College of Medicine Student of the Month – Steve Dondlinger, second-year student

Steve Dondlinger

Editor’s Note: Each month, InterCOM will highlight a “Student of the Month” from the College of Medicine. Students will be featured for their participation in activities outside of medical school and for making a difference in the community. The goal is to recognize students for what they are doing and to encourage other students to get involved in the community. After all, medical school should be much more than studying.

Personal:

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn. 
Education: University of Minnesota (B.A., German Studies), Humboldt University of Berlin (M.A., linguistics) 

Activities:

During the first year of medical school, I participated in the Seven Doctors Project hosted by Steven Langan. Seven Doctors is a writing workshop for medical students and medical professionals. Participants and mentors work together to improve each others' writing and explore various topics in medicine. At the end of each semester, the Seven Doctors Project hosts a reading at which participants present their work. In the last session of Seven Doctors, I wrote several poems which were accepted for publication in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. 

I am a member of the Omaha Coalition of Reason which promotes science education and critical thinking. 

Hobbies:

  • Writing
  • German
  • Chess
  • Medical History

Staying Balanced: 

Regardless of how busy I may feel, I make sure to save time for my family, hobbies, and volunteering in the community. I spend my time outside of medical school writing poetry, discovering Omaha with my wife, and volunteering at the SHARING clinic. Staying active in the community helps keep me motivated during especially challenging periods of school.