I am proud to announce that the UConn chapter of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation’s largest, independent medical student organization, has been awarded the prestigious 2009 Paul R. Wright Award for Excellence in Medical Education. The award was presented at AMSA’s 59th Annual Convention in Arlington, Virginia last week. This is the first time UConn has received this prestigious award. AMSA established the Paul R. Wright Award to recognize a medical school, chosen by the nation’s medical students, whose exemplary achievements in medical education foster the development of socially responsive physicians. The area of concentration changes each year to reflect a different dimension of medical education. The emphasis of the 2009 award is Local Advocacy and Activism.
UConn was awarded for its initiative toward achieving quality, affordable, health care for all. Medical students Erica Hinz, Teresa Doucet, Shan Shan Jiang, and Shubha Venkatesh spent a year planning the event. Held last October, their event “Projections: The Faces of Hartford,” not only raised awareness within the community but has provided essential leadership training for local medical students. The event gathered a cross-section of the Hartford community, consisting of health care providers, students from a wide range of disciplines including the health professions, state senators, city officials, teachers, community leaders, and those from the creative community. Congratulations!
