What is the role of the Office of Educational Support Services (OESS) within the medical and pharmacy schools?
The goal of OESS is to improve students’ comprehension and retention of information critical to their education, as well as to help students develop life-long learning skills. To further this goal, OESS provides academic assistance to UCSD medical and pharmacy students in most first-year SOM core courses. OESS staff members coordinate their assistance with the faculty of these courses, as well as supporting the faculty in their educational goals. OESS staff members also act as facilitators for problem-based learning (PBL) and other small-group discussion sessions. Four full-time academic staff members combine expertise in specific subjects with proficiency in helping students to develop optimal study strategies. Contact information and areas of expertise for Nora Laiken, April Apperson, Steve Schneid, and Paul Kingston is provided under staff by name on the Contact Information page. Carrie Owen, the administrative coordinator (see staff by name), provides support for the academic staff
