On the first day of medical school, everyone’s a little bit scared. It’s a big deal. It’s your future. Some students are well prepared, others – not so much. They all know how much this education is going to cost them and how much debt they’ll have when they leave school. And they know they’re going to have to spend the next four years studying and working most of the time.

Money is a big consideration when you’re in school and working so hard that you cannot take on a part-time job. So when the county medical society makes an appeal to the freshmen class to join, many students will back off, thinking it’s not worth the money. And they would be wrong.

The local medical society will welcome students and usually have discounted dues and fees. The dues are still often expensive and there are extra charges for the dinners with CME and conferences. Students often feel they just cannot afford either the costs or the time.

But what are the benefits of medical students joining a medical society?

Networking

Many local physicians from diverse fields will be present at meetings. The chance to meet them and interact with them is invaluable, especially for future employment and relationships. As the old saying goes “It’s not what you know but who you know.”

Mentorship

Doctors love to teach. Many would be delighted to have a med student shadow them through their day. This could help medical students make connections that will lead to internships, residencies, fellowships, and attending positions down the road.

CME Opportunities

The society has monthly meetings with speakers on a wide variety of subjects, including practical aspects.

Professional Opportunities

Networking may result in the perfect job offer. Mentorship participation shows the mentor what type of person the student is. The student learns how an office, a hospital ED, or a pathology department is run and whether he or she wants to spend the future in that environment.

Local Health Issues

Both acute and chronic health problems can plague communities. The student can become informed and may be able to work with the affected patients.

Choosing a Specialty

Exposure to a variety of specialties, in addition to primary care, will broaden the student’s horizons. That exposure may even change minds about which field the students want to enter.

Leadership Development 

Learning the way the local and state societies work and how they are set up may be very useful, especially if the student is interested in becoming a leader in the medical community at the local level or even the state.

Learning about Running a Practice

Not much is taught in med school about the financial and practical aspects of medical care. Employees, spreadsheets, office space, rent, equipment, ordering – there are so many facets that have to be carefully handled. Running a practice takes experience and skill.

If the student is considering staying in the area after graduation, joining a medical society can be highly beneficial. Building relationships with future colleagues and making a positive impression can offer valuable opportunities.

Published by Zane L.