HMP Orientation 2014

By: Jeralyn Westercamp 

You know it's that time of year again when the Pumpkin Spice Latte appears.  Time for Orientation.  It can inspire excitement, dread, nervousness, trepidation - a potent mix of emotions for our new beginning in the field of healthcare.  It's a dynamic and ever-changing field for HMP students.  And in fact, our Orientation was almost dynamic as our industry! 


Back in yesteryear (those undergraduate years that seem so long ago), I remember the fear and excitement as we were paraded around campus with student ID cards swinging from our lanyards - so much to learn and take in.  This round, there was the same fear and excitement, but the HMP staff tackled it with ease through immersive experiences and our welcoming HMP team.  We participated in team building activities, picnics, and socials with alumni and current students.  On our third day we had the opportunity to meet and hear from senior leadership at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  While we all heard the standard name, hometown, and past school attended for each person, the Iowa HMP orientation was more innovative.

While we were peppered with important information relating to our professional and academic careers, we spent the majority of our time on the personal level.  Prior to orientation, students did not know each other.  We knew we came from a vast array of backgrounds and places.  Some of us are Iowa natives, some are from other states, and others are from other countries.  Some of us started graduate school straight out of undergraduate college while others came from professional careers.  While it may have seemed the differences outweigh the similarities, orientation helped prove this wrong.  We learned about the passions and excitement we all share.  Our class quickly bonded over fun activities like kickball and picnics.

We started orientation as strangers and ended as friends.  As of writing this post, we have just completed our first week of graduate school classes.  We are ready to accept the challenges that come with working in healthcare in thanks to the bonds between students, mentors, and the assistance of the Iowa HMP Program!  

 

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