AN ACOG-AFFILIATED MEDICAL STUDENT OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CLUB

Abstract

In Brief An ACOG-affiliated obstetrics and gynecology club for medical students was developed at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School to introduce medical students to the specialty early in their careers, to educate them about obstetrician-gynecologists effect on women's health, and to guide them through exploration of the field. With ACOG District III Fellow and Junior Fellow support and collaboration, the club was formed and operational within 6 months. Because of this club students feel included in the district and national organizations by participating in Junior Fellow and Fellow activities. Through Junior Fellow activities, medical students get first-hand exposure to numerous obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. Through workshops and noncredit electives, medical students receive personal mentoring by Fellows and Junior Fellows. Students participate in community projects and from those programs can better understand the needs of women, especially women with inadequate or no health insurance. The collaboration between Junior Fellows, Fellows, and medical students is the most important component in establishing a student-run club affiliated with ACOG. This project has effectively introduced students to the field of women's health early in their careers and could provide a model for implementation at other medical schools. An ACOG-affiliated obstetrics and gynecology club for medical students succeeds because of strong collaboration between medical students and ACOG Fellows and Junior Fellows.