Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Virginia Campus
Blacksburg, VA
Sigma Sigma Phi – Honorary Osteopathic Service Fraternity
Chi Chapter
San Francisco, CA – AOA Conference – October 24, 2010
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Executive Board
 President – Vignesh Rajan
 Vice President – Samantha Klebe
 Treasurer/Secretary – Erin Syers
 Membership Chair – Clint Kellogg
 Advisors – Fred Rawlins, DO and William King, MBA
Current Members
 Chi chapter started in 2007
 Application Process for Membership
 Currently 88 Members
 Class of 2011 – 57 Members
 Class of 2012 – 31 Members
 Class of 2013 – Pending
Member Selection Process
 1. Applications sent to students who have
maintained a GPA of 3.75 or higher
 2. Screen applications
 3. Acceptance letters
Member Selection Process
 Our criteria for invitation are currently:
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Must have a 3.75 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
Member Selection Process
 The application consists of seven questions
covering:
 Club involvement
 Leadership
 Community service
 Academic service
 Commitment to Osteopathic Medicine
 A clear service statement
 Indication to become a member of SSP
2010 Activities
 Safety Day First Aid Kits
 Board Question of the Day
 VCOM Golden Apple Award
 Boards Review Jeopardy
 Honor Cords for Graduating SSP Members
Community Service
 Safety Day
 First Aid kits for kids in the community
Board Question of the Day
 Board Question of the Day
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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.
 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. These
questions can be from any study QBank
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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
VCOM Golden Apple
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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.
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One biomedical and one clinical faculty member were
selected as winners. Both professors were presented with a
plaque as well as a restaurant gift certificate.
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Criteria
 Faculty members teaching skills/style
 Enthusiasm for teaching
 Professionalism
 Approachability and availability for questions
VCOM
2010 VCOM Golden Apple Award Winners
Dr. Igor Danelisen, M.D., Ph.D
Dr. Cathy Callahan, M.D.
Biomedical Faculty
Clinical Faculty
Anatomy and Physiology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Boards Review Jeopardy
 SSP members each wrote 20 Jeopardy style
questions with from board review books
 Entry fee of 5 dollars/team
 Teams comprised of three students competed in
the Boards Jeopardy game
 Winners received trophies
Service Through Academics
 Tutoring
 VCOM Ambassadors
 Research Day
 White Coat Ceremony
 Graduation Attendance
Community Service
 Mini Med School Program
 Free Clinics
 Anatomy Summer Enrichment Experience
 Remote Area Medical Mission
 International Missions
 Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras
Future Plans
 Monthly Meetings
 SSP Chi Chapter Website
 Continue Boards Jeopardy as an SSP event
 Continue First Aid Kits as SSP Service Project
Questions?