Patricia Hernandez, MD
Resident Member Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women's
Biography
The same exciting factors that initially drew me into emergency medicine as a specialty continue to be the driving force behind my unwavering passion for this field. As a resident, I admire our field's commitment to delivering inclusive healthcare to patients from all walks of life. I appreciate our dedication to academic research, the evolving landscape of knowledge, educational pursuits, and community advocacy. Yet, while our field has made remarkable strides, with SAEM leading such efforts, we currently stand at a critical juncture in our profession - one that presents significant challenges and opportunities. As it stands, there exist disparities in the provision of equitable care for diverse and at-risk populations, unprecedented workforce demands, and both patient and provider mental health challenges. At the same time, the field is poised for transformative growth with emerging AI technologies that promise to revolutionize emergency medicine practice, research, and education. It's imperative that we harness these innovations to stay ahead and embrace their transformative potential.
I am running for a position on the SAEM Board of Directors because I recognize these challenges and unique opportunities, and believe my values and skill sets closely align with the needs of the time, as well as with SAEM's strategic plan. My collective experiences have informed my commitment to championing inclusivity, diversity, and equitable practices. Specifically, as a first-generation Dominican American from a lower SES immigrant household, I am acutely aware of the ongoing issues surrounding representation, language barriers, and financial difficulties in healthcare. These personal experiences uniquely position me to empathize with and understand the diverse experiences of patients, fostering deep connections and effective communication in healthcare settings. While at Princeton, I studied molecular biology and global health policy which provided an avenue to explore the intersection of science, policy, and healthcare. During medical school at UPenn, I further honed my interests in advocacy and research.
My initial exposure to SAEM began as a medical student ambassador in 2022, a role that opened the door to my involvement with SAEM at the national level. I was also involved in the AEUS Interest group as a medical student, earning one of the AEUS Medical Student Point of Care Ultrasound Educational Scholarships which greatly facilitated my being able to attend the national conference as a student. Now as a PGY 2 resident, I serve on the RAMS Board as a Member at Large and as resident liaison to the Education Committee. These roles have allowed me to work collaboratively with board members, develop innovative solutions, and represent the values of a diverse group of residents and medical students nationally. Beyond SAEM, I serve as public relations chair on the Center for Diversity and Inclusion Resident and Fellow Committee, an inter-departmental board at Massachusetts General where I am completing my residency. I have continued my research endeavors on a grant-funded project with a focus on mental health advocacy and leadership development with at-risk youth in Boston, another example of my commitment to health equity.
I'm excited to harness the same enthusiasm that initially drew me to this specialty to serve on the SAEM BOD as a resident member. My passion for education, further informed and leveraged by SAEM, will allow me to focus on innovative enhancements to medical education, not only among trainees and medical professionals but also among the educational needs of patients, ensuring that our field remains accessible to all. If elected, I aim to champion a culture of inclusivity, spearhead mental health advocacy, and cultivate a collaborative environment conducive to academic research with a focus on forging cross-institutional partnerships with health equity at its core. It would be a privilege to serve on the SAEM Board of Directors as a resident member, and I would honor the opportunity with a commitment to use the best of my own skill sets alongside the platform of the SAEM organization to create meaningful positive change.
I am running for a position on the SAEM Board of Directors because I recognize these challenges and unique opportunities, and believe my values and skill sets closely align with the needs of the time, as well as with SAEM's strategic plan. My collective experiences have informed my commitment to championing inclusivity, diversity, and equitable practices. Specifically, as a first-generation Dominican American from a lower SES immigrant household, I am acutely aware of the ongoing issues surrounding representation, language barriers, and financial difficulties in healthcare. These personal experiences uniquely position me to empathize with and understand the diverse experiences of patients, fostering deep connections and effective communication in healthcare settings. While at Princeton, I studied molecular biology and global health policy which provided an avenue to explore the intersection of science, policy, and healthcare. During medical school at UPenn, I further honed my interests in advocacy and research.
My initial exposure to SAEM began as a medical student ambassador in 2022, a role that opened the door to my involvement with SAEM at the national level. I was also involved in the AEUS Interest group as a medical student, earning one of the AEUS Medical Student Point of Care Ultrasound Educational Scholarships which greatly facilitated my being able to attend the national conference as a student. Now as a PGY 2 resident, I serve on the RAMS Board as a Member at Large and as resident liaison to the Education Committee. These roles have allowed me to work collaboratively with board members, develop innovative solutions, and represent the values of a diverse group of residents and medical students nationally. Beyond SAEM, I serve as public relations chair on the Center for Diversity and Inclusion Resident and Fellow Committee, an inter-departmental board at Massachusetts General where I am completing my residency. I have continued my research endeavors on a grant-funded project with a focus on mental health advocacy and leadership development with at-risk youth in Boston, another example of my commitment to health equity.
I'm excited to harness the same enthusiasm that initially drew me to this specialty to serve on the SAEM BOD as a resident member. My passion for education, further informed and leveraged by SAEM, will allow me to focus on innovative enhancements to medical education, not only among trainees and medical professionals but also among the educational needs of patients, ensuring that our field remains accessible to all. If elected, I aim to champion a culture of inclusivity, spearhead mental health advocacy, and cultivate a collaborative environment conducive to academic research with a focus on forging cross-institutional partnerships with health equity at its core. It would be a privilege to serve on the SAEM Board of Directors as a resident member, and I would honor the opportunity with a commitment to use the best of my own skill sets alongside the platform of the SAEM organization to create meaningful positive change.
