Healthcare club gains traction

A new club for those interested involved in health sciences or interested in the medical field provides students with experience and information. For pre-medical students wanting volunteer hours and a community full of people who will help them continue their career in the medical field, Philiatros is the answer.

Philiatros, Oklahoma Christian University’s health sciences club, is now offering volunteer work as well as hosting professional speakers for any students interested in the medical field and to better equip them for acceptance into professional programs. Meetings are held every other Monday at 7 p.m. in room 207 in the Harold Science Hall.

Since all pre-medical students need volunteer hours to qualify for admission into professional schools, Philiatros has begun a new volunteer work program. The Treasurer of Philiatros, senior Jessie Hampton, claims that the fact that the group now offers volunteer work is especially helpful to students going into the medical field.

“You need a lot of hours of volunteer work to be really considered for medical school, just because they get so many applicants and they only have a few slots, so they can be really choosey,” Hampton said. “They want those who have proven that they have a heart for caring for other people, so the way they do that is they look for volunteer experience.”

Along with the new volunteering program, Philiatros will continue to invite speakers to share about their experiences in the medical field. President of Philiatros, junior Helen Holmlund, said the speakers are all skilled at what they do.

“[Philiatros] exposes you to a variety of fields by allowing [students] to hear from speakers in a variety of fields, so basically we try to get speakers from medical schools and we try to get a variety of health professionals,” Holmlund said.

Senior Corey Spence said that the speakers are beneficial and come prepared to give quality advice.

“The speakers will often prepare heavily for their speeches,” Spence said. “As in they will even give handouts and tell [students] you will want to have so-and-so to qualify yourself for admissions, like you’re going to want to have shadowing experience, and they give you about every angle you could need.”

Spence also commented on what Philiatros was created to do.

“[Philiatros] is built for the students to [get] some interaction in the professional world and time with the medical environment,” Spence said.

Senior Brad Litzkow commented on how Philiatros helps students interested in the medical field.

“It allows all the people who are trying to get into the medical field options to see what all is out there,” Litzkow said. “It helps them figure out what they can do – what they want to do postgrad-wise, once they leave OC.”

Senior Jonathan Bates said the speakers Philiatros invites show all the varieties in the medical field.

“I think it helps to know the different areas in the health field that [students] can go into and then, because a lot of the people that we have come in to speak to them are professionals, they are really good at giving them advice in helping them to succeed in getting in those professional schools,” Bates said.

Bates also said that Philiatros offers advice to students simply interested in the medical field.

“We try to get students who are interested in health careers to come and we give them some advice on how they can get into professional school and have people come and talk to them to show them their options of what they can go into in the health field,” Bates said.

To join Philiatros and participate in activities, Holmlund says that individuals just have to show up to the meetings and show interest in the group.

“Just come,” Holmlund said. “Everyone is welcome. We award official membership to those who show up to 70 percent of the meetings and we give out certificates at the end of the year.”

Having participated in Philiatros, Spence expressed his interest in having other students check out the group.

“I found it very beneficial when I first came into it because I am a biology major to go to med-school,” Spence said. “If you are interested in the professional medical field, it’s definitely something you should check out.”

The club isn’t necessarily just for medical students though.

“I would encourage people to come,” Holmlund said. “Even if you aren’t dead-set on a health profession, you may be inspired to consider a healthcare profession.”

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