Carlisle Topping

I am a current medical student at Yale University pursuing my MD/MHS degree. I would make a great representative due to my passion for community, mentorship, and wellness. As a fifth-year research student, I have the time, experience, and flexibility to devote to amplifying the voices of medical students within RAMS.

I’m particularly passionate about creating a community and support system for medical students interested in Emergency Medicine. As an undergraduate at Columbia University, I was a member of the women’s soccer team. One of my favorite aspects of being an athlete was entering college with the built-in support system of my team. I love that RAMS brings together medical students and residents, and I hope to work with RAMS to create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for medical students as they prepare to enter the field of Emergency Medicine.

I have been involved with SAEM since my second year of medical school, when I attended the national SAEM conference in Austin, TX, to give an oral presentation on my research focused on Medicaid coverage of out-of-state abortions. As a medical student attending my first large conference, I was initially nervous and intimidated. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the conference’s fun and welcoming atmosphere. RAMS contributed to this by hosting a costume-encouraged POCUS competition, dodgeball tournament, and party for both medical students and residents. I would love to build on this spirit and ensure that everyone feels welcomed into the RAMS community, whether they are a first-year medical student or a final-year resident. 

In addition to attending SAEM, I recently joined the SAEM Workforce Committee and applied to continue to be involved in the next year. This aligns with my research interests as showcased by my thesis, which focuses on residency programs and rotation sites at for-profit vs. non-profit hospitals. I hope to contribute to SAEM through this committee as well as through RAMS.

I also have experience working with students and administrators in student leadership roles as a Women in Medicine leader and Emergency Medicine Interest Group leader. I enjoyed organizing events, including a book club event with Anne Gardiner Perkins, author of "Yale Needs Women," about the first female class at Yale College. Additionally, I am the student leader of Hamburg House (Yale school of medicine is adapting its own college system) and have helped organize our first House Cup. I would love to contribute my experience as a student leader to the RAMS board. 

As a RAMS medical student representative, I hope to amplify medical student voices and create stronger mentorship between residents and medical students. I would love to create more informal ways for medical students to connect with residents, encouraging greater medical student participation and interest in academic Emergency Medicine. Ideas to accomplish this include hosting statewide or smaller regional events such as POCUS competitions, social events, and conferences that bring together medical students and residents.

Thank you for your consideration; it would be an honor to serve as your medical student representative.