Like most osteopathic medical schools, Des Moines University participates in a national volunteer recognition program called T.O.U.C.H. I completely forgot what that acronym actually stands for, but the idea is that T.O.U.C.H. is a system designed to reward students who go above and beyond the requirements of their curriculum and use their time in medical school to impact their community for the better. Those who conduct more than 50 hours of volunteer service receive a silver pin and a certificate of recognition, while those who achieve more than 100 are given the “Gold” equivalent.  Now, I’m writing about this program for two reasons: 1) I had no idea this even existed before coming to DMU and would have liked to have gotten a jump on it, and 2) to extol the virtues of DMU in terms of opportunities for T.O.U.C.H.

Posted in Community Service, Current Students, Des Moines Events, DMU Events, Life in Des Moines, Student Bloggers, Student Life | Leave a Comment

While the new class of talented and eager P.A. students has already begun their first year at DMU, we D.O. students are enjoying a much needed break in our training as our summer gets into full swing.  As we all step out into the real world for the first time in months (on the second try – we had forgotten how garish daylight could be), we reflect on all the joyous possibilities that await us in a world without exams or SPALs*…at least for a few weeks more.

Ahh, it's time to take a break. For some DMU students, anyway.

Posted in Anatomy, Current Students, Des Moines Events, Life in Des Moines, Student Bloggers, Student Life, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Finally, just a few days ago, I at last managed to complete the last class for my master’s of public health degree here at DMU. This explains why I haven’t posted in a while – it’s been tough working on two professional degrees at once. I figured that I ought to make it up to you guys, of course, so I decided to put my new degree to use in service of the populace. Specifically, I’ve decided to single-handedly fix the health care system. It was a tough feat, of course – the problem is that insurance companies exist so that patients can seek necessary health care when it’s really important, but too many patients make excessive use of these services and drive up the costs for everyone else.  Fortunately, after extensive deliberation, I’ve finally identified the root of the problem so as to open the door for a definitive solution.

See, under the current system, patients usually pay a co-pay or deductible (an amount people have to pay before their insurance company covers their medical expenses) that’s meant to be low enough that it doesn’t stop people from seeking necessary care, but high enough that a patient must think twice before going to the doctor without a good reason. If this disincentive didn’t exist, patients would visit their doctor for every last ache and pain and generate a financial burden for whomever picks up the bill. Of course, the question that often gets asked is whether insurance companies use these sorts of plans to promote judicious use of services, or just to pad their own pockets. Furthermore, when financial barriers prevent patients from seeking genuinely necessary care, easily treatable conditions are ignored until they become complicated and expensive. So the question that has been unanswered is this: How do we encourage patients not to overuse health care without creating perverse incentives or providing sub-par care? After much careful thought and reflection, I believe I’ve found the answer. I call it the “Smoke the Whole Pack” plan.

Posted in Current Students, Health Care Administration, Health News, Osteopathic Medicine, Student Bloggers | Leave a Comment

Significant Others Support (SOS), the organization for spouses and significant others of students attending Des Moines University, is hosting its last Feed the Students event for the year this Saturday, April 23, at 9 a.m. in the SEC Commons for second-year medical students who are participating in the Kaplan study course. SOS will offer baked goods, fruit, yogurt, juice, soda and coffee during the first break at 9 a.m. We hope that all second-year students studying their hearts out on Saturday will take this opportunity to feed their brains while they fill it with board knowledge.

This is the fourth Feed the Students event that SOS has hosted this school year, and I want to thank all the volunteers for providing food and time away from their busy calendars. The students appreciate it! Also thanks to DMU for providing some of the food for this last event!

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Garage sales offer interesting goodies!

Got some stuff to get rid of this season? I found this amazing blog that lists where your goods can go, for the good of someone else.

My favorite places are usually the Salvation Army or a local place I volunteer at, the Catholic Worker House, depending on the stuff I’m getting rid of. There are some other great places out there willing to re-home your goodies.

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Every podiatry school has a unique curriculum regarding rotations during fourth-year. For DMU students, it’s fairly straightforward but is ever-changing year to year. Here’s how it went for the class of 2011.

In the middle of your third-year, you select where you want to spend your rotations and you need to fill 11 months, leaving you one month for vacation (any month you choose). Fourth-year rotations start in June 2010 and end in May 2011. Most people will also have all of June prior to residency off too so some will choose to do an elective in lieu of vacation.

Posted in Current Students, Podiatric Medicine, Student Bloggers, Student Life | Leave a Comment