Student Voices

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE to Members

By Dr. Jessica Triche 2020–2021 NCAFP President

The Insightful Voices of Medical Students

I think everyone knows how passionate I am about mentoring students. Yes, having students does change my workflow. I decrease my patient load. I bring more open charts home with me.

But ask my husband about how much fun I have with students!

There is laughter, sarcasm, music, occasional dancing, and lots of frank discussions. I have learned things about different music genres and how to use Venmo. I think a few students learned about work-life balance. One student even came to my kids awards ceremony during our lunch break!

I reached out to former students to hear what they have to say about mentoring. Students are the future of Family Medicine. How can you not commit to having a student after reading about their experiences?

What do you look for in a mentor?

Dr. Matthew Drake (PGY2): “I look for someone who, when I see what they’re doing as a physician, as a community member and as someone with a family, I say ‘I want to be like them when I grow up’. I want to engage with someone who is inspiring within medicine, and ideally, would have a path similar to what you would hope to pursue in the future. Accessibility is also key. A good mentor should be easy to reach out to, and help you reach decisions regarding a practice, a residency program, or another life or career choice.”

Stephanie Wilcher (M4): “I look for characteristics that I see in myself and characteristics that I wish to have. Mainly, humor, authenticity, empathy, love, and kindness. Also, selflessness and self-determination. All of the mentors I’ve really connected with have been incredibly kind, strong, and hilarious women.”

Tulsi Patel (M4): “I look for someone knowledgeable in their field and passionate about using their own experience to advise and support others more junior than them. Mentors that have pushed me outside of my comfort zone have been the most influential towards my personal development. I look for someone I can connect with professionally, but also casually in a more relaxed manner.”

Dr. Triche attended UNC-Chapel Hill for undergraduate studies and attended medical school at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She completed her residency training at Moses Cone Family Medicine in Greensboro, NC, where she served as Co-Chief Resident. Dr. Triche is married and has two sons and enjoys life on the water in Bath, NC. She is currently working at Vidant Family Medicine-Chocowinity located in Chocowinity, NC. She enjoys seeing a variety of patients, as well as teaching medical students. She is a graduate of both Vidant's Physician Leadership Institute as well as the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation's Leadership College. Dr. Triche also completed their Health Care Leadership and Management (HCLM) Program in 2018. She is currently involved in several leadership roles within the Vidant system. She also serves on the Beaufort County Board of Health.

Please tell me about your experiences with mentors.

Stephanie: “The one mentor relationship that has made the biggest impact on my life was in high school. I was in the health sciences academy which was led by a teacher (also an RN) who set-up shadowing opportunities for students. I told her I couldn’t shadow because I didn’t have a ride to and from the clinic after school. She couldn’t let me miss the opportunity, so she took time out of when she would be with her family or working to take me to the clinic and pick me up and take me home ev-

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Executive Officers President Jessica L. Triche, MD President-Elect Dimitrios “Takie” P. Hondros, MD Secretary/Treasurer Shauna Guthrie, MD, MPH Immediate Past President David A. Rinehart, MD Executive Vice President Gregory K. Griggs, MPA, CAE

At-Large Directors

Talia M. Aron, MD

Elizabeth B. Baltaro, MD

Jewell P. Carr, MD

Garett R. Franklin, MD

Nicole Johnson, MD, MPH

Brian McCollough, MD

Mark McNeill, MD

Ying Vang, MD

Academic Position Mark L. Higdon, DO (Novant FMR)

Resident Director Clayton Cooper, MD, MBA (Duke)

Resident Director-Elect Ryan Paulus, DO (UNC)

Student Director Hannah Smith (ECU)

Student Director-Elect Morgan Carnes (Wake Forest)

AAFP Delegates & Alternates

AAFP Delegate AAFP Delegate AAFP Alternate AAFP Alternate Karen L. Smith, MD Robert L. Rich, Jr., MD Richard W. Lord, Jr., MD, MA Tamieka Howell, MD

2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 120, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607

ery time there was an opportunity to shadow. She didn’t have to do that for me, but she did because she knew how important it was to me and she cared about her students. I didn’t know back then how much I needed an adult who cared about me and would move mountains to see me succeed. When I think back on all the mentors I’ve had, they all played a part in setting a path for my success.”

Dr Drake: “My primary experience has been with Dr. Triche. She comes to mind because I was able to work with her in my 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-year rotations. I think every time I rotated with her, I felt that I would be happy doing this for the rest of my life. This experience is what helped me decide to go into Family Medicine. She was always participating in advocacy projects and maintaining leadership positions within the community and NCAFP. Having her as a mentor allowed me to see Family Medicine as a specialty that would not only allow me to maintain current passions in the community, but explore new ones outside of it.”

Tulsi: “My mentors have come in the forms of professors, program directors, bosses and more. Their advice and support have been influential towards pivotal life and career decisions. I feel lucky to have had their overarching commitment to my happiness and success over my educational journey. One of my mentors, Mr. Wayne Godwin, used to answer my questions and concerns with – “well, are you happy?” While a simple question, it is something that has stuck with me since that time.”

What barriers have you experienced in looking for a mentor?

Tulsi: “Sometimes it is difficult to assess who is willing to establish long-term mentorship versus advice in the moment. It can feel unnatural to repeatedly reach out to one person and is easy to worry about being an annoyance. Across all the mentors I’ve had, I think few have actually used the word ‘mentor’. I think more use of that word would be reassuring as these relationships develop.”

Have you had or do you plan on working with students in your future?

Stephanie: “While in Medical School, I was the Vice-President for the SNMA, which is an organization that aims to support African American pre-med and medical students. In this role, I organized a pre-med conference and hosted minority physician and medical student mixers in an effort to increase the admission and retention of African Americans in medicine. I would like to continue this work beyond medical school to help minority students enter the medical field as well. Diversity in medicine is really important to me, so as a black female I want to do my part to see diversity in medicine continue to grow.”

Tulsi: “Yes! As a medical student interacting with various senior physicians daily, that is something I think about often. There are particular residents and attendings from each of my rotations that expressed commitment to my learning and have actively worked to improve my experience. Knowing how much of a difference it made for me, I can only hope to provide the same attention toward medical students down the line.”

Any ideas on how the NCAFP (or physicians in general) can promote mentorship and teaching?

Stephanie: “The NCAFP could possibly host mixers for physicians to meet medical students. Physicians in general could invite students to work with them or share a meal with them if they have time to allow a mentorship to form if the student is interested. Basically, leaving the door open for the possibility of mentorship.”

What would you say to fellow physicians about mentoring?

Dr Drake: “I think it’s one of the best ways to encourage medical students to go into the field. I would encourage it because as someone who was a medical student a short time ago, it’s helpful to have access to teachers that expose you to different practice settings.”

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