AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council Election

My commitment to Emergency Medicine is rooted in both my clinical experiences and my dedication to advancing equitable, patient-centered care. From my earliest involvement in free clinics to my current work with student EM organizations, I have seen firsthand how emergency physicians serve as the safety net for patients who face systemic barriers and chronically unmet needs. I am running for the Medical Student Council Board because I want to help strengthen that mission at the national level and ensure that medical students are well-equipped and supported as they enter this field.

I hope to bring three priorities to the Medical Student Council:

1. Expanding Access to Mentorship and Education
   I want to build structured opportunities for students across all institutions, including those without home EM programs, to connect with mentors, develop procedural and clinical skills, and gain exposure to diverse EM career pathways.
2. Strengthening Advocacy for the Future of EM
   As students, we must understand and engage with the challenges facing our specialty, from workforce issues to boarding and overcrowding. I hope to create accessible advocacy toolkits and avenues for involvement so students feel empowered to contribute to solutions.
3. Growing Community, Representation, and Support

I am committed to amplifying student voices, increasing inclusivity within EM spaces, and fostering a community where students feel valued, heard, and connected across regions and backgrounds.

AAEM/RSA has played a meaningful role in shaping my understanding of emergency medicine and the values that define the specialty. I would be honored to serve on the Medical Student Council and help advance these values for students nationwide.

Emile is a highly motivated, highly competent EM-bound medical student. I first met him while we were working together on resolutions through the Louisiana State Medical Society. His prior involvement with AAEM/RSA in the South region, vast experience in emergency medicine, thirst for knowledge, and commitment to service make him an excellent nominee for the position of Chair of the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council.

Having served as Regional Representative for the South and now as Chair of the Medical Student Council, I have a strong grasp of the demands of both positions. I am confident that Emile would thrive as Chair, working to support the Regional Representatives in their duties and otherwise furthering AAEM/RSA’s mission of serving all EM-bound medical students.

Over the past 14 years, I have worked in many corners of emergency medicine and EMS, from my early days as a firefighter/EMT with the National Park Service to serving as a swift water rescue swimmer, ski patroller, and later as an emergency medicine PA throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I have worked within government agencies, private equity backed national EM groups, and small democratic practices. These experiences have exposed me to a broad swath of the field.

I have worked to share my enthusiasm through my role as Vice President of our EM interest group, building educational programs, podcasts, case-based simulations, and mentorship pipelines for students. AAEM/RSA consistently stands out in advocating for our specialty and defending the centrality of the physician- patient relationship in emergency care.

At a time when emergency medicine was increasingly pressured by outside forces, insurance reimbursement pressures, contract management groups, and hospital administrative decisions, I believe it is essential to remind medical students that emergency physicians always have agency. We can choose how we practice, what models we support, and how we shape the future culture of EM.

Looking ahead to the potential shift to a four-year residency curriculum and the evolving demands of our field, I want to expose students to the full spectrum of opportunities within EM, including practice ownership, democratic groups, and entrepreneurial ventures that allow physicians to retain autonomy and longevity. I believe we must highlight approaches to career sustainability and showcase physicians who have built durable, fulfilling careers.

If selected as Medical Student Chair, I will work to ensure that Emergency Medicine continues to draw the most talented, motivated students. I want medical students to see the mental stimulation, practice variety, lifestyle adaptability, and broad skill set that make EM uniquely rewarding, while championing physician autonomy and long-term career ownership.

Howdy! My name is Joshua Lemos. I am currently a third-year medical student going into emergency medicine and serving in our Cabinet of Delegates.   

I’m running for Chair of the MSC to not only uphold those values of the AAEM/RSA, but to address two personal topics which affect all of us in training: wellness and mentorship.   

As the culture of medical education continues to emphasize wellness, I see many of us, including those of us in the infancy of our training, still struggling with burnout long before residency. I believe that the strongest advocacy the AAEM can offer students starts with fostering each other’s well-being in and out of medical schools extending into the professional space, not performative wellness modules. In this role, I seek to bolster the current wellness curriculum to include a heightened focus on medical students and resident trainees with hopes to make this a symposium highlight. Wellness is not a luxury; it is foundational in becoming the emergency physicians that our patients deserve, and our colleagues look to.  

But wellness alone will not do. With the evolving application landscape and rising challenges facing our specialty, mentorship and transparency will be paramount in navigating the challenges to come. My experience in navigating current mentorship structures in my own program has informed me of the growing need for collaboration between those in each stage of training. I seek to implement a tiered mentorship approach, pairing medical students, residents, and attending’s. A tested method in creating long lasting relationships and raising each other up through managing-up mentorship methodologies.    I aim to expand the voice, visibility, and impact of AAEM/RSA across medical schools and students nationwide, championing the well-being of those interested in EM. Thank you for the opportunity to serve, I’ll see you on the wards.

I am nominating Tiffany Cagides for the Medical Student Council because she is one of the most dedicated, reliable, and driven students I have worked with. Tiffany consistently demonstrates strong leadership, initiative, and a genuine commitment to improving the student experience and the culture of our medical school. She takes on challenging projects, follows through, and motivates the people around her to do the same.

Her work in student mentorship, academic support, community engagement, and advocacy reflects her ability to problem-solve, collaborate, and uplift her peers. Tiffany is the type of person who identifies needs, takes action, and creates meaningful change. I have no doubt she will bring the same level of professionalism and passion to the Medical Student Council. I strongly support her nomination.

I’m a third-year medical student with a deep passion for Emergency Medicine and advocacy, and I’m excited for the opportunity to serve on the AAEM Medical Student Council Board of Directors. My involvement with AAEM began when I attended the Advocacy Summit and Hill Day, where I saw firsthand how powerful our voices can be in shaping the future of medicine. Since then, I’ve helped lead the RSA Advocacy Toolkit, a student-led project created to make EM advocacy approachable, actionable, and meaningful for students across the country.

Outside of AAEM, I’ve taken on leadership and mentorship roles as a peer mentor, ACLS and Stop the Bleed instructor, scribe trainer, president of the American Medical Women’s Association, and student senator. Each experience has shown me how small ideas can grow into impactful initiatives, like establishing a student emergency fund, leading wellness programs, or organizing educational workshops for my peers.

As part of the Medical Student Council, I hope to:

• Build stronger mentorship connections between students, residents, and physicians
• Expand advocacy education so every student feels confident getting involved
• Promote wellness and belonging across the EM student community

Emergency medicine is fast, unpredictable, and built on thinking clearly under pressure basically my everyday life. I would bring that same energy to making sure our student benefits actually benefit students and to keeping the Council running smoother than a dispo-ready patient with family already at bedside.

My work blends emergency medicine, leadership, and business. I have taken care of patients who say, “this has been happening for seven years, but today felt urgent”, while also earning a business degree, because EM is not only about saving lives. EM is about ensuring our systems and policies work for us. I have already served a year on the Council, supporting national advocacy and contributing to policy initiatives shaping the future of EM. I helped deliver the Southern Medical Student Symposium to strengthen student engagement in emergency care reform and regularly contribute to Common Sense. I would also lead a health policy and advocacy workshop to equip students with tools to drive systemic change.

I founded the Compassion Closet, a nonprofit that ensures every patient is discharged with dignity, and I have improved EMS systems in national parks. These experiences showed me how small, practical fixes can shift an entire system. I care about getting things done efficiently, but I care just as much about keeping things fun, because medicine is already serious enough. If you want someone who will advocate for you, secure real student benefits, and rapid sequence intubate both a patient and an inefficient process, I would be honored to serve.

My interest in emergency medicine has grown from the people and experiences that shaped me along the way. I first found my footing in the ED as a scribe, where I watched residents and attending’s navigate unpredictable moments with steady teamwork. Later, as a clinical research coordinator, I saw how communication, collaboration, and curiosity intersect in this specialty.

In medical school, appreciation for emergency medicine has only grown. I am grateful for mentors who took the time to teach me and for my fellow medical students with diverse backgrounds who share the same energy for learning. Through my school’s EM Interest Group, I helped bring students together for simulation sessions and training with local EMS, which showed me how valuable it is when students feel connected and supported.

I am running for a position on the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council because I want to help foster that same sense of community on a larger scale and advocate for the future of emergency medicine. I hope to contribute to a space where students across the country can share opportunities, learn from one another, and feel part of something bigger than their individual programs. If elected, I would focus on strengthening communication between schools, helping students access mentorship and educational resources, and supporting the Chair in keeping our collective efforts organized and meaningful.

It would be an honor to serve on the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council and to contribute to the future of emergency medicine alongside others who share a deep commitment to this specialty.

I am dedicated to a career in emergency medicine because I am committed to community-centered care. I was fortunate to participate in a medical mission trip to Guatemala last summer and am concurrently pursuing a master’s in public health, with the majority of my coursework focused on climate change and disaster preparedness.

The combination of my medical and public health degrees helped shape my perspective on the growing role of emergency medicine in public health, and I am committed to contributing to the specialty’s future. If selected for the medical student council, I hope to strengthen member involvement and support projects, especially those related to global health and disaster preparedness. I would be honored to support AAEM/RSA’s mission and help build a more connected community with my future emergency medicine colleagues.

My interest in emergency medicine has grown from the people and experiences that shaped me along the way. I first found my footing in the ED as a scribe, where I watched residents and attending’s navigate unpredictable moments with steady teamwork. Later, as a clinical research coordinator, I saw how communication, collaboration, and curiosity intersect in this specialty.

In medical school, appreciation for emergency medicine has only grown. I am grateful for mentors who took the time to teach me and for my fellow medical students with diverse backgrounds who share the same energy for learning. Through my school’s EM Interest Group, I helped bring students together for simulation sessions and training with local EMS, which showed me how valuable it is when students feel connected and supported.

I am running for a position on the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council because I want to help foster that same sense of community on a larger scale and advocate for the future of emergency medicine. I hope to contribute to a space where students across the country can share opportunities, learn from one another, and feel part of something bigger than their individual programs. If elected, I would focus on strengthening communication between schools, helping students access mentorship and educational resources, and supporting the Chair in keeping our collective efforts organized and meaningful.

It would be an honor to serve on the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council and to contribute to the future of emergency medicine alongside others who share a deep commitment to this specialty.

Emergency Medicine (EM) is one of the most dynamic and meaningful fields a medical student can explore. It is fast-paced, intellectually challenging, and uniquely rewarding with every shift. I am applying to the AAEM Medical Student Council because I want to expand opportunities that allow students to meaningfully experience EM early in their medical training.

My primary initiative would be the creation of an AAEM-supported national shadowing and mentorship database. This program would match students with EM attending’s who are willing to host shadowing experiences or serve as mentors. Early exposure to the ED allows students to develop foundational clinical reasoning, witness the spectrum of acute care, and envision themselves as future EM physicians. A structured mentorship option would provide guidance on specialty choice, ERAS preparation, opportunities for involvement in AAEM, and long-term professional development.

Additionally, I would love to launch a monthly interactive case-based series, inspired by Curbside: EM Stories from EM Doctors. In these sessions, EM physicians would present real clinical scenarios while students discuss diagnostic approaches, management strategies, and lessons learned. This would give students a safe, educational environment to practice clinical thinking long before clerkships.

My goal is to help bridge the gap between didactic learning and clinical EM exposure, making the specialty more accessible, less intimidating, and more engaging for students across the country.

I would be honored to serve on the AAEM Medical Student Council for the 2026-2027 term and continue building programs that support future EM physicians.

My name is Audrey Riccitelli, and I am a fourth-year medical student at Rowan-Virtua SOM, pursuing a career in Emergency Medicine within the Northeast community. I am honored to run for Northeast Regional Representative on the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council to bring my unique experience, reliability, and passion to this role.

Throughout medical school, I have maintained my dedication to Emergency Medicine. I served as President of Rowan SOM’s ACOEP chapter during my second year, leading workshops, coordinating guest speakers, and working to expand educational and mentorship opportunities for interested students. In addition to my academic leadership, I continue to serve both as a volunteer and work as an EMT in New Jersey for over 6 years. I know firsthand the strength, diversity, and needs of our communities and the problems facing emergency medicine. These experiences motivate my dedication to providing emergency care and advocating for the students who hope to one day deliver it.

As Northeast representative, I seek to strengthen mentorship connections between students and residents throughout the region, building upon the current helpful programs. I will promote equitable access to educational and career resources for students throughout the region. I will encourage active collaboration and professional development, fostering a supportive community from pre-clinical years through residency, especially during this time of change and uncertainty. I am reliable, organized, and ready to work with the newly-elected council on behalf of my peers. I am committed to a lifelong career in Emergency Medicine here in the Northeast and am excited to begin contributing now. I would be honored to serve as your representative and help amplify the voices and interests of our region’s future emergency physicians, building on the wonderful work by this current council.

My name is Brandon Swan-Prung, and I am applying for the Northeastern Regional Representative position. My connection to this organization and its mission to advocate for EM physician autonomy stems from my exposure in the emergency department as an ER Tech, medical scribe, and COPE Health Scholar. These experiences strengthened my appreciation for medicine, but also revealed it beyond the excitement of trauma codes and procedures, highlighting the administrative challenges a physician endures to provide high-quality patient care. Witnessing these realities has deepened my respect for the specialty and strengthened my commitment to supporting physician-led care and professional autonomy.

Over the past three years, I have served as the 2027 Class President of UNECOM, allowing me to refine a leadership style centered on personal connection, active listening, and the encouragement of constructive critique to build stronger initiatives. Additionally, I serve as the Clinical Site Liaison Committee Chair, coordinating meetings and maintaining internal communication infrastructure across sixteen clinical rotation sites throughout the Northeast. These opportunities to lead are why I believe I have the tools to effectively serve as a regional representative.

As your representative, I intend to learn and listen. For the organization, I hope to expand collaboration within the Northeastern region, increase awareness of AAEM’s mission, and serve as an accessible amplifier of AAEM members’ voices. I truly believe emergency medicine is an incredible specialty, and through these organized efforts, we can contribute to a sustainable, thriving future in the field. Thank you for your consideration.

My interest in emergency medicine began two years before medical school while working as an ED scribe. During that time, I saw the lingering effects of COVID-19 on EM physicians, but I also witnessed a new challenge: corporate management groups making clinical and staffing decisions based solely on metrics and cost savings, often with little regard for patient care or physician well-being. This became personal when the group terminated the scribe program because dictation software was cheaper, adding to the doctors’ documentation burden simply to gain a small profit margin.

The summer before starting medical school, I attended the FLAAEM conference to present a poster and learn more about the specialty. Instead, I discovered AAEM. Hearing EM leaders openly discuss corporate interference and actively fight back was eye-opening. That day solidified my commitment to AAEM/RSA’s mission of physician-led emergency medicine. I received an AAEM pin at the conference, a small emblem of resistance that I proudly affixed to my white coat on day one of med school. It regularly starts conversations with classmates and faculty about the challenges facing our specialty and what AAEM is doing to address them.

As a third-year medical student now applying for regional representative, I want to bring that same awareness to my peers. My goal is to educate and engage fellow students across the region, building a network of future emergency physicians who understand these issues early and are prepared to advocate for independent, physician-driven care. I am ready to organize events, share resources, and represent our collective voice to ensure the next generation of EM physicians refuses to accept corporate control of our specialty. Together, we can rewrite the specialty’s future, one pin at a time.

My commitment to Emergency Medicine is rooted in both my clinical experiences and my dedication to advancing equitable, patient-centered care. From my earliest involvement in free clinics to my current work with student EM organizations, I have seen firsthand how emergency physicians serve as the safety net for patients who face systemic barriers and chronically unmet needs. I am running for the Medical Student Council Board because I want to help strengthen that mission at the national level and ensure that medical students are well-equipped and supported as they enter this field.

I hope to bring three priorities to the Medical Student Council:

1. Expanding Access to Mentorship and Education
   I want to build structured opportunities for students across all institutions, including those without home EM programs, to connect with mentors, develop procedural and clinical skills, and gain exposure to diverse EM career pathways.
2. Strengthening Advocacy for the Future of EM
   As students, we must understand and engage with the challenges facing our specialty, from workforce issues to boarding and overcrowding. I hope to create accessible advocacy toolkits and avenues for involvement so students feel empowered to contribute to solutions.
3. Growing Community, Representation, and Support

I am committed to amplifying student voices, increasing inclusivity within EM spaces, and fostering a community where students feel valued, heard, and connected across regions and backgrounds.

AAEM/RSA has played a meaningful role in shaping my understanding of emergency medicine and the values that define the specialty. I would be honored to serve on the Medical Student Council and help advance these values for students nationwide.

I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Jared Graff for the position of AAEM/RSA Western Regional Representative. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Jared in many facets throughout our time in medical school. During that time, Jared has shown thoughtful attention to detail and demonstrated a strong work-ethic that I believe will serve the students and residents in the western region.

Jared is currently a second-year medical student at Noorda-COM in Provo, UT where he has already distinguished himself through leadership and initiative. As a deeply involved member of the EM interest group he has consistently shown up for classmates, listened carefully to concerns, and translated that feedback into concrete action. Whether organizing educational events or coordinating volunteer work, Jared leads with humility, reliability, and follow-through.

What stands out most about Jared is his passion for emergency medicine and his genuine commitment to the core values of AAEM/RSA: patient-centered care, integrity, and the fair treatment of residents and medical students. He is a strong advocate for students and residents and has demonstrated that commitment through his efforts of outreach and promotion on behalf of the emergency medicine community at Noorda-COM.

As Western Regional Representative, Jared would bring energy, organization, and approachability to the role. Jared is a straight-shooter, and the kind of person peers naturally turn to for support and honest guidance. He’s also shown that he has the ability and determination to represent a diverse group of students and residents to the national organization. I am confident that Jared will be an asset to the AAEM/RSA leadership team and will use this position to strengthen ties between students and residency programs throughout the Western region.

I offer Jared Graff my strongest possible endorsement for this position. 

I am running for Western Representative because Emergency Medicine is more than a specialty to me; it is where I first learned what it means to show up for people on the worst day of their lives. Before medical school, I worked as an EMT in the pre-hospital setting, responding to scenes where seconds mattered and teamwork shaped outcomes. Those early experiences built my deep respect for emergency physicians and the irreplaceable role they play in our health care system.

Throughout medical school, my passion for Emergency Medicine has only grown. The Medical Student Council has done important work increasing its visibility and supporting EM-bound students, and I hope to continue that momentum within RSA. As Western Representative, my focus will be to empower students with clear guidance about choosing Emergency Medicine, excelling in rotations, navigating SLOEs, and preparing for residency. Students consistently seek mentorship and direction, and I am committed to strengthening those pipelines by connecting physicians, residents, and students in meaningful ways.

At the same time, we must recognize the challenges facing our specialty. Midlevel expansion, corporate influence, and a minimization of the physician patient relationship is already reshaping emergency departments across the country. While these issues may feel distant to many students now, they will directly impact our training and our careers. I believe we must protect Emergency Medicine as a physician-led field defined by critical decision-making, medical expertise, and a commitment to care for every patient without compromise.

The West has shaped my journey, and I want to give back by serving the students who share this region with me. With your support, I am committed to advocating for our specialty, elevating student voices, and helping ensure a strong, respected, and physician-driven future for Emergency Medicine.

I am dedicated to a career in emergency medicine because I am committed to community-centered care. I was fortunate to participate in a medical mission trip to Guatemala last summer and am concurrently pursuing a master’s in public health, with the majority of my coursework focused on climate change and disaster preparedness.

The combination of my medical and public health degrees helped shape my perspective on the growing role of emergency medicine in public health, and I am committed to contributing to the specialty’s future. If selected for the medical student council, I hope to strengthen member involvement and support projects, especially those related to global health and disaster preparedness. I would be honored to support AAEM/RSA’s mission and help build a more connected community with my future emergency medicine colleagues.

I am a third year medical student at Creighton University in Phoenix, currently serving as EMIG Co-President and Volunteer Coordinator for the Arizona EM Medical Student Council. Through both roles, I have encouraged connection among Arizona EMIGs, residency programs, and students across schools by organizing collaborative events and emphasizing shared communication.

Over the past year, I helped organize an annual statewide EM residency mixer that brought medical students together with program directors and residents from all AZ programs. I also organized a two-part BLS and community CPR/Stop the Bleed event, where pre-clinical students got to practice their code-running skills with EM preceptors on one day, and medical student volunteers got to provide training for hands-only CPR and Stop the Bleed to our community.

My other passion has been my schools street medicine program. As Co-President, I helped start weekly student-run outreach clinics at local soup kitchens, working with EM faculty and community partners to serve our community and provide great clinical learning experiences for students. Oversight of clinic operations, including scheduling teams, training new volunteers, managing supplies, and developing partnerships with local nonprofits focused on homelessness and harm reduction, has taught me how to design systems that are sustainable for students and responsive to community needs.

Across EMIG, the Arizona EM MSC, and Street Medicine, I get most excited by starting and refining new initiatives. The innovation, networking, and event planning experience I have gained in Arizona is what I hope to bring to the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council. I hope to have a focus on building influential projects for our region, encourage collaboration with EMIG leaders and programs, and provide reliable follow-through so good ideas turn into lasting structures for students.

When I first became interested in Emergency Medicine, what drew me in wasn’t just the pace of the specialty, it was the mentors that I had. Every EM physician I met went out of their way to mentor, teach, and encourage students. That sense of community is what made me want to get involved, and it’s why I’m running for Regional Representative for the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council to allow other students the opportunity to connect with EM physicians.

As Regional Representative, I will focus on strengthening connections between schools, EMIGs, and AAEM/RSA leadership. I want students in every program, large or small, established or just beginning, to feel they have a direct line to resources, opportunities, and mentorship. I will maintain open communication to help ensure that national updates, initiatives, and support reach students quickly and clearly.

I am especially excited about the opportunity to plan a Regional Student Symposium. Events like these can spark motivation, introduce students to mentors, and give them clarity about their path in EM. I hope to create a symposium that feels accessible and genuinely helpful for students at all stages of their EM journey.

Most of all, I want to represent students to continue to advocate for better resources, better communication, and a stronger, more connected student community.

As an international medical student with strong experience in leadership, communication, and organizational support, I am eager to serve as a Medical Student Representative on the AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council. My role as Director of Public Relations for the Ross Emergency Medicine Interest Group has provided hands-on experience coordinating events such as journal clubs and fundraisers, managing timely communication across multiple platforms and supporting student engagement. These skills will directly support my effectiveness in this position.

Through my involvement in student organizations and community-focused initiatives, I have developed the ability to collaborate efficiently, respond promptly and contribute to mission-driven operations. These experiences have strengthened my capacity to review communications, participate thoughtfully in ongoing projects and assist leadership with both logistical and organizational responsibilities.

As an international medical student, I understand the unique challenges and perspectives of students training outside the United States. My goal is to strengthen representation, improve communication between international students and the Council and expand access to AAEM/RSA resources and opportunities.

As the International Regional Representative, my platform would center on connection, communication, and accessibility. My goal is to ensure that every international medical student engaged with AAEM/RSA feels informed, supported, and empowered to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine.

I plan to strengthen communication with Medical Student Liaisons by establishing consistent check-ins, streamlined updates, and shared resources tailored to the unique needs of international programs. I will work closely with the Vice Chair to ensure other Liaisons receive guidance, opportunities, and mentorship pathways to bring EM initiatives to their campuses.

A major priority of my term will be developing a high-quality International Regional Student Symposium. I aim to create an event that highlights EM leadership, residency preparation, and IMG-specific pathways, while featuring diverse speakers.

Additionally, I will maintain accurate EMIG listings, expand outreach to emerging interest groups, and foster cross-campus collaboration so students across regions can learn from one another.

Ultimately, my platform is grounded in advocacy and inclusivity. I am committed to representing regional needs to the MSC, elevating student concerns, and ensuring that international members have a strong, unified voice within AAEM/RSA.