First St. Bonaventure FHCP StudentBegins Medical School in D.C.

By Tom Missel
Director of Media Relations/Marketing

Shawn Sood’s blood still runs brown, but he was thrilled to don a white coat at his new home in the nation’s capital.

Sood, class of 2009, is the first Franciscan Health Care Professions graduate to move on to medical school at George Washington University. He earned a degree in biology and his master’s in business administration.

The dual-degree major from Katy, Texas, was one of 177 members of the class of 2013 to take part in the traditional White Coat Ceremony welcoming first-year students into the George Washington University medical community. During the ceremony, students are presented their white coats, recite an oath and sign an honor code pledge.

“The ceremony definitely crystallized that I could see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Sood said. “The fact that my white coat will say Shawn B. Sood, M.D., four years from now is exciting … but also a little scary.”

A dozen family members attended the Aug. 22 ceremony, which Sood called “a wonderful and exciting experience,” one shaped by his time spent at St. Bonaventure.

“I already have a strong foundation in the sciences thanks to Bona’s … but the biggest thing I gained from going to Bonaventure is the realization that medicine is much more than a science,” Sood said. “Being able to relate to my patients and showing empathy are traits of great physicians and by cultivating these qualities at Bona’s, I feel that I will be able to offer my patients much more than just a diagnosis.”

Sood said classes so far “are a bit overwhelming. Time management and repetition are vital to success in medical school. But the courses are fascinating and pertinent, so it doesn’t make studying too bad.”

He urged students in the pre-health programs at Bonaventure to cherish their time as an undergraduate.

“It’s important that you take advantage of everything Bona’s has to offer,” he said. “Go nuts at a basketball game, spend an evening at Mount Irenaeus, get to know your professors — really take in what great opportunities you have as an undergraduate there because you will definitely miss Bona’s when you leave.”

Under the umbrella of the Franciscan Health Care Professions program, St. Bonaventure has several avenues for students to pursue a medical career: acceptance as freshmen into a combined degree program, the opportunity to apply for early assurance admission to medical schools as sophomores, or as traditional pre-med students who will seek enrollment into doctoral programs after they complete their SBU careers.

The combined degree program grants talented freshmen acceptance into professional school upon entry to St. Bonaventure, which has programs with George Washington University (medicine), Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (medicine and pharmacy), University at Buffalo (dentistry), Daemen College (physical therapy), and SUNY Upstate Medical University (medicine).

Pictured, Shawn Sood (far right) receives his white coat in a ceremony for new med students at George Washington University Medical Center.
(Photo courtesy of St. Bonaventure University)