Show UP!

When it comes to volunteering for professional committees or leadership positions at the state or national level, I often hear physicians say:

“Oh, I don’t have the experience for that,”

“I can’t add anything else to my plate right now,”

“I don’t know anyone else who’s going, and I don’t want to go on my own.”

I believe if these physicians had taken a chance and shown up, they might have been surprised by the opportunities and friendships their involvement could generate. Even the smallest time investments can lead to big pay outs!

The first time that I “showed up” was at an EMRA meeting in Phoenix, where I represented my residency class. While there I also attended EMRA’s Health Policy Committee meeting. There were only five residents in attendance, including the illustrious Dr. Nathan Schlicher, former Washington State Senator, and Dr. Alison Haddock, current ACEP Board member extraordinaire. Within a year, I had assumed the role of Health Policy Chair. Two years later, I became EMRA’s Legislative Advisor.

I moved to Tennessee after residency, got married, and had a baby. I considered tabling my involvement in my state ACEP chapter that year – it’s hard enough being a new mom – but I thought I should at least attend TnCEP’s annual board meeting in Chattanooga. With my husband and infant in tow, we made the drive. Simply showing up at that meeting was enough to earn me a spot on the board as a member at large, a position that garnered me a councilor seat at the annual ACEP Council meeting.

I also served as a subcommittee leader on ACEP’s State Legislative Committee but, before long, I got pregnant again and decided to relocate to Iowa. Overwhelmed by major life changes, I considered backing out of the committee. Instead, I choose to take a step back from leading a subcommittee and joined a different subcommittee – this time, as a member only. Dr. Lisa Mauer, the recent recipient of ACEP’s 2018 Horizon Award, led the group. A great organizer, Lisa divided our tasks into small pieces. My small piece (very small) when combined with Lisa’s work resulted in a white paper, which – much to my surprise – was referenced in a talk at ACEP’s next annual meeting.

And that brings me to my relationship with AAWEP. As a resident, I couldn’t see the value of the section because I had yet to experience (or, more likely, recognize) implicit bias, and had not faced the challenges of being both a doctor and a mom. That all changed, however, during my first few months as an attending! I knew I needed to join AAWEP. When the call for executive board positions was made a few months later, I applied. Within weeks, I was named the organization’s new chair-elect. All I had to do was SHOW UP.

Now, I am not saying that showing up will get you elected to the State Senate or even onto the ACEP Board, but it will provide you with opportunities to grow and learn, build your resume, meet influential people, and make new friends.

So, if you are thinking about joining an EMRA/ACEP committee or another organized group within emergency medicine (AAEM, AMA, CORD, ABEM, SAEM, etc.), a hospital committee, or your local government, go for it! Oftentimes, just showing up will take you further then you can imagine. You never know, you might even end up as AAWEP chair.

Sarah Hoper, MD, JD, FACEP
AAWEP Section Chair