Testimonials 

John Tychonievich, a Med 4, and John Melvin, MD ’60 can already testify to the value of the HOST program.  Earlier this year, Yychonievich traveled to Philadelphia for Step 2 Clinical Skills exam and residency interviews.  He was matched with Melvin and his wife, Carol.  Below is what Yychonievich and Melvin had to say about the visit:

“I had the pleasure of being hosted by Dr. John Melvin and his wife during my trips to Philadelphia this past year,” said Tychonievich.  “They were kind enough to open their home to me for several days in the fall, when I took my Step 2 Clinical Skills exam and visited three residency programs, and again in the winter, when I returned for interviews.

“The Melvins’ openness to visitors, passion for helping medical students, and flexibility of schedule made my visit very successful. When I was not testing or interviewing, the Melvins graciously provided me with city tours, meals, and even visits to their health club. In the evenings, we enjoyed conversations about our days’ events, common interests in art and literature, and opinions on the current and future state of medical practice in America.

“The Melvins turned what could have been a stressful, not to mention expensive, visit into an incredibly enjoyable and educational experience. I encourage you to contact the Medical Alumni Society and volunteer to host visiting medical students. It is a great way to get to know students, encourage Ohio State’s well-trained doctors to come to your town, and give back to the college. The only prerequisites I can think of would be a friendly personality, spare bed, and maybe a cup of coffee in the morning!”

“My wife, Carol, and I greatly enjoyed John Tychonievich's two visits to our home in Philadelphia,” said Melvin.  “We appreciated gaining insights about medical college from a current student. Interacting with John helped us understand the dynamics of seeking residency preferences in today's competitive environment. We shared with him our local perspective on the programs he was visiting and life in Philadelphia. Carol and I both have busy professional lives. We valued the time we spent with John, but did not find his visit limited our ability to meet our usual commitments.” 

If you have questions or comments, please contact the Medical Center Alumni Affairs staff at (614) 292-5671, or medalum@osumc.edu