Our Association is a robust and diverse set of educators, students, researchers, medical professionals, volunteers and academics that come from all walks of life and from around the globe. Each month we choose a member to highlight their academic and professional career and see how they are making the best of their membership in IAMSE. This month’s Featured Member is Shauna Groven.
Shauna Groven
Medical Student
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
What encouraged you to become involved in IAMSE as a student?
I became involved with IAMSE after my research mentor, Dr. Simanton, encouraged me to submit an abstract for a poster presentation at the 2025 IAMSE Annual Conference. After learning about IAMSE’s mission to advance medical education through research and collaboration, I was driven to share the findings of my project, which examined how socioeconomics status influences admission metrics and academic performance in medical school. Considering the vast network of educators within IAMSE, this association felt like the ideal platform to connect with those committed to fostering equity in medical education.
Congratulations on receiving a Student Presentation Award (Outstanding Student Poster Presentation) at the Annual Conference! What interesting things are you working on next?
Thank you! After presenting our findings at the conference, I am working on developing our research into a manuscript for publication. Additionally, I plan on exploring other factors influencing student performance, such as if medical students with first-generation, low-income (FGLI) backgrounds demonstrate similar trends to students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. I am also conducting a clinical research project investigating the antioxidant effects of freeze-dried strawberry supplementation in individuals with prediabetes and writing a manuscript for publication.
What advice do you have for other students thinking about getting involved with IAMSE?
I would take the opportunity to engage with everything IAMSE has to offer. Whether you are attending sessions or presenting your own work, you will find a welcoming community eager to share their knowledge and ideas. While at the conference, I had the privilege of interacting with medical students, professors, and administrators from medical schools of many different countries. These discussions provided me with valuable insights into my own research, as well as exposed me to diverse perspectives on medical education. Overall, this conference was a great chance to network and truly showcased the supportive community IAMSE has to offer.
How does being a part of IAMSE support your future career goals?
IAMSE has broadened my understanding of medical education and strengthened my passion for researching how the system can better support students from all backgrounds, both during the admissions process and throughout medical school. In the future, I hope to collaborate with admissions and curriculum committees to help inform policies that promote inclusivity in medical education. Being a part of IAMSE offers the resources, mentorship, and connections for me to pursue these goals and contribute meaningfully to the field.
Anything else that you would like to add?
I am grateful to IAMSE for recognizing our work and creating such a welcoming environment. I look forward to staying involved and continuing to collaborate with this inspiring community in the future.