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UVA Medical Students Make Impact at Medical Society of Virginia Annual Meeting

October 29, 2024 by jta6n@virginia.edu

Medical students from the University of Virginia attend the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) Annual Meeting.
Over 25 medical students from the University of Virginia attended the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) Annual Meeting, October 18-20, 2024, in Norfolk, Virginia. The weekend included a wide range of educational programming, medical student poster presentations, an evening gala, and lively policy discussions and votes regarding new additions to the MSV policy compendium. This year’s meeting also saw the inauguration of Joel T. Bundy, MD, as president of the medical society, replacing Alice Coombs, MD.

Founded in 1820, the Medical Society of Virginia is a professional association with over 10,000 members, representing all physicians, fellows, residents, and medical students in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The MSV serves as the main legislative advocacy pathway for physicians in Virginia and plays a significant role in shaping patient and physician-focused legislation in Richmond. It is a crucial platform for medical professionals to come together, share knowledge, and advocate for the improvement of healthcare in the state.

UVA medical student Ishaan Rischie presenting his poster

UVA medical student Ishaan Rischie presents his poster.

The MSV Annual Meeting allows any member to propose policy resolutions for inclusion in the official MSV compendium and serves as a crucial networking and mentorship platform. It connects medical students to influential and high-ranking physicians across Virginia, providing them with invaluable opportunities to learn and grow in their profession.

Students from the University of Virginia have long played a leadership role in the MSV, and this year was no different. Students with a state-level leadership role include:

  • Phoebe Gruccio, M2, Engagement Vice-Chair, Medical Student Section
  • Vignesh Senthilkumar, M2–MD/PhD, Legislative Vice-Chair, Medical Student Section
  • Shalvi Patel, M2, Community Outreach Officer, Medical Student Section
  • Rusty Hawes, G3–MD/PhD, MSVPAC Student Member
  • Ishaan Rischie, M3, MSV Foundation Board Student Member
  • Vishal Reddy, M3, Community Outreach Vice Chair, Medical Student Section

In addition, two resolutions authored by UVA students resoundingly passed the MSV House of Delegates and are considered official MSV policy. These resolutions, “Healthcare for People who are Incarcerated,” written by M2 students Areesheh Khan, Shalvi Patel, and Kathryn Riggs, and “Equitable Access to Care for Individuals with Disabilities,” also written by Areesheh Khan and Kathryn Riggs, were widely commended by physicians across the state. They credited the Medical Student Section for their advocacy for patient populations who are often overlooked.

The resolutions, primarily inspired by the Social Issues in Medicine course and patient presentations built into the School of Medicine’s curriculum, are expected to bolster the Medical Society of Virginia’s push for a more equitable health system. A third medical student resolution, “Stop the Bleed Training in Medical Schools,” authored by VCU School of Medicine M3 student Thérèse Weidenkopf, also passed with overwhelming support.

We’d also like to extend congratulations to M3 student Ishaan Rischie for winning second place for his poster “Futility in Neonatal Care: A Case-Based Critique of Unilateral Termination of Life-Sustaining Treatment.”

Filed Under: Education