Hattiesburg, Miss., July 30, 2013 - The William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) welcomed new medical students with orientation activities beginning July 29. Included in the three-day orientation schedule are welcoming sessions, distribution of medical instruments, lectures on study skills, overviews of courses, a student organization fair, a breakfast sponsored by Crowne Apartments, and a Mississippi State Medical Association membership recruitment reception. The students will also be treated to a picnic sponsored by the WCUCOM Student Activities Association on July 31.
This is the fourth WCUCOM class, Class of 2017, and it is composed of 108 students selected from 2,247 applicants. Of the 108 new students, there are 56 men and 52 women, ranging from ages 21- 47. Among the group there are 109 bachelor's degrees, 54 master's degrees, and five doctoral level degrees. The majority of the students are from or have ties to the Gulf-South U.S., with 37 from Mississippi, 18 from Texas, 15 from Louisiana, nine from Alabama, seven from Florida, five from Arkansas, two from New York, two from North Carolina, two from Ohio, two from Tennessee, one from California, one from Colorado, one from Georgia, one from Kansas, one from Minnesota, one from Oklahoma, one from Oregon, one from South Carolina and one from Jamaica.
The Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association, Area Development Partnership, City of Hattiesburg, Forrest County Board of Supervisors and VisitHATTIESBURG will host a private reception to welcome the new WCUCOM medical students and faculty on Tuesday, August 6, at the Historic Depot in downtown Hattiesburg. The annual White Coat Ceremony for the new class will be held on August 17 at 3 p.m. in Smith Auditorium.
WCUCOM is Mississippi's second medical school and first college of osteopathic medicine.