AUA student Jessica Thomas (Class of 2016) was recently honored for earning a Future Leadership Project (FLP) Fellowship at the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) 2016 Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC), which was attended by hundreds of medical and pre-medical students, residents, physicians, and residency directors. She was joined at AMEC by third-year AUA students Shantale Williams and Troy Davis.
In addition to being among the first Caribbean medical school students to become a FLP Fellow, Thomas was appointed National Vice Chair of the International Affairs Committee. As National Vice Chair, she will be contributing to the organization of a mission trip to Cuba in 2017.
“This conference was a great opportunity to network and introduce SNMA to Caribbean medical students,” said Jessica.
Though there aren’t many SNMA chapters at Caribbean medical schools, Jessica has been instrumental in restarting a SNMA chapter on campus. During the 2016-2017 academic year, Shantale will be the President and Troy will be the Vice President of the AUA SNMA chapter.
Entering their last semester of Basic Sciences, Shantale and Troy attended AMEC to network, discover more clerkship opportunities, and learn strategies to excel in medical school. One workshop, “How to Ace Your Boards,” provided essential USMLE Step 1 study resources and tips on optimizing study schedules. Shantale was pleased that she met many physicians and residency directors who encouraged her to reach out to them when she begins her clinical rotations.
“Attending the SNMA conference showed me the light at the end of the tunnel and the reason why I am working so hard to become a physician,” said Shantale. “I made lifelong bonds with individuals who were in my shoes just a couple of years ago and are now successful residents and physicians.”