Medical Student Shares Why She Values ISMS
February 13, 2020
We caught up with Courtney Harris, a second-year medical student at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University and a member of the ISMS Medical Student Section (MSS), to talk about her experience with organized medicine. She is currently an ISMS Chapter Delegate to the MSS Governing Council, and a student member of ISMS’ new Health Information and Technology Task Force. She is also active in the AMA, serving as Chapter President, Region 2 Advocacy Chair, and a member of the Committee on Legislation and Advocacy.
As a result of Ms. Harris’s efforts, Rosalind Franklin has been recognized as the campus with the most new ISMS student members in 2020, with a total of 85 thus far.
Why did you initially become involved in ISMS?
When I started medical school, organized medicine seemed like this overwhelming space with innumerable opportunities and so much to learn. As a first-year student at the AMA Interim meeting, the upper-level students involved in ISMS were quick to offer their guidance and support. I quickly realized that involvement on the state level provided an outlet to directly impact the environment I was educated in and that my patients live in.
What do you like most about ISMS?
Without a doubt, my favorite part about ISMS is that they clearly value the medical student and resident voice in medicine. The fact that any medical student member can vote on resolutions and policy is not a given with every state society, so I greatly appreciate having my opinions and perspectives valued. Additionally, the clear willingness of physician and resident members of the organization to mentor students and help them get involved at a level where they are taking advantage of this opportunity to use their voice has been incredibly meaningful.
What do you feel are the most important reasons for medical students to be members of ISMS?
Simply put, if you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem. There are many pressing issues facing both our patients and our roles as physicians. I think it is our responsibility to help build a system in which we can provide effective and compassionate care while fostering wellness and resilience within our workforce.
What does ISMS do for you that other organizations may not provide?
ISMS provides a space for students to work on issues that are really important to patients here in Illinois, which is so valuable. I also love to plug the residency preparation workshop held in the fall for upper-level students!
What advice would you give medical students about getting involved in ISMS?
Getting involved in ISMS is truly the easiest decision to make – it’s free! That is a low-stakes commitment in our schooling which often feels like a lot of high-stakes situations. Everyone I have met in ISMS, both students and physicians, have been so passionate and taught me about areas of medicine I might not have known much about. So my advice is to simply join and seek out the mentorship of other students that are involved!
What advice would you give medical students about getting involved in organized medicine in general?
My advice for getting involved in organized medicine is just to jump into the chaos and trust that there is a place for your passions. American healthcare is a complex environment to serve our patients in, and if we don't step up as students, we won't have a voice in building the healthcare system we will spend our entire careers in. As rising physicians, we are increasingly recognizing the complex issues that affect our patients' health, such as climate change, racism and misinformation. Organized medicine provides a space to raise our voices on topics like these and impact patients through actionable policy.
Why is getting other students involved in ISMS important to you?
ISMS has helped me build a network of like-minded students and hone my passion for healthcare policy into a skillset that I can use to impact legislation. I have gained confidence as a future healthcare professional in this organization, and I believe that other students might find their place here too.
Ms. Harris, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this interview!