Advisor Role

Role of Advisor by Year:

First year:

  1. PCM 1 facilitator – get to know the students personally and in a group setting.
  2. Academic advising –
    1. review grades, create framework for student to approach you for academic support
    2. ask students to self-identify needs and interests,
    3. encourage summer planning (research or career-related pursuits),
    4. identify struggling students, refer to ACE or Student Affairs
    5. begin planning Step 1 preparation
  3. Professional Development & Role modeling
    1. Discuss the social contract we engage in as physicians,
    2. offer inspiration about the field of medicine as a career,
    3. Speak about your own clinical experience
  4. Career guidance
    1. start the discussion about the choice of specialty

Second year:

  1. The Advising Program will build into the academic calendar at least one advising opportunity per semester for one-to-one contact between students and their academic advisors.
    1. Review grades
    2. Ask student to self-identify needs and interests
    3. Step 1 preparation encouragement, support, referral
    4. Help with selection of clinical clerkships tracks
    5. Further discuss choice of specialty and how to improve chances of matching in choice.
  2. Students are encouraged to contact their advisors individually for additional advising needs.
  3. Advisors are encouraged to reach out to struggling students identified in first year to see how second year is going.

Third year:

  1. PCM 3 facilitator – lead a reflection group for clinical experiences, reconnecting with students from M1 year.
  2. Academic advising-
    1. Review grades
    2. Ask students to self-identify needs and interests during clinical years
    3. Application for residency preparation – letters of rec, personal statement
    4. Specialty selection, refer to specialty advisor to aid with selecting residencies to apply to, Concurrent plan (if indicated)
    5. Help with selection of electives, planning for interview season

Fourth year:   

  1. No structured contact – students contact advisors as needed.
  2. Academic advisor or Specialty advisor can help with preparation for interviews, modifying approach if not having optimal success
  3. Preparing for Match day and the SOAP process.
  4. Transitioning from medical school to residency.