Alexa Van Besien, MD

As a PGY-3 emergency medicine resident at Boston Medical Center (4-year program), I am passionate about advancing gender equity and fostering leadership development within emergency medicine. I bring a background deeply rooted in both advocacy and educational leadership, highlighted by my experience as President of the Women in Medicine Interest Group at the University of Maryland, where I worked to amplify women's voices in medicine and initiated discussions on gender equity. Through my roles on committees such as the House Staff Quality Improvement Council and as Resident Curriculum Lead for the Unshame Curriculum, I have honed my skills in fostering collaborative, inclusive environments that support the well-being and professional growth of women in emergency medicine.

My commitment to compassionate and human-centered care is evident in my work leading a course on humanism and developing a simulation curriculum aimed at improving care for patients experiencing first-trimester loss. Additionally, I have designed harm reduction and leadership curricula, emphasizing empathy, resilience, and strategic leadership—core values I would bring to Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (AWAEM).

As a member of AWAEM, I would advocate for initiatives supporting mentorship, gender equity in medical leadership, and academic research that addresses issues pertinent to women’s health and well-being. I am eager to contribute my experiences and energy toward AWAEM’s mission and to help foster a community where women physicians thrive as leaders and innovators.