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MINGA NEW GENERATION in 2007. She stayed on in Baltimore at the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health, earning a master's in health sciences with specialties in reproductive and cancer biology. Her proud mother, Maria Warner of Joliet, Ill., says she didn't have any real anxiety on her second- eldest daughter's big, pre-M1 day. "Christina has gone through crunch times before. She's very determined and focused." And what did Christina make of the white coat formalities? "It's exciting and kind of unreal. Start- ing Monday, I'm going to hit it running," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, as if the first day of classes was just another day in the life of an aspiring young doctor. mance in school. "Ask, 'How are you doing?'—not, 'How's school?' " Second-year Matt Stier, who hails from downstate Normal, Ill., added that parents can be an outlet for students, especially in the begin- ning when many are faced with the anxiety and excitement of being in a new city and making new friends. He also politely reminded moms and dads that it's unhealthy to study, study, study relentlessly, 24/7. "It's okay [for your kids] to 'have a life' and hang out with friends. It's a healthy release." Scholarly stress is inevitable, especially in the med-school environs, A but it's all about how people handle the stress. "There's no 'right way' to study," noted second-year Brian Bamberg- er, a Glen Ellyn, Ill., native enrolled in the five-year MD/MBA program. "The keys are efficient study habits and time management." By capitalizing on their preferred learning styles, students can help themselves tremendously, as some retain information better via hands-on labs or listening to lectures, while others may prefer reading lecture notes or using online resources via the College of Medicine Web site. Beyond creating a conducive environment for learning, "What else do medical students need?" asked Jay Goldstein, MD '78, professor and N HOUR BEFORE their children donned physicians' white coats for the first time, the Warners and the other parents were invited to listen to a panel of four current students who shared insights on their own medical school experiences. Third-year student Lauren Teverbaugh said her first year was an overwhelming and humbling experience. "It tests your self esteem because you're not getting all A's anymore," she recalled, encouraging relatives and friends of the Class of 2014 to inquire about the student's overall sense of well-being, not just their perfor- L E F T: Javette Orgain '72, MD '81, MPH '05, delivered Christina Warner as an infant 24 years ago; she was among those who delivered Warner into the medical profession. A B O V E : The 195 members of the Class of 2014 don their white coats ready to start their medical education. vice head of clinical affairs, who moderated the student panel. "They need money, so get out your checkbooks," he quipped to parents. "Make sure they're paying their rent and eating." The importance of taking care was echoed at the 17th annual White Coat Ceremony in the UIC Forum. Keynote speaker Sonia Oyola, MD, Res '00, advised incoming students to listen to their patients and listen to their bodies. "Ensure your own physical and mental health," pleaded the assis- tant professor of family medicine at UIC. "This is not the time to abandon your passions." Medical Alumni Council Chair John C. Mason Jr. '53, MD '55, Res '59, told the incoming students about the advice he received from his father, John C. Mason Sr., MD '27, nearly 60 years ago. On a rare visit to campus, the elder Mason was concerned, suspecting that his son was sleep-deprived; he had driven up at night after a busy day at the office, and he conducted an examination in consultation with five of his son's class- mates. "Dad diagnosed me with fatigue and all the anxiety symptoms," John Jr. said. "He asked them to keep an eye on me and make sure I went to bed." Like Goldstein, Mason, Oyola and more than 10,000 other med students before them who have survived and thrived during their UIC experience, David Heimberg and his college classmates will do well to take such advice seriously. "David will make a great physician no matter what field he choos- es," said his grandmother, Gerri Heimberg, who was on hand for the white coat festivities. "This is the proudest moment of our lives," enthused par- ents Conrad and Ellen Heimberg. "It's a thrill," added his father, "but not a surprise. He has achieved at a high level ever since grammar school." Just remember to eat and sleep, David—but not in class! I L L INOI S MEDICINE | 17