University of Southern California
As a first year medical student, there are multiple ways that you can explore a career in internal medicine:
KECK-USC INTERNAL MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP (IMIG)
You can become involved in the KSOM Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG). This organization holds meetings throughout the year on topics pertinent to a career in Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine resident exposure and contact with KSOM Internal Medicine faculty. There are KSOM IMIG leadership opportunities, leadership opportunities at the state level within the American College of Physicians (ACP) committees.
Group email: imsig.usc@gmail.com
SHADOWING/MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS
There are many shadowing opportunities available through both Keck and the ACP for students interested in Internal Medicine. At the local level, the Keck chapter of IMIG can set students up with mentors through the USC Department of Internal Medicine. This group of physicians includes internists that work in both the out-patient clinic setting and as hospitalists. On a national level, the ACP has a large database of physicians that students may use to contact physicians in the region. Note: you must become an ACP member to use services such as the database, but joining is free and includes many benefits.
If you are interested in shadowing an Internal Medicine Community Preceptor, please contact Lynn Kawabe, Primary Care Community Medicine Program Assistant at lkawabe@usc.edu or call (323) 442-1678.
SERVICE & RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
There are also service community opportunities throughout your first year such as the Screen Now and Prevent Program (SNAPP) clinic, Healing Hearts Across Borders Program in Mexico, and Flying Samaritans in Mexico. For example, Flying Samaritans is a medical service club at the University of California, San Diego in association with the non-profit service organization, The Flying Samaritans Inc. The program is dedicated to providing free medical services to the underprivileged people of Mexico through a clinic staffed entirely of volunteer physicians, nurses, medical and pre-medical students. The main clinic is located in Ensenada, Baja California.
Screen Now and Prevent Program
The Screen Now and Prevent Program (SNAPP) is a free health-screening clinic started by medical students at Keck School of Medicine. The clinic provides free screenings and education for diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. SNAPP has set out to be a way to improve health outcomes for the poor, uninsured and underinsured in the community. By screening for common illnesses like diabetes, SNAPP hopes to find people who have slipped through the cracks of the healthcare system and help them get the care that they need. They also want to encourage everyone who walks through their doors, even if they are healthy now, to take the proper steps that will keep them healthy in the future.
For more information, please visit:
Screen Now and Prevent Program (SNAPP)
If you are interested in a Community-based research project, please contact Dr. Joel Schechter at schechte@usc.edu.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
American College of Physicians/ Internal Medicine – (ACP)
Society of General Internal Medicine – (SGIM)
–Overview written by Nicholas Arger, Class of 2011, IM