Medical Student Section Representative Candidate No. 2
Medical Student Section Representative - Candidate #2
1) Complete Name: Tanya Tocharoen
2) Home: Fayetteville, N.C.
3) School: Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
4) Student’s Memorandum on Issue of Importance
A major issue of importance related to health, physicians and medical students is the quality of care that is provided to their patients. Hospitals should provide safe, high quality healthcare to their patients all the time. But how do these hospitals do it? They need system aims that will help guide the hospital. Two aims that could be of value include staff actively improving the quality, processes and outcomes of evidenced-based medical care for targeted populations and staff creating an organizational culture of safety with engaged leadership.
Developing an organizational culture of safety with engaged leadership can ensure current clinical excellence by promoting the practice of safe, evidence-based health care. Women’s health topics should include addressing issues related to safe motherhood, including depression, premature labor and delivery and teenage pregnancy. Quality of care for the patient should include making sure that all physicians are meeting the standards for educating the patient about pregnancy, distributing information, and answering all questions that the patient may have.
Focused areas of improvement for the hospital could include creating a safety culture assessment, creating a leadership training program for physicians and board members, creating a communication and teamwork training process and teaching quality improvement development in the hospital. Also, improving quality of care for patients should include changes in the processes which might lead to improved health care delivery. Several ways to improve changes in this process include improving the experience of care, the total cost of care and illness and improving the social justice and equity in health.
Having these system aims addressed by the American Medical Association will allow for better patient outcomes and effective leadership and physicians in all hospitals.
5) Personal Statement
As an osteopathic medical student, I would be honored to become a student representative for the Women Physicians Congress Governing Council. My ability to serve in a leadership position on women’s issues within the medical profession is supported by past leadership positions that I have held in medical school.
My efforts as Philanthropy Chair for my school’s American Medical Women’s Association have helped raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by selling bracelets and by distributing pink pins to all faculty and students. As an active student member of Student Government Association, I have served as Secretary. In this position I held the first annual T.O.U.C.H. (Translating Osteopathic Understanding through Community and Health) Pin Ceremony by encouraging student members to participate in community service and awarding them on their accomplishments. I also co-organized a mock testing session for second year students to assist in their end of year exam. The practice session consisted of computerized case tutorials, reading EKGs, following clinical skill procedures, and improving communication among rising third years by creating an “manual” on helping them transition into clinical rotations. As a student governing class officer, I have sought to help strengthen the student voice. My intention for running for WPC Representative is to enhance communication between all parties involved similarly to what I have helped establish as a student government officer. On a national level, I have had the pleasure of serving on the American College of Family Practice (ACOFP) Clinical Research Committee this past year and previously on the ACOFP Editorial Committee. I have served in both committees as a student liaison by overseeing student and doctor submissions to the ACOFP national convention, by drafting periodic reports, by participating in conference calls, and by attending annual meetings. My experiences as a national student liaison have given valuable experience to serve as a student representative on the Women Physicians Congress Governing Council.
I would like to focus my efforts on partnering with future physicians and the general public concerning issues in women’s health, including preventative healthcare and healthcare management. I would promote legislative and research efforts targeting women’s health. With experience as a Clinical Research Associate, I understand the importance of evidence based medicine and would work closely with colleagues to enhance professional practice and community and patient education.
STAFF NOTE: For the AMA Medical Student Section Representative positions, the students were asked to provide:
- A statement of interest in the position limited to 400 words
- A one-page memo identifying a major issue of importance related to women’s health and/or women medical students and physicians, and describe why you believe it should be addressed by the AMA.
