CORE Welcomes Third Year Students at Annual Dinner

(ATHENS - 8-14-08) The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Class of 2010 received their official welcome to their clinical rotations on Thurs., Aug. 14, at the CORE Welcome Dinner. The 112 students met assistant deans and administrators from the CORE sites at Ohio University’s Baker University Center for a meal, followed by the Student Clinicians Ceremony.

“We’re extremely proud to send you out to the CORE hospitals as our representatives,” OU-COM Dean John A. Brose, D.O., told the medical students. The CORE hospitals, Brose said, welcome the addition of OU-COM students because “our students blow everyone’s socks off.”

“The growth of our college depends on what you do out there,” Brose said, who told the students to do their best.

The welcome dinner’s keynote speaker was OU-COM alumnus Jane D’Isa-Smith, D.O., FACOI, (’93), chairwoman of the Residency Program Advisory Committee, internal medicine, and program director of the internal medicine residency program at South Pointe Hospital in Cleveland.

After graduating from OU-COM, D’Isa-Smith completed her clinical rotations at Youngstown Osteopathic Hospital, and then a residency at South Pointe Hospital. She continued on at South Pointe, where, in 2005, she was named CORE program director for the facility.

“I continue to look back on my life experiences here, and they make up the core of me,” D’Isa-Smith said in her address, “Journey to the center of CORE.” “Osteopathic medicine serves as the core for all of us.”

D’Isa-Smith shared some memorable--and humorous--experiences as a third-year student at the Youngstown hospital. “I was as green as you can get on my first day of my first rotation,” she said.

D’Isa-Smith told the students that during their next 22 months of clinical rotations, they will perform a variety of duties in various fields of medicine, from family practice to emergency medicine, from obstetrics to surgery. “Keep an open mind, and learn as much as you can from each day, each patient and each encounter,” she said.

D’Isa-Smith advised that not every rotation will be ideal, and specialties they think they like or dislike may completely defy their expectations. She also recommended that students treat co-workers with kindness and respect, including nurses and ancillary staff members.

“You are the future of osteopathic medicine,” D’Isa-Smith said. “We welcome you and look forward to working with you.”

Also at the dinner, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented by officers of the Class of 2010. Current third-year students nominated residents from various CORE sites, and members of the second-year class selected the winners.

Awardees include:

• Kristin Ryan, D.O., (’04), Ohio Health - Doctors Hospital West.
• Matthew Petznick, D.O. (06), Firelands Regional Medical Center.
• David Baker, D.O., Ohio Health - Doctors Hospital West.
• Curtis Mortensen, D.O., St. John West Shore Hospital
• Steve Weber, D.O., St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

Kate Ruda, OMS II, president of the class, presented Kathy Trace, director of community health programs and the Area Health Education Center, with a check for $800 to purchase an HbAiC Analyzer for OU-COM’s Free Clinic. The machine, used to test average blood sugar, is the class of 2010’s gift to OU-COM.

According to Ruda, not only was the class successful in raising funds during the past two years, but class members’ combined volunteer work in the Athens community exceeded 9,000 hours. “That is more than 4,000 hours more than any other class has done,” she said.

Ruda and the other class officers, vice presidents Lisa Clayton, OMS II, and Jenn Lykens, OMS II, and secretary/treasurer Michelle Wallen, OMS II, gave their fellow class members white coats with their respective names embroidered. Each class member also received a pen stylus compliments of the class officers, and penlights, purchased and donated by Todd Fredricks, D.O. (’93), assistant professor of family medicine.

The dinner concluded with the students once again reciting the “Student Pledge of Commitment,” an oath they pledged two years ago during their Convocation and White Coat Ceremony as first-year students. “It is now time to share our legacy with Ohio and beyond,” Ruda said.