Connie Rim

Connie Rim, OMS II

My name is Connie Rim, and I’m currently a second year medical student at NYITCOM. I grew up in Queens, New York, and went to Cornell for undergrad where I majored in Biology and Society. 
 
I chose NYITCOM as it was close to home, and it was important for me to be near my friends and family. I couldn’t have gotten through this first half of medical school without my support system, and I’m grateful for their sacrifices and never-ending support. 
 
We’re currently wrapping up the Reproductive system, which is our last block before dedicated starts. Every day looks a little different for me, but this is a rough timeline of what my days look like this semester: 

• 6:45 a.m.: Wake up, have coffee and breakfast 
• 7:40 a.m.: Head over to campus 
• 8 – 10 a.m.: Doctor Patient Relationships (DPR) Lab on Mondays and OMM Lab on Wednesdays 
• 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Watch lectures and study 
• Noon: Lunch break with friends 
• 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.: More studying 
• 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.: Workout (I use ClassPass so I can switch up my workouts!) 
• 7 p.m.: Go home, have dinner 
• 8 – 10 p.m.: Light studying like Anki 
• 10 – 11 p.m.: Wind down and get ready for bed 

On Fridays, I spend most of my day in lab doing research. Some days, I might spend the afternoon attending a workshop on campus. There’s always fun events (with free food) being held by different clubs, and my favorite this past year was the Birthing Simulation & Surgical Skills workshop held by the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists club. These events are always a great opportunity to learn and practice clinical skills that we’ll use during rotations. 

Beyond academics, a big part of my day-to-day involves our school’s Student Government Association. As 1st Vice President, I serve as Chair of the Committee on Academic Affairs and represent student perspectives at faculty meetings. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience and has allowed me to build meaningful connections within the NYITCOM community. Through this role, I discovered a deeper interest in advocacy beyond the classroom. With mentorship from Dr. Bernadette Riley, I was introduced to public health legislation and had the opportunity to engage in legislative advocacy while attending the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) House of Delegates and AACOM Advocacy Day. Seeing firsthand how policy directly shapes clinical practice has widened my perspective on patient and physician advocacy, and it is something I hope to stay involved in throughout my medical career. 

Outside of school, I volunteer at screening and community outreach events organized by Korean Community Services (KCS), a non-profit organization. I also volunteer with Nassau County Medical Society (NCMS), recently serving as a medical student panelist at a local high school to share my experiences with the pre-med club and teach students how to take vital signs. These moments are always meaningful and remind me why I chose this path in the first place.  

All of these experiences have made my time here at NYITCOM so special and have shaped who I am as a future physician. It’s hard to believe we’re almost done with our preclinical years, and we’ll be starting rotations in just a few months! I think what sets NYITCOM apart is its community. Our faculty and upperclassmen consistently go above and beyond to support us in succeeding and making the most of our training. I’m continually inspired and grateful for their mentorship, and I hope to support future students in the same way.