Medical student affairs’ comprehensive career development program is formalized and integrated into all four years of the curriculum at all nine campuses. In addition to lead advisors, students interact with the career development team during all phases of medical school for career coaching and support as well as professional development opportunities, connection with career mentors and guidance for exploring specialty options.
This program follows the AAMC Careers in Medicine (CiM) four-phase process and learning objectives:
- Understand yourself: Engage in activities including but not limited to self-assessments in order to identify career goals and career options.
- Explore your options: Critically explore specialties to narrow focus around specific career options.
- Choose your specialty: Identify specialty preference and career mentor
- Prepare for residency: participate in professional development activities that enhance readiness for residency.
Specialty Career Mentor Sessions
Watch group mentoring sessions individually focused on medical career specialties. These sessions include question and answer segments with specialty instructors, team members, Deans, Lead Career Mentors, Advisors, residents, and other subject matter experts.
Connect with a Career Mentor
As a part of the career development program, the medical student affairs career development team matches students with designated career mentors. These career mentors serve a valuable role in the growth of healers during the journey from student to professional. Career mentors provide one-on-one career development, which helps students explore specialty and career options that align with their specific skills and interests. Students are able to interact with career mentors whenever they feel ready to discuss career options and delve into specialties, however, obtaining a career mentor is usually recommended by the third year.
Team and Services
Debra Rusk, MD
Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development
Medical Science Room 119, 635 Barnhill Dr.
317-274-1974
drusk@iu.edu
Responsibilities and Services
- Leader of the Medical Student Education Career Development Office.
- Provides career consultations for IU School of Medicine students at all nine campuses. Focuses particularly on student competitiveness for residencies and specialty-specific requirements with the ultimate goals of ensuring students match in their first specialty choice.
- Works closely with career mentors to ensure mentors are trained and have the materials needed to maintain successful mentoring relationships with students.
- Develops and implements professional development programming for all students and provides advising support to Special Interest Group (SIG) clusters.