Surgery Clubs in MedSchool

[DoctaJay]

Is there any benefit to joining different surgery/ortho/neurosurg interest groups in medschool? Does being an active member of groups like this give you a leg up when trying to match into surgery? Is there any benefit to joining them at all?

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[surgical06]

i think it indirectly gives you a very slight leg up on getting interviews (not matching), depending on what other students in the group are doing. if they are gunners: networking, finding out about conferences, research opportunities, and various little things that may have gone unoticed to you, then i think being in that enviorment is a plus. especially if you would like to stay at your schools program.

now, would i go to the meetings, no. good luck to you

 

[Tired Pigeon]

Ours is pretty good. I have made some good informal contacts in my home program, plus our group has brought in some prominent surgeons from other programs to speak to us. It's absolutely NOT a necessary or required activity, but I have found it to be pretty interesting & a good opportunity to build relationships with mentors.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Does any faculty or PD actually notice whether or not an applicant is a member of any Med School Surgery Clubs?

No. So there is not likely any direct correlation between membership and getting a surgical residency.

However, as others have noted, they can make contacts for you, offer interesting lectures and conferences, etc. which you might not hear about if you weren't a member. But the simple fact of being a member, even holding an office, doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the application process.

 

[-Goose-]

Does any faculty or PD actually notice whether or not an applicant is a member of any Med School Surgery Clubs?

No. So there is not likely any direct correlation between membership and getting a surgical residency.

However, as others have noted, they can make contacts for you, offer interesting lectures and conferences, etc. which you might not hear about if you weren't a member. But the simple fact of being a member, even holding an office, doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the application process.

Even being an officer?

Are ECs of any use then? Seems like we're expected to have them (in addition to research, grades, high step 1 score)...

 

[DOctorJay]

at my school the PD of gen surg is the advisor to our surgery club and the PD of the ortho program is the advisor of the ortho club so it's certainly a good way to get "seen" and perhaps make an impression early on.

guess it all depends on the school. the officers here usually travel to conferences as well which the club pays for and that is an activity that belongs on your CV so there are some indirect benefits that may help in the future that some people may not have mentioned above.

-J

 

[sponch]

using the surgery interest group to make contacts is dubious. you can do the same by looking up the faculty directory and sending an email to introduce yourself and to ask if you can go to the OR with them, etc. it feels, at least to me, that these things were designed to give people "leadership" positions for organizations that don't do much, i.e., resume padding. i doubt that anyone would frown upon you not being a part of the surgery interest group or reward you for being a member.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Even being an officer?

Are ECs of any use then? Seems like we're expected to have them (in addition to research, grades, high step 1 score)...

Eh, I don't ever recall anyone commenting on any applicant's ECs (except for the girl that was Miss Teen some state or other). Considering that I'm the only one who has posted here that has been part of the residency admission committee, take my thoughts for what they're worth (not much, but at least there is some experience to back it up).

If its truly something that sets you apart, then it *might* be helpful, but so many people are members of these groups and many are officers, that its hardly unique. Besides, ECs are MUCH MUCH less important for residency matching than for getting into medical school, IMHO. They fall way down on the list behind your USMLEs, LORs, grades, research, interview temperment, etc.