Vision for Position
As the new Research and Publication chair, I have several goals to expand the work already done by the SRFC National Committee. I believe so much can be learned from one another especially when starting clinics and expanding clinics. My mission is to highlight work done by students that 1) promotes foundational plans associated with growth and expansion of clinics that should be shared to all, 2) addresses key needs of local communities in a practical and achievable manner, and 3) encourages dedication to patients by overcoming barriers in receiving care. The ways I hope to accomplish this mission includes advertising the journal publications to more students, faculty members, program directors, and stakeholders across the country. I hope to send our journal to some larger associations or increase the network to be recognized in an even brighter spotlight. This will increase the acknowledgement of the work thus adding prestige and respect, and will likely encourage more readership across the country.

I also look forward to working closely with the Conference Coordinator to organize next year’s conference. We can decide on a research theme that is appealing and relevant to students to encourage submissions and be enthusiastic towards promoting the event. At past conferences, I have learned so much about medicine, seen peoples’ passions come out in their work, and talked with many students creating a network of incredible people that are likeminded. I hope to provide to the national team not only my passion for learning through research and granting recognition for the hard work people do, but also add my energy for growing student run free clinics across the country.

Relevant Experience
UT Southwestern has six free clinics around Dallas, TX that we manage as managers on the Free Clinic Committee. As the representative for the Union Gospel Missions, a clinic for shelter residents who are unhoused, I have experience working on a team to better facilitate communication between managers across multiple locations and systems. I appreciate this position because it allows me to collaborate with fellow students beyond my clinic to understand various workflows, propose solutions or advice that I have experienced, host events to promote volunteers, and train new managers.

On this committee, each student has a specific job. I am in charge of project coordination between our clinics. At the beginning of my duties, I created a localized database so that current and future managers could see the research projects that are being done. This allows for assistance as needed, but also generates a record for tracking progress and allows for ideas and follow up in the future. I also helped promote this conference within my network of managers who I knew were completing projects at their clinics so that they could present, learn, and contribute to the community in a national way.

During my gap years before medical school, I had the opportunity to work for a multi-university research project entitled The UnBIASED Project. This study worked towards identifying unconscious bias in communication between physician and patient by training and using AI systems. I was able to present my behavioral coding research associated with this project at the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Conference in 2022. This larger team allowed me to work with people from all over the country and in several different disciplines. I valued how I could provide my expertise, and I also enjoyed learning from other professionals working towards the common goal.

I look forward to continuing my growth as a medical student and future medical professional who is passionate about the success and future of Student Run Free Clinics across the United States.