National Outstanding Medical Student Award!
I cannot believe it. I've been nominated for this award through the ACEP. I will find out in about 6 weeks if I got it. I'm very humbled and honored by this. It was quite a surprise when I found out. I have been doing a lot of work for the College, but it has been a labor of love, and I feel like I am the one who is getting all of the benefits, rather than the other way around. I have worked hard on the medical legal committee and I'm committed to advancing the specialty as best as I can by using my knowledge and experience, but seriously...I am the one who should be recognizing the college and the people I have met and worked with.
I have known all along that I was destined for emergency medicine, so even though I wanted to keep my eyes open and look at other fields, I wanted to get involved with ACEP early. Many medical organization don't even let you join as a student, let alone participate in any meaningful way. I didn't have high expectations that I would be allowed to do so, yet I had so much medical-legal experience, and I thought that I could be of some benefit to the organization. So with just a hope, I submitted an application to the medical legal committee (before I had even set foot in the 1st year medical school classroom!), and to my absolute amazement and happiness, I was accepted. Not only was I accepted, but I was welcomed. I took it upon myself to engage in several projects immediately. I was offered support and mentoring. I have met the greatest group of people ever. I feel like I have found a home. And the farther I advanced through my training, the more obvious it was to me that I MUST do emergency medicine. Nothing else would quite do it for me.
So as embarrassing as this, I'm also so flattered, and I feel like sharing it with my friends. So here goes...
These are some of the comments submitted on my behalf:
"I have had the pleasure of working with Jennifer for the past 3 years as she has served the College on the Medical Legal Committee. Due to her outstanding service to the Committee and the College, I believe she would be an ideal candidate to be nominated for ACEP's newly created "Outstanding Medical Student Award".
Jennifer has excelled as the most productive member of the committee. Her commitment, energy, and wisdom have made her invaluable to work of this group. She has had authored numerous articles on a variety of medical legal issues all of which have been published in a variety of ACEP communication vehicles; she without fail responds to questions posed by members of the College on medical legal issues. Jennifer is without a doubt the most outstanding medical student encountered in the 15 years I have been with the College. She is so bright, articulate, kind, caring and humble. She is truly amazing. Her ideas, energy, enthusiasm, willingness to take on any task, and wisdom have marked her as a future leader in medicine. "
If I get it, there would be a formal presentation at the 2008 ACEP Scientific Assembly in Chicago, Il in October. This is what I'd get:
Regardless of whether or not I am among the winners, just being nominated has meant a lot to me. One of the things that I always try to keep in mind when working with people, is that just a little bit or recognition and encouragement of a good job goes such a long way. On my last rotation, I worked with a student who was really struggling socially and was getting some very bad clinical grades and comments. She asked me what to do. I said that you need to show up with a good attitude, a smile on your face, an eagerness to learn, and that everyday, you should find something that you really appreciate about everyone you are working with -- and TELL them. That's it. Everything goes great if you just do those simple things. Plus, not only does it take less energy to have a happy and positive attitude, but the positive energy you get back usually exceeds what you give out, and it is a win-win situation for everyone.
So I didn't get this coveted award this year. While a little disappointed, my happiness that I was even nominated predominates. :)
I have known all along that I was destined for emergency medicine, so even though I wanted to keep my eyes open and look at other fields, I wanted to get involved with ACEP early. Many medical organization don't even let you join as a student, let alone participate in any meaningful way. I didn't have high expectations that I would be allowed to do so, yet I had so much medical-legal experience, and I thought that I could be of some benefit to the organization. So with just a hope, I submitted an application to the medical legal committee (before I had even set foot in the 1st year medical school classroom!), and to my absolute amazement and happiness, I was accepted. Not only was I accepted, but I was welcomed. I took it upon myself to engage in several projects immediately. I was offered support and mentoring. I have met the greatest group of people ever. I feel like I have found a home. And the farther I advanced through my training, the more obvious it was to me that I MUST do emergency medicine. Nothing else would quite do it for me.So as embarrassing as this, I'm also so flattered, and I feel like sharing it with my friends. So here goes...
These are some of the comments submitted on my behalf:
"I have had the pleasure of working with Jennifer for the past 3 years as she has served the College on the Medical Legal Committee. Due to her outstanding service to the Committee and the College, I believe she would be an ideal candidate to be nominated for ACEP's newly created "Outstanding Medical Student Award".
Jennifer has excelled as the most productive member of the committee. Her commitment, energy, and wisdom have made her invaluable to work of this group. She has had authored numerous articles on a variety of medical legal issues all of which have been published in a variety of ACEP communication vehicles; she without fail responds to questions posed by members of the College on medical legal issues. Jennifer is without a doubt the most outstanding medical student encountered in the 15 years I have been with the College. She is so bright, articulate, kind, caring and humble. She is truly amazing. Her ideas, energy, enthusiasm, willingness to take on any task, and wisdom have marked her as a future leader in medicine. "
If I get it, there would be a formal presentation at the 2008 ACEP Scientific Assembly in Chicago, Il in October. This is what I'd get:
Award recognition includes:
- a plaque from ACEP
- free one-year membership in ACEP
- free registration to one of ACEP's annual Scientific
Assembly or a satellite meeting during their residency career - a reception for award winners at ACEP's annual Scientific Assembly
Regardless of whether or not I am among the winners, just being nominated has meant a lot to me. One of the things that I always try to keep in mind when working with people, is that just a little bit or recognition and encouragement of a good job goes such a long way. On my last rotation, I worked with a student who was really struggling socially and was getting some very bad clinical grades and comments. She asked me what to do. I said that you need to show up with a good attitude, a smile on your face, an eagerness to learn, and that everyday, you should find something that you really appreciate about everyone you are working with -- and TELL them. That's it. Everything goes great if you just do those simple things. Plus, not only does it take less energy to have a happy and positive attitude, but the positive energy you get back usually exceeds what you give out, and it is a win-win situation for everyone.
So I didn't get this coveted award this year. While a little disappointed, my happiness that I was even nominated predominates. :)
posted by Jennifer L'Hommedieu Stankus at 9:18 AM
1 Comments:
National outstanding medical student award! gee whiz! that is so cool!!!!! congrats on being nominated. you are absolutely amazing and i am so proud to say that you are my step-mom. :D i love you!
-Bex-
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