The Future Practicing Physicians Network, like other science clubs on campus, gives its members the opportunity to explore new and innovative areas that high school students can be exposed to. Like the name suggests, the club is designed around aspiring physicians and offers them to participate in various activities such as suturing, dissecting and watching documentaries. Club officer junior Shriya Perati gives more information on the outcomes of their past events this semester as well as future goals for the club.

El Estoque: What do you think of the members’ involvement this semester?
Shriya Perati: I think we had a pretty good member attendance. We always tell our members that our meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month and we do send out emails frequently. The money that we do raise [is used in] our hands on activities such as suturing and dissection second semester. We are good on money as well so we will not be taking membership fees.

EE: How have your other fundraisers’ success rates compared to the walk?
SP: In the past we have been trying to fundraise and raise money, but the walk has its own goal in terms of money making and each team does as well. We have only raised 100 dollars but we haven’t put in the money from our other fundraisers. In our Psycho Donuts we made 250 dollars and sold out, so that was successful. And we also tried out another fundraiser which was a polaroid fundraiser during graduation but it wasn’t as successful. I guess it’s been downhill in terms of fundraising because when we first found out about it we fundraised a lot but we are wavering a little right now. But whatever money we raised is still a good measurement for our support in the walk.

EE: What are some upcoming hands-on activities planned for next semester?
We are definitely going to do some sort of dissection. In the past, we have done the dissection of the sheep brain, sheep heart and the cow eye. We will probably do one of the three but since we did the sheep heart we might do one of the other two. It’s an opportunity for the members to apply what they are learning in their biology classes or science classes in reality. We try to do at least one hands on activity per semester but we don’t do too many of them though because they are expensive.

EE: What has FPPN planned for fundraising events?
SP: We might plan another walk or volunteering event for next semester so we will start fundraising for that. Also, since our Psycho Donuts fundraiser was very successful last year, we are considering doing something similar next semester.

EE: What are other events that members and non-members can look out for?
SP: Another thing we do next semester is getting new officers because second semester seniors start to tune out a little bit. Also, it’s a good transition period for them to start off next year. We will choose new officers next February or March.

For more information on FPPN and its meetings visit their Facebook page, website or email them at [email protected]. Meetings are every second and fourth Mondays in B106.