Candidates for Region V Representative

Charlotte Cheng, OMS-II, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Southern Utah

“Can you help me understand why he doesn’t qualify?” I asked the nurse, who stated that Mr. S did not meet the criteria for the additional booster of the COVID-19 vaccine. As a patient assistant, I accompanied Mr. S, who lived with Broca’s Aphasia, to his doctor’s appointments. Through the next six months of working together, we learned to build non-verbal cues that helped me grasp where his mind wanted to go but where his words were lost, working to be his voice wherever we went. In medical school, I continued to hone my voice as an advocate.

As my class’s Inclusive Representative for two years through the Student Government Association, I highlighted student concerns and brought them directly to intuitional leadership. We planned community-wide student activities, advocated for greater policy transparency, and highlighted student concerns to COCA Accreditors. I found a purpose in having conversations that pushed forward equity and opportunity for the student body.

Now, I am running for the position of ACOI Region V Representative to connect students and amplify their diverse voices in our region. I am excited to work on a team that is dedicated to expanding educational and professional opportunities that are sustainable. I hope to contribute to programming that reflects the unique needs and strengths of students nationally. Ultimately, representing Region V aligns with my goal of advancing medicine and health equity with a commitment to serve my community of students and beyond.
 

Juliana Madej, OMS-II, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

I am Juliana Madej, an OMS-2 at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) and a Polish-American woman who knows what it means to be underrepresented in medicine. That experience shapes everything I do, from advocating for osteopathic students on Capitol Hill to coordinating community health initiatives for Idaho's medically underserved populations. It is also why I am running for Region 5 Representative: because every student in our region deserves access to opportunity, community, and the tools to become an excellent internist.

Region 5 spans one of the largest and most geographically dispersed areas in the country, with a significant proportion of medically underserved communities and fewer osteopathic medical schools than any other region. If elected, I will focus on three goals:

1. Collaboration. I will launch a regular Region 5 meeting series, virtual and in-person, to connect SOIMA chapters across our institutions. I will grow our regional social media presence so students can network, share resources, and support one another regardless of where they study. I will also work to strengthen relationships with allopathic colleagues and advocate for osteopathic representation in internal medicine at the national level and subspecialties.
2. AI Integration. I will develop a practical AI literacy program through SOIMA, equipping students with the skills to use AI tools responsibly for studying, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice. As AI becomes embedded in clinical care, osteopathic students must be prepared to use it critically and ethically, not left behind.
3. Research Development. Disparities in research access put osteopathic students at a disadvantage when applying to residency. I will create a structured research preparation program through ACOI covering evidence-based medicine, poster and abstract writing, case reports, and quality improvement projects in addition to currently available ACOI resources. I will explore student research microgrants to lower financial barriers, and pursue collaboration with the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine to open pathways for osteopathic publication.

I have already begun this work. I organized a virtual IM residency panel with a program director and current residents with ACOI, published in the ACOI newsletter, serve on ICOM's Research Committee, coordinated our Community Health Fair, and presented medical education policy at DO Day 2026 through the Omega Beta Iota National Political Advocacy Society.

I am ready to serve Region 5 with intention, energy, and a clear plan!