By Rafael Fernandez, Jr., MD
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes and other obstacles we are pleased to announce that the Dade County Medical Association (DCMA) will be celebrating the 4th Annual Residents and Medical Students Research Competition. This event is scheduled for March 3, 2023, at the Pullman Airport Hotel in Miami.
This event is an initiative of one of the Resident representatives to our Board of Directors. I remember when Dr. Jacqueline Leva, at that time part of the Residency program of Westchester General Hospital (now Keralty Hospital – Miami) brought to the DCMA leadership the need to create a program for residents that could meet the research and scholarly activity requirements that future physicians must achieve. Dr. Leva also believed that such a program would assist the professional development in other areas including resume development, contract negotiation, how to manage residency/fellowship interviews, all within the context of a research competition. Based on that compelling need, the DCMA Residents Research Competition (AKA Residents day) was born. After considerable success, Medical Students were encouraged to compete starting in 2021.
Our 2022 competition had more than fifty submissions and participants were so excited that they became our best champions, encouraging their colleagues to enter the competition. Our goal for the 2023 competition is to have more than sixty submissions. The deadline for submissions for next year’s competition is December 15th. Besides being a Medical Student, Resident or Fellow, the only requirement is to be a member of the DCMA. Membership is free for all of these future physicians and physicians-in-training. Membership can be activated at www.miamimed.com.
All submissions will be reviewed by a group of physician members of the DCMA. The first group of judges will select the 10 best research papers or case studies. Those submissions selected will be presented live in front of a different group of judges during the event on March 3rd. At that time the winners of the competition will be announced. The top three presenters will be awarded cash prizes and the opportunity to publish their work in the DCMA Journal – Miami Medicine Magazine.
Residents’ Day 2023 will also include a line-up of informative professional development seminars designed to continue to advance the careers of those future physicians and physicians-in-training in our community.
I encourage all Residents, Medical students and Fellows to participate in our Resident Day and to join the DCMA as we continue to advocate for the profession and advance medicine for the betterment of our patients.
Dr. Rafael Fernandez, Jr. is President, Dade County Medical Association.
