Bedsider goes to med school

They distribute condoms and other kick-ass resources. They educate their peers about sexual health. They organize events on campus to spread the word about Bedsider.

Our Bedsider U reps inspire us every day. And this year, two of them brought Bedsider to their medical schools. Nicole Wood at USF and Nicole Mann at Drexel (two Nicoles—what are the odds?) are bringing Bedsider to a group of students who can benefit themselves and amplify that benefit to their communities and patients.

We interviewed the two Nicoles, along with Drexel rep Sara Shusterman, about their experience repping Bedsider U at med school. Here’s what they had to say.

1) Why did you decide you wanted to become a health care provider?

Nicole Wood: One day, when I was maybe 6 years old, I just decided that that was what I was going to do….and that’s what I did. Now, though, I have many reasons why I have continued to want to be a physician. The field of medicine is like practically no other—it allows you to totally immerse yourself in the science behind a physical phenomenon, while still allowing you to have human contact, exhibit compassion and help others, and make a difference in the world on a one-on-one basis.

Sara Shusterman: Since I can remember I always wanted to help people. After struggling with some personal health issues, I learned that one of the greatest gifts is the gift of health. Health is a vital component to leading a happy life, and I want to be able to give my patients the ability to enjoy life to the fullest.

Nicole Mann: I’ve always been good at solving puzzles and I grew up loving mystery novels like Nancy Drew and The Boxcar Children. For me, becoming a physician means becoming a puzzle solver for the mysteries of the human body and I cannot wait to get started!

Nicole Wood, Bedsider U Campus Leader, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

2) Why did you become a Bedsider U Rep?

Nicole Wood: Bedsider provides a simple, central, understandable resource on a topic that greatly affects a huge portion of the population. I know from experience that it is extremely difficult to find a comprehensive general education resource on medical topics that isn’t in the form of a pamphlet in a doctor’s office. Bedsider is fun and easily accessible, and allows for an amazing level of education. I think it is a fantastic resource for anyone, and that is why I was very enthusiastic to become a Bedsider U Rep.

Sara Shusterman: I became a Bedsider U Rep because I was frustrated that I had to research contraceptive information myself. I was never taught about the different methods or about different STIs, even though I am a graduate student. I wanted to help bridge the information gap and help educate those who are sexually active, or thinking about becoming sexually active, what their options are. After seeing Bedsider’s approach to teaching, I immediately fell in love with their style and knew that young adults would pay attention and want to learn this important material.

Nicole Mann: I have been part of the Bedsider community since my undergraduate years (after being pressured by my older sister and former National Campaign employee). I had such a great time working with my college classmates spreading the Bedsider message and saw a real difference being made in the minds of my peers. When I got to Drexel, I saw a gap in the knowledge and comfort level of my school with the topic of sexual health. I decided to reach out to Bedsider to see if they would be willing to take on a medical school, and thankfully they said yes!

3) Share something amazing you’ve learned or experienced in the process of representing Bedsider.

Nicole Wood: The best interaction I’ve had as a Bedsider U Rep was when our rep team went to participate in a health fair at a local Domestic Violence Women’s Shelter. We had one woman come up to us and talk to us for almost a half hour, and told us an amazing life story. We had a really in-depth conversation with her about her future options, those for her daughter, who lives with her at the shelter, and just general life lessons she has learned through her experiences. It was a fantastic human connection, and just the one discussion made the entire event rewarding.

Sara Shusterman: The best interaction I have had was while working in a clinic for Latin American immigrants. A woman was a victim of domestic violence and was concerned that she was pregnant by her abusive spouse. I gave her an “OOPS” sheet (in Spanish) and explained to her what her options were if she was interested in emergency contraception. She had no idea that Plan B even existed, and I could see the hope creep back into her eyes. It was an incredibly touching experience and I was grateful that Bedsider’s materials were also in Spanish.

Nicole Mann: We recently received some pushback against an email we sent out to the student body advertising our first Sex Trivia night. The language was cheeky in true Bedsider fashion, but never explicit. We received a summons from the Director of Student Affairs, who informed us that some of the faculty found our email to be inappropriate. We apologized and agreed to tone down the sass on our future correspondences, but it still rubbed us the wrong way. Having only had positive and supportive experiences with the faculty and staff at school, this moment taught me that not everyone is ready for the change we hope to make in the dialogue of sexual health.

Bedsider U rep Sara Shusterman (center) and Campus Leader Nicole Mann (right), Drexel University College of Medicine

4) What’s one thing you think everyone should know about sexuality, sexual health, or birth control?

Nicole Wood: I think the one thing anyone should know about sexuality, sexual health, and birth control is that any of these experiences can be made into exactly what YOU want them to be. There are so many options available now, that no matter what your preferences, as long as you can have the confidence to make your desires known, your experiences can be tailored to best suit your life—your needs are always important!

Sara Shusterman: That it is so incredibly important to embrace your sexuality and to educate yourself on safe practices so that you can enjoy the amazingness of your body without reservation.

Nicole Mann: You can get birth control for free! Thanks Obama!

5) Don’t med students already know all this stuff? ;)

Nicole Wood: While most med students might know these things, Bedsider provides a great refresher, and is a great resource to refer to others!

Sara Shusterman: NO! That’s why I became a representative! We received one lecture on birth control methods during our second year of medical school! HUGE educational gaps in our school system are rampant!

Nicole Mann: ^^^ What she said.

6) How is repping Bedsider to med students special?

Nicole Wood: The med student population is unique in that the further promotion of Bedsider in a clinic setting is ridiculously useful—when talking to young adult patients on the topic, Bedsider is an easy reference to provide for a patient that allows them to go home and quickly and easily review their contraceptive options. While most people find Bedsider useful in a personal situation, or to refer to friends, or other students, Bedsider is most useful for med students to help the patients they take care of, and proves to be an incredibly valuable resource.

Sara Shusterman: It’s really special because the majority of students are super interested in reaching out to the community and presenting the material in an approachable way.

Nicole Mann: Having the opportunity to mold the minds of future physicians is incredibly empowering. The way we approach sexual health will inform the way our patients view sexual health, which will help shape our greater community.