VCOM View Vol 10 No 1

STUDENT Spotlight VCOM Students Serving in National Leadership Positions

Sarah Lowen – COSG S arah Lowen, a third-year VCOM-Virginia medical student, was elected to be the National Global Health Representative on the Council of Osteopathic Student Government (COSG) President’s executive board. Lowen oversees the global health committee. Part of the job entails making sure osteopathic students are aware of potential scholarships and opportunities for global health service projects. The committee will be developing monthly initiatives to expand student’s understanding of global health principles, varying from epidemic and zoonotic disease spread, understanding the role of culture in medicine, global disparities in access to health care, gender inequality in health care, etc. The committee will also work to further the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) “one health” initiative and work to build interprofessional collaboration with other student healthcare professionals. The organization will also sponsor the Global Health Scholar of the year award. Jeanne Nwagwu – SNMA J eanne Nwagwu, a third-year student at the Virginia campus, was appointed to the position of Region VI Director for the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). She was appointed at the 2020 Virtual SNMA Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC), which was from April 16-19, 2020. At this convention, medical students and professionals attended a wide range of educational and networking events. It is consistently the largest gathering of underrepresented minority medical students at any time of the year in any place in the nation. “It is an honor to serve the SNMA in this capacity. I hope to continue the legacy of the previous Regional Directors and bring in some new ideas to enhance the great work of The Dynasty, Region VI,” said Jeanne. Alana Castro-Gilliard – SOMA A lana Castro-Gilliard was elected as the Region III Trustee for the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), overseeing nine chapters from Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. She serves as a resource to chapter leaders in implementing national and regional initiatives on their campuses. As a member of the National Board of Trustees, she also helps advocate SOMA values and student’s voices to other organizations such as the AOA, COCA and NBOME. Thus far, Alana’s focus has been on growing relationships with other student organizations, such as COSGP, SNMA, LMSA, and AMSA, as well as increasing student advocacy presence at the state level.

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