It was another successful year for Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in the classroom, at Beaumont Health in clinical training and by making a positive impact in the community.
The arrival:
The year began as the crop of new medical students arrived on campus. The Class of 2022 was comprised of students with undergraduate training in fields of study ranging from biology to business to engineering to nutrition and many others. Students were accepted from 59 different undergraduate colleges and universities, representing 19 U.S. states. You can see more of their characteristics on the 2022 class profile page.
Time to take the Hippocratic Oath and be presented a white coat:
Soon after arriving, the new class members participated in the traditional White Coat Ceremony, a celebration that marks the beginning of their medical training.
Mentors and role models:
The year also marked some amazing feats by OUWB alums who are now serving as chief medical residents, have earned outstanding fellowships or became permanent medical staff members. Laura Ortiz, charter class member, now a physician on staff at the Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak Emergency Center, is a proud example of former students now fully underway in their medical careers. Congratulations to all these physician role models who are making their mark in medicine.
Alpha Omega Alpha welcomes 21 M4 students to its ranks:
This year, 21 OUWB M4 students received induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, an international society recognizing students, alumni and faculty who dedicate themselves to the medical profession.
Dr. Frikker accepts the Department of Surgery chair:
After serving as interim chair, Department of Surgery, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Mark Frikker, M.D., became permanent chair in November. He was also appointed chief of surgical services and chair, Department of Surgery at Beaumont, Royal Oak where he was serving as interim chair.
COMPASS leads the way in community engagement:
During the past year, OUWB students also took an active role in community engagement through the COMPASS program and via other opportunities. Community engagement is a vital part of OUWB's holistic approach to creating the physicians of the future. One great example of this commitment is how OUWB students spent the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday participating in a series of volunteer activities, including the Health Fair and Taste Fest at Chandler Park Academy, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service and participating in the Reach Out & Read event at the Beaumont Children’s Hospital in Royal Oak.
Doctors and dentists learn through collaboration:
In a unique partnership, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry launched a new interprofessional course to educate medical and dental students on how health care professionals can collaborate for the benefit of their patients. For the initial programs UDM students visited O'Dowd Hall at OU in March and June.
Duane Mezwa named interim dean:
Duane Mezwa, M.D., was appointed as Stephan Sharf Interim Dean of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in February 2019. As dean, he also serves as the chief academic officer of OUWB for William Beaumont Hospital. Dr. Mezwa is a 40-year employee of Beaumont Health, who has been involved with the medical school in various capacities since its inception. Most recently, he had been serving as health system chair and physician executive for Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging at Beaumont Health.
OUWB students make the Michigan Science Center shine:
OUWB Class of 2021 PRISM groups went to the Michigan Science Center in Detroit to help with some spring cleaning.
Capstone Colloquium provide opportunity to share research:
The culmination of years of research concluded with poster presentations during the annual Capstone Colloquium in March, where the students shared the results of their work. Ranging from traditional bench research and clinical translational retrospective to medical education, patient safety and quality improvement, the range of research was impressive. Many students presented at medical conferences and many of those received competitive scholarship awards or impacted patient lives.
Celebrating faculty expertise:
Foundational Medical Studies Professor Judith M. Venuti, Ph.D., FAAA, received the American Association of Anatomists’ A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award, an award presented to a member who has provided exceptional service to the association and/or mentorship in the discipline. This is the association's highest honor recognizing a member distinguished in the field of anatomical sciences. Celebrating Professor Venuti's award and knowing our students are taught by some of the most respected leaders in their fields was another highlight of the year.
M4 students met their "Match" in March:
On Friday, March 15, the Class of 2019 learned which hospitals and medical facilities they would be heading to for their medical residencies upon graduation from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in May. The students and their loved ones enjoyed the day celebrating the news and thinking about the next chapter in their medical school journey. Fourteen of them will remain connected to Beaumont Health, OUWB’s affiliate institution, in programs ranging from emergency medicine, radiology-diagnostics and internal medicine. Match Day is a national event that occurs annually on the third Friday in March. See the Match Day story and full list of OUWB matches.
Commencing with commencement:
OUWB graduated its fifth class of physicians on the campus of Oakland University in May.They were surrounded by faculty mentors, family and friends who cheered, laughed and cried during the joyful commencement ceremony for the Class of 2019. Now, they are officially doctors and take the next big step to residency programs. Good luck to all!
