IHL COMMISSIONER URGES NEW MEDICAL STUDENTS TO MERGE CARE, COMPASSION

Dr. Tom Meredith, commissioner of the Institutions of Higher Learning, encouraged first-year medical students to consider not just the physical needs of their patients but their emotional needs as well.

“There’s a great difference between caring for someone and caring about someone. A good doctor can do both,” he said.

Melding care with compassion is what Meredith called “the other side of medicine” during a speech to the 2011 class of the School of Medicine as part of the annual White Coat Ceremony Aug. 9 in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union. The freshmen also received Humanism in Medicine pins and the book, “On Doctoring,” co-authored by native Mississippian John Stone.

Meredith, whose son Mark is a UMC graduate, talked about his personal experiences as a patient after he and his wife were in a serious car accident. He said the reassurance and comfort they received during their hospital stay and recuperation at home made the difference.

“Those who say, ‘What can I do to help you feel better?’ have already completed part of the task,” he said. “Regardless of the path of medicine you take, caring and compassion should be the hallmark of what you do.”

The 119 students in the class of 2011 graduated from 32 different colleges and universities, including the eight universities in Mississippi. They earned 30 different degrees, 40 percent of which were in biology. The average age is 23.

The class also is 43 percent female, 20 percent minority and 10 percent African-American.

Dr. Dan Jones, UMC vice chancellor for health affairs, told students they should begin thinking about where they want to spend their professional careers, and he hoped they would choose to remain in Mississippi. He also cautioned them about the stress that can come with medical training.

“You’re beginning a marathon, not a sprint. Take care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually,” he said. “You’ve been selected because we believe that you’re the health professionals of the future.”

Dr. Steven Case, UMC associate dean for admissions, offered survival tips to guide them over the next four years. The tips were to set priorities, work hard, make responsible decisions, and be professional.

Meredith’s parting words were that he hoped the students always would be humane and caring, and to make every effort to demonstrate that to patients.

“Take the time to listen. Take the time to care,” he said.

—Patrice Sawyer Guilfoyle (8-20-07)

2007-08-17 00:00:00 17219