Alumni Advisors

Significance of Alumni Advisiors

It is important to remember that the SBE group will enter DMS in their third year of medical school to join a community of students who were oriented as a cohort forming personal and professional alliances two years earlier. Given this fact, it only makes sense that some formal program be created to embrace these students and to assist them with the transition and adjustments they will face. To assist with this transition, the directors of the DMS Bridging Program offer a program that will help the community to support our new students.

Preparation for Transition

Following the match in which up to five students are picked, the group of students begin to prepare for the transition while they continue their studies in New York. Through a carefully planned program of shared experiences as a "cohort" and the association with designated alumni mentors or "DMS alumni advisors," these students will spend a year learning about DMS and the environment in advance of their coming to Hanover.

To supply context and information about DMS and the social and academic environment of Hanover, the group of SBE students will be linked to 2 DMS alumni or alumnae. DMS students will also be a part of the orientation process (e.g., participate in a visit to one of the NYC sessions.) The DMS alumni will be selected from the NYC area. Their geographic proximity will help facilitate personal interactions between the alumni and SBE students. These

linkage will be made at least one year in advance of the SBE students arrival on the DMS campus.

General Expectations of the DMS Alumni/ae Advisor

  • Help in the mentoring of young physicians-to-be.
  • Contact the SBE students at least 3 times in the year before students go to DMS. (Encourage at least one personal interaction if possible. If the advisors can manage more, that would be great.)
  • Help to facilitate the career planning process and life issues (e.g., transition from urban to rural environment).
  • Travel to the DMS campus to participate in the Interdisciplinary Clinical Exercises (ICE) as a master class or alumni speaker for the entire class; dine with the SBE students while visiting DMS.

Ideas for Content Discussions with SBE Students

  • Curriculum comparison e.g., how much clinical exposure have the SBE students received in their medical education to date?
  • Transition from classroom study to clinical training at DHMC and our affiliated sites
  • Elements and specific details of experiences that influenced your career choice
  • What preparations for the USMLE did you pursue?
  • Describe your role of community service during your years at DMS as a discussion point with SBE students about their activities
  • Helpful observations you have about SBE students that might help the Bridging Program Co-Directors in the students' transition to DMS