2023 - 2024 Wellness Committee Leader Spotlight

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Leyanet Gonzalez, MD, MBA, Chair of the EMRA Wellness Committee, 2023-2024

Leyanet Gonzalez.jpgProgram: Northeast Georgia Medical Center

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My main goal is for our emergency medicine community to recognize that EVERY person plays an important role when it comes to breaking the barriers surrounding wellness. I want to show that wellness is not just proper nutrition & exercise; it's also spirituality, faith, advocacy, recognizing bias, resilience, and so much more.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? It's easy to feel isolated when you're in a demanding career like medicine. Being surrounded by others on a similar path with similar interests and passion for change forces me to remember that I am part of something greater. It's a constant reminder that I have the ability to create meaningful change alongside my community.
 
What is something that people don't know about you? I couldn't stand cats until I fostered ELEVEN during the pandemic. The only shelter that answered me when I found them on my balcony told me they'll take them as long as I fostered them for the first few months. I ended up keeping 2... and that was the birth of Ley the Cat Lady. #noregrets

Favorite life hack for night shifts: Anchor sleep! I sleep 1-2 hours prior to the start of my shift, then 4-5 after my shift. It definitely helps minimize the disruption to my circadian rhythm.

What's on your playlist? Everything from Shania Twain to Bad Bunny. From Guns N Roses to Reba McEntire. From Romeo Santos to Skrillex. From Cardi B to Avenged Sevenfold. From Beyonce to Lana Del Rey. From Celia Cruz to MGMT. You get the picture. A little of everything :)

 

Jessie Cable, DO, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Wellness Committee, 2023-2024

JessieCable.jpgProgram:FSU - Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal as an EMRA leader is to continue placing an emphasis on the importance of wellness in residency. I want to continue seeking information about habits that have helped residents from a mental health perspective and spread this information to help as many individuals as possible.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? Having the opportunity to learn and affiliated myself with residents from all over the country was one of the main reasons I wanted to join EMRA. This experience has given me the ability to take away different perspectives, learn wellness habits of others programs to integrate into my own as well as providing resources to help other residents through mental-health resources.
 
What's on your playlist? a little bit of everything

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: A chef!

 

Katie Falkner, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Wellness Committee, 2023-2024

Katie Falkner.jpgProgram: Magnolia Regional Health Center

Your goal as an EMRA leader: I would like to positively influence the culture of wellness in emergency medicine, even if on a small scale at first. Change is difficult and takes a long time, but it has to start somewhere. That place is usually leadership.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I believe that the growth of emergency medicine is tied to the strength of the community of emergency medicine, and I want to be a part of both.
 
What is the best advice you have ever received? Don't spend your time on things you don't absolutely love

What is something people don't know about you? I want to be a disc jockey on the side

Favorite life hack for night shifts: don't need one-- I'm a night owl. Would love a hack for waking up early though.

What's on your playlist? Glass Animals, Shakey Graves, Magic Bronson, The Animals, DaBaby, Fleetwood Mac, Hippo Campus, The Kinks

Sahar Rammaha, Vice Chair of the EMRA Wellness Committee, 2023-2024

Sahar Rammaha.jpgProgram: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My hopes within Wellness Committee is to provide resident support ensuring that we're being taken care of. There are ample resources within EMRA and mentors willing to connect. Each EM resident across the board matters and this organization is here for you. Being able to provide a safe-space for residents to reach out for help or guidance is a large reason why I wanted to be an EMRA leader!

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I began my involvement as a first-year medical student when an M2 stopped at my table at Starbucks and yelled out "JOIN EMRA!" knowing I was interested in the specialty. I loved being a member and next year went onto applying for a position on the Medical Student Council... never looked back since!
 
What is something that people don't know about you? My family and I run a backyard business running a chicken coop, selling organic eggs!

Favorite life hack for night shifts: grape uncrustables and Peach vibe Celsius goes a long way when paired with getting to know your ancillary colleagues/staff during down-time.

What's on your playlist? Soul and R&B... I love Leon Bridges so hit me with song recs.



Caroline Paz, DO, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Wellness Committee, 2023-2024

Caroline Paz.jpgProgram: Maimonides Medical Center

Your goal as an EMRA leader: I hope to be impactful and thoughtful in my decisions, I want to be a good leader who stays approachable and excited about residency, life as a resident and as an EMRA member and leader

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I wanted to be a part of an organization whose mission and core values aligned with mine, I love the field of Emergency Medicine and want all of us residents to continue to thrive and find our passions in EM.
 
What is something that people don't know about you? I will always keep trying new foods even if I didn't like it the first time! Perfect example: I used to strongly dislike sushi for years until I tried it again and was like wait this is actually fantastic!

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: A baker/cute coffee shop owner filled with yummy baked goods and endless shelves of books

What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Candy, nothing sour gummies can't fix

What's the last non-textbook you read? Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Favorite channel on social media? halfbakedharvest for all the recipes she posts on Insta and tiktok
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