His Passion is One of a Kind
TouroCOM's Michael Erickson was named National Student DO of the Year
Michael Erickson, a fourth-year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) in Harlem, is finishing up his medical school training doing surgical rotations – mostly specializing in trauma and burn surgery – the field he has come to love.
Erickson has always been motivated by a passion for helping others, which led to his winning the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) “National Student DO of the Year” award last year. The prestigious award, bestowed on one student annually from among more than 18,000 osteopathic medical students in the country, acknowledges a student’s commitment to his school, community and the profession.
While at TouroCOM, Erickson served in numerous student government leadership positions, and as chief medical student for Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, N.J. He taught anatomy to children, participated in community health fairs, promoted healthcare in Harlem, helped the homeless, and provided HIV prevention education.
Two years ago, he celebrated his birthday by beginning work at a health clinic in poverty-stricken Nairobi, Kenya. He saw malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis and HIV up close and helped deliver babies, treat machete lacerations and identify parasites.
“Michael is an innate leader. Whether he is leading his band on stage, or heading the student body at DO Day on the Hill, he has a unique ability to unite people and encourage them to work together,” wrote the TouroCOM selection committee to AACOM. “Whether he is addressing the President of the AOA, or a homeless man on the streets of Harlem, Michael treats everyone with the same respect and dignity.”
