Hi there MS16er! - Pritzker School of Medicine - University of Chicago

Hi there MS16er!
We hope you’ve been enjoying your July! With hot sunny days, fun festivals, outdoor concerts
and BBQ’s at the beaches, summer is in full swing here in Chicago! Orientation is just around
the corner, and we are very much looking forward to you all joining us at Pritzker soon. We sent
out a general Orientation schedule in the previous mailing, and you have most likely noticed that
the first few days of the weekend will be really busy. We encourage you to find time in the last
few weeks of July to take care of last minute errands (i.e. housing issues, banking, health
insurance, shopping, financial aid, etc.) and maximize your relaxation time (i.e. napping and
lounging, and napping some more)! At Orientation, you will meet many wonderful Pritzker staff
and faculty members, get to know your classmates and other Pritzker students, and learn much
more about the wonders to come over the next four years. Orientation will officially begin at
8:00 AM on Thursday, August 2 nd , in the BSLC lobby (924 E. 57 th St., Chicago, IL 60637).
In late June you should have received information via email about creating your U of C CNET
ID. This ID will serve as your University of Chicago email address and will be the username
and password with which you will log on to U of C websites, including Chalk (online site for
your classes), cMore (online site for accessing grades, billing info, and other administrative
info), myUChicago portal, the wireless network, and more. Once you have claimed your CNET
ID, you will be able to set up your University of Chicago email account and get access these
sites.
Last but not least, in this third and final mailing is the following:
“Save the Date” for some fun and adventure filled post-orientation activities
o That’s right, the awesomeness that is Pritzker extends way beyond the first few days!
Bios from our 2012-2013 Pritzker Chiefs
A letter from our Basic Life Support (BLS) group leaders about your BLS training
A flyer from our Pritzker Societies Orientation Committee describing our Pritzker Societies
and our Societies Field Day
o For a complete list of Pritzker student groups, including career interest groups, free
clinics, community outreach groups, etc., check out:
http://pritzker.uchicago.edu/current/students/organizations/index.shtml.
o Don’t worry about joining any groups just yet. You will be learning much more
about these student organizations during Orientation. For now, this is just to
highlight some of the extracurricular opportunities awaiting you.
A letter introducing the library resources available at the University of Chicago
A description of the medical equipment package that you will need during your time at
Pritzker, and an order/upgrade/opt-out form
Information on student health insurance

Information on student disability insurance
Introduction to the GROW (Guided Reflective Online Writing) Project
As this is the last mailing before Orientation, your mailboxes will no longer be stuffed with
Pritzker envelopes! We wish you one last congratulations and hope that you enjoy your last few
weeks of summer. Orientation will arrive before you know it! As we have mentioned time and
again, the Pritzker community is thrilled to welcome you to the family. And as always, please
email us with any questions, comments, or concerns. See you all in Hyde Park soon!
Sahi Denduluri
MS15
sahi@uchicago.edu
Emily Walker Stockert
MS15
emily9@uchicago.edu

Save the Date
Mark your calendars for these fun post-orientation activities!
Wednesday, August 8 th
All Society Day (evening)
Monday, August 13 th
MS1 First Exam—Alumni Bagels &
Coffee (morning)
Tuesday, August 14 th
Sunday, August 19 th
First Cut Day - Humanism and
Medicine Group (evening)
Non-Traditional Student Dinner
(evening)
significant others welcome
Thursday, August 16 th
All-Clinics Workshop (evening)
Saturday, September 22 nd
Field Day (morning)
significant others welcome
August/September
Faculty Dinners—throughout the
months of August/September
Monday, October 1 st
Boat Cruise!! (evening)
significant others welcome

Dear Pritzker Class of 2016,
Welcome to medical school! We hope you're as pumped as we are that you're joining our Pritzker
family! We're excited to meet you in just a few short weeks and wanted to take this opportunity to
introduce ourselves. Your O‐week chairs (Sahi and Emily), their classmates, and the Pritzker faculty and
staff have been working diligently to ease your transition to med school, and we hope to aid in this
process. As Pritzker Chiefs, we are three fourth years who function as liaisons between the students and
the administration. We also run mentoring activities throughout the year for all of the different classes.
This means we are here to serve you by listening when you have any concerns or need advice, planning
and overseeing activities, and ensuring that the Pritzker community remains as supportive and close‐knit
as it has been during our own time here. Here's a little bit about each of us:
Gabrielle Schaefer
Hi Class of 2016! My name is Gabrielle Schaefer, but you can all call me
Gabe. I am from Fullerton, CA and went to UCLA for undergrad where I
studied psychology. I took a couple years off and worked on setting up
a medical clinic just across the border in Baja (my day job was a being a
physical therapy aide: hilarious/good times with senior citizens of
Orange County). Then I came back to med school and I love it (the
worst day of medical school is 10x better than working). You are
probably wondering why is everyone so in love with Pritzker but just
wait ‐ you'll drink the kool‐aid. I live in Hyde Park and I love Chicago. I
always say my favorite restaurant is the next restaurant; I love to try
new chefs and there is no shortage in Chicago. I love the food here
even more than LA! I have spent my time at Pritzker doing QI research,
some volunteering, and participating on the University's Student
Health Advisory Board. Enjoy getting to know your classmates!
Daniel Kozman
My name is Daniel, aka Koz (since there are four of us in our class). I was
born in Boston and spent my early years on the east coast, but really grew
up in southern California. Ever since I was a kid, any free time I got was
spent doing anything involving music or the beach (and ideally some
combination of the two!). I went to UCLA for undergrad and studied
physiological science and public health. Chicago has been an incredible
place to attend med school, and you definitely are able to still take full
advantage of all the city has to offer. When off‐campus, you'll most likely
find me at whatever music or food festival is going on that particular week
in the city, or working with one of the many Pritzker community service
groups. Whatever your interests and hobbies are, you'll soon find that you
share them with many of your incoming classmates ‐ so you'll have plenty
of partners in crime to explore the city with!

Jason Espinoza
Hello and welcome to Pritzker! My name is Jason and I am one of the Pritzker
Chiefs for this upcoming year. I am originally from Phoenix, AZ and went to
the University of Arizona for undergrad where I majored in Biology and
Spanish. Everyone always asks why I would leave sunny/warm Arizona for
Chicago – well let me tell you, after a week here at Pritzker you’ll realize you
and I made the right choice. I came to U of C straight out of college and fell in
love with the city and the people here at Pritzker immediately afterwards.
Since moving here I’ve volunteered in the free clinics, helped mentor youth in
the Summer Service Partnership, and have participated in research projects
working with primarily Latino communities. When I’m not busy with school
activities, I’ve loved exploring all Chicago has to offer – food, live music, the
lake! Hope you are excited to begin this amazing chapter in your life, and look
forward to meeting you all in a few weeks!
Please don't hesitate to come to us with any questions or concerns when you see us around, or you can
always email us at pritzkerchiefs@bsd.uchicago.edu. Just know that we are one of the many resources
available to you at Pritzker. We are really looking forward to meeting you all during your orientation
week, mentoring activities, and at Pritzker society functions. It's going to be a great year!
All the best,
Jason, Gabe, and Koz
MS13

Dear Pritzker Class of 2016,
On behalf of the members of the Pritzker Basic Life Support (BLS) Program, we would
like to congratulate you on your acceptance to the University of Chicago! We are excited
you have chosen to attend Pritzker. At the University of Chicago, we place great
importance on teamwork and patient safety. The Pritzker BLS Program is committed to
teaching medical students and all hospital staff the basic resuscitation skills that will be
necessary to serve as a team member during an emergency. These skills will prove
invaluable as you spend more time in the hospital and as a citizen in your everyday lives.
As a medical student, you are required to have BLS certification. You will be trained
and tested in basic life support skills during first-year orientation on August 3 rd and
4 th . This is a required training experience, regardless of any current level of certification
or prior experience. However, please feel free to notify us via email at
PritzkerBLS@yahoo.com if you are currently BLS certified or if you are currently a BLS
instructor, for the purposes of planning the training experience during orientation. Upon
demonstrating an adequate level of proficiency in BLS at the end of the training
experience, you will receive an American Heart Association Basic Life Support
certification card, which will be valid for two years. After 2 years, you will be able to
recertify with Pritzker BLS.
All materials necessary for this training experience will be provided for you and most
students find the information they receive during our training course to be sufficient.
However, there is also a supplemental text available, which you can purchase from us or
check out from the University of Chicago Library. It is the American Heart Association
Basic Life Support textbook, and it is on reserve at Crerar Library (call number
YM70647).
The BLS Program represents a wonderful example of student initiative here at Pritzker.
The students, with the support of the Pritzker School of Medicine faculty and
administration, maintain the equipment and staff necessary to teach several certification
classes a month for all members of the hospital staff. As a student at Pritzker, you will
have the opportunity to become involved with this endeavor by becoming a certified BLS
instructor. Should you wish to do so, check your e-mail inboxes in the first few weeks of
the quarter for an application and more information on our hiring process. Please don’t
hesitate to contact either of us with questions in the meantime. Again, we are very excited
you have chosen Pritzker and look forward to meeting you.
Jack Peace, MSII
Pritzker BLS Program Director
PritzkerBLS@yahoo.com
Kiara Tulla, MSII
Clinical Training Center BLS Faculty
tulla@uchicago.edu

PRITZKER
SOCIETIES
In addition to becoming a member of our Pritzker
community, you will also become a member of a society.
The four societies, named after famous University of
Chicago physicians and researchers, serve primarily as
social and advising networks. Your society will have
members from all four classes, and we hope you will
develop strong friendships with those people throughout
your time at Pritzker. Societies take part in many events
throughout the year, from fun dinners out to volunteering
to attending various events in the city. Each society has two
great advisors (pictured) who look forward to giving you
career advice or just chatting about life. While societies are
chosen randomly, we are confident your society will be a
great fit. We look forward to having you join one of our
societies!
-The Pritzker Ambassadors
PHEMISTER
Phemister is named for Dallas B.
Phemister (1882-1951), the first
professor of surgery in the new
Billings Hospital where he also served
as chair for 20 years. Advisors are
Dr. Elizabeth Kieff (left) and Dr.
Jason Poston (right).
COGGESHALL
Coggeshall is named for Dr. Lowell T.
Coggeshall (1901-1987), dean of the
Medical School for sixteen years who
contributed greatly to American
medical education through his work
with the AAMC. Advisors are Dr.
Brian Callender (left) and Dr. Mindy
Schwartz (right).

DELEE
The DeLee Society is named for
Joseph Bolivar DeLee (1869-1942)
who is often called the father of
modern obstetrical care. Advisors are
Dr. Patty Kurtz (left) and Dr. Tipu
Puri (right).
HUGGINS
Huggins is named for Dr. Charles B.
Huggins (1901-1997) who won the
Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1966 for his
pioneering discoveries regarding the
relationship between hormones and
prostate cancer. Advisors are Dr.
Shalini Reddy (left) and Dr. Nanah
Park (right).
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS!
On Saturday, September 22 nd , you’ll
have the chance to join your fellow
members of Coggeshall, Phemister,
DeLee, or Huggins to compete in the
biggest Pritzker Society event of the
year, FIELD DAY. The pride of each
society will be at stake as the four
societies compete against each other
in the various athletic (and not so
athletic) events throughout the
afternoon. As always, the day will end
with an epic tug-of-war competition.

PRITZKER FIELD DAY 2012!!!
Saturday, Sept. 22, 11:00am-3:00pm
The Midway
Your society’s HONOR, PRIDE, and
GLORY are all on the line!
Come join the Pritzker societies for:
Free Food ~ Water Balloon Toss
Three-Legged Race ~ Kickball
Soccer ~ Ultimate Frisbee
TUG-O-WAR!

Dear Member of the Pritzker Class of 2016:
Welcome to the University of Chicago Library, home to a large and rich research
collection. The Library holds more than seven million printed books, and the everexpanding
electronic resources currently include over 1 million e-books, thousands of e-
journals, and hundreds of databases.
The Library consists of six campus libraries, including the new Mansueto Library, a stateof-the-art
facility with a dramatic Grand Reading Room under a glass dome (pictured
below). The John Crerar Library is the biomedical and physical sciences library,
conveniently located across the street from the Biological Sciences Learning Center, where
most of your first year courses are held.
I am Deb Werner, and as a Biomedical Reference Librarian at the John Crerar Library, I
provide library instruction, orientation, and reference services. I am also the interim
selector for biomedical materials, so if you need a book or other resource the Library does
not own, you may contact me to request that I purchase it.
I can help you navigate the enormous range of Library resources. You may contact me
with questions about the Library, such as:
How do I find the full text of electronic journal (e-journal) articles?
How can I access e-journals from off-campus?
Which databases are available to find the latest research on a topic?
If you would like an in-person introduction to the Crerar Library, please feel free to contact
me. I would be happy to give you a tour of the library, introduce you to specific resources,
and discuss your research needs.
If you have any questions or concerns this summer, feel free to contact me at
dwerner@uchicago.edu. See you in August!
Best regards,
Deb Werner
Biomedical Reference Librarian
The John Crerar Library
The University of Chicago
773-702-8552
dwerner@uchicago.edu

PSOM-1 st Year Student 2012 Equipment Selection Sheet
Student Name:
Diagnostic Set:
Standard:
97200-MC - Diagnostic Set: Includes Traditional
Coaxial Ophthalmoscope Set, MacroView
Otoscope with Throat Illuminator, NiCad Handle &
Hard Case – $422.00 (Included in Tuition
Package)
Opt-Up: A
97800-MC - Includes PanOptic
Ophthalmoscope, MacroView Otoscope with
Throat Illiminator, Nicad Handle & Hard
Case (Standard + $105.00)
Opt-Up: B – if you selected “Opt-up A”, for an additional $30 you
can add the Traditional Coaxial Ophthalmoscope to the “Opt-up” A
option.
Choose ONE in each large box below:
Standard
(included)

Opt-Up A
(add $105.00)

Opt-Up A + B
(add $135.00)

Opt-Out*

Opt-Up
Get the 71900 3.5v Li-Ion Battery Smart Handle in your
Diagnostic Sets (+ $95.00)
Standard:
23804 Otoscope Insuflation Bulb with tip for
MacroView $7.00 (Included in Tuition Package)
Opt-Up
(add $95.00)

Standard
(included)

Opt-Out*

Stethoscopes:
Standard:
5079-xxxs : Tycos Harvey DLX w/free pediatric kit $126.00
(Included in Tuition Package)
____Black(325) ____Burgundy(326) ____Navy(327)
____Forrest Green(328)
Opt-Up:
5079-405S Stethoscope: Master Elite Electronic
Stethoscope (+ $84.00)
Standard
(included) (select
Color on Left)

Opt-Up
(add $84.00)

Opt-Out*


PSOM-1 st Year Student 2012 Equipment Selection Sheet
Blood Pressure Equipment:
Standard:
DS44-11C: Durashock Aneroid - $38.00
w/adult cuff and case
Standard
(included)

Opt-Out*

Additional Standard Items:
Educational Value Pack (pocket Snelen Chart inc) – No Charge
128 Hz Tuning Fork - $6.50
Dejerine Reflex Hammer - $7.00
EKG Calipers - $4.00
Standard (All
included)

Opt-Out*

Note: Items that are non-standard, will require you to pay the additional amounts listed
above at the time of delivery. Payments will be made to The Medical Store
*To opt-out, you must demonstrate to the course director that you have reasonable,
comparable equipment already. You’ll be asked to present this equipment in the next few
weeks to Dr Farnan. You will have at least 18 exercises over the first two years where
you will be expected to use your own equipment in practice and testing sessions, so we
want to make sure your equipment is in good shape.

2012-2013 Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP)
The University Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP) is underwritten by UnitedHealthcare Insurance
Company, and is administered by UnitedHealthcare StudentResources.
Information about the University’s 2012-2013 Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP) is
located here: http://studenthealth.uchicago.edu/page/insurance-2012-2013
August 2012 Health Insurance
The Pritzker Class of 2016 is in a unique situation in that they are arriving on campus before
the beginning of the University’s Autumn Quarter. As such, there is a gap between the date
you matriculate (8/2) and the date that the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan
begins (9/1). As such, we have negotiated a one-month student health insurance option,
Early Arrival Plan, for those who want/need health insurance for the month of August.
o This plan is not mandatory.
o You are NOT automatically enrolled in this plan.
o The cost of this plan for student-only
o $234.00 for Coverage Period 1 (8/1 – 8/31), or
o $143.00 for Coverage Period 2 (8/13 – 8/31)
o You can purchase this plan for dependents as well. (The link above includes
premium amounts.)
o To elect the Early Arrival Plan:
• You must first enroll in the 2012-13 plan year (see below) using the 2012-
2013 Insurance Enrollment/Waiver site:
http://studenthealth.uchicago.edu/page/enrollment-and-waivers-2012-2013
• Then you may enroll in the early arrival coverage using the website:
https://www.uhcsr.com/earlyarrivals/.
Questions about the early arrival coverage and enrollment process may be directed to
uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com or call the on-campus insurance office at 773-834-4543
(press option #2).
September 2012 through June 2013 Health Insurance
During the 2012-13 Academic Year, which begins September 1, 2012 and ends on June 30,
2013, health insurance coverage is mandatory.
All students will be required to satisfy the health insurance requirement in one of two ways:
1) Enroll in the University Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP), or
2) Apply for a waiver by certifying that you have comparable coverage no later than
October 26, 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please note that you will need to claim your CNET ID before you are able to enroll or
waive this insurance. (https://cnet.uchicago.edu/claimacct/index.jsp).
If you do nothing, you will be automatically enrolled in U-SHIP Basic coverage and the
Office of the Bursar will bill you accordingly.