Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine receives grant

Arnold P. Gold Foundation funds initiative to develop mentors for future doctors

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-COM) has received a $25,000 grant from the Arthur P. Gold Foundation to fund its Meaningful Medicine Mentoring Program: A Humanistic Approach to Patient Care initiative. The program is designed to develop Central Indiana physicians into mentors for students at the first-year medical school, located on the west side of Indianapolis.

Under the Meaningful Medicine Mentoring Program, first and second-year MU-COM students will be assigned to a local physician, who will serve as the student's mentor in the area of humanistic patient care. Student participation in the program is entirely voluntary, yet highly encouraged. Physicians who volunteer to be mentors will be expected to devote one-half day per month to their mentees, over the course of two years. Melita Schuster, D.O. and Sherry Jimenez, Ed.D. are MU-COM's principal investigators in this project. This year, the Indiana Osteopathic Association is providing support for the mentoring of MU-COM's inaugural class.

"The goal of the Meaningful Medicine Mentoring Program is to reinforce the principles of Humanistic Medicine during patient care for the physician mentors and to introduce and promote this behavior for first-year and second-year osteopathic medical students," Paul Evans, D.O., vice president and dean of MU-COM, said. "By integrating the principles of health, healing, and humanism in a nurturing and supportive environment, we hope to create a positive impact on improving the therapeutic relationships between doctors and their patients."

Training will occur at the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Indianapolis hospitals and clinics, and health care sites around Indiana. The teaching techniques employed will consist of interactive workshops combining lecture, discussion, and small group case-based learning. An annual summit will be held for mentors and mentees to discuss humanistic topics germane to patient care and experiences relevant to topics presented.

Marian University is one of eight national recipients of the grant. Other recipients are: George Washington University School of Medicine; University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing & Health Studies; North Shore LIJ Health System; New York Medical College; New York University School of Medicine; Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University/Hasbro Children's Hospital; and Penn State University School of Medicine.

Marian University opened its College of Osteopathic Medicine in August 2013, welcoming 162 students into its inaugural class. It is just the second medical school in Indiana, and first to open in 110 years. MU-COM is one of only five medical schools nationally to be located at a Catholic institution of higher learning, and the only osteopathic medical school in the nation at a Catholic university.

About Marian University Indianapolis
Marian University (www.marian.edu), founded in Indianapolis in 1937, is the only Catholic liberal arts university in central Indiana. It serves a student body of more than 2,700 through dedication to excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. Marian University is one of Indiana's 31 independent colleges and one of 244 Catholic colleges and universities nationwide.

Since 2001, Marian University has been led by President Daniel J. Elsener, whose vision and leadership are transforming the university. In 2013, Marian University opened the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences, home to its College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marian University has amassed 24 national championships in cycling and in 2012 won the NAIA Football Championship.

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SOURCE Marian University