Making Memories 28th Annual Medical Student Dinner

by Deanna Wooten, DCMS director of membership/member services

As a physician, medical school always will hold special memories for you—some very fond, others perhaps more painful. Because we know that medical school was an important time in a physician’s life, DCMS enjoys celebrating this with you. This is our 28th year to invite member physicians to sponsor students at our medical student dinner.

Physicians who have never sponsored a student at the dinner may be unaware of the tremendous impact the event has on the students. But the following recollections demonstrate the influence of established physicians making time to talk with their future colleagues, who have completed only their first week of at least 4 years of intense study.

"This probably is the best meal that medical students will have for the next four years. We got honest answers from physicians in a multitude of specialties. We listened to the most up-to-date medical practice information." Richard Brown, MD (Attended in 1995)

"I remember feeling like I was being genuinely welcomed into a new professional fraternity by the medical community in Dallas. I also remember being quite flattered to be invited to dinner by the medical society at such an early point in my career. The biggest impact this event can have on incoming medical students is instilling in them a sense of pride in our great profession and letting them know that we view them as our future colleagues." Howard Huang, MD (Attended in 1996)

"I remember feeling impressed that so many physicians from the community thought our class of medical students was important enough to warrant a fancy dinner and their precious evening time. I sat at a table of women physicians of different generations. They spoke candidly of their struggles and successes. Seeing so many women having achieved so much empowered me. The evening was a warm welcome into the medical community of Dallas." Dana Peterman, MD (Attended in 1996)

"I attended the DCMS dinner in 1998 and remember it very fondly. It was great fun to see my new classmates all dressed up and out for the evening, but it was even more memorable to meet Dallas physicians who were welcoming us into their group of future colleagues.  I certainly hope the tradition of the DCMS welcome dinner continues for decades to come." Callie Emery, MD (Attended in 1998)

This dinner continues to be one of our most popular functions, so don’t miss it. As a patron, you can mentor one or more students with your $140 donation, which will provide dinner for yourself, your guest, and two students (or one student and spouse). You will sit with the students during dinner. These students are eager to hear about your experiences surviving medical school and choosing a specialty.

If you’re unable to attend, you still can participate! Please make a tax-deductible contribution to sponsor a student or two and continue this excellent tradition. The students are told who has paid for their dinners, so your contribution will be directly acknowledged. The dinner is being hosted by the Dallas Academy of Medicine, the medical society’s charitable foundation. All contributions for student meals are tax deductible.

Join DCMS and Dallas Academy of Medicine as we “take you back”—at the 2003 Medical Student Dinner, from 6-8 pm Sunday, Aug 24, at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel, 2222 Stemmons Fwy. Reservations must be received by Monday, Aug 18. For reservations or for more information, contact Deanna Wooten, director of membership, at 214-948-3622, ext. 231, or e-mail deanna@dallas-cms.org.