Rising third-year Ja’Nia McPhatter will lead the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) next year, becoming national president of the country’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to supporting students underrepresented in medicine. McPhatter, who has an MBA in health systems management, will be the second student from Pitt Med to hold the post.

“The culture of connectedness, outreach and networking opportunities was something I knew I wanted to be a part of,” McPhatter says. Since joining the local SNMA chapter, she has been inspired by the mission to increase the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians in the health care pipeline. When the presidency position went unfilled, she thought, “How could I not step up?”

The student fund created by the Class of 1970 (see “MAA Says”) helped McPhatter and several others attend the SNMA’s national conference in April. McPhatter is also a recipient of an MAA Scholarship.

She is thankful for her supporters who keep her grounded, notably Rachel Eleazu (MD ’23), past national vice president of SNMA and peer-mentor to McPhatter, and former SNMA president J. Nadine Gracia (MD ’02, Res ’05), who has served in leadership roles in the U.S Department of Health and Human Services and is now CEO of Trust for America’s Health.

The best advice Gracia has given to McPhatter? “Be a sponge.” The first year is one of learning, during which she will prepare her executive agenda.

“It’s great for Pitt Med to have a national figure, as far as recruitment efforts and more,” McPhatter says. “I’m lucky to have family and friends here to support me in striving to be my best self while leading the organization that’s given me so much.”  

Read more from the Summer 2023 issue.