| The colleges at the Feinberg School of Medicine provide each student with a familiar social and academic community that lasts throughout medical school. Under the leadership of a college mentor, approximately 44 students develop trust and help one another learn and adapt to the culture of medicine. The societies at the Feinberg School of Medicine link colleges across the four years of medical school, connecting students in a network of faculty and fellow students with varying interests and levels of experience. Societies provide students with a broad range of resources for learning, advising, support, and community engagement.
Mary Thompson (1829-1895, MD 1870)--our first female graduate and possibly the first female surgeon in U.S., founded Women’s Medical College and Chicago Hospital for Women and Children (later Mary Thompson Hospital).
Howard Ricketts (1871-1910; MD 1897)—pioneering infectious disease researcher, identified the cause of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, died of typhus he was researching (both pathogens later were named Rickettsiae in his honor).
T.K. Lawless (1892-1971; MD 1919)—internationally known dermatologist, businessman, philanthropist, and leader in Chicago’s African-American community.
John A.D. Cooper (1909-2002; PhD 1943, MD 1951)—prominent international medical educator, introduced combined degree programs such as HPME and MSTP at Northwestern, president of AAMC.
Class | Ricketts Society | Cooper Society | Lawless Society | Thompson Society | 2013 | Gary Martin, MD/
M1 senator TBA | Mary Nevin, MD/
M1 senator TBA | Bob Golden, MD/
M1 senator TBA | Andrea Baumgartner, MD/M1 senator TBA | 2012 | Michael Macken, MD/
Bruce Henschen | Stevie Mazyck, MD/
Silviu Diaconu | Mark Loafman, MD/
Shuo Song | Jordi Friedman, MD
Nitin Yerram | 2011 | Deborah Reed, MD/
Andrew Ambrosy | Greg Brisson, MD/
John Kubasiak | Craig Garfield, MD/
Liz Groothuis | Larry Goldman, MD
Amy Fruehwald | 2010 | Nehama Dresner, MD/
Leslie Kim | Adam Bennett, MD/
Lindsay Kuo | Aarati Didwania, MD/
Jason Rho | John Rinehart, MD/
Marguerite Converse | Other Students | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | Other Faculty | TBA | TBA | Kathy Neely, MD | TBA |
Italics & bold purple=lead mentor Mentoring/advising:
Each society held 2-3 events that paired more advanced with less advanced students. M3s or M4s spoke with M2s in “Wards-to-boards” sessions, usually right before a PPS class. Thompson society arranged M3-M4 pairing after the match to discuss residency applications. M2/M1 big sib/little sibs were assigned without society links.
Thompson Society is planning a summer event with senators and several other students from each of the M2-M4 classes to orient and advise mentors on best practices in mentoring. In the upcoming academic year mentors’ roles will include review of competency progress, and the society structure will support the mentors in this role. Community Engagement:
Lawless Society established ties with a charter high school in Chicago via the Loafman (M1) College Curriculum Focus project; they plan to maintain an ongoing relationship and invite participation of all students in the society.
Cooper and Ricketts Societies held a clothing and food drive, and made donations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Cooper society is working on ties with a different Chicago high school, aided by the Family Medicine Department.
Thompson Society volunteered for a day of park clean-up and maintenance at Jarvis Nature Center. Social:
Each of the four societies held an inaugural party in October 2008, and attendance averaged about 60% of the eligible students. Each society held at least one smaller event in the spring. Administrative:
Society councils have organized, led this year primarily by the student senators and mentors. Cooper Society Council proposes to include three M1s, three M2s, M1-M4 senators, and M1-M4 mentors, with one of the M2 members appointed as the student chair to work closely with the lead mentor. It is not clear yet if all societies will follow this model. The student senate has created a new position of society liaison for what will probably be an M2 from each society.
All societies have established listservs to communicate with their members. Two societies—Cooper and Ricketts—have also created society websites on Blackboard. Optimal uses of these websites are still to be determined.
Societies have colors: Thompson is navy blue/silver, Lawless is forest green/silver, Cooper is red/ silver, and Ricketts is black/silver. 1. Monday 8/24, 1 hr intro to colleges and societies, with mentors and lead mentors.
2. Tuesday 8/25, Big sib/little sib dinners held in societies (with pairings done by society).
3. Saturday 8/29, Society Olympics: possible events include kickball, sofTBAll, tug-of-war, relay races, egg toss, cooking and eating contests, hospital gown fashion designing, and trivia | |
