VCOM - Auburn 2017 Yearbook

scholarships & leadership

T his year, a new group of SAMOPS members took over the reins and have since been working diligently to build upon the successful foundation that was laid by the inaugural class. During this new year, we have established a working relationship with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organizations to arrange a 9/11 memorial event for the coming fall. We have established contact with the Army and Navy ROTC organizations on the Auburn University campus in order to offer additional educational training opportunities to our members, as well as the Auburn campus ROTC members. SAMOPS is also committed to continuing its partnership with the Emergency Medicine club by sending members to become certified to lead BLS certification classes. We continue to work closely with our faculty advisor, Paul Brisson, MD, to help us sponsor different educational clinics for the coming year such as radiology and suturing clinics. Additionally, a few of our outstanding members organized a Memorial Day bike ride event that raised $1,000 for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Foundation. This group helps returning veterans deal with the struggles of PTSD and other psychological health conditions acquired during time in service. We are extremely proud of what we have built so far, and we look forward to the opportunities and friendships that lie ahead of us. In addition to defending the freedom of the United States, SAMOPS members at VCOM-Auburn are working hard to better themselves as future physicians. We are also working to educate community members not only about the armed forces, but also about VCOM-Auburn and the osteopathic profession. I am especially honored to be a part of the VCOM- Auburn SAMOPS family, and I am glad to be a part of an organization that contributes to the betterment of our military service members.

Matt Pickich 2nd Lieutenant

U.S. National Guard SAMOPS President, Class of 2020

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