I am humbled to come before you and express my intention to run for the position of National President-Elect of our cherished Student National Medical Association (SNMA). For many, including myself, the SNMA represents not just an organization but a refuge, a place where I've found camaraderie, support, and the tools to evolve into a clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious student physician.

My personal journey with the SNMA commenced eleven years ago, during my freshman year of college. Faced with a daunting transition and told by some that I'd never fulfill my dream of becoming a physician, I briefly faltered. However, my trajectory changed when I encountered my university's MAPS chapter, a beacon of guidance and encouragement. Through the wisdom imparted by medical student mentors and local physicians, I found my footing and charted a path towards medical school. My own story, unfortunately, mirrors that of many students of color, who encounter similar obstacles. Motivated by this realization, I dedicated myself to SNMA service, driven by my mission: to ensure no aspiring student of color is ever dissuaded from their medical aspirations due to misguided advice or lack of resources.

Over the past eleven years, I've had the privilege of serving at various levels: locally, regionally, and nationally. Locally, I held positions such as Publications Chair, Vice President, and President within my MAPS chapter. Regionally, I dedicated three years to serving Region 9, fulfilling roles as a Political Advocacy Liaison and Webmaster. In 2018, I was selected as a National Future Leadership Project Fellow. Nationally, my journey has been multifaceted, serving on the National MAPS Committee in roles ranging from Publication Chair to National Pre-medical Board Member (PMBM). As PMBM, I chaired the National MAPS Committee and served as a voting member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. My most cherished accomplishment during this tenure was the creation of the National Post Bac Initiative—a program that has positively impacted over 465 members to date. I have been invited to speak nationally about the Post Bacc program at the Mayo Clinic's Pathways to Physician and Physician Scientist Diversity Summit in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as at the Association of Pediatric Program Directors' Summit and various meetings of the Association of American Medical Colleges. For the past two years, I have been honored to serve as Community Service Co-Chair on the Board of Directors and assist with the programmatic implementation of our AstraZeneca grant.

In addition to my roles on the Board of Directors and the SNMA's Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group, I've served various committees, including the MAPS Committee, Community Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, External Affairs Committee, and Health Policy & Legislative Affairs Committee. This diverse array of experiences has afforded me a profound understanding of our organization's programmatic and structural intricacies, preparing me well for the responsibilities of National President.

My journey of developing programs to cater to the needs of our pre-medical and medical members has underscored the importance of fortifying our entire pipeline from Associate Members to fourth-year medical students. This decision to run for National President-Elect is the culmination of thoughtful deliberation and counsel, prayer, driven by a desire to lead our organization into a new era. Inspired by the location of the 62nd Annual Medical Education Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—my current home—I've crafted a platform titled B.R.I.G.D.E.S., symbolizing the city of bridges. Through this platform, I aim to bridge the gaps in our pipeline and design programming that empowers our members to achieve their aspirations of becoming physicians.

If elected as the incoming 62nd National President-Elect, I intend to be a leader who listens attentively to the needs of our members, devoid of assumptions, and remains steadfast in serving to safeguard our benefits. I humbly seek your support in my candidacy as we endeavor to fortify every facet of our organization's pipeline.