by Fredrick Harris, MMC GSR
Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)
- Students get to know each other at the MVSA Welcome BBQ
True to form, the school year at both Meharry and Vanderbilt are underway and are offering up new challenges and exciting opportunities. Both institutions are striving hard to produce worldwide leaders in healthcare professions, and are trying to accommodate avenues that spark the student’s interest. This is an area where the Meharry-Vanderbilt Student Alliance (MVSA) comes into play. The umbrella organization-determined to unite both institutions in their plight-offers an exciting avenue to open discourse among the school within the healthcare field. MVSA kicked off an exciting year with their annual ‘Back to School Barbeque’. With over 90 students from both institutions in attendance, the barbeque offered an excellent opportunity to network and discuss classes, projects, and commonalities/differences among the two schools’ graduate, dental, nursing and medical programs. As with any meeting among “shy” college students, the barbeque started off a bit reserved; however, before long students were shaking hands, smiling, and exchanging pleasantries as if they had known each other their whole lives. The author welcomed the experience and, like those in attendance, is eagerly marking his calendar for next year. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
The barbeque was almost a segueing tool into the first MVSA meeting. It allowed the MVSA to reach out and get more people excited about MVSA activities for the upcoming year. The first meeting featured students that were interested in MVSA’s mission. It also featured a guest lecture from Dr. Mary Fleming, MD. Dr. Fleming earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt and is currently doing her residency in Nashville General Hospital at Meharry. She entertained patrons with her assertion of the “deadliest disease in America”. Students were engaged and eager to ask questions concerning the topic. The calendar of events for the upcoming semester was also unveiled and some new ideas were presented. If the barbeque and the first meeting are any implication of the events MVSA has in store, the year is shaping up to be an exciting one. A year filled with a heaping portion of education and community service filled events, with a side of good fun! Laissez les bons temps rouler!
View all of the photos from the BBQ at our facebook page.