October 2023 - Issue 15

Dear Students,


October is a busy month at MCOM! By now, both 2026 and 2027 classes have returned from fall break, and we are in the middle of a jam-packed Homecoming week. Third-year students are almost halfway through their clerkship year, and senior students are setting up their residency interviews. Several extracurricular events are still to come this month. 


We hope that you are enjoying your respective courses and that you are looking forward to some fun times in the near future. If you are not sure what is coming up for USF, read on! We have a lot to share with you…





- Dr. Zwygart and Dr. DeWaay

Kira Zwygart MD, FAAFP

Associate Dean, Student Affairs

Deborah DeWaay MD, FACP

Associate Dean, UME

Mandatory Evaluation Session - Oct 13 - Noon-1pm on Teams

The Department of Medical Education (DME) has a guideline that students must complete 80% of assigned evaluations. If you are not in compliance you received an email from Ashley Metelus of the Evaluation team on October 9th with the Teams link. Please complete any remaining pending evaluations in One45.


Email evalsupport@usf.edu if you have any questions regarding your compliance rate. Additionally, we ask that you opt out of evaluations if you do not remember working with a faculty member or did not attend a lecture/session.


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2023-24 Class Council Elections - Wed Oct 11 - 11:59pm

Cast your ballots for the 2027 Class Council up until the end of the day Wed Oct 11th.


PLEASE NOTE: The link to the ballot is personalized and cannot be shared to disable casting multiple votes. Try to take the survey in one sitting! There have been issues in the past when people have tried to reopen their survey link more than once. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the election process or issues accessing the survey, please contact Marian Mikhael or Alanna Cordner.
Cast your vote!

2023 AAMC Medical School Year 2 Questionnaire (Y2Q)

On October 1 we sent each active Y2 student an email from Y2Q@aamc.org containing a private, unique link to the Y2Q survey. The Y2Q is for all active M2s, including those who have begun clerkships - as well as any M3s who matriculated one year ago. Results of the survey will be issued next March, and aim to help school staff better monitor the learning environment at the medical school.


The median time taken to complete last year was 16 minutes.

Mandatory Evaluation Session - Oct 14 - 10am-11am on Teams

The Department of Medical Education (DME) has a guideline that students must complete 80% of assigned evaluations. If you are not in compliance you received an email from Ashley Metelus of the Evaluation team on October 9th with the Teams link. Please complete any remaining pending evaluations in One45.


Email evalsupport@usf.edu if you have any questions regarding your compliance rate. Additionally, we ask that you opt out of evaluations if you do not remember working with a faculty member or did not attend a lecture/session.

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Gallery of Specialties - October 9th and 19th

The Gallery of Specialties is a great way to meet with leadership from various specialties to gain insights and ask questions. This year we will have a Gallery of Specialties on both the Tampa and LV campuses.


  • Tampa-campus: Oct 9th - 5:30pm-8pm (done!)



  • LV-campus: Oct 19th - 5:30pm-8pm

Reserving Rooms for Virtual Residency Interviews

USF-Tampa: You can schedule rooms at MDD OR at the WELL on main campus to use for your residency interviews. Use 25Live to reserve rooms (so others do not plan an event in your chosen room).




On the day of your interview, stop by the Student Affairs office (4th floor), and ask Melissa for an “Interviewing – please do not disturb” sign. You can place that on the door of your room so that people don’t pop in during the middle of the session. Drop it off with Melissa when you are done for the day.


Click here to view a tutorial on how to use 25Live.


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Mandatory Mock Interviews

Mock interviews are ways to help you prepare for residency interviews.Many of you have already completed your 2 required mock interviews. Thank you to Monica Stevens, Ashley Mason, Zeegan George, & Iris Kong for putting together the MCOM 2024 Interview Tips and Tricks resource for your classmates. 


After finishing each interview, please consider completing questions in the newly created repository, developed to benefit you, your classmates, and future MS4s.


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Gallery of Specialties - October 9th and 19th

The Gallery of Specialties is a great way to meet with leadership from various specialties to gain insights and ask questions. This year we will have a Gallery of Specialties on both the Tampa and LV campuses.


  • Tampa-campus: Oct 9th - 5:30pm-8pm (done!)



  • LV-campus: Oct 19th - 5:30pm-8pm

Flu Shot Requirements


USF-LV Campus: All 3rd and 4th year SELECT students need to have their vaccines by Nov 18th.

  • Friday Oct. 6th 9am-11am vaccines will be provided at the Center for Healthcare Education 3rd floor. Vaccines will also be provided during class to all 3rd years (and for those 4th year students who made an appointment).


USF-Tampa campus: There are a few opportunities to get your annual flu shot:

  • Student Health Services social at CAMLS - Wed Oct 11th 3pm-5pm
  • MDA will be at MDD on
  • Fri Oct 27 Noon-2:30pm - MDD 244
  • Fri Nov 3 Noon-2:30pm - MDD 435

Designated quiet study spaces

Feel free to make use of our designated quiet study spaces without hesitation. These areas are reserved for your convenience and can accommodate groups of 6-8 individuals. Please remember that these spaces are meant for studying, so don't hesitate to enter quietly and find a seat to focus on your own studies. We encourage you to take advantage of these rooms for their intended purpose. The space should be treated the way you would tables in a library.

Nominate an Exceptional Educator

Thank you to all those who have submitted Exceptional Educator nominees!


Have a faculty, physician, resident, or fellow who impacted you in a significant way? Please submit your stories on exceptional educators. We will highlight nominees in newsletters, on our website, and social media.
Click to Nominate an Exceptional Educator!
 
 

Save the Date - RISE Student Symposium - Thurs Nov 9th - Noon-3pm via Teams

We are excited to showcase 44 student presentations this year. Information regarding the student showcase and associated links will be sent as we get closer to the event.


  • Keynote - Noon-1pm (This is the Teams link for the keynote speaker)
  • Showcase - 1pm-3pm (links will be sent later)
 

The Academic Calendar

Life can indeed be quite complex, and careful planning is essential. We recognize the importance of having an academic calendar to aid in your preparations. One of the unique challenges we face is that our entire calendar is interconnected. Even seemingly unrelated aspects, such as the calendars for MS1-3 and MS4 years, are intertwined. Changes in one class can have a ripple effect on all other classes due to resource-intensive factors like faculty, staff, and space allocation. For instance, courses like "Introduction to the Clerkships" and "Introduction to Doctoring 4/Prologue 4" cannot overlap, which further complicates scheduling. Additionally, the MS4 schedule depends on Match Day, a date set by the NRMP that we have no control over.


Currently, we are diligently working on the AY24-25 academic calendar and plan to release it at the same time we do annually - in November. However, we will release it prior to confirmation of the date for Match Day 2025 - understanding that it may be subject to change. Please rest assured that, like you, we value planning and make changes only when necessary, fully aware of the potential impact on your schedules. Our goal is to create a calendar that works harmoniously for everyone involved. - Dr. DeWaay
 
 

Upcoming Exams

   Class of 2027 - Core

         10/30 – Course 2 Test 1 Exam


    Class of 2026 - Core

         10/23 – Course 6 Test 1 Exam

Mac Users: Do not update to Sonoma (Version 14)

On Tuesday, Sept 26, mac released a new operating system called Sonoma (Version 14). Currently, neither the NBME nor ExamSoft support this OS. Therefore, please wait to update until you receive a notification that it is okay to do so. Updating earlier may jeopardize your ability to take exams. Both organizations believe they will have the compatibility issues resolved by the end of October. We will notify you once support is announced and you can download the new OS at that time. 

Did you know? With Dr. O...

Did you know that not every medical student learns the same? Some people are slow (i.e., require time to ‘sit’ with concepts for them to ‘sink’ in), some people are fast - some people are efficient, and some people are machines. If you are 'slow,' you have to allocate more time (you can't change your brain) - but you can't study like your best friend. If you get stuck on details or know that you are a perfectionist you should focus on following a schedule with strict time limits, even though it might make you uncomfortable. Moving on from a topic will allow time for spaced recall. 

Strengthening your Fund of Knowledge

One of the best ways to strengthen your fund of knowledge is through spaced recall. A lot is thrown at you between the beginning of a course and the end. Using supplemental learning tools to review flashcards, create tests, or increase your exposure to concepts through first aid or other resources help expose you to content regularly, at spaced intervals, ensuring that information is retained for the long term. Though you may not feel like you have enough time, including test banks in your weekly study regimen will pay off in the long term. 

Missing the Non-Mandatory

A common theme that we hear from students is that skipping the non-mandatory classes gives them extra time. Sometimes students spend it going to the gym, doing Anki or using an outside learning resource, or catching up on chores and errands; but there are many students who admit the “extra time” gets lost in translation due to distractions, or trips down a TikTok rabbit hole. Though this extra time is initially refreshing, a portion of these same students have challenges finding the time to watch the non-mandatory lectures once they are recorded, and spend the weekend before their exams catching up, when they should be doing a review.  

As adult learners, you all have the autonomy to choose your medical school learning paths, but please be aware of this pitfall. The weekend before an exam should be spent reviewing (not engaging with material for the first time). 

Reminders

We hope that you had some time to enjoy homecoming and/or family and friends' weekend. As you transition back to study mode, we want to remind you of a few things. 


  • The Academic Support Center is hosting a virtual Step 1 Accommodations Webinar at 2pm on October 24, 2023.  



  • MS2s should join the ASC on November 30th for our STEP Prep Informational at 3pm.   


2024-2025 FAFSA Launch Delay

There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. As a result, the new form will not be available until December 2023. Stay tuned for an official release date.

October Debt Reduction Challenge - Ends Oct 31st - 11:59pm

Log into the Financial Aid & Debt Management Fundamentals course to participate today. All participants will be entered to win a $500 scholarship to pay directly toward their federal student loans. #ReduceYourDebt

AAMC's Monitoring, Maintaining, & Improving Your Credit Score webinar

Join Ms. Veronica Herrera from Experian, as she answers your questions and shows you what you need to do to become a credit expert! During the webinar, Ms. Herrera will discuss how credit is essential to a solid financial future, how to access and monitor your credit report and credit score, and the best ways to improve your credit score. 


Monday, October 18, 2023 at 3:00pm EST. Register here.
 

Current Collegia Advising Hours

Koch - Dr. Kumar

10/27 – 11:30am-1:30pm - TGH McDonald's Courtyard

11/10 – 1-3pm - Pink Collegia Room

12/15 – 11:30am to 1:30pm - TGH McDonald's Courtyard


Paracelsus - Dr. Gupta

10/20 - after 12pm

11/10 - after 12pm


Galen - Dr. Rodriguez-Waitkus

10/20 – 2-4pm

11/17 – 2-4pm

12/15 – 2-4pm

 

Farmer - Dr. Champeaux

10/20 – 12-2pm

12/15 – 12-2pm

 

Lower - Dr. Terry

11/10 – 1-3pm

12/8 – 1-3pm
 

Bystander Intervention Training | October 12th 1-2:30 pm | MSC 3705

In this 1.5 hour workshop, students develop skills to identify potentially violent situations and safely and effectively intervene to decrease instances of violence in the USF community and create a culture of collective support. During the workshop, students explore USF policy, signs and dynamics of power-based violence, barriers to intervening, and the 3D bystander intervention approach.

How to Support Survivors Workshop | October 24th 11am-12pm | Teams

Join our virtual discussion which addresses topics such as how to support friends, loved ones, and members of our community who are survivors of relationship violence.

Stats Office Hours

Join the weekly RISE Stats office hours via Teams, happening every Thursday from 12 – 12:30 PM. Come prepared with your questions and ready to share your screen if needed. OR is your data ready to analyze and you need more time with our stats team? You can schedule a one-on-one appointment by using the RISE appointment scheduler HERE. Add the Teams link to your calendar to join our Thursday office hours from 12-12:30 PM. Click here to join the meeting
 
 
 

USF Homecoming is this week!

All homecoming week event check-ins will count as points for your Collegia.

Wednesday, October 11

Dress Up Theme: Green Wednesday

 

Stair Climb Challenge | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | MDD Main Stairwell

Climb from the 1st to the 5th floor of MDD

  1. Start on the 1st floor of MDD. CHECK IN via QR code on Floor 1
  2. Take the stairs up to Floor 5
  3. CHECK IN via QR code on Floor 5

 

You must check in on both Floor 1 and Floor 5 to be eligible for prizes.

  • The first 15 participants will receive an MCOM Shaker Bottle
  • All participants will be entered for prize drawings
  • Complete the challenge TWICE to be entered to win a bike (Students Only)

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Downtown WELL Walk | 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | MDD/CAMLS

Walk from MDD Lobby to CAMLS Lobby and back to MDD.

  1. Start in the MDD lobby. CHECK IN via QR code in MDD
  2. Walk to CAMLS
  3. CHECK IN via QR code in CAMLS Lobby
  4. Walk back to MDD
  5. CHECK IN via QR code in MDD Lobby

You must check in a total of 3 times to be eligible for prizes (2 MDD and 1 CAMLS).

Those with unrealistic timestamps between check ins will be disqualified.

(Ex: 1 min between check ins)

  • The first 15 participants will receive a Homecoming 2023 shirt (Shirt sizes may vary)
  • All participants will be entered to win a bike (Students Only)
  • All participants will be entered for prize drawings 

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Say BOO to the Flu | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | CAMLS

Come learn about the resources available to you at CAMLS, get some treats, and get your free flu shot.

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Thursday, October 12

Dress Up Theme: Healthcare Superheroes

 

Table Tennis Tournament DAY 1 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | MDD Auditorium

Show off your skills at the annual Collegia Table Tennis Tournament. 

Both competitive and friendly brackets will be available.

Registration is required. Please see attached flyer with QR code.

 

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Friday, October 13

Dress Up Theme: Halloween

 

MDD Service Day | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | MDD Lobby

Stop by the MDD Lobby to make a card for those experiencing houselessness, enjoy light refreshments, and find out about service opportunities. 

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Table Tennis Tournament DAY 2 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | MDD Auditorium

Day 2 of the annual Collegia Table Tennis Tournament

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Morsani Student Council Howl-O-Scream Night | 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM | Busch Gardens

The Morsani Student Council is hosting a USF night at Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens. 

Sign-ups for discounted group tickets have ended, but you are still able to purchase tickets on your own from the Busch Gardens website to join your fellow MCOM peers for a night of rides and haunted houses.

 

For those who purchased tickets, please be on the lookout for an email from Kaylee Stankiewicz on when to pick up your tickets and sign up for bus time.

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Saturday, October 14

USF Homecoming Tailgate | Raymond James Stadium Lot 6

Join fellow alumni, faculty, staff, and friends at a Health-wide tailgate as we cheer on our Bulls!

*Advanced registration required*

Discounted Homecoming football game tickets available for USF Health friends and family: bit.ly/hfbtickets23

 

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ALL WEEK

Dress Up Themes

Tag us on Instagram (@mdstudentlife_mcom) or post in the MCOM MD Discord photos of you and your friends dressed up for each of the themes to be re-shared and to be entered to win prizes.

If you’ve read this far, please post in the MCOM MD Discord under #giveaways in the “Hoco Email Replies Thread”. The first 15 will receive a long-sleeved MCOM shirt. Everyone else will be entered to win an MCOM prize pack.
 

Alumni Reunion Weekend

Alumni Reunion Weekend is October 27-28. Students might see alumni around the MDD building and downtown during that time. 


On the evening of October 27, there is a presentation and reception for alumni, and there is an opportunity for student organizations to share information about their organization. If you are interested in participating in that way, please contact Dr. Riddle at valerie25@usf.edu.

If you are interested in attending Dr. Williams' lecture, click here to RSVP.

 

Show Me DeWaay....

When doing interviews for residency, don’t ask about the schedule or work/life balance. There are ways to find out this information easily. First, if you listen, someone else during the residency Q&As will ask. If no one asks, then the information can usually be found online. The schedule is not monitored by the ACGME. You will work up to 80 hours and have 4 days off a month with a set number of weeks of vacation. No matter how they slice it and dice it, that is what you will work. Our world is very focused on work/life balance (not a bad thing). To set yourself apart, be ready to describe why your work ethic exceeds others and why you focus on creative solutions - not complaining. They want to know that when there are a bunch of patients to admit/operate on/see in clinic, you will put your head down and work hard to give those patients the best care possible. If you are able to articulate examples of how hard you work without complaining, you will be blown away by how that will set you apart. 

All past issues can now be found at the bottom of the Helpful Links page (that is on you QR Code cards)!
MD Academic Calendar
MD Student Handbook
Helpful Links  Page
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