Carmen-Rose Madiebo
Ross University School of Medicine
MS4
The 2022 Clinical Forum was deeply insightful. As a first-time attendee, I was thrilled to partake in this experience and reconnect with my colleagues from the AMAM 2022 conference.
The meeting commenced with a powerful keynote speech from Dr. Belinda Fu, who addressed the importance of presence and how to use our presence to build connections. As Dr. Fu explained, when we are present, we become more broadly aware of our surroundings, helping us adapt to changing circumstances. Furthermore, presence also results in connection: constantly surrounded by flowing energies, when we are present, we become in tune with those around us, thus forming a connection with them.
Next, we delved into a session on trauma-informed care and its impact on health equity. At AMAM 2022, I learned that trauma has profound negative effects on health outcomes—effects which persist over generations on a biologic, cultural, and systemic level. I recalled this topic from the AMAM 2022 resolutions meeting as well, so I appreciated being able to connect the dots and learn more.
The primary takeaway is this: trauma interferes with health equity and high-quality patient care by triggering distrust amongst patients, which consequently influences how they relate to health institutions. Moreover, trauma can impair providers’ wellbeing, preventing them from becoming fully optimized to serve vulnerable populations such as marginalized and uninsured communities. A possible solution is trauma-informed, resilience-oriented care, which is designed to provide a blueprint for physicians to take care of both themselves and their patients.
On the second day, I joined the procedures workshop for students and residents—the unmistakable highlight of the conference. Not only did I get to further hone the procedural skills I fostered during my clinical years at medical school, but I seized another chance to connect with the friends I made at the AMAM 2022 conference.
I am deeply grateful to the LAAFP executive board for the scholarship that enabled me to take advantage of this opportunity to network with family medicine physicians. Overall, attending the clinical forum enhanced my interpersonal skills, allowed me to meet prospective program directors across California, and gave me an opportunity to share ideas from my new book, The PCOS Diet: A Healthy Recipe Guide to Happy Hormones, with some of the greatest specialists in family medicine. I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Clinical Forum conference, and I cannot wait to attend again.
