The Future Physicians for Change Conference: A Must-Attend Event for Aspiring Doctors

Hi Annelise! Thank you so much for joining us today – can you introduce yourself to our audience?

Yes, hi everyone! I’m Annelise, and I just graduated from Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. I am the new president of the American Medical Student Association. I grew up in Arizona, studied PreMed for a while, but after college, I realized I really wanted to be in the communities that I was going to be serving. I ended up doing Teach for America and got really invested in educational equity. I quickly realized that you can’t get education equity without health equity, and that’s what helped me find my space in medicine and in AMSA.

How did you get started with the American Medical Student Association (AMSA)?

I started participating in AMSA in July of 2020, at the same time when I joined medical school. I was looking for a community, to meet other people involved in advocacy, and honestly, to make friends! I got involved with my local AMSA chapter. We, chapter officers, banded together to make something incredible and caught the attention of AMSA National. When I learned about AMSA National, I just had to be part of it.

Can you tell us a little bit about the Future Physicians for Change Conference?

I know the Met Gala just happened, but I think of the Future Physicians for Change Conference as the event of the season. It’s a jam-packed 3-day conference full of professional development, networking, advocacy, learning, connecting, and more. It’s made for both PreMeds and medical students from all across the globe. It’s unique to any other PreMed conference in that it’s geared just for PreMed students.

Key Details:

• Dates: May 30^th to June 1^st
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Registration: https://fp4change.org/register/

We have a PreMed and Medical Student SIM challenge where students can work in teams to diagnose and treat patients. We have clinical skills sessions where students can learn how to suture and stop the bleed with the Army. We have manual vacuum assist workshops and even after-hour events such as our chapter officer gala for all of our chapter leads. There are also chances to network, present your research on top of all of the keynote speeches. We also have a full day dedicated to advocacy. You will learn how to become an advocate, why you should become an advocate, and how to use your voice as a future physician.

What will students walk away with?

To be inspired to do more, be more, see more, and learn more. We want students to walk away with a new understanding of medicine and even themselves. We hope you’ve made new friends, connections, and more. We want students to have a better insight into how to take themselves to the next level – and have a whole bunch of fun doing it!

1. Residency and Specialty Fair – Interact directly with program directors to ask about away rotations, application processes, and what they seek in candidates. This is not your typical job fair for aspiring physicians—it’s a dynamic event tailored for future medical leaders.
2. SIM Challenge – Teams of 4-5 students will face off in a series of simulated clinical scenarios that test their medical knowledge, clinical skills, teamwork, and communication abilities.
3. Poster Session – Present your research project to a VIP panel of AMSA experts and leaders at Future Physicians for Change. This is your chance to showcase your work, improve your public speaking, network with key influencers, and enhance your CV. Plus, there are prizes for outstanding presentations!
4. Advocacy Day on the Hill – On May 30^th, 2024, we will advocate as future physicians to the Senate, educating and pushing for a healthcare system that benefits our patients, families, and communities.

What are some keynote speaker highlights you can preview for us?

Our lineup is fantastic this year! We have Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is the host of America Dissected – an amazing epidemiologist and speaker. We also have Dr. Loretta Ross, who is the founding member of the Reproductive Justice Health Movement. Our final keynote speaker is Tiffany Wright, who is a huge name in racial equity and racial justice. In addition, we have program directors, admissions directors, and more from all over. If you want to learn specifically about getting into residency or a medical school, we have sessions for that as well!

What are some collaborations and networking opportunities?

One of the incredible things about being at a global conference is you have an opportunity to network with people from completely different spaces with completely different perspectives, not only on medicine, but also on medical education. We also have built-in time during our sessions where you’re expected to interact with others and spend time in groups. We also have a conference app where you can complete a profile and share information with others to connect afterward.

What topics will be addressed?

A huge focus of the conference, and of AMSA, is diversity, equity, and inclusion. How do we bring underrepresented minorities into medicine? How do we reclaim our power? How do we talk about black maternal mortality? We have a lot of different sessions geared towards DEI to build your understanding and also to give you tools on how to address these topics as a future physician. We’re also tackling how we are using medical technology to address current healthcare problems.

Any last thoughts?

This is AMSA’s 74^th year! We want students to walk away feeling empowered to be advocates. Students always mention they were able to learn skills at our conference that they don’t get access to anywhere else. Students should walk away with a new community – friends that you might not have ever met in any other situation. We included our alumni and given them an opportunity to come back and still be part and give back to AMSA.

Future Physicians for Change isn’t just another conference; it’s a cry for change. It’s your chance to make an impact, ignite transformation in healthcare, to challenge and change the status quo, and to actively shape the future of medicine.

Join us in Washington, D.C., as we force change. Let’s craft a future without boundaries, where inclusivity thrives, and where every voice, yours included, resonates powerfully.

Dream big, take bold action, and become a catalyst for change. Your journey of transformation begins at Future Physicians for Change. Get ready for an electrifying experience that promises to redefine the future of medicine.

Don’t miss out! Register now at https://fp4change.org/register/.