WELCOME TO OUM
July’s Virtual Orientation Introduced 36 New Students
OUM welcomed 36 first-year medical students during the Term 2104 Orientation last month, which included one general live session plus sessions provided specifically for Australia/New Zealand/Samoa students, and one for North American students, totaling more than 300 minutes of important information.
This new class, 59 percent female and 41 percent male, averages 36 years of age, slightly younger than the January intake which had an average age of 38. This group’s youngest member is 21, its oldest 59.
The depth of professions is impressive, as usual – 42 percent bring nursing careers to OUM, ranging from RNs and Nurse Practitioners to Clinical Care Consultants and Clinical Nurse Specialists. More than 35 percent of this class works in another career associated with healthcare – paramedics, healthcare administration, medical science, and pharmacy, to name a few. Very interesting: 20 percent have matriculated to medical school with no healthcare experience – business professionals, senior reporter, educator, office personnel.
Their educational accomplishments are especially noteworthy as 20 have earned Master’s degrees, three have earned PhDs, two have Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, and one has a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree.
Sage advice
Taffy Gould, OUM’s Founder and Chairman, opened orientation’s live session, welcoming these new students.
“One of the things which sets OUM apart from other medical schools around the world is the amount of help that is available to you. I urge you to take advantage of those opportunities all along the way,” she said.
A resource she encouraged students to embrace was support from the Academic Advisor who will be assigned to them. “Meet with him or her regularly, make use of
his or her knowledge and assistance,” she said, advice that was reaffirmed by almost every speaker during the Orientation.
Adding his well wishes was Professor Randell Brown, PhD, OUM Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer.
“Hopefully, everyone here realizes that being a medical student is a difficult proposition and there are no shortcuts. While you are embarking on one of the most difficult courses of study available, there is a clear path that you can follow for success,” he said.
Dr. Brown closed with comments on the topic of professionalism:
“Unlike face-to-face encounters in a classroom or meeting with a professor during office hours, communicating virtually, live and by email, sometimes results in an air of informality. I want to stress that you are in training to be medical professionals. And that the word ‘professional’ means something. At OUM, we take very seriously how we interact with each other, whether students, staff, or professors. Always keep this in mind.”
“We were so pleased to have our Chairman and the Chancellery, as well as 15 faculty and staff, taking part in welcoming our new students,” said Nicolette McGuire, PhD, Director of Student Affairs, who hosted the live session. “This incoming class joins us from Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, entering medical school with diverse and impressive backgrounds.”
(August 2021)
