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March 8, 2009
Hope everything is going well for you all. I am so
excited that spring is almost here and just maybe
Cleveland can have better weather and SUNSHINE!! I'm
currently on my OB/GYN rotation at Fairview hospital
and experienced my first overnight call last week.
Afterwards, I felt empowered and realized I could be
a “real doctor” one day. Lol.
It was hard to decide about what to blog about this
month but I decided to ask you all if you have any
questions and, if so, feel free to email at
miricastevens@yahoo.com (an email address set up
just for questions from you for me to answer
questions regarding admissions, curriculum, clinical
experience, board exams, etc.). Submit any questions
to that email address and I will try to respond to
those particular questions in my next blog. I am
very excited about your interest in OUCOM for I have
thoroughly enjoyed my years here and invite everyone
to gather as much information as possible about
OU-HCOM.
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine
percent perspiration.”
-Thomas Alva Edison
Sincerely,
Mirica Stevens |
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January 18, 2009
Happy New Year!! I wish many blessings to you and
your family and may 2009 be filled with prosperity
and love.
I am currently in FREEZING COLD Cleveland at South
Pointe Hospital doing part two of my Family Practice
rotation. Everything is going well on my end, and I
would like to share with you the joy one has when
you finish a particular rotation and you think, “I
could possibly see myself doing this. I feel
incredibly comfortable and it somewhat comes
natural.” That’s what happened to me during a
particular rotation. So my advice to those that will
be entering medical school and later their 3rd and
4th year clerkships is keep with the academic
struggle because when you finally enter into a
rotation and honestly enjoy it then you now have a
more specific goal and, most importantly, more
motivation. Now, that still means you have an open
mind when entering all new rotations because the
more you know the better you will be in that
particular chosen field and as a doctor in general.
I did want to further address a recent email by a
prospective medical student who expressed to me that
she was somewhat worried about being so far away
from home and the out of state tuition waiver/5-year
contract that she would be obligated to sign if she
entered the incoming class. This contract obligates
you to give 3 to 5 years back to the state of Ohio
after you graduate if you are an out-of-state
student at OUCOM. My advice to her and to any other
prospective students is that Athens, OH has so much
to offer. Yes, I said Athens. Lol. I am from Alabama
and went to Tennessee State University for my
undergraduate degree. I honestly believe if I had
stayed in Alabama or Tennessee I would had been
incredibly distracted and less open-minded. Athens
allowed me to focus on my work, appreciate the
things that I had already accomplished, and most of
all keep me motivated to do well those first two
years. Being away from family will be difficult but
you value the time you do spend with them much more.
As for the out-of-state tuition waiver and contract,
there are so many opportunities in state of Ohio.
Ohio is rich with outstanding residency programs and
many students that attend other out-of-state medical
schools apply for these same residencies. So my
advice is not to worry about it and appreciate the
upper hand you have. You have the opportunity to do
important networking and you have the affiliation
with the CORE hospitals and, if at South Pointe
hospital, the Cleveland Clinic. NETWORK!
“All you have to do is look straight and see the
road, and when you see it, don’t sit looking at it
---- walk.”
----Ayn Rand |
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October 29, 2008
As a third year it is extremely important to strike
a balance. It is important that you manage school
and studying with time spent with family, friends,
and just to yourself. I personally believe at this
point in my medical school career that transitioning
to my third year has been the toughest. It is more
difficult because you do not know your schedule and
the free time you do acquire must be filled with
studying but most importantly to me with your
support system-family and close friends. If you’re
overwhelmed with only things involving school and
neglect personal issues such as talking to family,
exercising, and friendly social outings, then I
truly believe one could lose it.
As a newcomer to the hospital, you somewhat feel
alone and confused and believe everyone except you
knows what’s going on and the answer to every
question. For instance, as my first in-house
rotation at South Pointe I was placed in the
emergency department. My first day there I saw
everyone running around, calling for orders, pushing
beds down every hallway, and siren lights flashing
in every window. As I stood in the middle of the
nurses’ station looking very perplexed, a first year
resident immediately took me under his wing and gave
me a brief orientation despite his extremely busy
schedule. He immediately made me feel more
comfortable and, most importantly, less like an
idiot. lol. He explained to me that he also felt the
same way his first day and told me every attending,
nurse, and other residents were more than willing to
help me know my role in the healthcare team.
Each day gets a little better and I am always
reminded by a one of my third year colleagues that
we must pay our dues (meaning feeling like a dummy
everyday) to get to where we want to be. Lol. Thus,
I reiterate it is vital to have that someone that
understands what you might be going through and take
time out to do things a less stressed normal 24
year-old would do. Don’t get too caught up in the
job and never neglect the things that keep you sane.
With commitment you will be confronted with
challenges. When these challenges are overcome you
must have someone to celebrate with.
Peace,
Mirica |
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September 20, 2008I am
Mirica Stevens, a third year osteopathic medical
student at OUHCOM! I am currently at my CORE site
hospital, South Pointe Medical Hospital, in
Warrensville Heights, OH for third year rotations. I
was raised in Montgomery, AL and consider myself the
southern belle of my class-the class of 2010. I
received my undergraduate degree in chemistry at
Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. After
graduating from TSU in 2006, I entered OUHCOM’s
Summer Scholars Program. This program is a 6 week
program for those who aspire to enter medical school
and want a glimpse of the 1st year curriculum. I was
offered an interview after completing Summer
Scholars and then fortunately offered a spot in
OUHCOM’s class of 2010.
At OUHCOM, I wanted to enter the CPC curriculum
because it fit my personality. I am a person who
believes that sometimes “if it aint broke, don’t fix
it.” I was used to the classroom and traditional
lecture style, and I was successful thus far so why
change? Lol. Compared to other medical schools I
visited, OU-HCOM was very different. It didn’t have
the competitiveness seen at other schools and the
faculty was extremely supportive. I am not just
saying these things because this will be posted on
the website but, honestly, I don’t believe my first
two years of medical school would have been any
better or more successful at another school.
Each blog I plan to give a little advice to those
reading, and my advice now is to take both board
examinations as a second year (COMLEX step 1 and
USMLE step 1). When you are studying for one, you’re
basically studying for the other. I dished out the
extra 400 dollars because I believed there would be
more opportunities for me, especially if I am unsure
of what residency I want to go into.
I am extremely excited to have this blog on the
OUHCOM’s website. I plan to keep it truthful and
enjoy venting my experiences and the process of
transitioning into my third year. |
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Ohio University
Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
102
Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701
1-800-345-1560 |
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