Damien Ihrig, who became the UI Carver College of Medicine’s registrar in October, is beginning to sort out the complexities of his new job.

For example, he said, “I’m gaining an appreciation for the sheer complexity of scheduling.” Given the demands of the basic four-year medical curriculum, Ihrig noted, students compelled by circumstances to seek adjustments to their schedules face a daunting challenge. “When life events affect their schedules, that affects everything,” Ihrig said. And with some 600 students enrolled in the MD program, the number of individuals needing the registrar’s help to revise their schedules is significant. “It’s like a puzzle,” Ihrig said. (more…)

Classmates and colleagues are remembering Ibrahim Saadi for his intellect, wisdom, drive and compassion. The third-year UI medical student was killed Jan. 9 in a traffic accident while returning to Iowa City from a clinical rotation in Waterloo.

A local memorial service honoring Saadi is planned for Saturday, Jan. 31, in the Prem Sahai Auditorium, 1110A MERF. He was buried Jan. 16 in Galilee, in northern Israel. (more…)

Though the recent holiday season is fast receding into memory, one local family has lasting mementos of the generosity of UI medical students, faculty and staff. The McCowen learning community’s annual adopt-a-family effort collected nearly $1,300 in cash and donated goods for the family, which was forced from its home by last summer’s floods.

M2 Ryan Conway, McCowen’s philanthropy chair, said proceeds from the Mr. Iowa Medicine Contest, combined with individual cash donations, yielded $490 for the effort. In addition, he explained, the philanthropy committee worked with local businesses and the UI to secure many items the family needed after losing nearly all of its belongings. (more…)