WS2-02: "I DEFINITELY, MAYBE WANT TO GO INTO SURGERY." THE NUANCES OF ADVISING MEDICAL STUDENTS
Jesse Moore, MD1, Rachel Slotcavage, MD2, Britney Corey, MD3, Adam Kabaker, MD4; 1University of Vermont, 2University of Arkansas, 3University of Alabama, 4Loyola University
Committee on Clerkship Directors
Rationale: Having a well-qualified medical student approach you to discuss their interest in a surgical career can be the beginning of a rewarding opportunity to provide career advising. When the student is less qualified, it can be one of the most challenging and difficult roles we play. Both types of students need honest and reliable career advising. Using a small group approach facilitated by experienced academic surgeons, the session will generate best practices for advising medical students interested in a surgical field.
Problem presentation: The session will begin with a 20 minute overview of resources faculty will find useful in providing career advice, including the recent AAMC “Apply Smart” data, resources from the ACS, and the NRMP match data including the program director’s survey. Three common advising scenarios will then be considered: the student who is well qualified, the student who is interested in a surgical sub-specialty but wishes to apply for general surgery as a “back-up,” and the student who has a weak application.
Small group activity: Participants will work through the scenarios in small groups. Each scenario will be discussed for 15 minutes – the first half of that time will be spent discussing the scenario in small groups, and the second half sharing approaches with the whole group.
Summarization: The final 15 minutes will be used to identify and clarify final questions from participants. Main points will be summarized. Participants will leave the session with a set of approaches to utilize in common medical student career advising scenarios. They will have new knowledge of available resources that will provide further guidance.
Timeline:
- 20 minute introduction to resources
- 5 minutes to organize small groups and introduce scenarios
- 45 minutes to discuss scenarios in small groups and share with whole group
- 15 minute summary
= 90 minute session