Elizabeth Montgomery, a third-year medical student at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), received the 2024 Student of the Year Award from the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP). This recognition is awarded to a student who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to emergency medicine, serves as a role model for classmates and is expected to make a significant impact in the field of emergency medicine.
“Montgomery is an outstanding representation of the aspiring emergency medicine physician, spearheading initiatives that focus on vital life-saving skills,” said Nicholas Paselk, second-year medical student and president of the e-board of the Emergency Medicine Club (EMC) at MSUCOM. He nominated Montgomery for the award. “She has taught approximately 250 medical students and 600 undergraduate students in bleeding control, underscoring her belief in the importance of equipping others with essential emergency response techniques.”
As vice president of the MSUCOM EMC at the Detroit Medical Center, Montgomery has created numerous opportunities for her peers to learn and engage in emergency medicine, including organizing several skills labs for both EMC members and non-members and covering essential topics, such as intubation, ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis and suturing. Additionally, she hosted a skills lab focused on teaching various ultrasound techniques to students.
Each session featured multiple emergency medicine residents and attending physicians, providing hands-on learning experiences. Montgomery has also collaborated with the Michigan State Police to train community members, including CPR, tourniquet use, wound packing and trauma assessment.
In addition to her educational contributions, Montgomery plays a pivotal role in providing health care to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Detroit area through her work with Macomb County Street Medicine and Detroit Street Care. As a Street Leader for both organizations, she organized free medical clinics at shelters in Detroit, overseeing fellow students as they triaged and treated patients. She was deeply involved in patient care and the logistical operations of the shelter clinics. In her role as a Street Leader for Macomb County Street Medicine, Montgomery helped evaluate patients who presented at a mobile clinic stationed on the corner of 8 Mile and Gratiot with the HARM:LESS Harm Reduction Team. There, she assessed patients, consulted with on-call physicians and provided treatments, medications and health counseling.
"I'm honored to receive this award and represent MSUCOM in emergency medicine," Montgomery said. "For me, emergency medicine goes beyond patient care — it's about sharing life-saving knowledge and inspiring others to step in during critical moments. I'm especially excited to be training both medical and undergraduate students at Michigan State University in bleeding control, which is a vital skill. I hope to inspire even more people at MSUCOM to get excited about the opportunities in emergency medicine."
By Pai Liu