The FCEP Medical Student Council has transitioned into new leadership as we welcome Cristina Sanchez (FSU) as our new chair, Kailey Jacobson (NSU) as our new advocacy chair, and Rachel Shi (UCF) as our new secretary-editor. The FCEP MSC holds quarterly meetings with representatives of EMIGs in Florida to share ideas and helps plan upcoming events including EM Days, FCEP’s advocacy event that allows students to learn more about advocacy and government relations. More information on these events will be provided as the dates approach.

This year, the annual FCEP Symposium by the Sea took place at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, FL from August 4-7. The event brought together a diverse, multidisciplinary crowd of emergency medicine physicians, health professionals, and future physicians from all around the state of Florida to discuss topics in emergency medicine. From talks on Gender Bias in EM to skills stations on intubation and pediatric airway approaches, and a lively EM Resident Quiz Bowl competition, the conference was a huge success. Medical students are appreciative of the opportunities to connect with physicians in the field, and below are some of the opinions from several student attendees on aspects of the conference.

“I have attended Symposium by the Sea since my MS1 year and have greatly enjoyed the event each time. However, attending for the first time after beginning clinical rotations as an MS3 felt like a whole new experience. I felt that I was able to truly understand and appreciate more of the lectures and apply them to my own clinical encounters. The most impactful talk for me was about addressing gender bias in the clinical setting. Despite identifying as a female and being on the receiving end of others’ biases throughout my life, it wasn’t until I reflected on this talk that my eyes were opened to the fact that I have previously acted on gender biases of my own in the clinical setting. I am thankful that this presentation reminded me that no one is free of bias and that it challenged me to mind my own.”
-Alyssa Cartwright, MS-III Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

“I attended Symposium by the Sea for the first time as a poster presenter and was struck by the outstanding quality of other research posters that were displayed. The poster “Play for Your Life” by Dr. Erica Warkus especially stood out to me because it featured an interactive game that raised awareness of intimate partner violence, such as the struggles experienced by survivors, and ways to support survivors. I admired the creativity and depth of the project and am glad to have learned more about an important topic that is often unnoticed or inefficiently addressed. The talks were also very informative and inspiring. I look forward to attending next year and continuing to grow as a learner!”
-Rachel Shi, MS-II at UCF College of Medicine

“As a medical student, Symposium by the Sea was a unique experience, and it was incredibly rewarding to learn more about the world of emergency medicine. I was fortunate enough to have been able to attend the Women in Medicine Meeting and learn from various mentors about challenges they have faced as women in the field, as well as how they overcame those challenges. I also learned an enormous amount through listening to the “Gender Bias in EM’’ lecture, detailing issues I was not aware of within the discipline of emergency medicine, which greatly affect the care of the patients in the specialty. Finally, the Medical Student Forum was an incredible opportunity for me as a student. Meeting the program directors of EM programs in Florida and having the opportunity to speak to them as well as ask questions was an invaluable experience. I look forward to seeing what Symposium by the Sea has in store next year!”
-Cristina Sanchez, MS-III at Florida State University College of Medicine

Overall, students greatly enjoyed the experience, along with the ACEP22 Scientific Assembly in San Francisco from October 1-4. ■