Empowering Future Physicians: Conversations with Dr. Michelle Solik, Part 2

In the first part of this two-part series, we dove into Dr. Michelle Solik’s education, career, and how it shaped her into an educator and mentor. In this second part, we will hear more about her role at MU-WCOM and how she intends to lead students.

Why She Chose Academic Medicine

I wanted to know what drew Dr. Solik into academic medicine initially. She told me, “I had a lot of really great faculty mentors who really invested time and energy into me and I recognized that in order for me to be a really strong doctor, I had to not only really invest in myself by studying hard and taking advantage of the experiences, but also taking advantage of the people that were around me and the insight they have, the experiences they’ve been through and the knowledge that they have to share. All of that is education. It's not just about studying a book and taking an exam question, and answering an exam question, it's about all the other stuff, too.”

Beyond the Textbook

Additionally, we talked about the different aspects of academic medicine and how the field has so many opportunities. Specifically, she discussed the exposure to academic medicine she received when she was a chief resident. 

The Chief Year That Opened Her Eyes

“I think doing the chief year really solidified it for me in the sense that I had opportunities to go to national conferences and be able to see again the scope of academic medicine. It's not just confined to medical school and residency training experiences; it has so many different types of layers to it.

The Many Paths in Academic Medicine

There's a research layer, there's a professional development layer, there's so many different things that exist with it, and that was really exciting to me,” she explained. “I think that kind of helped spearhead my interests, and that, coupled with again my desire to want to always be around learners because they're curious, they’re excited, they’re motivated, they want to be really good doctors. And then of course, obviously also feeling like I wanted to play a role in helping to develop these doctors who are going to be taking care of me one day.”

From Residents to Students: Adjusting Teaching Expectations

I wanted to know how her experiences teaching residents have shaped her approach to teaching medical students. She told me, “One of the most humbling parts of coming into the medical school space is to remind myself that you guys haven't learned all of this stuff, and I have to recheck my expectations. I think you can meet those expectations of knowing some of this stuff. That’s been a little bit of an adjustment, but I think I’m getting there.”

High Standards, High Confidence

Additionally, we talked about the high standards she knows we can meet. The week of our conversation, all of the second-year students had been learning and practicing what a full neurologic exam entails, and Dr. Solik told me, “I want you guys to believe me when I say, ‘This is what the reality is, I want you to meet and rise to the occasion.’ I want you to know that you can do a full neuro exam, head to toe, and feel confident, and fluid, and thoughtful about it, and not even bat an eye.”

Her Role at MU-WCOM: Mentor and Resource

Lastly, we talked about her vision for her role here at MU-WCOM. She joked about the challenges of learning Canvas and how similar teaching is to parenting. Overall, she said that she, “...wants to be someone that people can walk into and vent to. I want people to say ‘give me some perspective on this, was I right, was I wrong, teach me how to understand this topic better’, or ‘hey, I’m trying to be an internal medicine doctor, I want to know what that might look like and what that means to you’.”

Final Thoughts: A Strong Addition to the Faculty

It is evident how great of an addition Dr. Solik is to the MU-WCOM faculty. Her experiences as an educator and mentor have prepared her for this next step in academic medicine. I am grateful to have had the time to listen to her talk about her career and her ambitions for her new role.

About the Author

Ali Orme is a second-year student at the Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is from Carmel, Indiana, and has an interest in internal medicine and preventative care. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending sporting events, reading, and attending yoga classes in her free time.

About Franc Notes

Discover the voices of Marian University's health professions students through "Franc Notes", a vibrant, student-led blog that embodies our Franciscan commitment to community, reflection, and compassionate service. Inspired by the rhythm of "SOAP notes," it features weekly insights—from "DO Diaries" interviews with physicians to summer reflections and program spotlights—fostering collaboration across disciplines."