Osteopathic Medical Mentoring
When I took my oath as an Osteopathic Physician, I made many promises. One promise was:
“I will look with respect and esteem upon all those who have taught me my art. To my college I will be loyal and strive always for its best interests and for the interests of the students who will come after me.”
If you look up the word “doctor” in the dictionary, you will find many definitions, two of which are as follows:
- a person licensed to practice medicine, as a physician, surgeon, dentist, or veterinarian.
- an eminent scholar and teacher.
With such a mandate, you now understand why I am so involved in teaching here at Well Spring Health Center. I not only see every visit with every patient as an opportunity to teach, but I choose to take into my office individuals choosing to learn the art of Osteopathy.
Occasionally I have a high school or college student spend part of a day with me to learn about Osteopathy. More often than not, I precept, or mentor, Osteopathic Medical Students for a month of clinical training during their third or fourth year of medical school. Medicine is one of those age-old professions that has classroom training, but the true heart of the learning process comes from working with someone within the profession, learning the art and philosophy of it, not just the facts. Keep in mind that learning goes both ways. I often am able to learn new techniques and information from the students as they bring in new ideas and up-to-date information from the classrooms they have just left.
This month I have the opportunity to work with a young physician, Dr. Joy P., just about to finish her specialty residency training in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. I feel honored to have the privilege to participate in each new physician’s training.
Eva B. Shay, DO
