Applications for the PC-ACT Program and Nathan Deal Scholars Program Are Now Open

The 2024 Application cycle for the Primary Care Accelerated Track (PC-ACT) program and the Nathan Deal Scholars Program are now open. These scholarship opportunities are available to all first-, second, and third-year medical students with a strong commitment to practicing primary care in Georgia's rural communities.

Learn more about these scholarships on our website or by registering for the upcoming virtual informational session on Wednesday, January 10, at 5:30 pm.

New MUSM Policy Regarding Arrival to Exams

In order to reduce distractions to the class at the start of exams and to provide a mechanism for a student who experiences an emergency on test day to re-schedule their exam, MUSM is initiating a new policy regarding late arrivals to exams, effective January 4, 2024. Please review the new policy here. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Dr. Stephanie Beavers.

Email Signature Format

To maintain consistency and protect the School’s brand identity, we have developed MUSM email signature and email standards. All faculty, staff, and students are required to follow our email signature standards when using their Mercer email. If you need help updating your email signature, the instructions are below.

Instructions for PC | Instructions for Mac

SNMA Region IV Medical Education Conference

The 2024 Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Region IV Medical Education Conference and Premedical Conference will be held in person on the Macon campus on February 2 - 3. The conference offers both medical and premedical students the chance to attend educational seminars, personal and professional development workshops, and networking events with medical professionals. 

To help make this conference a success, the School of Medicine's SNMA chapter is looking for student volunteers to help assist during their community service event on Friday, February 2, from 4 - 7 pm at the Boys and Girls Club and at their skills station event on Saturday, February 3 from 10 - 11 am.

If you have any questions, please contact Kendra Moore, SNMA Region IV Director, Cassande Germain, SNAM Region IV Community Service Liaison, or Amari Evans, SNMA Region IV Secretary

Learn more and register

Tips to Becoming More Inclusive in the New Year

Fostering inclusivity is an ongoing process that requires commitment, continuous learning, and a willingness to adapt to the evolving needs of a diverse community. Below are three tips on how you can be more inclusive this year.

• Representation: Make sure you are creating an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and incorporated into the decision-making process.
• Communication: Establish clear communication guidelines to help create a more inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels respected and heard.
• Education: Participate in training sessions that will help raise your awareness, challenge stereotypes and unconscious biases, and promote a culture of mutual respect and understanding among your peers.

Three Kings Day

Also known as Epiphany and El Dia de los Reyes in Spanish, Three Kings Day is a holiday celebrated most in Latin American countries, as well as in Spain, France, and several other European countries. The day commemorates the gospel account relating to the visit of the three magi (wise men) to the baby Jesus. According to Latin culture, on January 6 three different men visited Jesus – Melchor (representing Europe), Gaspar (representing Arabia), and Balthazar (representing Africa). They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, respectively. In accordance with the arrival of the wise men, some children receive most of their Christmas presents on January 6.

Learn more about Three Kings Day

Learn how the holiday is celebrated in Puerto Rico

Learn more about how to celebrate Three Kings Day

MLK Jr. Day: Living the Dream

Every year on the third Monday of January, we celebrate, commemorate, and honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent civil rights leader who dedicated his life to speaking out against injustice, inequality, poverty, and war. Following his assassination in 1968, many organizations have held ceremonies to remember Dr. King's legacy. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan approved MLK Jr. Day to be recognized as an official holiday and set to fall on the third Monday in January in honor of his birthday on January 15. Today, to celebrate the MLK Jr. holiday, people are encouraged to use the day to give back to their communities and host remembrance marches in honor of Dr. King and his work for equality.

Learn more about MLK Jr. Day

"Living the Dream" March and Tribute

January 12 | 3 - 5 pm | Macon Campus

Mercer University Office of Minority Affairs, Minority Mentor Program, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives invite all Mercer students, faculty, and staff to the annual MLK “Living the Dream” March and Tribute on the Macon campus to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

3:00 pm | Lineup starts at Bear statue in front of the University Center

The first 100 registered participants to show up will receive a "Living the Dream" t-shirt.

3:30 pm | The march will begin

4:00 pm | Keynote address by Mayor LaRhonda Patrick of Warner Robins, GA.

Participants will meet in the Willet Auditorium to reaffirm their commitment to racial equality and justice for all people.

Register here for in-person participation in the event.

If you are not able to attend in person and would like to hear the keynote address, complete the Zoom registration.

Market Bulletin Submissions

Help improve rural health literacy by submitting an article for the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Market Bulletin!

Read past articles and sign up 

MUSM Food Pantry

The Skelton Medical Library is currently planning to start a MUSM food pantry on each campus. If you would like to donate canned or non-perishable items, you can drop them off at your campus library.

William B. Bean Student Research Award

Deadline | March 1, 2024

The American Osler Society offers the William B. Bean Student Research Award to support medical student research in medical history and medical humanities. Students can submit projects covering literature research or active studies in medical education and practice. The winner will be awarded $1,500.

If you are interested in applying, submit your proposal and a faculty sponsor letter of support to the American Osler Society website by March 1, 2024.

Learn more about the William B. Bean Award

National Compliment Day

January 24 is National Compliment Day. Research shows that receiving a compliment can help boost your mood, provide you with confidence, and make you feel seen. Giving a compliment can also boost your mood. We instinctively look for the negative, but when we retrain our brains to focus on the positive, we shift our attention to the good things, which creates more mindful moments. When you give a compliment, it’s important to be sincere; people recognize when someone is being disingenuous. Try complimenting someone on their unique style, great smile, the great job they’ve done, or how kind they are to everyone. Let’s start the new year by celebrating others!

Important Dates for the Class of 2024

Be sure to mark your calendar with these important dates celebrating MUSM's Class of 2024. 

Special Topics in Rural Health

The Rural Health Sciences PhD Program will be hosting several guest lecture events focused on rural health this semester. Each session will start at 9 am in the LRC Commons Room 201 on the Macon campus. The sessions will also be recorded to share later.

Upcoming Sessions

January 17 | Stephanie Basey, PhD | Food Insecurity in Rural Areas

January 24 | DeMarcus Beckham | HIV and AIDS Advocacy in Rural Areas

January 31 | Suleima Salgdo, MBA | Telehealth in Rural Areas

February 7 | Panelists | Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response in Rural Areas