As a fourth-year medical student, this afternoon 
served as a reminder of how seemingly small 
events can shape the trajectory of a student’s 
career choice. I still remember when Reading 
Hospital residents came to campus during my 
second year to host suture clinics and ultrasound 
skills workshops. Those afternoons and evenings 
provided me with skills that I will use as a future 
emergency physician, but they also provided me 
with an opportunity to interact with physicians 
and residents in a casual, intimate setting.
I am grateful for the opportunity that we have as 
Drexel students at the West Reading campus due 
to our proximity and relationship with Reading 
Hospital. The campus gives students a home 
base throughout their time in medical school 
for learning and growing as young physicians 
while the building also serves as a hub for the 
university, hospital, and community to come 
together. From Stop the Bleed events to high 
school field trips, to science fairs, to shows 
involving the medical humanities, our campus is 
a place where the next generation of doctors can 
learn and grow outside of the lecture hall.
I hope this event serves as a reminder about 
how influential and important an event with 
engagement between medical students, residents, 
and the community can be. I encourage other 
PACEP members and residency programs to 
consider hosting similar events in the future. With 
some residents, eager medical students, a lesson 
plan, and time set aside, just one hour might 
inspire a medical student to pursue emergency 
medicine but can also have a positive influence 
in the community. Thanks to this Stop the Bleed 
event, there are now a handful of students who can 
prevent someone from losing essential amounts of 
blood in an emergency through correctly packing 
wounds and applying a tourniquet.
"
Not only were we being taught life-saving 
skills, but we were given the opportunity to 
engage with physicians who were once in 
our shoes. 
17
Summer 2026

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