The AED Mentor Prgoram is desigend to foster interest and guidence in prehealth studies by joining interested students with knowledgeable upperclass student mentors.  We encourage freshman and sophomore potential premedical students to signup for a mentor, and we also welcome juniors and seniors who need a little more help in making any final decisions. 

Each group will be composed of two mentors, one with a science major (psychology, chemistry, biology, or physics) and the other with a non-science major (such as history, political science, or English).  Groups will meet at least once a semester to discuss medical school prerequisites, MCAT study tips, interview and application advice, and to street meetings with the premedical director, Dr. Jeremiah Putnam.  The mentors will then call their mentorees at semester's end to answer questions, or address concerns.  Furthermore, the mentors will always be available for help anytime during the semester in a formal or informal setting.

Links

AED Mentor Program Homepage

This year is the inaugural year of the Physician Mentor Program.   The brainchild of Charlotte Cardiologist and Davidson graduate Dr. K.D. Weeks '69 and Dr. Jeremiah Putnam, the Physician Mentor Program pairs premedical students with local physicians.

This program allows students to interact with physicians, patients, and other  healthcare professionals.  The students have the opportunity to shadow and work with physicians in a clinical or hospital setting.  At the same time, students can turn to physicians for advice on medical schools, classes, applications, and internships.  The physician's experience gives the student a real perspective on medicine today.  It give the student a feel of the benefits as well as the drawbacks to modern medicine, hopefully giving the student a better feel on their future hopes in medicine.

In the long run, the hope is that a relationship will be built between the physician and the student not only in the college setting, but also in medical school, in medical training, and even in professional practice.  

Each physician organizes his mentorship to cater to the student.  For example, an ER physician might want his students to shadow him on a Friday night while a family might want his students to work with her in the clinic.  

Overall, the program is to help the students.  For many, this will give students their first full hands-on experience of medicine in practice.  For many, the program will justify and even more strongly affirm their dedication to medicine after Davidson.  However, we also consider the program a success if a student decides that medicine isn't the right profession to pursue.  The mentor program wants help students decide on medicine.  Remember - entering into the medical field is a huge dedication - both here at Davidson and in medical school.  It is better to make that decision now rather than find out later - in medical school.

Currently, there are eighteen physician mentors:

1. Tom Batchelor (Internal medicine)
2. John Black (Radiology)
3. Andy Castillo (Family Practice)
4. Lillian Ferdinands (Pediatrics)
5. Bill Flannery (Internal Medicine and Pediatrics)
6. David Hillsgrove (Orthopedics)
7. Tom Jenike (Primary Care)
8. John McLelland (Internal Medicine)
9. Dan Koehler (Cardiology)
10. Bob Petrilli (Emergency Medicine)
11. Chuck Sherrill (Pulmonary Medicine)
12. Kevin Spencer (Family Medicine)
13. Mike Thomas (Internal Medicine and Family Practice)
14. K.D. Weeks (Cardiology)
15. Lisa Young (Cardiology)
16. Tanya Hudson (Family Practice)
17. Jonathan Edwards (Internal Medicine)
18. Rebecca Appleton (Family Practice)

If you are interested in the program, please contact Dr. Jeremiah Putnam at x-2482.  Students at all levels are encouraged to join the program.