NEOMED students present poster at FMEC annual meeting in Cleveland

Third-year medical students Julianna Sandine and Christine Lo Verde recently presented their poster “The Silent Patients: Advocating for Invisible Issues in Medicine” at the Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC) 2025 Annual Meeting in Cleveland. The conference brought together nearly 1,000 attendees, including more than 300 medical students, 250 residents, and over 400 faculty and health professionals. The unique nature of FMEC means that while many program directors and faculty return annually, up to 60% of attendees are students and residents who are new to the experience, just like Sandine and Lo Verde.

For both students, presenting their work was a highlight of the conference. Their poster drew the attention of many physicians who stopped to engage in meaningful conversations about the social determinants of health (SDOH) and the often overlooked needs of caregivers. These interactions gave Sandine and Lo Verde the chance to share insights from their scholarship and to reflect on the importance of advocating for patients whose struggles are not always visible. They described the opportunity to participate in this dialogue as both affirming and inspiring.

Sandine and Lo Verde’s research highlights the critical role of caregivers, who frequently face physical, emotional and financial strain while supporting loved ones, yet are often unrecognized in clinical practice. Their work is part of a growing body of student scholarship at NEOMED, developed in collaboration with Julie Aultman, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and Brian Harrell, Writing Center specialist. Together, they are building research that blends medical education, ethics and narrative medicine, contributing to NEOMED’s mission to prepare students as advocates for both patients and families.

- submitted by Brian Harrell