SHARE:  
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 Saturday we are celebrating our 2021 Commencement ceremony! This year's in-person ceremony is a ticketed event which will be livestreamed from the Mercer University Commencement website, where you can also find more details about the event. Stay tuned to our social media all week as we celebrate the achievement of this amazing class!
2021 Jocelyn A. Rankin Student Excellence in Library Research Award
Congratulations to the 2021 Jocelyn A. Rankin Student Excellence in Library Research Award winners, third-year students Marshall Williams and Mital Patel! Their team project "Do Isolated Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhages Require Transfer? A Retrospective Review of the Inpatient Care Required of Them at a Level 1 Trauma Center Over a 6 Year Period” demonstrated outstanding proficiency in the use of the Skelton Medical Library’s collections, services and resources, and exceptional information-seeking skills.
The Award Committee would also like to recognize a submission selected as an Honorable Mention: MS3s Joshua Bridgewater, Himara Koelmeyer, Nicholas Wagner, and Mathew Karivelil for their team project: “Where in the Brain do Strokes Occur? A Pilot Study and Call for Data.”
2021 Master of Science Achievement Awards
Each year, an outstanding student in each of MUSM's Master of Science programs is recognized for their hard work with the Master of Science Achievement Awards.
Congratulations to Brandi Jarvis, recipient of the Master of Science in Preclinical Sciences Achievement Award! This award, chosen by the program directors, recognizes a student who excels in academic performance, growth in science knowledge and critical thinking skills, contribution to the learning environment, and professionalism.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Pittman, recipient of the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Achievement Award! This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated excellence in his or her field. The recipient is selected by a committee of faculty and is based on letters of recommendation submitted by mentors. 
Financial Planning for Graduates
Financial advisor Sam McBride shared his recommendations specifically tailored for graduating medical students. Watch the recording and contact him directly for more information.
Dr. Reddick and MS1 Stormy Orlin Give Talks at TEDxMercer
Dr. Bonzo Reddick, Community Medicine Department Chair in Savannah, and Stormy Orlin MS1 in Macon, recently gave captivating talks during a TEDxMercer event in Macon.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and one of the ways we can effectively communicate with and about those who are suffering from mental illness is by using compassionate language. Clinical psychologist Marshall B. Rosenberg is credited with this type of communication, theorizing that most communication is an effort to get a core human need met and when we’re able to pay attention to our core needs as well as the core needs of others, we can act out of compassion, empathy, and understanding instead of judgement or fear.

For example, if you’re discussing a patient with a colleague and the patient is diagnosed with schizophrenia, it’s important to use phrases like “the person has schizophrenia,” instead of “this person is schizophrenic.” The latter phrase seems to define who the person is, while the former phrase, which utilizes compassionate language, illustrates what the patient has, which in turn separates the person from the illness.

Also, when listening to someone who has mental illness, it’s more supportive to say “I understand what you are saying” instead of “It’s all in your head.” The second phrase is judgmental and doesn’t value what the person is saying. The compassionate phrase shows that you are listening to and acknowledging the person’s feelings, which builds trust, validates their feelings, and helps the conversation move forward in a positive way.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health crisis, please call the Crisis Support Line at 888-291-5802. If someone is suicidal and in immediate danger, please dial 911. For access to more campus resources please visit the MUSM Student Wellness page.

Follow our social media accounts throughout the month of May for highlights about the importance of mental health awareness month and our Master of Family Therapy program.
COVID Weighing You Down?: Strategies for Staying Well in a Pandemic
May 11 | 12 - 1 pm
Rachel Woodson, Director of Employee Wellness at Mercer University, will present bite-sized strategies you can use to make healthy choices easy – pandemic or not! Lunch is available for faculty and staff only. Register
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.