SMHS students across programs engage with their professions through multiple student interest groups.<\/p>\n
Health career graduate programs \u2013 like medicine, physical therapy, and occupational therapy \u2013 all have inclusive, well-rounded curricula to prepare students for their future careers. Involvement in student interest organizations can enhance learning experiences by connecting classroom work with hands-on experiences or interactions with practicing professionals. While involvement in a student organization is a perk in itself, taking on a leadership role within organizations provides lifelong skills above and beyond the profession, paving the way for future leaders in healthcare.<\/p>\n
Emma Weisner is a second-year medical student working towards a future career focused on rural and women\u2019s health \u2013 areas that encouraged her application to the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) in the first place. Knowing her career path will likely lead her to one or both of these areas, she immersed herself in SMHS interest groups that would deliver information and experiences beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n
Not only is Weisner a participant, but she is currently a student leader for three interest groups: the Rural Health Interest Group, American Medical Women\u2019s Association, and Physicians for Human Rights. As a leader of these groups, Weisner gets to be a part of bringing content \u201cbeyond the book\u201d to her classmates. Events like hosting physician panels to hear from female physicians in practice or co-hosting skills clinics where students can learn about women\u2019s health in a simulated, hands-on environment help her to connect what she\u2019s learning in the classroom to what real-life practice could look like.<\/p>\n
\u201cInterest groups allow me to feel more engaged outside of the classroom,\u201d Weisner said. \u201cIt makes me feel excited about being in medical school, and enables me to look forward to the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Natalie Zinn is also a second-year medical student. Like Weisner, Zinn is leading multiple student organizations while studying for her degree. Zinn is at the helm of UND\u2019s American Medical Student Association (AMSA), which is a chapter of a national organization, and Root to Rise, a mentor\/mentee program aimed at helping high school students envision a career in medicine. While both organizations pique her interest, Root to Rise is what Zinn is especially excited about.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a pause on progress during COVID, but we\u2019re working hard to establish Root to Rise, and set a strong foundation for those who come after me,\u201d Zinn said. Root to Rise pairs medical students with high school students from across the state. \u201cSo far, we have over 12 medical students who have raised their hand to be mentors. Now, we are working on communicating more with high schools to find students to pair with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to leading two student groups, Zinn takes advantage of what other interest groups have to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDifferent events from interest groups help make the classroom learning piece real and hands-on. It helps me understand why what we\u2019re learning matters,\u201d Zinn said.<\/p>\n
Zinn\u2019s classmate Regan Lawrence hails from Stonewall, Manitoba. Another second-year medical student, Lawrence is fueled by her experience growing up in a rural town with only one doctor. This upbringing was a big inspiration for her to pursue medicine in the first place, and she is taking advantage of the speakers and experiences that multiple interest groups offer. Serving as a student leader for the Rural Health Interest Group, Family Medicine Interest Group, and the Health Promotions Project, Lawrence feels that making time for learning opportunities outside of the classroom is hard, but worth it. Interest groups will often host events during lunch hours or evening hours to avoid interfering with classes. This is also the time that students will often use to study.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike anything, you have to make time for it,\u201d Lawrence said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the volume of information we are learning in the classroom, you will never run out of things to study,\u201d she added, noting that taking a break from the books to attend an interest group event is good for mental health. \u201cEvents like this remind you why you\u2019re working so hard in medical school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being a student leader for the Family Medicine Interest Group also gave Lawrence the opportunity to travel to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) conference in July 2023 with some of her classmates. Similar to the interest groups, it\u2019s hard to take time away from studying to attend a conference, she said, but well worth the time and energy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt so refreshed and energized [after the conference], I could talk all day about it,\u201d Lawrence said.<\/p>\n
Finally, Emilee Ohman is a student leader for the SMHS Geriatrics Interest Group, the Health Promotions Project, AMSA, and her class\u2019s Social Committee. As she enters her second year of medical school, Ohman knows that time management will be important.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a challenge to make sure each group is getting the appropriate amount of time and energy,\u201d Ohman said. Specifically, working on the Health Promotions Project, a student-led community outreach effort, has been a heavy lift over the summer. The project, which plans to be up and running within the academic year, aims to coordinate UND students from multiple health professions in serving community members by connecting individuals to needed health resources.<\/p>\n
Luckily, she has help and has learned how to use it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have learned a ton about sharing workloads and delegating tasks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The fact that Ohman has four organizations under her guidance is certainly notable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am sort of shy by nature, but these groups are a good way to push me out of my comfort zone,\u201d she said. \u201cLeadership is important to the job I eventually want, and I think that a big component of leadership is teamwork. I learn more about teamwork than leading, actually, and one doesn\u2019t exist without the other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mandy Williamson and Karlie Wardner are both second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students and co-leaders of Physical Therapy Club (PT Club), a student organization aimed at connecting current and future PT program students. PT Club is open to students ranging from undergrads (typically in the pre-PT program track) to upper-level students in the PT program.<\/p>\n
For undergrads, the club provides mentorship and program application preparation by offering mock interviews. For students already in the PT program, the club offers networking and mentorship between new and veteran students, and access to guest speakers and community volunteer events. For Williamson and Wardner specifically, PT Club offers a chance to sharpen their leadership skills through managing the group\u2019s members, planning and scheduling events, and keeping track of the club\u2019s finances.<\/p>\n
Their hard work comes with rewards.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really develop a sense of community through PT Club,\u201d Wardner said. \u201cIt helps to connect students from all graduating classes so we can learn from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williamson added that PT Club is \u201ca great way to de-stress from class. Taking it outside of the classroom to hear from guest speakers helps us to see forward into our professional careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morgan Halliday is an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) student leading the program\u2019s Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD). UND\u2019s chapter is part of the larger national organization, which aims to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the OT profession.<\/p>\n
Halliday says that, through COTAD, she has learned to be more aware of cultural biases, and how such biases could alter future patient interaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cCOTAD is a great opportunity to learn about the lives of people from all different cultures and backgrounds, and to be more aware and sensitive to what I might encounter in the future,\u201d Halliday said.<\/p>\n
Classroom learning and experiential learning through interest group activities complement each other well. Through involvement as a leader or member, students can expand their knowledge, broaden their perspectives, and develop the skills necessary for success in their future careers.<\/p>\n