MS1 Class Information Sept 26 2024

In this issue:

  • Learn about the Pathways during a Q&A on Oct. 9, 2024
  • Here’s your chance to job shadow someone in a specialty
  • Addiction Medicine research opportunities
  • ICYMI: Serve underserved populations as a Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Ambassador
  •  Tip of the Month: Setting priorities

Learn about the Pathways during a Q&A on Oct. 9, 2024

Students across WWAMI are invited to learn about the UWSOM Pathways:

The session will be recorded. Please email the Underserved Pathway at upath@uw.edu with any questions.

 Here’s your chance to job shadow someone in a specialty

If you are interested in elective clinical experiences with a community preceptor or faculty in a specific specialty to explore different areas of practice, consider shadowing a physician. Start with the extracurricular clinical experiences (shadowing) webpage to learn how to set up shadowing in Seattle, Spokane, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

Questions, please contact the Curriculum team, somcurr@uw.edu.

Research opportunities in Addiction Medicine

The UW Medical Student Addiction Research (MedStAR) training program will take applications for 2025 from MS1s starting on Oct. 1.

This is a unique opportunity for first-year medical students at any UWSOM Foundations site to satisfy their Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) graduation requirement while gaining long-term research and clinical mentorship in the field of Addiction Medicine through a federally-funded program. There is a $5,000 stipend for the summer research block between 1st and 2nd year to support students to attend this program.

Applications open Oct. 1 and will be accepted until Oct. 15. Learn much more on the  UW MedStAR site.

Learn more from the event flyer.

ICYMI: Help serve underserved populations

The Health Careers Opportunity Program’s (HCOP) Ambassador program is designed to help students in health professional schools develop skills in working with underserved populations. The program is seeking underrepresented students or those willing to serve in underserved areas who have about two years left in their program.

To be an ambassador, you must:

  • Complete online low-stakes canvas modules (e.g. some from the Underserved Pathway).
  • Mentor a high school or undergraduate student interested in a health career. You may receive mentorship as well from a faculty member, if you’d like.
  • Complete a community service-learning project and present a poster or PowerPoint at a summer HCOP program.

Compensation is $1,000 for participation. The priority application deadline is Oct. 6, 2024, then rolling admission thereafter.

Questions? Email HCOP Associate Director Hoa B. Appel, PhD, MPH, at happel@uw.edu.

Peer to Peer: Tip of the Month from Career Advising

Congratulations on finishing your first block! You may have been thinking about getting involved in shadowing, research, and interest groups. Take your time so you don’t overcommit. Instead, prioritize preparing for the Infections & Immunity (I&I) block. Just as before, it will be a lot of content very quickly. Planning is ideal. The micro section of Sketchy is going to be a very valuable resource. Try to map out which videos you will need to watch daily or weekly.

Some students start exploring pathways and non-clinical electives. These educational opportunities can be a great way to gain a well-rounded medical education. Check out the FAMED 525 African American Health Disparities course, which is described above. This course has been revamped by the co-founders (E19 students) of the Black Health Justice Pathway and is the first course at UWSOM to discuss various topics such as abolition, community organizing, mental health, the history of Midwifery & Ob/Gyn in the U.S., and mass incarceration — with experts from the Black community in, and outside of, academia.

  • Reviewed by BIPOC MS4 Abraham Correa-Medina. Originally written by BIPOC alum Shanelle Briggs, MD.

ICYMI: Here’s the previous MS1 newsletter.

Have a terrific week!