BUIES CREEK, North Carolina – Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine welcomed its fourth class of medical students last week for Orientation in Buies Creek while third and fourth year students began rotations at five clinical campuses throughout North Carolina.
The Class of 2020 enjoyed the traditions of CUSOM Orientation – a formal welcome by Campbell University leadership, laughing through introductory videos they submitted, enjoying their first taste of Sunni Skies ice cream, and participating in a service project packaging over 35,000 meals with Food Aid International. The medical students were greeted by upperclassmen volunteers throughout the weekend who were eager to make the new arrivals feel like part of the Campbell family.
“Everyone I met is excited about starting at CUSOM,” said Trina Mathew (CUSOM 2019). “It’s great to be surrounded by a passionate new class. They did a great job with the service project and worked together very well. I can’t wait to see what they bring to the CUSOM community!”
“From the day of my interview I have felt, like others, that CUSOM is a family,” said David Cavaness (CUSOM 2019). “I wanted to be at Orientation to help welcome the incoming class to our family, so they know that they have others they can go to when feeling the stresses and rigors of medical school.”
The new medical students agree that orientation is a valuable process and are excited to have the opportunity to get to know the members of their diverse class.
“Everything at Orientation was organized and focused on us as a student body,” said Steven Didik, a biology major from Hudson, Florida. “In every activity – from Meet the Class sessions to the service project – it was evident that the students and students building relationships with each other were the primary focus which was really nice.”
“I chose CUSOM for medical school because I felt it was an accepting environment for students from all different backgrounds from my interview through today,” said Adewunmi Falohun, a nurse who decided to change her healthcare career and become a Campbell physician. “Orientation was an opportunity for us to communicate – from the lake retreat through the whole week – to build relationships. It was very welcoming and fun!”
The first year medical students began classes Monday, August 1 at the Leon Levine Hall of Medical Sciences in Buies Creek.