The newly established UMHS chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) held their inaugural event last week on March 31, 2014. Leana Ritchie, social chair of the AMWA, sent us the following report for the UMHS Pulse. We are glad to hear how these young women are making a difference both at UMHS, and in the world of medicine.
AMWA welcomed UMHS 2014 graduate Dr. Courtney Kohn to speak at their first event, “Conquering an MD in Heels.” Clad in shoes ranging from wedges to sky-high platform pumps, the executive members of the AMWA board were all smiles welcoming their fellow students to their first event. An overwhelming audience of 100 students and faculty gathered in the auditorium in the late afternoon to hear the experiences of Dr. Kohn.
UMHS 2014 GRADUATE: Dr. Courtney Kohn speaks at the event. Photo; UMHS
Dr. Kohn recently matched into a residency in anaesthesiology in Toledo, Ohio. An Ohio native, Dr. Kohn’s uncontained excitement was infectious as she imparted entertaining anecdotes of her UMHS experience. Her bottom line: “Work incredibly hard.” Beginning in Connecticut with a clinical rotation in internal medicine, Dr. Kohn worked tirelessly through her clinical rotations, taking only short breaks to write her U.S. Medical Licensing Exams along the way. Her wisdom was inspirational to the students in attendance as many people participated in asking questions. It was refreshing to see and hear a student that has gone through the MED program and come out the other side. Undoubtedly, her journey required an incredible amount of commitment, dedication and sacrifice, but her lofty dreams of anaesthesiology came to fruition.
As a Caribbean medical school graduate, challenged with naïve negative bias towards the program, Dr. Kohn proves that “if someone says you can’t do it, show them you can.” Dr. Kohn is an empowering and fearless representative of women in medicine. AMWA is comprised of female and male physicians, residents, medical students, and other health care professionals. It is a multispecialty organization devoted to promoting women in medicine and improving women’s health at the local, national, and international level. By providing and nurturing leadership, advocacy, education, and mentoring, AMWA endeavors to achieve its goal of empowering women.
The UMHS chapter of AMWA aspires to support the student body and provide education for women. The new club, founded by Tenesha Moody and led by Gabriella Reyes, has worked hard to quickly establish itself as a presence on campus. For the forthcoming semester, AMWA plans to host events to educate women on women’s health, women in medicine as well as provide an opportunity for the female students to get to know each other better. The group of women that have collaborated to bring this club to UMHS were giddy with excitement at the success of their event and projected a contagious energy of anticipation. All smiles and strutting in heels, the UMHS chapter of AMWA has an exciting future.
(Top photo) NEWLY FORMED UMHS AMWA: Back row (left to right): Tenesha Moody, chapter founder; Sonia Sugumar; treasurer; Tamar Saintil, Co-Director of Activities; Jac Smartt, Director of Promotions; Dr. Courtney Kohn, guest speaker; Dr. Michael Doherty, faculty adviser; Leanna Ritchie, social chair; Gabriella Reyes, Chapter president. Front row (left to right): Hnin Lwin, secretary; Danielle Reid, Director of Activities. Photo: UMHS AMWA.
About UMHS:
Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciencesfocuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. UMHS is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.
Leanna Ritchie, M.D. is a UMHS graduate.
