5th Annual Mr. CUSOM Pageant

The Campbell University Community Care Clinic (CUCCC) hosted the fifth annual Mr. CUSOM Pageant on Friday, January 17 at the Stewart Theatre in downtown Dunn, NC. This year’s theme was “Under the Big Top.”

Sixteen male medical students entertained an audience of 400 with their special talents while bringing awareness and raising funds for the student-run free clinic.

The pageant was a huge success raising over $26,000 (a $4,000 increase from last year) to help support the operations of the Community Care Clinic.

“The idea of Mr. CUSOM began in 2016 when Dr. Hannah Anderson (DO ’19) wanted to promote the clinic to the campus and county communities,” said Cristina Hamacher, MS-I, secretary of the Campbell University Community Care Clinic. “Mr. CUSOM is the largest fundraiser for the Clinic and is essential to keep the clinic open.”

The CUCCC provides free medical care to underserved, uninsured patients in Harnett County and the surrounding counties.

“The funds raised at the event enable the clinic to provide much-needed care to patients who otherwise would have very limited options,” said Hamacher. “The clinic is supported and staffed by medical, physician assistant, and pharmacy faculty, staff and students who volunteer their time every week to provide patient care.”

Mr. CUSOM 2019, Brandon Burns, MS-II shared how there is so much more to the Mr. CUSOM pageant than just showing up for performance night. Hundreds of hours are spent by the directors in preparation and behind the scenes work – meetings, staging, decorating and hosting the actual event. The contestants averaged 4 hours a week practicing, and that doubled the week of the show. It’s certainly a team effort with classmates coming together to make all the things happen.

“This show means so much to me because of what it represents and what it accomplishes,” said Burns. “It represents what is at the heart of all of our decisions to attend medical school at Campbell: to be that light in the lives of patients.

“This pageant, in all its amusement and production, in its silliness and theatrics, represents the very best of what can come if you put together a phenomenal community and a little bit of heart,” he continued. “What does being Mr. CUSOM mean to me? To me it means a lot; I’m a better man for having been a part of Mr. CUSOM 2019, and now 2020. I have no idea what the future holds for the Mr. CUSOM pageant, but I’ll bet there are even better things to come.”

- SHELLEY HOBBS

2020 MR. CUSOM "UNDER THE BIG TOP" -- WINNERS FOR OTHER CATEGORIES

BEST INTRODUCTION: Nick Chase MS-I

BEST ALTERNATIVE WEAR: Soham Roy MS-I

BEST TALENT: George Pancio MS-I

BEST FORMAL WEAR: Aiden Koch MS-I

HIGHEST FUNDRAISER: Michael Davis MS-I

MR. CONGENIALITY: Miles Kimbrough MS-I

MOST PHOTOGENIC: David Morlock MS-I

FIRST RUNNER UP: David Morlock MS-I

MR. CUSOM: Tommy O’Neil MS-I

JUDGES

Dr. Warren Lushia; Ms. Janice Taylor; Ms. Amanda Lee; Dr. Andy Mann

FACULTY ADVISOR & DIRECTOR

Bob Schmid