2007

Sigma Sigma Phi

Annual Chapter Report

Sigma Chapter

Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine

2007-2008 Officers:

President- Rachel E. Stone

Vice President- Rachel Kaplan

Secretary- Elizabeth Combs

Treasurer- Katrina Slone

Faculty Advisor- Dr. Daniel Callan D.O., M.P.H., FACOFP, FASMA, FAOCOPM

Selection Committee:

Jessica Adams

Marie Hargis

Greg Harris

April Nevarez

Sonbol Shahid-Salles

Members:

Fourth Year Students- 13

Third Year Students- 22

Second Year Students- 20

First Year Students- 1

Total: 56 Members as of 9/25/07

Financial Report:

Current Balance as of September, 2007- $839.45

Respectfully Submitted by Rachel E. Stone

AOA Convention 2007

San Diego, CA

Sunday, September 30, 2007

INTRODUCTION

The academic year at Pikeville College School of Medicine has been off to an exciting start. Not only are we proud of our growth, but we are also pleased to be continually forming new relationships within the community. Since the Sigma chapters inception in 2002 we have grown from a mere eight to fifty-nine members proud. We have also added a variety of organizations to our normal list of community contacts, including Relay for Life and DO’s on the GO.

The members of the class of 2010 were inducted last spring and presented with Sigma Sigma Phi pins in honor of their academic achievements. With our growing membership we look forward to being able to become more active in the community and the academic setting here in Pikeville.

MEMBERSHIP FOR 2007-2008

• Each member in the Sigma chapter is required to maintain above average academic scholarship in addition to completion of 30 hours of community service a year.
• We encourage each of our members to achieve a T.O.U.C.H. pin, signifying 50 hours of community service.
• For membership in 2007, our council elected to require a letter submission for each eligible student. Once the letter had been received, the council then reviewed each request for admission and ranked the student on a scale from 1-5 (with 5 being the best and 1 being the worst). The basis of this rank was determined on primarily community service, followed by academic achievement. After ranking the top letters were chosen and those people were extended an invitation to join the Sigma chapter.
• The council for 2007-2008 has decided to stay with the common theme of letter submission and ranking, but with more rigid parameters for the ranking process. Now each interested student will be ranked in 5 categories.

• Academic Achievements- based on average and class rank (1-5)
• Extra-academic Achievements- including awards granted by both the academic institution and class nominated awards.  (1-5)
• Community Service (1-5)
• Service to the School- including student ambassadors, working with other campus organizations, and class liaisons. (1-5)
• Service to the Profession – including community education, conferences, and work abroad. (1-5)
• Service to the school and service to the profession will be measured by hours of work and projects completed by the applicant.
• Hours will be considered for one year academic year previously but emphasis will be placed on work done while attending PCSOM.

• The basis for the 1-5 ranking system is as follows:
• 5- Exceptional performance (typically reserved for unparalleled achievements).
• 4- Above average performance
• 3- Standard performance
• 2- Less than average performance
• 1- Lack of performance

ADMINISTRATION FOR 2007-2008

• Meetings- This year we have decided to have two meetings per term but with monthly communication mostly via email. Since most of our community service events are done in conjunction with other organizations, Sigma Sigma Phi members are expected to attend those organizational meetings in addition to their participation.

Attendance at Sigma Sigma Phi meetings are mandatory and after one absence (without excuse) the student is placed on attendance bad standing. If another meeting is missed while on bad standing, the member may be excused from the organization.

• Our first meeting in the fall is typically organizational. We like to welcome our members back to school and encourage them to get involved in a variety of individual service projects.
• Our second meeting is to coordinate the Habitat for Humanity builds as well as check in on our members. If any member is struggling in a particular course it is encouraged at this time to seek out a peer tutor. Tutors can be obtained individually or through the office of the dean.
• Our third meeting is after block #5 to announce the selections for admission to Sigma Sigma Phi.
• Our fourth meeting is in April and is the first meeting for the new administration as well as an organizational meeting for Relay for Life.

• Mandatory events- We request that each Sigma Sigma Phi member attend a couple of events throughout the year that are important to the school or to the organization.
• Habitat for Humanity- Attendance is required at the builds because this is our largest community service event of the year and each member should donate their time willingly.
• Induction of new members- We ask that each member come to the induction ceremony and dinner for the new members as a means to welcome them to the organization and show their interest and support in the members who will continue in the Sigma Sigma Phi tradition.
• Relay for Life- Our second group community service event that requires a great deal of time in fundraising and coordination of events throughout the night.

• Committee- the largest change to our selection process this year includes the formation of a selection committee. Now, not only will the council be ranking our potential new members but also five regular members of the organization. The members chosen to serve on this committee for 2007-2008 are:  Sonbol Shahid-Salles, Marie Hargis, April Nevarez, Greg Harris, and Jessica Adams. These members were chosen by popular vote of the Sigma Chapter at the first meeting this academic year.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITES FOR 2007-2008

            Due to the small size of the Pike County community, the Sigma chapter greatly emphasizes the importance of individual service. We assist our members in getting involved in a variety of local organizations based on their passions, interest, and even intended specialty. Some of the organizations which our individual members are involved in include: Judy’s Closet (a store for battered women and children), March of Dimes, the Domestic Violence Shelter, Parent’s Night Out, the Humane Society, and Shriner’s Hospital (in Lexington). Some of our members take their service to the next level by electing to spend their summers on projects including trips to the Sudan in Africa. This emphasis on individual service is important because many organizations in our community cannot support large groups of volunteers. We also believe that individual service also causes the student to get involved in causes they are more passionate about thus are more likely to pursue after our years in Pikeville.

 The goals for the council of Sigma Sigma Phi for the 2007-2008 academic year all focus on a central theme- community service. With that in mind, immediately following our officer transition in March, our new members began working earnestly on our first project- Relay for Life.

• Relay for Life- It is with great pride that I report to you how excited we were with our efforts at the Pike County Relay for Life event this year. Not only did we have the counties largest team with 52 members, but we also were able to reach into the community and raise over $4700.00 to support our area. Relay for Life is a new project for Sigma Sigma Phi and we are very pleased with our first year efforts. Aside from our financial achievements, the Sigma chapter was also the only team in the county to have someone walking throughout the entire night. It is this dedication that our members exhibit in their everyday life that truly sets our organization above the rest.

As part of our Relay for Life event Sigma Sigma Phi provided OMT for the community members in cooperation from our UAAO leadership. Not only did this experience assist in community education on osteopathy, but it was also a good opportunity for 1^st years to practice their techniques under supervision.

The final component of our work with Relay for Life involved supervising and providing activities for children and teens.  With our local ACOPeds chapter we offered children face painting, a petting zoo, balloons, and a puppet show; whereas for the teenagers we provided cotton candy and a tent to play videogames and watch movies throughout the night.

• Community Outreach- Immediately following Relay for Life we joined with ACOFP in completing community outreach programs at Easter. We assembled and delivered over 32 food baskets and 30 Easter baskets to families in the region, the domestic violence shelter, and the pediatrics unit at the hospital.

• Medical Mission Trip- A summer opportunity that many of our members elected to take part in was the medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Each year a group of students from PCSOM plan a medical mission trip to various countries around the Carribean. This year PCSOM students helped raise enough money to send 17 students to a small island in the Dominican Republic. The team collected pharmaceuticals and medical equipment in order to set up a clinic and pharmacy in the small community. This year’s team chose to travel to Batay Nueve, a sugar cane plantation in the Dominican. Batey Nueve lacks a health care clinic and citizens must travel about 10 miles, usually on foot, to the next town to receive care. The health are provided at this clinic is still grossly substandard, but it is the best they can offer. The two day clinic PCSOM members set up in June was the first medical treatment the community of Batay Nueve had in over a year. Our members were able to provide care to over 850 patients. Not only was this trip an amazing opportunity to see some interesting pathology, but it was a brilliant reminder of why we spend our years working so hard. Most of our members returned home well and with fresh motivation in their endeavors as future physicians.       

• Habitat for Humanity- Sigma Sigma Phi teamed up with ACOFP to build two homes for two very deserving families for our annual event. The build took a little over a week and every Sigma Sigma Phi member donated their time to assist. Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. The Sigma chapter is proud to affiliate with an organization that has done so much work on the national and international level. 

• DO on the GO- Students actively volunteered at DO’s on the GO health fair in the Pikeville City Park for all Pike County employees. Students were able to complete health screenings, blood glucose checks, body mass index, and osteopathic manipulations for nearly 200 patients. Interventions were also aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of physical fitness and good nutrition.

CAMPUS ACTIVITES FOR 2007-2008

• KOMA- Over the summer several of our members elected to dedicate their time to represent PCSOM at the Kentucky Osteopathic Medical Association. Part of this experience involved attending a Pre-Medical Conference and participating in a student panel. Students interested in pursuing a degree in medicine attended informative sessions regarding the application process, financial aid and the history of osteopathy. There were over forty pre-medical students from Kentucky and one pre-medical advisor in attendance.

• Orientation- The majority of our members elected to participate in PCSOM Orientation for the class of 2011 the last week of July. Sigma Sigma Phi member Lauren Francisco coordinated the week with beautiful detail and was able to use our members as mentors, to serve on a student panel, to pass out books and materials, be available for general questions, and assist in coordinating meals and breaks for the incoming class. This was a wonderful experience for our members as orientation week is one of the only times that the first and second year classes get to come together to form friendships prior to the beginning of the school year.

• Student Ambassadors- Student Ambassadors serve to assist the PCSOM Office of Admissions in hosting students for interview days. Some students offer their housing, and others their additional time on interview day to answer questions for interviewing students. On interview day Sigma Sigma Phi members try to be available to help the new students prepare for their interview and potentially for their life as a medical school student. On some occasions, several members have traveled to their alma mater to inform and educate undergraduates on the school and the osteopathic mission.

• Class Liaisons/Leadership- Sigma Sigma Phi is very proud of their members who chose to donate their time to the benefit of the class or the school. Because of this we always encourage involvement in class leadership and other elected positions at PCSOM. This year the Sigma chapter is proud to report that our members make up 75% of the student nominated class liaisons, 100% of the SGA leadership, 75% of the second year class leadership, and 60% of club presidents at PCSOM.

• AOA Fundraisers- As second year students, most of our members in the class of 2010 had the opportunity to attend the AOA convention in Las Vegas last year. It is because of this experience that many of our members chose to participate in fundraising efforts to help cover expenses for both the first and second year classes. As students we feel as though it is very important for osteopathic physicians to be able to come together at a conference to share ideas and education. To illustrate our support we decided to aggressively fundraise so that most/all of the costs of the trip would be covered to encourage student attendance. In doing so we sold a variety of tee shirts, coffee mugs, doctor’s bags, and pins; as well as assisted with a car wash and dress down days.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES FOR 2007-2008

• Thanksgiving Baskets with ACOFP- October/November 2007- We will donate food items to fill ~70 baskets full of items commonly used for Thanksgiving and distribute them to needy homes in Pike County and the surrounding area.
• Kids Toy Drive – November/December 2007 – We will allow either toy or financial donations to be made throughout November and December to give to needy families and children on Christmas this holiday season.
• New member induction- February 2008
• Officer transitions- April 2008
• Relay for Life- April 2008
• Habitat Spring Build- April/May 2008

CONCLUSION

It is with great pride that we continue on the Sigma Sigma Phi tradition at the Sigma Chapter in Pikeville, KY. Sigma Sigma Phi has always emphasized the important of the most human elements- giving to another, dedication, and hard work. We graciously accept these lessons as we will take them with us as we move forward in our career goals of being talented osteopathic physicians. Thank your for your attention and taking the time to read our annual report.

Sigma Sigma Phi Roster Fall 2007

Danielle Baker

Jill Blandford

Alyssa Buchheister Jacqueline Carpenter

Risa Cohen

Victoria Famuyide

Kelli Harris

Seth Levine

Lyndsay Madden

Deana McReynolds

Charles Meeks

Susan Mobus

Tara Monday

Sara Ornazian

Gretchen Inkumsah

Caralee Richardson

Erin Tischner
Andrea Todaro

Michael Van Dyke

Andreia Williams

Christopher Wooster

Natalie Young

 Class of 2011

   Cindy Demastes

Jessica Adams

Matthew Breeding

Clacy Camel

Kara Caudill

Elizabeth Combs

Anya Cope

Lauren Kostelnik

Benjamin Goodman

Marie Hargis

Greg Harris

James Heltsley

Rachel Kaplan

Chaitanya Malempati

April Nevarez

Cassi Reams

Sonbol Shahid-salles

Katrina Slone

Rachel Stone

Amanda Tyler

Adam Zeigler

Jamie Bell

Vernon Brewer

George Christiansen

Nicole Gesik

John Hancock

Jeremy Jarecke

Ryan Murphy

Ashley Norris

Elizabeth Renaker-Jansen

Stacy Richardson

Sammit Sabharwal

 Eric Stanley

Ashley Walker

Class of 2008 Class of 2009 Class of 2010