Career planning

What are Careers in Medicine?

This is a program for medical students that will, over the four years of their career at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, assist students in making a specialty choice appropriate to their needs. It will also prepare students to develop goals for the type of practice they would like to enter upon completion of residency. Patricia Davis, Student Counselor, coordinates the program.

Who designed the program?

This program was jointly developed by the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges to assist medical students with developing their careers as physicians. Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Office of Student Affairs has tailored the program to the specific needs of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine students. Events will be presented which are appropriate to students at various levels of training.

What's included?

  • Self-assessment by the student about areas of interest, personal values, and skills 
  • Wellness is an integral part of career success 
  • Budgeting & financial decision making 
  • Brown-bag sessions with physicians from various specialties 
  • Informational sessions with residency directors from various specialties 
  • Specialty-oriented student interest groups 
  • Transition orientation--making the transition between each year of the curriculum 
  • Planning and timetables for USMLE 
  • Planning and timetables for the Match 
  • Advisement about elective course schedules 
  • Individual advisement about specialty selection (with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and/or residency directors) 
  • Dean's Letter Review 
  • Graduation Exit Interview 

What does it mean to me? 

All entering students will receive a workbook and a password to access this program, published by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the AMA.  This workbook and website will serve as a personal guide to exploring career choices and may be used by students as they see fit.  Students in each year of the curriculum will be offered activities tailored to their particular needs.  A description of each year's activities is detailed below:

Year One

Convocation speakers - physicians and area medical personnel talk about career planning and wellness in the profession.

  • (MD)2Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors--budgeting and financial aid issues 
  • Clinical mentors--serve as role models and provide exposure to primary care specialties. 
  • Student Interest Groups--currently, the Family Medicine Interest Group is active in Carbondale, and other groups have developed according to student interest. 
  • Transition to Springfield (spring)--a discussion led by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs about issues related to moving to Springfield 
  • Resources--Amanda Mulch, MD (Assistant Dean of Student Affairs), Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Staff, clinical faculty, and mentors 

Year Two

  • Clinical mentors--serve as role models and provide exposure to primary care specialties. 
  • (MD)2Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors--budgeting and financial aid issues 
  • Student Interest Groups--Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Medicine, Pediatrics, Radiology, Surgery, Women's Health and OB/Gyn, Policy/Humanities, Wilderness Medical Society, and others as student interest dictates 
  • USMLE Registration-- Planning & Timetable--presented by OSA staff and Associate Dean 
  • Surviving the Clerkship Year--transition discussion led by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs 
  • Resources--Haneme Idrizi, MD (Associate Dean for Student Affairs), OSA Staff and department chairs 

Year Three

  • (MD)2Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors--budgeting and financial aid issues 
  • Student Interest Groups--Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Medicine, Pediatrics, Radiology, Surgery, Women's Health and OB/Gyn, Policy/Humanities, Wilderness Medical Society, and others as student interest dictates 
  • Specialty discussions--hosted within each clerkship to provide information about various specialties. 
  • Introduction to the Match, NRMP/ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) Registration (spring)-- Discussion of the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) requirements and timetable, FREIDA database of residency programs, writing a CV/Personal Statement, presenting well at an interview 
  • Resources-- Haneme Idrizi, MD (Associate Dean for Student Affairs), clerkship directors, department chairs, division chiefs, OSA staff 

Year Four

  • (MD)2Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors--budgeting and financial aid issues (focus on financial planning for residency years) 
  • Student Interest Groups--Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Medicine, Pediatrics, Radiology, Surgery, Women's Health and OB/Gyn, Policy/Humanities, Wilderness Medical Society, and others as student interest dictates 
  • Electives advisor--will assist students in planning their elective year to maximize preparation for their chosen specialty. 
  • Dean's Letter Review (fall)--individual meeting with Associate Dean to review Dean's Letter before it goes to residency directors 
  • Individual Advisor Meetings--available with Associate Dean or with Residency Directors as needed 
  • Exit Interview--focus on financial implications of career choice 
  • Resources--Haneme Idrizi, MD (Associate Dean for Student Affairs), clerkship directors, department chairs, division chiefs, OSA staff 
 

Print and Online Resources