Ninety-six first-year medical students at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine marked the start of a new academic year this week, spending time on campus with each other before beginning their medical education journeys.
In his opening remarks, Geisel Dean Duane Compton, PhD, warmly welcomed the new students to four days of orientation sessions and activities designed to develop interpersonal relationships and familiarize them with the Geisel community.
“Over the next few years, you are going to become fluent in a new language,” Compton said. “And you will become expert in how to translate that language to your patients and their families. It’s a pretty awesome responsibility that we share together—you in gaining that fluency, and us to help guide and support your learning.
“I say ‘together’ on purpose,” he said, “because we are on this journey with you. You are not alone. Our faculty are here to help you with the curriculum, our Office of Student Life is here to help you with other supports, and your classmates are here to help. You will be surprised by how much peer-to-peer support you will receive—and give. We have literally wrapped supports around you so that each of you can succeed.”
That strong system of support and collaboration helps ensure that Geisel students are well-prepared upon graduation to face the stiff challenges that exist in the healthcare system. “That’s why we do not approach medical education here at Geisel in silos,” Sonia Nagy Chimienti, MD, dean of educational affairs at Geisel, told the students.
Photos by Rob Strong
“We look forward, considering your future careers and the healthcare landscape in which you will be working, to collaborating in interrelated teams across disciplines. We think about your education in that context, understanding the environment in which you will be practicing,” she continued. “When I trained in medicine, I did not appreciate that critical interrelated connection across disciplines until later, when I was in practice—that was an ‘ah-ha’ moment. We’re hoping to create ‘ah-ha’ moments for you earlier, as you are learning medicine.”
As the medical students embark on a journey that will challenge, inspire, and ultimately transform them, Roshini Pinto-Powell, MD, associate dean and chair of admissions, professor of medicine and medical education, urged them to embrace this journey with an open heart and an open mind.
“Remember that medicine is both an art and a science,” she said. “As you learn the science, don’t forget the art—the human connection that binds us all. You are now part of a lifelong network of Dartmouth physicians committed to making a difference in the world. As you embark on this journey, we challenge you to be fearless in your pursuit of knowledge, relentless in your commitment to compassion, and unwavering in your dedication to growth. Your future patients are counting on you, and the world needs the best version of you.”
When asked about what drew them to Geisel and what they’re most looking forward to as first-year students, Kyra Lee MED '28, who hails from Fort Collins, CO, said, “One of the things that stood out to me the most was the sense of community and how down to earth people seemed here. I’m looking forward to getting to know my classmates and just growing and learning a lot these next four years.”
"One of the things that stood out to me the most was the sense of community and how down to earth people seemed here.”
- Kyra Lee MED ’28
Angus Mauser MED ’28, a former Army Reservist from Ipswich, MA, added, “I’ve heard really good things about the curriculum and that the training is great, very high-quality. I’m excited to finally get to this point, which is the culmination of years of effort, and to be starting this new chapter.”
In addition to overviews of the curriculum and Geisel’s signature On Doctoring course, which Pinto-Powell co-directs, students were introduced to the medical school’s counseling and wellness resources, and participated in social events during the week with classmates and other Dartmouth students.
Geisel’s newest class of 96 medical students was selected from a pool of 6,774 applicants. Twenty-eight states are represented in the class, as well as eight countries—Canada, China, El Salvador, Greece, Italy, Nigeria, Taiwan, and Zimbabwe.
