The Clinical Symposium this past
weekend was a monumental occasion that was masterfully coordinated through joint
collaboration of the Ohio Podiatric Medical Students Association (OPMSA) and
the American Association for Women Podiatrists (AAWP). As a good friend of
mine, Jonathan Pajouh, has astutely declared the “clinical symposium was one of
the best events held this year.” Upon becoming further informed by Nilin Rao
just how many people invested themselves into making this event a success, you
recognize that the symposium is both a manifestation and testament
to the human endeavor. In conjunction with the exceptional organizational
stewardship of Meagan Rivera, there were significant contributions from Hayley
Ebersbacher, Katie Kirtley Rohde, Laura Jamrog, and Terryn Merrete to make the
symposium an informative and educational experience. The event demonstrated and
proved to be an enlightening illustration of the value of bringing together
presenters of vastly different backgrounds of expertise: you illuminate a room
with a person’s voice, their vision, and their point of view about the
professional world they see and live in.
The clinical symposium went beyond
speeches; in between presentations you savored and relished these moments of
acknowledgement that went on amongst the speakers. For the following
presenters Dr. Allan Boike, Dr. Mark Mendezoon, Dr. Michael Canales, Dr.
Matthew Demore, Dr. Leslee Ruszkowski, and Dr. Dustin Prins attached to the
words Thank You is the acknowledgement that we all started somewhere. With Dr.
Demore in the back of the room, Dr. Canales fondly mentioned how he was the
first person he performed surgery with. Later in his own speech, Dr. Prins
echoed that very same affection saying he too shared that experience with Dr.
Demore as well. These interactions amongst mentors and their former students
are awe-inspiring moments of grandeur that resonate with Dr. Canales slide “I
care more about the people my students become more than the scores on the tests
they take.” When an institution and the individual members who comprise it
establish a culture of appreciating people for who are they are, in turn you
will have developed and nurtured people who will graciously and gratefully
reciprocate that very same sentiment. You realize this as you see several
students put off going to eat a free meal down the hall just to lineup in
anticipation to talk to Dr. Demore after he himself spoke just before lunch
break. Food for thought: the kind of people we are and our intrinsic values are
appreciated at our institution.
At the same time you contemplate
what is special about a place, you also think about what is valuable and
important to that place. Now, every single organization, institution, or
profession has it assets. Thinking like Dr. Canales, a person would ask “what
exactly is an asset?” The dictionary defines an asset as "a valuable person
or thing" and "something that is owned by a person, company".
Unfortunately, the one thing a lot of assets often have in common is that they
are depreciated or used up until they are deemed worthless. Upon reaching such
a point, they are discarded. Now, what is an exception for that? Quality
individuals. People are of paramount importance in an organization,
institution, or profession. The clinical symposium was an occasion
demonstrating the yield, fruition, and result my friend Patricia Joy’s
assertion that “KSUCPM saw me as a person rather than just another candidate”
This past saturday was as much about the people as it is the profession of
podiatric medicine.
