In April 2014 I had the opportunity to attend the SNMA Medical Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme: “Unsilencing the Unheard and the Underserved” would encourage dialogue amongst medical students, residents, physicians, about health disparities, LBGT Care, and Immigrant/Refugee health, as well as the crisis of the lack of minority men entering the field of medicine. It was an opportunity for me to engage in discourse often shyed away from in main stream conferences. I have been attending this conference since I was a pre-medical student at Johns Hopkins back in 2003!! Having attended this conference for many years, I have always left informed , inspired, and further committed to my desire to purse family medicine. I learned of various resources, policies, and initiatives that would strengthen my ability to care for these populations.  I want to be a physician to the most underserved communities and Sessions and Presentations at this conference has reminded me of my ability to serve and the important of being my patients advocate.

As a physician, we will be required to obtain CME as part of a licensure to demonstrate this commitment to life-long learning. As someone who has seen the benefit of these meetings, I look forward to advancing my medical knowledge and understanding of the interaction between health, science, medicine, and society.

While there I has the opportunity to recruit students to OSUCOM and of course check out the local food and surroundings. It has been my Most memorable conference thus far!!