Project Professionalism:  Class of 2012

Project Professionalism is a student-driven initiative co-sponsored by Patient-Centered Medicine and the student Honor and Professionalism Council.  It was initiated in 2001 by the Class of 2005 and began as a group of 20 students who gave advice concerning the lecture presentations, started the Class Oath tradition, and made recommendations concerning the small-group discussions.  It has grown to involve over 200 students working on all aspects of the professionalism mission:  “To create and maintain the culture of respect in the medical school environment.” 

The “culture of respect” encompasses compassionate care, professional behaviors, excellence in medical knowledge, and placing the needs of others before your own (altruism).  Creating this culture does not depend on “policing” each other but it is built on a foundation of caring about the personal and professional growth of every medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

To serve on one of the committees for Project Professionalism, simply sign up during any of the Professionalism lectures or e-mail your request to eileen.mehl@osumc.edu.

·         Class Oath Committee:  Each entering class has the distinction of generating its own oath to be presented at its Hooding Ceremony.  The creative process begins using Portraits in Professionalism submissions for ideas for the class oath.  This committee will write the first draft and as the committee members progress through medical school, a new draft is done each year with feedback from the entire class.  The final product is completed during the senior year.

·         Clowning in Columbus:  Inspired by the Gesundheit! Institute, this group learns clowning techniques and then takes them into the community, bringing cheer and comfort to children in hospitals and the elderly in senior centers.  The Gesundheit! Institute was founded in 1972 by Hunter "Patch" Adams, M.D., "to bring fun, friendship, and the joy of service back into health care."  No previous clowning experience required. J

·         Communications Committee:  The “medium is the message,” and for this group it’s the development and maintenance of the Web site to promote professionalism in the medical field.  Plans also call for creating a “virtual” literary magazine and building a team of student writers and Web site designers.  Members of this committee work closely with COM Communications and Marketing and Medical Student Communications.

·         Community Service:  Med 2 students are an ideal resource for helping the Patient-Centered Medicine program plan and carry out its annual Community Fair for first-year medical students.  Over 30 central Ohio agencies participate in the day-long event, which is held early each fall on the COM campus.  This committee invites Med 2 students to the Community Fair to give their perspective on community service and individual agencies.  This committee also works on other service activities.

·         Difficult Discussions:  Beginning in 2005, Difficult Discussions has been a student effort to expand the scope of small-group discussions into areas not always covered in the regular curriculum or to give more time to selected topics.  Students leading this group select topics for discussion, including working with difficult patients and those with chronic illness as well as bias in the medical work place.

·         Ether Arts:  Interested in joining kindred spirits who share an appreciation of arts and literature in medicine and in our community?  The Ether Arts group arranges group outings to sample cultural events, sponsors guest speakers, and provides venues to showcase student’s artistic talents, such as an arts magazine and a student/faculty/staff art exhibit. 

·         History of Medicine Committee:  Can you imagine an era when medical education meant attending formal lectures for a quarter or two and then being apprenticed to a practicing physician for several years?  Here’s an opportunity to bring the rich heritage of medicine to our students through guest lectures, Web materials, and photo essays highlighting the legacy of OSU medicine and medicine in general.  This committee works in collaboration with the Heritage Center in Prior Library.

·         Humanism in Medicine:  What better way to promote and acknowledge the humanistic efforts made by your peers at the College of Medicine than by nominating them for a monthly Candy Apple Award?  Or you could participate in a babysitting service to give fellow medical students occasional assistance with their children.  The members of this committee are focused on helping their fellow classmates as needs are identified.

·         Lecture/Discussion Planning Committee:  This committee meets with the lecturers after the Med 1 Professionalism and Professional Well-Being lectures are complete to give ideas for updating these lectures for the incoming class.  Med 2 students on this committee are often asked to serve on the panels for the Med 1 lecture or in other venues. 

·         MEDPaws:  MEDPaws is a group allowing students to interact with animals through informal gatherings and volunteer opportunities.  We regularly have meet'n'greets in the park so that students can bring their dogs and relax.   Students wanting to partner with their dog to become a therapy team will receive help and guidance in becoming trained and certified to visit patients in hospitals and nursing homes.  Guidance is also available for choosing a puppy that will make a good therapy dog.  Plans also call for staring a program to bring cats from a local cat-save shelter to nursing homes to visit residents and brighten their days.

·         MedServe:  This committee provides medical students with opportunities to serve our local communities.  It was founded on the core values of charity, justice, and compassion and a belief in the right to health care access.  For our current service projects, the committee has partnered with Dr. Dana Vallangeon and the community of Franklinton on the near West Side.  Other projects include collecting clothing for area homeless persons and hosting speakers to talk about issues facing underserved populations.  

·         Movies in Meiling:  This committee aims to provide entertainment, relaxation, and alternative education.  That goal is accomplished by screening both light-hearted and serious films from various genres that are thought provoking, present complex or controversial issues, and/or provide insight into the human condition.  Informal discussions follow the movies.

·         The Other Half Program:  In an effort to be inclusive of a medical student’s significant other, The Other Half was born as part of the Family Medicine Leadership Development Program and became a Special Project of Project Professionalism in 2006 and quickly became a permanent committee.  Activities include social events and networking opportunities open to medical students and their significant others.  Event planning is student-driven, ranging from pot-lucks and picnics to group outings, such as Blue Jackets games (hockey).

·         PODEMOS:  This organization is dedicated to the medical service of marginalized communities in Honduras.  Service was initiated this summer with a comprehensive study of health and health care in El Progreso and other select areas of Honduras. PODEMOS plans to begin medical service to the community of Siete de Abril and potentially other communities starting in the winter of 2009. 

·         Premedical Professionalism Committee:  Through the work of the Family Medicine Premedical Initiative, OSU undergraduates have been involved in a program that offers informational meetings and medical student mentors to OSU premedical students.  This committee works collaboratively with the Premedical Initiative to bring ongoing discussions about Professionalism into that initiative.  This group is a resource for the Admissions Office and has been responsible for bringing current medical students onto the Admissions Committee as voting members and offering support to the Early Admissions Pathway.

·         Council of Chairs.  All of the committee chairs for Project Professionalism serve on the Project’s Council of Chairs.  The Council of Chairs is the oversight committee for all of the Project’s work and convenes quarterly.  Two students are selected each year to co-chair the Council.   The co-chairs of PP serve as student member and alternate on the Executive Committee of the Professionalism Council.  The medical center’s Professionalism Council is responsible for professionalism-based outreach into our medical community.  Committees include Research Ethics, Clinical Practice, Education and Evaluation, Business Ethics and Communications. 

·         Special Projects:   New student initiatives begin as special projects.  This committee responds to student requests for assistance within the “culture” of professionalism.  Activities range from informational sessions (Med 3 and 4 students speaking to preclinical students about scheduling clerkships, to stress workshops and other professional well-being initiatives).  Members may also serve on panels, help design presentations, and plan special events.  The Executive Board serves in this capacity. 

·         Healer’s Art:  Cynthia Kreger, MD piloted this program during the 2004-05 academic year as a special project.  Some of the objectives are to:  cultivate the human dimensions of the practice of medicine, recognize the commonality of personal concerns, trust the power of listening and presence to heal others, and recognize that who you are is as important to your patients as what you know.  Dr. Kreger will host an informational meeting later in the fall for those interested in participating in the class.

For additional infomation, contact:

Linda Stone, M.D.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
155 Meiling Hall
(614)292-5126
linda.stone@osumc.edu

Kendra Clemons 
Cochair
kendra.clemons@osumc.edu

Marty Tam 
Cochair
marty.tam@osumc.edu

Angela Douglas 
Secretary
angela.douglas@osumc.edu

Jarrett Heard
Treasurer 
jarrett.heard@osumc.edu