Interest Groups

The AI in Medicine club, also known as AIM, is a student-led hub where we explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing medicine. We’re all about sharing knowledge and sparking curiosity in AI through workshops, lectures, and hands-on research. It’s not just about learning; it’s a chance to innovate, collaborate, and grow in a field where AI meets health care.

If you’re considering WashU Med, AIM offers a unique peek into the future of medicine and AI. It’s a place where you can engage with cutting-edge technology, connect with peers and experts, and be at the forefront of this exciting intersection.

The Cardiovascular Interest Group (CVIG) is a student interest group that works with the division of cardiothoracic (CT) surgery to foster students’ interest and understanding of CT surgery. Each year, the CVIG hosts several events including an introductory informational session, presentations regarding current research in the department, and physician panels in which students can directly ask their questions about CT surgery to the current CT fellows. Our most popular event each year is our Anastomosis Lab, in which students learn how to suture an anastomosis directly from the CT surgery fellows and our CVIG faculty lead, Dr. Muhammad Masood. We aim to help students learn more about this field and to connect students with the surgeons and researchers that can help further their involvement in cardiothoracic surgery.

The Child Psychiatry Interest Group at WashU Med is part of a national group called Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation (KTGF), which provides programming and support for medical students interested in the field of child psychiatry. Our KTGF Child Psychiatry Interest Group facilitates opportunities for students including shadowing, research, and mentorship with residents. We also work with students to attend and present at the annual KTGF conference, which takes place at various medical schools around the country.

The Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) is dedicated to introducing medical students to the dynamic and fascinating world of dermatology! Throughout the year, DIG organizes a variety of events designed to offer valuable learning experiences and networking opportunities. One highlight is our subspecialty panel event, where students can explore diverse paths within dermatology, such as pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, Mohs micrographic surgery, and more. This unique platform allows students to gain insights into different subspecialties and establish connections with experienced physicians in those fields. In addition to these panels, DIG hosts educational talks. Recently, a guest speaker from the Skin of Color Society discussed disparities in diagnoses among patients of color. The conversation delved into understanding how skin conditions might manifest differently, and we explored strategies to address and mitigate these disparities. As part of our yearly activities, we also organize an M4 match panel, allowing matched students to share their experiences with the application cycle and offer valuable advice. We aim to foster connections between students and the field, connecting them with faculty members and offering opportunities to delve deeper into dermatology beyond the standard curriculum.

The Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) collaborates with a team of Emergency Medicine (EM) residents and faculty in the department to organize events that introduce students to the world of EM. The group has organized many engaging events such as a panel discussion on life in EM with faculty, a talk on the impact of climate change in medicine, and a night dedicated to watching media depictions of emergency medicine. Additionally, the group provides career development opportunities, including shadowing and emergency/trauma case simulations. Whether you are curious about emergency medicine or seriously considering it as a career, I highly recommend that you check out the EMIG. It’s also an excellent opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a delicious slice of pizza.

Are you a medical student intrigued by infectious diseases? Well, the Infectious Disease Interest Group (IDIG) is the group for you! We recognize that not everyone lives and breathes microbiology, so the goals of IDIG are to endorse general interest in the field and provide opportunities for students to explore those interests. For example, we organize student volunteering opportunities for the annual WashU flu shot clinic, adult and pediatric shadowing, infectious disease-related lunch talks, and review nights for you (gunners) to flex your Sketchy Micro knowledge. We are connected to a wide network of faculty who have such unique paths in the field ranging from public health advocates to bacterial, virus, and parasite experts to hospital leaders and everything else in between. So whether you’re ready to apply to an Infectious Disease fellowship tomorrow or you just want to hear about some of the wildest case reports, our door is open!

The Internal Medicine Interest Group seeks to connect medical students to faculty and mentors within the field of internal medicine. Internal medicine is a foundation for all the subspecialties, and we encourage students to explore the field and learn more about its unique opportunities in longitudinal patient care and procedures. Some of our events include panels with physicians from different internal medicine subspecialties as well as procedural training events, such as joint injection workshops. We also provide funding for internal medicine-related conferences. To patients, internal medicine physicians are key players in their primary care, taking care to think of all systems at once.

The Medical Ethics Student Society (MESS) is a new student group whose mission is to foster discourse among students, faculty, and leading figures in the broader health care landscape about ethical practices in modern medicine. MESS organizes a mix of events, including smaller discussions about the role of ethics in patient care as well as larger seminars and panels about recent ethical controversies in medicine. Two of my favorite events have included a lunch talk about how patient narratives can shape end-of-life care in the case of ambiguous patient directives, as well as a panel composed of nephrologists, a journalist, and a health insurance CEO discussing the ramifications of increasing private-equity-based hospital ownership. MESS is a wonderful way to learn more about the medical humanities and participate in ethics-based dialogue about the practice of medicine.

Although WashU Med does not have a formalized Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency program, the Medicine-Pediatrics Interest Group (MPIG) strives to increase awareness of the dual-specialty program among students at WashU Med. Medicine-Pediatrics residency provides a wide breadth of training in caring for individuals of all ages ranging from newborns to geriatric patients. Medicine-Pediatrics residents go on to pursue many different subspecialties (cardiology, infectious disease, pulmonary/critical care, women’s health, sports medicine, and more) and work in a variety of settings, including private practice, academic medicine, and hospitalist programs. MPIG supports students interested in applying to Medicine-Pediatrics by providing opportunities to connect with Medicine-Pediatrics faculty at WashU Med and facilitating lectures, case discussions, and workshops that expose students to the many careers open to Med-Peds physicians.

The Neurosurgery Interest Group (NSIG) aims to expose students to the field of neurosurgery. This group offers networking opportunities with attendings, residents, and other medical students interested in neurosurgery. Some of our past events include student research panels and case presentations. These events portray the daily life of a neurosurgeon and offer advice on preparing for a career in neurosurgery. NSIG also offers shadowing with residents and can establish connections for both clinical and basic science research.

The Obstetrics & Gynecology Interest Group (OGIG) organizes lunch talks, panel discussions, and other events related to all things OB/GYN. One of the most popular events is Procedure Night, where students practice a variety of OB/GYN skills, including inserting IUDs and arm implants, delivering babies, doing ultrasounds, and more. OGIG also coordinates research and networking opportunities with the OB/GYN residents and faculty.

The Oncology Interest Group connects students with networking, shadowing, and learning opportunities in oncology. Historically, we’ve organized survivorship panels, “specialty speed dating” events to connect students with potential mentors, and more. We’re working on a shadowing sign-up sheet to make oncology shadowing easy for students (stay tuned!). We hope that through our various activities and opportunities, we can foster more understanding of oncological specialties and get people interested in this field.

Ophthalmology Interest Group (OIG) fosters medical student interest and exposure to ophthalmology through lunch talks, shadowing experiences, and surgical workshops. OIG’s most popular events every year are our introductory lunch talk, suturing workshop (with pig eye corneas), and resident panel regarding the ophthalmology application, match process, and residency experience. We hope to help existing and newfound eyeball enthusiasts gain insight and mentorship in the field.

The Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group (OSIG) is a student group for people interested in the musculoskeletal system and all things related to orthopedic surgery. OSIG connects students to orthopedic residents/attending physicians and offers research opportunities for members of the group. OSIG has also put on various events such as a model sawbone lab, in which students were able to simulate repair from traumatic events by placing compression plates and screws.

The Palliative Care Interest Group (PCIG) is a brand-new student group that exposes students to palliative care and hospice medicine. Palliative care spans disciplines, and even if you do not anticipate becoming a palliative care specialist, the lessons in patient quality of life, goal-concordant care, and person-centered medicine are invaluable for all physicians. Throughout the year, we hold panels with various palliative care professionals, such as chaplains, pediatric and adult palliative care physicians, and hospice physicians. We also set up shadowing opportunities and provide resources for existing volunteering opportunities.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Interest Group is an integrated, multidisciplinary specialty focused on improving quality of life and restoring function and independence in patients who have injuries, chronic diseases, and disabilities. Some describe the PM&R specialty as “ortho without the bro.” The PM&R Interest Group holds presentations from physiatrists, facilitates shadowing, and hosts procedure nights to practice skills such as ultrasound-guided injections, epidurals, EMG, and more. Since PM&R is a smaller, more niche specialty, the interest group is a great way to get to know the faculty and residents at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and get exposed to the specialty early on. They are some of the nicest people and are super excited to get students interested in learning PM&R skills that are applicable to any specialty you go into.

Our psychiatry student interest group is part of the Psychiatry Student Interest Group Network (psychSIGN), which is the medical student branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). We lead and support efforts to promote the advancement of psychiatry, mainly by promoting student interest and supporting student involvement in the field. We also support departmental and community efforts. For example, this past year, we applied to and were awarded a grant to fund and attend the APA annual meeting. We matched medical students with psychiatry resident mentor “buddies” and offered shadowing opportunities. Additionally, we organized medical student volunteers to promote and staff our psychiatry department’s first-ever public lecture series. As part of a national organization, we extend beyond the “WashU bubble” and hold mixers with Saint Louis University School of Medicine and Ponce Health Sciences University students who are also interested in psychiatry. We also attend events with the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, and the national psychSIGN executives often put on regional events like the regional psychSIGN conference. If you’re interested in organized medicine and psychiatry, our interest group is a great first step to getting involved. I joined our psychSIGN group and then led it this past year. Now, I have a position with national psychSIGN as regional research chair. I aim to pursue a fellowship with the APA to continue to explore my interest in leadership in organized psychiatry. If you don’t know what you’re interested in, you should still join our group because nothing is required, and there may be an unexpected group event or opportunity that interests you!

The Radiology Interest Group is a student organization for medical students interested in radiology. It offers a space for students to explore the vast opportunities within radiology via panels with experienced radiologists and medical students applying to the field. We organize Interventional Radiology panels and Leading Edge of Medicine talks to introduce medical students to the field and its emerging medical technologies. We also partner with other interest groups on campus to host case-based discussions. Last November, we co-hosted a case-based discussion about neurovascular diseases with the Neurology Interest Group. The group also conducts skills-based workshops where medical students can learn to carry out ultrasound-guided procedures, such as placing a central line.

Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) is a great way to check out neurology as a specialty and connect with mentors and students interested in neurology. SIGN offers extensive shadowing opportunities in different services offered by the Department of Neurology: adult inpatient general, adult inpatient stroke, adult patient consult, pediatric inpatient, pediatric FL/Emergency Department, and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). It is super easy to sign up, and the attendings and residents are super nice to shadowing medical students! SIGN also offers a series of case studies, including a recent neuro-interventional case where residents walked us through how to perform thrombolysis in the brain through the femoral artery. It was super cool! Whether you are interested in neurology or are just exploring career options, you should definitely check out SIGN!

Pathology plays a crucial role in patient care and interfaces with nearly every branch of medicine, yet medical students often have minimal exposure to this specialty over the course of their training. The Student Interest Group in Pathology (SIGP) provides students with more opportunities to learn about the role of the pathologist and to explore pathology as a potential career choice. We work collaboratively with residents and faculty to organize regular events, arrange shadowing opportunities, and connect interested students with mentors in the field who can provide career guidance throughout medical school. From open houses and tours of BJC’s facilities to faculty research panels and hands-on microscopy practice, our events give SIGP members a glimpse of all that anatomic and clinical pathology have to offer— and you’ll find that everyone involved is excited to share their enthusiasm for the field with you!

The Urology Interest Group coordinates professional enhancement for students interested in exploring urology. We set up opportunities for students to learn more about the specialty, network with faculty and residents, and get connected with research projects in the department.

The Vascular Surgery Interest Group (VSIG) helps medical students explore this exciting field through a variety of events with vascular surgeons, fellows, and residents. This is a great way to see if vascular surgery is right for you or to get connected with ongoing research projects. Be sure to check out VSIG for some great food, career advice, and interesting cases treated by our busy vascular surgery department.