May 24, 2004

VCU School of Medicine Faculty offer pearls of wisdom to fourth year medical students

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The idea for entertaining pearls of wisdom from the faculty to graduating medical students originated with Dr. Sheldon Retchin, apparently inspired by his own memories of medical school. Pictured left to right: Dr. Retchin, Matt Lee '04 and Long Huynh '04, co-chairs of the Pearls Day Committee for the School of Medicine class of 2004, and Dr. H.H. Newsome, dean of the VCU School of Medicine.
The idea for entertaining pearls of wisdom from the faculty to graduating medical students originated with Dr. Sheldon Retchin, apparently inspired by his own memories of medical school. Pictured left to right: Dr. Retchin, Matt Lee '04 and Long Huynh '04, co-chairs of the Pearls Day Committee for the School of Medicine class of 2004, and Dr. H.H. Newsome, dean of the VCU School of Medicine.

The VCU School of Medicine class of 2004 sponsored the university's first Pearl's Day. The one-hour presentation featured an impressive lineup of faculty who shared anecdotes and advice spiced with humor for an entertaining "lecture" and send-off for graduating medical students.

Matt Lee, '04 and Long Huynh, '04 served as co-chairs for the inaugural program. Lee said the idea for Pearl's Day came from Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU's vice president for health sciences, who was inspired by memories of his own time in medical school. Dr. Retchin served as introductory speaker and advised that while sleep deprivation would cause mild depression among new residents, it would pass within 30 days.

Lee and Huynh tallied suggestions from a committee of classmates and invited eight members of the VCU School of Medicine faculty to share entertaining pearls of wisdom as they transitioned from medical students to medical residents. The chosen group was: Dr. Alpha A. Fowler, III, professor and chair, pulmonary critical care division; Dr. Todd W. B. Gehr, professor and chair, nephrology; Dr. Enrique Gerszten, professor pathology; Dr. Brian J. Kaplan, assistant professor, surgical oncology; Dr. Susan Lanni, assistant professor, maternal-fetal medicine; Dr. James M. Messmer, professor, radiology and senior associate dean, school of medicine; Dr. Julia R. Nunley, associate professor, dermatology; and Dr. Richard P. Wenzel, professor and chair, internal medicine.

Pearl Bearers. Dr. Enrique Gerszten, (left) Dr. Richard Wenzel, Dr. Julia Nunley, Dr. Todd Gehr, Dr. Alpha Fowler, III, Dr. Susan Lanni and Dr. James Messmer were among the VCU Medical School clinical faculty chosen to share a few pearls of wisdom with graduating medical students. Photo by Michael Ford, University News Services
Pearl Bearers. Dr. Enrique Gerszten, (left) Dr. Richard Wenzel, Dr. Julia Nunley, Dr. Todd Gehr, Dr. Alpha Fowler, III, Dr. Susan Lanni and Dr. James Messmer were among the VCU Medical School clinical faculty chosen to share a few pearls of wisdom with graduating medical students. Photo by Michael Ford, University News Services

Dr. Lanni reminded the class of 2004 that good physicians are always students and "aim to learn at least one thing everyday." Dr. Gerszten told the assembly to "balance their personal and professional lives and find interest outside of medicine." Dr. Julia Nunley challenged them to "do the right thing and do the thing right," as they dealt with patients and colleagues.

Faculty panelists were presented with pewter Virginia cups to commemorate the occasion. Lee and Huynh say they hope Pearl's Day will become an annual tradition in the School of Medicine.