Osteopathic school/student documentary

[grahmcracker]

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Hello everyone. Have you thought about posting this video on the Web? There could be a central site with a list of each school. When someone clicks on the school they could get a "virtual tour" via a downloadable video. Surely one person at each school has a digital camcorder (talk to someone with kids). That might be an avenue you could explore with out the hassle of proposals. If you market it via all US undergraduate premed offices, I'm sure someone would come to you guys with the idea to combine video for a televised audience. Good Luck, I'm rooting for you.
TCOM2005

 

[BretSebastian]

Sounds great! I'll contact my dean for input. You can count PCOM in if it's not already. Please let me know of any further details you have at [email protected]

 

[Popoy]

I'm looking into writing up my own proposal and I look forward to seeing yours, Brennan.... I've contacted the PR at DMU regarding doing it for DMU alone and I have yet to get a reply.... I'm hoping to meet with the president, dean, PR, etc. in person.

Good luck to all.... If this goes through, it would be a great PR....

 

[ebola95]

hey guys...sorry i haven't been able to log in for a while (problems with my account!)

well, it sounds like you guys are definantly moving in the right direction with this project...i am going to be going back to CCOM in about 2 weeks and i will contact the Dean's office while i am there and see if i can get some feedback on our end....would it help if i contacted someone at University of Illinois film/photography department? and what can i do to help with a/any proposals?

something else to consider: Do we want to make this a long term project (follow one or two students all the way through the process -- making 1 long video spanning a few years, several smaller installments maybe by quarter, or 1 presentation with several students at every level?
** personally, i think that it would be more bennificial to people outside the loop to see the same people go through the whole process **

when does everyone start classes? that might be another thing to consider if we want to follow people from day one of class/orientation.

 

[Popoy]

DMU starts on August 7th with orientation... That date is just around the corner....

I'm not sure whether or not this will fly...... for this year at least.... I'm having my doubts.... 🙁

 

[John DO]

Hey Graham Cracker,

KCOM already has a this set up on their site (www.kcom.edu). The site has links to student testimonials, history of the campus, campus tour, etc. I think it is an effectve recruiting tool, so we could use this forum as a "making of" type site to follow the progress of the program and increase awareness/interest.

 

[Brennan]

Sorry everyone...the holiday has taken me away......and the proposal is taken longer than expected.....i am still working on it, and should complete it by the end of the weekend....sorry for not having it done tuesday.
grahmcracker---good idea, i think that is another great way to use the film.
bretsabastian--excellent, you have made it so there are 12 of the 19 schools.
ebola95---that would be a good idea to contact the film department. they probably have the eqiupment and someone who would be interested in filming it. And i think that you can do both...film students at every level and continue it to follow a few for the span of their education....i like that idea man...that gives us even more flexability on this.
Popoy- we are all new to something like this and it may not fly this year, but at least we have begin a journey that can bring more recognition to our profession.

 

[Popoy]

Here's the email from WGBH and Nova:

Thanks for your suggestion for a "Survivor MD"-style project following
osteopathy students. The problem is that doing one such series was
quite a heroic endeavor and against our context of limited funding it
would be hard to justify launching another parallel effort -- despite the
current thirst for reality TV. In any case, good luck with your
upcoming career path!

Thanks,
Evan Hadingham
Science Editor, NOVA, WGBH/.

Guess they can't do anything for us..... 🙁

 

[jtdkchog]

I have read a few of the posts on this topic. I think it is a great idea, I dont know how UHS would feel, but if you get this going I might be interested. My first day of class is August 20th, orientation starts the 13th.

JT
UHS 2005

 

[apple638]

I remember when this thread first started and I'm so excited to see how things are developing.

This may be way off but has anybody thought about contacting MTV about this. I know how they love to do documentaries and think about how many young people actually watch MTV. That would totally get the word out on osteopathic medicine.

This is just a suggestion

 

[Alicia]

I am also be interested in this project and would be happy to help. Email me if I can be of any assistance: [email protected]
PCOM

 

[acaban]

Hi Guys,

I apologize for not posting earlier, but I wanted to share with you an e-mail I received from the AOA media and publications department.

AJC 😀

**************************************

Hi Alberto,

The following response is from NOVA to another osteopathic medical student
regarding the possibility of a documentary about one of our medical
colleges...

Dear James,

Thanks for your suggestion for a "Survivor MD"-style
project following osteopathy students. The problem is
that doing one such series was quite a heroic endeavor
and against our context of limited funding it would be
hard to justify launching another parallel effort --
despite the current thirst for reality TV. In any
case, good luck with your upcoming career path!

Thanks,
Evan Hadingham
Science Editor, NOVA, WGBH/.

...Like the AOA, NOVA also faces the challenge of having limited funds
available for such projects.

As I mentioned in my previous e-mail to you, the AOA is in the middle of a
national print advertising campaign. You can see one of the ads running in
the July issue of Parents magazine. In the next year, we'll also have ads
appearing in Redbook, SELF and Reader's Digest.

Thanks again for contacting us about this idea, and best wishes as you and
your friends as you begin your medical studies.

Sincerely,
Mary Ann

 

[Brennan]

Hey everyone....we have absolutely a ton of idea's.......i was working on a proposal, but have decided to wait until Craig Warren (national pres of SOMA) gets back from the SOMA annual Board meeting...with Marcin, Alicia, and bretsabastian from PCOM and Jtdkchog from UHS that brings it up to 13 of the 19 schools with students interested. As we can see Nova and AOA do not or will not allocate any funds to a project of this nature, as of yet...thats why we should keep it on a local level and try to work with SOMA. They could be the link between all of us and help keep the project coordinated (plus there is power in numbers). There are many avenues that these films could be used for, and i know we would all like to start this now, but we should be organized and prepared to do a quality job...so if it takes a little longer than we expect, than we will just have to wait. i know that sucks. But A lot of us start school really soon (i start on the 6th of aug) and will need help, so it does not interfere with our studies and to help put pressure on the right people to get us started. So i will talk to Craig as soon as he returns and take it from there. Also, apple638, i like how you think...GREAT IDEA....try to find some information about that..
I hope this is alright with everyone, what do you all think?

 

[acaban]

Hey Brennan,

Sounds all good to me! Let me know if you want to start putting together a comprehensive web page that could address and centralize this idea of documenting osteopathic medical students. I have some web page makeing skills (nothing prof. but ok), I would be more than happy to put something together, just need content.

AJC 😀

 

[kyoung]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to update you on where MSU-COM is at. PR has been contacted and is interested. I expect to get phone calls, as they want to know some more ideas. The original film prof. has backed out, but gave me a name of a student who may be willing to pick it up. I agree, it may be hard to get things ready so soon, but at least we all know what needs to be done if we can't start it for our class. I have used the angle towards my school that if we can't use the film nation wide, then it would be great for recruiting, in which the school agrees.
I think contacting MTV would be a great idea too. I don't think they have really touched on medical reality (or I haven't seen any).
I hope everyone is doing well on their end of the project. And good luck to those who start school in the next few weeks (MSU starts orientation Aug. 16th, classes begin the 27th)
Take care!
- Kari 🙂

 

[apple638]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I emailed MTV today. I'll let you know what their response is.

 

[Brennan]

apple638, you think maybe it would peak their interest a little more, if we were to put DO's against MD's in some kind of challenge thing?
it could also incorporate dentists, chiropractors, DPMs, ophthalmologists, etc. and have the medical people face off against one another.
whatcha think?

 

[apple638]

Brennan,
That sounds good as well. I'm send out another email to them.

 

[Popoy]

I wanted to wait till the end of this week to respond to you folks again, but still no word from the PR at DMU....

Any update on this.... Did you folks see the DO Health Net posting? That might be something....

What happened with the MTV thing? I'll keep you folks posted if I hear anything....

 

[apple638]

I have not received a response from MTV yet 🙁

 

[Gay Focker RN]

I've read some of your post, and just had to reply. I think you guys have a good idea using a documentary for recruiting purposes. I do think some of your ideas are out of this world and will probably never come to fruition. Two specifically come to mind. The MTV one and the Brennon's idea of having a competition(that one was truly rediculous). Come on, Practicing doctors don't have the time nor the energy to get together and play little games to see who's better.

 

[apple638]

Gay,
Like I said in my earlier post, my idea about MTV was just a suggestion. Will it happen? I don't know but at least I tried it.

 

[Popoy]

Gay F., has read "some" of the post and probably didn't catch the part where we wanted to just throw ideas out there....

 

[ER_DOc_2b]

Hey guys, I've been away for a month and just read this thread. I think it is a great idea. Add me to the KCOM list. I'm starting there in August and I am also Navy HPSP. That might add an interesting dimension to the whole thing. People may find it interesting to see the different paths that people choose for funding their medical education. Obviously, this is a BIG project and very long term. But I would like to point out that if successful it would make a bigger impact than the AOA's add campaign ever could. Their adds are focused on educating potential patients. This project would educate potential patients, other physicians and allied health professionals, allopathic medical students, pre-med students, and even possibly high school and elementary students considering a medical career. That means it could impact all segments of the public and have an immediate effect as well as a lasting long term effect in terms of future osteopathic medical students. The possibilities are endless. Every good project starts with a grand dream. Let's make this happen!

 

[ER_DOc_2b]

Oh, one more thought I forgot to include. Many people who don't know much about osteopathic medicine would be surprised to find out that osteopathic physicians can be found in such a wide array of professional settings and that many important/prestigious people are osteopathic physicians (such as the former surgeon general of the Army, one of the two ER physicians that serve as technical advisors for NBC's ER, etc.). I think those facts should be pointed out in any such documentary to help dispell the myth that osteopathic medicine is lesser than allopathic or less prestigious or that osteopathic physicians are at a disadvantage professionally. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. 🙂

 

[Brennan]

ER_DOc....thankgod for another person with vison...your right, this will be a long project, but this will lead somewhere
.......and will help inform the public.
Gay focker......i plan on being very active in the osteopathic profession (AOA, politics, publicity) my entire life. I am very active and have never had a problem with energy. None of the ideas are bad...they are just ideas..so dont go degrading people, but instead, feel free to say any idea you have about the project, without fear of insults.

 

[ebola95]

bravo brennan....don't let anyone kill your spirit!

 

[apple638]

MTV wants me to write my proposal and mail it in instead of emailing it. Before I mail it off, does anyone has any suggestions? I planned on mentioning the DO from Big Brother 2,the DO that advises at the show ER, the DO who has been on the Montell Williams show, and there was also one on the gameshow "To Tell the Truth."

 

[Gay Focker RN]

Hey guys,

Don't misinterpret what I meant. I think this documentary is a good idea, but I just think you guys should focus on more realistic avenues. First off, the audience of MTV is composed of mostly 13-25 year olds who aren't interested in osteopathic medicine. MTV is for partying teens and college students. It just doesn't fit well with this documentary. Put it on Oprah or something.

 

[mido]

Acaban,

You sure are a busy little bee! Please let me know how I can help with this documentary project. I will be attending NSU-COM with you starting this fall, and I would love to get involved in this. Thanks for the welcome note you left me and keep in touch.

Take care ya'll,
MGA 😀

 

[Popoy]

Originally posted by Gay Focker, RN:
•Hey guys,

Don't misinterpret what I meant. I think this documentary is a good idea, but I just think you guys should focus on more realistic avenues. First off, the audience of MTV is composed of mostly 13-25 year olds who aren't interested in osteopathic medicine. MTV is for partying teens and college students. It just doesn't fit well with this documentary. Put it on Oprah or something.•

Gay F. does have a point.... it needs to be realistic.

BTW, I heard from an Oprah viewer that there was once an Osteopath in the show.... details I do not know....

 

[miles333]

Hi guys, I know that osteopathic physician/author has been on the Montell Williams Show twice. The serious daytime shows have a huge adult audience. Good luck!

 

[Brennan]

Hey everone....school has kept me really busy, but i am now moved in and settled...i have spoken to Craig Warren (national president of SOMA) and he said the idea recieved enthusiastic support...there is still some discussion to be done and planning..but it looks as though we will have SOMA's support....I figure this year will be mostly planning and organizing..and then we will take it from there...i will keep everyone updated...and everyone who is talking to alternate sources and avenues, keep doing so....these people who say keep it realistic would probably have told Flemming that a rotten canteloupe is good for nothing (he discovered penicillin and started research into antibiotics) 😀

 

[Megalofyia]

Did these documentaries ever take off?

 

[DOtobe]

I don't think so.

 

[medicine1]

I would think the history channel would love to film a documentary about the Osteopathic profession (Its history, the schools, hospitals, and students past and present).

TUCOM-Nevada
C/O 2009

 

[MHC]

Hey guys- I just saw this thread and am also very excited about it. I'm going to start at LECOM-brad this year and am an award winning documentary filmmaker. I've thought about approaching the faculty about shooting at some point- we really need to let the public know what osteopathy is all about. We'd have to document various people from MS1 through residency and beyond to really make something good. Perhaps instead of trying to get funding through some grant, we could get a few bucks from the schools to shoot and edit it, then approach PBS etc with the final product.

 

[Ca$h MaNi]

Hey this is an awesome idea, I might be able to help out. I was in a local commercial for NSUCOM this past year...and I still have the contact info from the producer and director. The office of public affairs and media department at NSU are in contact with their film crew and productions team, so maybe they could help out with finding a reliable film/production team. I am very much interested in helping out and have always tried to think of ideas to promote our profession in a good light. We definitely need media coverage to help out...Oprah wouldn't mind doing a show on D.O's I'm sure, no?

I'm also interested in any kind of t.v. or movie work..I've done a couple commercials already...and am truly interested in helping out. I will be a 3rd yr at the end of june and would love to help out anyway I can with this documentary!

🙂

$

 

[jakki]

i want to help too:

i'm going to CCOM!

 

[villileblanc]

A national audience will not be all that interested in a documentary about osteopathic medical students because the difference between osteopathic and allopathic medical education is minimal to non-existent (with the exception of OMM).

The osteopathic profession should work hard to strengthen the aspects that supposedly make it unique (such as service to the poor and underserved and outstanding, compassionate primary care), if it is to truly be unique in the future. Only then will we have something to brag about in a documentary. This is what Gevitz called the challenge of distinctiveness in his book –but he gave only a half ass suggestion as to how we can strengthen the aspects our profession that make it distinctive and exceptional.

Our time and effort, and that of the AOA, would be better spent thinking of ways to strengthen and improve the distinctive and valuable aspects of our profession rather than on PR.