Service to Others Is the Correct Path - Time Out #479

Veterans Day is Monday, honoring all Our Country's past and present military service people. Having been in the army myself over 50 years ago, I hardily salute my fellow service members. You are America's finest!  

     Before the year 2000 arrived, bringing all the celebrations and cheers, I began serving on the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Interview Subcommittee Board in Oklahoma City. My time required is a few days during a 3-month cycle each summer/fall. 

      Local readers in Our Town and far beyond, I remain an active member of that volunteer body of folks, as I approach 3 decades of service on the interview subcommittee.   

      Simply stated, this is a labor of love for me. I truly enjoy it! 

      It is somewhat time-consuming, but the effort I put forward returns to me many times over with great feelings about our future doctors. And, I know, I have played a small part in this important process.

      What all is involved, you ask?

      Well, most of the activities used to be on-location at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

campus, near downtown Oklahoma City.  That on-location requirement abruptly changed with the sudden onset of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.  We began doing our former in-person interviews remote via Zoom to all candidates, who qualified for the required interviews. The interview is the final step in the long process an applicant has do in order to gain acceptance to the freshman (medical student 1 or ms i) OU Medical School 4-year class, beginning the next  August. When the pandemic was considered over, because Zoom interviews had functioned extremely well, the OU administrative decision was made to continue the Zoom process moving forward. For instance, in the fall of 2023, I interviewed an applicant from prestigious MIT (located in distant Boston area). Before the pandemic, he would have had to travel to  Oklahoma City. I would have had to have driven from Our Town to Oklahoma City for the 1-hour interview session, held with 2 other interviewers and me. However, because of the magic of Zoom, I sat in my home office, while the applicant sat in his Boston-area apartment for the interview session. Amazingly simpler and efficient for all concerned!  

     Basically, the interview subcommittee attempts to determine as to the best of our abilities, whether applicants who have qualified for the interview, would make good physicians when he or she (nationally medical school enrollments are currently over 50-percent female) finishes their professional school training. That specific charge to me and to my fellow interview committee is a difficult decision in some individual cases.  However, we have to come to a conclusion about each applicant at the end of the hour-long session. Yes, for sure, the entire process is quite challenging, but I LOVE the service I am able to provide for my OU medical school alma mater. It is yet another way I attempt to "pay-it-forward":

     I sincerely hope with this small glimpse into the complex world of the medical school application process you as readers are somewhat better informed. It has been a wonderful avocation for me for many years!