The William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine has been selected to participate in the “Choosing Wisely STARS 2021” program.
WCUCOM is the first osteopathic medical school in the country to be accepted into STARS – which stands for Students and Trainees Advocating for Resource Stewardship. Other medical schools chosen for STARS 2021 include, to name a few, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
“We are thrilled to be the first, and only, osteopathic medical school selected for the Choosing Wisely STARS program. It beautifully aligns with the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s commitment to graduate leaders who will shape the future of primary care medicine,” said Dr. Italo Subbarao, dean of WCUCOM.
Inaugural STARS scholarsThrough a competitive application process, WCUCOM selected two first-year and two second-year medical students to serve as the university’s inaugural Choosing Wisely STARS scholars. They were introduced at a press conference on Dec. 8: Roberto Cordero of Sebastian, Fla.; Tayler Thibodeaux of Baton Rouge, La.; Thy Cao of Garden Grove, Calif.; and Sameerah Shaik of Harriman, N.Y.
The Choosing Wisely STARS program aims to catalyze grassroots, student-led initiatives in medical education. WCU’s STARS scholars will participate in virtual leadership summits designed to enhance their knowledge and skills in key areas such as value in medicine, health and healthcare equity, leadership, and advocacy. They will also network with a large community of care experts as a part of a learning community.
WCUCOM’s Choosing Wisely STARS scholars are looking forward to the year-long program:
- Roberto Cordero is a second-year medical student interested in psychiatry, neurology and internal medicine: “I hope to gain a foundation in evidence-based medicine to lower unnecessary diagnostic testing and avoid over-prescribing pharmaceuticals. It boils down to using our medical decision-making skills to advocate for the patient by avoiding unnecessary risks and building that rapport to empathize better with them.”
- Tayler Thibodeaux is a second-year medical student who plans to practice in the South and advocate for community health education: “I applied for the Choosing Wisely STARS program because as a medical student, I found myself feeling hopeless, almost useless, as I watched health care workers on the front lines tirelessly care for our country during the pandemic. I decided that while I cannot currently serve in the medical field, I wanted to make sure that when the time does come, I will have learned as much as possible.”
- Thy Cao is a first-year medical student interested in emergency and family medicine: “I can gain knowledge and strengthen my practical skills from observing and interacting with experienced professionals. I want to use this learning opportunity to share my understanding of my culture with other professionals, so we all can be culturally competent in providing and supporting our patients and their families.”
- Sameerah Shaik is a first-year medical student interested in specializing in oncology and serving as a Doctors Without Borders volunteer: “With the skills obtained through this training, I hope to work with my peers to improve healthcare processes within Hattiesburg. I would like to work with the local hospital and/or local clinics to improve the patient care experience. This can involve working to improve readmission rates, reducing unnecessary medical imaging procedures, public health education, and mental health advocacy.”
About Choosing Wisely STARSThe STARS program is built on Choosing Wisely, launched in 2012 by the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation to promote conversations between clinicians and patients to help patients choose care that is supported by evidence, not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received, free from harm, and truly necessary. Choosing Wisely STARS is supported by the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, Costs of Care, and the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.
Dr. Melissa Stephens, associate dean of Graduate Medical Education and Population Health, will direct the WCUCOM program.
“We continually seek unique opportunities, such as the Choosing Wisely STARS program, to equip our medical students with tools to transform health care systems through novel health management. We are excited to support our STARS scholars as they develop into leaders who will advance health care value and serve as advocates to promote health and healthcare equity,” Stephens said.
In the photo:
WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted a press conference Dec. 8 to honor its inaugural “Choose Wisely STARS” scholars. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Jim Speed, STARS scholars Sameerah Shaik and Thy Cao, Dr. Italo Subbarao, WCU President Dr. Tommy King, Dr. Melissa Stephens, STARS scholars Roberto Cordero and Tayler Thibodeaux, and Dr. Makayla Merritt.
