In addition to the rigors of medical school, third-year College of Medicine student Michelle Ganyo knows what it's like to lead.  She is already the president of the College of Medicine's Class of 2012 and, as classified under the U.S. Navy's Health Services Collegiate Program, a Chief Petty Officer who will, upon graduation, be commissioned as a Lieutenant.  

This year, however, Ganyo will take on an entirely new role.  She will soon take office as the Texas A&M Health Science Center (HSC) Student Government Association (SGA) President for 2010-2011.

With a year of firsts in the near future, Ganyo will be the SGA's first official "president." In 2009, the organization, previously known as the President's Advisory Council, became the Student Government Association in an effort to model other student representative organizations and to involve all students of the HSC. 

The SGA consists of representatives from all HSC components who discuss student-related issues in order to craft recommendations and policies on the students' behalf.  Ganyo and the other SGA officers will write proposals, solicit student feedback and, ultimately, send recommendations to Dr. Nancy W. Dickey, HSC President and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for the Texas A&M System.

"Most importantly, SGA serves as a direct voice from the students to Dr. Dickey," said Ganyo. "Our proposals and recommendations have the potential to become a part of the HSC bylaws.  As leaders, we can truly impact the future of not only the College of Medicine, but the entire HSC student body."

With that philosophy in mind, Ganyo and her SGA colleagues have developed a new way for students to express their concerns and suggestions-an email address that goes directly to the SGA president.  They call it sgalistens@tamhsc.edu.

As for her upcoming presidential schedule, a trip to Austin to lobby will find the SGA doing research for more than just their regular homework. All topics the students will present to the Texas Legislature must be selected, thoroughly researched and ready for presentation by April 2011.

"Even though the transition between the second and third year is stressful with the STEP 1 exam, I have high hopes for SGA," Ganyo said.  "The College of Medicine has been such a great experience thus far because of my close relationships with both students and faculty.  The faculty has been so responsive and has truly taken a vested interest in our success."

Those faculty, Ganyo added, gave her what she needed to tackle her third year.

"The doctors in the [Department of Family & Community Medicine's] physical diagnosis preceptorship instilled a great amount of trust in us to take patient histories and perform initial physicals without breathing down our necks," Ganyo said.  "The experience really gave me confidence and an edge going into my third year."

She goes on to describe medical school as a marathon.  "I was lucky to learn early that you absolutely have to find balance: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually," she said. 

When asked if there were any attendant perks to her new title she replied, "Well, I do get a gavel!  That and all the incredible experiences I've had-and will soon have-make juggling med school and extracurricular activities completely worthwhile."