VCOM - Carolinas 2016 Yearbook

SAMOPS Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons

Brianna Goley, President; Alex Champion, Vice President; Matthew Grimes, Treasurer and Secretary

S AMOPS is dedicated to serving rising military osteopathic physicians. The organization meets this goal by helping further their medical education and deepen their commitment to serving the men and women of the Armed Forces today and in the future. In the spring of 2015, SAMOPS planned events centered on team building and preparing both mentally and physically for life as military medical officers. Members participated in a ropes course, completed a practice military Physical Fitness Test (PFT), and selected former Army Special Forces Medic and member of the VCOM–Carolinas

Class of 2016, 2nd Lt. (Dr.) Charles Maxwell, to speak to the organization about military medicine. SAMOPS hosted Lt. (Dr.) Leslie Myers, USN, MC, graduate of the VCOM–Carolinas Class of 2015 to speak about “Applying to Military Residency,” and also volunteered at the Promotion Ceremony for the service members of the VCOM–Carolinas Classes of 2015 and 2016. Current SAMOPS members hosted a luncheon for the incoming HPSP recipients at the beginning of the 2015-2016 year. We recognized Patriot Day (September 11) on campus with

a flag-raising ceremony and keynote address by 2nd Lt. (Dr.) Charles Maxwell. For Veteran’s Day, the organization collected thank you letters from St. Paul Catholic School and presented them to local veterans at the Spartanburg VA Clinic. SAMOPS has consistently hosted a practice night at a local firing range once per block for its members, and for the first time this year, competed with the Pediatrics student organization (ACOP) in a friendly shoot-off. Members look forward to continuing the safe practice of firearms, learning about military rotations, and attending officer training this summer.

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