As a physician, my dream is to change this narrative by researching and addressing the social factors contributing to chronic illnesses in minority communities. I aim to educate my community on whole-body health, emphasizing exercise and healthy eating, and provide personalized care to prevent diet-based chronic illnesses.

Why did you choose McGovern Medical School?
I chose McGovern because of the strong sense of community which is essential for academic success. During my sophomore year of college, I participated in the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) and met many wonderful McGovern students. Through these encounters, I experienced firsthand the camaraderie and supportive environment McGovern fosters.

What motivates you?
My family is my greatest motivation. Ever since I was a little girl, I told my parents how much I wanted to be a doctor. They held onto that ambition and fostered it throughout my life. I remember my dad buying me a fake white coat and labeling it “Dr. Hall” with a typewritten sticker. My family’s support, sacrifices, and encouragement have uplifted me throughout my educational journey. It is beautiful to see all our hard work and their investments pay off.

Who is your hero?
My hero is my grandmother, Marietta Haywood. She was a sweet, loving, and strong faith-based role model. Whenever offered candy or cake, she would often say, “I’m sweet enough,” partly because she was a type 2 diabetic, but I believe it reflected her true nature. She had a remarkable ability to find beauty in hardship, something I deeply admire.

Throughout my childhood, my grandmother battled congestive heart failure. I often watched her enter the hospital, but she always managed to do so with a smile and never left without one, either. She took the time to give thank-you cards to every nurse, doctor, and staff member she encountered, spreading kindness wherever she went. Reflecting on her medical struggles inspires me to pursue a career in the medical community, where I hope to embody the same compassion and resilience she showed throughout her life.

What is your ultimate goal for your career in medicine?
As a physician, my ultimate goal is to transform healthcare from a treatment-focused approach to one centered on prevention. I hope to educate my community about whole-body health, emphasizing the importance of exercise and healthy eating. By providing personalized care and addressing underlying risk factors, I aim to reduce the prevalence of congestive heart failure and other preventable chronic illnesses in minority populations. Ultimately, I aspire to build a healthier and more informed community, one patient at a time.

What kind of emotions do you feel as you’re beginning medical school?
As I prepare to begin medical school, I am filled with gratitude and excitement. I vividly remember walking past McGovern, envisioning the day I would be a student here. Now, that dream is becoming a reality. The privilege of attending my dream school and fulfilling my lifelong mission in such a supportive and inspiring environment is truly an honor.

What are you looking forward to most about medical school?
I’m looking forward to forming new friendships and diving into the vast clinical world of medicine. It’s such a privilege to learn how to become someone’s doctor, and I truly appreciate that opportunity. I’m excited for everything that lies ahead—the highs and lows—because I know they’ll all shape my character in some way. I can’t wait to walk into the hospital during my clerkship years, proudly wearing my branded white coat instead of just being a volunteer or an aspiring pre-med student. Plus, I’m eager to put into practice the scientific knowledge I gained during my undergraduate years and see how it all comes together in real-life situations.

If you had to pick a medical specialty right now, what would it be and why?
I would choose pediatrics. I love the bubbly and bright environment within pediatric units. Additionally, I believe children are particularly receptive to changes in diet and lifestyle, making it a meaningful opportunity to promote health and wellness. Prevention starts with the younger generation, and I would be grateful for the chance to contribute to their well-being.

To meet all of the Newest Faces of McGovern Medical School, click here.

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Professionalism is woven into every aspect of the university, and the office embraces it as a central component in the lives of future healthcare professionals and a fundamental goal of UTHealth Houston’s university-wide education efforts.

“As students begin to form their identities as physicians, it is crucial they practice all aspects of their future roles,” said Asia Bright, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the Office of Professionalism. “Academic medicine plays a significant part in this identity-building process. By engaging in activities such as grant writing and considering data collection methods early on, they embark on their journey in medical research and education. This involvement also strengthens their connection with the community to whom they have pledged their commitment.”

The Office of Professionalism recently created an inaugural COMMIT grant application, which stands for Community Outreach Molding Medical Identities to Thrive, and announced its first round of winners. The grant is for any approved and registered student organization at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston that is conducting an activity or event that promotes professionalism, service learning, and/or community immersion.

The local chapter of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association will host its Hepatitis B Health Fair on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Chinese Bible Church, 6025 Sovereign Dr, Houston, TX 77036. The event’s goal is to provide a safe, positive learning environment for its members to grow and learn about the health disparities in the Houston Asian community, a historically underserved population.

The Climbing Club will host Kids Climb Day on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Momentum Indoor Climbing Katy, 25410 Katy Mills Pkwy, Katy, TX 77494. Kids Climb Day will offer 15-20 children with chronic renal diseases the chance to safely participate in top rope climbing with Climbing Club members. By expanding Kids Climb Day to include children living with chronic disease and establishing ongoing collaborations, the Climbing Club aims to create a sustainable model for community engagement and expand impact beyond the event itself.

McGovern Students for Veterans will lead a Veteran’s Day fundraiser, raffle, and flag football tournament from Wednesday, Nov. 13, to Monday, Nov. 18, with various booths set up across campus to raise awareness and donations for local veteran-supporting organizations. The club aims to educate students about veterans’ unique health experiences and social and mental challenges.

The Latino Medical Student Association will lead the initiative, “Shaping the Future: Building Leaders and Stronger Communities,” throughout the 2024-25 academic school year, with hopes of extending it in the future. The initiative aims to strengthen Houston Independent School District community pathway programs as they engage with students through mentorship and hands-on skills events while also helping shape their professional identity and encouraging pursuing higher education at an early age.

Each organization was awarded up to $2,500 that will be used toward event promotional materials, administrative needs, and supplies.

For more information, visit the Office of Professionalism site.

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Second-year McGovern students dispatch across the Houston area Aug. 9 as part of the new service-learning initiative, Professionalism Learning Underscored by Service (PLUS).

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The event is a culmination of a yearlong program aimed at inspiring and educating high school students about careers in health care.

The HCC Finale featured a full day of engaging activities led by student mentors at McGovern Medical School. High school students presented their yearlong research projects, showcasing their hard work and dedication to one public health topic of their own choosing aimed at teens and focused on prevention.

The high school students then had the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of anatomy with a visit to the anatomy lab, where they learned fun facts about organs and gained insights into their functions and structures. Additionally, the students were able to attend workshops on casting, splinting, and suturing, which provided practical experience in essential medical skills.

The Health Career Collaborative is designed to foster mentorship and encourage high school students to consider healthcare careers. Throughout the year, McGovern Medical School students host monthly sessions at their respective schools. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, from medical specialties to healthcare pathways.

The 2024 HCC Finale concluded with additional project presentations and a student panel. As the school students continue their educational journey, events like the HCC Finale play a crucial role in shaping their aspirations and preparing them for rewarding careers in healthcare.

“The HCC program is an amazing opportunity for us medical students to engage and expose first-generation students to a career in medicine,” said Juan A. Garcia, MS3, 2023-24 co-director of the Health Career Collaborative. “Our work is impacting future generations of students by creating avenues for them to explore careers which they wouldn’t have otherwise. This is why I have loved working with HCC and hope to continue being involved throughout the rest of my time here at McGovern.”

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Eighty-five students were in full force volunteering at the student-run event, which provided 126 no-cost screenings to individuals living in an area with limited access to health care. The screening stations focused on dental, vision, blood glucose, BMI, vital signs, and a nutrition demonstration.

Families with children stopped at the teddy bear clinic for their first order of business. Young children received a new stuffed bear at this station, and it kicked off the smiles. Volunteers walked children through the process of using a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs of the bears to make their visit to the doctor feel less scary.

“It was an absolute joy to see the eyes of a little girl light up when she realized that she could be just like the clinical staff and volunteers one day,” said Dwight Fan, co-director of the health fair and fourth-year medical student with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

Fan became a passionate advocate for equitable access to health care after his own exposure to the tremendous impact of health care inequalities in his family abroad. UTHealth Houston Cares became a major passion project and source of motivation for him.

“I joined the team as a co-director this year because I firmly believe in the impact the organization can make on Houston,” Fan said. “Not because a single day of screening is the solution to health care inequality, but because information and empowerment ?can create lasting, ?meaningful change in the lives of our patients.”

Ruda Mohaweche, MD, an internist at the Jensen clinic, agreed with Fan about the power of community education and health maintenance.

“This fair will have a huge impact because people will learn we have these services available to them,” Mohaweche said. “I wanted to be involved because of my commitment to the clinic and the community.”

In addition to no-cost screenings and health care needs, the community event provided a bag of food to the first 24 families. A generous donation from The Cupboard, a UTHealth Houston School of Public Health food pantry for students and others in need, enabled food-insecure families to receive canned goods, rice, and fresh fruit.

Gretchen H. Walton, JD, MPH, director of The Cupboard and associate professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, was pleased The Cupboard could assist.

“We understand how hard it is out there and make a point to help others in the community when we have that opportunity,” Walton said. “Our students are always on board and want to provide that assistance to the community.”

The Jensen clinic had a staff member from every role in the clinic attend the community health fair to get to know the families and show their representation. Sa’Misty Utley, MSW, a senior social worker, sees patients in the clinic and serves their mental health needs.

“We know a lot about social determinants of health and how finances and environment can impact our mental health,” Utley said. “I help patients understand that the struggles they experience are normal and how can we help relieve that stress.”

Kaisly Ducasse, a community health worker II at the Jensen clinic, said she loves assisting patients with their health care needs.

“The health fair is such a great experience for the students to be there for our patients,” Ducasse said. “And it’s a chance to connect with families in the area and let them know we are here for their needs.”

Volunteering often provides as much joy to the individual as to the recipients of care. Hailey Kim, a fourth-year dental student and dental liaison for the event, agrees.

“Having the opportunity to volunteer at the health fair reminds me why I chose this field in the first place,” said Kim. “It’s nice to see people in the community taking their first steps toward their own health.”

One of the best testimonies of the day is when a man returned to the clinic with his educational materials still in his hand. Fan said the team was initially perplexed when he re-entered, but overjoyed when he smiled and asked, “How soon until the next fair?” The team hopes to continue expanding its reach by increasing the frequency and impact of the fairs.

View photos from the health fair in the Flickr album.

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“It is an honor to win this award but also a testament to how McGovern supports innovation and novel tools for medical education,” Bright said. “I feel encouraged in my commitment to the organization and the future of our students and faculty.”

The John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Faculty Award in Professionalism Education is awarded to faculty who have established one or more successful programs in promoting education in aspects of professionalism for learners enrolled in McGovern Medical School undergraduate or graduate programs. Recipients of the award receive $2,500 and are honored at an award ceremony where they provide a brief presentation on their contributions.

Examples of professional education programs include but are not limited to, professional identity formation, faculty development in assessing professionalism, organizational professionalism efforts, resiliency building initiatives, assessing and remedying professional lapses, interprofessional education, and failing successfully.

Working with the Student Committee on Professionalism and Ethics (SCoPE), Bright has developed a hands-on workshop within the Doctoring course to address structural inequities within healthcare. The partnership between SCoPE and Bright allows teaching through real-life examples of systemic disparities.

“By engaging with students in a dialogue that extends beyond theoretical understanding, I am able to provide a platform for students to explore the challenges and potential solutions to these issues in the context of their future professional practices,” Bright said. “Moreover, partnering with students to facilitate this session further demonstrates that professional identity formation starts early in your career.”

Additionally, Bright created a workshop to help students comprehend the intricate concept of privilege and its effects on healthcare. Using beads as a tactile tool, the workshop serves to help students turn privilege into a tangible and related experience to offer a deeper understanding of the impact privilege can have within the healthcare system.

Bright graduated from Rice University in 2014 and received her PhD in experimental social psychology from the University of Vermont in 2018. After stints at the Vermont Department of Health and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Bright joined the faculty at McGovern Medical School in January 2020.

The post Turning Pro: Dr. Asia Bright Named Distinguished Faculty in Professionalism Education appeared first on Office of Professionalism.

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society recognizes and advocates for excellence in scholarship and the highest ideals in the profession of medicine.

The top 25 percent of a medical school class is eligible for nomination to the society, and up to 16 percent may be elected based on leadership, character, community service, and professionalism.

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The AAMC 2024 Early-Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar will take place July 16-19, 2024 in San Diego, CA. The seminars target audience are women physicians and scientists with an appointment at an AAMC member school of medicine, with a minimum of two years of experience (July 2022) as an Assistant Professor.

Upon completion of the seminar, participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate leadership behaviors that include effective communication, expanding self-awareness, increasing financial acumen, and other leadership topics necessary for skill development and career advancement.
2. Gain insights into overcoming challenges and developing strategies for navigating gender dynamics in the workplace.
3. Create individualized leadership goals that align with their long-term career vision and short-term goals for promotion/ advancement.
4. Expand their network of colleagues within academic medicine and science.

How Do I Nominate a Faculty Member?
Chairs: Please send an email with the nominees CV and a letter of recommendation to ms.op@uth.tmc.edu to nominate your departments faculty member by Friday,  February 16^th !

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The Center for Professionalism and Communication in Health Care became the new home for Health Care Communication and Professional Formation. Health Care Communication, formerly DocCom, has 44 online interactive modules with over 700 realistic videos, and Professional Formation with 15 modules and 190 videos, is used by hundreds of health professions schools, residency programs, and hospitals. Drexel University College of Medicine brought both programs under one umbrella to share the resources among subscribers.

Gioconda Mojica MD, Chandler Moody MD and Keith Riggs MD formed an MMS team to win this recognition and help the school develop professionalism and communication curricula using these best practice tools.  Congratulations!

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