You are taking a momentous step. The physician and ethicist Edmund Pellegrino wrote: “It is a daring and transforming experience to attempt to heal another person.” The day you begin medical school is the day you begin this daring and transforming experience. You are entering into the profession of Medicine and all that it imparts upon you and demands from you. You also are becoming an integral part of the large, diverse and exciting community of the Icahn School of Medicine and the Mount Sinai Health System. And if you are not one already, you are becoming a New Yorker, a daring and transformative step itself!
We in the Department of Medical Education are committed to helping you make the most of your experiences. Orientation will introduce you to all facets of the medical school—the curriculum, the physical space, the community, the faculty and staff, and the support and resources available to you. You will learn about the courses, our research endeavors, and the art of listening. For the first time as a medical student you will hear the perspective of a patient, a reminder of why you here and an acknowledgement that the patients you interact with over the course of your training will also be your teachers. This guidebook contains the details of Orientation. We hope that you find it useful. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us in Medical Education for concerns or for further information.
We look forward to getting to know you all during your time at ISMMS and to support you through this important endeavor.