ACOFP Blog

As the 2020–21 National Student Executive Board leaves office, hear final reflections about how their roles shifted throughout this unprecedented time, accomplishments they are especially proud of and what they expect for the future.

Michael Page, OMS-IV

2020–21 NSEB President
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

This has been my third and final term on the National Student Executive Board, and I cannot begin to express my thanks to the ACOFP student members for the opportunity to learn and grow in this role. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as your president over the last year. Beginning with the ACOFP 56th Annual Convention and Scientific Seminars in 2019, we heard your voices for helping students with conference expenses, and I am proud of this year’s NSEB for working toward and implementing free student registration for ACOFP ’21 Virtual.

In addition, our four committees have been diligent in their work, and the contributions they have made have enhanced the student experience and moved forward the mission of the Student Association of the ACOFP. I could not be prouder of all they have accomplished this year. Lastly, each of our chapters around the country has been an integral part of growing our family in osteopathic family medicine. With more than 700 new student members across the country, as well as more than 400 students who attended ACOFP ‘21, it was a record-breaking year!

The leadership displayed by the local chapter presidents has been inspiring and has confirmed that the future of osteopathic family medicine looks bright. As I transition into my family medicine residency training, I am confident that the Student Association of the ACOFP is in the best of hands moving forward. I look forward to seeing what our student leadership will accomplish in the future at all levels. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you as your president, and I look forward to seeing each of you throughout my career as an osteopathic family medicine physician!

Katie Hawks, OMS-IV

2020–21 NSEB Vice President
Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

It has been a joy to serve on the National Student Executive Board for the past two years. In the vice president role, I have loved planning the ACOFP Annual Convention & Scientific Seminars student programming to exemplify the heart and breadth of family medicine, organizing the national service project—Family Med Tread 5K—to benefit the Skin of Color Society and working to expand the DOfm podcasts. Along the way, it has been great to meet so many passionate students—the future of family medicine—and to learn about their unique journey to family medicine.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as national vice president. I would have never thought as a first-year medical student that I would serve on a national board, but it has been an honor and a privilege. ACOFP and the Auxiliary to the ACOFP provide so much support to expand the osteopathic family medicine profession, and I am grateful to be a part of such a great organization and specialty. I wish you all the best as we close out the school year and hope you all stay safe and well! It has never been a better time to be a family physician.

Joe Li, OMS-III

2020–21 NSEB Secretary
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

Thank you for letting me serve on the National Student Executive Board; it has been an honor working on it. I had a great time, and I really enjoyed working with students like you and me from all over the country. During this unprecedented time, it was amazing and inspiring to watch how much we stayed strong and made difficult adjustments. Additionally, it was such a blessing to work with this year’s boards and learning from each one of them on our collective goal of advancing family medicine.

ACOFP is such an amazing organization, and the staff has been so supportive to us students. Thank you again for this opportunity! I wish you nothing but success on your endeavors. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and say hello!

Ashley Beckham, OMS-II

2020–21 NSEB Parliamentarian
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

It has been a privilege to serve as the parliamentarian for the Student Association of the ACOFP. Before applying for this role, I had never considered the idea of serving on a national level, and truthfully, I was a bit intimidated by it. I had no reason to be, as everyone involved with the Board and ACOFP has been so welcoming. I cannot imagine a better team to grow with and learn from.

I am grateful for all the opportunities I have had to work with so many fellow students and DOs from all over the country, and I am incredibly proud of what we have collectively been able to accomplish over the past—rather challenging—year. I know that this is just the beginning of my time with ACOFP, and I am excited to see what the coming year will bring.

Thomas Duffy, OMS IV

2020–21 ACOFP Student Governor
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Toe to tip, this past year has been buck wild. When I found out I would be serving as student governor at the end of 2019, I had numerous plans and expectations. Then 2020 made all my plans unravel and proved all my expectations wrong in a way—I’m sure many of you can relate. The year I served ended up being so different than the year I anticipated; it was both more difficult and more productive than I could have imagined.

On my way out, I want to leave you with the best lesson I learned from all my committee work: In advocacy, always ask for the biggest, realistic ideal solution you can think of. That way, if you must compromise, forward progress is still accomplished. Plus, you never know—sometimes people surprise you and agree to your terms as stated.