Pisacano Leadership Foundation Names 2016 Pisacano Scholars.

The Pisacano Leadership Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Board of Family Medicine, recently selected its 2014 Pisacano Scholars. These 7 medical students follow in the footsteps of 95 scholar alumni who are practicing physicians and 16 current scholars who are enrolled in medical schools or family medicine residency programs across the country. The Pisacano Leadership Foundation was created in 1990 by the American Board of Family Medicine in tribute to its founder and first executive director, Nicholas J. Pisacano, MD (1924–1990). Each Pisacano Scholar has demonstrated the highest level of leadership, academic achievement, communication skills, community service, and character and integrity. Darcy Benedict, a 2014 Pisacano Scholar, is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine enrolled in the joint MD/MPH program. She graduated from Colgate University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. At Colgate, Darcy was the first student to be awarded for 2 consecutive years the Jim P. Manzi Fellowship to engage in clinical volunteer work at Boston-area mental health and safety-net hospitals. She also was awarded the Native American Studies Award for Service for her leadership as president of the Native American Student Association and advocacy to increase underrepresented minority student recruitment efforts. In her senior year at Colgate, Darcy was inducted into the peer-selected Konosioni Senior Honor Society for her exceptional leadership and dedication to community service. Upon entering medical school, Darcy was selected for the Urban Medicine Program, a special track for developing physician–leaders to provide care for underserved urban communities, and the Patient-Centered Medicine Scholars Program for students committed to social responsibility, community service, and patient welfare. As a member of the UrbanMedicine Program, Darcy has focused on providing health and wellness education to Chicago’s Native American community; in 2012 she was invited to give a talk on nutrition and obesity at the annual American Indian Heritage Celebration at UIC. As a patient-centered medicine scholar, Darcy has worked with Chicago’s homeless population, providing care for individuals awaiting placement in a shelter. While in medical school, Darcy also has engaged in several policy and advocacy initiatives. In her second year, Darcy was a founding member of Students for Affordable Medical Education, a group that successfully reversed a 21% tuition increase at the College of Medicine in the interest of preserving UIC’s diversity and social mission. In addition, at UICDarcy has continued to develop a curricular health disparities seminar to improve medical students’ understanding of the social determinants of health. In addition to her institutional contributions, Darcy also serves on Students for a Healthy Chicago, a student advisory committee to the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. As a committee member, Darcy has engaged in public health policy development and testified before the Chicago City Council in support of 2 tobacco control ordinances, which passed earlier this year. For these accomplishments, Darcy has been awarded the UIC Urban Health ProFrom The American Board of Family Medicine, Lexington, KY. Funding: none. Conflict of interest: AS is an employee of the ABFM. Corresponding author: Alex Scott, The American Board of Family Medicine, 1648McGrathiana Parkway, Suite 550, Lexington, KY 40511 (E-mail: [email protected]).