Virginia College of
Osteopathic Medicine
Blacksburg, VA
Chi Chapter: started in spring of 2007
Sigma Sigma Phi - An Honorary Osteopathic Service Fraternity
San Diego, California – AOA Conference - 2012
Membership Criteria
 Chi Chapter accepts applications for membership.
 Our criteria for invitation are currently:
 Must have a 3.8 GPA or higher at VCOM at end of first
year or second year
 Must have no current or pending academic
deficiencies
 Must be considered in good standing with VCOM (e.g.,
no current or pending behavioral infractions, no
academic probation, etc.)
 Must be willing to provide advice or counsel to other
medical students or potential medical students on the
values and benefits of being an osteopathic physician
Requirements to Maintain
Membership
 Maintain GPA – 3.65
 Students with a GPA below 3.65 after induction will go under
probation and review
 Complete Board Question of the Day Requirement
 Attend SSP events
 Students who do not meet the requirements for continued
membership will be placed on probation and go under a review
by the Sigma Sigma Phi faculty advisor and Dean’s Council
 Recommended Service Hours
 2nd years – 20 hours/yr (10 hours/semester)
 3rd and 4th years – 10 hours/year (5 hours/semester)
Major SSP Projects
 Board Question of the Day
 To expose ourselves and our classmates to board questions
on an everyday basis, we post board-type questions and
answers on the large TV screens outside of the classroom.
 This year, as a requirement for membership in the
organization, each member must write 2 board style
questions with answers. These will be posted up on the big
TV screens daily.
 Current 4th years have to write 1 original COMLEX 2 PE “tip” and 1
original COMLEX 2 board question
 Current 3rd years have to write 2 original COMLEX 1 board questions
 Current 2nd years have to submit 2 original COMLEX 1 board questions
by the end of the year
Major SSP Projects
 VCOM’s “Golden Apple” Award for Excellence in
Teaching Practices
 The purpose of the “VCOM Golden Apple” is to recognize those
faculty members who are dedicated to educating, mentoring
and inspiring the students of VCOM. The award is entirely
based on students’ nominations and elections. Students are
asked to consider the faculty members’ teaching skills/style,
enthusiasm for teaching, professionalism, and approachability
and availability for questions when making nominations and
during the final voting process.
 One biomedical and one clinical faculty member are selected
as winners. Both professors are presented with a plaque as
well as a restaurant gift certificate.
 A larger plaque containing the names of this year’s winners, as
well as space for future “VCOM Golden Apple” winners has
been placed in the school display case.
And the winners were…
Dr. Igor Danelisen, M.D., Ph.D
Biomedical Faculty
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
And the winners were…
Dr. Cathy Callahan, M.D., M.P.H
Clinical Faculty
CM– OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
Safety Day – First Aid Kits
 Assembling first aid kits for children between the ages of
6-13
 Members will volunteer on Safety Day to hand out the
first aid kits
Board Review Jeopardy Game
Night
 Use Jeopardy game system
 Each team consists of 3 students
 Need members to form a committee to formulate
questions
Academic Related Service
 Class Resource Committee
 Tutoring
 VCOM Ambassadors
 White-Coat Ceremony
 Graduation Attendants
 Research Day
 Morale Booster Events
Future Plans and Ideas
 Board question of the day – make a Q bank as well as
24/7 access to board questions of the day via our VCOM
specific website for students: VCOMDO
 Community Service Specific to SSP
Any Questions?