Emilie Pinto named med school’s Student DO of the Year

Emilie Pinto

Fourth-year medical student Emilie Pinto was announced today as Campbell Medicine‘s Student DO of the Year. 

Sponsored by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Associations (COSGP), osteopathic medical schools select their  Student DO of the Year on the basis of the student’s service to their college, leadership and research experiences, and dedication to the osteopathic profession. 

Emilie Pinto, Student DO of the Year

These Student DO’s of the Year are then entered into a national competition to be named the National Student DO of the Year award which honors and recognizes an osteopathic medical student who is committed to the principles of leadership, community service, dedication, and professionalism by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents National Selection Committee. 

Pinto was the 2018 nominee from Campbell Medicine.

“The Campbell SDOY Committee selected Emilie Pinto for numerous reasons,” said Harsh Terala, SGA Secretary. “As a previous SGA President and National Secretary of COSGP, Emilie is a natural leader who reaches out to everyone. She is a student who is truly the ‘all-rounder’ we all aspire to be. Her genuine and caring personality only encourages us to be more like her; not only is she a student who leads by her example, but she also embodies osteopathic principles as a student leader and doctor.

“She is always ready to offer a helping hand, which can be easily seen through her service to her community, including her Gold TOUCH award for serving nearly 250 hours last year. Acknowledging her intelligence, leadership, dedication and her altruistic personality, I truly believe she is the perfect candidate for this year’s Student DO of the Year.”

Pinto said she was “humbled and truly honored” to be chosen.  

“Being an osteopathic medical student at Campbell has given me more opportunities than I could have imagined to develop leadership, serve my community and empower my peers,” she said. “I am so grateful to all the amazing mentors, faculty, and students at Campbell who have made my educational experience so incredible — this award really goes out to all of them.”

Dr. John M. Kauffman Jr., dean of the medical school, presented Pinto with a plaque at a meeting of the student body.

“Emilie has distinguished herself as a student and volunteer through all four years of medical school — I can’t think of a more deserving person to receive this year’s award,” Kauffman said.

The National Student DO of the Year will be announced at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) meeting in Washington D.C. in April.