January 2009 Student eNewsletter
| Check out the Student Events at this Year’s ACOFP Convention |
Register Today for the ACOFP 46th Annual Convention and Exhibition at the Gaylord National Resort in Washington, D.C. to be held March 4-8, 2009. The student schedule is as follows:
Thursday, March 5, 2009
7 am – 5 pm
Students participate in DO Day on the Hill organized by the AOA. You must sign up with the AOA to participate in DO Day.
5:30 – 8 pm
Residency Program Fair
More than 100 osteopathic residency programs exhibit and interact with students.
Friday, March 6, 2009
8 am – Noon
Student Welcome Breakfast & ACOFP Student Chapter Reports
All students and COM faculty advisors and chairs of family medicine are invited to learn about the 2008-2009 programs and activities sponsored by each ACOFP Student Chapter from outgoing chapter officers. Chairs of Family Medicine and Faculty Advisors are encouraged to attend, be introduced, and bring back best practices to help support their local student chapters. Students will vote for the Chapter Peer Award at the conclusion of these reports.
1 pm – 2 pm
Student Chapter Awards Presentations
Presidents Award; Communications Award; A.T.Still Award; Humanitarian Award
2 pm - 3 pm
Joint SOMA/ACOFP Student Program: Medical Marriages
The Medical Marriage presentation helps physicians' families take a proactive approach to making medical marriage and family relationships work successfully.
3 pm - 4 pm
Joint SOMA & ACOFP Program on Moonlighting and other Extracurricular Activities
The lecture will focus on what "moonlighting" is and how to find other employment opportunities in family medicine. Attendees will learn the logistical and legal aspects of moonlighting as a resident or attending physicians. Attendees will gain an understanding of the various per diem and part time positions that family physicians can obtain outside of their primary employment. Attendees will learn about the opportunity costs of taking on more work related responsibilities outside of their primary employment.
8 pm – 10 pm
Auxiliary Fundraiser featuring ‘Capitol Steps’ (Optional – tickets required)
Join the Auxiliary for its fundraiser featuring the political satire comedy group, the Capitol Steps. All physicians and spouses, friends and colleagues, students and residents are invited to attend this hilarious performance.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
8am– 9 am
Student Campaign Speeches & Breakfast
Candidates for the 2009-2010 National Student Executive Board will have an opportunity to speak on their qualifications
10:00 am – Noon
New Chapter Officer Briefing (Mandatory)
All newly-elected student chapter officers will be briefed about their duties and obligations by the National Student Executive Board Members and staff liaison. During this time, non-officer students are free to visit the exhibit hall and attend lectures.
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Joint SOMA & ACOFP Program: OMM Demonstration for Students & Residents
The Osteopathic Principles & Practice Committee will present different topics and demonstrate OMM techniques.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
9:30-11:30 am
Elections for the 2009-2010 National Student Board
Two Student Delegates representing each chapter vote for National Student President, Vice-President, Secretary and Parliamentarian
Noon – 3:00 pm
National Student Board Members Briefing Luncheon
Incoming National Student Board Officers are briefed by outgoing student board members and staff.
| Resident Recruiter Interview |
Spotlight on: University of Wyoming Family Practice Residency in Casper, Wyoming and Resident Recruiter Eric J. Lawrence, DO
Q1: Why do you recommend your program to prospective medical students?
Our program offers comprehensive rural family medicine training with options of increased experience in OB or ER with our OB and ER tracks that are available. This program is unopposed and our centrally located tertiary care hospital draws in a variety of rare and complicated pathology from throughout the state of Wyoming. Also, having the only Life Flight in the state gives residence a good experience in trauma management. Specialists at Wyoming Medical Center are excited to teach and train residents as we prepare to work in the rural towns of Wyoming. We also have the largest clinic in town that keeps us busy with the underserved of Casper and we are preparing to implement an EMR by Summer of 2009. Casper also provides plenty to do in your free time, especially for the outdoorsman (or woman) with Casper Mountain 20 minutes away and that far to downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, and rock climbing. There's also great hunting, fishing and mountain biking.
Q2: What advice do you give to prospective medical students trying to choose the best residency program for themselves?
Spend time at the places you want to do residency, whether it's a 2 week or 4 week rotation, the more time you spend there the better decision you can make about where you want to go, and you can see how the residents interact with one another and with you. Also, spending time there lets the residency know that you are interested in them and invested in really wanting to go there. Choose a program where not only you'll get adequate training, but you'll also enjoy your free time with whatever hobbies you enjoy. Also, consider your spouse/significant other when making this decision...residency is a difficult time on them and they need to be somewhere where they have a good support structure and are able to enjoy their free time.
Q3: Any other information you would like to pass on to prospective residents for your program?
This program isn't for everybody...if you need a large mall or a new place to eat every night then it can be difficult living in Casper or for your significant other, but on the other hand if you are looking at becoming a rural physician and want to be comfortable handling whatever comes in the door then I would strongly recommend checking out our program. Feel free to contact me by phone or email if you have any questions at all, or visit the website and feel free to email any of our residents from there.
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Please e-mail us at tobik@acofp.org to provide news for upcoming issues of the Student E-Newsletter, along with your feedback regarding this E-newsletter.