what others are going through, and really listening to what they are saying.  Relationship management is expressing ideas freely, and handling conflict effectively. Utilizing these skills helps to increase your empathy towards others and allows you to manage interactions successfully. In order to raise your EI, it’s important to find a balance on the emotional spectrum. You can share your feelings with others, but understand there is a line between sharing and oversharing. Oversharing can erode trust, make others feel uncomfortable, and demonstrates a lack of self-awareness. Additionally, it’s important to focus on being relatable rather than vulnerable. Listening to others' stories and sharing your own difficult moments or feelings of doubt can be a service to others. Active listening can make others feel more comfortable and willing to share. For example, a phrase like “tell me more” is an open-ended statement that allows others to continue to further communicate how they feel. Learning to be emotionally intelligent might seem daunting, but emotions are always there and knowing how to effectively deal with them creates positive interactions.

MFT Student Selected for Prestigious Minority Fellowship MACON - Mercer University School of Medicine Master of Family Therapy (MFT) student Carson Outler was recently accepted to the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP-Y) offered by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the ... Read more den.mercer.edu

New Initiative Retires Over $4.3 million in Medical Debt Three families with deep ties to Mercer honored the University and its School of Medicine's founding mission to serve the citizens of rural Georgia by retiring more than $4.3 million in medical debt for nearly 3,000 individuals living in 33... Read more den.mercer.edu

Brown University Diversity in Medicine Virtual Residency Fair The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is hosting a Diversity in Medicine Virtual Residency Fair with affiliated residency programs on August 7 from 10am-2pm. Learn more and register Updates on Residency Specialty Requirements Several residency specialties have issued new requirements for the 2022 season. These requirements are now listed on the ERAS 2022 Participating Specialties and Programs webpage in the ‘ERAS Specialty Information Report’ (located at the top of the page). Students are encouraged to refer to this page throughout the season, as it will be updated as requirements are received. Reminder: A list of specialties that have released recommendations about away rotations can be found on the AAMC’s Specialty Recommendations on Away Rotations for 2021-22 Academic Year page.

MUSM Fundraising Night with Macon Bacon The MD class of 2024 invites you to join them for an evening of fundraising, baseball, and fun as the Macon Bacon take on the Savannah Bananas on August 27 at 7pm! Tickets are $15 which includes UNLIMITED food/drink (non-alcoholic beverages), Macon Bacon hat, and covered seating. Tickets must be purchased by August 20. Get your tickets L.E.A.D.S. Scholars Application The Learn, Educate, Advocate, Develop, and Serve program (L.E.A.D.S.) is led by the Medical Association of Georgia’s Medical Student Section (MAG-MSS) and is designed to help medical students across the state of Georgia increase their understanding of organized medicine. To join the program, you must be a member of MAG-MSS and complete a short application to the L.E.A.D.S. Scholars program. Learn more and apply Georgia ACP Call for Abstracts The American College of Physicians (ACP) Georgia Chapter Abstract Competition for all Georgia internal medicine residents and medical students is NOW OPEN! Join the ACP for free to submit an abstract before the deadline on July 12 at 11:59pm. Learn more Academic Medicine: Call for Cover Art Submissions Academic Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal of the AAMC, is seeking original artwork related to an academic medicine experience for its popular cover art feature. The journal’s new cover design prominently features original artwork, and artists will have an opportunity to submit their work for consideration by an expert panel of reviewers. Submissions will be accepted through July 30. Learn more Volunteers Needed for Farmers Market in Eatonton Volunteer at the Harmony Park Farmers Market to provide health screenings. Volunteer shifts are Saturday morning from 7:45am until 12pm on: July 31 one spot left August 14 new date added August 28 September 25 See the planned activities on the sign up form. Contact Katherine Lybarger for more information. Sign up

Video Series for First- Generation Medical Students The AAMC recently launched a social media campaign aimed at first-generation medical school students and the specific issues they face. Over the next few months, the AAMC will be showcasing short interviews with first-gen students, from recent graduates to professors, who share advice and resources for current and future first-gen students. Follow the AAMC’s social media channels to learn more.

National Consensus Guidelines on Firearm Safety Education for Medical Professionals A new article published in Academic Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal of the AAMC, provides the first national consensus guidelines on priorities to inform the creation of learning objectives and curricula for firearm safety education for medical professionals. More than 30 subject matter experts produced a comprehensive list of 51 educational priorities, based on current evidence in firearm injury prevention, that can be implemented in any clinical training program to equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills they need to engage in firearm injury prevention initiatives in their communities and at the bedside. Read more 10 Great Summer Reads for Anyone Interested in Medicine From the intricacies of the immune system to the first year of residency, these books cover compelling, strange, and meaningful aspects of medicine — as well as the personal triumphs and tragedies of life as a doctor. See the list

NGMC Psych Residency Virtual Intro Sessions July 19 | 11 am - 1 pm August 11 | 2 - 4 pm August 18 | 3 - 5 pm Drop in and meet the new psychiatry residency team at Northeast Georgia Medical Center! Learn more and register

Inaugural BCMS Virtual VIP Book Club August 11 | 6 - 7:30 pm The Bibb County Medical Society is starting a book club for all its members! The first meeting will discuss Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande, MD. Dr. Gawande, a surgery resident at the time of writing this book, describes actual cases, sharing the intuition that leads to correct diagnoses as well as errors that occur despite good and accurate information. Contact bibbphysicians@gmail.com by July 15 to sign up.

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.

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