Student Doctors Host ShaDO Day for Pre-Med Students

April 19, 2023

Pre-medical students considering careers as physicians recently experienced life as medical students when first and second-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students opened the doors of PCOM Georgia to host ShaDO Day. Thirty-nine people registered for the event, which featured a full day of hands-on experiences, including anatomical specimen demonstrations in which students saw and touched specimens from multiple organ systems including the cardiopulmonary, nervous, reproductive, digestive and genitourinary systems.

Students were taught how to perform simple suturing techniques by medical student volunteers. They also encountered high-fidelity mannequins in the Simulation Center when they worked together as teams of ”physicians” to diagnose and care for their “patients,” similar to the way DO students learn to solve cases during their first and second years.

“The day was insightful, educational and interactive as everyone welcomed me with open arms throughout the school,” said Ivy Su from Miami, Florida. “I had an immersive experience, especially in the Anatomy Lab that has left me feeling motivated and confident that osteopathic medicine is the route for me.”

Learning about the application process

“Mingle with a Med Student'' was the lunchtime theme as first and second-year medical students and attendees discussed medical school, the application process, and shared their aspirations. An overview of college-wide diversity efforts was presented by Christy Y. Finley, EdD, of the Office of Diversity and Community Partnerships.

Then, Andrea Mann, DO, FAAP, dean and chief academic officer of the PCOM Georgia Osteopathic Medicine Program, and Richard White, PhD, FAHA, chair of the PCOM Georgia Bio-Medical Sciences Department, offered overviews of the programs they lead.

Melissa Shin-Montes of the Office of Admissions provided insights into applying to medical school and what PCOM Georgia looks for when admitting students into its programs. Earlier in the day, Candace Tucker, assistant director of Student Affairs, spoke about writing strong personal statements, which are required for PCOM Georgia's medical school applicants. Campus tours led by DO Student Ambassadors provided further insight into medical school at PCOM Georgia.

“ShaDO Day gave me an idea of what type of professional I want to be in the future,” said Kevin Edgardo Bermudez de Jesus, who traveled from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to attend the event. “The idea that diversity is valued and the understanding that we all come from different circumstances was what made this whole experience even more special.”

The day's events were rounded out by a presentation on osteopathic manipulative medicine by Assistant Professor Ravi Yarid, DO, which gave attendees a glimpse of some of the hands-on techniques that all DO students learn during medical school.

National ShaDO Week is sponsored annually by the National Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) and National Pre-SOMA, the undergraduate division of SOMA. SOMA leaders work with colleges of medicine across the nation to provide opportunities for pre-medical students to become acquainted with osteopathic medicine and to help them strengthen their applications.

Paying it forward

With a passion for mentorship, Jessica Myara, MS (DO '25), a second-year osteopathic medical student, began planning ShaDO Day last fall. As a pre-medical student at the University of Central Florida, Jessica with her sister, Danielle, who is also a second-year PCOM Georgia medical student, had attended ShaDO Day while in undergraduate school.

Myara said, “I knew that once I became a medical student, I wanted to host ShaDO Day to pay it forward and inspire future physicians. I looked back on my time as a pre-med and asked what I would have wanted out of this type of event. I took that vision and I worked to make it a reality as a way to support and give an impactful experience to pre-meds aspiring to be where I am so blessed to be.”

She said, “Our 38 medical student volunteers did an exceptional job by just being themselves and showing the skills they've learned in our program. The sense of community that we have at PCOM Georgia displayed itself beautifully and effortlessly and it is all thanks to our volunteers and student body.”

Akili Jabulani (MS/Biomed '24), a first-year PCOM Georgia Biomedical Sciences student also attended the event. She said, “The excitement that I saw on the medical students' faces was priceless. I see these students on a day-to-day basis going to class or studying, but to actually see them teaching us about health care and what PCOM Georgia means to them showed how much of a positive impact PCOM has.”

By all accounts, Myara definitely accomplished her goal and hopes that the groundwork she laid allows ShaDO Day to become an annual event at PCOM Georgia moving forward. She said, “Overall, the pre-med students were in awe, felt inspired to continue their pursuit to become physicians, and were extremely grateful for the opportunity to hear and learn from us.”

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