Careers in Medicine

Rational and Philosophical Underpinnings of the SOM Career Development/Careers in Medicine (CiM) Program

Our career counseling program, coordinated through the Office of Student Affairs, has evolved into a four-year longitudinal approach that largely parallels the structure of the AAMC Careers in Medicine (CiM) program and is designed to help students assess their values, interests, talents and needs; to help educate students on career options; to help students become knowledgeable about medical specialties; and to help students implement sound decision-making skills regarding specialty selection. Our program features structure (required anchor points) with flexibility (optional choices), and a variety of materials and resources to meet the various, diverse and often changing needs, interests, backgrounds, and personal choices of each individual student. The variety of resources that are available to students yields a multi-faceted approach to career development and exploration.

Students may seek advice or receive career counseling from a wide variety of people during medical school including the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Executive Associate Dean for Medical Education, Associate Dean of Admissions, the Educational Resources Coordinator (ERC, Office of Student Affairs) Career Goal Advisors, Residency Program Directors, Department Chairs, and Class Advisors.

Students are instrumental in determining how they will craft their individualized career development program and the routes taken between the introduction to CiM workshop at the first year orientation and the fourth year workshops on ERAS and NRMP vary considerably. The Office of Student Affairs notifies students of all required workshops and the menu of optional activities, materials, and counseling resources from which they may develop their customized career development program. Students typically meet with resource people individually and use career materials independently.