For fourth-year students at the Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-WCOM), the journey toward a medical residency is filled with preparation, reflection, and a renewed sense of purpose. This June, nearly 140 fourth-year osteopathic medical students (OMS) participated in a special mock-networking event and blessing—an experience designed to help them sharpen their professional presence and celebrate the path ahead.
The event allowed students to engage directly with peers, faculty, and staff from across the university, as they prepare for their next big step: residency interviews.
“We're preparing for interviews right now, so being able to get one-on-one time with people and practice ice-breaker questions is a great opportunity, and having all of these people here, you get to practice that skill,” said Matthew Hastings, OMS-4.
Hosted as part of MU-WCOM’s Graduate Medical Education Week, the event featured a series of mock interviews, personal branding workshops, and interactive sessions aimed at helping students feel confident and prepared for real-world conversations with hospital residency programs. Nearly 50 Marian faculty and staff volunteered their time as interviewers, offering constructive feedback and encouragement to help students polish their communication skills.
Beyond networking and interview prep, the experience reflected Marian’s holistic approach to student formation. The event concluded with a blessing, led by the Office of Mission Integration, affirming each student’s vocational calling and the sacred responsibility of a healing profession.
At Marian, smaller class sizes and individualized support continue to make a difference. Whether students pursue family medicine, surgery, internal medicine, or other specialties, the university remains committed to preparing future physicians who lead with competence and compassion.