My name is Adam Gaetz. I’m an MD student at Central Michigan University College of Medicine, and I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration from St. Petersburg College in the beautiful state of Florida. Prior to medicine my career was in broadcast television, journalism, radio, cinematography, and photography where I worked as a Producer, Director, Anchor/Host/Talent, Writer, Videographer, Editor, and Journalist with various mass media companies in the Tampa media market and occasionally with national media companies. I transitioned from media to medicine in the mid-2010s and have been on this pathway ever since. I’ve since worked as a Natural Sciences Learning Support Specialist, Microbiology Laboratory Assistant and Teaching Assistant, and as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant in Neurosurgery.
Leadership, advocacy, and service make up the foundation of how I strive to foster progress and make positive impacts on the lives of others. It’s through my dedicated and extensive efforts over the years that I’ve been able to achieve my goals within various academic institutions, communities, and within our nation as a whole. I’m thrilled to be able to continue my efforts while making national impacts through the AMSA National Foundation.
While in Florida, I was able to work with over 40 service organizations while serving as the President of my College’s AMSA chapter for three years, President of our Medical Club, as well as the Chairman of our Health, Wellness, & Safety Committee. I also had the honor of serving as the Founding President of my College’s Alpha Phi Omega National Co-ed Service Fraternity, Founding President of our SCUBA Diving Club, President, Vice President, Legislative Liaison, and Senator of our Student Government Association over four progressive years, President on our Student Council of Presidents, President of our Tri Beta National Biological Honor Society, Founding Vice President of our Outdoor Club, and Vice President of Honors in Action of our Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. I also served in a two-year national position as the Chair of Region K (Florida & Puerto Rico) on the Alpha Phi Omega National Student Advisory Committee, as a member of the Alpha Phi Omega National Nominating Committee for the Biennial 2023 Alpha Phi Omega National Convention, as a Judge on the Alpha Phi Omega John Mack Scholarship Committee, as the Conference Coordinator and Chairman of the 2022 Alpha Phi Omega Tri-Sectional Conference, and as a National, Regional, and Sectional Workshop Presenter at various Alpha Phi Omega Conferences.
I’ve continued my service efforts in Michigan through CMU Street Medicine, providing free health services, resources, and social services to address the unique needs and circumstances of the underserved, underinsured, and often unsheltered members of our community, and I now have the privilege of serving as a Street Medicine Event Coordinator for Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. I also serve as a Dean’s Ambassador at CMU COM, Co-President of the Neurosurgery Student Focus Group at CMU COM, Facilitator of the Mid-Central Michigan Area Health Education Center’s Health Careers Pipeline Program (AHEC HCPP), Member of the NBME INSIGHTS™ Power User Group, and Question Tagger & Editor for StatPearls. I also design, coordinate, and facilitate clinical workshops for adults, undergraduate students, high school students, and elementary school students across various events including CMU’s annual Sibs & Kids Weekend, CMU’s annual Grandparents University Summer Camp, CMU COM’s annual CampMed Summer Camp, and the aforementioned AHEC HCPP.
Outside of my academic and leadership responsibilities, I love to go SCUBA diving, enjoy being in nature, and spend all of my spare time with my Boston Terrier, Bumper. I’m also captivated by microscopy and am a fan of keeping and observing ant farms and ecospheres.
My philosophy in life is simple: “Do what makes you happy”. If you’re reading this, you’re likely on a selfless path in life that will make extraordinary impacts on the lives of others. The sacrifices you will need to make to be successful in these pursuits will be vast, but the rewards will be invaluable and immensely fulfilling. Keep moving forward, and don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything that we may be able to do to help you be successful in attaining your goals.