For years, Suzanne Harrison’s students have • “Figuring out how to respond to some of
seen her serving and leading in countless ways. the issues that confront us in a way that people
She has demonstrated a career-long dedication can hear us and work with us, and trying to
to caring for victims of violence. She is co-chair be creative about how to do that. Given our
of the American Medical Women’s Association current political environment, we have to really
anti-trafficking committee. She has provided care pay attention to the human-rights aspect of
for patients through free clinics all of her career. it – which has always been important for me,
She continues with annual medical trips to rural but it’s more important right now than ever. We
Nicaragua. The list goes on. And no matter how don’t always do a real good job of figuring out
involved she has gotten, she’s always continued to how to say things so that others can hear them.
be the kind of mentor that students never forget. I’m going to be trying to work with people who
So this year has been noteworthy for several reasons. can help me with that.
The College of Medicine’s Medical Student
Doctor, mentor, president
M
Council named Harrison the Advisor of There’s a big sense of inclusion but not a lot of
the Year. She also was named the college’s purposeful effort to improve diversity.”
Outstanding Senior Faculty Educator.
And in April, Harrison became AMWA’s
edical students learn from national president. Same voice, same conviction,
faculty members in many ways. but a much bigger microphone. These were her
They pick up the science of priorities as she began her term:
medicine from class sessions.
• “Increase the diversity within AMWA.
Her AMWA students are having to share her
more than usual with the rest of the country.
And they’re watching with great interest.
“Despite being involved in many different areas,
she never neglects her passions,” said fourth-year
• “The logistics of managing people and student Emily Harlan, a former president of the
They gather bits of wisdom in small-group making sure that they work well together and AMWA chapter. “She has the natural qualities of
projects. They shadow a professor seeing patients. engage in projects that are meaningful for everyone. a leader. She inspires passion, involvement and
But they get a whole new view when they see their Without people feeling like they’re part of the empowerment. I am so excited to see her lead
mentors in a leadership role on a larger stage. team, we’re not going to get anything done. AMWA.”
it is a big part of his career plan. So the NHSC
windfall was an unexpected bonus for promising
to do the kind of work he wanted to do anyway.
“You apply during your fourth year,” he said, “and
if you get it, you get $120,000. That goes toward
your loan. When you finish residency, you have to
give back two years of service in an underserved
Paulin Gotrace, at your service
That arrangement doesn’t suit everyone, he
acknowledged, because its flexibility can be
t’s hard to imagine how Paulin Gotrace could
Since he’s reluctant to call attention to himself,
top this past year. In December, his outreach he points to the Haiti trip as an example of the
to his hurricane-battered hometown in Haiti med school’s generous spirit.
was a big success. In February, he learned
“I sent an email just to let the College of
limited.
“Let’s say you want to stay in Tallahassee, for
example,” he said. “Maybe there’s not an NHSC
site available when you apply for a job.” So you’ll
he’d be able to slash his academic debt thanks to Medicine family know that fellow student Dejon the National Health Service Corps. And in May, Maloney and I wanted to collect some items and just before graduation, he received the College of money to go down to Haiti to help,” said Gotrace, to serve in underserved communities because the
Medicine’s Mission Award. who’s in his first year at Jackson Memorial financial rewards are often modest. For Gotrace,
Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Program that’s never been a consideration.
The school’s mission, in part, is to produce
need to serve elsewhere.
Other young physicians, he said, might hesitate
physicians who respond to community needs, in Miami. “The support was more than I could “especially through service to elder, rural, minority imagine. I know other medical students who tried I’m still in the community I want to serve,” he
and underserved populations.” For Gotrace (M.D., it at their schools and didn’t get any response.” said. Besides, he added: “I’ll still be making more
’17), serving the underserved seems to come naturally. Bringing health care to those who rarely get
I
community.”
“Even if it’s less than I might make elsewhere,
than my parents ever dreamed of.”
7