Welcome week for the Class of 2027
The University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, welcomed the Class of 2027 to campus on August 2, 2023. Welcome Week began with 165 new and excited students setting foot on campus.
The Office of Student Affairs recognizes what a tremendous accomplishment it is to be admitted into medical school. OSA dedicates the summer and beginning of August to celebrate students and ushering them into this next chapter of their lives.
During the summer, we hosted webinar sessions to help students complete onboarding and answer any questions about starting medical school. This year, we are pleased to announce we included a webinar focusing on the new integrated curriculum that students will begin this fall. The feedback we received from the webinar sessions was positive, and many students were pleased with the information.
The night before Welcome Week, students were invited to a Meet and Greet at Highball Lanes, where they enjoyed a fun atmosphere and stress-free place to meet other classmates. Medical school is a long, hard journey, but having a classmate to lean on truly makes a world of difference.
Beginning bright and early on August 2, 2023, students eagerly arrived to campus excited to meet the Deans, learn their way around, and discover the best kept secrets of the medical school. Students were placed in a house with other M1 students, a physician mentor, and an M2 buddy. These houses are a tradition at the School of Medicine to help students find a community and support system where they can seek advice throughout the coming years in school. Welcome week ended with a fun filled afternoon at McClain Lodge for Field Day. Students competed with their house in various games to become the new Field Day Champion while their house prefects cheered them on.
Completing medical school requires a strong support system. While students were learning the ropes and meeting one another at Welcome Week, the Office of Student Affairs welcomed their families to Family Day. This day allows loved ones of students the opportunity to see the school and learn about what medical school will be like for their student.
Thursday evening of Welcome, students and their families gathered at Thalia Mara Hall for the White Coat Ceremony. At this celebration, students get their first white coat symbolizing the beginning of their journey to being a physician and treating patients. This monumental event will forever be cherished by students and their families. This year established physician and author, Dr. Jay Wellons, offered an encouraging speech to students that will surely be remembered. Dr. Wellons received his medical degree from UMMC and his residency in neurosurgery at Duke University Medical Center, and fellowships in stroke (Duke University Medical Center) and pediatric neurosurgery at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Dr. Wellons is a professor in the departments of neurological surgery, pediatrics, plastic surgery, radiology, and radiological sciences at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre.
The School of Medicine is thrilled to welcome the Class of 2027!