Award: Student Volunteer
Dr. Megan Powers, a 2024 graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School, used her time in medical school to reach underserved populations in Hampton Roads and launched efforts to train other medical students and residents in trauma-informed care.
Powers started Red Flags to Freedom, a nonprofit organization that has provided survivor-centered training on human trafficking and trauma-informed care to more than 200 medical students and residents since 2021. She is also the co-founder of EVMS Blue Heart, which provides trauma-informed care to those who have been or are currently affected by domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault. She works with a team of medical personnel to create clinic protocols and response plans to support patients affected by violence.
She plans to stay in Norfolk for the next three years as she starts a residency in emergency medicine at EVMS this summer.
Powers shared her journey with Inside Business.
Why did you want to pursue medicine? I wanted to pursue medicine because I’ve always had a passion for the underserved. I grew up in a family where hospitality and community service were always at the center of what we did, and medicine seemed the perfect opportunity to blend my love for science and service. Additionally, I’ve seen firsthand what a caring physician can do when it comes to watching loved ones walk through their own health journey and battles. I desire to be that for other people. My mother always hoped that I would become a physician, so she was a huge motivating factor for me pursuing this path. I wouldn’t be here without my parent’s unconditional love and support.
What led you to start From Red Flags to Freedom? The idea for Red Flags to Freedom came from a survivor interaction I had while I was in New Orleans. During that time, I became acutely aware of the gaps in my own knowledge when it came to the nuances of caring for someone who is a survivor of significant trauma. I remember leaving the experience very frustrated because I felt like there was only so much I could do because of my lack of understanding. That led to a summer of personal research and educating myself. What I discovered is that there is little to no training that is targeted to students and future health care providers on how to properly care for and identify patients who may be trafficked. Furthermore, I began to realize how students need to be trained on navigating complex patient interactions like this. In order to properly care for and empower survivors, students and future physicians need to be better prepared.
What lessons have you learned during your time at EVMS or starting a foundation? I have learned so much from running a nonprofit while being in medical school. With having so many different responsibilities and obligations, it has helped me so much with my time management, prioritization and leadership skills. However, what I would say is the most important lesson that I’ve learned is how to be a survivor-centered educator and provider. One of the greatest gifts from all of this is getting to know survivors and hearing the wisdom and advice they can give to me as a future physician. They have so much to give to the medical community and being a part of giving them access and a spotlight to share will always be one of my greatest privileges.
Any advice for incoming medical students? One piece of advice I would give to medical students is to not just focus on school. School is and should be your No. 1 priority, because you need to do well in order to graduate and pursue the specialty you want. However, I would highly suggest that you find your purpose and hone those skills to further better your community. For me, that is my education and advocacy work. However, It’s not going to look the same for everyone, but finding your passion project will help make the long days of studying worth it. It will give you a deeper and richer perspective of why you are pursuing medicine.
