Angela McCarthy, a third year medical student at UConn, is already making an impact as a leader in medicine.

McCarthy is the first UConn medical student elected to serve as president of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Region 1. In this role, she successfully planned and hosted the association’s Region 1 Conference on January 25. She was elected to her leadership position by medical students across New England.

“Women now make up over half of medical school classes across the U.S., but we still have work to do to ensure equal representation in leadership roles,” says McCarthy who is from Glastonbury, Conn. “It was an honor for UConn to lead this conference, and I’m grateful for the support that made it possible.”

The annual meeting’s theme, “Women Supporting Women,” emphasized mentorship, collaboration, and career advancement for women in medicine. The event was sponsored by UConn School of Medicine and its Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS). The conference brought together over 250 attendees, including physicians, medical students, and premedical students from across New England. Many UConn medical students and UConn undergraduates attended.

In addition to McCarthy’s leadership in New England for AMWA’s Region 1, UConn medical student Pooja Prasad in the Class of 2026 holds a national position as one of AMWA’s Advocacy Chairs. Also, Connecticut Children’s Division Head of Rheumatology and associate professor of pediatrics at UConn School of Medicine Dr. Barbara Edelheit is the faculty advisor for UConn School of Medicine’s AMWA group. She serves in a national position as chair of AMWA’s Mentorship Committee and was a panelist on the opening Women in Medicine panel of this year’s Region 1 conference.

“Angela did an incredible job planning and coordinating the AMWA Region 1 conference. She’s truly a standout student leader and a role model,” applauds Edelheit. “I’ve been so lucky to work alongside her and the amazing University of Connecticut medical students in my role as their AMWA faculty advisor. They’re an inspiring, brilliant group of women who are going to make a lasting impact in the world of medicine.”

Five UConn medical students also moderated panels at the conference, while UConn faculty member Dr. Megan Herbst and second-year UConn medical student Veronica Arroyo Rodriguez developed a hands-on point of care ultrasound workshop for attendees.  The

Clinical Simulation Center at UConn Health lead by Jim Behme donated materials for skills workshops, including portable ultrasounds, IV placement arms, and high-tech mannequins for intubation practice.

“This conference was a major achievement for the UConn School of Medicine. It highlights the strength of our student leadership and the school’s commitment to advancing women in medicine,” shares McCarthy.

McCarthy concludes, “I couldn’t have pulled off this conference without the help of my peers, especially the other AMWA student leaders at UConn and across New England.”