Collaboration is key to successful FMIG event -- February 2003 -- FP Report

February 2003 • Volume 9 • Number 2

Collaboration is key to successful FMIG event

Everyone found out after Sept. 11, 2001, just how wrong the stereotype of the self-absorbed New Yorker was. Well, if anyone needed further proof, here it is.

New York/New Jersey Regional Family Medicine Interest Group Coordinator Assaf Yosha, M.D., recently had a chance to find out just how keen area medical students were to explore a career in family practice. In November, the Weill Medical College of Cornell University hosted a family medicine student conference.

"I could never have believed that students from New York City could be so inquisitive and enthusiastic about family medicine," said Yosha. "They were thirsting for exposure to our specialty."

Evidence of that enthusiasm could be seen in fact that 95 medical students participated in the event.

Yosha shared a few pointers on how it all came together:

Create a vision for your event. What is your goal?
Establish a workable template for the event. Try to cross all the t's and dot all the i's -- you'll save yourself a lot of grief if you do this right up front. Don't forget to assign specific tasks and set realistic deadlines for their completion.
Book a time and location for the event. WARNING: Complete this step early in the planning process or risk being stuck in the broom closet of the chem building.
Invite and follow up with speakers. Here's where being in family medicine can really pay off. Most speakers are excited to address students and will happily volunteer their time to do so. Check with your regional FMIG coordinator and area FMIG faculty advisors to find out who's who in family medicine in your area.
Make the event fun! Include activities that will attract students, such as hands-on skills workshops highlighting suturing or injection techniques. Hold a raffle. Give away door prizes. Use your imagination -- within reason, of course ...
Involve area residency program faculty and residents. Again, these folks enjoy interacting with students. And who better to help out with the workshops? Consider sweetening the pot by offering them a spot in a mini-residency fair held as part of your event. (Try contacting your state Academy chapter for help in reaching out to programs in your area.)
Secure adequate funding for the event -- another critical matter. Even though most speakers will donate their time, you can count on other expenses. Tap your state Academy or county chapters for help, if you can. You might want to charge a nominal registration fee.
PUBLICIZE, PUBLICIZE, PUBLICIZE! If people don't know about your event -- well, don't expect to break any attendance records. Collaborate with other med schools in your area to get the word out. Send e-mails, post flyers, hire a sky writer ...
Be sure to thank everyone who contributed their time and talents to the endeavor. Whether it's a panel speaker, a resident who led a skills workshop or the guy who ran the soundboard in the auditorium, let 'em know you appreciate their part in making the event a success.

To reach writer Cindy McCanse, e-mail cmccanse@aafp.org.

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