Alumni Senate Meets in Downers Grove

Nine members of the MWU Alumni Senate recently met at the Downers Grove Campus for their annual meeting. It was the first visit for several of the Glendale alumni, and everyone got their first look at the brand new Science Hall.

The Alumni Senate is a group with representatives from each of the University's colleges and programs. Their purpose is to provide opportunities for interaction and networking among alumni, to be a resource for the University in all issues involving alumni, and to develop programs to meet the needs of alumni. For the past several years, the Senate has been focused on developing interdisciplinary continuing education programs that provide topics and speakers that alumni would not be able to receive in their discipline-specific professional meetings. In 2008, the Senate hosted a program on Metabolic Syndrome in Napa Valley. In 2011, the Senate hosted a program on In-Office Procedures in Glendale. And in 2012, the Senate is planning a program on Technology and Social Media in Healthcare in Downers Grove.

Back: James Gunn, PA-C (IL), Karen Ewing (Manager of Alumni Relations, Glendale), Ruth Ann Peace, D.P.M. (AZ), Virginia Boomershine, Pharm.D. (AZ), Sara Bader, PA-C (AZ), Mike Harmon, M.H.P.E., Chair (AZ), Patrick Hogan, D.O. (AZ), Me; Front: Barb Wysocki (Director of Development & Alumni Relations, Downers Grove), Karen Weeks, M.P.T. (IL), Pamela Georgeson, D.O. (IL), and Susan Cornell, Pharm.D. (IL).

The Alumni Senate is reflective of the University's commitment to educating the healthcare team. The group is able to discuss topics and issues from the perspective of the many health professions that MWU represents. They appreciate that health problems are inter-related, and alumni from the different disciplines can enrich the education for all participants.

One of the favorite parts of my job is getting to know our alumni, and our alumni senators in particular are an incredible group. They are successful in their professionals and they are committed to giving back to the University. They are the best examples of how and why interdisciplinary healthcare is really the best way to practice.

Photo: Pamela, Susan, and Sara pose with a friend in the Skills Lab

Following lunch, we took a walking tour of Alumni Hall and the new Science Hall led by a current CCOM second-year student, Jamie Ellis. We learned that Jamie is the daughter of a CCOM alumnus, and she also works as a mentor in the anatomy department. The alumni got to see Hyde Atrium and then hit the highlights of the brand new Science Hall, including the testing center, dental simluation lab, OMM skills lab, and the anatomy lab.

It was a wonderful Saturday spent with a great group of alumni who are proud of their alma mater and excited about remaining involved. Plans are moving ahead for next summer's CE/CME program in Downers Grove. I can't wait to see what final topics we have on how social media is impacting medicine and how health providers can better leverage this new technology to improve their practices and patient care (both benefits and pitfalls). Stay tuned!