During Second Visit Weekend, prospective VUSM students Francys Verdial, left, and April Christensen talk with Jennifer Pierce and her infant son, Rory. (photo by Anne Rayner)
Prospective med students get second look at Vanderbilt
One hundred sixty top applicants for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine's class of 2013 returned to campus last weekend for a second look.
VUSM's ninth annual Second Visit Weekend began Friday, pulling out all the stops to welcome and impress prospective students all weekend long.
“This event gives us the opportunity to spend more time with these top candidates,” said John Zic, M.D., associate dean of Admissions for VUSM. “We can show them how we nurture students from the time of their first-year orientation through their Match Day in March of their fourth year. We also highlight the city of Nashville with an off campus event at the Schermerhorn. Mayor Karl Dean even made an appearance at lunch on Saturday,” Zic said.
During the visit, Richard Boyer, center, and Laila Hassam-Malani talk with standardized patient Tom Fahey. (photo by Anne Rayner)
Events began Friday afternoon with a “Meet the Students” fair highlighting student organizations. That evening, during a dinner with the deans, students watched the documentary film “The Sons of Lwala.” Entertainment was provided by VMS I Dance and student bands Immune Response and Biorhythms.
Saturday, students were welcomed by VUSM Dean Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., and Zic. Then the whirlwind tours began — covering wards from the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt through Vanderbilt University Hospital and beyond.
Students heard presentations from the Medical Center's top experts, had opportunities to talk with current students and faculty, learn about the curriculum, and gain the information needed to decide if Vanderbilt is the place to earn their medical degrees.
“One of the highlights each year is a visit to Vanderbilt's state-of-the-art simulation lab, CELA (Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment),” Zic said. “For the first time this year, while visiting the Program in Human Simulation, the invitees had the opportunity to interview one of the trained ‘standardized patients’ who role-play throughout all students' training to build assessment and interviewing skills,” he said.
“Second Visit Weekend gives applicants a chance to meet our great faculty, talk to our caring students and experience the collegial atmosphere of Vanderbilt School of Medicine," said Balser, “Once they do that, they choose to come here. This weekend is one of our best recruiting tools.”