Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Wed, 24 Aug 2016 | Asa Keimig, Marketing and PR Coordinator
On Wednesday, Aug. 17, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) held its first Sigma Sigma Phi Induction Ceremony honoring students from the top twenty-five percent of the classes of 2018 and 2019. Recognized by a select group of LUCOM faculty members, over 80 students were inducted into the new Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine Alpha-Omega Chapter.
Sigma Sigma Phi is the original and oldest Osteopathic Honorary and Service Fraternity with chapters at Osteopathic Colleges of Medicine across the country. The purposes of the organization include the recognition of academic achievement, the advancement and recognition of service to others, and the furtherance of the Science and Art of Osteopathic Medicine. The initial selections for the Alpha-Omega Chapter were made by founding LUCOM faculty members, Ronnie B. Martin, D.O., Ray L. Morrison, D.O., and Michael Hueber, D.O., all of whom are also members of Sigma Sigma Phi.
Dr. Martin, founding Dean of LUCOM, briefly addressed the inductees at the beginning of the ceremony with a background to the honor society. “Sigma Sigma Phi is the oldest honor society in the osteopathic profession and is more than just a scholastic recognition; it was originally set out to recognize excellence. Excellence is manifested in your profession in a variety of ways. It is measured by more than what you do, but what you foster other people to do.”
Dr. Martin challenged the student-doctors to seize the moment and to use the induction as an opportunity to demonstrate a lifelong commitment to excellence in the practice of medicine and service to others in and outside of the profession. “You’ve established a pattern for yourself and for others that says ‘I will be committed and excellent in what I do.”
LUCOM’s first class of student-doctors, the Class of 2018, was the foundation of the college’s academic success. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well in school,” said Jessica Eubanks, OMS-III. “It’s really special to become a member of Sigma Sigma Phi with so many of my wonderful classmates and to see our hard work and dedication paying off.” Eubanks was additionally elected as the Editor and Community Service Coordinator for the Alpha-Omega Chapter. “Community service has meant so much to me during medical school,” she said. “We spend so many hours studying and when we get involved throughout our community it’s a simple reminder of why we went into medicine.”
Nearly half of the inductees were from the Class of 2019 and for some, the induction and acceptance into Sigma Sigma Phi meant more than good grades and community service hours. “To be recognized for the hard work that I put in feels great, because I never expected anyone to notice,” said Hannah Aucoin, OMS-II. “I am humbled by the fact that one day my patients are going to entrust me with their greatest gift, their life and I take that honor seriously and in order to live up to it I am trying to work hard to be the best physician I can.”
“This is a phenomenal organization in which you set an example for the rest of the profession as a student, as a resident, and as you’re practicing,” said Dr. Morrison, Assistant Dean of Clinical Education.