Sara Schulwolf
Medical Student Representative University of Connecticut
Biography
Hi! My name is Sara Schulwolf; I am a fourth-year medical student at the University of Connecticut and am using this year to complete a Master's in Public Health. I am thrilled to be applying into emergency medicine next cycle and, especially amid the recent whiplash in perceptions, applications, and job availability within the field, I am passionate about advocating for our specialty. As RAMS medical student representative, I would channel this enthusiasm into educating current students about why EM is a fulfilling specialty, as well as into pushing for systemic change to further elevate our specialty to be the best it can be.
EM offers far and away the most variety of any field, both in terms of patient population served and in opportunities for career development and specialization. I personally feel strongly about the unique privilege and responsibility that EM physicians have in caring for some of society’s highest-need and most underserved populations, such as individuals with substance use disorders, incarcerated individuals, and unhoused individuals. I also firmly believe that EM physicians have an important role to play in health advocacy. Accordingly, during my time at UConn I have participated in the Urban Service Track, an interdisciplinary auxiliary curriculum designed to build skills for effectively and empathetically working with underserved groups. Additionally, during my first year at UConn, I co-founded a student group aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy in our community and through this, was able to contribute projects ranging from door-to-door vaccination campaigns in Hartford to supporting legislation restricting religious exemptions for public school immunization requirements. These efforts earned me recognition as a recipient of the 2022 National Excellence in Public Health award. I would hope to utilize this knowledge and experience as a member of the RAMS board to both initiate and support advocacy efforts among our members.
My greatest research and academic interest within EM is point-of-care ultrasound. I have been involved in leadership for UConn’s ultrasound interest group since my second year of medical school and have taught POCUS for a variety of audiences ranging from preclinical students to non-medical participants. Further, I have presented ultrasound research at a variety of regional and national conferences, including SAEM. As RAMS medical student representative I would aim to promote ultrasound education both within and outside our specialty, but beyond that, I would hope to similarly highlight and elevate other subfields in EM that offer additional career and training opportunities. Spotlighting these areas and creating opportunities for mentorship could go a long way in drawing talent to the field.
If given the opportunity to serve on the RAMS board, I will utilize my background, skills, and experiences to help our organization to best serve its members and our specialty as a whole. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope to meet you soon!
EM offers far and away the most variety of any field, both in terms of patient population served and in opportunities for career development and specialization. I personally feel strongly about the unique privilege and responsibility that EM physicians have in caring for some of society’s highest-need and most underserved populations, such as individuals with substance use disorders, incarcerated individuals, and unhoused individuals. I also firmly believe that EM physicians have an important role to play in health advocacy. Accordingly, during my time at UConn I have participated in the Urban Service Track, an interdisciplinary auxiliary curriculum designed to build skills for effectively and empathetically working with underserved groups. Additionally, during my first year at UConn, I co-founded a student group aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy in our community and through this, was able to contribute projects ranging from door-to-door vaccination campaigns in Hartford to supporting legislation restricting religious exemptions for public school immunization requirements. These efforts earned me recognition as a recipient of the 2022 National Excellence in Public Health award. I would hope to utilize this knowledge and experience as a member of the RAMS board to both initiate and support advocacy efforts among our members.
My greatest research and academic interest within EM is point-of-care ultrasound. I have been involved in leadership for UConn’s ultrasound interest group since my second year of medical school and have taught POCUS for a variety of audiences ranging from preclinical students to non-medical participants. Further, I have presented ultrasound research at a variety of regional and national conferences, including SAEM. As RAMS medical student representative I would aim to promote ultrasound education both within and outside our specialty, but beyond that, I would hope to similarly highlight and elevate other subfields in EM that offer additional career and training opportunities. Spotlighting these areas and creating opportunities for mentorship could go a long way in drawing talent to the field.
If given the opportunity to serve on the RAMS board, I will utilize my background, skills, and experiences to help our organization to best serve its members and our specialty as a whole. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope to meet you soon!
