Meredith Cobb
鈥 MEDICAL SCHOOL 鈥
MD-PhD student at the University of Mississippi
鈥 GRADUATING CLASS 鈥
2022
The pathway to a dual-degree career by any route is long and daunting. For students in dual-degree programs, professional memberships can sometimes become difficult to prioritize.
I became a student member of the American College of Physicians (91黑料网) in my first year. At the time, I was not aware of how valuable 91黑料网 could be to me, particularly as an MD鈥揚hD student. After I started my PhD training, I worried that my medical knowledge would diminish. I've spoken with many colleagues who have experienced this fear at some point during their research training. Nevertheless, I found solace in 91黑料网's resources, which are free for all members鈥攊ncluding students.
As physician鈥搒cientist hopefuls, we crave evidence: scientific evidence, evidence-based medicine, and facts. 91黑料网 members have access to all 91黑料网 publications, ranging from peer-reviewed literature (Annals of Internal Medicine) to the more informal 91黑料网 IMpact, which you are reading now! A feature that I find extremely useful is 91黑料网's JournalWise, which alerts you to new articles on topics you choose from over 120 relevant journals. In the 91黑料网 Internist Weekly e-mail alone, members get access to a weekly summary of relevant current events in medicine, links to updates in practice guidelines, and new research findings. A particular favorite feature of mine is the weekly 鈥淭est Yourself鈥 question directly from 91黑料网's MKSAP content. This is meaningful to me because it represents an opportunity to access a quality question bank with a negligible time commitment during this phase of training when my medical knowledge is not an everyday focus.
Another valuable opportunity for 91黑料网 members that is useful for research-minded learners is the chance to attend local and national meetings. Many chapters use medical schools to host their meetings, which adds a convenience that many other scientific meetings do not afford. For example, I was able to attend morning sessions of our local 91黑料网 chapter meeting, walk to my laboratory and start an experiment, and then return for another talk in the afternoon. This is an excellent way to stay dually immersed without detracting from the task at hand.
Aside from gleaning up-to-date knowledge from the sessions, there is also the opportunity to present research of your own. Local and national 91黑料网 meetings provide the chance to enter an abstract competition at the medical student level in clinical or basic science categories, which provides an additional chance to hone presentation skills and inform others about your research. This is a win鈥搘in, because many attending and resident physicians and traditional medical students aren't aware of the research that is conducted in basic science laboratories. These encounters can translate into collaborative efforts that help bridge the gap between groups on campuses.
As medical student members of 91黑料网, we have access to a wealth of resources. I have truly found a great home here, and I love taking advantage of the resources they offer to students in all stages of training.