HOST returns

Before her away rotation, Alex Biel didn’t know too much about Milwaukee or the hospital where she would work — but that was before an OUWB alum stepped up to help.

The connection was made through OUWB’s Help Our Students Travel (HOST) program.

The program matches medical students travelling around the country for away rotations and residency interviews with people (typically alumni or families with connections to OUWB) who graciously open their homes via the HOST program.

Biel used the HOST program when she went to Milwaukee for an away rotation in Emergency Medicine. She was hosted by Sean Mackman, M.D., OUWB ’17, and his family, who not only provided a nice place to stay, but helped her learn more about the area and the hospital.

“This program was extremely rewarding and helped ease any anxiety I felt about rotating in a new hospital and finding a place to live during it,” says Biel. “Having that connection with an OUWB alum who has gone through it already was so helpful.”

Jordan Nash, development associate, OUWB, says that it’s “fantastic” that the HOST program has been brought back to life after a long pause caused by COVID-19. He serves as coordinator.

“Students already have talked about how good the experience was, how much they got out of it, and how much they have enjoyed it,” he says. “I consider that to be a huge success.”

“I feel really hopeful about the future of this program,” adds Nash.

Responding to a need

OUWB launched its HOST program in 2017. Around that time, the Association of American Medical Colleges reported that at least half of the country’s medical schools offered some form of a HOST program.

By 2019, OUWB was making about 60 matches a year between students who needed a place to stay and willing hosts.

Like many things, the program was shelved when the COVID-19 outbreak hit and more activity moved online, including residency interviews.

However, the pendulum has swung the other way recently and demand for places where medical students can stay has risen.

“The need just wasn’t there during COVID and now it is,” says Nash.

How it works

How the program works is relatively simple: Students reach out to Nash and request a host. They provide details of where they need accommodation, and the dates of their travel. (Nash suggests students reach out at least a month before travel.)

Nash then cross-references the request with a volunteer database and if there is a match for the destination, he contacts the potential host to determine availability for the specific dates identified by the student requestor.

That’s what happened when Nash matched Biel with Mackman and his family.

With plans to specialize in emergency medicine, Biel was required to do a one-month away rotation and obtain a letter of recommendation from the same place. The cost of staying at a hotel or some other form of rental for a month, however, would be a financial challenge.

Through the HOST program, Mackman and his family provided an alternative. They had signed up as volunteers to host OUWB medical students.

Nash says hosts like Mackman generally participate in the program as another way to stay connected to OUWB.

“Alumni have super busy schedules and live all around the country, which can make it hard for them to come to our events,” he says. “This allows for them to stay connected in a unique way…they get a firsthand account of the latest in medical education and what’s new with their alma mater.”

Nash, shown here speaking during an event at OUWB's 2024 orientation, says hosts like Mackman generally participate in the program as another way to stay connected to OUWB. (Photo by Rob Hall)

‘A great experience’

Mackman is an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He also serves as medical director at four of the emergency departments at MCW. The Mackmans live about 10 minutes north of Milwaukee and Biel stayed with them for more than a week of the month she was in Wisconsin.

“It was a great experience,” says Mackman.

Biel agrees and says that in addition to being warm and welcoming, Mackman and his wife provided “super helpful” details such as where to park, where to go on her first day, suggestions for lunch, and even things to do in Milwaukee, just to name a few.

“Having that overview before my first day was super helpful and helped get rid of the nervousness of the rotation,” she says. “I knew exactly where I was going and how the Emergency Department was structured.”

They have stayed in contact, too. Biel says Mackman helped her with a virtual mock interview and she has messaged him a few times to get his opinion on different residency programs.

“I feel like this can be a long-term connection for students, which is really nice,” she says.

Mackman says it’s a different experience than he had as a medical student — before the HOST program was an option. He says when he was traveling for residency interviews, he was calling just about anyone he could think of to try and find places to stay, even if it meant possibly spending the night on a distant relative’s couch.

“For (OUWB) to have this built-in program is really nice,” says Mackman. “(Students) don’t have to search for people they might possibly be able to crash with. This is much easier and a lot better.”

Communication is key

Mackman and Biel both say that the biggest key to a successful HOST experience is communication.

Both say it was critical that they talked plenty before Biel made her trip.

Mackman says it allowed his family to prepare and have everything ready to go and because Biel provided her timeline for everything — including her work schedule — they knew what to expect. That’s especially critical since Biel didn’t work the same shift every day.

“It allowed us to decide stuff like if she needed her own key,” he says.

For her part, Biel says she tried to be a gracious guest. She brought a small gift of appreciation, was sure to clean up after herself, and even helped make dinner one night.

She says she had such a good experience with the HOST program that she soon will be using it again as she wraps up interviews for residency in Baltimore.

And she hopes others do the same.

“I hope a lot of people take advantage of it,” says Biel. “It was extremely useful for me, and I hope it will be to others who learn about it as well.”

Students, alumni, and OUWB family members who wish to participate in the program should reach out to Jordan Nash at jordannash@oakland.edu.