July 2, 2025 • 39 mins
Host: Kathleen Spinazzola
Guest: Olivia D'Andrea and Shannon Klein, Master of Medical Science students
Kathleen is joined by Student Doctors Olivia D'Andrea and Shannon Klein, Master of Medical Science students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program at LECOM. Olivia, inspired by a friend, joined LECOM after a gap year working as a medical assistant. Shannon, a non-traditional student, transitioned from a physical therapy major after realizing her passion for medicine. They highlight the benefits of the Master of Medical Science (MMS) program, which prepared them for medical school and fostered resilience. They also discuss their roles in the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), emphasizing its support for pre-medical students and its advocacy for osteopathic medicine.
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Thanks for listening to this episode of LECOM Presents: Heroes In Training
Guest: Olivia D'Andrea and Shannon Klein, Master of Medical Science students
Kathleen is joined by Student Doctors Olivia D'Andrea and Shannon Klein, Master of Medical Science students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program at LECOM. Olivia, inspired by a friend, joined LECOM after a gap year working as a medical assistant. Shannon, a non-traditional student, transitioned from a physical therapy major after realizing her passion for medicine. They highlight the benefits of the Master of Medical Science (MMS) program, which prepared them for medical school and fostered resilience. They also discuss their roles in the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), emphasizing its support for pre-medical students and its advocacy for osteopathic medicine.
Listen In!
Thanks for listening to this episode of LECOM Presents: Heroes In Training
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to lee KOM presents Heroes in Training. The
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as lee KOM,
has been providing training to heroes all across the globe
since nineteen ninety three. This podcast gives you an insider
look at the stories of triumph and hope from both
(00:22):
former students and faculty, helping you decide if lee COOM
is the right choice for your higher education. Let's start
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Hi, everyone, welcome to another episode of leecom's Heroes and Training.
I'm Kathleen Spinzzola, your host. Thank you so much for
joining us today. I'm super pumped about having these two
student doctors with us. This is Olivia DeAndrea and Shannon Klein.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Thanks for being here, you guys, thank you for having us.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm super pumped to get this conversation happening. So tell
our audience first, where you're at in your journey, how
you came to Lee Calm and where what stage of
your education you're.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
At right now? Okay, so I'll start, like miss Venezola said,
my name's Olivia DeAndrea. I just finished my first year
of medical school and I will be starting as a
second year in the fall. I'm super excited. What actually
brought me to Lee Calm. I know a student who
from my undergrad who came to Lee Calm and she
absolutely loved it. She went through the master's program and
(01:27):
then she did her first year. When we were communicating
about my future plans and kind of what I wanted
to do and where I wanted to go, and she
was like, you know, why don't you apply, Why don't
you see if this is what you want to do?
And I did, And that's kind of how my story started, thankfully.
I mean, I love it here, so but yeah, very
grateful that that's how it started.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
And I'm very grateful to be here, honored to be
part of your journey. Well, thank you, you know. And
it's funny too, how just the word of you know,
word of mouth really carries carries a lot of way, right.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So my name is Shannon.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I am also an upcoming second year student here. So
I just finished my first year with Olivia and my story.
I'm a little bit of a non traditional student. I
actually was a physical therapy major for most of my
undergraduate education. It wasn't until the end of my second
year that I kind of figured out that hey, I
want to go into medicine. This is for me. So
I had to do a lot of you know, rewiring
(02:25):
how I was going to go about that, getting clinical
experience and everything. I took a gap year, and after
that I realized, you know, I wanted to keep my
education going. I ended up finding the Master's program just
from contact of like figuring out where I want to
go to school, figuring out what's available, how to improve
my application. So I ended up with the Master's program
that kind of you know, led me here and I'm
happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Right right, Well, I mean the path you know, there
are many paths, right exactly. So you two did not
know each other till you met here at Leeco.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Oh no. So we met in the Master's program and
it was actually funny because it was the first week
and we didn't sit near each other because of about it,
and we were walking out of school one day and
she said to me, you as overwhelmed as I am.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, I am.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I don't know what it was, because what's funny about it?
So we didn't meet or we hadn't known each other before,
like Shannon just said, but we kind of had a
similar background. I took a gap year, she took a
gap year, So we're the same age. Like, we're both
very close to our families. She's from Buffalo, I'm from Pittsburgh,
so different directions but the same kind of distance from school.
So we both kind of came about our ways into
(03:29):
the Master's program in a different way. But both of
us had told our parents, I don't need new friends.
I'm undergrad. I don't need to talk to anybody else.
I don't need anybody. I don't know what it was
that made me look over. Yeah, it's and how that works.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
We were instant friends, we're roommates now, room are exactly so.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
It was meant to be.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
It was meant to be. Everything happens for me exactly,
like the pieces are coming exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
So when you're saying masters do for our audience, you're
referring to Master of Medical Science. Correct, Yes, So tell
us exactly how you came to be Master's students? First,
What is it about the Master of Medical Science program
that sort of compelled you to come to mecome.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
So when I took my gap year, I was working
and I was just getting experience, and in that time,
I did apply to medical schools see and I had
applied to a few. I was waitlessed. I was wait
listed here, and I was hoping I was going to
hear back to matriculate into the program, but as a
safety net because I did not want to take a
second a second gap year just for my own shoulder,
and I was looking at the master's program. So I
(04:37):
got into the Master's program and I ended up waiting
it out and I didn't decide to go and do
it until ten days before the program started, so I
had to pick up. My family helped me. We moved in,
you know, we moved in one day. I drove down
the first day classes and I've been here since.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
That's amazing, amazing that now I'm suck.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
So my path, like I just said, shit, and I
kind of had a similar background. So I also took
a gap year after undergrad and I got some clinical experience,
which was really good. I worked as a medical assistant
in a family practice office back in Pittsburgh, and I
absolutely loved it. I could not have asked for a
better gap year. It was exactly what I needed to
kind of recharge, and yet everything. And then I was
(05:18):
applying to schools and I reached out to the student
that I knew in undergrad who was currently a student
here a fourth year, like I said before, and I
was asking her questions about, you know, if she felt prepared,
especially because the gap between undergrad and medical school it's
bigger than most students realize. It's just an adjustment to life,
not just education, because you are a full adult. You know,
(05:41):
it's different than when your parents ship you off to
undergrad because you still have everything. Everything changes. So she
recommended the master's program and I was looking into it,
and I was applying to other schools, and I was
really nervous about the curriculum. I've always been a great student,
that was not my concern, but these classes were things
that I had never dealt did into like toxicology, pharmacology,
(06:02):
things that were actually what I was interested in learning
but hadn't gotten a chance to learn yet. So totally
and exactly, and I ended up talking with Leecom's staff
about what I should do and a decision to make,
and they really recommended the master's program. So I applied
and I heard within two days, immediately got in and
I'm like I said earlier, I'm very much everything happens
(06:25):
for a reason kind of person.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And I didn't want to take a second gap.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Year like Shannon said, I knew, like I did, I
just didn't want to be out of school for that long.
I didn't want to get in my for my standards rusty,
which is completely fine, everybody has a different path. But
I knew the longer I took off of school, I
just I didn't want to be out of school now
long exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It's difficult.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
So I did it, and I absolutely loved it. It
was hard, but it truly prepared me for what I needed.
And I met Shannon. We have a great group of
FETs friends, so I wouldn't change anything.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Right, It's fantastic. So Okay, this leads me to my
next question, then, which is tell us how all of
your studies and all of your experience in the Master's
program informed your journey where you are right now as
medical students. How did it shape you as medical students?
What are you finding one leading into the other? Right? Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
I think one thing was you know, when you start
the Master's program, you're in a curriculum that is very
similar to what it is like when you're actually a
medical student. You take similar classes, and you take background
classes in addition to it, so you get the same
experience of, you know, figuring out what works for you,
how do you study, how do you take care of
yourself while you're studying, And you know, you had we
(07:46):
had structured classes, so you learned how to be here
on time, where you had to do, how to dress appropriately,
all those things that go in there. And the big
thing is you have a lot of the same professors.
You learn how they write questions, you learn how they
like to teach, what they like to focus on, and
all those things serves as a really big advantage when
we went in and I know a lot of us
can speak on this that when you're starting medical school,
(08:09):
it's a big change, right, it's a big thing. But
you go in with so much more confidence because you're like,
you know what I did this once, I can do this.
You have I have, I know who I can go
to if I'm struggling. I know who what I can
work for. So I think and a lot of students
actually figure out very quickly who the masters students were
because because a leg up that and I think it's
(08:33):
they look for advice. Yes, you're more confident. I think
that radiates. So a lot of students, you know, they
come to you because they're looking for advice on how
they can do it. Because you want to help others
make that process smoother as well. So a lot of
people end up coming to you to see, you know,
how did you do it, what works for you?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
What did you try?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
So it ends up they learned very quickly you know
who the who to make a friend with.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
So it ended up being wanted.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
We made a lot of friends because people like you know,
looks for help and everyone wants advice when you're starting
something new like that. So I think I'm no one
has ever said they regretted doing it. I think I
am so grateful I did. I think, you know, it's
a big decision to make, but it was an incredible experience.
I'm so thankful because it made me more confident.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
It prepared me and I.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Knew I could take on the year because I knew,
you know, from my past, we can do this right.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
It sounds like the process, it sounds like as much
about learning about yourself. It is learning style and who
you're a person. That then equips you to approach medical.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
School things exactly.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The only thing I want to add because I agree
with everything said, but it grows your resilience as a student,
which is big because in the master's program they do
things like you learn how to take not only traditional exams,
but oral exams, right, you know how to answer with confidence.
So for me, I almost compared it to walking into
(09:59):
sophomore year at undergrad because I was familiar with the school,
I was familiar with a lot of the students, I
was familiar with the staff. I knew I could handle it,
just like Shannon said, And honestly, a lot of the
curriculum we had gotten a brief glimpse into. So nothing
was a surprise, right, nothing was really new. So instead
of that unsettled, Oh my goodness, this is a massive change,
(10:19):
What am I going to do kind of antic feeling. Yes,
it was a oh we just had summer vacation. I'm
back all my friends right here. Yeah, No, it was.
It was wonderful.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
It was very terrific.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
So let me ask you guys this specifically, then, what
is it about ostiopathic medicine specifically that fuels your passion?
What is it about ostiopathic medicine that really draws you
to pursue it.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
So I know, for me, when I was thinking about
physical therapy, and you know, I was transitioning into the
light of do I want to pursue medicine?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I made that.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Decision through I was actually a teaching assistant at the
undergraduate institution I was at, and this professor, he was wonderful.
He gave his teaching assistants the opportunity to work in
a gross anatomy lab and it was the cadavers from
the dental students, the ones that they were practicing on,
and they only do the upper portion of the body,
so we had access to dissect any portion that we
(11:17):
wanted to look more into, and we were able to
harvest organs for future students to study. So I think
when I really got that hands on, saw the exposure,
I saw one of my appreciation for the human body
and what it can do, and also the appreciation for
the gift that the donor gave to donate their body,
which is incredible. But that really was a turning point
for my story and I said, WHOA this is.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I want to go a little bit more into this.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So then I really found that I want to do medicine,
but osteopathic medicine shared the same ideals. So I kind
of found my happy place in the middle with ostopathic
medicine because it had everything I was looking for, and
you know, with the idea of preventive treatment and being
able to treat with your hands in addition to medication
and different types of treatment, it really was attractive for me.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
So that's you know, how I ended up here. That's
super inspiring.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
A best friend. So my story is a little bit different.
Mine is more of a personal kind of side. So
when my sister was I.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Have an older sister.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
She has special needs, and when she was going into
high school, she got really really sick, so I would
have been She's about four years older than me, so
I was still in grade school. And she ended up
having a really bad infection, a stroke. There were a
lot of things that happened, and it was very, very
difficult for my family.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
It was.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So they for a while. She ended up okay, but
for a while she had to go to a rehab
center and she had to relearn.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
How to walk.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
And the only physician who connected with her and got
through to her and motivated her to recover that skill
was an osteopathic physician. She was actually an alumni of
p coom Out in Philadelphia. She's actually a physician that
I later shadowed when I was trying to figure out,
you know, MD do O, where do I want to go?
(13:13):
What do I want to be? And it was the
connection she made not only with my sister, but with
my family. Sure that kind of opened the doors even
when I was in grade school, when I was that young.
And also I have an autoimmune disease, so the philosophic
principles that come along with osteopathy really resonate with me
(13:34):
as a patient on that side, because you're thinking whole person, rind, body, spirit,
and I understand what it feels like to be the
person playing in the hospital bed and being scared out
of your mind and not knowing what's going on, and
to make a connection with a physician and kind of
have everybody look at you from all different angles to
(13:55):
make sure that you're gonna be okay, you know. And
that's what I hope to be for future patients someday.
I hope to be that comfort. But that was kind
of what drew me in. And then once I, you know,
was able to shadow some really amazing osteopathic physicians.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It just kind of blew the doors wide open. I knew.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Yeah, I know it sounds cliche, but it's true.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
It's incredible because you know, everybody's inspiration comes from different places.
But knowing that you can own exactly where you've been
and sort of honor that journey is everything that we're about.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Sort of embracing the whole person.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
That's where we are, right. It really does. Okay, So
tell us about SOMA.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Okay, Okay, So SOMA is an amazing organization.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So it stands for you, tell us, tell us what
your roles are, yes, and then go for it.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yes, No, it's okay. So SOMA stands for the Student
Osteopathic Medical Association. It is a club that Shannon and
I were introduced to actually back in the master's program.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Oh okay.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, so I'm actually currently the acting president for the
Eerie chapter fantastic in Shannon.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
And I'm the national liaison officer. So we're our chapter
leaders of our school. So we go to three conventions
a year and we work with the other comms across
the country get to network and make sure we're on
the same page and that you know, we're able to
do some great things this year.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
So one of the things that's really cool about SOMA
is it is the largest student led osteopathic organization across
the country, and we are the only organization in medical
schools that has a direct branch to the AOA. So
the AOA is the YES. So the AOA is the
Osteopathic American Association or the organization. There's a lot of letters,
(15:55):
but they are the governing board of osteopathic medicine. They
are the people who look into the residencies and our
schools and the programs.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
They just kind of sit over top everything.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
And what we do as an organization is we write
or help come up with policies. So one of our
legs is policies to help improve health care. So I
think it's really special because this is coming from a
student's perspective. So you know, we are still sitting in
the classroom, still sitting in those seats, but we're helping
add our voice to the people who are out there practicing.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
So we go to these conventions and we talk about
policies that each comm has written and we vote on them,
and once they're passed, they go to the AOA and
they can be passed into medical bill. So it is
the way that students are able to actually make a
difference and have a voice. Yes, Now that is just
(16:51):
one leg. There are a million yays.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yes, Yes, he is going to say yes, just sort
of the tip of the icebergs. Yes.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
So I've always joked about this, but if you have
an idea or there's something you want to do, nine
times out of ten, SOMA has a.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Pathway for it.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Okay, Yes, there is somewhere for everybody, something for everybody
to do. One of the branches Shannon's actually going to
talk about it's called pre soma. Yes, and that's how
we were introduced to SOMA. That's how we got into
this position actually where we are now. So it all,
it all stems back to the masters. It does all.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Yes, tell us about pre soma. Okay.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
So one of the subsections of SOMA, So SOMA, since
it's osteopathic medicine and working on advocacy and policy making,
we can branch you know, several different topics, diversity, community healthcare,
health disparities, we have everything. So one of them's pre SOMA,
and what we're doing is that pre soma is focused
on the pre meds. So what we do is that
(17:51):
what we how we like to look at it is
that we want to be the person that we needed
when we were applying to school. It's a complicated process,
it is it's a serial process. It can be discouraging.
So what we do is we offer this to pre
medical students and we use this as a way for
them to network with us because sometimes you just want
to talk to someone, you want to hear from a
(18:11):
medical student their experience, and then also offer networking opportunities,
you know, volunteering opportunities, anything in the community as well
as I'm also with National Presoma. I'm in the pre
SOMA committee, so I'm the Eastern Region coordinator.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
So this year I'll be.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Working with the comms East of the Mississippi to make
sure you know, we're offering you know, lots of programs.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
We have liked Shadow Week in January.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
We have a few things going on and we offer
you know, ostopathic workshops, so it's a lot of ways
to kind of get your lens into astopathic medicine.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
There's a ton of exactly so.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
We like to give a hand like that's what we
wish we would have had, or you know, just someone
to talk to, or opportunities in front of you.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
To feel connected.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Yeah, you know, sense of belonging before you sit in.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
The classroom, right and see, you know is osteopathic medicine
for me. So that's like your chance. You can kind
of see the workshops we're hoping to do some of
our volunteering things. Get students in here, kind of see
some the ostopathic techniques that we learned school.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So then you know, cited.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Okay, it sticks with you.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
When I was when I was undergrad I remember.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
I used to with a local hospital.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Used to have residents who are doos and they would
show us different techniques. And this still sticks with me.
I remember I wrote about it in most my applications
and really, you know, it changes how you look at
things and like you're like, oh, I have an earache,
but you can do a regular dreamage.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
There's really cool things that you know you use every day.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
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Speaker 2 (20:35):
I think it's great to in this day and age.
You know, you can read about everything online. You can,
of course, go to a website, read tons of literature,
you know, do all that kind of easy one click research.
But it's not the same as having right No.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
I agree, you know someone right who's been in your
shoes exactly ex rightly.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
So I think that support network is mentis and a lot.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Of students have you know, non traditional paths, and for
other students it can be hard for them to see, like,
you know, how does how does how do I get there?
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Right?
Speaker 4 (21:08):
This is my situation. Maybe I'm four years out of school?
Can I still go? Or I just started?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Can I still go? And everyone has a different path.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
And I think it's.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
More you know, if there's a will, theer's away, like
you can get here, you just have to want to
do it.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I think that's the thing that a lot of people
need to hear, maybe in all of life. You know,
before you approach anything, is that you know, is there
an option? Is there a pathway for me to get
to this place that I want to get to? You
never you never really know till you dip your.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Toe exactly you exactly.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Have someone there to catch you.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, right, And that you don't have to fit the
traditional mold that you see lined up, because some people do.
Some people do follow the traditional pathway and that's wonderful.
But everybody has their own story, you know, everybody's lives
built different things. That's how we got here, but that's
what makes you great. So I think that's something that
leecomm in general really celebrates because there are so many
people from so many different pathways, Like the stories of
(22:01):
how people got here is always wonderful to sit in
here because now we're all sitting in the same classroom together,
we'll all be physicians together exactly. So celebrating that is
a really great thing.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
It's huge.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
Yeah, And even with SOMA, I know, like one of
our main missions is to be a friend, to be
a resource, and you know, share the benefits that there
are to being a member, and so when it comes
to being pre SOMA, we want to kind of start
that early. So we're just you know, trying to be
there where we can and kind of get people involved
and hopefully share it.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
We need to tell our audience how how somebody that
might be interested in the work of pre SOMA can
find you? How do they absolutely all of you?
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
So we are actually starting something new for our comm.
We are going to there's an event actually here on Friday,
so we are going to be meeting with a ton
of EAP students, which is our early acceptance program here
at Lee comm. So we're going to be meeting with
those students and we're going to have an email list.
That's how we're going to start because We don't want
to overwhelm anybody, because that's one thing that you know,
(23:00):
we got a lot of input about you don't want
to dump something, yeah, because it's a lot and they're
already stressed out. So we're started very slow. We're going
to send or have them sign up if they would
like to be a part of our email list, and
we're going to start at least once a month getting
them involved, sending them the newsletters that we do, what
(23:21):
they can do in their communities, how to contact us.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
Some events, the national ones too. There's a lot of
virtual ones happening, yes.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
And then for the Master's program, what they did for
us when we were in the Master's program is they
hold review nights, so we do we call them mms
review nights, and whatever subject they're learning at that time,
our pre SOMA team goes in and does a review
on that subject with those students that it's wonderful. It's
(23:49):
it's a mentorship, but it's also kind of a way
to give you someone to definitely talk to, you know,
because you have them. It's a zoom meeting and so
there's no pressure. You're in your sweatpants at all reviewing
a subject with people who have been in your shoes
because our pre SOMA board members typically are students who
are in the masters.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Yes, we try to keep it that way.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Then you can really relate to who you're talking to,
who you're working with.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
So with the master's program, they'll have those students doing
the review nights, and then, like you said, the undergrad
students now National SOMA. We can only really give updates
to undergraduate students because they're the closest to being in
the medical school field, right, So we don't want to
overwhelm high school students. They need to enjoy high school, yes, yes,
(24:37):
and there they have time. But if they wanted to
sign up for the email list just to see what
was going on, that would be fine. Most of the opportunities, though,
are for undergraduate students just because they're yeah, they're the
next step there already there, Yes, exactly. So that's what
we're going to start with an email list, and then
we're going to go from there. We really were excited
to see where it goes.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yeah, do you have and are you looking at sort
of for the rest of the year. Do you have
some stuff.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Long turn or yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So why do I know the answer?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Is we're trying to make the most part year, you know,
and because we have so many sub sections, we want
to do a lot.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Sure, so you can touch on a yes exactly.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
So I know she has set up a fundraiser for
our club. So we're gonna be selling the Bumbia jackets
with Becom logo because you can wear them at school
as long as you're professional.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
It's a way to have like dressed down.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Our winners are very cold in Pennsylvania, yes.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
But so we're having that sal We're also going to
we were working with doctor Freddy and she has some
incredible ideas. She's a wealth to knowledge, and she shared
an idea of we're gonna work with local bakeries and
new individuals here who have different backgrounds and different cultures,
and we want to get some of their big goods,
bring them in and then allow students to taste them
(26:00):
and try them and learn them where it's why it's
that way, why it was made, and where it's coming from.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
That that's going to be really fun. We're excited for that.
We're excited for that of Eerie Pa exactly. So everyone's
eating delicious.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Kids are busy, We get it.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Everyone you're a medical student, so we have to do
stuff that everybody exactly.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
We're hoping to.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Give them a greater look of the life that's outside
of these walls. Because you you need to compartmentalize, right,
so you need be a student, but you also have
to be a person. So we want to show them
that there are really good.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Places to eat.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yeah. Also that you know, go to the cafeteria, get
a baked good or a donut with your classmate who
sits beside. You get to know more about them, you know,
be comfortable spreading your wings. Everybody here is here for
a reason. There's the same end goal in line, you know,
so we're kind of just hoping to give them a
safe space to enjoy that and kind of grow with that.
(26:58):
We also have drives, drives, we have Thanksgiving food.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Drive them there. We've got time to give back.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Second bank, yes, yes, second second Gifts skipped my mind
for a minute. And we're doing a small tool sale.
Small tools is a little it sounds weird. So what
it is is when your first year, when you're a
first year student, there are some things that you have
to purchase in order to do our h and p classes,
(27:24):
our history and Physical classes. But they're wonderful. A lot
of people physicians now said they still have their first
set of instruments they had to buy. Oh, absolutely, and Soma.
We are able to kind of help the department with
that because we do it is a the hammer what.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Is it, the reflex thank you?
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Reflex hammering like things that you need that are in
addition to your bigage get Yes.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
But the reason we do that, the reason we do
that is so that everybody has the same ones so
that when we're doing our physical and learning and lass
as you're not learning on a different.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
Device and there's certain ones the other faculty for things change,
so we partner them.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yes, we're also looking into we're talking with our History
and Physical course, we may be running mock practicals. So
that's actually something that we do every class. Every year
that you're here, at least first of the second year,
you have to do orals and practicals for certain classes.
One of them is History and Physical because you need
to be comfortable in your skin, you need to be
comfortable talking to a patient, and you need to take
(28:32):
what you learn in the classroom and apply it in
real life and be able to speak it into existence.
So it's kind of nerve wracking, which makes sense. That's
something that because you're not used to it, everything that's
new is scary, and that's just how it is. So
we're working with that department to run a mock practical
a week or two before where it's going to be
so much students who are volunteering their time to be
(28:53):
pure mentors to the first year class who is giving
their first practical, because not only do you give the practical,
but you actual we get to write a soap note
with it, which incoming student soap notes is what you
would think of when you're watching TV and the doctor's
charting and writing all those things down. You have to
learn how to do that. It's it's a learn skill
and it takes a while, but you'll get it, I promise.
But we're gonna run a day where you get to
(29:15):
practice with your classmates and get constructive criticism, and you know,
to do it in a way where if you were confused,
you can say stop, I don't understand, Like I'm confused,
We're not getting graded on it. It takes the pressure
off of it. So we're really excited for that. That's
new for us this year.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
To.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
It's amazing and we're also so one of our subsections
is the Osteopathic Principles and Integrated Medicine Directors and so
they've been doing a lot even this past semester with
a lot of different events. But I know we recently
did a pro therapy so that's when we can actually
work with the day avers that we have here and.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
We can do sealing injections into the knees.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
You can kind of see what that looks like with
the ultrasound techniques.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
That really cool.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Also, we have some amazing osteopathic physicians here who how
about with that quick Also, you do I know we
had a five element healing we did and puncture, so really,
you know, we kind of want to have that again
or offer something similar so people can get a look
into something that they might be interested in working, right.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Just something different.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Yeah, yeah, I think one of the greatest things about
our organization is that, you know, we've said there are
all these different subsets, but you really find what your
classmates are passionate about.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Right.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
We have so many directors who are leading so many
different things that people get to explore their passions under
one big umbrella. So we can celebrate them together, which
I think is wonderful.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Because it's sort of enriches.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Everybody's experience exactly because everybody has their own driving passions exactly.
You know, it all goes back to the story. It
all goes back to it is so you get to
see what your classmates are passionate about. You get to see,
you know, if there's something that maybe you're passionate about
that you never knew about before.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Exactly the most unexpected places. We're actually sort of touching
on all these different things, right exactly. You guys are amazing.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
So if you had to, I don't know, in two
or three sentences, give advice to a prospective student or
a student who's sitting at home right now thinking I
feel like I could maybe do this, But am I
smart enough? Can I, you know, leave my family if
(31:23):
I have to?
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Can I?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
You know, all of life's things, you know that can
set themselves up as obstacles to somebody. What would be
your couple of sort of pearls of wisdom would.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
You would give to I would say, in this path,
if you want to do this, like I said earlier,
you can do this if there's a will theer's a way,
and I think you're going to go through a lot
of trials and tribulations.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
It's not an easy path, but it's a rewarding path.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
So it is going to be there's gonna be some
challenging days, but there's gonna be some fun days too,
And I think, you know a lot of people can
look past the fun. But if you make it what
it is right, you take the opportunities and you make
it or what you want. So I think I would
say this is a hard path, but it's also a
good path. And if this is something you know you
(32:08):
want to do, you can do it. You just have
to talk to someone you know figure out what's going
to be right for you. But we can get you
here is and how it is. I think autopathic medicine
it's incredible. You know, mind, body, spirit, the whole thing
bodies a unit. It's an amazing way to approach medicine.
And if there's any inkling that you're like, this might
(32:28):
be my path, take it.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah, that's amazing. Tell me what you think how lecom
sort of equips you with the tools that you've needed
to make it happen.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Well, I think one thing that I really appreciated is
that the administration every year looks at the success of
the previous years and then takes into account their feedback
what was good, what was bad, what needed to change,
and then edits our schedule and thatt it's how we
approach our program based on that. I think that really
is a positive impact on us because they're just making
us more successful every year what works best. So at
(33:01):
this point, like I mean, they're perfecting what they can.
So I think we really notice that. And you know,
when your voice is heard and you see things changing,
you really appreciate it because you realize you're supported. You
know there's people you can go to, and I know
we've made good connections with our professors.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
These are people you can go to.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
They're always there if you're struggling, if you're just having
a bad day, they're They'll schedule to meet with you.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
They will take time out.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
Of their day to meet with you. And they're busy people,
you know they're doing research and stuff, but they will
make time for you. So I think that's something that's
really incredible that we get and even just how we
I don't know the approach that we take to asopathic medicine.
We've learned from talking to other comms. Every school is
a little different, but from talking to them, we loved ours.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
We loved we had.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Yeah, anything you want to add to that as far
as elak com has sort of.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Given you, yes, So I think that, well, there's a
lot of things. I'm very thankful that I ended up
here in this half. You know, I've met my friends,
everything has worked out the best way it can. What
I think that Leecom has given me that has really
resonated with me is their empathy for the pathway that
we're going into. That may not sound like a traditional
(34:13):
answer for the question you ask, but they're very they're
very aware that this is very hard. They're aware that
this was a big choice, that you make a lot
of sacrifices to be here, true that there are things
that you know you wanted or maybe thought you could
do with it that you now can't. And that's okay,
that's not the story for everything you are going to
(34:33):
get to live your life. That's not what I'm saying.
But they work with you as an individual to be like, Okay, listen,
you have a wedding. Let's you know, we'll take a
break on that exam, We'll move it to the next Monday.
Or they're very flexible in a way that makes you
feel like you can do this, but you're not gonna
have to give up every single thing that you know
(34:54):
you thought you may have had to. Or I know,
like sometimes like near the end of the year, class
was getting we were just done. We wanted to know
long it was long, and our professors they would be like, guys,
I know this is hard. I know that you guys
are tired. We have to do this.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Though.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Your patients will thank you later. They remind you why
you're there.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
And that's the big thing, because you can never have that.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
You need someone to be like, Okay, I know this
a little bit. Yeah, but when you're dead tired on
a twenty four hour shift and you need this piece
of information, you're going to think of me telling you
this right now, and you're gonna remember what I said,
just push right.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
So it's a human connection, you know.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's the feeling that like I'm supported here, that I
don't have to worry about figuring it out all on
my own because there's people here are going to help
me who care about my well being. Exactly and who
care about the patients that I'm going to see in
the future. And I think that's the big thing, you know,
that's a reason why they care so much. They want
to create physicians who help their communities to make a difference.
(35:58):
You know, they are not You're not just a number
in a seat, right. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
And I think the modeling, it's the empathetic way exactly
for you in being you know, affording that flexibility which
is wonderful, the push you know that you need.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Right, it's definitely tough love, they tell you, but it's needed,
right because they're like, hey, I know you're tired, but
you have your whole like three chapters done before tomorrow.
Then I'm really sorry, but you gotta do it. Like
it's tough love, but it's needed.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Yeah, tough, but it's also love.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Yes, nothing that was ever worth doing was easy, was
ever easy. So I mean that's I feel like that's
that's something I guess that goes back to, like, yeah,
my recommendations or my pearls of wisdom. Yeah, I'm obviously
a talker, so I'll do it quickly. Don't judge yourself
off of somebody else's path, because that's not fair, yes,
never come there. So honestly, in that point, like when
(36:51):
you're applying to schools, my advice stay off of social media.
It really brings you down because you're seeing other people
or you maybe seeing other people succeed when you're not,
and that really that might hit you in a hard way,
but it doesn't mean that your time isn't coming right right, So,
because no one succeeds one of the time always and yeah, exactly,
but the time that they don't. Don't let other people's
(37:14):
successes deter you from doing what you really want. And
then my second thing kind of goes off of Shannon's,
but find your people. Don't just be a student. You
can't just be a student. There are so many facets
of you, exactly, there's so many facets of you that
aren't just a medical student. If you don't explore them
and celebrate them, you're going to get burnt out the
(37:35):
amount of material we go exactly. Yeah, So just make
the most of what you have. Enjoy every day, find
something to laugh about every day.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
Mine we laugh so hard.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Thinking you didn't need new friends and now we are.
Speaker 4 (37:50):
Our parents say the same every day. And this path
can be scary and it can be scary to make changes. Scaryly,
I know the first time I live by myself and
lived out of my parents house was and I took
my master's program. So there's a lot of changes, but
you kind of have to take that step. If you're
you're willing to be here, you have to take that
step and it won't be scary anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Yeah, And like she said, find your people, find.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Exactly your support.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
They'll help you can do it exactly. This has been
my most favorite conversation. Thank you so much, Shannon. We
truly appreciate it. Is there anything else before we sign
off that you wanted that I forgot to touch on
anything else you want the world to know before we go?
I think you can always come back.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
We would love to.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
But yeah, in six months, we'll bring you back. I
like the way we'll sing, Well we'll sing, but maybe yeah,
just so we're always opening and see how different events
we'd love to ideas you have. We'll be starting to
study for boards then so I might not be okay
(38:56):
another time. Oh my gosh, thank you so much everybody
for joining us today. A remember to like, share, subscribe.
We're on all the channels Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram that
I forget anything I think, so check us out. Everywhere
you listen to a podcast, we're there as well. So
thanks again and we'll see you next time.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
You're listening to lee KOM presents Heroes in Training. The
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as lee KOM,
has been providing training to heroes all across the globe
since nineteen ninety three. This podcast gives you an insider
look at the stories of triumph and hope from both
(00:22):
former students and faculty, helping you decide if lee COOM
is the right choice for your higher education. Let's start
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Hi, everyone, welcome to another episode of leecom's Heroes and Training.
I'm Kathleen Spinzzola, your host. Thank you so much for
joining us today. I'm super pumped about having these two
student doctors with us. This is Olivia DeAndrea and Shannon Klein.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Thanks for being here, you guys, thank you for having us.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm super pumped to get this conversation happening. So tell
our audience first, where you're at in your journey, how
you came to Lee Calm and where what stage of
your education you're.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
At right now? Okay, so I'll start, like miss Venezola said,
my name's Olivia DeAndrea. I just finished my first year
of medical school and I will be starting as a
second year in the fall. I'm super excited. What actually
brought me to Lee Calm. I know a student who
from my undergrad who came to Lee Calm and she
absolutely loved it. She went through the master's program and
(01:27):
then she did her first year. When we were communicating
about my future plans and kind of what I wanted
to do and where I wanted to go, and she
was like, you know, why don't you apply, Why don't
you see if this is what you want to do?
And I did, And that's kind of how my story started, thankfully.
I mean, I love it here, so but yeah, very
grateful that that's how it started.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
And I'm very grateful to be here, honored to be
part of your journey. Well, thank you, you know. And
it's funny too, how just the word of you know,
word of mouth really carries carries a lot of way, right.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So my name is Shannon.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I am also an upcoming second year student here. So
I just finished my first year with Olivia and my story.
I'm a little bit of a non traditional student. I
actually was a physical therapy major for most of my
undergraduate education. It wasn't until the end of my second
year that I kind of figured out that hey, I
want to go into medicine. This is for me. So
I had to do a lot of you know, rewiring
(02:25):
how I was going to go about that, getting clinical
experience and everything. I took a gap year, and after
that I realized, you know, I wanted to keep my
education going. I ended up finding the Master's program just
from contact of like figuring out where I want to
go to school, figuring out what's available, how to improve
my application. So I ended up with the Master's program
that kind of you know, led me here and I'm
happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Right right, Well, I mean the path you know, there
are many paths, right exactly. So you two did not
know each other till you met here at Leeco.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Oh no. So we met in the Master's program and
it was actually funny because it was the first week
and we didn't sit near each other because of about it,
and we were walking out of school one day and
she said to me, you as overwhelmed as I am.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, I am.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I don't know what it was, because what's funny about it?
So we didn't meet or we hadn't known each other before,
like Shannon just said, but we kind of had a
similar background. I took a gap year, she took a
gap year, So we're the same age. Like, we're both
very close to our families. She's from Buffalo, I'm from Pittsburgh,
so different directions but the same kind of distance from school.
So we both kind of came about our ways into
(03:29):
the Master's program in a different way. But both of
us had told our parents, I don't need new friends.
I'm undergrad. I don't need to talk to anybody else.
I don't need anybody. I don't know what it was
that made me look over. Yeah, it's and how that works.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
We were instant friends, we're roommates now, room are exactly so.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
It was meant to be.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
It was meant to be. Everything happens for me exactly,
like the pieces are coming exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
So when you're saying masters do for our audience, you're
referring to Master of Medical Science. Correct, Yes, So tell
us exactly how you came to be Master's students? First,
What is it about the Master of Medical Science program
that sort of compelled you to come to mecome.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
So when I took my gap year, I was working
and I was just getting experience, and in that time,
I did apply to medical schools see and I had
applied to a few. I was waitlessed. I was wait
listed here, and I was hoping I was going to
hear back to matriculate into the program, but as a
safety net because I did not want to take a
second a second gap year just for my own shoulder,
and I was looking at the master's program. So I
(04:37):
got into the Master's program and I ended up waiting
it out and I didn't decide to go and do
it until ten days before the program started, so I
had to pick up. My family helped me. We moved in,
you know, we moved in one day. I drove down
the first day classes and I've been here since.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
That's amazing, amazing that now I'm suck.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
So my path, like I just said, shit, and I
kind of had a similar background. So I also took
a gap year after undergrad and I got some clinical experience,
which was really good. I worked as a medical assistant
in a family practice office back in Pittsburgh, and I
absolutely loved it. I could not have asked for a
better gap year. It was exactly what I needed to
kind of recharge, and yet everything. And then I was
(05:18):
applying to schools and I reached out to the student
that I knew in undergrad who was currently a student
here a fourth year, like I said before, and I
was asking her questions about, you know, if she felt prepared,
especially because the gap between undergrad and medical school it's
bigger than most students realize. It's just an adjustment to life,
not just education, because you are a full adult. You know,
(05:41):
it's different than when your parents ship you off to
undergrad because you still have everything. Everything changes. So she
recommended the master's program and I was looking into it,
and I was applying to other schools, and I was
really nervous about the curriculum. I've always been a great student,
that was not my concern, but these classes were things
that I had never dealt did into like toxicology, pharmacology,
(06:02):
things that were actually what I was interested in learning
but hadn't gotten a chance to learn yet. So totally
and exactly, and I ended up talking with Leecom's staff
about what I should do and a decision to make,
and they really recommended the master's program. So I applied
and I heard within two days, immediately got in and
I'm like I said earlier, I'm very much everything happens
(06:25):
for a reason kind of person.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And I didn't want to take a second gap.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Year like Shannon said, I knew, like I did, I
just didn't want to be out of school for that long.
I didn't want to get in my for my standards rusty,
which is completely fine, everybody has a different path. But
I knew the longer I took off of school, I
just I didn't want to be out of school now
long exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It's difficult.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
So I did it, and I absolutely loved it. It
was hard, but it truly prepared me for what I needed.
And I met Shannon. We have a great group of
FETs friends, so I wouldn't change anything.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Right, It's fantastic. So Okay, this leads me to my
next question, then, which is tell us how all of
your studies and all of your experience in the Master's
program informed your journey where you are right now as
medical students. How did it shape you as medical students?
What are you finding one leading into the other? Right? Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
I think one thing was you know, when you start
the Master's program, you're in a curriculum that is very
similar to what it is like when you're actually a
medical student. You take similar classes, and you take background
classes in addition to it, so you get the same
experience of, you know, figuring out what works for you,
how do you study, how do you take care of
yourself while you're studying, And you know, you had we
(07:46):
had structured classes, so you learned how to be here
on time, where you had to do, how to dress appropriately,
all those things that go in there. And the big
thing is you have a lot of the same professors.
You learn how they write questions, you learn how they
like to teach, what they like to focus on, and
all those things serves as a really big advantage when
we went in and I know a lot of us
can speak on this that when you're starting medical school,
(08:09):
it's a big change, right, it's a big thing. But
you go in with so much more confidence because you're like,
you know what I did this once, I can do this.
You have I have, I know who I can go
to if I'm struggling. I know who what I can
work for. So I think and a lot of students
actually figure out very quickly who the masters students were
because because a leg up that and I think it's
(08:33):
they look for advice. Yes, you're more confident. I think
that radiates. So a lot of students, you know, they
come to you because they're looking for advice on how
they can do it. Because you want to help others
make that process smoother as well. So a lot of
people end up coming to you to see, you know,
how did you do it, what works for you?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
What did you try?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
So it ends up they learned very quickly you know
who the who to make a friend with.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
So it ended up being wanted.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
We made a lot of friends because people like you know,
looks for help and everyone wants advice when you're starting
something new like that. So I think I'm no one
has ever said they regretted doing it. I think I
am so grateful I did. I think, you know, it's
a big decision to make, but it was an incredible experience.
I'm so thankful because it made me more confident.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
It prepared me and I.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Knew I could take on the year because I knew,
you know, from my past, we can do this right.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
It sounds like the process, it sounds like as much
about learning about yourself. It is learning style and who
you're a person. That then equips you to approach medical.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
School things exactly.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
The only thing I want to add because I agree
with everything said, but it grows your resilience as a student,
which is big because in the master's program they do
things like you learn how to take not only traditional exams,
but oral exams, right, you know how to answer with confidence.
So for me, I almost compared it to walking into
(09:59):
sophomore year at undergrad because I was familiar with the school,
I was familiar with a lot of the students, I
was familiar with the staff. I knew I could handle it,
just like Shannon said, And honestly, a lot of the
curriculum we had gotten a brief glimpse into. So nothing
was a surprise, right, nothing was really new. So instead
of that unsettled, Oh my goodness, this is a massive change,
(10:19):
What am I going to do kind of antic feeling. Yes,
it was a oh we just had summer vacation. I'm
back all my friends right here. Yeah, No, it was.
It was wonderful.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
It was very terrific.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
So let me ask you guys this specifically, then, what
is it about ostiopathic medicine specifically that fuels your passion?
What is it about ostiopathic medicine that really draws you
to pursue it.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
So I know, for me, when I was thinking about
physical therapy, and you know, I was transitioning into the
light of do I want to pursue medicine?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I made that.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Decision through I was actually a teaching assistant at the
undergraduate institution I was at, and this professor, he was wonderful.
He gave his teaching assistants the opportunity to work in
a gross anatomy lab and it was the cadavers from
the dental students, the ones that they were practicing on,
and they only do the upper portion of the body,
so we had access to dissect any portion that we
(11:17):
wanted to look more into, and we were able to
harvest organs for future students to study. So I think
when I really got that hands on, saw the exposure,
I saw one of my appreciation for the human body
and what it can do, and also the appreciation for
the gift that the donor gave to donate their body,
which is incredible. But that really was a turning point
for my story and I said, WHOA this is.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I want to go a little bit more into this.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So then I really found that I want to do medicine,
but osteopathic medicine shared the same ideals. So I kind
of found my happy place in the middle with ostopathic
medicine because it had everything I was looking for, and
you know, with the idea of preventive treatment and being
able to treat with your hands in addition to medication
and different types of treatment, it really was attractive for me.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
So that's you know, how I ended up here. That's
super inspiring.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
A best friend. So my story is a little bit different.
Mine is more of a personal kind of side. So
when my sister was I.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Have an older sister.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
She has special needs, and when she was going into
high school, she got really really sick, so I would
have been She's about four years older than me, so
I was still in grade school. And she ended up
having a really bad infection, a stroke. There were a
lot of things that happened, and it was very, very
difficult for my family.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
It was.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So they for a while. She ended up okay, but
for a while she had to go to a rehab
center and she had to relearn.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
How to walk.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
And the only physician who connected with her and got
through to her and motivated her to recover that skill
was an osteopathic physician. She was actually an alumni of
p coom Out in Philadelphia. She's actually a physician that
I later shadowed when I was trying to figure out,
you know, MD do O, where do I want to go?
(13:13):
What do I want to be? And it was the
connection she made not only with my sister, but with
my family. Sure that kind of opened the doors even
when I was in grade school, when I was that young.
And also I have an autoimmune disease, so the philosophic
principles that come along with osteopathy really resonate with me
(13:34):
as a patient on that side, because you're thinking whole person, rind, body, spirit,
and I understand what it feels like to be the
person playing in the hospital bed and being scared out
of your mind and not knowing what's going on, and
to make a connection with a physician and kind of
have everybody look at you from all different angles to
(13:55):
make sure that you're gonna be okay, you know. And
that's what I hope to be for future patients someday.
I hope to be that comfort. But that was kind
of what drew me in. And then once I, you know,
was able to shadow some really amazing osteopathic physicians.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It just kind of blew the doors wide open. I knew.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Yeah, I know it sounds cliche, but it's true.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
It's incredible because you know, everybody's inspiration comes from different places.
But knowing that you can own exactly where you've been
and sort of honor that journey is everything that we're about.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Sort of embracing the whole person.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
That's where we are, right. It really does. Okay, So
tell us about SOMA.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Okay, Okay, So SOMA is an amazing organization.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So it stands for you, tell us, tell us what
your roles are, yes, and then go for it.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yes, No, it's okay. So SOMA stands for the Student
Osteopathic Medical Association. It is a club that Shannon and
I were introduced to actually back in the master's program.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Oh okay.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, so I'm actually currently the acting president for the
Eerie chapter fantastic in Shannon.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
And I'm the national liaison officer. So we're our chapter
leaders of our school. So we go to three conventions
a year and we work with the other comms across
the country get to network and make sure we're on
the same page and that you know, we're able to
do some great things this year.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
So one of the things that's really cool about SOMA
is it is the largest student led osteopathic organization across
the country, and we are the only organization in medical
schools that has a direct branch to the AOA. So
the AOA is the YES. So the AOA is the
Osteopathic American Association or the organization. There's a lot of letters,
(15:55):
but they are the governing board of osteopathic medicine. They
are the people who look into the residencies and our
schools and the programs.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
They just kind of sit over top everything.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
And what we do as an organization is we write
or help come up with policies. So one of our
legs is policies to help improve health care. So I
think it's really special because this is coming from a
student's perspective. So you know, we are still sitting in
the classroom, still sitting in those seats, but we're helping
add our voice to the people who are out there practicing.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
So we go to these conventions and we talk about
policies that each comm has written and we vote on them,
and once they're passed, they go to the AOA and
they can be passed into medical bill. So it is
the way that students are able to actually make a
difference and have a voice. Yes, Now that is just
(16:51):
one leg. There are a million yays.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yes, Yes, he is going to say yes, just sort
of the tip of the icebergs. Yes.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
So I've always joked about this, but if you have
an idea or there's something you want to do, nine
times out of ten, SOMA has a.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Pathway for it.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Okay, Yes, there is somewhere for everybody, something for everybody
to do. One of the branches Shannon's actually going to
talk about it's called pre soma. Yes, and that's how
we were introduced to SOMA. That's how we got into
this position actually where we are now. So it all,
it all stems back to the masters. It does all.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Yes, tell us about pre soma. Okay.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
So one of the subsections of SOMA, So SOMA, since
it's osteopathic medicine and working on advocacy and policy making,
we can branch you know, several different topics, diversity, community healthcare,
health disparities, we have everything. So one of them's pre SOMA,
and what we're doing is that pre soma is focused
on the pre meds. So what we do is that
(17:51):
what we how we like to look at it is
that we want to be the person that we needed
when we were applying to school. It's a complicated process,
it is it's a serial process. It can be discouraging.
So what we do is we offer this to pre
medical students and we use this as a way for
them to network with us because sometimes you just want
to talk to someone, you want to hear from a
(18:11):
medical student their experience, and then also offer networking opportunities,
you know, volunteering opportunities, anything in the community as well
as I'm also with National Presoma. I'm in the pre
SOMA committee, so I'm the Eastern Region coordinator.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
So this year I'll be.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Working with the comms East of the Mississippi to make
sure you know, we're offering you know, lots of programs.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
We have liked Shadow Week in January.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
We have a few things going on and we offer
you know, ostopathic workshops, so it's a lot of ways
to kind of get your lens into astopathic medicine.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
There's a ton of exactly so.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
We like to give a hand like that's what we
wish we would have had, or you know, just someone
to talk to, or opportunities in front of you.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
To feel connected.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Yeah, you know, sense of belonging before you sit in.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
The classroom, right and see, you know is osteopathic medicine
for me. So that's like your chance. You can kind
of see the workshops we're hoping to do some of
our volunteering things. Get students in here, kind of see
some the ostopathic techniques that we learned school.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So then you know, cited.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Okay, it sticks with you.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
When I was when I was undergrad I remember.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
I used to with a local hospital.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Used to have residents who are doos and they would
show us different techniques. And this still sticks with me.
I remember I wrote about it in most my applications
and really, you know, it changes how you look at
things and like you're like, oh, I have an earache,
but you can do a regular dreamage.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
There's really cool things that you know you use every day.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
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Speaker 2 (20:35):
I think it's great to in this day and age.
You know, you can read about everything online. You can,
of course, go to a website, read tons of literature,
you know, do all that kind of easy one click research.
But it's not the same as having right No.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
I agree, you know someone right who's been in your
shoes exactly ex rightly.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
So I think that support network is mentis and a lot.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Of students have you know, non traditional paths, and for
other students it can be hard for them to see, like,
you know, how does how does how do I get there?
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Right?
Speaker 4 (21:08):
This is my situation. Maybe I'm four years out of school?
Can I still go? Or I just started?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Can I still go? And everyone has a different path.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
And I think it's.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
More you know, if there's a will, theer's away, like
you can get here, you just have to want to
do it.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I think that's the thing that a lot of people
need to hear, maybe in all of life. You know,
before you approach anything, is that you know, is there
an option? Is there a pathway for me to get
to this place that I want to get to? You
never you never really know till you dip your.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Toe exactly you exactly.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Have someone there to catch you.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, right, And that you don't have to fit the
traditional mold that you see lined up, because some people do.
Some people do follow the traditional pathway and that's wonderful.
But everybody has their own story, you know, everybody's lives
built different things. That's how we got here, but that's
what makes you great. So I think that's something that
leecomm in general really celebrates because there are so many
people from so many different pathways, Like the stories of
(22:01):
how people got here is always wonderful to sit in
here because now we're all sitting in the same classroom together,
we'll all be physicians together exactly. So celebrating that is
a really great thing.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
It's huge.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
Yeah, And even with SOMA, I know, like one of
our main missions is to be a friend, to be
a resource, and you know, share the benefits that there
are to being a member, and so when it comes
to being pre SOMA, we want to kind of start
that early. So we're just you know, trying to be
there where we can and kind of get people involved
and hopefully share it.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
We need to tell our audience how how somebody that
might be interested in the work of pre SOMA can
find you? How do they absolutely all of you?
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
So we are actually starting something new for our comm.
We are going to there's an event actually here on Friday,
so we are going to be meeting with a ton
of EAP students, which is our early acceptance program here
at Lee comm. So we're going to be meeting with
those students and we're going to have an email list.
That's how we're going to start because We don't want
to overwhelm anybody, because that's one thing that you know,
(23:00):
we got a lot of input about you don't want
to dump something, yeah, because it's a lot and they're
already stressed out. So we're started very slow. We're going
to send or have them sign up if they would
like to be a part of our email list, and
we're going to start at least once a month getting
them involved, sending them the newsletters that we do, what
(23:21):
they can do in their communities, how to contact us.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
Some events, the national ones too. There's a lot of
virtual ones happening, yes.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
And then for the Master's program, what they did for
us when we were in the Master's program is they
hold review nights, so we do we call them mms
review nights, and whatever subject they're learning at that time,
our pre SOMA team goes in and does a review
on that subject with those students that it's wonderful. It's
(23:49):
it's a mentorship, but it's also kind of a way
to give you someone to definitely talk to, you know,
because you have them. It's a zoom meeting and so
there's no pressure. You're in your sweatpants at all reviewing
a subject with people who have been in your shoes
because our pre SOMA board members typically are students who
are in the masters.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
Yes, we try to keep it that way.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Then you can really relate to who you're talking to,
who you're working with.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
So with the master's program, they'll have those students doing
the review nights, and then, like you said, the undergrad
students now National SOMA. We can only really give updates
to undergraduate students because they're the closest to being in
the medical school field, right, So we don't want to
overwhelm high school students. They need to enjoy high school, yes, yes,
(24:37):
and there they have time. But if they wanted to
sign up for the email list just to see what
was going on, that would be fine. Most of the opportunities, though,
are for undergraduate students just because they're yeah, they're the
next step there already there, Yes, exactly. So that's what
we're going to start with an email list, and then
we're going to go from there. We really were excited
to see where it goes.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yeah, do you have and are you looking at sort
of for the rest of the year. Do you have
some stuff.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Long turn or yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So why do I know the answer?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Is we're trying to make the most part year, you know,
and because we have so many sub sections, we want
to do a lot.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Sure, so you can touch on a yes exactly.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
So I know she has set up a fundraiser for
our club. So we're gonna be selling the Bumbia jackets
with Becom logo because you can wear them at school
as long as you're professional.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
It's a way to have like dressed down.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Our winners are very cold in Pennsylvania, yes.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
But so we're having that sal We're also going to
we were working with doctor Freddy and she has some
incredible ideas. She's a wealth to knowledge, and she shared
an idea of we're gonna work with local bakeries and
new individuals here who have different backgrounds and different cultures,
and we want to get some of their big goods,
bring them in and then allow students to taste them
(26:00):
and try them and learn them where it's why it's
that way, why it was made, and where it's coming from.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
That that's going to be really fun. We're excited for that.
We're excited for that of Eerie Pa exactly. So everyone's
eating delicious.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Kids are busy, We get it.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Everyone you're a medical student, so we have to do
stuff that everybody exactly.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
We're hoping to.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Give them a greater look of the life that's outside
of these walls. Because you you need to compartmentalize, right,
so you need be a student, but you also have
to be a person. So we want to show them
that there are really good.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Places to eat.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yeah. Also that you know, go to the cafeteria, get
a baked good or a donut with your classmate who
sits beside. You get to know more about them, you know,
be comfortable spreading your wings. Everybody here is here for
a reason. There's the same end goal in line, you know,
so we're kind of just hoping to give them a
safe space to enjoy that and kind of grow with that.
(26:58):
We also have drives, drives, we have Thanksgiving food.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Drive them there. We've got time to give back.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Second bank, yes, yes, second second Gifts skipped my mind
for a minute. And we're doing a small tool sale.
Small tools is a little it sounds weird. So what
it is is when your first year, when you're a
first year student, there are some things that you have
to purchase in order to do our h and p classes,
(27:24):
our history and Physical classes. But they're wonderful. A lot
of people physicians now said they still have their first
set of instruments they had to buy. Oh, absolutely, and Soma.
We are able to kind of help the department with
that because we do it is a the hammer what.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Is it, the reflex thank you?
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Reflex hammering like things that you need that are in
addition to your bigage get Yes.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
But the reason we do that, the reason we do
that is so that everybody has the same ones so
that when we're doing our physical and learning and lass
as you're not learning on a different.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
Device and there's certain ones the other faculty for things change,
so we partner them.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yes, we're also looking into we're talking with our History
and Physical course, we may be running mock practicals. So
that's actually something that we do every class. Every year
that you're here, at least first of the second year,
you have to do orals and practicals for certain classes.
One of them is History and Physical because you need
to be comfortable in your skin, you need to be
comfortable talking to a patient, and you need to take
(28:32):
what you learn in the classroom and apply it in
real life and be able to speak it into existence.
So it's kind of nerve wracking, which makes sense. That's
something that because you're not used to it, everything that's
new is scary, and that's just how it is. So
we're working with that department to run a mock practical
a week or two before where it's going to be
so much students who are volunteering their time to be
(28:53):
pure mentors to the first year class who is giving
their first practical, because not only do you give the practical,
but you actual we get to write a soap note
with it, which incoming student soap notes is what you
would think of when you're watching TV and the doctor's
charting and writing all those things down. You have to
learn how to do that. It's it's a learn skill
and it takes a while, but you'll get it, I promise.
But we're gonna run a day where you get to
(29:15):
practice with your classmates and get constructive criticism, and you know,
to do it in a way where if you were confused,
you can say stop, I don't understand, Like I'm confused,
We're not getting graded on it. It takes the pressure
off of it. So we're really excited for that. That's
new for us this year.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
To.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
It's amazing and we're also so one of our subsections
is the Osteopathic Principles and Integrated Medicine Directors and so
they've been doing a lot even this past semester with
a lot of different events. But I know we recently
did a pro therapy so that's when we can actually
work with the day avers that we have here and.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
We can do sealing injections into the knees.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
You can kind of see what that looks like with
the ultrasound techniques.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
That really cool.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Also, we have some amazing osteopathic physicians here who how
about with that quick Also, you do I know we
had a five element healing we did and puncture, so really,
you know, we kind of want to have that again
or offer something similar so people can get a look
into something that they might be interested in working, right.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Just something different.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Yeah, yeah, I think one of the greatest things about
our organization is that, you know, we've said there are
all these different subsets, but you really find what your
classmates are passionate about.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Right.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
We have so many directors who are leading so many
different things that people get to explore their passions under
one big umbrella. So we can celebrate them together, which
I think is wonderful.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Because it's sort of enriches.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Everybody's experience exactly because everybody has their own driving passions exactly.
You know, it all goes back to the story. It
all goes back to it is so you get to
see what your classmates are passionate about. You get to see,
you know, if there's something that maybe you're passionate about
that you never knew about before.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Exactly the most unexpected places. We're actually sort of touching
on all these different things, right exactly. You guys are amazing.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
So if you had to, I don't know, in two
or three sentences, give advice to a prospective student or
a student who's sitting at home right now thinking I
feel like I could maybe do this, But am I
smart enough? Can I, you know, leave my family if
(31:23):
I have to?
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Can I?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
You know, all of life's things, you know that can
set themselves up as obstacles to somebody. What would be
your couple of sort of pearls of wisdom would.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
You would give to I would say, in this path,
if you want to do this, like I said earlier,
you can do this if there's a will theer's a way,
and I think you're going to go through a lot
of trials and tribulations.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
It's not an easy path, but it's a rewarding path.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
So it is going to be there's gonna be some
challenging days, but there's gonna be some fun days too,
And I think, you know a lot of people can
look past the fun. But if you make it what
it is right, you take the opportunities and you make
it or what you want. So I think I would
say this is a hard path, but it's also a
good path. And if this is something you know you
(32:08):
want to do, you can do it. You just have
to talk to someone you know figure out what's going
to be right for you. But we can get you
here is and how it is. I think autopathic medicine
it's incredible. You know, mind, body, spirit, the whole thing
bodies a unit. It's an amazing way to approach medicine.
And if there's any inkling that you're like, this might
(32:28):
be my path, take it.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah, that's amazing. Tell me what you think how lecom
sort of equips you with the tools that you've needed
to make it happen.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Well, I think one thing that I really appreciated is
that the administration every year looks at the success of
the previous years and then takes into account their feedback
what was good, what was bad, what needed to change,
and then edits our schedule and thatt it's how we
approach our program based on that. I think that really
is a positive impact on us because they're just making
us more successful every year what works best. So at
(33:01):
this point, like I mean, they're perfecting what they can.
So I think we really notice that. And you know,
when your voice is heard and you see things changing,
you really appreciate it because you realize you're supported. You
know there's people you can go to, and I know
we've made good connections with our professors.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
These are people you can go to.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
They're always there if you're struggling, if you're just having
a bad day, they're They'll schedule to meet with you.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
They will take time out.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
Of their day to meet with you. And they're busy people,
you know they're doing research and stuff, but they will
make time for you. So I think that's something that's
really incredible that we get and even just how we
I don't know the approach that we take to asopathic medicine.
We've learned from talking to other comms. Every school is
a little different, but from talking to them, we loved ours.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
We loved we had.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Yeah, anything you want to add to that as far
as elak com has sort of.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Given you, yes, So I think that, well, there's a
lot of things. I'm very thankful that I ended up
here in this half. You know, I've met my friends,
everything has worked out the best way it can. What
I think that Leecom has given me that has really
resonated with me is their empathy for the pathway that
we're going into. That may not sound like a traditional
(34:13):
answer for the question you ask, but they're very they're
very aware that this is very hard. They're aware that
this was a big choice, that you make a lot
of sacrifices to be here, true that there are things
that you know you wanted or maybe thought you could
do with it that you now can't. And that's okay,
that's not the story for everything you are going to
(34:33):
get to live your life. That's not what I'm saying.
But they work with you as an individual to be like, Okay, listen,
you have a wedding. Let's you know, we'll take a
break on that exam, We'll move it to the next Monday.
Or they're very flexible in a way that makes you
feel like you can do this, but you're not gonna
have to give up every single thing that you know
(34:54):
you thought you may have had to. Or I know,
like sometimes like near the end of the year, class
was getting we were just done. We wanted to know
long it was long, and our professors they would be like, guys,
I know this is hard. I know that you guys
are tired. We have to do this.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Though.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Your patients will thank you later. They remind you why
you're there.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
And that's the big thing, because you can never have that.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
You need someone to be like, Okay, I know this
a little bit. Yeah, but when you're dead tired on
a twenty four hour shift and you need this piece
of information, you're going to think of me telling you
this right now, and you're gonna remember what I said,
just push right.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
So it's a human connection, you know.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's the feeling that like I'm supported here, that I
don't have to worry about figuring it out all on
my own because there's people here are going to help
me who care about my well being. Exactly and who
care about the patients that I'm going to see in
the future. And I think that's the big thing, you know,
that's a reason why they care so much. They want
to create physicians who help their communities to make a difference.
(35:58):
You know, they are not You're not just a number
in a seat, right. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
And I think the modeling, it's the empathetic way exactly
for you in being you know, affording that flexibility which
is wonderful, the push you know that you need.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Right, it's definitely tough love, they tell you, but it's needed,
right because they're like, hey, I know you're tired, but
you have your whole like three chapters done before tomorrow.
Then I'm really sorry, but you gotta do it. Like
it's tough love, but it's needed.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Yeah, tough, but it's also love.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Yes, nothing that was ever worth doing was easy, was
ever easy. So I mean that's I feel like that's
that's something I guess that goes back to, like, yeah,
my recommendations or my pearls of wisdom. Yeah, I'm obviously
a talker, so I'll do it quickly. Don't judge yourself
off of somebody else's path, because that's not fair, yes,
never come there. So honestly, in that point, like when
(36:51):
you're applying to schools, my advice stay off of social media.
It really brings you down because you're seeing other people
or you maybe seeing other people succeed when you're not,
and that really that might hit you in a hard way,
but it doesn't mean that your time isn't coming right right, So,
because no one succeeds one of the time always and yeah, exactly,
but the time that they don't. Don't let other people's
(37:14):
successes deter you from doing what you really want. And
then my second thing kind of goes off of Shannon's,
but find your people. Don't just be a student. You
can't just be a student. There are so many facets
of you, exactly, there's so many facets of you that
aren't just a medical student. If you don't explore them
and celebrate them, you're going to get burnt out the
(37:35):
amount of material we go exactly. Yeah, So just make
the most of what you have. Enjoy every day, find
something to laugh about every day.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
Mine we laugh so hard.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Thinking you didn't need new friends and now we are.
Speaker 4 (37:50):
Our parents say the same every day. And this path
can be scary and it can be scary to make changes. Scaryly,
I know the first time I live by myself and
lived out of my parents house was and I took
my master's program. So there's a lot of changes, but
you kind of have to take that step. If you're
you're willing to be here, you have to take that
step and it won't be scary anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Yeah, And like she said, find your people, find.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Exactly your support.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
They'll help you can do it exactly. This has been
my most favorite conversation. Thank you so much, Shannon. We
truly appreciate it. Is there anything else before we sign
off that you wanted that I forgot to touch on
anything else you want the world to know before we go?
I think you can always come back.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
We would love to.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
But yeah, in six months, we'll bring you back. I
like the way we'll sing, Well we'll sing, but maybe yeah,
just so we're always opening and see how different events
we'd love to ideas you have. We'll be starting to
study for boards then so I might not be okay
(38:56):
another time. Oh my gosh, thank you so much everybody
for joining us today. A remember to like, share, subscribe.
We're on all the channels Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram that
I forget anything I think, so check us out. Everywhere
you listen to a podcast, we're there as well. So
thanks again and we'll see you next time.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
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