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Rules of the Road & Survival Tips - Class of 2012

The following are notes from me, Linda Herrold, that I will use during discussions at Orientation and at the first class meeting.  They are general in nature and do not substitute for attending those sessions; I post them here for your reference throughout the year. Download Adobe Acrobat® Reader®.

Helpful Web Links 
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• Year One Information Page
• Wellness Page
• Matriculating Student Questionnaire
• Student Progress System Handbook (You also have a copy in your packet. A session will be scheduled in several weeks to go over this handbook with you.)

Introductions 
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• Student Affairs Staff Guide
  • Springfield:  Erik Constance, MD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
  • Carbondale: Linda Herrold, MS, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
  • Dr. Sandra Shea - Year One Curriculum Director

Guiding Principles 
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• This school is known for being clinically oriented, noncompetitive
• You are not here to prove you are better than anyone else nor to make anyone else look bad - there will always be somebody better than and worse than you
• You are professionals - behavior is expected appropriate to this status
• Leadership and participation are critical - start this behavior in school, carry it forth into the practice of the profession
• ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT! - Faculty, unit coordinators, curriculum chair (Dr. Shea) and Linda Herrold all are here to help
• Take care of yourself physically (eat right, exercise, get enough sleep) and mentally (low stress)

General Information and Survival Tips 
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• My Role - You can talk with me about any problems or concerns, including those of a confidential nature. I can be a springboard for ideas, discuss any interest in research projects, or suggest resources. If you have academic or professional behavior difficulties, I will be your advocate within the Student Progress System. If I ask you to come and see me, it doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem but DON'T IGNORE THE REQUEST! Sometimes I just want to get to know you; sometimes I see early warning signs that help you avoid future problems. I will ask that each of you make an appointment with me during the first half of the first unit, just to talk, get to know you, etc.
• Mailboxes and Communication - Mailboxes are located in the Student Lounge. Check them at break today and make a habit of checking them daily. You have an email account through SIUMED. USE IT! "I didn't check my email" is not a valid excuse. Check this daily. All official correspondence, including schedule changes, evaluation results, etc., come to you either in your mailbox or in an email.
  
  
  • DO NOT GO THROUGH ANYONE ELSE'S MAILBOX! Doing so is unprofessional and may result in professional conduct charges being brought against the guilty party. If you think someone has looked through your mailbox, talk with me immediately.
  • Schedules - Check the bulletin board in the glass case on the third floor. This information will also be on the web.
  • The Student Support Guide and absence call-in phone number. This phone number is for illness or emergency absences. Any planned absences of required sessions must be cleared per the Year One Absence Policy (copy in your packet).
  • Student Lounge - The lounge is your space--keep it clean. the refrigerators and microwaves are your responsibility. I will check from time to time. Consider a turn sheet. YOUR MOTHER DOES NOT WORK HERE!! Please report spills immediately so they many be cleaned. Liquid coffee creamer is especially noxious to remove. Don't do anything to it--find a janitor, or report it to my office as soon as possible.
• Suggest you not use the elevator at night or on weekends – it tends to break down.
• Universal Precautions – This is a required session on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. 
• Immunization Records – Everyone should have already turned in to us the results of a two-step PPD (TB Test), proof of at least their first Hepatitis B vaccine and documentation of chicken pox or varicella titer as well as all childhood vaccinations.  If you have not already done so, DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  Both of these requirements may be taken care of at the Student Health Programs Clinic (call 453-3311 for an appointment).  Don’t everyone call for an appointment Monday – you have two weeks.  If you have questions, come and ask me about them.  You CANNOT go to your mentor/clinic shadowing until we have this documentation.
• Schedule for Monday – begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. with a Unit Meeting, followed by the opening of your first case in our first tutor meeting. 
• Parking – parking is STRICTLY enforced on this campus, including weekends.  The 15-minute spots behind this building are just that, 24 hours per day.  You may be ticketed or towed.  Parking in a handicapped spot, without the appropriate permits will get you towed, and/or cost you $150 or more.  Red parking stickers may be purchased at the parking office across the railroad tracks in Washington Square.  Make sure and tell them you are a medical student.  This will get you a special sticker that allows you to park in red sticker lots after 2:00 a.m., when most others are not permitted to do so.  Parking does have a list of your names so they should be able to check this when you pick up your sticker.  Red-sticker cars may park in unrestricted blue lots after 4:00 p.m.  (Not in 15 minutes parking!)  The closest red parking spots are in the first row at LSIII.  Many students park across the street from LSIII and Lawson near the Communications Building.  *Information on parking is in your packet.
• Security passes – carry these with you at all times.  You may be asked to produce these if you are in the building after hours.  *Please check your packet pocket – if it’s not there, let Barbara know immediately!
• Key and locker assignment - *In your packet
• Phone contacts – *a card with important phone numbers.  Keep this in your purse or wallet so that you will have it handy when you need it.  The phone number to call in for absences is 453-1537 and is listed on this card.  You may always call me or Dr. Shea at one of the listed numbers in an emergency.
• MRC information - Resources are limited on some items, so don’t keep materials which your colleagues may need.  Hoarding of books is unprofessional conduct, and could result in administrative action.  Hours are posted, some evening and Saturday hours. *Fill out form for MRC

Registration 
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• Handled in Springfield – Jennifer Langley is the registrar (217) 545-0890. 
• Late Tuition – don’t panic.  If you get a notice that your registration is canceled due to late payment, keep going to class and talk with Nancy Calvert or Rose Adams (217) 545-2223 or (217) 545-2224.  You may use the phone in the Student Affairs office to make any calls to Springfield.
• Withdrawals/Leave of Absence – talk with me.  Circumstances sometimes arise; come and talk with me as soon as possible so we can review all options open to you.  Please do not wait until a situation gets out of hand.  Many times we can get you back on track without you having to take a leave of absence or withdraw, IF we know early enough.

Class Organizations 
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• First meeting:  Thursday, September 4th.  It’s on your schedule.  BE THERE, it is required – important information including class elections will be discussed.
• Class officers – An individual CAN be both an officer and a committee member.  Overview on the WWW at http://www.siumed.edu/students/Class_elections_committees.pdf.  Election date will be set at the first class meeting and the process explained.
• Class organizations – check on the web http://www.siumed.edu/students/Student_interest_groups.html, look in your Student Handbook, and talk to second year students to find out what is available and what you may be interested in.  These are totally student run organizations.  Set up your first meeting and select a convener responsible for setting up the meetings ASAP.  Please let me know who the conveners are, and provide me with a schedule of activities.  These organizations actually represent the school before the public, and must follow all SOM and SIU regulations, including fiscal policies.
  • AMA
  • AMSA
  • SNMA
  • FMIG
  • AMWA
  • Scope – nationally recognized SOM literary magazine.  Organized by Dr. Jacquie Scolari at the Medical Resource Center, 3rd floor of Lindegren.  You received a copy of last year’s Scope when you came in.

Wellness and Recreation (*Wellness material in packet)
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• Wellness Program – taking care of yourself is crucial:  http://www.siumed.edu/studentaffairs/wellness.html
• Ask for help when you need it
• Rec Center – included in your student fees – use, you’ve paid for it!
• Intramural Sports – try not to get hurt!
• Student Health Program, Wellness Center, Counseling Center
• Working:  You will probably not have time to work.  However, if you feel you must work to get by financially, please come and see me.  There may be other avenues.  Also, you must get my permission to work.

Getting Help  
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• SIUSOM RAPID RESPONSE TEAM – the following faculty will carry a statewide pager and be available to respond to emergency call from medical student on both campuses at anytime, 24 hours per day. 
  • Bunny Spurling, LCSW, Instructor, Division of Medicine/Psychiatry
  • Erik Constance, MD, Associate Dean of Student Affairs
  • David Resch, MD, Division Chief, Medicine/Psychiatry
  • The phone number is:  217-782-3764, pager #1328

Special Activities 
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• Tomorrow – White Coat Ceremony at 4:00 p.m. in Shryock Auditorium.
• Fall Roundup – The SIU SOM picnic at Touch of Nature.  Spouses, significant other, and children are welcome.  Saturday, October 11th, 3 – 10 p.m.  We may ask for volunteers to help staff some of the activities.
• Winter Ball – February 7, 2009
• Personal Information Sheet
• Local Address and Phone Number

Last updated April 8, 2008