My experience at the Region V Regional Medical Education Conference

I have one word for this conference: AMAZING.
 

This conference is organized annually by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). Region V includes Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, so there were medical students and pre-medical students from a wide range of schools in attendance. This year's conference was hosted by the MSU College of Human Medicine, October 27th-29th at the Secchia Center in Grand Rapids, MI.

It started on a Friday evening, where they served hors d'oeuvres and allotted 2 hours for mixing and mingling. Saturday, the main day of the conference, consisted of numerous talks, workshops and volunteering opportunities for the students to take advantage of. I attended the medical student panel, where I learned about things such as curriculum, interview tips, aspects admissions committees look for in applicants, and much more. I also attended a workshop titled “Handling Discrimination in Clinical Settings”. Here I learned the steps to take when facing discrimination as a minority physician. I also went to an admissions committee panel where they discussed things to do as an applicant to stand out from the rest. I attended a talk about stress management, and I learned stress relief strategies that can help me as both an undergraduate and a future medical student.

There were also exhibitors, on behalf of other medical schools in Region V, in attendance. I spoke with some of these representatives and some even promised to expedite the review of my application to their school! My favorite workshop was the Obstetrics/Gynecology workshop. I learned the basics of childbirth and even got to participate in a birthing stimulation. Basically, I delivered a fake baby! Lastly, I attended a suture clinic, where I learned suturing techniques and got to practice them a pigs foot!
 

The night ended with a formal banquet where everyone wore fancy dresses and suits, and enjoyed dinner together. I heard a speech from Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the Michigan State College of Human Medicine alumna pediatrician who helped bring light to the flint water crisis.
 

I gained so much exposure and met some wonderful people at the conference. Everyone was so nice and many offered to assist me with the process of getting into medical school. They were so humble and full of joy. It made me even more excited to be on the path of becoming a physician! I would definitely recommend that everyone attends a medical conference whenever the opportunity is presented to them.

By A'Jah