Noorda-COM Peer Pointers 2024

peer pointers

COM 2028 CURATED GUIDE

Simple tips, tricks, and success stories for the start of your journey as a physician, backed by those who’ve already been there, done that

Getting a medical education is a huge investment of both your money and your time! While the journey can be challenging, it's also an exciting opportunity for growth and professional development. We want to be sensitive to your needs and help you to feel at home here over the next four years. Can you believe it?

After so many applications, interviews, and endless researching, you’ve made it.

A Day-in-the-Life, Pod learning, and 4-year summary

recs

“I love attending Noorda-COM because it feels like being part of a supportive family, where faculty and staff genuinely care about my success and well-being

The flexibility of the curriculum allows me to tailor my education to my interests and goals, fostering a dynamic learning environment that encourages exploration and my growth.

With unwavering support from both peers and faculty, I feel empowered to embrace challenges and thrive as a future physician. ”

THIRD-YEAR STUDENT, COM26

‘Thriving’ as a physician…. isn’t that the goal?

While you’re waiting for that blessed white coat ceremony to start YOUR journey, you can count on your entire Noorda-COM family to keep you on the path towards becoming a lifelong learner and compassionate physician

HOUSING & TRANSPORTATION

Whether you’re planning on staying or coming to Utah early, here’s a few helpful tips on housing and transportation when you get here!

If you haven’t already, view this spreadsheet to see a list of current students’ housing recommendations or find out who’s looking for a roommate.

There are also frequently used Facebook groups for rental housing in Utah County.

Utah County rentals (homes, apartments) 1. For Rent in Utah 2 Provo and Orem Housing 3

If you have a location or type of housing you're looking for, we recommend searching that on Facebook to find a group for it, because there are many other groups.

Finding affordable, safe, and convenient housing is important to all of us.

Contact Dean Himmelsbach at studentaffairs@noordacom.org or visit your PURL to receive recommendations tailored to you and your lifestyle.

So you’ve already secured housing. What’s next? >>>

The newly refurbished Salt Lake City Airport is only 50 minutes away from campus if you want to fly through an international hub. Or, catch a flight out of Provo Airport, just up the street from your future home.

Public transportation in Provo and Orem is highly utilized by college students, making it a safer experience

The Utah Transit Authority, or UTA, offers several kinds of public transportation, including the FrontRunner (a commuter train that runs from Ogden and SLC airport to Provo), the UVX (a local bus for Provo and parts of Orem), and even shuttles into ski resorts for winter sports enthusiasts

PEER PRO TIPS:

Utah highways also feature carpooling lanes, so if you’re planning on bringing a car and driving with at least one passenger, you can get to your destination faster!

Biking lanes are also prevalent with rentable scooters at most pedestrian-centric locations

P R E F E R G E T T I N G A R O U N D W I T H O U T A C A R ?

TAKE A TOUR

Noorda-COM was built specifically with YOU in mind. So here’s a quick tour of your future home and a few of our favorite “amenities.”

Our college is situated next to I-15 (great for commuting) overlooking the beautiful Uintah-Wasatch Front and rolling greens of Timpanogos Golf Club.

NOT ONLY ARE THE VIEWS PHENOMENAL, BUT WITHIN ITS WALLS YOU CAN ENJOY...

70 LEARNING PODS

Complete with furniture (living room-style or conference roomstyle), a TV for streaming, whiteboard walls, and a wall of windows in every single pod for optimal exposure to natural light

CHECK OUT PAGE 24 FOR AN IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION OF WHAT YOU WILL DO IN PODS AS A STUDENT.

LOCKER ROOM

INDIVIDUAL SHOWERS

INDIVIDUAL & GROUP STUDY SPACES

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS

LOUNGING AREA

PINGPONG + ENTERTAINMENT TABLES

SPACIOUS STUDENT LOUNGE

SURGICAL SUITE + SIMULATION CENTER

“The simulation activities at NoordaCOM have been amazing experiences!

“The simulations with state-of-the-art mannequins (i e Apollo) are equipped to replicate any medical situation

As a third-year medical student, the simulations have prepared me well for the real-life medical scenarios that I have encountered on my clinical rotations.

One of my favorite simulations involved delivering the baby and placenta of the pregnant mannequin Lucinda in various scenarios such as a breech presentation and postpartum hemorrhage

The simulation activities have allowed me to strengthen my clinical skills, apply my knowledge in a practical setting, and practice effective communication with a team of medical professionals.

[They] have been formative learning experiences that will help me become a well-rounded physician.”

APARNA NAIK THIRD YEAR

18 OSCE ROOMS

(OBJECTIVE STRUCTURED CLINICAL EXAMINATION)

These immersive experiences mimic a clinic-style visit and require students to interact with a patient actor, offer a diagnosis, and create a treatment plan. Students are also trained in bedside manner and compassionate communication

ANATOMY LAB

Including touchscreen walls (for watching lectures or pulling up diagrams) and an advanced ventilation system

OMM LAB

Students can move mounted TVs to their practice table and practice techniques on peers.

OTHER UNIQUE SPOTS

A A “Reflection Room”, where students can quietly reflect, meditate or practice their faith

B A “Micro Market”, for students, faculty, or staff to grab food and beverages on the go

C Various studying spaces (cubicles and booths) throughout the building and its library

D Frequent food trucks on campus for mid-day meals

E A mini kitchen/dining area with multiple refrigerators, microwaves, and seating

BELONGING & CULTURE

The Office of Inclusion offers support to all members of campus through educational events and office hours, and its mission, initiatives, and expansion are supported by the DEI Committee, which includes representation from students.

We pride ourselves in building a community of collaboration over competition, within individual cohorts and across the entire student body. There are many organizations across campus to help students find their community, including:

A COMPLETE LIST OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

American Medical Women’s Association

Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons

Latino Medical Student Association

Jewish Student Association

Muslim Student Association

Medical Student Pride Alliance

South Asian Medical Student Association

Student American Academy of Osteopathy

Student Government Association

Student Osteopathic Medical Association

Student National Medical Association

Book Club

Business and Personal Finance Club

Chess Club

Global Health and Surgery Club

Green/Environmental Club

Noorda-COM Medical Student Pride Alliance

Ski & Snowboard Club

Anesthesiology Interest Group

Cardiology Interest Group

Dermatology Interest Group

Emergency Medicine Interest Group

ENT Interest Group

Family Medicine Interest Group

Functional Medicine & Nutrition Interest Group

Hematology-Oncology Interest Group

Internal Medicine Interest Group

Neuro/Pysch Student Interest Group

Neurosurgery Interest Group

Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group

Ophthalmology Interest Group

Pathology Interest Group

Pediatrics Interest Group

PM & R Interest Group

Radiology/Interventional Radiology Interest Group

Sports Medicine Interest Group

Surgery Interest Group

Underserved and Rural Medicine Interest Group

Wilderness Medicine Interest Group

Have ties to Utah 46% 54% 19.8% 70 37 46%

Female

Male

Underrepresented minorities*

*Mixed or Asian students are not included in this number, which is defined by AAMC

First generation college students

Different states represented

INTERNAL

RESOURCES

Support resources aren’t the backup plan, they are the plan! There are a variety of resources to help you keep flourishing.

MENTAL HEALTH HELP

Our Headspace Suite provides access to:

Psychotherapy referrals

Psychiatric care

Behavioral coaching for you (and up to 5 people in your support network!)

12 built-in sessions with a licensed therapist or psychiatrist 24/7 counseling for emergent needs

Meditation and sleep assistance

WELLNESS DEPARTMENT

Did you know that Noorda-COM requires its students to complete one hour of wellness per week? This wellness curriculum also includes access to:

Sessions with a mental performance coach

Opportunities for interprofessional education

Several wellness activities throughout the semester (trail mix “make ‘n take” bars, cider and tea

ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE

Our Learning Services team and Director of Academic Success are here to aid your academic journey Together, they can offer: Individual assessments to inform your studying, test-taking, or board-prep strategies

Personalized, weekly (or monthly) studying plans

Free, unlimited access to peer tutors

BOARD-PREP RESOURCES

Noorda-COM provides many free tools to assist your pre-clinical years of board prep, including: Osmosis

Amboss

USMLERx Bricks and associated question bank (Q-Max)

Peer and faculty tutors

Additional question banks, to be added during your second year

EMERGENCY SUPPORT

If you’re in a tough spot, we have additional resources that may provide temporary assistance:

Gnome Noms: Backed by our Student Affairs team and generous donations of employees, Gnome Noms is an easy way to access simple support. From granola bars to toilet paper, Student Affairs keeps this area stocked yearround.

The Noorda Cares Fund: A fund students can apply for in the case of a variety of financial emergencies

ACADEMIC & CLINICAL EXPERIENCES

KEEP READING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR:

Learning Pods

Anatomy Labs

OMM Coursework

OSCEs (objective structured clinical examinations)

Other Simulation Experiences

Third and Fourth Year (Clinical) Rotations

Research Opportunities

Elective Classes

Year-by-Year Comparison of All Curricular Opportunities

“The mix of small group sessions, research, labs, and clinical experiences has been a great way to reinforce and get a broader understanding of the material we’re learning.”

– Maria, COM25

AT A GLANCE

AT NOORDA-COM, PEOPLE MATTER MOST.

WE ARE THE HOME OF:

Student-centric, flexible curriculum, via learning pods

An anatomy lab unique to the nation, with touchscreen walls allowing for a blend of digital and physical learning

More immersive simulation experiences, via task trainers, patient simulators, and professional patient actors, integrated into Simulation Center and OSCE experiences

Unique access to cuttingedge technology elective classes, including a Butterfly Ultrasound class, where students practice on Vimedix task trainers

Tailored research opportunities, beginning in your first year, to add to your residency CV

Early-on clinical experiences via volunteering at health fairs, the Volunteer Care Clinic, or Kaufusi’s Keikis

An elective track with emphasis in global health, research, rural, or military medicine

A dual MBA program through UVU, and an MPH program with University of Nebraska (coming soon)

LEARNING PODS ALL FOUR YEARS

A Noorda-COM education is unique because students do not attend classes in large lecture halls. Rather, they meet daily with peers and consume coursework through pre-recorded videos, in custom-made study rooms, called “learning pods”.

LEARNING PODS ARE UNIQUE TO THE NATION,

And were first conceptualized by Noorda-COM’s founding dean

All pods include:

A widescreen TV, for watching content

Whiteboard and glass walls, for note-taking or anatomical diagramming

Portable charging “blocks”, whiteboard markers, and other relevant materials

Students can choose from a conference-room style pod (long tables and chairs) or living room furniture (couches and plush chairs)

A TYPICAL DAY IN PODS:

Every day, students meet with their “podmates” (groups of 2-8) to review lecture content. Each video includes a “pod play” quizzes or case studies designed to solidify a student’s understanding of a concept. Pods typically meet for 2-3 hours each day.

During pod time, students can reach out to their faculty with any questions or to get clarification or help on concepts. After pod, students engage in independent study, participate in labs or clinical rotations, or conduct research. Students also watch newly released content to prepare for pod the following day

POD CONTENT + USAGE BY YEAR:

First-years: Meet as a group to discuss assigned videos and work on active learning exercises from foundational biomedical sciences (e g biochemistry) and clinical courses

Second-years: Meet as a group to discuss assigned videos and work on active learning exercises in systemsbased (e g cardiopulmonary) and clinical courses

Third-years: Meet in a pod dedicated to the specialty (rotation) you’re currently part of and study that topic

Fourth-years: Reserve a pod to study outside of your rotation, if needed

ANATOMY

(FIRST SEMESTER)

Students (in groups of 3-4) will participate in weekly, scheduled anatomy labs on prosected specimens Beside each specimen is a touchscreen wall, where students can watch lecture content or zoom in on anatomical diagrams (And our ventilation system prevents smells from permeating areas near the lab )

Supplementary (optional) anatomy lab resources include:

Lab access, outside of scheduled times, to study with your group

Open lab office hours, conducted by anatomy faculty

Review labs for second-year students (to review anatomy concepts specific to their courses)

The Advanced Anatomy Dissection elective (for second-years)

Opportunities for cadaveric research

(ALL FOUR YEARS)

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are a life-like simulation assessment, where students don their white coats and interact with a professional patient actor in one of Noorda-COM’s 18 OSCE rooms (OSCE rooms are designed to look like a primary care or clinic examination room ) Upon entering a room, students are assessed (via live video feeds) on communication skills, diagnosis, and treatment plan formulation Rubric expectations increase every year

OMM

(ALL FOUR YEARS)

Each week, students watch their OMM lectures and then attend in-person labs In lab, small groups of students are led by a faculty member and practice the OMT techniques they learned that week (Assessment in OPP consists of written exams, practical exams, and “practice practicals”

situations where students receive formative feedback in a low-stake, low-stress environment ) Learning is enhanced by our “customizable” lab, which has mounted TVs that can be moved to a student’s preferred area and used to review lab content (or work in small or large groups)

Supplementary (optional) OMM resources include:

Attending weekly, faculty-led “open labs”, for extra practice

Receiving tutoring from peer teaching assistance

Enrolling in the OMM Teaching Assistant Elective Digital resources, such as osteopathic ebooks, an OMT video library, and other databases to support students’ learning or research needs

SIMULATION EXPERIENCE

In addition to OSCEs, students have simulated clinical experiences throughout each year:

First year: Usage of task trainers in first semester

Second year: More OSCEs, including conducting real pelvic, breast, and/or prostate exams on patient actors

Third year: Usage of the hospital suite in the Simulation Center, which includes practicing on patient simulators of all ages (Professional patient actors are often brought in to make the experience more immersive Student doctors will treat a patient simulator while an actor pretends to be a nurse or upset family member.)

Fourth year: Additional hospital simulations

(ALL FOUR YEARS) CURIOUS

RESEARCH

REQUIRED PARTICIPATION

Research Foundations (required all four years) A series of required courses that teach the basics of clinical research and board-relevant research skills. (Research Foundations coursework decreases in intensity during a student’s third and fourth year because of rotations.)

Research Foundations also includes participation in a faculty research mentorship if the student chooses.

Assignments and annual events (required all four years) Required, culminating events that combine RF course and lab work, including our annual case study event and Noorda-COM Research Symposium.

OPT-IN

Research mentorships: Students execute research projects in a faculty member’s lab. (A mentor “match” event is held at the beginning of the second semester.)

Research track: An opt-in, four-year-long emphasis that provides extra classes and opportunities in research, including a summer research project.

Research electives (optional for third and fourth-years enrolled in research track): These courses provide students with advanced training, preparing them to be a clinician scientist in their targeted specialty.

Journal Club: A club that teaches students how to read, interpret, and apply scientific literature. (Journal Club attendance is mandatory for all research track students but also highly encouraged for non-research track students.)

External opportunities: Voluntary opportunities for students to join external research groups or present their research, abstracts, or posters nationwide. (Funds will be provided for students to attend local, regional, national, or international meetings as outlined in the Application for Noorda-COM Student Research Presentation Travel Funding.)

WHAT EXACTLY WILL I LEARN?

Over four years, our students will receive experience in literature reviews, research methodologies, data collection, data analysis, and lab work; technical writing, abstract creation, grant writing, and research presentation These curricular and lab experiences will help them graduate with “start to finish” research skills, including their name on published, scholarly research articles! At NoordaCOM, we prioritize early-on research experiences because it bolsters a student’s residency CV (ERAS) and prepares them to actively contribute to the advancement of medicine

ROTATIONS

Noorda-COM students complete clinical rotations in their third and fourth years.

These rotations cover the following areas:

Third-year: Complete six week-long rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, surgery, and psychiatry

Fourth-year: Complete “elective” (specialties not covered in third year) and audition rotations in your area of interest

Clinical Education will have the flexibility to work with Noorda-COM preceptors (or any preceptors that you have relationships with) to create your rotation experience

ELECTIVE COURSES

Noorda-COM’s curriculum emphasizes integration of technology

Students can experience this in pod learning and simulation experiences, but also through electives, like our Butterfly Ultrasound elective In this class, students get two use two pieces of technology: handheld ultrasound and Vimedix task trainers (These particular Vimedix trainers are task trainers with advanced features that allow students to examine over 150 pathologies and see 3D images.)

Interested in learning more about your future coursework? See a full list of our course topics and descriptions here.

HIGHLIGHTS YEAR-BY-YEAR

The following information only represents required academic and clinical experiences. (Elective courses, in topics such as anatomy, ultrasound, or research are typically available for second-years or above )

First Year Second Year Third Year Fourth Year

(first semester)

Simulation experiences:

Task trainers

OSCEs (second semester)

Research

Clinical experiences:

Volunteering at health fairs

Simulation experiences: Task trainers Escalating OSCEs (including live pelvic, breast, and prostate exams on patient actors)

Research (increasing in skills and publications abstracts, literature reviews, case studies, primary research publications each year)

Clinical experiences: Volunteering at health fairs

Helping at the Volunteer Care Clinic (primary care) Conducting health screenings on children through Kaufusi’s Keikis

Simulation experiences: OSCEs

Simulation Center hospital suite

Patient simulators and patient actors

Research

Clinical experiences: Six week-long rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, surgery, and psychiatry

Simulation experiences: OSCEs

Simulation Center hospital suite Patient simulators and patient actors

Research

Clinical experiences: Elective and audition rotations in your area of interest

FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, & NATURE

As many older cohorts will reaffirm, you've just moved to an interesting little city that rocks the "small town feel" while also offering countless restaurants, creative entertainment options, and breathtaking hikes within a 15–30-minute drive.

FOOD

Craving something that’s not listed? Just check Google Reviews! Provo citizens are great at reviewing restaurants and helping you determine whether something is worth a try.

Lunch

Black Sheep Café

Don Joaquin's/any street taco place

Café Rio

Lovely Pho

Cubby's

Sam's Club (hot dog combo for $1.38!)

Aubergine

Food trucks in our backyard on campus!

Coffee

Other food to try

Peace on Earth Coffee

JJ's Coffee Co

Rugged Grounds

Starbucks or Dutch Bros

Tru Religion

Sweet's Island Place

The Provo Farmer's Market

JCW's and CHOM Burger

Don Joaquin's and Red Tacos

Bombay House

Communal

Mozz

Waffle Love

Brooker's Founding Flavors (ice cream)

Penguin Brothers (dessert)

Swig (specialized soda)

ENTERTAINMENT

Go bowling or roller skating

Take the FrontRunner to SLC, pay for an electric scooter, and explore downtown/spend some money on nightlife or a good restaurant

Score points at Top Golf

Shop in Park City

Catch a Jazz game in the Delta Center

Visit ABG's Bar or Comedy Sportz in downtown Provo

See a play in the Hale Centre Theatre

Go country or Latin dancing in downtown Provo

Take advantage of Provo Rec Center classes

Heart and Seoul Karaoke

Play Pac-Man at Nickel City

Visit the Wick Lab and make your own candle

Watch Utah’s newest NHL team

$0

Stick near home: Host a game night, put on a movie, or go hot tubbing

Experience nature: Longboard down Provo Canyon, have a picnic at Sundance, drive to Park City or along Alpine Loop, fish in the Provo river, camp in a canyon, or have a bonfire

Explore the area: Walk around downtown Provo or University Mall; visit Sugar House in SLC

Exercise: Play disc golf, pickleball, or frisbee in the park; rock climb, swim, or hike

If a location ends with "canyon," then it will be beautiful and worth the visit.

Some of our students’ favorite spots are:

Anywhere in Provo Canyon like:

Khyv Peak

Sundance Ski Resort

Bridal Veil Falls

Vivian Park

Stewart Falls

Fifth Water Hot Springs

Mount Timpanogos (in the summer)

Rock Canyon

American Fork Canyon

Especially Tibble Fork Reservoir or Cascade Springs

Utah offers a wide variety of scenery from redstone cliffs to mountainous meadows and activities. We have lots of recommendations for hiking, backpacking, skiing and snowboarding, or even just a scenic drive or lookout points.

Make sure to download the All Trails app for updates on hiking, mountain biking, running, backpacking, walking, or road biking recommendations. (Like Google Reviews, Utah County residents frequently update All Trails with reviews and photos.)

PEER PRO TIP:

Spotlight: HPSP

HPSP is a scholarship agreement between medical students and the Air Force, Army, or Navy.

If a student receives an Armed Force HPSP scholarship, that scholarship will cover:

100% of their tuition

The majority of other student fees

A monthly stipend (for 10.5 months)

Upon receiving an HPSP scholarship, a student agrees to:

Be on active duty for 45 days each year

Complete an “away” clinical rotation (typically an audition rotation) at a military facility

LEARN MORE & READ A STUDENT TESTIMONIAL >

Once an HPSP student has grad from a medical school and comp their residency program, they ar required to work for the military four (or more) years (Service de on a variety of factors, including a student doctor began the HPS program, how long they continue the program, and whether they s up for additional benefits.)

If you have a medical issue or ar interested in the military route, th Veterans Affairs (VA) has an HPS scholarship available, too! Like t branch HPSP scholarship, the VA scholarship covers your entire tu (But without requiring you to me physical fitness standards that th Force, Army, or Navy would requ VA HPSP students are also offer small stipend and are expected complete a six-year service commitment after they’ve finishe their residency (Students serve years for every year that they received the VA HPSP scholarsh

“ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I HAVE EVER MADE”

“Like many HPSP students, I initially decided to apply for the scholarship because I didn't want to leave medical school with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt.

The whole process to getting accepted takes about 6 months to a year depending on your recruiter but is generally pretty easy to complete and has been incredibly rewarding I was excited to get accepted into the Air Force's HPSP because of their numerous pediatric residencies, so make sure to look into which branch will be right for you after medical school

READ JAMES’ STORY; THIRD YEAR STUDENT DOCTOR

What I didn't anticipate prior to becoming an officer was the amazing community of student doctors and physicians I was joining

One unique feature about working in a military environment is that the military is a surprisingly small world the friends you make in one place will likely work with you again in the future! Because of this I have found an unexpected sense of belonging. The friends I made here at Noorda (which has one of if not the largest group of HPSP students in the nation) and at officer training are some of the most amazing people I know

We are excited to be able to help American soldiers and their families all around the world!

Being an HPSP student also makes you eligible to participate in the military match for residency programs, which takes place three months before the civilian match. Military residency programs are some of the best in the nation in every specialty, and almost all of them are associated with large hospitals that treat a diverse patient population. Matching into a military residency also means that you make an additional $30,000 - $60,000 a year compared to other residents, meaning that residency won't be an additional 3-5 years of living off of student wages

All in all, becoming an HPSP student has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, right behind choosing to come to Noorda!”

WHITE COAT CEREMONY

Since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the white coat has been a shining symbol of the purity and prestige of medicine, setting apart those with academic credentials. Throughout the 20th century, it became the ultimate badge of medical authority and respect, representing the incredible advancements that proved the bond between patient and doctor.

For you, wearing the white coat marks the start of an extraordinary journey. It signifies your entry into the world of medicine, armed with both scientific knowledge and clinical skills. This "cloak of compassion" also stands for your unwavering commitment to professionalism, care, and the trust you must earn from your patients

At the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine White Coat Ceremony, we proudly welcome you into the esteemed community of physicians, celebrating this powerful symbol of compassion and honor

For more details about the White Coat Ceremony, visit: www.noordacom.org/events/whitecoat