HOD POINT OF VIEW from a medical student

By AIDAN HINTZE

As a medical student, it can be hard to find a way to make meaningful change. In school, we often talk about how we would like medicine to change, but we are seldom trained to bring those changes to pass. Representing Dauphin Country at the PAMED House of Delegates was one opportunity I was given to help enact change.

As I prepared and read through the record number of resolutions that were to be presented at the meeting, I saw a great diversity in thought and opinion. However, leading up to the meeting, I was nervous. Aside from being unfamiliar with parliamentary procedure, I knew very few people that would be there. I was entering into a world with which I was entirely unfamiliar. However, my co-delegates from Dauphin County made my day exceptional as they were deeply welcoming and informative.

During the meeting, I quickly learned what it feels like to represent others to a governing body. There is a weight to voting on policies that will affect the lives of others. For example, I was able to give testimony on my classmate’s proposal that focused on promoting the wearing of religious headwear in the operating room.

Overall, the experience gave me a new appreciation for those whose job it is to represent the American people. Studying, planning, giving testimony, and voting is a surprisingly exhausting endeavor. My scrub cap goes off to those who do this day in and day out. I hope to continue having opportunities like this where I can both voice my opinions and represent the thoughts and desires of others. I truly believe that it is through meetings like this that physicians can unite to better work with our local, state, and national governments. We can and will do better as we move forward. Despite our differences, coming together makes our future bright.