Payton Wolbert

My name is Payton Wolbert, a fourth-year MD/MBA medical student at Central Michigan University College of Medicine. I am applying for the RAMS Board because the people who shaped my EM journey did more than guide me; they made space for me to participate, to try, and to belong. EM gave me mentors who opened doors I didn't know existed, and I want trainees everywhere to have that same access to community, scholarship, and support.

I have served learners as Chair of the MCEP Medical Student Council, Great Lakes Representative for the EMRA Medical Student Council, Lead Medical Student Ambassador for SAEM24 and SAEM25, and as a member of the SAEM Program and Research Committees. In these roles, I broadened procedural workshops, developed program director and resident spotlight interviews, and connected students with limited resources to advising and research. These experiences reinforced that many trainees want a place in academic EM but lack clear pathways to begin.

My academic and community work grow from the same goal: improving access and safety for the people EM serves. At ACEP, I presented research on the MIAHTAPS tool to identify violence risk in the ED and on how admitting specialty affects outcomes in acute cholecystitis. That same commitment guides work beyond the hospital. Through the Health Careers Pipeline Program, I mentor rural and underserved students exploring health careers. Through the Living FREE Fall-Reduction Program, I helped perform home assessments for older adults; one participant told me her house finally felt livable. With the Pulse3 Foundation, I support community CPR training, purchasing of AEDs, and outreach events strengthening survival after sudden cardiac arrest. These experiences taught me that the future of EM depends not only on what we study, but how we partner with communities.

If elected, it would be a privilege to help build clearer on-ramps into academic EM by strengthening mentorship, improving guidance on career decisions, and increasing visibility of opportunities so trainees can confidently step forward. My goal is simple: help more students and residents feel supported and empowered to shape the future of emergency medicine.

Thank you for your consideration.