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Winter 2016 UMHS Med Olympics

Posted by Scott Harrah
March 03, 2016

By Muhammad Siddiqui, SGA Secretary – Winter 2016

A spectacular day and event was underway as students put on their colorful team shirts on Saturday, February 20, 2016 for SGA's Winter 2016 UMHS Med Olympics. With prizes to be won, each team set out to win points for their own class while spending an eventful afternoon partaking in various games and celebrating our school spirit. Although the day began with grey skies and rain, the sun came out just in time. The afternoon proceeded smoothly and the event was a great success.

A number of professors showed face, with their families in town, and seemed determined to compete as contenders. Our fantastic cameraman, Dr. Prakash Mungli, had brought along his special lens and scope in order to fully capture the special moments at the semester annual UMHS Med Olympics.

The calm before the storm: This semester's Med Olympics was hosted on campus. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

The calm before the storm: This semester's Med Olympics was hosted on campus. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

The current SGA president, Rumeet Gill, began the introductions promptly. After opening the event with a welcome address and the itinerary for the day, each team was instructed to come up with both a name and cheer for the Team Spirit Rally. By no surprise, the upperclassmen’s Blue team of MED4/EBS5, started the event strong, putting on a lively and enthusiastic stomp show performance that would set the bar high for the remaining teams. The others followed suit, with each team’s performance bringing a unique and infectious energy. But truly, it was the professors of the Purple team - who had set out with the same resilience they practice in their teaching - that transformed the atmosphere and ignited an unparalleled sense of school spirit. Starting the day off with a bang, the Winter 2016 Med Olympics had officially begun.

The Blue & Red teams cheer on their competitors during the Team Spirit Rally. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

The Blue & Red teams cheer on their competitors during the Team Spirit Rally. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

In addition to the Team Spirit Rally, the activities for the day included dodgeball, a relay race, water-balloon toss, pie-eating contest, and a much-anticipated basketball tournament. This semester's SGA aimed to go above and beyond, for the first time awarding first, second, and third place prizes for the winning teams of Med Olympics. As the day progressed, the students' approach was no less competitive as are their exam scores, and the professor’s response was that of equivocal proportions, with Dr. Ambati exemplifying his athleticism and competitive nature through an outstanding performance during the basketball tournament, where he was shooting baskets from behind the three-point line.

Some of the UMHS staff & faculty that came out to take part in & support Med Olympics. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

UMHS staff & faculty that came out to take part in & support Med Olympics. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

Taking a break halfway through the games, a delicious smell filled the air as UMHS students, staff, and faculty alike, gathered once again under the tent for another Med Olympics first - a special BBQ for everyone attending, complete with a raffle draw to win one of two gift certificates, valued at $100.00 U.S. dollars each, for either Spice Mill or Marshalls. Beef burgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs were all on the menu, along with an array of sides, including potato salad from Sweet Cane, grilled corn, a bag of chips and, a bottle of water to help wash it all down. Thanks to some extra assistance from our kitchen's very own Ms. Love and Ertha, as well as President Ross and Marlene for allowing the SGA to use the UMHS Grill, everyone in attendance was able to come together and enjoy a delicious meal, making this event extra even more enjoyable. The faculty and staff, coming together with the students, also really helped to make this semester’s Med Olympics a huge success and one to remember. A special thank you to the members of the UMHS Student Government Association for all of their time and the tremendous effort that went into organizing and hosting this wonderful event. The Winter 2016 Med Olympics was, most definitely, one for the books.

Participants had their game faces on as they prepared for the Dodge Ball Game. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

Participants had their game faces on as they prepared for the Dodge Ball Game. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

After all was said and done, it was the Blue team (EBS5/MED4) that came out on top, stealing the show. Each member of the winning team took home a first place prize of the coveted UMHS "Relationship Status: In Medicine" T-shirts. While the Green team (EBS2/Med2) came in second, winning free tickets to SGA's next big event, the St. Patty’s Day Block 2 Party, the Red team (EBS3) took third place, with each member taking home a UMHS mug. Spreading across the campus, there was a silent calm after the day’s events, the field and the basketball court felt deserted; a lonesome single balloon rolled through the courtyard - it would be hard to forget all that had taken place. As we look forward to next semester's Med Olympics, the question remains: Will the new EBS5/MED 4 class hold onto that title?

Members of the green team celebrate after placing first in Dodgeball. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

Members of the green team celebrate after placing first in Dodgeball. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

Some members of the winning team. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

Members of the winning team. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli

(Top photo) Winter 2016 UMHS Med Olympics team. Photo: Dr. Prakash Mungli



About UMHS:

Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciencesfocuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. UMHS is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.

Posted by Scott Harrah

Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.

Topics: Campus

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