2023 - 2024 Education Committee Leader Spotlight

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Moira Smith, MD MPH, Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Moira Smith.jpgProgram: University of Virginia Health System

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal as an EMRA leader is to support our members during training and to help each other become the best emergency physicians we can be. This includes creating high quality educational content as well as putting on fun events like Quiz Show at CORD. I want to build a community of emergency physicians who feel supported and empowered to lead in their own communities.

What do you think are the top three traits of a great leader? 
1. Genuinely caring for the people you serve - I believe this gives you a little more guidance when making tough decisions.
2. Good communication
3. Disciplined work ethic

What is something people don't know about you? Just prior to starting medical school, my Mom and I took my grandparents to visit a distant relative--and discovered they had my great uncle's violin which had been "lost" for about 30 years. I now play with a violin that was made at the turn of the 20th century.

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Either a biomedical researcher or a religious studies professor

What's the last non-textbook you read? Projections by Karl Deisseroth and Atomic Habits by James Clear

 

Destiny Folk, MD, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Destiny Folk.jpgProgram: Carolinas Medical Center

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To improve the educational resources available to medical students and residents to best equip those interested for a career in academics

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I became involved in EMRA so that I could learn from and network with the best and brightest in our field while developing my own leadership skills
 
What is the best advice you have ever received? Make time for 30 minutes each day for self-care so that you can best care for others
 
What is something that people don't know about you? I'm the first doctor in my family
 
What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Cereal-definitely Lucky Charms or Apple Jacks

Mohamad Ali Cheaito, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Mohamad Ali Cheaito.jpgProgram: University of Toledo

Your goal as an EMRA leader: Provide trainees interested in a career in academic emergency medicine with the tools and resources to successfully achieve their career goals.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I became involved with EMRA because of our shared values, including promoting top-tier education for emergency medicine trainees, celebrating diversity and inclusion, and providing equitable patient care in the emergency department.
 
What is something that people don't know about you? Culinary school is still on my to-do list 👨‍🍳
 
If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? Chef, with special interest in molecular gastronomy!

Hannah Seyller, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Hannah Seyller.jpgProgram: CWRU/MH/CCF

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I actually started my involvement with EMRA in medical school! I wanted to meet more EM-bound medical students and get connected with EMRA's international network of EM docs. Ever since being on the medical student council as an M4, I've been continually motivated by the work that EMRA does & how impactful it is on our specialty!
 
What is something that people don't know about you? I love crafting & DIY projects! I always have multiple things I'm working on at any given time & am always looking to learn more. My most recent endeavor: sewing!

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Anthropologist or stay-at-home pet parent

What's on your playlist? My go-to artists: The Lumineers & Paramore. A more recent fav: UPSAHL.

Puja Singh, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Puja Singh.jpgProgram: Mount Sinai Morningside West

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To help support the education of members, connect with and learn with like-minded leaders, and help grow the various resources we have to advance the flame of emergency medicine that I know we all share.

What do you think are the top three traits of a great leader? 1. Self-aware 2. Good communicators 3. Empathy
 
What is something that people don't know about you? I can speak 6 languages

Favorite life hack for night shifts: a fire fit, yummy snacks, coffee, and a pump up playlist

What is the last non-textbook you read? Crying in HMart, highly recommend!!

Dave Wilson, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Dave Wilson.jpgProgram: University of Cincinnati

Your goal as an EMRA leader: EMRA has given me a lot to grow as a clinician and as a professional. As an EMRA leader I'm hoping to do my part to help make Emergency Medicine the best specialty it can be.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I got involved with EMRA as a medical student because there were so many great resources for students available through EMRA, and I then found incredible opportunities for leadership as well.

What is the best advice you've ever received? Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.

If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? Still leading wilderness expeditions trying to make my way to being a Nat Geo

Jeena Moss, MD, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Jeena Moss.jpgProgram: Mount Sinai Morningside-West

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To be part of exciting and innovative discussions about meeting EM learners' needs, to connect with like-minded colleagues, to encourage others to remember their "why" and to reflect on my own.

What is the best advice you've ever received? Cultivate your hobbies and relationships outside of medicine

What is something that people don't know about you? I danced competitively from middle school through college!
 
If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? A yoga instructor/nature guide/professional napper

Elizabeth Yim, MD, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Elizabeth Yim.jpgProgram: Mount Sinai Morningside-West

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To find creative and long-lasting solutions to innovate the way medical education is provided and accessed by medical students and physicians.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? To collaborate with others with similar interests and goals within this amazing community

Top 3 traits of a great leader:
Communicative, Accountable, Problem-solver

If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? A true crime podcaster or veterinarian
 
What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Have snacks on hand, at least one sweet and one savory. Make sure your water and coffee are always within arm’s length!

What's the last non-textbook you read? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- it made me cry just like everyone said it would

What's on your playlist? SZA, Harry Styles, Sam Smith

Kay Nicole Tipton, DO, MS, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Education Committee, 2023-2024

Kay Nicole Tipton.jpgProgram: UNC Health Southeastern

Your goal as an EMRA leader: As a leader on the education committee, one of my main goals is to increase outreach to smaller and rural emergency medicine residencies and medical schools with students interested in emergency medicine. EMRA is a large organization with a lot of resources available for students and residents and I want to ensure that these resources are easily accessible for all those interested in emergency medicine.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? Throughout my training, even as far back as my time in undergraduate, I have had fantastic mentors that have changed the course of my education and career. EMRA offers multiple opportunities for mentorship and educating others. As a leader on the education committee, I hope to not only increase my mentorship to individuals, but also be able to have a larger impact on the education and careers of those interested in emergency medicine.

What is the best advice you've ever received? "Trust the system". I received this advice as a third year medical student struggling with my first rotations, the overwhelming amount of knowledge to learn, and the responsibility of needing to learn everything to ensure that I am giving the best care to my patients. This advice is not to encourage blind trust, but to understand that many people have come before you, gone through the process, and are now working as amazing physicians caring for a variety of patients.

What is something people don't know about you? Starting when I was two years old, I danced ballet for eight years.

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: I would likely be working with horses in some capacity. Prior to matriculating into medical school I looked into the possibility of working on dude ranches and even jockey school.

What's on your playlist? A wide variety. Pink is the most common artists of the songs on my playlist.

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