"The charter class was a unique group. Of the 24 who started, maybe four were 'typical' in that they went to pre-med and then medical school. The rest were military or had started out in other careers. I had served in the military, and for five years prior to entering medical school I was a special education teacher at the elementary level."

"I feel now that our preparation was second to none. I remember several outstanding faculty, including James Augustine, who taught neuroanatomy. He affected us all. He was no-nonsense and very demanding, set a very high standard, and didn't waver. He wasn't a spoon-feeder. Come to think of it, I didn't meet any spoon-feeders there."

"The basics, the important things, haven't changed in 100 years and likely won't change in the next 100 years. Doctors should have a sixth sense about their patients. Doctors should have a patience with themselves and the patient's family. And you must be able to deal with people in crisis with empathy. It was defined for me in medical school as feeling as if you are the patient without losing sight of the 'as if.' "

Paula Hayes is a 2001 graduate who began her family practice residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte in June:

"I chose family care because of the emphasis USC places on family care, the fact that the Family Medicine Department is very active, and because I had such a good learning experience in rotations there."

"Technology made a difference for us. In neuroanatomy, we used a Web site to examine slides. In pathology, there were required computer tutorials. A lot of professors used PowerPoint presentations in lecture. In the third and fourth year, we referred to MD Consult and other Web sites. And my class was the first to take the Step One and Step Two board exams completely on the computer."

"Medical school faculty always told us that we would be well-prepared for residency. Now that I'm in it, I realize how right they were."