Welcome Letter from the SOIMA President
by Maya Berger, OMS-III
May 18, 2026
Welcome everyone!
It is hard to believe how quickly this academic year has gone by!
To our first-year students: congratulations on completing your first year of medical school. You have adapted to an entirely new environment, learned an incredible amount of information, and grown more than you probably realize. Even during the difficult moments, you continued showing up and pushing forward, and that matters.
To everyone preparing for COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2: Keep going!! Board season can feel exhausting, overwhelming, and never-ending at times, but trust the work you have put in. Every practice question, late night, early morning, and study session is building the foundation you need to succeed. Continue trusting yourself and the process. You are more capable than you think.
To our graduating fourth-years: Congratulations DOCTORS! Reaching this point is an incredible accomplishment. Years of hard work, sacrifice, resilience, and perseverance brought you here, and you should be proud of everything you have overcome to get to this next chapter.
One of the most important things I have learned during medical school is that it is very easy to feel like you are behind. There will always be another exam, another evaluation, another score, or another comparison. Try not to let those things distract you from how far you have already come. Your journey will not look exactly like anyone else’s, and it is not supposed to.
There will be difficult days during training. Days where you feel tired, discouraged, or unsure of yourself. Those moments happen to everyone. What matters is continuing to show up, continuing to learn, and continuing to move forward even when things feel challenging.
No matter where you are in your training, you should be proud of yourself. Keep pushing through the difficult moments, trust your growth, and remember that you belong here.
You’ve got this!!!
The Joy of SOIMA:
It has truly been such an honor and privilege to serve as your president this past year. I am incredibly grateful for each of you and for the community we have built together through ACOI. Thank you for being part of this organization and for allowing us to share this journey with you. What I appreciate most about SOIMA and ACOI is the community. Among faculty, staff, and students, I have built friendships that will last a lifetime. Watching all of you grow, support one another, and continue pursuing this path has been so rewarding, and I cannot wait to see everything you accomplish moving forward.
With appreciation,
Maya Berger