Ashleigh Peoples, a Class of 2020 medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine expected to graduate June 2, shared with Scientific American her belief that medical students can help take pressure off credentialed physicians battling COVID-19. 

Peoples wrote the April 4 opinion piece “Medical Students Can Give Vital Help in the COVID-19 Crisis” for the magazine’s online blog, sharing her reasons and outlining how it may be accomplished. A link to her article was also included in a special edition of the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Faculty and Academic Societies’ news roundup.

“While medical students aren’t full-fledged physicians, we have a significant amount of clinical training and knowledge. As such, we could be used more effectively,” Peoples said. “We should consider physicians in training as welcome partners to the more seasoned doctors and nurses, especially given the booming rate of infection rates in the United States. The only thing prohibiting the utilization of such precious and valuable manpower is a lack of planning and strategic foresight.”

She is the class representative for the school’s Student Education Subcommittee and expects to begin her Family Medicine residency in July.