by Tara Beverly

The Distinguished Osteopathic Commitment (DOC) Awards dinner and ceremony will be held Wednesday, April 6, in Irvine 194 at 6 p.m. Student Government and Sigma Sigma Phi sponsor the awards program, with support from the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Office of Student Affairs. The DOC Awards honor OU-COM faculty and students who have excelled and helped their fellow students, through academic or non-academic peer support.

Nominees were chosen by first- and second-year students. Ann Brieck, associate director of student affairs, and Christina Peters, president of OU-COM student government, 2005–2006 academic year, tallied the votes. Invitations were sent to all nominees.

“The DOC Awards program honors those folks who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to teaching or their fellow students. Many of the awards are chosen by students. Others, such as the Outstanding Basic Science Student and the Year I and Year II Family Medicine Awards, were chosen by faculty,” says Peters.

“In addition, the DOC Awards is the place where OMM fellows, family medicine fellows, the Student D.O. of the Year and new Sigma Sigma Phi members are announced,” she adds.

Among other awards that will be presented are the Outstanding Mentor, the Outstanding Basic Science Faculty, Outstanding Clinical Presenter, Outstanding ECC/ICOM Preceptor, Best Black or PCC Case, Outstanding Lab Instruction, Outstanding Group Facilitator, OU-COM Mentor Recognition, Outstanding Tutor, Class Advocate, Peer Mentor, All-Around Great Classmate, Outstanding COMrade and Outstanding Biomedical Science Student. Student Government will also present top organization, special recognition and leadership awards.

A catered dinner will be provided by Toscano’s restaurant and served on the Bricks in Irvine Hall at 6 p.m. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Masters of ceremonies will be Sergio Ulloa, Ph.D., Ohio University professor of physics and astronomy, and Devin McCullough, a second–year student. Co-chairwomen are Peters and Shannon Mixon, second–year student and Sigma Sigma Phi president.

Kristin Prock, a second-year student and DOC committee member, looks forward to the program.

“This is a great chance for everyone to recognize the accomplishments of their fellow classmates, faculty and staff. We are expecting it to be a really great night,” says Prock.