For the record, Agnes Murphy says she only has three children. But, if truth be told, she has more than 1,800 kids, and almost all of them are doctors.
Ask any member of the Class of 2010, or of the previous dozen graduating classes, about the manager of the Miller School's Office of Admissions, and they're likely to gush about the person they regard as a second mother.
"Professionally, she is known as Agnes Murphy, but to us, she is warmly referred to as the med-school Mom," said Terri-Ann Bennett, fourth-year medical student and student government president. "Whether it was a shoulder to cry on, a hug well-needed, or an ear to share good news, she has always been there to encourage us every step of the way. I owe so much of my success to her support."
Indeed, for the past 13 years, Murphy has walked virtually every Miller School student through every step of the often daunting medical school labyrinth. She sets up tours for perspective students, guides them through an involved application process, arranges freshman orientation and four years later coordinates the commencement ceremony, which this year will take place May 15 at the BankUnited Center.
"Agnes provides an invaluable service to our students and our medical education program,'' said Mark O'Connell, M.D., senior associate dean for educational development and Bernard J. Fogel Chair in Medical Education. "She is the first person our applicants and students meet.
"Then, four years later, as the coordinator of our commencement event, she works with the graduating students to prepare for the most important day of their professional careers," O'Connell said. "Agnes is truly the `bookends' for all of our students' medical school experience."
Not surprisingly, it was Murphy's devotion to her own children that led her to her ever-expanding Miller School family. Her youngest son, who's now 19, had a speech problem, so in 1997, Murphy brought him to the Miller School for a hearing test. While on campus, she walked past the office of Medical Human Resources and, noticing the job board, decided to fill out an application for a staff assistant position in the Office of Admissions.
On her way to the interview, she was delayed by a terrible accident on Interstate 95, which made her 30 minutes late. It was the last time she would be tardy for anything at the medical school.
Thirteen years and three promotions later, Murphy is leading the transition to an automated system that will streamline an admissions process that's already light years ahead of where it was when she started as the office assistant.
"Back then nothing was computerized, and processing the 2,200 plus applications received each year was very cumbersome,'' Murphy recalled. "I'm optimistic that with the changes that are going to be implemented, we will have even more time to provide better customer service and make sure our students are taken care of."
And that gives Murphy even more time for her beloved students. "I really love UM,'' she said. "I really love our students and I am totally dedicated to them."
Murphy's dedication to students is matched by their regard for her. That was evidenced in 2008, when Murphy got the shock of her life, compliments of her "other" children.
Sitting at her desk in the admissions office, she heard the sound of a beating drum echoing in the hallway and instantly knew what it was: Members of the Iron Arrow Society were about to tap a student for the highest honor bestowed by the University, a surprise encounter Murphy had arranged to take place in the admissions office.
She beamed with pride as the Iron Arrow members walked in stoically, tapped the bewildered student and departed. But then the drum beat returned, and confusion set in.
"I was wondering why, because there were no other students in my office,'' Murphy remembered. "That's when I realized they were there for me! I was in total disbelief.''
Escorted by scores of medical students to the Schoninger Research Quadrangle, Murphy was inducted into Iron Arrow.
"Agnes is truly a wonderful human being who embodies the five pillars of Iron Arrow -- leadership, scholarship, character, humility and love of alma mater -- every day,'' said Jodie Barkin, third-year medical student and Iron Arrow Honor Society chief, who was one of the students involved in tapping Murphy. "She is incredibly deserving of the highest honor attained at the University of Miami.''
On May 15, Murphy will accompany 158 of her charges to the Miller School's 55th commencement exercise. As usual, it will probably be a tossup whether Murphy, or the newly minted physicians' biological parents, feel the most pride.
