A reception and information session Aug. 15 started the school year off right for parents of new School of Medicine students.
The evening session, put on at the Student Union by the Friends of the School of Medicine, drew scores of parents. Susan Storm, M.D. ’85, the Friends president; Brenda Rogers, M.D. ‘’90, associate dean of student affairs; and a panel of a half-dozen current students gave them valuable information on what to expect in the next year.
Rogers said the school was dedicated to the success of all students and offered a range of services that parents and students are encouraged to use, from financial advice to tutoring and other academic support. Storm encouraged the parents to join the Friends to make connections with other parents and help with activities that support their students.
Students on the panel, which included Storm’s son and daughter, also said the Friends group had helped their parents. “It was great for my mom, especially, to have other parents to talk with,” said Caroline Olson.
The students, ranging from second-years to a sixth-year, also explained some of the benefits and workings of the docent teams and the peer mentor system. A slide show also told about how the Friends support students, and how students often serve the community through UMKC’s Service Day and the Sojourner Clinic, which mainly serves the homeless population in Kansas City.
Many parents asked about housing options for next year, when their students no longer have to live in university housing. Storm advised not worrying about housing for fall 2020 just yet, and said the Friends’ next meeting, set for Feb. 29, would focus on housing options.
Before the presentation, parents had a chance to mingle, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and buy T-shirts especially designed for them.
