Colby-Sawyer is proud to announce that four pre-medical students were selected to participate in the 2018 “Med Student for a Day” program sponsored by Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine. Biology majors Yonatan Degefu ’18 of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ben Maines ’18 of Abbot, Maine; and Rhiju Tamang ’18 of Kathmandu, Nepal; along with exercise science major Brady Dion ’18 of Sabattus, Maine, attended the event at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) on Monday, April 2.

“Med Student for a Day” has been an annual event at DHMC since 2007. Students attend lectures led by medical school faculty, learn about N.H. health career opportunities, tour the facility with current medical students and meet with admissions staff.

Maines, who will apply to medical school in 2019, appreciated having a preview of the medical student experience. “I better understand the nitty gritty details of medical school, like financial aid and residency placement,” Maines said. “I also enjoyed the networking opportunities and the chance to chat with medical students about their experiences.” This summer, Maines will work at the Geisel School of Medicine as a student coordinator before spending a year volunteering with a medical nonprofit abroad.

With plans to apply to medical school in the coming year, Dion enjoyed meeting current students and getting a glimpse of their worlds. “I learned what life as a medical student truly is like, and how to conduct myself once I become a medical student,” he said. “Additionally, [the program] gave me an opportunity to practice my networking skills — to step out of my comfort zone, ask questions and make new connections.” While completing his medical school applications, Dion will work at Central Maine Medical Center as an exercise physiologist in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

In total, 16 students were selected from Colby-Sawyer, Franklin Pierce University, Keene State College and the University of New Hampshire.