UAMS Toastmasters International Chapters Seek to Enhance Communication Skills of Health Care Workers
| As an academic medical center, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) knows how important clear communication in medical settings is. That’s why it sponsors two Toastmasters International chapters.
“The ability to communicate with clarity and confidence is imperative in health care,” said Sharanda Williams, UAMS College of Medicine’s assistant dean for student affairs. “We must prepare ourselves, and students, to communicate on a professional, yet practical, level.”
Toastmasters International, which has more than 14,000 chapters, offers its members opportunities to network, practice public speaking and learn to speak confidently, assume club leadership roles, and improve their ability to listen and comprehend what a person is saying. Members can also participate in speaking competitions.
Confident Communicators is the UAMS chapter specifically for students, while Bridge Builders is the professional chapter for UAMS faculty and staff.
Chapter leaders are working to increase membership — especially in the student chapter, which is open to students in all five colleges and the graduate school.
“We always provide students with an opportunity to prepare for public speaking and professional interactions in a comfortable learning environment,” Williams said.
“Students practice presentation skills, interview skills and feedback skills all within the club setting. It’s also a great way for students to network with other students and potential mentors,” Williams said. “Dr. Rhonda Mattox, distinguished toastmaster, has been instrumental in keeping our student Toastmasters connected and mentoring our students. She offers valuable feedback.”
David Vrudny, a student in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Doctor of Public Health in Public Health Leadership program, is a longtime Toastmasters member. He is also a former president of the chapter at the Arkansas Department of Health, where he’s the section chief for its Stroke and Heart Attack team. Vrudny credits Toastmasters with changing his life as it taught him the importance of practicing proper communicating methods.
“Effective communication is an important skill for any person who works in the health field,” he said. “It’s essential to be able to connect with people on a meaningful level.”
Joining Toastmasters can be a game-changing decision, particularly for students, he added.
“Being in Toastmasters will help a student improve their score on class presentations because it hones their communication skills, which teachers evaluate,” he said. “Also, Toastmasters helps to sharpen your interview skills through its table topics portion of the meetings, where members practice impromptu speaking.
“Through Toastmasters, a student can gain confidence in speaking in a group setting and in one-on-one conversations.”
Regarding membership, for individuals new to the organization, there’s a fee of $80 for the first six months. Following the trial period, the standard membership fee is $60 every six months.
Williams said that joining Toastmasters is a worthwhile investment.
“For anyone who works in the health care field, we must be able to communicate with patients as we strive to improve the health of Arkansans,” Williams said. “As for our students, Toastmasters International helps to integrate the skills necessary to prepare them to compete on a global scale for academic and career advancement.”