Doc of Ages

Jonah Orr, MS1

When springtime arrives at Duke Med, it brings with it many great and wonderful things: blooming flowers in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the untamable excitement of March Madness, and most thrilling of all, the Duke Med Student Faculty Show (SFS). What, you may ask yourself, is the Student Faculty Show? I, Jonah Orr, MS1 at Duke Med, will answer that question. In short, it is a multi-act, interdisciplinary, musically inclined, fundraising showcase spectacular directed, produced, and acted entirely by students (with a few faculty cameos sprinkled in). In very short, it is some of the most fun you can have as a student at Duke Med. 

       

     Preparation year’s show, “Doc of Ages” (based on the Broadway show and subsequent movie-film “Rock of Ages”) began two and a half years ago, so I am told, with the writing of the script. I did not become aware of it, however, until December, when I, along with some 30 other students from all different years at Duke Med, auditioned for the show. It was a no pressure, no experience required audition, so for someone like myself with little singing and even less acting experience, I was comfortable going out for this new adventure. Everyone who came out got a part, and the best part was, we could choose how involved we wanted to be. Do you have a very needy pet at home? Do you need to hit the gym for 3-4 hours a day, every day? You might think that this would keep you from getting involved, but I assure you, if you still yearn for the opportunity to tread the boards in Durham, there is a place for you in the SFS!

            From January (or as it is better known by Duke MS1s out there, “Brain and Behavior Month”) until March, I had the privilege to get to know my schoolmates, tell jokes with them, and take a break from the intensity that is medical school, all while singing songs like “Duke Doc Hero” (Juke Box Hero), “Sweet OB Gyn” (Sweet Child of Mine), and “Like a Surgeon” (Like a Virgin). All puns intended, all the time.

            Our months of work (but mostly fun) culminated in a one-night-only event during Medical Families Weekend, with all proceeds from ticket sales went to benefit the Durham Crisis Response Center. Helping our community? Rocking out? Showing off your acting and singing chops parents and friends? Can it get better than that?

            Yes. It can.

            “How?” you might ask.

            I’ll tell you.

Advisory deans in KISS make up.

From Right to Left: Dr. Goodman, Dr. Wigfall, Dr. Drucker, Dr. Haynes

When I chose Duke Med, I did so because of the tight community, because the students here are indisputably happy, and because the professors genuinely care about their students. All of this is reflected so strongly in the phenomenon that is the SFS.