Meet Gabrielle
Why choose Rowan-Virtua SOM?
To no surprise, Rowan-Virtua SOM has always been my first choice. I remember visiting the campus on a tour and immediately feeling at home. Not only is Rowan-Virtua SOM in my home state, but I knew that this was the institution that would give me the best education and make me into the physician I have always wanted to be.
Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Medical school will probably be one of the hardest things you will ever do, but let me reassure you that it will be the most rewarding. Just know that you are more than capable and you will be great. In the meantime, enjoy your free time now and get ready to unlock learning capabilities you never knew you had.
Is there help outside the classroom?
There is plenty of help outside of the classroom. Your classmates become like family and everyone is here to help each other. There are tutoring sources available for every course and reviews lead by upper classmen. There are also plenty of counseling and mental resources available. Here at Rowan-Virtua SOM, student mental health and wellness is a top priority.
- Gabrielle Montlouis, Class of 2025
Meet Chris
Why choose Rowan-Virtua SOM?
Attending a medical school that is rooted within the community was important to me, and Rowan has a presence in the entire state of New Jersey. Between early clinical exposures, diverse outreach programs, and longitudinal clinics, students are given countless opportunities to connect with the populations they serve. Moreover, we are supported by an amazing faculty. While they guide us closely, we are encouraged to explore ways to apply our unique talents and interests to innovate and transform healthcare. They emphasize to us to be more than students, but to be volunteers, agents of change, and leaders, no matter what year we are in. Just look at the vaccine clinic that was run here - it was run largely with the support of students and it was the first clinic in the country to utilize students for this kind of opportunity as an interprofessional learning experience. Incredible way to engage medical students and the community! Altogether, it is this sort of robust and collaborative environment that I believe creates versatile practitioners with the skills to treat the needs of the community amidst the ever-changing climate in healthcare.
Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Be you. Be proud of your accomplishments and stand by them. In the time it takes you to get to medical school, it's easy to fall out of touch with who you are because you try and present yourself as the ideal candidate. Stick to the things you love to do, enjoy them, and grow from them. That will make you the best person, and ultimately best physician you can be.
Why did you choose PBL?
Through five years as an ER tech, I came to appreciate the privilege and importance of learning through the realness of the patient. Through their story, and being involved in their care, I was able to develop a more personal understanding. The PBL curriculum allowed me to carry on this form of learning and collaborate closely with others. Being someone who learns best through context, having patient cases as the canvas to my learning makes the logic seem clearer, but moreover, makes it incredibly meaningful. For me, PBL is a way to celebrate the past experiences that drew me towards medicine and build on this foundation in a real and more profound way.
How do I know if PBL is right for me?
PBL encourages diverse learning styles and allows students to learn through direct application and group conversation. The material you need to learn is all done self-guided, meaning you put in the work outside of class to prepare for exams and cases. Though it may seem daunting, the support within PBL makes it not only doable but really fun. If you appreciate being able to work through the material on your own and begin applying concepts clinically on day one of medical school, PBL could be for you, and we'd love to have you.
- Christopher Laugier, Class of 2025 (PBL)
Meet Stevie
Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Take care of yourself! Medical school can be stressful, so it’s important to set time aside for hobbies you enjoy as well as maintaining relationships with friends and family.
What can incoming students do to prepare for medical school?
I highly recommend registering for the pre-matric program. It introduces you to the course load and material so you can revise your study habits before school begins. It’s also a great way to meet other accepted students and second-year tutors!
What would you like people to know about Rowan-Virtua SOM?
We are a family. My classmates are supportive of one another, the upperclassman are always available to impart their wisdom, and the faculty are approachable and attentive to feedback. Overall, the community at Rowan-Virtua SOM truly creates an environment that enables achievement and reduces stress.
- Stevie McDonald, Class of 2024
Meet Ali
Why choose Rowan-Virtua SOM?
Rowan-Virtua SOM truly feels like a family. The faculty and staff are here for you. The administration is here for you. And most importantly, your fellow classmates are here for you. I feel that Rowan-Virtua SOM fosters a collaborative and safe environment for me to learn as I progress on my journey to becoming a physician.
Is there help outside the classroom?
Yes, there is great support outside of the classroom for Rowan-Virtua SOM students. In fact, at Rowan-Virtua SOM there is an entire Center for Student Success where students can go for academic advising and coaching, board exam guidance and preparation, career and match advising, and much more! One of my favorite resources to use within CSS is the academic tutoring from upperclassmen who performed very well in the same classes I am taking now.
How do I know if PBL is right for me?
Both PBL and SGL tracks have their own strengths; and ultimately, it is all about figuring out how you learn best. If you are someone who has strong time management skills, likes the freedom to explore learning through many different resources, works collaboratively with peers, and dedicates time to learning, then PBL is for you! I highly recommend shadowing a PBL session to see how things work in our curriculum. My shadowing experience was what solidified my pursuit of PBL!
Do you think there is a benefit to PBL beyond the classroom?
100%. As a PBL student, you spend each and every day of your first two years in the classroom relating what you are learning back to real-life patient cases. This is going to make you well prepared for your 3rd and 4th year rotations, and you will be extremely comfortable interacting with your patients, ordering tests, and creating differential diagnoses.
- Ali Harb, Class of 2024 (PBL)
Meet Wilson
Why choose Rowan-Virtua SOM?
It was easy! Their goals and mission aligned with how I wanted to be trained as a physician. Rowan's belief and proactive nature with diversity and inclusion was a big part of why I chose to come here.
Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Try to avoid delayed gratification. This journey is a long and gruesome one. Don't wait until you are an attending physician to begin "enjoying" life. Life is now, enjoy the little pleasures of life and celebrate the little victories along the journey.
What class has surprised you the most?
Not one specifically, but I've been amazed at how much my brain has adapted during class blocks throughout the years. It is incredible how much information the human brain can hold. The amount of material you have to assimilate is tremendous, but as you train and get better at learning, the work becomes easier.
What would you like people to know about Rowan-Virtua SOM?
I've worked closely with the administration as the class representative for almost 3 years now. I've seen how much goes on behind closed doors and can confidently say that Rowan-Virtua SOM genuinely cares and wants you to succeed and to be well-rounded physicians by the time you graduate.
- Wilson Nyah, Class of 2023