Bradenton, FL – July 23, 2018 – The new class of Osteopathic Medical students will begin their studies Friday, July 27, 2018, at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Bradenton, FL.
The 196 students of the Class of 2022 will embark on a four-year program that will see them involved with Problem-Based Learning (PBL), a small-group study method that is a hallmark of the Bradenton campus.
Students will register Friday, meet Student Affairs support personnel and hear about campus security. Following a presentation of the financial aid programs available to them, students will attend an Introduction to Clinical Exam lecture given by LECOM Bradenton Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Mark Kauffman, D.O.
“We are very excited to welcome the LECOM Bradenton Class of 2022 to campus,” said Dr. Kauffman. “Our students’ excitement on starting this incredible journey to reach their dreams of becoming physicians is contagious. This is a favorite time of year for faculty and staff and we thank the students for allowing us to be a part of their adventure.”
Blake Burch, Pharm.D., 26, from Mobile, AL, who is making the leap to become a physician after just graduating from the LECOM School of Pharmacy in May, said he is looking forward to attending medical school.
“What was eye-opening for me was that when I was on (Pharmacy) rotations, I wanted to have more involvement, more decision-making capability, especially during my trauma rotations, said Dr. Burch. “I remember looking at the Emergency Room physician and watching him direct his team while he’s hands-on. He’s manipulating the arm, while they’re putting in tubes and they’re all doing these really intriguing procedures to stabilize the patient, and I was just like, ‘Wow! That is my calling. That’s what I need to be doing in life.”
On Monday, July 30, students will be introduced to faculty, attend a PBL overview, learn about Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and attend their initial anatomy lecture. The Class of 2022 medical students will join the new dental and pharmacy students when they return to classes the following week.