Reflection on leadership

Second-year medicine student Madeline Evan shared her experience at the RISE Leadership Conference of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

This summer, I had the privilege of attending the AAMC RISE Leadership Conference held in Washington, D.C. The conference was attended by rising second-year medical students from across the country. The foundational leadership characteristics emphasized during this three-day conference were relationships, influence, self-awareness and effectiveness. The goal of the conference was to build upon leadership qualities that we possess using tools like mentoring, time-management strategies, emotional intelligence awareness, conflict management and teamwork.

As I reflect on my weekend, there are several moments that I wish to spotlight.

Attendees were given an emotional intelligence assessment, which underscored emotional strengths and areas to be further developed. Additionally, insight on how emotional intelligence manifests through interpersonal relationships and strategies to better navigate social interactions were provided. The conference speakers and panelists offered invaluable advice and detailed their leadership journeys’. I found the most impactful moments of the weekend to be from my interactions with the students in attendance.

This conference cultivated an environment of collaboration, vulnerability and resourcefulness, providing a space for thought-provoking conversations to take place. As a group, we discussed paramount issues in medicine including medical misinformation and implicit bias. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who share similar aspirations and hopes for medicine was inspiring.

NEOMED’s long-standing mission of creating transformational leaders highlights the leadership potential in all who attend this institution. I want to emphasize a core foundation of leadership highlighted in the conference; “leadership is a behavior, not a quality.” Adopting a growth mindset, where feedback and challenge are routinely accepted, allows individuals to build confidence and harness leadership potential.

This conference far exceeded my expectations. Beyond cultivating my leadership skills, I had wonderful opportunities to network, collaborate on research initiatives, and develop lasting friendships. I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to NEOMED and the AAMC for providing me with this enriching experience!