BUSM First-Year Medical Students Receive Stethoscopes Compliments of Alumni

The stethoscope is considered the symbol of medical professionals. On Tuesday, Oct. 28, each member of the BU School of Medicine’s MD Class of 2018  received one as a gift from a BUSM alum.

“This is a special day for first-year medical students as they receive their medical equipment that will serve as their clinical tools for years,” says Nanette Harvey, MD, BUSM course director for the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course and coordinator for the medical equipment distribution to first-year students.  “When we announced to the class that they would all be receiving their stethoscopes compliments of the School’s graduates, they broke into applause. They are so appreciative of alumni generosity.”

More than 160 alumni participated in the Stethoscopes for Students program, now in its seventh year and coordinated by the BUSM Alumni Association. Along with the stethoscope, the distribution of medical equipment included a blood pressure cuff, ophthalmoscope, otoscope, reflex hammer, tuning fork and a CD of heart sounds. Harvey notes that by the School organizing the distribution of medical equipment for the students, the difficulty and worry about purchasing the tools has been alleviated for them.

Students wrote thank-you notes to the alumni who purchased their stethoscopes.

“What makes this gift so meaningful is that it is something we will carry with us for our entire medical careers,” said first-year student Gareth Marshall.  Tovah Koswosky noting the milestone of receiving her stethoscope also was especially gratified, “that she received this from alumni who were in my exact shoes at one time. This makes them present.”