TCOM Medical Mentorship Program welcomes more than 100 pre-med students to campus

January 31, 2023
By: Steven Bartolotta
On Campus

Intubation Practice — Students at TCOM’s Medical Mentorship Program practice intubation.

Mentoring, volunteering and raising the next generation of medical students is the backbone of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Medical Mentorship Program. TCOM students volunteered their time to mentor undergraduate pre-med students from universities across the region.

More than 100 pre-med students were on the campus of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth learning about osteopathic medicine, ultrasound, anatomy, OMM and much more.

Students heard from TCOM’s dean, Dr. Frank Filipetto, who spoke to them about their goals, future plans and how TCOM mentors can share their experiences. He also challenged students to take control of their future but use their mentors to help them achieve their goals.

“TCOM has a great culture of students helping other students and serving as mentors,” Filipetto said. “What you will find as you enter medical education is you will be challenged. These mentors are not here to fix or solve your problems but to help you and make you better.”

He encouraged the students to seek out mentors and coaches to help them navigate through the challenges of not just medical school, but life itself.

“What I saw as a family doctor drove me and pushed me and solidified why I do this every day,” Filipetto said. “I saw the health care system not benefit people, not support me. It was driven by people who had no idea what patient-centered care meant. I get up every day and come to TCOM to train our medical students to change health care in this country. What will you do to change the health care system so that all people in this country have affordable and quality health care when they need it?”

The pre-med students learned about student life, the admissions process and the dual degree opportunities that TCOM has to offer. Assistant dean for admissions Dr. Mike Kennedy spoke to the students about the admissions process while also telling the students as they go through the process to “Be yourself.”

TCOM faculty member and alum Dr. Stuart Williams made a presentation and an introduction to osteopathic manipulative medicine. Williams demonstrated the techniques and practices of OMM and went through the differences between osteopathic and allopathic practices of medicine.

TCOM students advised the pre-med students while giving tours of the campus and showing the pre-meds an inside look at medical school. TCOM students showed off the new Regional Simulation Center at HSC and its immersive technology.

The students also took part in learning how to intubate, practicing with an ultrasound machine and a question-and-answer session with TCOM student ambassadors.

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