"Questions from Milwaukee” Q & A with Reed Colling, MCW-Green Bay M4

 From the 9/18/2020 newsletter

Student Perspective

Life as an MCW Regional Campus Student

"Questions from Milwaukee” Q & A with Reed Colling, MCW-Green Bay M4

Associate Editor Olivia Davies (MCW-MKE M4) asks Reed Colling (MCW-GB M4) questions about what it’s like to be a student at one of MCW’s regional campuses.

Olivia: “Regional campus students have a different curriculum than MKE students. Refresh me on how that works, and what do you like better about it?”

Reed: “The curriculum during the M1 and M2 year are actually identical. The main difference is earlier clinical exposure and less time for electives. On the Green Bay campus, we start our core clerkships during the summer after M1 year. While it is challenging to start clinic before learning all the pathophysiology presented in the M2 year, starting to develop our clinical skills early on is super helpful as we progress through our education. One downside is there are only six weeks available for electives. By graduation, the difference between the main campus and the regional campuses is actually only twenty weeks of instruction.”

Olivia: “I know you’re applying Emergency Medicine (EM) this year and decided to do a fourth year, what does that process look like at a regional campus? How is your fourth year different than an M4 student on the MKE campus?”

Reed: “While the goal of the regional campus is to graduate as many students in three years as possible, the administration is very supportive of students pursuing whatever specialty fits them best! After you take USMLE Step 1, you submit an application requesting a fourth year outlining why it is necessary for your career path. In EM, you typically need to complete two EM rotations at a program with a residency which would not be possible during the accelerated curriculum. The application is then reviewed by both the MKE and regional campus. After a fourth year is approved, there is very little difference between an M4 student on the MKE campus and the regional campuses! We complete a mixture of rotations in MKE, on the regional campus, and away rotations.”

Olivia: “What’s one thing you wish Milwaukee students knew about being a student at a regional campus?”

Reed: “I think there can be a misconception that because the training does not take place in an academic center that it is less rigorous. Having done rotations at both campuses, neither is more or less intense, just different!”

Olivia: “What’s it like to be a part of a LARGE class (>200) but have a cohort of ~30 students you know really well? What benefits have you experienced as a part of a smaller regional cohort?”

Reed: “The smaller class size is one of my favorite things about being a student on the regional campus! The comradery that developed was really special and it wasn’t long until we were more like family than classmates. With a smaller group, it is easy to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses so that we can all come together to succeed as a class.”

Olivia: “What challenges have you faced as a regional campus student?”

Reed: “The biggest challenge being a student on the regional campus is time management. Because of the truncated timeline and accelerated curriculum, it is easy to get overwhelmed. For example, within an approximately six-month time frame we take USMLE Step 1, complete core clinical rotations, fill out and submit ERAS, enter interview season, and take USMLE Step 2 CS and CK. I’m tired just typing it!”

Olivia: “What’s your favorite thing about being in Green Bay?”
Reed: “The people. Everyone really goes above and beyond to make us feel welcome and like

we are an integral part of the community. The occasional free Packers ticket doesn’t hurt either!”

Reed Colling is a fourth year medical student at MCW-Green Bay applying to residency in emergency medicine. He is passionate about public health advocacy and improving diversity and inclusion in medicine.