There are many medical student organizations that students can explore when looking to develop their skills. These groups are devoted to helping students learn more about the latest trends in the medical industry. They can also help students find job opportunities, internships, residency programs, and other post-college working options. But what medical student organization is the best?
Each organization has different focal points, and some focus on memberships for people in particular demographics or fields. Be sure when looking at groups to join that you know what to expect from these entities.
1. American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is one of the oldest organizations devoted to supporting medical students and physicians. Students can find various resources through the AMA, including the AMA Ed Hub. This portal helps students review different concepts for clinical and practice areas. Students can also take quizzes online to test themselves on their knowledge of the field, helping them further their education and see what they need to improve upon when studying.
Students can also access other prominent resources like the AMA Journal of Ethics. This journal helps students understand various concepts surrounding ethical care and how to manage some of the more pressing issues in today’s medical industry. The AMA also publishes many other journals that provide the latest detailed reports on the medical industry, and students can receive access to these and other content through the AMA.
2. American Medical Student Association
The AMSA is the next group to see when looking for a med student organization. This group helps students network with various med school alumni to learn more about their industries and find work opportunities. The AMSA Academy program provides educational opportunities for students through residency prep platforms. There are also student advocacy programs dedicated to supporting studies and reviews on various concepts, including cultural issues, global health support, and environmental health.
3. International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
There are more than a hundred member organizations in the IFMSA, a group that offers various programs for med students to participate in to gain further experience. Some of these programs include ones on teaching medical skills to people, managing communicable diseases, and supporting ethics in health.
There’s also a student exchange program run by the IFMSA that supports thousands of exchange students each year. The program allows students to travel to different parts of the world to participate in healthcare delivery and system support activities.
4. Student Osteopathic Medical Association
Some medical student organizations are devoted to specific study fields. The Student Osteopathic Medical Association is one to spot, as SOMA serves students in the osteopathic field. The group helps support communication between the government and the osteopathic medical industry.
The organization also has multiple programs students can partake in to support osteopathic medical functions. The Overdose Prevention Task Force is one platform to note, as it helps students learn how to manage substance abuse treatment services while managing overdose situations as necessary.
5. American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Other organizations concentrate on people interested in certain professions. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons is one group that provides live courses and resource information to students looking to become neurological surgeons. The group encourages participation in the neurosurgery industry and helps train the next generation of surgeons.
The AANS also has an education hub where students can learn about various practices and concepts in neurosurgery. Some courses focus on subspecialties like tumors, pediatric care, and managing peripheral nerves.
6. American Medical Women’s Association
Many other student groups focus on students of demographics who may focus on different medical concepts. The American Medical Women’s Association is one such group to review. The AMWA is a group concentrating on developing women in the medical industry. The group also supports educational opportunities for women in the field to help address new issues and problems in the medical industry, including many focusing on women’s health issues.
The organization started because there weren’t many women in the medical industry. But with more women joining, there are new problems to explore, and the AMWA helps look at many points that women might experience and how they can serve people. The group’s focus on women’s health initiatives is particularly vital to the group’s operation.
7. Society for Physicians with Disabilities
Many students who want to enter the medical field are those with disabilities themselves. They want to help others manage their medical issues, as these students understand firsthand how these conditions can make an impact on their lives. The group helps support the quality of life of students who have disabilities and illnesses while providing access to educational programs that cater to the distinct needs students hold when receiving support.
8. Phi Delta Epsilon
Phi Delta Epsilon is a co-ed fraternal organization devoted to medical students and treatments. PDE provides fellowship support for students, plus it provides mentoring and formal training to students looking to attain leadership positions.
PDE also provides a study abroad program where students can enjoy various semester-length programs in a new environment. Some of these programs focus on specific study fields like immunology.
9. Physicians for Social Responsibility
Part of developing as a med student entails managing environmental health issues, as climate change and conservation-related issues can often impact different health issues. Physicians for Social Responsibility is a group that works with governments to support the development of environmental health support, including managing situations that can have negative impacts on the public’s health. The PSR Climate Ambassador Programs are among the most prominent ones available through the group.
10. European Medical Students’ Association
The last of these organizations to spot is one for students in Europe. Many med student organizations cater to people in particular geographic areas, and the European Medical Students’ Association is one such entity. The EMSA promotes medical research within Europe and promotes public health initiatives.
People outside Europe cannot join this group, but American organizations can continue to learn from various developments in the EMSA. Various student groups can take note of the EMSA’s Pillars, concepts that focus on specific treatments and care services. These pillars entail the concepts of medical education, public health studies, health policies, and medical science.
Are There Organizations At Your School?
The last point to see when finding medical student organizations is to review what is available at your school. Each med school has different organizations dedicated to various specific ideas:
- Groups dedicated to particular fields of study
- People focusing on patients of certain demographics
- Groups catering to unique medical treatment situations, including pediatric or critical care
- Mental health groups
Be sure to review what groups are at your school and what you can expect from these organizations. Don’t forget to also review whatever chapters of national organizations are available at your school.
The terms for how you can join one of these organizations will vary surrounding what is open and your current status as a medical student. Check the details on these organizations to see what you can expect when working with them, as they can help you move forward and learn more about how the medical industry works.
