JEDI-AAEM Section Council Election

I, Kristyn Smith, DO, am nominating Dr. Jordan Vaughn for the position of Chair-Elect for the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Section of AAEM. Dr. Vaughn is a true leader within the section and the Chair-Elect position would be an appropriate step in the progression of her leadership.

For the past two years, Dr. Vaughn has been a Councilor of the section and lead of the Language Justice and Advocacy Workgroup. Under her leadership, the workgroup developed the Know Your Rights guidance document which provides patients with a review of their rights related to equitable language and accessible services.

She also led the development of the Best Practices Guide for Caring for Patients with Non-English Language Preference. She also has led numerous podcasts and webinars dedicated to furthering the mission of JEDI. Dr. Vaughn’s commitment to educating emergency medicine physicians to provide equitable care has been evident throughout her time as a leader within JEDI. I am excited to nominate Dr. Vaughn for the Chair-Elect position and know she will be an asset to furthering the mission of JEDI during such a critical time.

I would like to nominate myself for this leadership position because I would love the opportunity to continue my leadership with JEDI and grow as a leader within AAEM. I have had the pleasure to serve as the RSA Representative in prior years with JEDI, and now councilor for the past two years. It is always a pleasure to serve with other passionate medical students, residents, fellows and Faculty.

I’ve learned and grown so much in my time in the section and would like to continue to create content for podcasts, common sense articles, and practice guides that highlight topics to advocate and educate on issues surrounding justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Similar to the “Know your rights” guide, I would like to create content that educates emergency physicians on how to care for and advocate for other vulnerable populations like our incarcerated populations, non-English preferred speaking, or LGBTQ+ patients. I would like to work and collaborate with the other JEDI section members to create content that keeps members engaged through webinars, podcasts and Scientific Assembly.

As an emergency medicine physician deeply committed to advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), I am honored to self-nominate for the position of Councilor for the JEDI-AAEM Section. As a first-generation college and medical school graduate, and as someone from a Syrian immigrant family, I have personally navigated the challenges of being underrepresented in medicine. These experiences drive my passion for creating equitable opportunities and amplifying diverse voices in our field.

My dedication to equity is reflected in my leadership roles, including serving as CalEMRA President and Immediate Past President on the California ACEP board. I spearheaded initiatives addressing healthcare disparities, such as developing a human trafficking toolkit for emergency physicians, which provides crucial resources for identifying and supporting victims in clinical settings. Additionally, I contributed to the EMRA MobilEM app, ensuring that social emergency medicine resources are accessible to clinicians nationwide.

If selected, I aim to:

1. Expand mentorship programs to support individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in emergency medicine.
2. Develop educational resources on trauma-informed care, social determinants of health, and implicit bias.
3. Strengthen collaborations to promote advocacy and community engagement within our specialty.

As someone who has benefitted from the power of representation, I am committed to ensuring future generations of emergency medicine clinicians have the support and tools they need to thrive. I am excited to bring my perspective, experience, and dedication to JEDI-AAEM’s important work. Thank you for considering my application.

As a long-standing member of AAEM and the JEDI section, my involvement with AAEM has been both rewarding and transformative and has helped deepen my commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion, and professional growth within emergency medicine. 

I was part of the team that created the Health Equity Skills Simulation Workshop for the JEDI Section at the 2023 AAEM Scientific Assembly, using simulation-based training to equip healthcare professionals with skills to address microaggressions in the workplace. My two-year position as Chair of the AAEM Cabinet of Delegates offered invaluable experience working with medical student and resident members. In this role, I led meetings, coordinated projects, and fostered collaboration among delegates to amplify member voices and advance advocacy initiatives within emergency medicine. I have also collaborated with the non-profit MedCEEP on initiatives that provide mentorship and healthcare exposure to underrepresented students. These experiences have strengthened my ability to organize impactful programs and engage diverse groups. As an AAEM/RSA Representative, I aim to help the JEDI team create meaningful opportunities for student and resident engagement through webinars, mentorship programs, and networking events. I understand the importance of building strong professional connections and fostering a supportive community within emergency medicine. By leveraging my experience in coordinating educational workshops and mentorship programs, I hope to contribute to initiatives that inspire and support future emergency physicians. I am committed to ensuring transparent communication and alignment with the organization’s goals. My organizational skills, combined with a passion for advocacy and education, make me confident in my ability to fulfill this role effectively. Ultimately, I aspire to help strengthen the AAEM community by promoting inclusivity, supporting the growth of students and residents, and contributing to the advancement of emergency medicine.

As a resident in emergency medicine, I have experienced how diversity enhances our field and elevates the quality of patient care. The variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences within our specialty allows us to connect more effectively with our diverse patient populations. This is why I am excited to run for RSA representative for JEDI-AAEM. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of serving in this role, working on initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in emergency medicine. One of the significant initiatives within our team has been the continuation of the medical student scholarship for underrepresented medical students (URiM) applying to EM.

In addition, I serve on the University of Maryland’s Emergency Medicine DEI committee, where I help facilitate critical discussions on representation in EM. I also founded Muslim Women in Emergency Medicine, a global network that provides mentorship and leadership opportunities for Muslim women physicians. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to ensuring that all trainees and physicians have access to mentorship, professional development, and a supportive learning environment.

If re-elected, I will continue advocating for expanded mentorship, increasing outreach to underrepresented groups, and advancing initiatives that create a more inclusive emergency medicine community. Our specialty is strongest when we embrace diverse perspectives, and I am dedicated to furthering JEDI-AAEM’s mission. I would be honored to continue this work and hope to have your support!

I am running for the AAEM/RSA Representative position to continue advancing the mission of JEDI-AAEM at a time when equity in medicine faces increasing challenges. Over the past year, I have served as the International Student Representative for AAEM’s Medical Student Council, working to support IMG applicants navigating the unique hurdles of securing residency in Emergency Medicine. This role has reinforced my commitment to advocacy, but my most formative experience came at the Health Policy in Emergency Medicine (HPEM) conference in Washington, DC.

At HPEM, I stood alongside fellow EM providers to advocate against policies threatening DEI efforts, such as the EDUCATE Act, which sought to defund medical schools with DEI programs. As someone whose first exposure to medicine came through such initiatives, dating back to high school, I shared my own experiences with policymakers to highlight the importance of preserving these resources for future physicians. Witnessing the power of collective advocacy firsthand, I am eager to contribute to JEDI-AAEM and stand alongside the tenacious advocates working to protect inclusivity in our specialty.

My journey, from a first-generation student in a historically underrepresented community to an aspiring emergency physician, was made possible by those who fought for equity in medicine. Now, I want to pay it forward. As an RSA Representative, I will work to amplify student and resident voices, expand mentorship opportunities, and ensure that all future EM physicians, regardless of background, feel empowered, heard, and supported within JEDI-AAEM.

I have had the pleasure of serving as a JEDI councilmen and enjoyed the work that we manage to accomplish during my term. It would be a pleasure to continue the great work as a RSA representative and work alongside a team that truly cares about the future of EM and representation.