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Specialty exploration and career planning

American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Careers in Medicine (CiM)

The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), a nonprofit association of more than 125 accredited U.S... medical schools; the 16 accredited Canadian medical schools; more than 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems; some 90 academic and professional societies representing 75,000 faculty members; and the nation's medical students and residents.  The purpose of the AAMC is to improve health through the advancement of academic medicine. In pursuing this purpose, the AAMC works "to strengthen the quality of medical education and training, to enhance the search for biomedical knowledge, to advance research in health services, and to integrate education into the provisions of effective health care."  The American Association of Medical Colleges website offers a wealth of information and resources for pre-medical students, medical students, residents, and physicians. 

Early in medical school, you will be introduced to the AAMC Careers in Medicine website. This online resource will provide you with resources and tools to explore various medical specialties, complete self-assessments to guide specialty exploration, ultimately choose a specialty and support you throughout the residency application process. The AAMC created Careers in Medicine® (CiM), a career-planning program to help medical students identify career goals, explore specialty and practice options, choose a specialty, select and apply to residency programs, and make good career decisions.  Students are given access to this website at the start of Year I, create their own accounts and are encouraged to access it frequently as part of career development. Recommended: the Medical Specialty Preference Inventory (MSPI-R), the Physician Values in Practice (PVIPS), & the Specialty Indecision Scale.) These can be found under the "Choose your Specialty" tab under "Find Your Fit." Please sign in to access this website.

The School of Medicine also offers several resources to help you explore and choose a specialty. The Office of Student Affairs and Career Development and the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs sponsors several career-related events:

Student-Alumni engagement opportunities

The Office of Alumni Affairs and the Medical Alumni Association support students at all stages of their medical education by providing opportunities for meaningful interaction with alumni. School of Medicine alumni have graciously offered to open their homes and workplaces to students to share their expertise and insights. Read more about engaging with WSUSOM alumni and complete the Student Interest Form to get involved. Please note: at this time, these programs are only offered to students enrolled at the School of Medicine. For a comprehensive overview: Alumni Shadowing and Specialty Exploration Opportunities

On-line specialty exploration and career planning

  • The Undifferentiated Medical Student: These podcasts are interviews with one physician from each of the 120+ specialties and subspecialties listed on the AAMC's CiM website.

  • Virtual Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG): This website of the American Academy of Family Physicians provides Family Medicine and general medical education information helpful to all medical students.

Residency/Match