Breakfast of champions: Students connect with DOs at mentoring event

Fresh fruit and breakfast bars with a side of life lessons were served at the AOA’s Council of Student Affairs’ mentoring cafe event Friday. The brand-new meetup connected medical students to DOs with varied career experiences. DOs chatted with students in small group discussions before the AOA’s House of Delegates meeting.

“An event like this emphasizes to students the importance of finding a mentor,” said Alice Chen, DO, the student representative on the AOA Board of Trustees. “Mentorships have played a big role in my life.”

Gathered around nine tables, students sipped coffee and listened with intent as the DO speaker at each table fielded questions and shared professional experiences on various topics such as work-life balance.

“You have to look at your resources when making decisions like when to start a family,” said Shannon Scott, DO, a mother of two who waited until after her residency to begin her family. “Even when you think things are balanced, something will come up.”

When talking about providing health care in a small community, AOA Trustee Ernest R. Gelb, DO, advised students to be prepared to see patients with varying health care needs. He recounted treating a 102-year-old patient for a laceration in his eyebrow from when his rifle recoiled during a turkey hunt. The man was driven to the hospital by his 86-year-old son.

DOs also discussed careers in research, health policy advocacy and practice management. The Council of Student Affairs plans to hold a similar mentoring event during OMED 2015 in Orlando, Florida.

“It’s a really exciting time for students as we’re graduating into the new residency structure,” said Sarah Manners, OMS III, the strategic partnerships director for the Student Osteopathic Medical Association. “It’s great to have DOs and AOA leadership taking the time to talk with students and explain these new processes.”