On Saturday, Aug. 12, OU-COM welcomed a new class of medical students, the Class of 2010, at its 31^st Convocation Ceremony. Joy Padgett, Ohio state senator for the 20^th District, was the keynote speaker at the event, which took place at 11 a.m. in the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on the University’s Athens campus.

“Today is special because we gather — as we do every year — to extend a hearty welcome to the entering first-year class,” said OU-COM Dean Jack Brose, D.O.

“These students are embarking on one of life’s most exciting adventures — learning to be a physician.”

Dean Brose introduced the podium speakers and guests for the occasion, which included Martin Tuck, Ph.D., Ohio University associate provost for academic affairs; Victor Angel, D.O., president of the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA); Thomas Anderson, D.O. (’83), president of the OU-COM Society of Alumni and Friends; Robert Juhasz, D.O., board member of the American Osteopathic Association; Alison Clarey, D.O., past president of the OOA; John Gimpel, D.O., National Board of Medical Examiners (NBOME) vice president for clinical skills testing; Peter Dane, D.O., associate dean for pre-doctoral education; Keith Watson, D.O., associate dean for graduate medical education; Barbara Bennett, D.O., Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education clinical professor; John Schriner, Ph.D., director of admissions; and Christopher Manhart, second-year medical student.

Tuck welcomed the Class of 2010 to the University and praised the college’s national achievements in primary care and family medicine, citing the impressive commitment of the college’s alumni.

“Results from recent surveys of alumni from the college indicate that 54 percent of OU-COM graduates practice in one of the three primary care disciplines — family practice, general internal medicine and general pediatrics,” said Tuck.

“More than 40 percent of our graduates are located in communities of fewer than 50,000 inhabitants. And, 14 percent practice in communities with a population of fewer than 10,000. It should be noted that these are small cities and villages which have limited access to health care — not the suburbs of large metropolitan areas.”

“The college,” he said, “has become a national leader in problem-based medical education. Furthermore, the college’s hands-on approach to medical education is consistent with Ohio University’s emphasis on student engagement — getting students involved in their education by making it as relevant as possible and building confidence in their abilities and skills.”

The Class of 2010 is comprised of 108 students, 56 females and 52 males. Nearly one of four (26 of 108) of the class is a minority student. Also, 11 of the class are from Southeastern Ohio. The class is 87 percent Ohio residents and 52 percent female.

Next Juhasz and Angel brought greetings from the osteopathic profession, welcoming the aspiring student doctors into the profession. Juhasz told the students that they should proud of joining a profession with such nationally accomplished and prominent physicians as J.D. Polk, chief flight physician at the Johnson Space Center; Lt. Cmdr. Richard Hadick, who was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine for his valiant service in Iraq during a grisly battle, saving numerous wounded military personnel while under constant fire; and Sister Anne Brooks, the unselfish director of the Tutwiler Clinic in poverty stricken and hurricane ravaged areas of Mississippi.

Brose then introduced the ceremony’s keynote speaker, Padgett.

Padgett delivered an up-beat, humorous speech calling up the Class of 2010 to be positive in their outlook and press forward confidently to their goals throughout medical school and life.

She told the student doctors of the significance of the career choice they had made and the impact it would have upon others.

“Your profession is holistic and your importance, back in your communities is vital. You are what makes a community strong. Yours is the profession that people look to make sure their health care is maintained.”

It is because of physicians’ presence in small communities that people remain in them and these communities maintain their vitality — because, Padgett said, the communities know that physicians are a part of them.

“Doctors are extremely important to growing communities and keeping them healthy.”

But along with that commitment to community, she said, as individuals they also had to make another commitment. They had to decide, as she had for herself earlier in life, that they would have happy lives.

“Who decides whether you will be happy?” she asked.  “You do.”

The happiest of you, she said, will be the ones that have the happiest, most positive, successful, enthusiastic thoughts.

“Thoughts are what control what happens in your lives.… It is your thoughts.” And it those thoughts that change your dreams into goals that determine your achievements, which will shape your happiness, Padgett said.

“The only difference between a dream and a goal,” she said, “is that a goal has a plan. And obviously, your plan is working. You are here today.”

Next she described several prescriptive measures that students should take in their day-to-day lives, one of which was laughter.

Everyday, she said, you should find something to laugh about — whether that be cartoons or Larry the Cable Guy, referring to the stand-up comedian. Laughter, she said, is the great preventive medicine.  

“Shift your problems, she told the students, “to challenges. When you have challenges, you are working and applying a plan to get results. When you are worrying about problems, it is a misuse of your imagination. Quit worrying and do something active to change it. As you work with your patients holistically, you might just have to remind them that them they will have to make some changes in life if they want progress.

“You can destroy your today by worrying about your tomorrow,” she said, drawing from a Janis Joplin song. “Don’t destroy your today,” Padgett implored the students.

She then led the audience through a humorous series of questions and answers on how perceptions of happiness change as you grow older and through different phases of life. When you were 16, she said, you thought you would be happier at 18 because then you would be an adult. When you were single, you though you would be happier when you got married, although, she noted as she drew a laughter from the audience, the older in the audience didn’t seem to agree with that.

“You are embarking on a very challenging four years — it will be tough. But I don’t want any of you on the way to the grave to look back and think, ‘Oh, I forgot to be happy.’ No one has a contract on tomorrow, not you, not me, not anyone.

“You’ve got to start being happy today — every single one of you.”

She then again stressed the importance of a positive, affirmative belief in one’s self and one’s goals. “Every accomplishment, no matter how big or how small begins with the words, I can do it.” This, she said, one must embrace to be successful and happy in life despite doubters who would dissuade you.

“My personal philosophy of life I discovered inside of a Chinese fortune cookie almost 18 years ago. I opened it up and it said, ‘Person who thinks something cannot be done should not interrupt person doing it,’” which drew loud and prolonged laughter and applause from the audience.  

She said that the thought of achieving your number one goal in life should bring a smile to your face. Your thoughts ultimately determine your destiny, Padgett reminded. “And your destiny, as a physician, is a grand and glorious one. Be sure that you keep those positive thoughts in mind.”

She ended her address to the students by reminding them of a story about an old man and young boy who was attempting save starfish. Although the old man was trying to discourage him from saving the creatures because that couldn’t make a difference, the young boy said it would be an important difference to ones that would live, the ones that made it to the water.  

“You will have many goals — not everything will ‘not make it to the water,’ but understand the ones that do will make a huge, huge difference to yourselves, your families and your communities. So don’t focus on the things that aren’t working out, focus on the things that do work. And I look forward to coming back to your graduation.”

Brose then began the 31^st Phillips Medal of Public Service Ceremony.

 The Phillips Medal of Public Service was first awarded by OU-COM in 1976. The award was named for Jody Galbreath Phillips and her husband, the late Wallace Phillips, to acknowledge their generosity and contributions to Ohio University, to higher education and to the people of Ohio.

The honor is given to outstanding individuals for medical practice exemplifying the best traditions of the osteopathic profession; administration exemplifying the best tradition of humane, concerned administration and public involvement; and for public policy leadership exemplifying the best traditions of democratic concern for the public good and the public welfare.

Brose provided the audience with a description of each recipient’s accomplishments as they received the medal.

Keynote speaker Padgett was one of three recipients of the Phillips Medal. In addition to Padgett, this year’s recipients of the Phillips Medal were Clarey and Gimpel.

Juhasz presented Padgett her medal for her teaching and legislative careers, which have been dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities, removing challenges, building strengths and easing the struggles facing Appalachian Ohioans. Padgett, the former director of the Office of Appalachia, also spent 20 years in Ohio public schools as a teacher. Throughout her career as an elected official, she has been an outstanding advocate for the residents of her district. Before being elected state senator she served as state representative for four consecutive terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. As a representative, she was a catalyst for the development and creation of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. In the Senate she has served as chairwoman of the education committee and vice chairwoman of the agricultural committee, as well as serving on the finance, financial institutions, and highways and transportation committees. Among her awards for public service are the Ohio Public Service Award and Bob Evans Humanitarian Award.

Bennett presented the award to Clarey, who is an accomplished surgeon, osteopathic leader and humanitarian. She is well known for her leadership in the profession’s leading organizations and selfless service in her community and across the global. A past president of the OOA, she served as chief of staff for Grandview and Southview Hospitals in 1991 and 1992 and currently serves as program director of general surgery at Grandview, where she introduced new surgical techniques. A pioneering model for osteopathic physicians, she was board certified in general surgery in 1982 and was the only female osteopathic physician so qualified out of more than 30,000 osteopathic physicians. She was president of the Dayton District Academy of Osteopathic Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. In 1991 she was honored as YWCA Woman of the Year. In that same year, she was recognized as Medical Assistants’ “Boss of the Year.” From 1989 to 1998, she was actively involved in STARFISH — the Society Taking Active Responsibility for International Self Help — in which she rose to the presidency. Through STARFISH Clarey donated her surgical skills in Sierra Leone, Madagascar and Guatemala and promoted medical partnerships in Romania, Yugoslavia and South Africa. Closer to home, she has lent her talents as chairwoman of the United Way Agency, Montgomery County for Osteopathic Physicians and provided health care in her practice to the indigent of Dayton. In September 2006, she will become president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Watson presented the honor to Gimpel, NBOME vice president for clinical skills testing, who is noted for being an outstanding teacher, medical education innovator, family practice physician and scholar. Gimpel is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Practice and a diplomate of the NBOME, and has spent almost two decades advancing osteopathic medical education and medical knowledge. He has served on the editorial board of The Journal of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association and as a peer reviewer for the American Family Physician and Journal of the American Osteopathic Association as well as serving with numerous professional organizations, including the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association and American Association of Medical Colleges. From 2002-2004 he was the director of predoctoral education and associate professor of family medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he helped to create a competency-based, patient-centered curriculum. At Georgetown he received the Golden Apple Award for teaching and the American Association of Medical College’s Humanism in Medicine Award. Among his important contributions to medical education are authoring chapters in Sloan’s Essentials of Family Medicine, Griffith’s 5-Minute Clinical Consult and Lippincott’s Manual of Family Practice. At NBOME he directs the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation clinical skills test, which certifies osteopathic medical graduates for practice.

The Aug. 12 Convocation also included the school’s White Coat Ceremony, during which the members of the Class of 2010 received their white coats and was officiated by Dane.

Dane explained the meaning and purpose of the White Coat Ceremony. “According to the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, who inspired this ceremony, the bestowing of a white clinical coat to new members of our profession represents a rite of passage that establishes a ‘contract for professionalism and empathy in the practice of medicine.’ It signifies the blending of scientific excellence with compassionate patient care.

“At OU-COM,” Dane continued, “it also highlights the importance we place on early exposure of our trainees to clinical medicine, which they will experience within a few short weeks as they begin spending time with physicians and other health-care workers in a real-time setting of health-care delivery.”

Dane introduced second-year student Manhart, who reminded the class that he had been in the audience as they were last year.

He explained the significance of the waist-length coats that they would receive. “The student’s waist-length white coast symbolized the entrance into one’s journey as a student physician, which will conclude in four years’ time.”

He continued, “The white coat encompasses a large responsibility on the part of the student physician to uphold a higher standard of academic excellence, professionalism and maturity.” Those include, he said, altruism, compassion, accountability, scholarship, duty, service, honor, integrity and respect.

He concluded with a quote by Winston Churchill, reminding the Class of 2010 that of the “ever-ascending” journey to which they had now committed.

Schriner then introduced the members of the class. They then crossed the stage to be welcomed into medical school by Dean Brose.

Dane then led the class in a recitation of the Student Pledge of Commitment.

“We hope that each one of you will find the next four years to be rewarding and successful,” Dane said. “Although the program is rigorous, and the demands are many, we will, as I said earlier, give you every bit of assistance we can to help you make it through.”

At the end of the White Coat Ceremony, Brose closed the Convocation and invited the students and guests to enjoy a light buffet lunch and refreshments in Boyd Dining Hall on West Green.