This month’s Leader Spotlight is Mackenzie Carlson of University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health! Mackenzie joined AMSA in her undergrad to help her prepare for medical school without really knowing what it was all about. She continues to participate in AMSA because she thinks an extremely important part of her medical training is learning how to be a better advocate for her colleagues and patients. AMSA helps her to stay politically involved, and also provides an entire network of people she has become friends with.
M1,University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
AMSA National Community and Public Health Chair
When did you join AMSA?
I joined AMSA during undergrad to help me prepare for medical school without really knowing what it was all about. That was back in the fall of 2012.
AMSA Leadership Experience
I was very involved in my local AMSA chapter, serving as the Outreach Trustee, Vice President of Program Development, and Co-President. During my gap year, I was on the AMSA National Gender and Sexuality Action Committee acting as the Women’s Programming Coordinator. Now, I’m serving as the 2017-18 Community and Public Health Committee Chair!
Why did you join AMSA?
I joined AMSA during undergrad to help me prepare for medical school without really knowing what it was all about. My love for AMSA grew as I discovered the power behind all of the incredible voices of physicians-in-training speaking out to make health care and health care training better! I continue to participate in AMSA because I think an extremely important part of my medical training is learning how to be a better advocate for my colleagues and patients. AMSA helps me to stay politically involved, and also provides an entire network of people I’ve become friends with.
Why did you become an AMSA leader?
I became an AMSA leader after going to the Annual Convention in 2016. I met a lot of other national leaders and could foresee myself doing the work that they told me about. I wanted to stay involved in AMSA over my gap year, so joining the national leadership team seemed like the best way to do it.
What is your Favorite AMSA Moment?
It’s hard to choose! I think my favorite AMSA moment happened in my undergrad. We wanted to have a fun meeting for our members that got them all moving around and talking to each other. The local AMSA leadership staff put on a simulation where we acted as patients and the members (with a very limited medical knowledge base BUT access to the internet) had to make their rounds and come up with differential diagnoses. We tried to throw curveballs in–language barriers, different ages and temperaments, etc. The members LOVED the scenario… It was so fun for me to see them all enjoying themselves so much! The pre-meds needed a break that week.
What advice would you give to current & future AMSA leaders?
PLAN AHEAD! Make sure you plan everything way ahead of time so it is easy to get what you need done once your life gets crazy again! It takes time to get programming done so be thinking a few months ahead at all times. The more you frontload the work the more productive you’ll be later on.
