CIM Organizations: A Closer Look

It is a common stereotype among medical students to have no life outside medicine, but for us in CIM, it will remain just that, a simple generalization that does not hold any truth. In the Cebu Institute of Medicine, every student is regarded as a valued entity whose intelligence goes forth beyond the four walls of the classroom and outside the vicinity of the school building. Just because we are studying medicine, it does not mean that being smart is only limited to the concepts of medical knowledge, and CIM has delivered that well through the different organizations it has allowed its students to handle and be part of. 

The CIM student organizations include Alpha Mu Sigma Phi (AMSP), Total Outreach for Community Health (T.O.R.C.H.), Cimphony, and The Caduceus. To start with, AMSP and T.O.R.C.H. are both organizations of brotherhood and sisterhood with the vision of service and altruism. Cimphony, on the other hand, is the renowned choir of the school, while The Caduceus is the official school publication.

What better way to acquire a closer look on each one than through the eyes of those who are not just part of the said organizations, but of the leaders themselves. AMSP is represented by its Most Illustrious Brother, Mitchell Arabia; T.O.R.C.H. by its Brotherhood President, Glenn Tiu; Cimphony by its President, Bede Ilano; and The Caduceus by its Editor-in-Chief, Dena Desabille. I asked them a few questions which they willingly answered despite their busy schedules, and I have been endowed with the honor of sharing their words for the awareness of the whole student body of their existence and vision.

1. How does your organization help in molding CIM students to become true physicians with a heart?

• Mitchell (AMSP): Alpha Mu Sigma Phi helps mold the CIM students to become true physicians with a heart by acting as a role model and guide for the students. Moreover, it provides the students a second family where the spirit of brotherhood emanates as the influence of selfless service expected of a true physician with a heart.

• Glenn (T.O.R.C.H.): T.O.R.C.H. has always stood for community involvement and professional development. These are done through outreach, special projects that can serve those in need, and teach our members various skills (e.g. circumcision, other minor surgeries, tutorials) for each individual’s journey on becoming a “Physician With A Heart!”

• Bede (Cimphony): Cimphony teaches one how to work together with a diverse group of individuals toward a common and enjoyable goal. In our case, it is to bring beautiful music to people and patients alike.

• Dena (The Caduceus): In its role as the official student publication of CIM, The Caduceus essentially creates and strengthens connections among students. First, it serves as their avenue of information dissemination of important news for and by fellow medical students. Second, it is a great way for self-expression to get in touch with our inner musings and pensive thoughts.

2. What programs or projects does your organization have in store for the CIM community?

• Mitchell: Our programs are not only limited to enhancing the students’ mental capacities (e.g. reviews, tutorials, etc.), but also include developing one’s physical capabilities (e.g. jogs, zumba, other projects) and teaching students how to deal with different types of people and provide them service through outreach programs. 

• Glenn: This year marks our silver anniversary, and with that, we have a lot on our plates. We have expressed our desire to involve more students (even non-members of the organization) in our outreach programs. Also, we’re excited about our party for Dr. Narciso Tapia’s kidney fund – we are, after all, one CIM community.

• Bede: After the success of the inaugural concert, this December, we are planning to hold our second concert with a beneficiary in mind. Aside from that, we will have our traditional hospital ward carolling.

• Dena: The Caduceus will be utilizing two online social platforms, namely Facebook and Blogspot to improve its role as a student publication. On October 2014, we plan to conduct a writing workshop that is open and free for interested CIM students. We also aim to release a hard copy of The Caduceus come January 2015.

3. What is the impact of the organization in your journey as a medical student of CIM?

• Mitchell: Being the Most Illustrious Brother of Alpha Mu Sigma Phi has taught me how to deal with the pressures of being a medical student, as well as life in general. It has also taught me how to value of time, responsibility, and most importantly, the people around me.

• Glenn: T.O.R.C.H. is a family, more than an organization, and with that, no one gets left behind. As students, it is important for us, to have a ROCK to hold on to, a SHOULDER to cry on, a FRIEND to party with, a SISTER to tell secrets to, a BROTHER to tell you when you’re wrong, and most importantly, a FAMILY that is with you every step of the way. That’s what T.O.R.C.H. is to me.

• Bede: Cimphony has given me an outlet to express the hardships of studying medicine by turning them into beautiful music. It has also given me a loving and caring family to support me through life in medical school.

• Dena: I am hoping that being the editor-in-chief of The Caduceus will leave a positive impact in my life as a student of CIM. May it serve as an outlet of creativity, a relief from the rigors of medical school, and a means to communicate with other medical students.

Written by Janellie Blithe Tam of Batch Vertex