Julia Ruggieri, MD

Institution: University of Utah

Current Title/Rank: Resident Physician - PGY2

Special Skills, talents, and perspectives that you would like to share: I envision a career in medical education for myself and am planning to pursue a Medical Education Fellowship after residency.

My long-term goal is to apply my experience in medical education in my hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii and assist in the development of an Emergency Medicine Residency Program there.There is not currently an Emergency Medicine Residency Program in the state of Hawaii.

As fourth-year medical students, we relied heavily on away sub-internships for SLOES and EM advising.  The COVID-19 pandemic was also fraught with many uncertainties, and I found myself at a loss for strong mentorship and EM-specific guidance through the application cycle. I was unsure how many sub-internships I was permitted to attend, and afraid that my application would be weakened if I only had a single SLOE. I envied those students who had the backing and support of a residency program with strong, established mentorship into Emergency Medicine.Hawaii has a unique medical education system, in which there is not a “university hospital.” Rather, medical students rotate through a variety of community sites both on Oahu and neighboring islands.

It is my hope to return with experience and expertise in medical education and provide guidance and mentorship to medical students pursuing Emergency Medicine. The CORD resident-at-large position provides an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience I can bring with me to benefit the future medical students of Hawaii.

Previous CORD Experience: CORD is an organization that dedicates itself to cultivating an inclusive community of emergency physician educators, creates opportunities for mentorship and networking, all while promoting innovation in education and educational techniques. I am a new member to CORD this year and am looking forward to taking full advantage of the mentorship, education, and resources that membership makes possible.

I also hope to attend the CORD/ACEP Teaching Fellowship as a resident this upcoming summer to improve my understanding of education theory and education leadership. Furthermore, I am in the process of applying to the CORD advising students committee in EM (ASCEM) and education committees and am looking forward to being a contributing member. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead by becoming a member of the CORD organization and my ability to gain knowledge, experience, and practical skills from educational leadership in Emergency Medicine.

This year I have had the pleasure of working with one of our new assistant program directors, Dr. Allie Beaulieu. She has been a wonderful teacher and mentor as I explore a future career in medical education. Allie was a former CORD resident member-at-large and speaks highly of the experience and educational exposure. Specifically, we reviewed: the resident responsibilities and commitment to serving on the Board of Directors, the ability to develop and implement projects with other resident leaders, the benefits of expanding my own education network with education leaders across the country, and finally the potential to understand residency education and national organizations from an executive level. I feel confident that I not only understand the role and responsibilities, but also have the support to thrive in this position.