The Benefits of SAEM Membership for Medical Students

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

THE BENEFITS OF SAEM MEMBERSHIP FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

By Nick Giordano and Erin Simon on behalf of the RAMS Membership Committee

With the growing trend of medical schools turning to pass/ fail grading systems and the revision of United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 to follow with a non-numerical score, extra curriculars have come to the forefront of applications for residency. Additionally, with the integration of socially distant technologies and internships, so many more opportunities to network and engage in the emergency medicine community have presented themselves. Now, more than ever before, building a professional network to learn more about emergency medicine and gain experience to bolster your residency application is paramount. SAEM’s new website now streamlines opportunities for mentorship, leadership, advocacy, and education. Below we have highlighted a couple of these resources:

"WORKING ALONGSIDE SENIOR MEMBERS WITH LIKE INTERESTS IS A NATURAL WAY TO FIND MENTORSHIP WITHIN THE SAEM COMMUNITY AND BUILD UP YOUR NATIONAL REPUTATION."

Mentorship

There are 30 interest groups within SAEM and that number continues to grow. Except for some career-specific groups (e.g., Research Directors, Vice Chairs, etc.) almost all interest groups are amenable to having medical students join. If the objectives of a group align themselves with your interest, reaching out and joining as a member to work on group initiatives will not only give you leadership experience in your field, but also serves as a great networking opportunity. Working alongside senior members with like interests is a natural way to find mentorship within the SAEM community and build up your national reputation.

We also have an active emergency medicine (EM) resident membership base. Working alongside a current EM resident is a great way to learn about how you can best prepare yourself for an EM residency and source information about EM residency programs you might be interested in applying to.

Leadership

If you are looking for some more formalized leadership opportunities through SAEM there is a dedicated program for medical students to get exposure to emergency medicine. The Medical Student Ambassadors Program (MSA) is always looking for interested students to join in the planning, coordination, and execution of SAEM’s Annual Meeting. This group of medical students acts as liaisons to speakers during the annual meeting, and the premeeting audio/visual

"WHETHER YOU ARE A JUNIOR MEDICAL STUDENT LOOKING FOR EXPOSURE TO THE FIELD OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE OR A SENIOR MEDICAL STUDENT WHO IS LOOKING TO SEE IF AN ACADEMIC CAREER IS RIGHT FOR YOU, SAEM HAS THE RESOURCES TO AID IN YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT."

soundchecks serve as the perfect time to network during the event. Once you complete the program, a personalized letter from the SAEM Program Committee Chair will be given to your dean of student affairs to thank you for your contributions.

Community

SAEM also has a dedicated community for medical students and residents, affectionally referred to as RAMS (Resident and Medical Students). Within RAMS are various communities and initiatives specifically geared towards medical students and their transition to an EM residency. RAMS committees are always open to medical students joining and leading objectives.

Advocacy

Whether you are interested in advocating for your junior colleagues, social or health disparities, SAEM has outlets to pursue your passion. While there are dedicated avenues to work on advancing initiatives with like-minded peers in evidence-based health care, population health, or sex and gender in emergency medicine, if there is a cause or an initiative that is not currently being pursued by SAEM, resources are available to either fund that project or start your own interest group to pursue it.

Education

Current, applicable podcasts and webinars from real-world experts in the field are available to supplement the training you receive in medical school. Additionally, the Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine (CDEM) and the Emergency Medicine Residents Association (EMRA) have put together resources to help you thrive in medical school, plan EM away rotations and apply to EM residency programs.

Whether you are a junior medical student looking for exposure to the field of emergency medicine or a senior medical student who is looking to see if an academic career is right for you, SAEM has the resources to aid in your career development. Once you make the jump to residency, SAEM has additional resources that will continue to advance your professional growth as an academic EM physician.

MEMBERSHIP GUIDE

SAEM's Membership Guide Helps You Make the Most of Your SAEM Membership

The SAEM Membership Guide highlights all the programs, services, and opportunities the Society offers its members, takes new members through the ins and outs of the organization, and shows them the ropes, and gives all members the tools and information to make the most of their SAEM membership… all in one fun, easy-touse, interactive format.