WVSOM 2010 Anyone?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
JohnUC33 said:
Since we celebrate independence day in July and its our last month of independence, I would like to see what everyone is doing with that last month.

Here is my tenative itinerary:
1. Take a vacation
2. Resign from my job 😀
3. Golf
4. Fish
5. Eat alot/then exercise out of guilt of eating too much
6.Spend time with family and friends
7. Sit on my butt
8. Move to WV


Well, I don't celebrate Independence Day because I'm not American. 😉 But I will be enjoying my last few months here. This is my list:

1.) Going to Europe (I leave this Sunday WOOHOO!)
2.) Enjoying kenpo and kickboxing since God knows when I'll be able to do it again
3.) working out
4.) laying out and enjoying my Florida sun as much as possible
5.) going out ALOT
6.) spending quality time with family and friends
7.) buying stuff for my apartment and moving to WV in my new place. 😀
 
CanuckDiana said:
just wanted to say congrats to all of you that got accepted!

i used to go on sdn and get help from WVSOM students so i am here to answer some questions for yall as time permits... we have exams almost every week now... so bear with me.

enjoy your summer before you all come here... you will miss it if you don't. it's especially hard if you're from somewhere far, far away like me. (i'm from the lone star state and proud of it)

btw If anyone still needs a place to live please email me at [email protected]. I may be able to help 🙂


i'm a TRAN too!!!

and DrBMX, have we met yet? email? are you vietnamese?

-theresa
 
DrBMX said:
CanuckDiana,
I have a question for you. Do you have any ideas how clinical rotations are scheduled at WVSOM? I talked to the school and it seems like the students are on their own in 4th years. Also, year 3 core rotation requires a lot family medicine, what do you think about this?
Thanks so much
ps: are u vietnamese? it looks like that 😉

Well to answer your question... as of 2009 they are only letting us do the statewide rotation program. so your 3rd year is set up by the school (and probably be in WV or hospitals/clinics that are affiliated with WVSOM in some other states) and the 4th year you decide where & which rotations you want. Dr. Foster is the GME coordinator and he is the one that will help you with your rotations. Personally I love him! He's one of the anatomists so you will spend beaucoup time with him your first year.

----> However, there has been so many rumors about how things will change, especially since your class size is twice the size of ours... I do know that statewide will be implemented next year and most likely be the same for yall. If they will give another rotation option is unknown.

and yes, i am vietnamese, but canadian born 🙂
 
JohnUC33 said:
Hey, you are not from houston are you?

how did you know?
hometown : houston, tx

and for the other question:
canuck was a nickname i got because i lived half my life in montreal, quebec (other half in tx)
 
Duchess said:
Well, I don't celebrate Independence Day because I'm not American. 😉

But fireworks are the bomb!!
 
CanuckDiana said:
how did you know?
hometown : houston, tx

and for the other question:
canuck was a nickname i got because i lived half my life in montreal, quebec (other half in tx)

I think I met you when I interviewed. I interviewed on Oct. 19th. If its you, I sat at your table during lunch. I'm a black guy if that helps.
 
JohnUC33 said:
I think I met you when I interviewed. I interviewed on Oct. 19th. If its you, I sat at your table during lunch. I'm a black guy if that helps.
With the cool shoes 😉 Dont forget the shoes.
 
I know that this topic has been discussed a little, but I'm having a little trouble deciding which would be best for me. Can someone describe a typical day for SBLer and same for PBLer as well as test format for each.
Thanks
 
Megalofyia said:
With the cool shoes 😉 Dont forget the shoes.

lol, i'll probably go my whole four years there only known as the guy with shiny shoes. no other accomplishments will matter 😛
 
Would anyone happen to know if there is a method to get to Lewisburg from Charleston Airport without renting a car? I've asked around in the past and was told Greyhound stops at Walmart, BUT I have checked and they do not. Maybe it's a different bus company? Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks!
 
Hi guys!

I was wondering, can any of you current students at WVSOM tell us what books we might want to start looking for?

It's just that when I was an undergrad, I would buy a book at the book store and it costed me a terrible amount of money 😱

Is it worthwhile that we start looking for books now? And are there any internet book sources that you would recommend us looking into?

Thanks a million 🙂
 
CatsandCradles said:
Hi guys!

I was wondering, can any of you current students at WVSOM tell us what books we might want to start looking for?

It's just that when I was an undergrad, I would buy a book at the book store and it costed me a terrible amount of money 😱

Is it worthwhile that we start looking for books now? And are there any internet book sources that you would recommend us looking into?

Thanks a million 🙂

Good question. I too would like to know the answer to that. I heard there is a terminology quiz the first week...will any medical terminology book do, or is there a certain one we should get?
 
I thought you guys might find this interesting. Also, is it true that WVSOM considers Emergency Medicine as a primary care? It seems that way according to their student handbook. Thanks.

STUDENT RIGHT-TO KNOW
Graduation/Completion Rates: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is pleased to provide the following information regarding our institution’s graduation/completion rates. The information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The rates reflect the graduation/completion status of students who enrolled during the (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00 and the 2000-01 school years.

Class of 1999 -
Entering Class Size: 67
Number of Graduates: 64
Percentage Graduation Rate: 96%

Class of 2000 -
Entering Class Size: 65
Number of Graduates: 61
Percentage Graduation Rate: 94%

Class of 2001 -
Entering Class Size: 69
Number of Graduates: 66
Percentage Graduation Rate: 96%

Class of 2002 -
Entering Class Size: 62
Number of Graduates: 57
Percentage Graduation Rate: 92%

Class of 2003 –
Entering Class Size: 77
Number of Graduates: 73
Percentage Graduation Rate: 95%

Class of 2004 –
Entering Class Size: 77
Number of Graduates: 76
Percentage Graduation Rate: 99%



RESIDENCIES
WVSOM offers family practice residencies at five sites. Fast track internal medicine and emergency medicine residencies are offered at Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling, WV. Forms and information regarding these programs are available on our web site at
 
FutureDocDO said:
I thought you guys might find this interesting. Also, is it true that WVSOM considers Emergency Medicine as a primary care? It seems that way according to their student handbook. Thanks.

STUDENT RIGHT-TO KNOW
Graduation/Completion Rates: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is pleased to provide the following information regarding our institution’s graduation/completion rates. The information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The rates reflect the graduation/completion status of students who enrolled during the (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00 and the 2000-01 school years.

Class of 1999 -
Entering Class Size: 67
Number of Graduates: 64
Percentage Graduation Rate: 96%

Class of 2000 -
Entering Class Size: 65
Number of Graduates: 61
Percentage Graduation Rate: 94%

Class of 2001 -
Entering Class Size: 69
Number of Graduates: 66
Percentage Graduation Rate: 96%

Class of 2002 -
Entering Class Size: 62
Number of Graduates: 57
Percentage Graduation Rate: 92%

Class of 2003 –
Entering Class Size: 77
Number of Graduates: 73
Percentage Graduation Rate: 95%

Class of 2004 –
Entering Class Size: 77
Number of Graduates: 76
Percentage Graduation Rate: 99%



RESIDENCIES
WVSOM offers family practice residencies at five sites. Fast track internal medicine and emergency medicine residencies are offered at Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling, WV. Forms and information regarding these programs are available on our web site at

hey matt, where'd you get this info from? keep it up, i'm really bad at finding info like this. thanks for sharing
 
theresa83 said:
hey matt, where'd you get this info from? keep it up, i'm really bad at finding info like this. thanks for sharing
It's in the "Student Handbook".
 
FutureDocDO said:
I thought you guys might find this interesting. Also, is it true that WVSOM considers Emergency Medicine as a primary care? It seems that way according to their student handbook. Thanks.

STUDENT RIGHT-TO KNOW
Graduation/Completion Rates: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is pleased to provide the following information regarding our institution’s graduation/completion rates. The information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The rates reflect the graduation/completion status of students who enrolled during the (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00 and the 2000-01 school years.

Class of 1999 -
Entering Class Size: 67
Number of Graduates: 64
Percentage Graduation Rate: 96%

Class of 2000 -
Entering Class Size: 65
Number of Graduates: 61
Percentage Graduation Rate: 94%

Class of 2001 -
Entering Class Size: 69
Number of Graduates: 66
Percentage Graduation Rate: 96%

Class of 2002 -
Entering Class Size: 62
Number of Graduates: 57
Percentage Graduation Rate: 92%

Class of 2003 –
Entering Class Size: 77
Number of Graduates: 73
Percentage Graduation Rate: 95%

Class of 2004 –
Entering Class Size: 77
Number of Graduates: 76
Percentage Graduation Rate: 99%



RESIDENCIES
WVSOM offers family practice residencies at five sites. Fast track internal medicine and emergency medicine residencies are offered at Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling, WV. Forms and information regarding these programs are available on our web site at

Thanks for the info. Great post!
 
the class size from 2004 was only about 75. our class size has been increased significantly. how do you guys think this will effect our gross anatomy lab? during my interview they bragged about the student to cadaver ratio. will that low ratio still be possible with the increase in class size? just a thought because i know how much all of us have been dreaming about the day that we finally get a cadaver.
 
Canuck99 said:
the class size from 2004 was only about 75. our class size has been increased significantly. how do you guys think this will effect our gross anatomy lab? during my interview they bragged about the student to cadaver ratio. will that low ratio still be possible with the increase in class size? just a thought because i know how much all of us have been dreaming about the day that we finally get a cadaver.
At my interview, back in September 2005, we were informed that they were in the processing of expanding the anatomy lab. There were a lot of constructions going on.
 
FutureDocDO said:
At my interview, back in September 2005, we were informed that they were in the processing of expanding the anatomy lab. There were a lot of constructions going on.


this is true, the construction was going on during my interview as well. so another question to ask is whether or not the expansions will be done come fall. i would just kinda feel shafted if my gross anatomy experience was not what they advertised it to be.
 
The new lab looks awsome. They are finished with it.
It is my understanding that the school is going to maintain the 4:1 ratio for the cadavers.

John - It would be especially helpful if you were to wear those shoes during smart start!
 
theresa83 said:
Would anyone happen to know if there is a method to get to Lewisburg from Charleston Airport without renting a car? I've asked around in the past and was told Greyhound stops at Walmart, BUT I have checked and they do not. Maybe it's a different bus company? Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks!
If greyhound isn't doing the walmart thing anymore then I dont think you can get to Lewisburg from Charleston without flying, renting a cab, or driving.
 
Canuck99 said:
the class size from 2004 was only about 75. our class size has been increased significantly. how do you guys think this will effect our gross anatomy lab? during my interview they bragged about the student to cadaver ratio. will that low ratio still be possible with the increase in class size? just a thought because i know how much all of us have been dreaming about the day that we finally get a cadaver.
Because of the way they are doing your schedule next year it wont be any different. Instead of meeting 3x a week for one semester, your class meets 2x a week for a semester plus some. Tuesday and Thursdays are your lab days and while half the class is doing OPP or physical diag the other half is doing anatomy. Plus they have something like 5 anatomists.. (4 officially) which is more than we have this year. The anatomist at WVSOM rock. They are some of the best teachers I've ever had.
 
CatsandCradles said:
Hi guys!

I was wondering, can any of you current students at WVSOM tell us what books we might want to start looking for?

It's just that when I was an undergrad, I would buy a book at the book store and it costed me a terrible amount of money 😱

Is it worthwhile that we start looking for books now? And are there any internet book sources that you would recommend us looking into?

Thanks a million 🙂


I use amazon.com for my books. The bookstore at the school is actually reasonably priced. I've noticed they cost the same as the books on Amazon but without the shipping charges.

I would suggest not buying anything now but that's because I'm PBL and cheap. I dont know if an SBLer would suggest soemthing differently. The PBLers who study at school tend to share books a lot.

Up until Dec I had only spent 5 dollars total at the book store. I used the library a lot and had been given some books before that or got some when I arrived and some people were giving them away. I also use a lot books that have online access through MerkMedicus.

Since PBL had anatomy after SBL I used my friend's books for anatomy.
 
JohnUC33 said:
Good question. I too would like to know the answer to that. I heard there is a terminology quiz the first week...will any medical terminology book do, or is there a certain one we should get?
Theoretically there is a book they recomend. I got a used older copy of it off of the internet for 2 dollars.
The quiz is a walk in the park. The VAST majority of people made 100 on that quiz and I think the lowest grade I know of was soemthing like a 94.
 
Megalofyia said:
Up until Dec I had only spent 5 dollars total at the book store.


$ 5 Five Dollars, 500 pennies?! 😱 😱
 
CatsandCradles said:
$ 5 Five Dollars, 500 pennies?! 😱 😱
Whatever it cost to monogram our white coats is all I HAD spent. Now I've spent more cause I get candy and stuff from there and I've bought a couple of books.
 
Meg,

I can't remember is this was said on my tour or not, but does the library also contain every text book that we need? So thereotically one could just study in there all the time and never have to buy a book?

Oh, thanks for all the other information you've already typed. You are amazing...someone cheaper than me--never thought I would see the day 😱
 
guys i have information on an available apartment about 1/2 or less mile from the school. The rent is 450 a month which includes utilities. Anyone interested leave me a PM and i'll give you the contact number to the person.
 
will we have the option to do our clinical rotations out of state in our third or fourth years? sorry if this has already been addressed or answered.
 
Canuck99 said:
will we have the option to do our clinical rotations out of state in our third or fourth years? sorry if this has already been addressed or answered.
I know for 4th year rotations you can schedule them anywhere you'd like. As for 3rd year rotations, it has always been required to do them in WV via State Wide Campus but with the drastic increase in class size that could change, or so I hope.
 
They started something this year called the pilot program. Its a plan to the state wide campus stuff. I dont know a lot about the program but I do know that it's not in West Virginia. Someone who's in it for next year is going to Mississippi first then some northeastern state, etc. for three months at a time.

John - yes the library has technically all the books you need. Although not all the books the bookstore has. I dont know why they dont BUT usually between the Mod man and other students the most current text books are available. Become friends with the students in the military they get all the books already paid for by the government. 😀
 
FutureDocDO said:
I thought you guys might find this interesting. Also, is it true that WVSOM considers Emergency Medicine as a primary care? It seems that way according to their student handbook. Thanks.

STUDENT RIGHT-TO KNOW
Graduation/Completion Rates: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is pleased to provide the following information regarding our institution’s graduation/completion rates. The information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The rates reflect the graduation/completion status of students who enrolled during the (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00 and the 2000-01 school years.


Hey everyone if this post interested you, then check out this website http://www.hepc.wvnet.edu/resources/hsreportcard2003.pdf#search='COMLEX%20WVSOM%20scores'

it has a report of West Virginia higher education and compares WVSOM to Marshall's medical school and WV's medical school.
 
Does anyone know what the past rate for COMLEX I for the past five years, esp. for SBL? It seems like the average pass rate for 2003 was 75% and 2005 was 92% (94% for SBL). Thanks.


[Taken from school's WEBSITE]
How do our students do on COMLEX? The latest statistics are always posted in the glass case in the main hallway opposite Brentz Thompson’s office. In June of 2003, the 2003 WVSOM Level 1 cohort passed at a 75% rate, while the seniors taking the August 2003 Level 2 performed at an 94% pass rate.
 
i read in a thread from last year's class about the cell phone service in the area. does anyone know if verizon is still a good service to go with? i plan on keeping with my verizon, because of family plan. will verizon work for me in WV?
 
I have hust become an SDN sponsor 🙂 🙂 🙂 !
 
theresa83 said:
i read in a thread from last year's class about the cell phone service in the area. does anyone know if verizon is still a good service to go with? i plan on keeping with my verizon, because of family plan. will verizon work for me in WV?

verizon is a great service. I was there about a month ago and with my verizon plan i had all five bars so its the best for WV.
 
How about Sprint? I was able to use my cell phone through Sprint when I was there for the interview but have heard that a lot of people have problems with them. I only used it when I was staying at the General Lewis Inn.
 
FutureDocDO said:
How about Sprint? I was able to use my cell phone through Sprint when I was there for the interview but have heard that a lot of people have problems with them. I only used it when I was staying at the General Lewis Inn.

I had Sprint and lost all reception around Beckley coming into Lewisburg. I was able to roam, yet the roaming was horrible.
 
JohnUC33 said:
I had Sprint and lost all reception around Beckley coming into Lewisburg. I was able to roam, yet the roaming was horrible.
That sucks. My two-year contract does not end until summer of 2007. I get a 13 percent discount through them as I'm working in a hospital that has some kind of contract with them.
 
FutureDocDO said:
That sucks. My two-year contract does not end until summer of 2007. I get a 13 percent discount through them as I'm working in a hospital that has some kind of contract with them.

I hear ya...sprint sticks it to you with those contracts...$125 or something to break out and then they don't provide service in the majority of rural areas 😡

You must work third shift as well. What do you exactly do in the hospital? I'm a registration tech....and its a good non-busy night tonight 👍
 
JohnUC33 said:
I hear ya...sprint sticks it to you with those contracts...$125 or something to break out and then they don't provide service in the majority of rural areas 😡

You must work third shift as well. What do you exactly do in the hospital? I'm a registration tech....and its a good non-busy night tonight 👍
Yes. I work third shift as well. I am a phlebotomist plus IV (behind closed doors :laugh: ) if nurses can't get them. For some reason it was dead boring last night, I'm not complaining though. I did a whopping five draws from 10PM to 4:00AM then did 17 from 4:00AM to 6:30AM. It was slow for a hospital that has 913 beds - Trauma 1 hospital. I usually draw in the mid 30's a night.

A registration tech huh? You must have a lot of "non-busy" nights. It sounds like an ideal undergrad job.
 
FutureDocDO said:
Yes. I work third shift as well. I am a phlebotomist plus IV (behind closed doors :laugh: ) if nurses can't get them. For some reason it was dead boring last night, I'm not complaining though. I did a whopping five draws from 10PM to 4:00AM then did 17 from 4:00AM to 6:30AM. It was slow for a hospital that has 913 beds - Trauma 1 hospital. I usually draw in the mid 30's a night.

A registration tech huh? You must have a lot of "non-busy" nights. It sounds like a ideal undergrad job.

Oh, sounds impressive. I couldn't imagine working in a hospital with that many beds (although I probably will by clinicals). We only have somewhere around 50 beds 😳

Yea, since the weather has warmed up, the nights have been pretty laid back up here...although we still get that occasional night where we might have a few really serious cases with the usual "I have only a cough and sneeze but I have a state medical card that allows me free ER care instead of going to a clinic and paying my $2.00 copay patients" and are scrambling all night (small rural hospitals just aren't built to handle a lot of trauma).
 
SuperDOgirl,

I just saw your post from November. Are you still going to West Virginia? I'm also going south from Boston.

Jeff

SuperDOgirl said:
Hi!

I am interested in finding out who will be joining the class of 2010 at WVSOM. I got accepted a month ago and still waiting to hear back from a few schools. I have a gut feeling that I will be going to WVSOM this coming fall. I know the tuition is steep but I am excited for the change in environment, people and lifestyle. Anyways, I just want to have a good idea of who I will be sitting in class with. So gimme a holler! 🙂

SuperDOgirl
 
BB,

Everyone I've spoken with on the subject has said that it depends on how you learn. Both PBL and SBL cover the same topics. If you do better when given free reign, and you can motivate yourself, then PBL is for you. If you need structure then go with SBL. With that said, my personal opinion is that, although I think PBL is great (my undergrad was very much PBL), when it comes time for the boards, there's no getting around the need to know a whole lot of stuff. In this regard I think SBL has an edge. Case in point, a good friend of mine is an ER attending at Mass General. He said that every year he sees a new class of residents come through, and the students from Harvard (a school heavy on PBL and notoriously bad in Anatomy) lag far behind. Although they have fantastic detective and analytical skills, they lack a lot of data. My intent is not to talk down to PBL or Harvard, just to point out a part of PBL that, for me, could be problematic. If that's not a problem for you then go PBL.

I think WVSOM needs a mascot. I wanted to finish this with GO...... Mountaineers? Tarheels? We got noth'n.

I'll see you in August.

Jeff

bbgirl said:
I know that this topic has been discussed a little, but I'm having a little trouble deciding which would be best for me. Can someone describe a typical day for SBLer and same for PBLer as well as test format for each.
Thanks
 
FutureDocDO said:
It was slow for a hospital that has 913 beds - Trauma 1 hospital. I usually draw in the mid 30's a night.


Ok I feel stupid now. 😀 I have never done an IV or drawn blood before.

Sure, I'm an EMT-B....but...913 beds...yeah I feel like a rookie. :laugh:
 
CatsandCradles said:
Ok I feel stupid now. 😀 I have never done an IV or drawn blood before.

Sure, I'm an EMT-B....but...913 beds...yeah I feel like a rookie. :laugh:
I don't do that many IV's. I only do them when nurses couldn't get them. Even on those I don't follow through with saline and all that. I just help them get the tubing into the blood vessels. Shhh... I'm not suppose to though. :laugh:
 
Has anyone tried using Sprint and bought the roaming (add'l $10/mo) package?

I have an awsome plan with them and don't want to switch to another carrier.
 
labcoord said:
Has anyone tried using Sprint and bought the roaming (add'l $10/mo) package?

I have an awsome plan with them and don't want to switch to another carrier.


I tried using my Sprint on roam while I was there....it worked, but i was very very staticy(check spelling).
 
labcoord said:
Has anyone tried using Sprint and bought the roaming (add'l $10/mo) package?

I have an awsome plan with them and don't want to switch to another carrier.
Unlike JohnUC33's experience, I was there two days for the interview and was able to make calls in the General Lewis Inn as well as on WVSOM campus. I was able to hear cleary as well as being heard. Like you, I have a pretty good deal through the hospital I'm working at so I don't want to have to cancel. I could get the same deal with Verizon but my contract is not up yet!
 
Top